Mao Sui Recommends Himself

"The war is coming to an end."

Minato Namikaze said this with a smile.

In truth, that was exactly the case. The Mist Battlefield had been pushed back. While many experts and lucky individuals would manage to escape—after all, Konoha's preparations hadn't been entirely exhaustive—the vast majority of the Wartime Jonin, Wartime Chunin, and the cannon fodder who had been forced into the rank of Genin just to bolster numbers would undoubtedly suffer heavy casualties.

Even the surprise attack by the Seven Mist Swordsmen that occurred in the original timeline—where a group of elite shinobi launched a raid on Konoha village—would no longer come to pass.

Because even a Kage could potentially die when faced with the combined assault of a dozen Chunin and five or six Jonin, let alone the Seven Mist Swordsmen, whose strength was only slightly above that of a standard Jonin. Without the advantage of a stronghold, their surprise attack would be nothing more than a suicide mission.

The only reason those seven had survived under Minato Namikaze was their extreme caution, coupled with the fact that Minato had prioritized the slaughter of the large-scale rookie jonin and the chunin who served as the backbone of the force.

Yes, in war, jonin are not the backbone; the chunin, with their mediocre numbers and average foundational quality, are!

Of course, this excludes those who possess the power of a Kage that transcends conventional limits.

And it was the massive casualties of these chunin, who were essential for occupying and advancing front lines, that dealt the most devastating blow to the Mist.

"Indeed, though I expect we'll still be busy for a while longer."

Li Ke stated their situation.

Especially for him; Minato Namikaze might be able to escort the wounded back to the village, spend some time doting on Kushina Uzumaki, report to the Third Hokage, and incidentally build rapport among the various ninja clans, but he, Li Ke—the Minato Namikaze Launcher—would inevitably have to remain on the front lines.

Because the mobility he brought to the entire Ninja Force was simply too immense!

"Yes, Qingtan, you'll have to endure a bit longer."

Minato Namikaze couldn't help but laugh heartily. This was a rare sight for a Hokage Candidate, especially for Minato, who had always carried himself with a gentle and refined demeanor.

But Li Ke understood, for in this battle, Minato Namikaze would reach the pinnacle of his life!

After his laughter subsided, Minato Namikaze looked up at the top of the tent, wiping away the tears that had welled up from his excitement.

He knew he had lost his composure, but he didn't care, because Li Ke was one of his own.

Thanks to Li Ke's help, his and Kushina Uzumaki's wish to become Hokage was now certain to proceed without any accidents. His marriage to Kushina Uzumaki would no longer face any obstacles. Even if the Konoha Elder insisted that Kushina Uzumaki go on missions as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he could firmly refuse, declaring, "There is no need for Kushina to appear; I can annihilate the enemy force all by myself!"

"That's great, Qingtan, that's just great..."

Minato Namikaze let out a long sigh of relief, then turned his head to look at Li Ke.

"What is your wish, Qingtan? I still don't know what your wish is."

You actually thought of me at a time like this? Offering to grant me a wish?

Li Ke pondered for a moment and decided to be a bit more radical.

After all, with his cheats being this powerful, what was wrong with being a little bold?

"As for that... I think I'd prefer world peace."

"World peace?"

Minato Namikaze was stunned. He didn't quite grasp Li Ke's meaning, but Li Ke spoke with profound significance.

"Yes, World Peace Under Konoha's Leadership."

In an instant, Minato Namikaze's expression turned serious.

"That is not a wish that is easily realized, Qingtan... The world of the ninja is not that simple. Everyone has things they must protect, so achieving peace for everyone is unlikely."

Li Ke's ears automatically translated Minato Namikaze's words.

Your current strength is not yet sufficient, and Konoha is not a monolith. I cannot promise you the Hokage Position, and I have my own things to protect—namely, Kushina. Once you become Hokage, you might very well be forced to use the Nine-Tails' Power, which is something I cannot accept.

So, he simply smiled and offered his own explanation.

"That is why I want to work hard alongside you, to protect the people we both cherish. After all, I also want my wife to be able to treat the Ninja Profession as nothing more than a status, like taking children out to play, rather than a cruel career that requires life-and-death struggles and the sacrifice of one's own kin."

To translate: I understand, but I have no intention of casting you aside. I want to combine our strengths to strive for this, and since I don't want my own wife and children on the battlefield, I certainly wouldn't want anyone else's to be there either. You don't need to worry about that.

"..."

Minato Namikaze was silent for a while, and when he spoke again, he was no longer using coded language.

"You might be better suited to be Hokage than I am, Qingtan. To be able to understand so much at your age... you truly are a terrifying genius."

He was genuinely surprised. He had known about Kushina's status since he was young, so he had spent his entire life thinking about how to protect her, which led him to understand these things under the tutelage of Jiraiya and the Third Hokage. Even then, it wasn't until the Sand ninja battlefield that his ideology truly matured, allowing him to know exactly what he wanted and what he wished to protect.

But Li Ke was different. Li Ke had essentially been taught and arranged as insurance for Asuma, and with his parents having died early, under normal circumstances, he shouldn't have possessed such a mindset.

There was only one possibility: Li Ke was a super genius.

A dual genius in both power and intellect.

"Is it because of the battlefield that you've come to understand these things, Qingtan?"

Li Ke nodded.

"Yes. The cruelty of the battlefield made me realize that the Ninja System is fundamentally flawed. Minato, we shouldn't be defined by our current roles."

Minato Namikaze subconsciously glanced at the entrance and his surroundings before speaking.

"Watch your tongue, Qingtan... You must be aware of the Daimyo cutting off our supplies, right?"

He was anxious to drive the Mist Shinobi away precisely for this reason. If the conflict on the Mist Battlefield dragged on, Kushina would likely be sent to the front lines, and no one knew if she could maintain her sense of self while in Nine-Tails Mode. That was why he had never dared to let her do so.

Because if the Nine-Tails were to go berserk on the battlefield, Kushina would be branded as "incompetent" as a Jinchuriki, and at that point, she would lose her freedom entirely.

Even if he were the Hokage, there wouldn't be a good way to allow Kushina to move freely by then.

"Yes."

Li Ke nodded. There were some things Minato Namikaze couldn't say, but he could.

"Lord Minato, don't you find it absurd that ninjas cannot control their own finances? It is we who protect the Land of Fire, we of Konoha Village who allow the Daimyo to maintain a transcendent status among the nations, and we ninjas who clear out bandits and maintain public order. Yet, why must ninjas reduce their own scale because of the Daimyo? Kirigakure is a cautionary tale, and I am certain that Sunagakure will inevitably suffer budget cuts this time as well..."

His words were actually a bit excessive. Saying such things just as the two had begun to build trust was, in truth, quite poor form.

But Li Ke did not fear this, because in the Ninja World, strength is what ultimately speaks.

There are two types of ninjas in this world.

One is Hashirama Senju, and the other is everyone else.

The Reanimation Jutsu could be considered an enhancement for everyone, even Madara Uchiha, but for Hashirama Senju, it was a weakening.

As long as one's own strength is as formidable as Hashirama's, one can easily say things like, "I don't need the Nine-Tails; I can annihilate the enemy army all the same!"

Likewise, even if his strength didn't reach the level of Hashirama Senju, if he could barely reach the standard of Madara Uchiha, he could still suppress the world single-handedly, leaving Minato Namikaze no choice but to assist him.

However, having a group of capable and numerous allies to help him would allow him to fulfill his wishes more effectively.

Therefore, before obtaining that invincible power, he had to gain sufficient power and prestige within Konoha Village; merely being able to take a slice of the cake at the table was not enough.

He wanted to be like Minato Namikaze, one of the few people in Konoha Village who could bake the cake.

But for Minato Namikaze, once he took office, anyone who wanted to become Hokage would essentially become his rival—someone who would disrupt the integrity of his family.

Thus, Li Ke had to state his position clearly. He had to become the Hokage as soon as possible, or at least someone who held power in Konoha. He had to secure the position of Minato's deputy within his faction.

Because this position could be filled by many—Kakashi could do it, Jiraiya could, even the Third Hokage's eldest son, or even the Third Hokage himself—so he had to show his ambition and his stance first, to ensure that Minato Namikaze's first choice would inevitably be him.

There was no help for it; it is always this troublesome for small-time figures and minor clans to rise to the top. He had to probe Minato Namikaze's thoughts and attitude, while demonstrating that he truly wanted to become Hokage but would not act as an enemy to Minato, nor would he do anything to cross his bottom line.

"Then, what do you want to do, Qingtan?"

Minato Namikaze understood Li Ke's thoughts, but instead of stating his own inclination, he asked the most critical question.

"My wishes will naturally wait until I have improved my strength, until everyone recognizes my power. Otherwise, it would be a joke. Before that, I will naturally help build Konoha Village under the Hokage's leadership."

Minato Namikaze nodded. As long as Li Ke wouldn't stir up trouble, it was fine. Although Li Ke's mindset was quite radical for a ninja, it was just right for someone who might become the Fifth Hokage.

Moreover, Qingtan was far more sensible than most ninjas!

This feeling was truly comfortable!

"Good, I will help you, Qingtan. After all, you are younger than me; the future belongs to you. But your current strength isn't enough. However, I think Master Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade would be very willing to help a genius like you... After all, Summoning Jutsu and some techniques that only Sages can master are very important for one's strength. Li Ke, you should know about Sage Mode, right?"

But if Li Ke hadn't mastered the high-level application of the Flying Raijin Jutsu in just one day, if Li Ke hadn't possessed such vast chakra at twelve, and if Li Ke hadn't single-handedly annihilated the Kirigakure forces, he would never have given such a promise!

He had also set his conditions: don't talk until you have the strength, and you must apprentice under Jiraiya or Tsunade to learn Sage Arts.

He learned Sage Arts to better counter the power of the Tailed Beasts, and if Li Ke wanted to become the Fifth Hokage, he had to learn Sage Mode! For Li Ke to gain this level of trust, he had to enter Minato's circle and be observed by him!

Therefore, Li Ke's answer was also very crisp.

"I know."

"Then learn it, or possess the power to defeat enemies without it."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

The conversation ended, and both fell silent for a moment. Then, Minato Namikaze smiled and extended his fist, the seriousness on his face vanishing completely.

Li Ke also extended his fist and bumped it against Minato Namikaze's. At this moment, Minato Namikaze gave his true promise—the very thing Li Ke needed: the right to share in the cake and to bake it.

"Then, after we return to Konoha Village, I will tell the Hokage that you should teach the Chunin their ninjutsu. This way, you can spend more time with Kurenai and your classmates and friends. And later on... you can come help me in the Anbu, the Jonin Squad, and the Hokage Guard Platoon."

As expected, understanding a person's character, their bottom line, and their pursuits is one of the "golden fingers" of a transmigrator!

And here came the benefits, didn't they?

Li Ke was certain about entering the Anbu; his combat achievements and abilities made him the most suitable candidate. Becoming an Anbu captain or even a minor supervisor was no problem at all. The Hokage Guard Platoon was also fine; his role was essentially similar to Kakashi's positioning. But the Jonin Squad was different.

That was something he had fought for with his words just now.

Li Ke revealed a smile.

The captain of the Jonin Squad—this position could be considered leisurely, or it could be considered busy.

Of course, this position wasn't set in stone, as Shikaku Nara had served as the captain of the Jonin Squad, but this position was one of the top echelons of Konoha!

To put it simply.

If the highest military rank is Marshal, then the captain of the Jonin Squad is the Deputy Marshal, and a Deputy Marshal who manages personnel transfers at that!

Although there isn't much real power in daily life, one has to deal with ninjas from all the clans in Konoha and people from every department. It allows for a clear understanding of one's connections and how Konoha Village actually operates.

And he likely wouldn't become the captain of the Jonin Squad directly, as Shikaku Nara would still hold that seat for a long time, but being a deputy captain or something similar was absolutely no problem. Coupled with his experience as an Anbu captain, it would be enough for him to become "friends" with most of the clan heads.

As for the Hokage Guard Platoon, it needed no further explanation.

The First Hokage's guard was the Second Hokage; the Second Hokage's guard was Hiruzen Sarutobi; and the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's guard was, at first, Orochimaru, and then Minato Namikaze.

Of course, the Hokage Guard Platoon couldn't actually protect the Hokage.

But the surprise Minato Namikaze gave him wasn't over yet.

"Also, Qingtan, I hope you can be my child's teacher, just like Kakashi."