Third Hokage Retires, Fourth Hokage Dies, It's My Pot Kage's Turn, Right?

"Damn it, Naruto's still alive... can't loot the body..."

"Then—if I slap him twice right now, does that count as defeating him?"

"If so, would there be a chance to copy a trait?"

By the Naka River, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy's eyes sparkled.

He seemed to have found a system bug!

The Konoha 12 would all be born one after another this year, right?

So if he went to each one, patted their butts, pinched their cheeks...

Sss!

At that thought, Uchiha Jin's little mouth curled into a grin.

One hand on his forehead, bending over.

"Hahahaha! I really am a genius!"

System: ...

Crack!

Just then, the Four Red Yang Formation above suddenly opened.

The wild laughter cut off abruptly.

As he turned, he caught sight of a pipe flickering in the moonlight.

The Third Hokage!

"Hm? A survivor? A child?"

When Sarutobi Hiruzen saw someone still inside the barrier, his body tensed instinctively.

His hand tightened around his staff.

Anyone who could survive the Nine-Tails' rampage was bound to be extraordinary.

"A child?"

"Those Uchiha clan robes... you're from the Uchiha family?"

But when he made out the boy's appearance and clothing, a flicker of doubt crossed his deep eyes.

Wasn't the Uchiha clan under house arrest?

Where did this two-or-three-year-old brat come from?

Behind him, the Hokage's guard squad followed close behind.

When they saw it was Uchiha Jin, Shiranui Genma spat out the senbon in his mouth, incredulous:

"Oi? Could it be—the Fourth Hokage's son has grown this big already?"

The other Genma Squad members: ...

The Anbu ninjas following: ...

Sarutobi Hiruzen: ...

Uchiha Jin: ...

He almost thought he'd turned into Nezha!

He cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he put on a look of innocent confusion.

Clutching the token timidly, he spoke in a childish voice:

"Ol... old man! I... my name is Jin. A... a man wearing an oil paint mask said... said there's candy here."

He deliberately repeated "oil paint mask."

At the same time, he angled the token in his hand to reveal the runes on it.

This intentional move made sure everyone noticed.

Of course, after speaking, his big watery eyes locked tightly onto the Third Hokage.

If this old geezer made any bad move, he was ready to activate his golden body and flee under the cover of Weak Presence.

As for Flying Thunder God?

He hadn't started training yet, and there was no Chakra inside his body...

Of course, he also believed the Third Hokage wouldn't do anything to him.

This old man might be dark-hearted sometimes, but!

He always showed a kind side to the village's children.

No matter who.

No matter what went on behind the scenes, on the surface everything was amiable.

And with it, that same old spiel about the Inheritance of Fire!

Oil Paint Mask?

And this token too...

To the right, Shiranui Genma and his two companions immediately guessed the implications upon hearing these words and turned to leave.

This involved the power struggles among the village's major clans—they couldn't stay any longer.

All they needed to do was steadily handle their own duties.

Whoosh.

Suddenly.

Behind the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, an Anbu ninja appeared in a flash.

The scroll in his hand glowed red light as he said in a low voice, "Token number B-74, assigned to Root Third Reconnaissance Squad."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's wrinkles deepened, almost deep enough to crush two flies.

This was indeed a Root squad number.

And that man's corpse was outside.

Clearly, little Uchiha Jin hadn't lied.

A two-and-a-half-year-old child who hadn't even started training—how could he possibly have the ability to appear here alone?

"So, is this an attempt to frame the Uchiha Clan?"

"But... framing an Uchiha toddler? Danzo, where's your brain?"

A cold glint flashed in the Third's eyes.

When he lowered his gaze again, only warmth and kindness remained.

"It's alright, it's alright. You need to get home quickly."

He patted Jin's small shoulder.

In the center of his palm, strands of sensory Chakra probed inward.

Made a full circuit.

Inside the Body was completely empty.

Though the muscles and bones were dense, there was no trace of Chakra.

That was normal—Uchiha children typically didn't start refining Chakra until they were four or five, right?

Only after confirming there was not a shred of Chakra in this body did he fully relax his brow and said reassuringly:

"Good child. Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns on and on!"

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire burns on and on!" Jin raised his fist and gave an energetic pump.

Then he turned and ran off.

"What an upright child!"

Watching his retreating figure, a flicker of emotion stirred in the Third Hokage's eyes.

But the moment he thought about how Danzo wouldn't even spare this child, his heart sank.

He took the pipe from his mouth and tapped it thump thump against the tree stump beside him.

"Danzo, your reach is too long!"

Ah-choo!

At the same time, in the Hokage Building.

Danzo, in the middle of an impassioned speech, suddenly sneezed violently.

"Danzo, are you alright?"

Across from him, Utatane Koharu looked at her old friend with concern.

"I'm fine! I'm terrifyingly strong right now!"

Danzo tapped his cane.

"The Fourth Hokage has fallen in battle. What do you think is the most urgent priority right now?"

"Is it... stabilizing the village?" Koharu asked instinctively.

"Exactly—stabilizing the village! With the Fourth Hokage dead, the village is leaderless. So I believe we must first elect a Fifth Hokage to take charge!"

"And right now, the only ones in the village capable of running for Hokage are the heads of the major clans. But none of them—none of them are as good as me, Danzo!"

"My love for this village runs deep!"

"I am the root buried deep in the soil, holding up the village."

Danzo blurted out the thoughts in his heart!

He had outlasted the Third, outlived the Fourth, and even set the village against the Uchiha!

Now, finally, it was his era!

With that thought, his entire body erupted with dazzling Wind Release Chakra.

His momentum was unmatched!

Even the two advisors couldn't help but nod in admiration.

This old friend was indeed brimming with vigor.

So, after a moment of hesitation, Utatane Koharu nodded and said, "Indeed, you are more suitable for the Fifth, but—"

But?

Hearing his old friend's hesitation, Danzo smiled faintly. "But I will hand over the village's financial authority to the two of you to allocate."

"But no one is more suitable than you!"

The two exchanged a glance and decisively agreed.

Bang!

But just then, the tightly shut door of the Hokage's Office was suddenly pushed open!

Clench.

When they saw the iconic pipe of the person entering, the three immediately fell silent.

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked in slowly.

His weathered eyes seemed to see nothing.

Step by step, he moved behind the Hokage's desk.

Pulled out the chair, and sat down.

You!

Danzo watched with gritted teeth.

This seat was about to be his!

But the Third paid him no mind, merely resting his hands on the Hokage's desk.

Looking at the people in the room, he spoke in a deep voice:

"The authority of the Hokage will be temporarily assumed by me. You—who agrees, who opposes?"

"I agree!"

"I agree too! The village is in chaos; your return, Sarutobi, truly solves an urgent crisis!"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance and nodded directly.

Without a hint of hesitation.

And beside them, Danzo slowly typed out a question mark.

Bro, really?