"I probably wouldn't be very suited to being an Instructor."
Since it was Naraku's suggestion, Uzuki Yugao gave it serious thought, but in the end, she decided against it.
Pretty as Uzuki Yugao was, she was no nobody in the ANBU. Leaving her strength aside, even Naraku had less seniority in the ANBU than she did.
"If you don't want to, that's fine. Being an Instructor actually keeps you pretty busy, too."
If Uzuki Yugao wanted it, Naraku would transfer her out of the ANBU and make her the Instructor of the Tracking Squad formed from the Konoha 12.
In other words, she would be the Instructor for Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame.
Yes, that meant taking Kurenai Yuhi's place.
Having only recently been promoted to Jonin, Kurenai Yuhi had become the Tracking Squad's Instructor not just because of her background, but also because of Asuma Sarutobi's indispensable support.
After all, Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata, and Shino all came from ninja clans, and each had a chance of inheriting their respective clan's leadership. Hinata Hyuga, in particular, was the heir to the Hyuga Clan's Main Family!
Without Asuma's support, Kurenai Yuhi's chances of becoming those three's Instructor would have been shaky indeed.
But if Naraku really stepped in, securing that position would be easy.
Still, since Uzuki Yugao was unwilling, he would leave it at that.
The next day, at the Hokage Building.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shikaku Nara gathered in the Hokage's Office.
Apart from Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, who puffed away on his pipe, everyone was leafing through the documents in their hands.
Photographs of Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake were prominently printed on them.
Why hadn't the meeting started yet?
Shikaku Nara knew what they had come for, but he was a little puzzled. Wasn't everyone already here?
Who else were they waiting for?
Could it be-
Tap, tap, tap...
The sound of a cane striking the floor grew clearer, and Shikaku Nara immediately knew he had guessed correctly.
The office door opened, and Shimura Danzō walked in, one step at a time.
Not even a knock?
Shikaku Nara frowned. Of course, everyone present knew this was Shimura Danzō venting his displeasure.
Once Shimura Danzō had silently seated himself in the chair prepared for him, the Third Hokage spoke.
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe and tapped it against his chair. "You should all know why I called you here."
"Wait!"
Before the Third Hokage had said much, Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance with Utatane Koharu, then spoke up.
"Hiruzen! You've been doing a fine job. Why are you suddenly planning to step down?"
"Cough, cough, cough... I'm old now. Even my eyesight is starting to fail. If I don't step down soon, I'll hinder Konoha's new branches from flourishing."
Mitokado Homura frowned and wanted to say more, but Hiruzen Sarutobi cut him off, leaving him no choice but to sit quietly for the moment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi rose, pipe in hand, and gazed through the glass at the prosperous Konohagakure outside.
"In fact, I stepped down long ago, didn't I?"
"If the Fourth Hokage were still here, an old man like me would have retired long ago."
"At the time, the Nine-Tails' Attack had left us in a critical situation, and Minato had suddenly lost his life. I only returned to this position to keep the village stable. Now Konoha has long since regained its peace and is developing well. The new generation of ninja has grown up, too. Stepping down is a very good choice."
You should never have returned to that position in the first place!!!
I was supposed to take that seat!
Shimura Danzō had always resented and hated the fact that Hiruzen Sarutobi had returned to the Hokage Position after Minato's death.
In his view, if Hiruzen Sarutobi had not gone back on his word, he, Danzo, should have become Hokage!
Struggling to suppress his anger, Danzo narrowed his one eye slightly.
"Actually, the most suitable choice would still be... never mind. What do you all think?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to look at them, waiting for their answers.
Everyone present knew who the most suitable choices were...
Jiraiya and Tsunade, of course. But both were traveling far afield and stayed away from the village for years on end, so neither could be chosen.
His favorite and most highly regarded student, Orochimaru, had defected, while the other two had left Konoha for various reasons.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's teaching ability could certainly be called impressive, yet not one of the three students he had painstakingly trained had stayed.
Jiraiya and Tsunade's departures had dealt Hiruzen Sarutobi quite a blow.
"Koharu and I believe Kakashi Hatake is the more suitable Hokage candidate!"
Since they understood that Hiruzen Sarutobi had made up his mind, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu wasted no words. They had discussed this long ago and chose outright to support Kakashi Hatake!
"Of course, Naraku is good, too, but he not only has the Medical Department to keep him busy, he's now managing the ANBU as well. If he becomes a Hokage candidate, he'll need to temporarily step down from those duties to become an Instructor. That would hold up a great many things."
That was an excuse!
An excuse everyone recognized!
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu absolutely did not want Shihōin Naraku to become the Fifth Hokage!
As Tsunade's personal disciple, Naraku had connections with the Land of Fire's Daimyo and nobles, and he had maintained those relationships very well through the Medical Department.
Naraku could also obtain funds from the Medical Department, and now he had entered the ANBU as well.
Connections, money, and military strength-Naraku had them all!
If he became Hokage, Shihōin Naraku would consolidate power in no time, then kick the two elders out!
Even Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had not possessed such an astonishing array of resources when he took office!
That absolutely could not happen!
At the very least, the two elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, were not willing to relinquish their authority yet.
Their decision did not surprise Hiruzen Sarutobi, so he looked straight at Shikaku Nara.
Shikaku Nara pondered for a while before speaking. "Both Kakashi Hatake and Shihōin Naraku are very suitable choices..."
Wasn't that just stating the obvious?!
The others present were somewhat displeased. This was no time for him to spout nonsense.
"...But I believe Shihōin Naraku is relatively better suited!"
Shikaku Nara gave his answer, then fell silent.
The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Shikaku, tell us your reasons."
"Yes, sir!"
Since the Hokage had asked, Shikaku Nara naturally could not refuse.
"Kakashi Hatake and Shihōin Naraku are both strong, and both have sufficient experience. But the key issue is that Kakashi has a slight flaw in his temperament. If he becomes Hokage..."
Shikaku Nara did not finish, but everyone understood what he meant.
That problem did indeed exist.
Everyone seated there belonged to Konoha's senior leadership. They knew what Kakashi Hatake had been through, and they knew that his personality had changed greatly after his many misfortunes, leaving him unable to emerge from their shadow for a long time.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, in particular, had noticed more than once that Kakashi Hatake would occasionally visit the Memorial Stone to pay his respects to Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara.
Being a little softhearted was not always a bad thing, but if someone was too fragile in spirit, that posed a major problem for becoming Hokage.
Of course, the main issue was that no one yet knew that after becoming Naruto and Sasuke's Instructor, Kakashi Hatake would gradually begin to overcome his inner struggles and shine in his own right.
The problem was that, in everyone's eyes, Kakashi was currently someone who had been knocked down by all manner of suffering and could not get back up.
That was why Hiruzen Sarutobi was hesitating now. Otherwise, he would not have called them together. At the very least, he still had doubts at this point.
Before you continue