Only I can make Konoha Village great again.

After seeing Uchiha Shisui off, Yamanaka Chukyu stayed in the Forest of Death until dark before cleaning up the scene and slowly walking home.

He spent the entire afternoon deep in thought, and the more he pondered, the more he felt Hiruzen Sarutobi's power.

Hiruzen Sarutobi controlled Konoha Village's Anbu, Mission Department, Administration Department, Intelligence Department, Barrier Team, Sealing Team, Ninja Academy, and other departments, wielding even more power than before his abdication.

Especially now that the Fourth Hokage has sacrificed himself, the Third Hokage has rightfully taken over the power of Hokage, and he is only one step away from successfully restoring his throne.

Taking this step is very simple.

All Hiruzen Sarutobi needs to do is put on the Hokage hat and haori, and at nine o'clock in the morning, go up to the balcony of the Hokage Building and loudly announce:

"I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, have returned!"

The restoration of the Third Hokage was that simple.

But would Hiruzen Sarutobi dare to do that?

He dare not.

Such a hasty restoration was bound to provoke resentment throughout the village. Even the civilian ninjas who had previously supported him would feel as if a thorn had been planted in their hearts, causing them indescribable discomfort.

The people are dissatisfied because Hiruzen Sarutobi is too old!

The Third Hokage himself said: Only by gaining the approval of everyone in Konoha Village can one become Hokage.

That statement is correct.

But he didn't say that to gain recognition in the ninja world, you have to be strong enough to prove to everyone that you can take on ten people and are the invincible strongest ninja.

First you need to be able to fight and kill, then you can learn about human relationships and social interactions.

Back then, Hiruzen, who had just become the Third Hokage and was at the peak of his strength, was not yet powerful enough and was questioned by the ninja clan and villagers.

It wasn't until Hiruzen Sarutobi's three students shone brightly in the war, achieving legendary feats and earning the title of "Konoha's Legendary Sannin" that this changed.

The legendary Sannin of Konoha proved Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength, and the Third Hokage's throne was finally secured.

As time goes by, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who is approaching sixty, is once again facing scrutiny.

The ninjas brought up the old grievance of Sakumo Hatake's suicide, were dissatisfied with the command during the three Shinobi World Wars, and opposed the policy of abandoning the reparations from Sunagakure and Iwagakure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced his resignation, pushing Minato Namikaze into power, which quelled the boiling public opinion and doubts.

However, the Third Hokage's restoration after Minato's sacrifice proves that he did not know why he was forced to step down.

It wasn't that the Third Shinobi World War was fought poorly.

Even if Konoha Village fought poorly, it was still a victor in the war, while Sunagakure and Iwagakure, as the defeated villages, suffered far greater losses than Konoha Village.

The suicide of Konoha's White Fang is not the key issue; which temple doesn't have wronged souls who died unjustly?

Kiba's suicide had a truly negative impact. Sunagakure sold its war hero, Pakura, to Kirigakure, and Iwagakure even expelled its own Jinchūriki.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision to forgo spoils and reparations for peace sparked strong discontent among the Konoha ninja. However, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, also gave seven tailed beasts to other villages for the sake of peace.

The five great ninja villages have all done many absurd things. Were the Fourth Kazekage and the Third Tsuchikage forced to step down?

Has anyone expressed dissatisfaction with the First Hokage's blunders?

To put it simply, Hiruzen Sarutobi's predicament is that he can no longer control the situation.

The villagers of Konoha, the Konoha ninjas, the Konoha ninja clan, and even his enemies all felt that he couldn't fight anymore, which is why his dirty secrets were brought up again.

However, it must be admitted that Hiruzen Sarutobi was indeed incredibly lucky.

In order to maintain his power, he deliberately chose Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage, and it just so happened that he selected a powerful ninja who was obedient, had a great sense of the big picture, and was extremely charismatic.

Minato Namikaze's strength may not necessarily surpass Orochimaru's. Both of them are super-powerful ninjas; one is undefeated, and the other is immortal. The result of their battle would definitely be a draw.

But Minato's fighting style is just too cool!

Whether you're strong or not is a matter of time, but whether you're handsome or not is a matter of a lifetime.

For a ninja as fast as Minato Namikaze, killing a Jonin who is even slightly weaker than him is as easy as killing a chicken.

This is not only about stronger combat performance, but also greater deterrence against the enemy!

After the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, took office, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to hold power, and all policies remained unchanged, but everything got better.

The Uchiha clan stopped causing trouble, the villagers and ninjas stopped questioning them, and even the arrogant Fourth Raikage stopped causing trouble.

Everyone knows that no matter how big a loophole Hiruzen Sarutobi creates, the young Minato Namikaze can always cover for him.

Moreover, Hiruzen Sarutobi is really old. If we can just be patient for a few more years, he will have to retire. We can still give him that much time.

As a result, Minato Namikaze died, and the restored Third Hokage expelled Orochimaru.

In the despairing village of Konoha, morale collapsed and the team could no longer be led.

The Hyuga clan became disaffected, the Uchiha clan rebelled and was ultimately destroyed, and as a result, everyone watched Hiruzen Sarutobi die without anyone offering a helping hand.

Nagato said, "What right do those who don't understand pain have to talk about peace?"

To be honest, there's some truth to that statement.

The Third Hokage successfully restored power, and the Root organization experienced explosive growth, becoming monsters specializing in internal strife, running rampant in Konoha Village.

Everyone felt the pain acutely, and only then did they realize who their common enemy was, leading to a consensus that Hiruzen Sarutobi should die.

Since he couldn't stop the restoration, Yamanaka Chukyu decided to do the opposite: stimulate the Third Hokage to restore the dynasty faster through the Uchiha's resistance, thereby building a consensus against the Third Hokage ahead of time.

Then, by guiding consensus and gathering support for Orochimaru, a group of Fifth Hokage was formed with him at its core.

When Orochimaru, who was also a student of the Hokage, grew up, the corrupt Third Hokage group would naturally be replaced.

When Yamanaka Inoichi heard Chu Jiu's plan, he was so shocked that he was completely stunned.

He pointed at his younger brother, his hand trembling, and said, "How could you have such a rebellious idea?"

"That's the Third Hokage! The Hokage himself!"

Yamanaka Chujiu narrowed his eyes, looked at his older brother, and asked, "And what about the Hokage?"

"Is the Hokage a god? Does becoming the Hokage mean one is infallible, unquestionable, and unassailable?"

"Admit it, brother! You can't stand Konoha under the rule of the Third Hokage!"

"The Konoha Village you yearn for is the Konoha Village that, during the reign of the First Hokage, was bathed in the radiant light of ideals!"

"It was Konoha that continued to prosper under the rational planning of the Second Hokage, and even Konoha that was full of hope under the Fourth Hokage."

"The only place in Konoha where, except for those not notified by the Third Hokage, everyone is shrouded in the shadow of defeat, threatened by what's called the 'Cutting Line,' and even ten-year-old children are being sent to the battlefield!"

"Open your eyes and take a look, brother!"

"The Senju clan of Konoha no longer exists, and neither does the Uzumaki clan, Konoha's ally!"

"The Hatake, Kurama, Shiranui, Gekko, and Kato clans are either all gone, with only one survivor remaining."

"Brother, do you think our mountain tribe won't also face such a dead end?"

Yamanaka Inoichi's face was ashen, and after a long while, he managed to choke out, "I will see Uchiha Mikoto tomorrow."