Naruto Online: Hyuga Branch Family? Let's go all out!

Chapter 168 Hiruzen Sarutobi is plotting

Jiraiya finished writing the detailed battle report between Konoha and Sunagakure in the afternoon, and then sent it to Hiruzen Sarutobi with a summoning jutsu.

Then, Hiruzen Sarutobi, completely bewildered, lit a cigarette.

One person charged into the enemy lines and instantly killed more than fifty people. In the first battle, the Flying Thunder God Technique killed more than 130 people. The 5,000-strong Sand Village army retreated voluntarily.

One man against an entire village!

"He's learned the Flying Thunder God Technique?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, bewildered.

He learned a technique that none of the Sarutobi clan members, including all of the Second Hokage's disciples, had mastered?

Why should I?

And

As Hiruzen Sarutobi flipped through the battle report, he had a strange feeling that this technique, when used by Minato, was even stronger than that of the Second Hokage.

No, this is not an illusion; it is the truth.

Hiruzen Sarutobi analyzed it and then understood the reason.

The second generation mastered Water Release, but Water Release and Flying Thunder God Technique don't work well together.

However, Minato's main skill was Wind Release. When he wrapped Wind Release chakra around his hands and feet, it immediately became a deadly weapon.

Minato's mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique may not be greater than that of the Second Hokage, but his techniques are coordinated and systematic, so much so that, judging solely from his performance in war, Minato is stronger!

"If it were me..." Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered how to deal with the Flying Thunder God Technique, but after much thought, he realized he had no solution!

Although his physical skills were strong, according to Jiraiya, Minato could fight Jiraiya to a standstill even without using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Minato may have suppressed his strength.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's taijutsu wasn't much better than Jiraiya's.

If he used the Flying Thunder God Technique, he might not be able to defeat Minato.

Although he also has the Vajra Staff technique, this technique is designed to deal with large targets. It has strong attack power but is slow, and he might not even be able to touch Minato in a fight against him.

Ninjutsu?

He is proficient in all five elements of ninjutsu and also possesses a special technique called the Five Elements Great Combo.

However, the problem remains: no matter how powerful the ninjutsu is, it's useless if it can't hit anyone.

As for sealing techniques and barrier techniques, that's even more absurd. If no one sabotages you, there's no way to seal or capture a ninja who can use the Flying Thunder God Technique!

A sneak attack?

Stop kidding me, Minato's strongest skill isn't the Flying Thunder God Technique, but his incredibly fast reflexes!

This nerve reflex is probably even stronger than the normal three-tomoe form. Who could possibly ambush him?

If a fight breaks out, Hiruzen Sarutobi might face a situation where none of his ninjutsu can hit Minato, and if Minato manages to cut him even once, he will die.

As for using defensive ninjutsu to withstand the attack, that's even more unrealistic.

Sustained defensive ninjutsu consumes chakra. Unless you can maintain it 24 hours a day, you'll be in trouble once you run out of chakra.

Did he pretend to run out of chakra to trick Minato?

The problem remains the same: even if he falls for it, his reflexes are quick, he can use the Thunder God technique, and he can still escape and wait for the next opportunity.

Moreover, this trick won't fool Minato.

Because he also has chakra perception

You won't know until you analyze it, and once you do, you'll be shocked.

Minato was a perfectly formed ninja with no blind spots, no weaknesses, and all-around strength!

"How did he grow up right under my nose?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little confused, knowing that Jiraiya often reported Minato's situation to him!

"That's right, it's Jiraiya!" Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that Jiraiya's praise of Minato was too cheesy and exaggerated. Coupled with Jiraiya's own unreliability, Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously thought that Jiraiya was just bragging and then unconsciously underestimated Minato.

Another issue is that Minato had already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, but he didn't tell anyone until it was revealed on the battlefield.

This is actually understandable; ninjas' personal information is confidential, and it's normal for them not to tell others.

However, the Flying Thunder God Technique is a forbidden technique of the village. I taught it to you, so shouldn't you have told me that you've learned it?

"This child doesn't seem as cheerful as he appears!"

While celebrating the victory in the war, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also pondering the possible consequences of this event.

Minato's ability to stop a war would earn him immense prestige in the village. Coupled with the Second Hokage's signature ninjutsu and Jiraiya's support, his own son would be no match for him.

His competitors must be found among the previous generation, such as Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.

Even the previous generation didn't have such a stellar record.

The three legendary Sannin of Konoha fought against a small country, while Minato fought against an entire village by himself—a large country!

After much thought, if I were to step down, then the only one who could become the Fourth Hokage would probably be Minato!

"Sigh!" I was just thinking of finding someone to fight Orochimaru, but I didn't expect him to actually be good!

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, barely accepting the fact that Minato might become the Fourth Hokage.

There's no need to dwell on the existing losses; all that's left is to cut your losses.

First, the Dark Division must be under one's own control, but Minato Namikaze has his own faction and no one to fill the new Dark Division.

It doesn't matter if the Jonin team is given away, because the Jonin team doesn't have much power to begin with. The only way the Hokage can control the Jonin in the Jonin team is to let them lead the Genin.

Other Jonin have a lot of freedom.

In addition, there is the most important right to assign tasks.

This power may seem insignificant, but it is actually the core of all affairs in Konoha.

Ultimately, the power to allocate tasks is the power of finances.

All the ninjas in the village, young and old, depend on this for their livelihood, so whoever has the power to assign tasks is the de facto Hokage.

What? You mean the Fire Country Daimyo's aid to Konoha?

We divided the money among our various families, is there a problem?

Furthermore, not to mention Konoha Hospital and the intelligence department, the problem remains the same: Minato Namikaze has no one under his command!

If there's no one else, we'll have to use our people. Once we use our people, it goes without saying who will control this village!

From this perspective, Minato was actually quite suitable to be Hokage, unlike Orochimaru, who, although also a lone figure, had many loyal subordinates!

Once the study on how to control power is complete, the remaining task is to reclaim that power.

Even if he controlled all departments, as long as Minato sat in the position of Hokage, everything could be overturned.

For example, the Hyuga clan has produced quite a few medical ninjas. What if Minato were to cooperate with the Hyuga clan?

For example, if the Yamanaka clan can do interrogation to extract information, why can't the Uchiha clan do it?

The Uchiha clan is so desperate to become Hokage!

If Minato were to open his mouth and say he was willing to take members of the Uchiha clan as his disciples, do you think the Uchiha would be willing to become Minato's dogs!

"Eh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up. Right, that's a problem too, we need to address it beforehand.

If a genius from the Uchiha clan were to join Minato's ranks, that would indeed be a problem.

Why not find an Uchiha yourself and shut them up?

Minato performed a great service and was eligible to be promoted to Jonin. There was a stupid, clumsy, and talentless Uchiha in the Ninja Academy, so he was assigned to Minato.

If this kid dies, that would be even better; the Uchiha clan and Minato would become enemies.

but

Hiruzen Sarutobi did the math and realized that the child was only in the third grade, with two years left until graduation.

It's a pity that Minato won too quickly. If the battle had been more intense, the ninja academy students could have graduated earlier.

Let's put this matter aside for now and think about how to get Minato to step down.

Minato was the Hokage. For Minato to step down, the Hokage must have done something that would incur divine and public wrath.

For example, the Nine-Tailed Fox?

Kushina was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki. When a Jinchūriki gives birth, the seal weakens. If the Nine-Tails escapes at this time, it can wreak havoc in the village.

Doesn't this provide a reason for Watergate to step down?

It's perfect that we can get another Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Otherwise, as the Hokage, he already has a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki as his wife. It would be a powerful combination, which is terrifying!

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat back down in his chair with a smile. As expected of me, everything is under control.

What was that idiom again? "Having a firm grasp on one's own wisdom"?

I think I shouldn't be called the "Ninja Arts Doctor" at all; I should be the "Ninja World's Zhuge Liang"!

"Oh, right, there's one more thing!" Hiruzen Sarutobi spread out the report. He was so focused on Minato Namikaze's fighting strength that it took him a while to realize that Jiraiya had mentioned something else.

Some towns have actually formed their own militias?

This won't do!

If you form a militia to drive away wild boars and bandits yourselves, how are we ninjas supposed to survive?

Why can't these commoners from the Land of Fire understand the hardships faced by the ninjas?

"Go and invite Elder Danzo over here!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly.

No one responded, but Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that someone had already gone to invite them.

This is the power of the Hokage—to command the wind and rain, and to control all living beings.

Who would be willing to give up?

(End of this chapter)