Participating in the Chunin Exam, I Was Broadcast Live!

Is this… does Kakashi suspect everyone now?

Of course.

Danzō had deceived him, and yet Danzō was still using the Uchiha like this. The Third Hokage had forgiven his assassination attempt, but then the Third Hokage had wronged Naruto.

Therefore.

Kakashi found his worldview collapsing; he no longer had anyone he could trust.

However.

Faced with such a Kakashi, none of the three Hokage present had the standing or confidence to persuade him.

Because.

As things had progressed to this point, seeing how their successors had developed, they were already deeply ashamed.

[Minato Namikaze]: But one thing is clear.

Second Hokage, your proposal to popularize the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu failed.

[Minato Namikaze]: The Third Hokage refused to promote it, stating that while the ninjutsu could be used by those with ample chakra, its widespread dissemination could lead to leaks. If other villages learned it, we would be in great danger.

So he refused.

[Tobirama Senju]: ...

[Tobirama Senju]: I really misjudged him. Hiruzen isn't suited to be Hokage. According to your accounts, Konoha experienced the Nine-Tails attack and is now in a period of transition, a time of weakness.

[Tobirama Senju]: In times of chaos, strict measures are necessary.

The weak must become stronger.

[Tobirama Senju]: And yet… he still lacks such decisiveness!

Tobirama Senju sighed as he spoke. Though he had died in his youth, his words now sounded like those of an old man.

This was the result of immense inner turmoil.

His disciples, entrusted with great responsibility, not only failed to live up to their potential but were constantly hindering him, and were even foolish, leading to various consequences… making him feel his life had been lived in vain.

Tobirama Senju… was greatly disheartened!

[Minato Namikaze]: ...

Kakashi didn't know how to comfort the Second Hokage at this moment.

Outside Konohagakure, Mei Terumi and Kisame were quietly observing the situation.

Kisame remained silent.

Mei Terumi was purely spectating, even feeling her mood improve.

Because Kitahara Kaede had refused Danzō.

This suggested… he did consider her Hidden Mist Village.

Moreover, her Hidden Mist Village actually had great potential.

Because… all the strong individuals were dead.

There weren't as many complicated issues, so any call to action would be met with widespread support.

But this place, Konoha… why was its politics so messy?

She had heard that someone from the Hidden Cloud Village had come to Konoha to abduct people, and the clan head of the Hyuga, Hyuga Hiashi, had killed him, only to be threatened and demanded to pay with his life.

It was practically bullying.

Yet the Third Hokage endured it.

The reason was his concern that the Hidden Cloud Village would use this as an excuse to start a major war.

It could be said that the Third Hokage was too tolerant.

And this was… like a turtle.

She also knew how to endure, but she would never be like the Third Hokage.

The indecisive Third Hokage, do you know? This is the biggest reason for your failure!

Chapter 033: Meeting Hinata Again! (Seeking Data!)

With Danzō gone, Kitahara Kaede split into two shadow clones to start cleaning his home.

He had always felt that the ninja world was quite convenient. For tasks like this, clones could do the work while you could lie in bed and read.

Speaking of books, though…

Kitahara Kaede glanced at the single bottle Danzō had thrown over.

Inside the bottle was a two-tomoe Sharingan.

The bottle contained culture medium, which could prevent the Sharingan from becoming necrotic due to prolonged lack of transplantation.

Actually, there was no need to worry so much. This was the Naruto world; the preservation quality of Bloodline Limits was quite strong.

However, Kitahara Kaede didn't use it immediately.

He wasn't worried about Danzō tampering with the eye, but rather that Danzō would be delighted if he used it.

Danzō had given him a Sharingan, but installing it would likely come with drawbacks, just like Kakashi's – a severe side effect for anyone not from the Uchiha clan.

The method to stabilize it was Wood Release.

And Danzō likely still had Wood Release cells in his possession.

Danzō probably hoped that by using the eye, he would be forced to compromise with him... and thus obtain the Wood Release cells Danzō held.

However, Danzō was likely overthinking things.

He, on the other hand, possessed Wood Release. For a wielder of Wood Release, the Sharingan wasn't a drain at all.

So, Kitahara Kaede accepted it as hush money.

Though he was eating at the Third Hokage's expense, given the Third Hokage's personality and the original story's progression, he was bound to die sooner rather than later.

Therefore, it was wise to keep his options open.

Kitahara Kaede tidied up his home and then headed to the Konoha library.

This was another convenient facility built by the Second Hokage.

It housed a vast collection of books, ranging from ordinary literature to ninjutsu-related texts.

The common explanation was that it was a place for villagers to improve their cultural literacy. The real purpose, however, was to gather ninjutsu books and other materials, hoping that shinobi would come here to learn and teach themselves.

The library had three floors.

The first floor was open to all villagers. The second floor contained some ninjutsu-related content, but not many books.

Therefore, students from the Ninja Academy could also borrow books from here.

However, the third floor was primarily filled with various ninjutsu books, which could not be taken out of the library, nor could they be copied.

The library's initial collection required each of Konoha's clans to contribute some material. While they didn't contribute their core techniques, it made the library a place with the most comprehensive information on Konoha's various clans.

However, it was open to Konoha's shinobi.

Kitahara Kaede lightly tapped the forehead protector on his headband. The librarian on duty immediately allowed him to go upstairs.

After Kitahara Kaede was brought out of the lab, the Third Hokage had trained him for a period before assigning him to the library.

It contained some knowledge about Wood Release, but for ordinary shinobi, it was useless without the Wood Release Bloodline Limit.

So, he had been studying on his own.

However, Kitahara Kaede wasn't here for Wood Release materials.

He walked along the bookshelves, searching for information related to the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.

As he rounded the L-shaped row of shelves, Kitahara Kaede suddenly stopped.

Because a girl with the Byakugan was returning a book to the shelf ahead.

She was as graceful as jade.

"Hinata—" Kitahara Kaede called out her name.

The girl with short black hair turned her head sharply.

Her face bloomed like a budding flower, instantly conveying her current state of pleasant surprise.

"Kaede-kun—you're back from your mission?" Hinata asked, her voice filled with joy.

She had passed by Kitahara Kaede's apartment several times recently, only to find it empty. She then learned that his Team 7 had gone out on a mission.

She hadn't expected Kitahara Kaede to return today.

If she had known, she wouldn't have left the house and might have run into him near his apartment.

"Just got back," Kitahara Kaede replied.

"And I wanted to look up some information."

"So..."

Kitahara Kaede paused.

"So, what have you been doing in the village these past few days?"

"Are you getting along with your new teammates?"

"Is your teacher very strict?"

These questions seemed like ordinary small talk.

But they were enough to make Hinata happy.

"My new classmates are easy to get along with, and my teacher is... Kurenai-sensei."

"Red-sensei's genjutsu is very powerful."

Hinata said, "She also took good care of me."

Is that so.

Kitahara Kaede listened to her speak.

Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other for a while, but Hinata had become much more talkative.

So Kitahara Kaede listened to her speak.

[Kitahara Kaede's Observation (^_-) Group Chat]

[Hashirama Senju]: This is really a bit awkward, it reminds me of the days when I first got to know Mito.

[Hashirama Senju]: Back then, our Konohagakure and the Land of Whirlpools had just formed an alliance, and then they arranged for Mito to come over.

[Hashirama Senju]: I didn't know what to say to her at the time, so I told her everything about myself, no matter how small the detail...

[Tobirama Senju]: Big Brother, please shut up. I'm still single.

[Hashirama Senju]: Hmph... Sorry, Tobirama, I won't feed you dog food anymore.

[Tobirama Senju]: ...It seems I've finally done one thing right.

[Tobirama Senju]: This library was also built at my insistence, and the materials collected from various clans in the past can finally be used by future generations.

[Minato Namikaze]: Indeed. The transmission of culture is very fast.

[Might Guy]: Kakashi, you're lying again. What book are you reading? Aren't you

[Minato Namikaze]: Shh!

[Minato Namikaze]: Icha Icha Paradise?

[Might Guy]: This is Jiraiya's

[Minato Namikaze]: Is this Master Jiraiya's book? Is he still writing books? My Naruto-chan's name was taken from Master Jiraiya's The Tale of the Utterly Determined Ninja. I was very moved by that book, so this Icha Icha Paradise must also be very moving.