Minato Namikaze: @Kakashi, explain it.
Kakashi did not respond for the moment.
Before Kaede, the Third Hokage continued speaking.
"The people you are looking at now are Otogakure's team participating this time."
"But... the information I received indicates that the person behind Otogakure... is my former student, Orochimaru."
"He betrayed the Hidden Leaf Village, used its ninjas for experiments, committed unforgivable acts, and became a Rogue Ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village."
"I was too soft-hearted to deal with him back then... and now he has actually sent his own people to the Hidden Leaf Village."
"I am worried that he may try something."
"I do not know whether he will come this time. I will consider the village's security, but I cannot interfere with the examinees."
The Third Hokage seemed to let out a long sigh.
Kaede did not respond. He knew that the troublesome task the Third Hokage was giving him was the real point.
Sure enough.
The Third Hokage continued.
"So, I cannot guarantee that Orochimaru will not disrupt the Chunin Ninja Exams. If he is hiding among the examinees..."
"Help me..."
He seemed to hesitate.
"Hold him back."
"Then I will personally deal with him."
"I was wrong in the past. Now, I... must make amends."
The Third Hokage spoke seriously. "Even if it means using my life this time!"
"Kaede, becoming Hokage means bearing the entire village on your shoulders. As long as the village is behind me, I cannot retreat."
"And dying for the village is also my duty."
The Third Hokage was truly a very responsible Hokage at this moment... my ass!
Observing Kaede (^_-) Small Group
Tobirama Senju: Hiruzen is getting better and better at acting.
Hashirama Senju: Huh? How can you tell?
Brother of Hashirama Senju: You cannot tell, can you? What Hiruzen Sarutobi said is very strange.
Brother of Hashirama Senju: First, his student Orochimaru used people from the same village for experiments... which means he definitely harmed the lives of people in the village, yet he let Orochimaru go.
Brother of Hashirama Senju: Is his student's life a life, but the lives of the villagers are not?
Brother of Hashirama Senju: As one of the so-called Kage, he should at least treat everyone equally!
Brother of Hashirama Senju: So this makes him unqualified! That is why I think he is acting!
What Izuna said made a lot of sense.
Mei Terumi, who had been watching the drama unfold, nodded as well.
As someone from Kirigakure during the Blood Mist Village Era, her own village had also been a complete mess, but there was clearly something wrong with what the Third Hokage said.
Judging from the fact that he let Orochimaru go, it did not match his current claim that he was willing to sacrifice himself for the village.
Because... that was unfair to the people Orochimaru had harmed.
And this was also what the previous Hokage criticized this Third Hokage for the most.
Because of this personality, he kept making mistakes.
That was why the Hidden Leaf Village had ended up so miserable as well.
Minato Namikaze: Wait!
Minato suddenly called for a pause.
Everyone hurriedly looked at him.
Minato Namikaze: Lord Orochimaru... betrayed the village?
Tobirama Senju: Minato, you are kind of adorably clueless.
"Then..." Kaede looked at the Third Hokage and returned the documents to him.
"I will do my best to fulfill my duties."
Hearing Kaede's response, the Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
"When you handle things, I am at ease."
"But if I unfortunately perish, then I will have to leave the Hidden Leaf Village to you as well," the Third Hokage said seriously.
Those words carried considerable weight.
It was as though he were saying... if the Third Hokage died during these Chunin Ninja Exams, then Kaede would be named the next Hokage.
Orochimaru Is Coming! Orochimaru the Kazekage! (Please Support with Data)
"But if I unfortunately perish, then I will have to leave the Hidden Leaf Village to you as well," the Third Hokage said seriously.
The moment those words were spoken, the small group immediately became lively.
Observing Kaede (^_-) Small Group
Hashirama Senju: Hiruzen has finally done one good thing. He finally knows it is time to replace himself.
Tobirama Senju: So that means Kaede is the Fifth Hokage?
Minato Namikaze: Very likely. Did Danzo not appear as 5.5 before, while I was the Sixth Hokage?
Kakashi finally popped up.
After being @-mentioned so many times, he had thought the previous Hokage big shots had discovered him reading little erotic novels. Fortunately, that was not the case.
That was why he finally showed himself.
Hashirama Senju: If that is the case, then that is pretty good.
Hashirama Senju: Kaede is not quite like me. He is a lot like Tobirama—he has brains.
Unmarriageable Older Single Woman: If that is the case, it may not be good...
Mei Terumi began pondering deeply.
If Kaede became the Fifth Hokage, then would her Kirigakure not lose all meaning?
What bargaining chip would Kirigakure need to offer in order to attract Kaede?
Tobirama Senju: ? Why would that be bad?
Unmarriageable Older Single Woman: Ah, look, if Kitahara Kaede is the Fifth Hokage, but Danzo is 5.5, why is that?
Unmarriageable Older Single Woman: Does that not mean something will happen? It would be fine if the Fifth Hokage stepped down, but I am afraid something major will happen.
Hashirama Senju: That makes sense.
Minato Namikaze: Now that you mention it, I am getting nervous too.
Tobirama Senju: Heh, Shimura really is unpopular.
Might Guy: By the way, Kaede has left.
Guy gave everyone a reminder.
When Might Guy noticed Kakashi suddenly lose his spirit, he immediately figured Kakashi had entered the small group, so his own consciousness entered the group to speak as well.
Sure enough, he discovered that Kakashi had already come in.
Everyone hurriedly looked toward Kaede.
"..." Kaede.
After the Third Hokage hinted that he would be the next Fifth Hokage, Kaede returned the documents to him.
"If that is the case, then I will head back first."
"During the Chunin Ninja Exams, I will also do my best to carry out my responsibilities."
It seemed Kaede had not understood the Third Hokage's hint, but the Third Hokage still maintained a smile and a kindly expression.
"That is good—"
"Then go back and rest first."
Thus, Kaede left through the main entrance.
The Third Hokage remained in the office.
However, everyone in the small group noticed that although Kaede had already left, their view had not changed.
They were still in the Third Hokage's office.
After perhaps a few minutes, just as everyone was beginning to feel puzzled, the side door of the office opened, and two people actually walked in.
They were both quite old.
One man and one woman.
They were both elderly.
The woman had wrinkles on her face, while the man wore glasses.
Tobirama Senju: Those two seem to be Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
Hashirama Senju: Oh, are those not your other two disciples?
Minato Namikaze: They are the two advisers, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
Kakashi was very useful, a living encyclopedia.
He proactively introduced them to the people in the group.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu came before the Third Hokage.
"Was it really okay to say that to him directly?" Koharu asked.
"He seemed to have refused," Mitokado Homura said.
"He did refuse, but that is fine. It means he will protect me during these Chunin Ninja Exams."
"I watched him grow up."
"I know he is someone who dislikes trouble."
"So, even if Orochimaru really comes, I can still save my own life," the Third Hokage said.
"Heh... I am old, and I have become cowardly," the Third Hokage said with a sigh.
Those words also revealed why the Hidden Leaf Village under his rule had become like this.
Because... he had become cowardly.
He did not want war anymore. He only wanted to pursue temporary peace, even if it meant making this sacrifice or that sacrifice.
"I see." Koharu nodded.
Hiruzen really did think so much.
But the Third Hokage continued.
"I am getting old, so I also have to consider what comes next."
"Generally speaking, the next Hokage is succeeded by a relative. Take Amegakure's Third Raikage and Fourth Raikage as an example—they are father and son. And they are both named A."
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