Using Water to Explain Fire? Hiruzen Sarutobi's Warning (Wishing All Dear Readers a Happy New Year, Xiaofan Humbly Asks for a Monthly Pass

Hyuga Tenzo was somewhat dazed.

As the helmsman of a Millennial Noble Clan, how could he possibly believe in the Will of Fire?

A family's continuation did not rely on such empty words!

It relied on duplicity, betrayal, ruthlessness, and turning one's back on others without hesitation...

But human nature was complex.

Even if one did not believe, when something beautiful appeared before one's eyes, one would still instinctively stop to admire it.

Emotions, respect, and self-fulfillment were all goals humanity genuinely pursued after having enough to eat and wear.

"Lord Hokage, you are right!"

Hyuga Tenzo steadied himself. "Tenzo and the Hyuga Clan will surely remember this from now on!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled faintly.

He did not think a couple of simple sentences could make Hyuga Tenzo suddenly submit in awe.

That was unrealistic.

An old fox like him needed slow, patient communication before a foundation of mutual trust could be built.

Not only did he need to offer benefits, he could not neglect intimidation and warnings either.

"It is understandable for Ninja Clans that survived the Warring States Period to retain certain lingering issues."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a chuckle, "Back then, it was winner-takes-all among shinobi. The losing side usually had only one path: clan extermination. Trust was difficult to establish."

"But now, this is the Warring States and Village Era. Konoha belongs to everyone. Do not carry old ways of thinking into this new era, lest unpleasant misunderstandings arise and make things difficult for the village."

"Don't you agree, Tenzo?"

"Thank you for your understanding!" Hyuga Tenzo nodded repeatedly. "You see, after going through war, my thinking has fallen into another misunderstanding. Some of the things my elders instilled in me when I was young ran too deep."

"I will definitely lead the Hyuga Clan in serious reflection!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Hyuga Tenzo a way out.

Hyuga Tenzo readily took it, tossing the Scapegoat onto the previous generation's old Clan Head—his father.

The man was dead anyway. Carrying a little blame would not hurt him...

Hizashi Hyuga rolled his white eyes in annoyance. This old bastard really knew how to turn things upside down!

Shimura Danzō's eyes flickered slightly.

Why did even Hiruzen's warnings sound more pleasant than his own?

"No, I need to learn this..."

"What did he say just now?" Shimura Danzō recalled Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and silently recited them, when a good idea suddenly occurred to him.

As the saying went, a good memory was no match for poor handwriting.

If he copied down those sentences from Monkey and recited them day and night, would he not master this craft as well?

Shimura Danzō's lips curled upward, proud of his own wisdom.

"Foolish Hiruzen, go ahead and brazenly reveal your strengths!"

Shimura Danzō muttered inwardly, I will absorb all your virtues and become the strongest Hokage...

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Danzo a strange look.

What was he muttering about? It sounded like he was reciting a spell...

Had he quit being a shinobi to become a monk?

"Let's talk about Kirigakure first."

"One thing is certain: Kirigakure is about to launch a massive purge. The Third Mizukage has endured for a long time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his Tobacco Pipe. "Let me tell you about the First, Second, and Third Mizukage. There are a few points here that can be exploited."

Hizashi Hyuga looked curious and deeply expectant.

Young people were always curious about the secret stories of the older generation...

Shimura Danzō chuckled. He knew some of it, but did not think there was much room for maneuver.

Hyuga Tenzo was also very interested.

Though he was an old hand himself, there were differences even among old hands...

"The Third Mizukage has deep roots."

"He was once the First Mizukage Byakuren's guard. At the first Five Kage Summit, every Kage guard who attended the meeting besides him became the Second of their respective villages."

"Isn't that interesting?"

Hyuga Tenzo nodded unconsciously.

He had practically been chosen as the Second, so why had he become the Third instead?

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled inwardly.

Why did he know these things?

Because his predecessor's succession had also been rather bizarre. Although he knew there had been no conspiracy involved, to outsiders...

The Kage Guard was alive, but the Kage was dead.

Not to mention that era not long after the Warring States Period, even in the current Shinobi World, Senju Tobirama's spirit was difficult for most shinobi to understand...

Therefore, his succession back then had been Schrödinger's "legitimate."

He had barely gotten through it by relying on his usual reputation.

For that very reason, he had studied many similar cases, treating them as references to ease his mind.

"Kirigakure's succession system is quite interesting."

"They believe that the village's strongest shinobi should be the Mizukage, and they established corresponding rules."

"When a Mizukage takes office, everyone else has the right to challenge him. If he loses, he must relinquish the Mizukage position."

"This was originally meant to emphasize the spirit of martial prowess. Normally, no one would do such a thing."

"But Hozuki Gengetsu was not a normal person."

Shimura Danzō and Hyuga Tenzo nodded in deep agreement.

Hozuki Gengetsu was one of the Shinobi World's most famous battle maniacs.

During the First Shinobi World War, he had crossed seas and mountains over some trivial spoils of war to seek out Mu, the Second Tsuchikage, fighting him to the death until they perished together.

Once the blood rushed to his head, he ignored everything else.

"If there is a massive gap in strength, then having the strongest person serve as the Kage is only natural."

"But if the difference is only a hair's breadth, then multidimensional abilities such as management and organization must be included among the criteria for Kage candidates," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

The Hyuga father and son nodded, not taking it to heart. The two of them had little to do with the Hokage position.

But Shimura Danzō took it to heart.

Who was he hinting at?

In terms of strength, he and Orochimaru... seemed to be about equal?

Even though he had recently been pushing himself to train in Wind Release, the truth was that fists feared youth.

It was unrealistic to leave Orochimaru an entire tier behind...

Was this his subtle way of telling me the criteria for selecting the next Hokage? Shimura Danzō thought, planning to copy that sentence into his little notebook as well.

"Hozuki Gengetsu has been dead, and the Third Mizukage has held office for more than twenty years. Yet he still wants to create the Bloody Mist Village. That can only mean one thing."

"That is, the forces opposing him in Kirigakure have grown increasingly numerous."

"So numerous that he can no longer keep them in check. He can only use the Mizukage position as bait, fish out those Ninja Clans with ideas, and clean them up one by one."

Shimura Danzō pondered, "If that is the case, won't Kirigakure immediately descend into civil war? What he faces is a force strong enough to overthrow him."

"Not necessarily. It depends on his ability."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a chuckle, "If he understands how to win over one group while striking another, he should succeed."

"First, he can incite the Kaguya Clan to hate the Hozuki Clan, which has designs on the Mizukage."

"Once those two sides have both suffered heavy losses, he can find another batch of ambitious Ninja Clans and have them continue fighting."

"This is Kirigakure's Dharma: fists do the talking. In the short term, no one will say anything."

"Once those Kekkei Genkai clans are exhausted, if they still refuse to submit, the resentment brought by the conflict will need a release valve. The shinobi without Kekkei Genkai can take out their anger on them."

"After doing this, Kirigakure's population will shrink considerably, but they should be obedient for the most part."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, his gaze happened to meet Hyuga Tenzo's.

The Hyuga Clan Head's back hair suddenly stood on end.

He felt as though the Hokage was not telling a story about Kirigakure at all...

An illusion, an illusion!

Hyuga Tenzo comforted himself inwardly. This is Konoha. Konoha believes in the Will of Fire!

"Of course, I am merely speaking casually."

"If one truly wanted to do this, the details would need constant refinement. Besides, I have always despised using such methods to solve problems." Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and waved his hand.

"Not only are they backward, they fundamentally do not conform to the Will of Fire... Isn't that right, Committee Member Tenzo?"

"What you say is truly most reasonable!" Hyuga Tenzo's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly replied respectfully.

Seeing this, Shimura Danzō secretly sighed inwardly:

"Monkey really has a bit of Lord Tobirama's bearing in this regard..."

"Only because I inherited the teacher's true teachings will I not be fooled in circles. Ordinary people truly would not be able to handle him!"

2026's first minute!

Xiaofan wished all dear readers a Happy New Year, great fortune in all things, and success in everything!

Also, sorry for the trouble, but Xiaofan humbly asks for a monthly pass. The votes have refreshed at the start of the month, and they are even doubled. It is simply too tempting.

Xiaofan will add an extra chapter. I know it is not much, but this is truly my full effort, just to show my sincerity! Attached is an image Xiaofan commissioned from Tsunade after transmigrating to the world of Hokage. Any dear readers who want to transmigrate can type 1...