The Most Important Thing to Become Hokage Is...

"What are you doing?" Ranwu looked at Akaseki with a puzzled expression, feeling that this guy wasn't quite right in the head.

She had specifically added "things I hate" earlier, intending to mock this guy who was so full of himself, but he hadn't picked up on it at all, and what's more...

After hearing that her grandfather was Tobirama Senju, his reaction was just too exaggerated, wasn't it?

If it were just ordinary "aversion," it could be attributed to the fact that those guys in the Uchiha clan often spoke ill of her grandfather, but right now...

Akaseki's "terror" was simply too over the top; his pupils were trembling incessantly, and his Sharingan, which seemed unstable, looked like it was about to pop out from sheer fright.

As for Akaseki...

[She's the granddaughter of that old Senju ghost?]

[Could it be... just like our Uchiha clan's predecessors, who can store ocular jutsu in their eyes for their descendants to use, is she actually the one who used genjutsu on me?]

[And to specifically put me in a group with her, this must be the Third Hokage's conspiracy!]

[No... looking at her reaction, it doesn't look like she just used genjutsu on me...]

[But since she is that old Senju ghost's granddaughter, I can't let my guard down!]

"Uchiha Akaseki, it's your turn. Just speak normally." Jiraiya was also baffled by Akaseki's reaction and urged him on.

"I... am named Uchiha Akaseki, from the Uchiha clan, and what I like most is... Lord Second Hokage!" Akaseki declared righteously.

Jiraiya, Minato, and Ranwu: ...

"My dream... is to inherit the will of Lord Second Hokage!" Akaseki was as firm as a die-hard fan of the Second.

The corner of Ranwu's mouth twitched as she said, "Oh, and what do you think my grandfather's will is?"

Akaseki: ...

In my impression, the old Senju ghost's will was just to make things difficult for our Uchiha clan!

However...

Akaseki certainly couldn't tell the truth. After holding it in for a long time, he racked his brain and said, "Um... taking good care of your granddaughter?"

Hearing that Akaseki had the audacity to take advantage of her, a vein popped on Ranwu's forehead. She gritted her teeth and smiled, "If you don't know how to use your words, I've also practiced martial arts with my cousin for a few days..."

Not to mention Akaseki, even Jiraiya shuddered. After all, although Jiraiya wasn't close to Ranwu, he knew her cousin all too well... He interrupted, "Ahem, alright... Minato wants to become Hokage, and Ranwu and Akaseki... well, you also said you want to learn from Lord Second Hokage. So, do you know what is the most important thing to become Hokage?"

Jiraiya prepared to take the opportunity to educate them on the meaning of being Hokage.

Minato and Ranwu didn't speak for a moment, their expressions even showing some confusion—the topic was too "broad and vague," and they didn't know where to start.

Akaseki, on the other hand, seemed to have thought of something and wore an expression of wanting to say something but holding back.

Seeing this, Jiraiya took the initiative to prompt him: "Akaseki, you tell us."

"Ahem, first of all, I don't want to be Hokage, but... if we were to become Hokage, the most important thing is, of course... for you, Lord Jiraiya, to become Hokage first!" Akaseki felt he had guessed Jiraiya's intention.

Besides...

The Third is the student of the Second, and Jiraiya is the student of the Third. As Jiraiya's students, how you guys would become Hokage isn't that obvious?

Although when the candidate for the First Hokage was decided back then, the Second kept talking about "democracy," but we all saw how that "democracy" worked, didn't we?

Jiraiya, Minato, and Ranwu: ...

Hearing Akaseki's words, Jiraiya felt like this kid was being sarcastic!

"Of course... not! To become Hokage, what you need is... to gain the recognition of everyone!" Jiraiya forced a smile to correct Akaseki.

Akaseki: ???

The Hokage actually needs everyone's recognition?

Akaseki was stunned for a moment, then immediately chimed in, "Exactly! Our Uchiha clan has always recognized Lord Tobirama and Lord Sarutobi the most!"

Jiraiya: ...

Jiraiya felt a bit weary.

"You might not be able to understand these things yet, so let's stop here for today... Gather at Training Ground Three at eight o'clock tomorrow morning!"

"Eh? Lord Jiraiya, no mission today?" Minato asked in surprise—he had thought that after becoming a ninja, he would be busier.

"Mission? You're still far from that." Jiraiya suddenly turned serious: "And... to be precise, you aren't 'waiting to be awarded headbands,' you are only 'about to face the assessment to receive your headbands.' Prepare well!"

"Eh? Yes..."

The three were surprised to hear this, but as ninjas-to-be, they decisively accepted the order.

"Since today is our first day as a team, how about I treat you to Ichiraku Ramen later? It's super delicious!" Minato said with a sunny smile to his two teammates.

Ranwu, who was a year older than Minato, felt her face flush and was just about to agree...

"Ramen? That kind of commoner food... don't you like gourmet food? I'll treat you to Pine Deer Pavilion!" Akaseki said with a wave of his hand.

Upon hearing this, Ranwu immediately showed a look of disgust, curled her lip, and said, "Of course the young master of the Uchiha clan isn't used to ramen... Minato, let's go!"

Akaseki was embarrassed on the spot, but he didn't dare to lash out in front of Ranwu, so he stood there stiffly...

Fortunately, at that moment, Minato seemed to notice his awkward situation and changed his tune: "I'm also a bit interested in Pine Deer Pavilion. Let's all go to Pine Deer Pavilion together!"

Hearing Minato say this, Ranwu finally agreed.

Akaseki finally let out a sigh of relief, managing to extricate himself from the awkward situation...

Akaseki looked at Minato with emotion at this moment and patted his shoulder—you commoners aren't without your merits after all!

However, when they reached the first floor, Minato turned his head toward the direction of the graduation classroom and said, "Um... wait for me a moment. There's something I want to confirm."

Ranwu was puzzled upon seeing this, but Akaseki's eyes flickered as he said, "Hahaha, I get it now... it's about the class assignment of the girl you like, right?"

"Hm? That's right, come to think of it, that girl from the Uzumaki Clan is in your grade, isn't she?" Ranwu recalled at this moment.

"I'm just a little curious." Minato smiled slightly, neither confirming nor denying, speaking with a composure tinged with shyness.

"But at this hour, the class assignments should already be finished." Akaseki said this, yet he still walked back with Minato.

The three of them returned to the classroom immediately, and sure enough, the assignments were already over, and the Third Hokage and the others were long gone, but...

They saw Kushina Uzumaki, with her long red hair, pursing her lips, eyes brimming with tears, looking at the kind-looking old lady before her with a mix of grievance and stubbornness.

"Who is that..." Akaseki felt the old lady looked familiar.

"Grandma? Why are you here?" Ranwu recognized her immediately.

That's right, this person was none other than the wife of the First Hokage—Mito Senju, formerly known as Mito Uzumaki, who was also the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha!

After Lord Hashirama passed away, Mito had aged significantly; her body was already frail, and with Hashirama gone, the Nine-Tails within her was no longer absolutely secure, so she had become a recluse. Having been born after the era of Hashirama, Akaseki had only seen her a few times.

However, at this moment, under the protection of several Anbu, Mito Uzumaki had actually come to the Ninja Academy in person?