I Want to Become Hokage

"Knock, knock, knock." A sudden knock sounded at the door. Naruto opened it to find an old man standing outside, dressed in the red-and-white Hokage robe, wearing a conical hat, and smoking a pipe.

Konoha's current Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.

"Good evening, Grandpa Third." Naruto smiled when he saw him, his tone full of respect.

"Naruto, I didn't disturb you, did I?" The Third took a puff from his pipe and asked cheerfully.

Today, he had seen Naruto's encounter on the street through his crystal ball.

Although most of the villagers still disliked him, some of their attitudes had greatly improved.

At some point, Naruto had become polite and refined. Even his appearance had changed.

The personality and behavior of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had changed as well. That was not good news for him.

It meant there were more unknowns.

At that thought, the Third's gaze darkened slightly.

But he quickly resumed his kindly smile.

"Please come in, Grandpa Third. You're usually so busy; it's already rare for you to find time to visit me. How could you be disturbing me?" Naruto led the Third inside and handed him a glass of water.

Naruto wore a gentle smile, carrying himself with a refined air.

For a moment, his face overlapped with Minato Namikaze's.

The Third stared blankly, unable to stop himself from sighing.

"Naruto, you've really grown up."

"People always grow up. I was too childish before, which was why everyone disliked me. Now, I want to be as gentle and kind as the Fourth Hokage. I want everyone's acknowledgment. I want to become Hokage." Naruto's words were filled with longing for the future.

"Is that so? Minato is your idol, huh?" The Third murmured, a flash of guilt passing through his eyes.

He understood.

It seemed Naruto had been influenced by the book Past Hokages and had decided to become a Hokage like Minato.

It appeared that, despite his young age, he had already taken on quite a burden.

The Third tenderly rubbed Naruto's head and said warmly, "Naruto, Grandpa Third will come visit you often from now on. Remember, you're not alone. I will always be your strongest support."

That way, I can become your only light.

"Grandpa Third, don't underestimate me. I'm going to become Hokage!" Naruto took a deep breath, his eyes full of hope.

"Grandpa Third, just as you said, wherever leaves dance, fire burns without end. Its light will continue illuminating the village and cause new leaves to sprout. I want to become that flame, devote myself, and ignite Konoha."

Naruto's sincere words moved the Third somewhat.

Minato, Naruto really is exactly like you.

Was this the final gift you left for the village?

"Naruto, if you need anything, tell Grandpa Third anytime."

The guilt in the Third's heart deepened further.

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa Third. I don't need anything for now. You need to take care of yourself too. Don't work yourself too hard protecting everyone."

"I am the Hokage. Protecting everyone is my responsibility." The Third took a puff from his pipe and replied cheerfully.

Just as the Third wanted to chat with Naruto a little longer and gain a deeper understanding of his mental state, an Anbu dressed in black appeared beside him and whispered a few words.

The Third's expression changed. He immediately stood up. "Naruto, I'll come see you next time."

Naruto's face still held its perfect smile. Clearly, he had long grown accustomed to such scenes.

For these ninja, entering and leaving his home was effortless.

Naruto knew that his life was also under these ninja's surveillance.

Naruto obediently escorted the Third to the door and watched his slightly stooped figure disappear into the night.

The smile on his face gradually vanished, and his gaze turned cold.

His performance this time should have pleased the Third. The supplies would probably be delivered more frequently from now on.

Although the Third did not visit Naruto's little house often, he occasionally brought some "supplies."

The last supply had been a book called Will of Fire.

Just as Naruto had said before, wherever leaves danced, fire burned without end.

This was the core of the Will of Fire that the Past Hokages had always revered.

Roughly speaking, it meant casting aside all prejudice, burning oneself up, and selflessly devoting oneself to caring for the younger generation.

Yet Naruto had not felt the Will of Fire. He asked himself what he had done wrong, but he had always suffered unfair cold stares and insults.

Everyone seemed to want to tear him apart.

If not for the protection of the Anbu ninja, he might already be dead.

Aizen had once taught Naruto that the best way to control someone was to first destroy their will.

That was so similar to his own situation.

Whenever his mood sank into despair, the Third would always appear "by coincidence," comfort him, and instill the Will of Fire into him.

How was that any different from brainwashing?

How could that make him acknowledge Konoha? How could it make him acknowledge the Will of Fire?

Naruto did not know what he would do in the future, but for now, in order to hide himself, he would maintain a perfect smile and move the villagers with his "sincerity."

With that thought, Naruto sat down, opened Will of Fire, and began reading it carefully.

This was his thirty-eighth time reading it.

Only by knowing it by heart could he avoid exposing any flaws in daily life.

True disguise meant forgetting one's original self.

"Naruto has started reading Will of Fire again." Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the Anbu promptly reported Naruto's movements.

"Naruto truly has inherited the Will of Fire." The Third's eyes flickered as he murmured.

"Did you hear that, Danzo? Naruto may be an even more outstanding inheritor of the Will of Fire than Minato." The Third looked proud.

"This proves that my decision was correct."

"Humph." In a corner of the Hokage's office, a one-eyed old man covered in bandages and leaning on a cane snorted coldly.

"You're too softhearted, Hiruzen. You should hand Naruto over to our Root. I would train him into the perfect weapon of war. That would be the foolproof decision."

"Naruto will never be handed over to Root. He is Minato's only son. I must give Minato an answer."

"An answer? Heh heh." Danzo laughed coldly.

"If that were really the case, you wouldn't have allowed Naruto to end up in such circumstances. Hiruzen, you understand that Root is Naruto's true destination. I would train him into the most perfect tool—"

"Danzo, Naruto is not a tool of Root." The Third's face turned cold.

"Where there is light, there will inevitably be darkness. But Naruto will remain in the light and inherit the Will of Fire."

"Danzo, remember this: I am the Hokage."

"Humph, Hiruzen, you'll regret this."

Danzo gave the Third a deep look, then swept his sleeve angrily and left.

"Hokage, always Hokage." The desire for the position of Hokage swelled in his heart once more.