Participating in the Chunin Exam, I Was Broadcast Live!

[Minato Namikaze]: @Kakashi, please explain.

[...]

Kakashi didn't respond for the moment.

Meanwhile, in front of Kitahara Kaede, the Third Hokage continued.

"The people you see now are the participating teams from Otogakure."

"However... the information I've received indicates that the mastermind behind Otogakure is my former disciple, Orochimaru."

"He betrayed Konoha, conducted experiments on Konoha ninja, which is unforgivable, and became a rogue ninja of Konoha."

"I was too soft and didn't eliminate him... and now he's arranged for his own people to come to Konoha."

"I'm worried he might do something."

"I don't know if he'll come this time. I will consider the village's safety, but I can't interfere with the candidates."

The Third Hokage let out a long sigh.

Kitahara Kaede didn't respond, understanding that the difficult task the Third Hokage was assigning was the core issue.

As expected.

The Third Hokage continued.

"Therefore, I cannot guarantee whether Orochimaru will disrupt the Chunin Exam. If he infiltrates among the candidates..."

"Help me..."

He seemed to hesitate.

"Delay him."

"Then I will deal with him personally."

"My past self made a mistake, and my present self... must atone."

The Third Hokage said seriously, "Even if it costs me my life this time!"

"Kaede, becoming Hokage means bearing the entire village. As long as the village is behind me, I cannot retreat."

"And dying for the village is my duty."

At this moment, the Third Hokage was truly a responsible Hokage... not!

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

[Tobirama Senju]: Hiruzen is getting better at acting.

[Hashirama Senju]: Huh? How can you tell?

[Brother of Hashirama Senju]: You probably can't tell. Hiruzen Sarutobi's reasoning is very strange.

[Brother of Hashirama Senju]: Firstly, his disciple Orochimaru experimented on people from the same village... which surely led to the deaths of people in the village. Yet, he let Orochimaru go.

[Brother of Hashirama Senju]: Are his disciple's life less valuable than the lives of people in the village?

[Brother of Hashirama Senju]: As a Kage, as you all call them, you should at least treat everyone equally!

[Brother of Hashirama Senju]: So he's unqualified! That's why I think he's acting!

Izuna's words were spot on.

Mei Terumi, who was observing, also nodded.

As a member of Kirigakure during the Blood Mist Village Era, her village was in a terrible state. However, the Third Hokage's reasoning had flaws.

From the fact that he let Orochimaru go, it didn't align with his current display of willingness to sacrifice for the village.

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

This was also the area where this Third Hokage was most criticized by the previous Hokages.

His personality had caused him to constantly make mistakes.

Consequently, Konoha suffered so much.

[Minato Namikaze]: Wait a moment!

Minato suddenly called for a pause.

Everyone quickly looked at him.

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

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

"Then..." Kitahara Kaede looked at the Third Hokage and returned the documents.

"I will do my best to fulfill my duties."

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

"I can rest assured when you handle things."

"However, if something unfortunate were to happen to me, then I would have to entrust Konoha to you," the Third Hokage said earnestly.

Those words carried a heavy weight.

It was as if he was saying... that if the Third Hokage were to die during this Chunin Exam, then Kitahara Kaede would be named the next Hokage.

Chapter 039: Orochimaru is Coming! Kazekage Orochimaru! (Data Request)

"However, if something unfortunate were to happen to me, then I would have to entrust Konoha to you," the Third Hokage said earnestly.

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

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

[Hashirama Senju]: Hiruzen finally did one good thing. He finally knows it's time for a change.

[Tobirama Senju]: So, Kitahara Kaede is the Fifth Hokage?

[Minato Namikaze]: It's highly likely, because wasn't Danzō 5.5 before me, and then I was the Sixth Hokage?

Kakashi finally chimed in.

He had been @'d so many times, he thought he had been discovered by the past Hokage lords for reading little novels. Fortunately, that wasn't the case.

That's why he proactively made his presence known.

[Hashirama Senju]: If that's the case, it's pretty good.

[Hashirama Senju]: Kitahara Kaede is different from me. He's very similar to Tobirama, he has a brain.

[Unmarriageable Older Single Woman]: If that's the case, it might not be so good...

Mei Terumi began to ponder.

If Kitahara Kaede became the Fifth Hokage, wouldn't her Kirigakure become meaningless?

What leverage would Kirigakure have to attract Kitahara Kaede?

[Tobirama Senju]: ? Why isn't it good?

[Unmarriageable Older Single Woman]: Ah, this, look, if Kitahara is the Fifth, but Danzō is 5.5, then why?

[Unmarriageable Older Single Woman]: Doesn't this indicate that some problem will arise? If the Fifth Hokage abdicates, it's fine, but I'm afraid something major will happen.

[Hashirama Senju]: That makes sense.

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

[Tobirama Senju]: Sigh, Shimura just isn't popular.

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

Might Guy reminded them.

Might Guy noticed Kakashi suddenly lose his spirit and immediately understood that he had entered the small group, so his own spirit followed him into the small group to speak.

As expected, he saw that Kakashi had already run in.

Everyone quickly looked towards Kitahara Kaede.

"..." Kitahara Kaede.

After being subtly hinted at by the Third Hokage that he was the next Fifth Hokage, Kitahara Kaede returned the documents to the Third Hokage.

"If that's how things are, then I'll be going back first."

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

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

"That's good—"

"Then you should go back and rest."

Thus, Kitahara Kaede left through the main entrance.

The Third Hokage remained in the office.

However, everyone in the small group noticed that even though Kitahara Kaede had left, their view hadn't changed.

They were still in the Third Hokage's office.

After a few minutes passed, and as everyone was feeling confused, the side door of the office opened, and two people walked in.

They were also of advanced age.

One man and one woman.

Both were elderly.

The woman had wrinkles on her face, while the man wore glasses.

[Tobirama Senju]: The appearances of these two seem to be Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

[Hashirama Senju]: Oh, aren't these your other two disciples?

"Minato Namikaze": He's referring to the two advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Kakashi is very useful, a living knowledge base.

He actively introduced them to the people in the group.

Meanwhile, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu approached the Third Hokage.

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

"It seems he refused," Homura replied.

"He did refuse, but this is good. It means he'll look out for me during this Chunin Exam."

"I watched him grow up."

"I know. He's a person who dislikes trouble."

"So, even if Orochimaru actually shows up, I can still save my life," the Third Hokage said.

"Ah... I'm getting old, and I'm also getting cowardly," the Third Hokage sighed.

And that statement conveyed the reason why Konoha, under his governance, had become the way it was.

Because... he had become cowardly.

He no longer wanted war. He just wanted to pursue a brief period of peace, even if it meant making this sacrifice or that.

"I see," Koharu nodded.

Hiruzen still thinks so much.

However, the Third Hokage continued, "I am old, and I also need to consider what comes next."

"Generally, the next Hokage is a relative of the current one. For example, the Third Raikage and Fourth Raikage of the Third Raikage of Amegakure were father and son. And they were both named 'A'."