Ninja Pot Shadow

Jiraiya's qualifications, abilities, and prestige were all in no way wrong, but he used a lack of motivation as an excuse to say that he couldn't become Hokage. The Third Hokage didn't believe him at all. Isn't that ridiculous?

Who is born to become Hokage?

Logically speaking, the succession of Konoha should be the third generation: Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, and the ages and master-disciple relationship of the three are just right.

When the Third Hokage grew old, Jiraiya's strength was at its peak. If he and Minato Namikaze had joined forces during the Nine-Tails' attack, along with the retired Third Hokage, they could have likely weathered the storm with their raw power. This would have given Minato an extra decade or so to grow, allowing him to smoothly become the Fifth Hokage after Jiraiya's retirement.

If Minato Namikaze hadn't died during the Nine-Tails' rampage, but instead sealed half of the Nine-Tails within himself, then he could have basically done everything Naruto could do in the future.

Even if you consider it, Rasengan, Nine-Tails Mode, Sage Mode—except for lacking Ashura's chakra, Minato Namikaze has everything Naruto has, and he even has the brains that Naruto lacks…

When the Konoha Crush plan was launched, the thirty-something Minato Namikaze faced off against the fifty-year-old Orochimaru. Without even needing the Third Hokage's Reaper Death Seal, the enhanced Minato Namikaze could have beaten Orochimaru senseless.

This is the most appropriate order. Now that Minato Namikaze has died early, Konoha can only have the Third Hokage take the lead, which has thrown the succession order into chaos.

If Jiraiya were willing to succeed him, he would definitely be more suitable than Kakashi.

The bedridden Third Hokage tried to persuade Jiraiya, but to little avail.

……

"Hiruzen, you are no longer suitable to be Hokage. Someone needs to step up and make decisions about the village. Can you stand up?" Danzo asked menacingly in the hospital room.

The third generation's vitality rapidly diminished, their appearance became extremely aged, and their voices became weak and feeble.

He remained unmoved by Danzo's sarcasm: "I truly cannot stand up again. I will also take responsibility for the attack on Konoha."

"So I think you should step down from the position of Hokage." Danzo pressed on.

The Third Hokage gave him a strained look: "And then? Are you trying to say you're the most suitable candidate for Hokage? Too bad, you don't have a chance. The Daimyo won't agree."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, standing to the side, were both nodding, while Danzo was completely bewildered. What was going on? A daimyo? What did a daimyo have to do with this?

Mitokado Homura scoffed at him, saying, "You know perfectly well what you've done."

What do I know? What did I do?

He has done so many dirty things in secret that it's hard to tell which one Mitokado Homura was referring to.

All he knew was that this matter was related to the daimyo. Now that he knew the target, things were much easier. Danzo's methods were always simple and brutal, and he had no respect for the daimyo. He gently covered his right eye, which was covered by bandages. Daimyo? Hmph!

……

Konoha Village suffered greatly this time, with floods, vegetation, and yellow sand making the cleanup work extremely complicated.

Ino then allowed Karin and Buggy to use the Takigakure Village name to enter the site and participate in the reconstruction project.

As a friend of the leader of Takigakure, she would naturally introduce the Cross Society to the village. Currently, who is the ninja in charge of coordinating resources and organizing personnel to rebuild the village? It is Nara Shikaku.

These were all his own people. Shikaku roughly understood Ino's thoughts and agreed without saying a word.

The Cross Society is affiliated with Takigakure Village and has a formal relationship with Konoha. It has the approval of Shikaku, the approval of Shibuki from Takigakure Village, and Ino's connections, so there are no obstacles.

However, Karin's identity as a ninja from Kusagakure cannot be kept secret forever.

Ino gave him instructions in person.

She bit Karin's ear and whispered, "You'll be going to see my father in a little while."

Karin exclaimed in surprise, her face flushed red: "Is...is it to see Father?"

Ino squinted at her: "Don't claim relatives like that, that's my dad!"

"Yes, yes!" Karin nodded obediently.

"If you see my father and he asks, just say this..."

Fifteen minutes later.

In the Konoha interrogation department, Haiyi questioned Karin in a formal and official manner.

Were you a ninja from Kusagakure before?

What is your purpose in coming to Konoha this time as a ninja from Takigakure?

Karin's expression was slightly exaggerated as she spoke in a strange tone.

"I love Konoha, Konoha is so wonderful!"

"Kusagakure is no good, Konoha is good!"

"Our Konoha defeated Orochimaru! Our Konoha Village is truly amazing!"

After a barrage of praise, Inoichi was completely bewildered. He glanced at Morino Ibiki, who was accompanying him and asking questions, as if to say, "Is this kid out of his mind?"

Aside from being from Kusagakure, Karin's resume is otherwise unremarkable. Moreover, she is now a ninja from Takigakure, which is far superior to Kusagakure. Neither village seems to have any issues with her, and Konoha certainly doesn't.

Hai waved his hand, meaning you can leave now!

"Goodbye, Father!" With those words, Karin vanished in a flash.

Haiyi looked around, puzzled. He looked left and right, then behind him. There was no one behind him. Who was he calling?

Nearly a hundred skilled workers from the Cross Society arrived; they felled trees and built walls to help rebuild Konoha Village.

Buggy is indeed very skilled in construction. He was able to build the bandit camp in an orderly manner. The plains environment here in Konoha is much better than the mountains. He has the technology and the connections with Ino. He formed alliances and eventually took over nearly one-fifth of the reconstruction project.

This kind of thing can't be consumed entirely by your family; other ninja clans also need a share.

……

Another day passed, and Ebizo, the elder of Sunagakure, arrived at the border between the two countries. He was accompanied by more than a thousand Sunagakure ninjas. At this time, Sunagakure had gathered more than three thousand ninja soldiers on the border.

Gaara was not the Kazekage after all, and the three siblings had no say in the village elders' presence.

Ebizo sent an envoy with a formal letter to Konoha, demanding that the village immediately hand over the body of the Fourth Kazekage and provide an explanation for the entire incident.

"They're threatening Konoha! Hiruzen, step back, I'll take men and wipe them all out!" Danzo hadn't even had time to set off for the capital of the Land of Fire when he received the war ultimatum from Sunagakure. He immediately became excited and clamored to teach Sunagakure a lesson they would never forget.

The Fourth Kazekage was killed by Orochimaru, so where would Konoha find his body? That's just an excuse.

With the Third Hokage still alive, Jiraiya and Tsunade returning to the village, Kakashi and other key members still present, and Ino and other younger members having grown up, Konoha's strength is more than enough to easily defeat Sunagakure.

Danzo wanted to use this opportunity to cause trouble, but the Third Hokage absolutely refused. You actually believed this kind of blackmail? If a fight broke out over just a few words, the ninja world would have been wiped out long ago.

We will not respond. You can make your fuss, we'll just keep going.

Chapter 180 Acting Hokage?

The Sand Village could only muster 3,000 ninja at most, while the Leaf Village could easily muster 10,000 troops. The disparity in strength between the two sides was so great that the Sand Village had no choice but to be so assertive.

The village's leader died without a trace, his body never seen again, turning their meticulously planned operation into a laughingstock. Bow in apology, or simply withdraw? For the sake of face, they had to fight to the bitter end.

Even if you're just putting on an act, you have to appear tough, otherwise the villagers will lose heart.

Sunagakure is gambling that Konoha won't dare to start a war.

Even if war breaks out, they are not afraid. If they can't win, they will just disappear into the desert. How can you possibly cross the vast ocean to catch up with them?

Sunagakure was so poor that they gave up and were not afraid of fighting.

This kind of extortion is something they do very well; it's not the first time, and it won't be the last.

Ignoring the Sand Village's war blackmail, the Third Hokage launched a networking offensive, having Tsunade, Kakashi, and even Naruto—anyone he could talk to—take turns trying to persuade Jiraiya.

Jiraiya wasn't his most satisfied disciple, but now he is, if not, his most satisfied disciple!

"Hey, the old man wants you to be Hokage, why did you refuse? Just because of the prophecy of the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku?" Only Tsunade would ask such a direct question.

The two were drinking in a small tavern in the village, without any attendants, just the two of them.

Jiraiya was quite serious this time. Kakashi and Asuma had spoken with him over the past two days, as well as the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans. Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane had also expressed their opinions. Danzo was definitely against it, but this time he couldn't come up with any good reasons to object.

Everyone wanted him to become Hokage, but he himself didn't want to.

At this moment, I took a sip of the wine and found it to be somewhat bitter.

"I really don't have that talent, and my personality isn't suited for it... Sitting in an office all day like an old man, handling official business? That's not what I want." A hint of fear appeared on Jiraiya's face. The thought of himself sitting obediently in an office handling official business was simply too terrifying!

He liked and was used to a free and easy life, and really didn't want to confine himself to this village.

He prefers to be a protector rather than a controller.

Tsunade knew his character well. "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you." Tsunade herself did not want to be Hokage, so naturally she did not want to push Jiraiya into this fire pit. She offered a few more words of advice, then raised her glass, ready to continue drinking and change the subject.

Anyway, the Third Hokage asked me to help persuade him, and I did try, but Jiraiya still wouldn't agree. What could I do?

Suddenly, Naruto burst out from a corner.

He jumped directly onto the table in front of the two of them and pointed at Jiraiya.

Naruto was furious, and a hint of disappointment even appeared in his eyes as he looked at Jiraiya.

"Perverted Sage, why did you refuse to become Hokage? Aren't you one of the legendary Sannin? Is it shameful to become someone like the Third Hokage or the Fourth Hokage? I'm going to beat you up!"

Naruto charged forward, baring his teeth and claws. Tsunade quickly grabbed his clothes and glanced outside the tavern, where she saw Kakashi grinning and waving at her.

All those prophecies and claims of lack of motivation are just excuses.

Jiraiya lacked self-confidence; he always considered himself a failure, and that was the key issue.

After everyone tried to persuade him to no avail, sending Naruto was the only option left.

If Naruto's talk-no-jutsu was 150% effective against Tsunade, it would be 200% effective against Jiraiya. Jiraiya would think of his disciple Minato Namikaze whenever he saw Naruto.

Whether it was Shikaku, the Third Hokage, Kakashi, or Tsunade, none of them were as effective as Naruto at this moment. Seeing Naruto's expectant eyes, he was deeply moved, and the words he was about to say finally softened.

He said he needed to think about it carefully, and then left alone.

While Jiraiya hesitated, Danzo had already begun to act intensively.

He secretly traveled to the capital of the Land of Fire and returned a day later. In the Third Hokage's sickroom, he took out an appointment letter personally signed by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. The Daimyo agreed that after the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped down, he, Danzo Shimura, would succeed him as the Fifth Hokage.

Danzo, quite pleased with himself, asked, "Hiruzen, is there any problem with the daimyo's signature?"

Mitokado looked puzzled, not understanding how such a thing could have been produced.

The third generation lay on the hospital bed, his eyes very cloudy. He knew perfectly well that his old friend had definitely used methods he was unaware of, and this was definitely not the daimyo's original intention.

"I don't know what ninjutsu you used on the Daimyo, but Danzo, your actions have crossed the line again."

Danzo didn't care at all: "What? You think I forged this? Then let's go to the capital together and let the daimyo announce his decision in person, is that alright?"

The Third Hokage pondered to himself, unable to figure out what ninjutsu Danzo used to change the Daimyo's will. Logically speaking, the Daimyo should have had some powerful ninjas around him, so why did they just stand by and watch? Or had those ninjas also been bribed by Danzo?

The third generation was exhausted and felt dizzy and lightheaded after only thinking for a short while.