The Uchiha Clan Is Unfit to Lead Konoha

In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi had long been secretly observing every outstanding ninja in the village.

That naturally included Minato Namikaze, as well as his own direct disciple and longtime favorite student, Orochimaru.

So far, the only Hokage candidates Hiruzen Sarutobi favored were Minato Namikaze and his disciple Orochimaru.

And between those two, the most suitable choice was undoubtedly Minato Namikaze.

Whether in terms of strength, character, or conduct, Minato Namikaze surpassed his beloved disciple Orochimaru.

After nodding with satisfaction and smiling, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly turned his head toward Minato Namikaze's profile with a half-joking look and asked probing, "Minato, if you were made Hokage right now, what would you do?"

"Third Hokage, what did you say?"

Minato Namikaze widened his eyes in surprise, thinking Hiruzen Sarutobi was joking with him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed twice, then explained seriously, "I'm getting older and older."

"It's about time for me to retire and enjoy my remaining years."

Those words made Minato Namikaze's heart sink slightly.

Naturally, he did not believe Hiruzen Sarutobi was someone who would so easily admit he was old.

In his fifties or sixties, he was already saying he was old and wanted to retire? Judging by Hiruzen Sarutobi's vigorous spirit and swift stride, he hardly looked like someone in poor health.

There had to be some other reason behind this.

However, Minato Namikaze did not ask. If Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to tell him, he naturally would.

"Third Hokage, I..."

At that moment, Minato Namikaze thought of his bet with Uchiha Daiki.

For a moment, he felt as though that man possessed the ability to foresee the future.

He actually guessed right... The Third Hokage really intends to pass the Hokage Position to me, but...

He had lost that match in his bet with Uchiha Daiki.

And the condition the other party had named was that if he ever had the chance to become Hokage, he had to give it up.

Minato Namikaze's feelings were complicated to the extreme.

He had never expected things to truly develop this way.

"What's wrong, Minato?"

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed that something was off about Minato Namikaze's expression.

He stopped, turned around with his hands behind his back, and looked at him.

At that point, Minato Namikaze could only force himself to ask, "Third Hokage, you weren't serious about what you just said, were you?"

"What? You don't want to be Hokage?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression instantly turned stern, and his tone was full of authority. He seemed somewhat displeased.

He was also puzzled.

Minato Namikaze had never been so hesitant and evasive before.

What had made him act like this?

Under Hiruzen Sarutobi's sharp gaze, Minato Namikaze had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Third Hokage, actually, I made an agreement with someone."

"If you truly intend to give the Hokage Position to me, I'm afraid I can't accept it..."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing that, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly understood, but his brows immediately furrowed deeply.

He stared at the embarrassed Minato Namikaze for a while before taking a deep breath and asking calmly, "Who made an agreement with you that would make you willingly give up the chance to become Hokage? Minato, if it was a decision you made, then I believe it certainly wasn't made frivolously."

"But you must think this through. To be honest, I think very highly of you. In all of Konoha, there is currently no one more suited than you to take over this position."

"I hope you won't disappoint me."

Those words placed immense psychological pressure on Minato Namikaze.

He could only force himself to explain the bet, which now seemed utterly absurd in hindsight.

Very quickly, Minato Namikaze explained the entire course of events.

After hearing his explanation, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed even deeper.

He had never imagined that Konoha's famed Yellow Flash would lose a wager on the battlefield to a member of the Uchiha Clan.

What Hiruzen Sarutobi had not expected even more was that such a trivial matter would make Minato Namikaze voluntarily give up the Hokage Position.

But what surprised Hiruzen Sarutobi most of all was that Uchiha Daiki also intended to lay claim to the Hokage Position.

That immediately stirred intense vigilance within Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"A man's word is his bond. You truly cannot go back on your word. Minato, you lost your bet with Uchiha Daiki and promised to voluntarily give up the Hokage Position, so naturally you must keep your promise."

"However..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately paused there.

Sure enough, Minato Namikaze looked up at him.

Within those clear eyes, tinged with embarrassment and shame, was a trace of longing.

It was clear that he truly wanted to become Hokage.

"Although I do not know why someone with your intelligence and ability would fall into such an obvious trap, Minato, even if you make a choice against your heart for the sake of a promise and give up becoming Hokage, this position of mine will only be passed on to you."

"The Uchiha Clan is unfit to lead Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words made Minato Namikaze's gaze sharpen slightly.

He had lived in Konoha for more than twenty years.

Ever since childhood, he had heard of the conflicts between the Uchiha Clan and the village, but most of it had only been hearsay.

Never had any elder, especially someone as highly placed as the Hokage, said anything like this to him.

Calling them out by name and directly targeting the Uchiha Clan.

This was the first time he had encountered it.

For a moment, Minato Namikaze did not know how to respond. He could only stand there at a loss, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"You needn't be surprised, Minato."

"You'll understand why I say this in the future. Forget that promise between you and Uchiha Daiki. Recommending you as the Fourth Hokage is not my decision alone. You should have noticed the villagers' attitude toward you, shouldn't you?"

"Looking across all of Konoha, no one now has greater prestige than you. The villagers' absolute support is also one of the indispensable conditions for becoming Hokage... Otherwise, it could cause serious trouble."

What Hiruzen Sarutobi said was indeed very tempting.

Besides, Minato Namikaze truly did want to become Hokage.

But after thinking it over and over, he still chose to refuse. Shaking his head, Minato Namikaze said seriously, "Third Hokage, I understand all the pros and cons involved, but since I agreed to a wager with Uchiha Daiki, and I lost that match."

"Then I cannot go back on my word. This is not merely a matter of my personal credibility, but also the Nindo I must uphold."