The Great Toad Sage's Prophecy

Why did they have to scheme against him layer by layer?

Was it really as the old saying went: "When the birds are gone, the good bow is put away. When the cunning rabbits are dead, the hunting hounds are cooked"?

Ringo Yuri's experience, along with the upheaval Hatake Sakumo was about to face, ignited a fire in Akira Sarutobi's heart.

What was the Will of Fire?

What was the Will of Fire?!

"Akira Sarutobi, is there something you want to say?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over and studied his son. He seemed to have noticed the anger in Akira Sarutobi's eyes.

"Nothing, Father. I may have hit a bottleneck in my training." Akira Sarutobi found an excuse.

"I see..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment and decided to visit his son that evening.

Come to think of it, from childhood until now, he had barely guided him as a father.

Now, this child had proven himself through his own abilities.

It was about time to pass down some of the Sarutobi Clan's inheritance to him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi made his arrangements, which were exactly what Akira Sarutobi wanted.

There were indeed some things Akira Sarutobi wanted to say to his father.

"For the next while, Akira Sarutobi, rest properly and recover from your injuries first." Biwako took over, clearly very satisfied with her eldest son's performance.

"Yes, Mother."

Akira Sarutobi nodded, then turned and left the Hokage's Office.

"Young Master Ryo." Outside the door, Minato Namikaze nodded in greeting to Akira Sarutobi.

Akira Sarutobi returned the gesture.

As he watched Akira Sarutobi leave, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura soon emerged from the office as well.

"Hmph, that Akira Sarutobi... he's been getting more and more overbearing lately." Utatane Koharu rebuked him as she walked.

He used to be quiet and reserved, rarely speaking.

Why had he changed so drastically now?

"Perhaps... he was influenced by Danzo." Mitokado Homura guessed.

Minato Namikaze, following behind them, heard every word clearly.

When he learned that Akira Sarutobi had killed members of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi and Raiga Kurosuki one after another, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Young Master Ryo... was he really that powerful?"

Having grown up alongside Akira Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze suddenly realized... he could no longer see through that Young Master Ryo who rarely smiled.

After entering the two advisors' office and closing the door.

Utatane Koharu said, "Minato Namikaze, you must become the Fourth Hokage. Do not disappoint us after all we have done to pave the way for you..."

"Yes."

Minato Namikaze hurriedly responded.

To become Hokage, one had to go through several steps.

First, receive official endorsement from the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.

Second, receive endorsement from Konoha High Command.

Third, be elected by the Jonin through a vote.

Back then, the Third Hokage had been personally appointed by the Second Hokage, which led to many people objecting after he returned to the village.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been too young at the time.

To placate everyone, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo had put in considerable effort.

After forming alliances and pulling strings, they had finally persuaded the various clans.

This was also what turned Konoha's upper echelon into a system of "four people."

The reason Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo held such great influence was that they had helped Hiruzen Sarutobi secure his Path of the Hokage back then.

In other words.

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo actually represented the interests of a great many Konoha clans.

Later, as time passed, Konoha's structure underwent some changes.

When Konoha had first been established, "clan shinobi" had formed the main body.

Now, the number of "civilian shinobi" had surpassed that of clan shinobi, becoming a sizable force among the populace.

These people had no clans and no inherited traditions.

It was impossible for Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to win them over the way they won over clan shinobi.

Therefore.

They had laid a trap for Hatake Sakumo, preparing to ruin his reputation among the people.

When the time came, Hatake Sakumo, having lost public support, would no longer be able to threaten the election for the next Hokage.

The ordinary civilian shinobi who had originally supported Hatake Sakumo would also turn to support someone else.

That person was Minato Namikaze.

This was the complete plan of Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzo.

Of course, Danzo did not support Minato Namikaze, which was another point of disagreement between him and the two advisors.

But when it came to ruining Hatake Sakumo's reputation, all three were in agreement.

"But... my lords, I believe the most likely person to become the Fourth Hokage should be Mr. Sakumo..."

Minato Namikaze, unaware of the truth, voiced the doubt in his heart.

He might be able to compete to become the Fifth Hokage.

But competing for Fourth Hokage, he was clearly no match for Hatake Sakumo.

They were separated by at least a generation, and that gap extended to their experience and reputations.

When Mr. Sakumo had made his name, he had still been playing in the mud.

"Heh..."

Utatane Koharu sneered, revealing an inscrutable smile.

"Before long, you will understand..."

Minato Namikaze still wanted to say something, but Mitokado Homura waved his hand. "Minato, work hard... the position of Fourth Hokage will be yours..."

Though it was broad daylight, Minato Namikaze felt a chill run through him.

The two advisors stood with their backs to the window. The sunlight pouring in only made their faces seem more sinister.

"I understand..." Minato Namikaze murmured before bowing and taking his leave.

"A young Hokage is always better than Konoha's White Fang, no matter how powerful he may be..."

After Minato Namikaze left, Utatane Koharu spoke again.

Minato Namikaze's youth was his greatest advantage.

In contrast, Konoha's White Fang had experienced too much, and his strength was too extraordinary. He would not be easy to control. Therefore, he was not suitable to be Hokage.

But Hatake Sakumo had a son after all... Kakashi Hatake.

With a weakness to exploit, wouldn't he be easy to manipulate?

"What exactly are those two higher-ups plotting..."

Minato Namikaze walked out of the Hokage Building, muttering to himself.

He could not understand why the two higher-ups were so certain that he would become the Fourth Hokage.

"Could it be..."

An impossible possibility made Minato Namikaze stop in his tracks.

The scene of Young Master Ryo teaching Kakashi flashed through his mind.

Along with the meaningful look Young Master Ryo had given him at the end.

Just as Minato Namikaze's eyes slowly widened.

A figure he had not seen in years blocked the sun before him.

"Yo... Minato, long time no see..."

Minato Namikaze said, "Jiraiya... Teacher?!"

Chapter 49: The Great Toad Sage's Prophecy

During the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure invaded the Land of Rain.

To make up for his mistakes, Jiraiya voluntarily chose to remain in the Land of Rain and teach three orphans.

That teaching lasted three years.

Three years later, Jiraiya returned to Konoha.

"Minato, after not seeing you for several years, you've become quite a handsome young man..."

Jiraiya raised his teacup and took a sip.

At this moment, he had arrived at Minato Namikaze's home.

"Teacher Jiraiya, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have changed at all..." Minato Namikaze said with a smile, clearly delighted in his heart.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Jiraiya looked toward a photograph on the cabinet.

It was a group photo.

A photo from back then, when he had served as the Jonin instructor leading three Genin.

"What about the other two kids..."

In the photograph.

A boy and a girl of the same age stood on either side of Minato Namikaze.

Jiraiya stood behind them.

The Minato Namikaze in the photograph looked very young, still just a child.

"They... died in battle..." Minato Namikaze's tone grew heavy.

"I see..."

Jiraiya drew a deep breath, and a melancholy atmosphere spread through the room.

Just as the silence completely enveloped the place, footsteps approached from afar.

"Teacher Minato..."

Kakashi ran in with an unconvinced look on his face, intending to ask Teacher Minato for special training aimed at his weaknesses.

But he had not expected there to be a guest present.

"This is..."

An unfamiliar face. He had never seen him before.

Minato Namikaze said, "Kakashi, let me introduce you. This is my mentor... Lord Jiraiya."

"..."