The Heir

"Jiraiya-sensei is still in the Hokage Office. I wonder why Lord Hokage left him there alone," Uchiha Matsuri replied.

"The Hokage Office, huh?" Sarutobi Yoshihiko said meaningfully.

Inside the Hokage Office.

After Uchiha Matsuri and the others had left, the Third Hokage asked bluntly, "Jiraiya, after this mission, what do you think of those two youngsters, Minato and Matsuri?"

As two of the most outstanding students in the first class to attend the Ninja Academy after it reopened, Uchiha Matsuri and Minato Namikaze had naturally caught the Third Hokage's attention.

Especially since the Third Hokage was nearing the age of fifty, when he would be expected to retire. He would naturally need to pay close attention to the candidates for Fourth Hokage.

As the Third Hokage's direct students, the Sannin were undoubtedly the most likely to inherit the position of Fourth Hokage. Of the three, the Third Hokage favored Orochimaru most, the one known as a genius. As things stood, Orochimaru was the most likely to inherit the Hokage Position.

Next came Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade. But Jiraiya was carefree by nature and loved his freedom, so he would certainly refuse to take the position of Hokage. Lady Tsunade had never explicitly opposed becoming Hokage, but since her specialty was medical ninjutsu, the Third Hokage was unlikely to nominate her.

In short, of the three, only Orochimaru had both the ability and the desire to inherit the Hokage Position. He was also first in line to succeed the Hokage.

The next candidates in line to inherit the Hokage Position came from the generation of the Sannin's students. Orochimaru had yet to take on any students—strictly speaking, the members of his team didn't count as disciples—and all of Tsunade's students were medical ninja. That left only Jiraiya's two students, Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Matsuri, as potential heirs to the Hokage Position.

If you're wondering whether people like Shimura Danzō or Hatake Sakumo also had a chance of becoming Hokage, you're very much mistaken.

The Third Hokage knew Shimura Danzō inside and out. It was precisely because he understood Danzō's personality so well that he would never pass the position of Fourth Hokage on to him.

As for Hatake Sakumo, unfortunately, he wasn't a direct disciple of the Hokage line. Looking back at the Hokage through the generations, nearly all of them had inherited the position as direct disciples of the Hokage line. So Hatake Sakumo was unlikely to become Hokage.

Seeing the Third Hokage ask for his observations, Jiraiya thought for a moment before replying, "Neither Minato nor Matsuri has any problems when it comes to character. They both have a strong sense of teamwork and responsibility. They both dream of becoming Hokage..."

Jiraiya went on at length about his observations, discussing everything from their character to their personalities.

After hearing Jiraiya's report, the Third Hokage puffed on his pipe and asked, "How capable are those two youngsters?"

"Ever since Minato learned the Second's Flying Thunder God Technique, his strength has increased tremendously. He's already surpassed an ordinary Chunin. As for Matsuri's strength, it's hard to say," Jiraiya replied.

"Hard to say?" The Third Hokage was a little surprised.

"Yeah. I always get the feeling that Matsuri hasn't shown us everything he can do. From Medical Ninjutsu to the Yin Seal, and then his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, he's constantly changed my understanding of what he's capable of. With those three things, he could hold his own against an ordinary Jonin," Jiraiya said slowly.

"An ordinary Jonin..." the Third Hokage murmured.

As the two most outstanding members of their class, Minato Namikaze had already surpassed the level of a Chunin thanks to the Flying Thunder God Technique. If Uchiha Matsuri could hold his own against an ordinary Jonin, then at the very least, he was already half a step ahead of Minato in terms of strength.

After thinking it over for a while, the Third Hokage suddenly asked, "Jiraiya, which of the two do you think is better suited to become Hokage?"

Taken aback by the sudden question, Jiraiya asked in confusion, "Sensei, if we're talking about the Fourth Hokage, wouldn't Orochimaru suit you better?"

"Orochimaru?"

At Jiraiya's words, the Third Hokage couldn't help recalling the cold look Orochimaru had let slip by accident more than a decade ago. He shook his head.

He didn't answer Jiraiya's question, merely saying offhandedly, "Orochimaru is also under consideration."

Seeing that the Third Hokage hadn't answered his question directly, Jiraiya said, "If I have to choose between the two, I'm afraid I can't make a decision yet."

"Oh?" The Third Hokage sounded curious.

"First of all, compared to Matsuri, Minato is gentler, more cheerful, and more patient. But his weakness is that he's too kind. He might not be able to accept certain darker things. And when it comes to strength, he's slightly behind Matsuri."

"As for Matsuri, compared to Minato, he's more levelheaded, has more ideas, and is stronger. The problem is that he's far too unpredictable. And although he didn't grow up alongside the Uchiha, he's still a member of the Uchiha Clan."

Jiraiya analyzed them rationally.

On the streets of Konoha.

After parting ways with Sarutobi Yoshihiko's team, the three members of Team 5 wandered aimlessly through the streets of Konoha.

"Minato, is something on your mind?" Uchiha Matsuri suddenly asked.

"No. Why?"

"Then let's head to the Training Ground and have a proper match," Uchiha Matsuri said with a grin.

"Huh?"

Minato Namikaze stared at Uchiha Matsuri with a deeply exasperated expression.

What had gotten into this guy, suddenly wanting to spar with him?

Unlike Minato, Kiba Inuzuka perked up the moment he heard that Uchiha Matsuri wanted to fight Minato Namikaze.

"Sure! When are you starting? I'll come watch." Kiba Inuzuka excitedly slung an arm around Uchiha Matsuri and Minato Namikaze, looking not the least bit tired.

"If that's what you want, then I'm in," Minato Namikaze said with a smile.

He hadn't let it show, but Minato Namikaze had been brooding over his narrow defeat to Uchiha Matsuri a year ago. Now that Matsuri had challenged him first, Minato readily accepted.

Just as the three of them were about to reach the Training Ground, Kiba Inuzuka suddenly stopped the other two from going in.

"What's wrong, E?" Uchiha Matsuri asked.

Seeing E lower his head as if deep in thought, Uchiha Matsuri had a bad feeling.

"I think I can smell four unfamiliar chakra scents," E said seriously.

"Unfamiliar scents? What's there to be wary of?" Minato Namikaze asked in confusion.

It was peacetime, and it wasn't unusual for a few ninja from other villages to be in Konoha.

"Besides those four unfamiliar scents, I think I can also smell a strong stench of blood."