I was broadcast live while taking the Chunin Exam!

[Minato Namikaze]: @Kakashi, please explain.

【…】

Kakashi has not yet responded.

Then, the Third Hokage continued speaking in front of Kitahara Kaede.

"The people you see now are the team from the Sound Village participating in this event."

"However... the information I received indicates that the mastermind behind the Sound Village is... Orochimaru, my former disciple."

"He betrayed Konoha and used Konoha ninjas for experiments, which is unforgivable. He has become a rogue ninja of Konoha."

"I was too soft-hearted to deal with him... Now he's actually sent his own people to Konoha."

“I’m worried he might do something.”

“I don’t know if he will come this time. I will consider the safety of the village, but I can’t interfere with the candidates’ affairs.”

The third generation seemed to let out a deep sigh.

Kitahara Kaede didn't respond; he knew that the troublesome task given by the Third Hokage was the core issue.

really.

The third generation continued.

"Therefore, I cannot guarantee that Orochimaru will not sabotage the Chunin Exams this time, if he is mixed in with the examinees..."

"help me……"

He seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"Hold him back."

"Then I will deal with him personally."

"I made mistakes in the past, and now I... must make amends."

The Third Hokage said earnestly, "Even if it might cost me my life this time!"

"Feng-kun, as Hokage, you bear the responsibility for the entire village. As long as the village is behind you, I cannot retreat."

"And it is my duty to die for the village."

The Third Hokage was really a very responsible Hokage at this point... just kidding!

[Observing Kitahara Kaede? (^_-) Small Group]

[Tobirama Senju]: Sarutobi is getting better and better at acting.

[Big Pillar Silly]: Huh? How did you figure that out?

[Hashirama Senju's younger brother]: You can't tell, can you? Hiruzen Sarutobi's statement is very strange.

[Hashirama Senju's younger brother]: First of all, his disciple Orochimaru used people from the same village for experiments... which must have killed the people in the village, but he let Orochimaru go.

[Hashirama Senju's younger brother]: Does the life of his disciple matter, but the lives of the villagers don't matter?

[Hashirama Senju's younger brother]: As a Kage in your eyes, you should at least treat everyone equally!

[Hashirama Senju's younger brother]: So that's why it's unacceptable! So I think he's acting!

Izuna is absolutely right.

Mei Terumi, who was just watching the show, nodded in agreement.

As the Hidden Mist Village in the Village of Bloody Mist, her village is in a terrible state, but the Third Hokage's statement is problematic.

Letting Orochimaru go doesn't align with his current actions of being willing to sacrifice for the village.

Because... it's unfair to those who were harmed by Orochimaru.

This is also the part where the Third Hokage was criticized the most by the previous Hokage.

This personality trait caused him to keep making mistakes.

And so, Konoha suffered just as much.

[Minato Namikaze]: Wait a minute!

Watergate suddenly called for a halt.

Everyone immediately looked at him.

[Minato Namikaze]: Lord Orochimaru... betrayed us?

[Tobirama Senju]: Minato, you're a bit adorably clueless.

···

“Then…” Kitahara Kaede looked at the Third Hokage and handed the data back to him.

"I will do my best in my job."

Hearing Kitahara Kaede's response, the Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.

"I don't worry about your work."

“However, if I were to perish, then Konoha would have to rely on you,” the Third Hokage said earnestly.

That's a bit harsh.

It's like saying... if the Third Hokage were to die during this Chunin Exams, then Kitahara Kaede would be chosen as the next Hokage.

Chapter 039 Orochimaru is coming! The Kazekage, Orochimaru! (Requesting data)

“However, if I were to perish, then Konoha would have to rely on you,” the Third Hokage said earnestly.

As soon as these words were spoken, the small group chat immediately became lively.

[Observing Kitahara Kaede's small group (^_-)]

[Big Pillar Silly]: Sarutobi did do one good thing after all. He finally realized it was time to change the person.

[Tobirama Senju]: So, does that mean Kitahara Kaede was the Fifth Hokage?

[Kidney Deficiency Naruto]: Very likely, because wasn't Danzo 5.5 and I the Sixth Hokage who appeared before?

Kakashi finally showed up.

He was tagged so many times that he thought the Hokage from previous generations had discovered that he was watching the young prince, but thankfully that wasn't the case.

That's why I'm actively posting updates.

[Dazhuzi Hanhan]: If that's the case, it's pretty good.

[Big Pillar Silly]: Kitahara Kaede is not quite like me, but more like Tobirama, he is intelligent.

[Unmarried women of advanced age who can't get married]: This might not be a good thing...

Mei Terumi began to ponder deeply.

If Kitahara Kaede becomes the Fifth Hokage, then her Hidden Mist Village would be meaningless, wouldn't it?

What kind of incentives will Kirigakure offer to attract Kitahara Kaede?

[Tobirama Senju]: ? Why is it bad?

[Unmarried women of marriageable age]: Ah, you see, if Kitahara-kun is the Fifth Hokage, but Danzo is 5.5, why is that?

[Unmarried women of marriageable age]: Doesn't this mean something bad is going to happen? If the fifth generation abdicates, that's fine, but I'm afraid something serious is going to happen.

[Dazhuzi Hanhan]: That makes sense.

[Minato Namikaze]: Now that you mention it, I'm getting nervous too.

【Tobirama Senju】: Alas, Shimura is simply unpopular.

[Might Guy]: Speaking of which, Kitahara Kaede has left.

Ah Kai gave me a reminder.

When Might Guy noticed that Kakashi had suddenly lost his focus, he immediately realized that Kakashi had entered a small group chat, so he also entered the small group chat to speak.

Sure enough, Kakashi had already run in.

Everyone immediately looked at Kitahara Kaede.

"..." Kitahara Kaede.

When the Third Hokage hinted that he was the next Fifth Hokage, Kitahara Kaede returned the data to the Third Hokage.

"If that's the case, then I'll head back now."

"I will do my best to fulfill my duties during the Chunin Exams."

····

It seemed Kitahara Kaede hadn't understood the Third Hokage's hint, but the Third Hokage still maintained his smile and kind demeanor.

"That's good—"

"Then you should go back and rest first."

·····

So Kitahara Kaede went out through the main gate.

The third generation, on the other hand, continued to stay in the office.

However, the people in the small group noticed that even though Kitahara Kaede had left, the viewpoint remained unchanged.

It was still in the third generation's office.

A few minutes later, just as everyone was wondering what was going on, the side door of the office opened, and two people walked in.

He is also quite old.

One male and one female.

They're all elderly people.

The woman has wrinkles on her face, while the man wears glasses.

【Senju Tobirama】: The appearances of these two people seem to be those of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

[Da Zhu Zi Han Han]: Oh, aren't these your other two disciples?

【Kidney Deficiency Fire Shadow】: refers to the two advisors, Koharu Utatane and Ero Mitokado.

Kakashi is very useful; he's a living knowledge base.

Actively introduce it to people in the group.

Then Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu came before the Third Generation.

"Can you just say that to him directly?" Xiaochun asked.

“It seems he refused,” Mitokado Homura said.

"He refused, but that's good, it means he will protect me in this Chunin Exam."

“I watched him grow up.”

“I know he’s someone who doesn’t like trouble.”

"So even if Orochimaru really comes, I can still save my life," the Third Hokage said.

"Sigh... I'm getting old, and I've become a coward," the third generation sighed.

This statement also reveals the reason why Konoha under his current rule is in this state.

Because... he chickened out.

He no longer wanted war; he only wanted a brief period of peace, even if it meant various sacrifices.

······

"I see." Xiaochun nodded.

Sarutobi still thinks about these things.

However, the third generation continued.

"I'm getting old, and I need to think about what's to come."

"Generally speaking, the next Hokage is a relative who succeeds him. For example, the Third and Fourth Raikage of Amegakure were father and son. Moreover, they were both named A."