The Third Hokage's Assessment (Part 2)

"Do you know what Minato's first reaction was when he saw this intelligence?"

As he spoke, the Third Hokage gave an awkward chuckle. "He seriously asked me if I'd used the Telescope Technique to spy on him. I guess the impression I left on him before was too deep."

He didn't explain what the Telescope Technique was for. The name alone made its purpose easy enough to guess.

Not exactly an honorable purpose...

Hearing this, Hyuga Hane fell silent for a moment before saying, "The Fourth Hokage just lacks a little experience."

Perhaps experience wasn't the only issue. Whenever Hane spent time with the Fourth Hokage, he felt the man was a little... absent-minded?

Naturally absent-minded.

"That's true. He's quick-witted, but he wasn't born into a shinobi clan, and the education he received growing up only covered the basics of being a ninja. Later, Jiraiya became his teacher, but he never thought to teach him these things."

At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked solemnly at Hyuga Hane. "That's why he needs a trusted assistant."

His self-deprecating words were just for show. How many people could guess that Sarutobi Masaaki was his man?

If it were that easy to figure out, Konoha's affairs wouldn't have remained in his hands all this time.

Hyuga Hane didn't continue down that line of conversation. Instead, he looked at the intelligence on the desk. "The report from Elder Masaaki mentions the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He's asking you to give him an answer, isn't he?"

In his report to his superior, Masaaki had specifically mentioned how he'd manipulated the two advisors, and gone into great detail. It was clear he was genuinely worried about this matter.

"...The Nine-Tails, huh?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a few more puffs from his pipe, exhaled a dense cloud of smoke, and said helplessly, "I can't give him the answer he wants."

Hyuga Hane said, "This is an inevitable issue as Konoha develops."

"Ever since Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, became a Perfect Jinchuriki, you must have considered this problem. I'd like to know your answer."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and sighed. "No. I haven't come up with a suitable answer."

"Tailed Beasts have intelligence and emotions too. Lady Mito once spoke with me about this. If the Nine-Tails remains sealed inside Konoha's Jinchuriki, there are only two possible outcomes."

"First, the Nine-Tails makes peace with a Jinchuriki and is passed down through Konoha forever."

"Second, the Nine-Tails' hatred for Konoha keeps building until it breaks free and destroys the village."

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, then continued, "Setting the latter aside, the former presents an unsolvable problem. It's what worries Masaaki."

"Tailed Beasts are no less intelligent than humans. If the Nine-Tails accepts a ninja, Konoha can't interfere too much with that ninja. Otherwise, Konoha will lose the chance to produce another Perfect Jinchuriki forever."

And that would lead to a problem.

The succession of Jinchuriki would be decided by Konoha's first Perfect Jinchuriki, because the Nine-Tails would only choose that person's descendants or someone accepted by both of them.

Just like Killer B in the Cloud Village.

If the Cloud Village wanted to choose the next Jinchuriki on its own, without consulting Killer B and the Eight-Tails, would the Eight-Tails agree?

If the Cloud Village tried to force the seal, it could forget about producing another Perfect Jinchuriki like Killer B.

"Besides, the Nine-Tails is the strongest Tailed Beast, and the Uzumaki Clan would be the best choice for its Jinchuriki. If it were passed down from generation to generation... Konoha would give rise to an uncontrollable ninja, or even... an entire clan."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head. "I'd like to say these worries are pointless, since the Nine-Tails hasn't accepted Kushina. But with only two possible outcomes, Masaaki can't afford not to consider them."

"If that's the case, why not consider a more efficient way to make use of it?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback.

Hyuga Hane explained, "It's only been a few decades since the first Jinchuriki was created. Why assume this is the best way to use a Tailed Beast's power?"

"If a Tailed Beast accepts a Konoha ninja, why not treat it as a companion? Why not let it out? The Tailed Beasts themselves have no desire to take part in our politics."

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.

"Forgive me," Hyuga Hane said softly, "but I don't think the old ways are beyond change."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand, his gaze complicated. "It's all right. You make a good point."

Konoha needed new voices. The old ways weren't necessarily right, just as old men like them needed to make way for a new generation. Change was necessary when the time came.

"Still, this isn't something we need to worry about yet. Since you've figured out that Masaaki is one of my men, you can probably guess what Danzo is planning too."

"With the Mist Village deploying such a large force, it seems ready to fight to the death. He wants to use this situation to make a move, doesn't he?"

Hyuga Hane laid out his reasoning in a quiet voice.

"Given the current situation, either the Mist Village or Konoha has to back down for the war to end. The Fourth Hokage won't back down, and he can't afford to. Otherwise, that person could make him take responsibility for the fallen ninja.

"And if we try to make the Mist Village back down... Konoha will suffer heavy losses too. There'll be plenty of ammunition for political attacks. The Hokage is too young and made poor decisions—the accusations could go on forever."

The Third Hokage nodded.

That was the main reason he hadn't wanted to give Minato the Hokage Position earlier.

The war was about to end. Someone would have to answer for the many Konoha ninja who had died and the losses suffered by the Land of Fire.

After all...

"It'll be difficult to get enough war reparations from the other nations to satisfy the Daimyo."

Hyuga Hane narrowed his eyes.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.

That's right. The biggest problem was the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

During the Shinobi World Wars, the village's ninja only thought about how many people the village had lost. Few ever considered how much the Land of Fire had lost, or how many resources the Daimyo had given Konoha.

Under the one country, one village system, Konoha was the Land of Fire's military force. During wartime, the Land of Fire supplied military necessities such as ninja tools and food!

Konoha would have been worn down long ago if it had to manage on its own!

And after the Daimyo spent money to win the war, he couldn't even recover his losses... How could he possibly be satisfied with the current Hokage?

In the end, the Land of Fire was ruled by the Daimyo.

At that point, stepping down would be the Hokage's most dignified way out. Otherwise, if he offended the Daimyo, it would be difficult for him to accomplish anything afterward.

On top of that, Minato would have to face pressure from the ninja clans. With the Daimyo backing them, they'd only become more brazen.

"All the Fourth Hokage needs to do is win this war, cleanly and decisively."

The reason they couldn't get reparations from the other nations was that Konoha couldn't force them to yield. But was Konoha really incapable of doing so now?

The Third Hokage, the Fourth Hokage, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Kushina...

Which other village had so many powerful figures at this time?

In the Shinobi World, strength was paramount.

The Third Hokage smiled with satisfaction. "Minato chose the right person. The position of Hokage Assistant really suits you."

Hyuga Hane looked at his pleased expression, his Byakugan betraying not the slightest hint of emotion.

Without Root, it looks like Orochimaru will be the first to receive it?

That was within expectations.