Dan Katō's tone was almost a roar. He glared at Araki and said coldly, "During the Jonin meeting, I tried my best to get close to Tsunade. I supported her proposal about becoming medical-nin, but it was rejected. After the meeting, I still expressed my support for her and my willingness to become medical-nin, but she said I was too old and not suitable. She just thanked me. I still remember that face that always maintained a distance. As expected of the proud Slug Princess!"
"..."
Araki was at a loss for words this time, unable to even utter a single witty remark. What was going on with this script? It was completely different from what he remembered, leaving him speechless.
Didn't Tsunade and Dan Katō truly love each other?
Could Nawaki's death be related to Dan Katō?
But...
Dan Katō clearly died in the end too!
Most importantly...
Even when Dan Katō was resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation in the future, he still gave his Chakra to Tsunade.
Is this some kind of performance to save face?
These questions filled Araki's head, making it so full and swollen that it felt like it was about to overflow, and he couldn't take it anymore.
Araki felt that after arriving in this real ninja world, many of his perceptions had been overturned, and what was presented before him was something he had never even imagined before.
Humans are two-sided.
They will present a hypocritical image to outsiders.
And when you're unrestrained, you reveal your true self.
but...
How many people have actually seen what the village ninjas look like?
Araki noticed upon arriving that almost everyone wore a mask, and the smiles on those masks were beautiful.
So I made a decision!
Seeing that Araki didn't speak, Dan Katō continued talking, as if he had opened a floodgate, ready to pour out all the words that had been building up inside him and that he couldn't express.
After saying that, the child named Araki can die!
Nobody knows his secret!
"I want to empty a piece of Tsunade's heart!"
Dan Katō appeared to be insane, his expression somewhat distorted, and his entire demeanor was completely unlike that of a handsome young man he used to be.
"Actually, I originally planned to cooperate with you. If you were willing to kill Nawaki for me, I could spare your life, continue to let you be Tsunade's disciple, and even have a higher status in the village after I become the Hokage of Konoha!"
"But your arrogant attitude has angered me!"
"I don't want to work with you anymore!"
"I think you should start!"
"Killing you wouldn't be as effective as killing Nawaki, I understand that, but your growth has exceeded my expectations. You are now Tsunade's beloved student, Tsunade's only disciple!"
" Tsunade will be very sad after you die, and Nawaki is locked up in the house again. Only I can comfort her!"
"Wondering this gives me my chance!"
Dan Katō stared wide-eyed, his face beaming with a bright smile, but he looked incredibly sinister.
"Senior, you are destined for great things."
Araki gave Dan Katō a thumbs-up, he was so shocked, he would never have believed it if he hadn't heard it with his own ears.
It's said that it's hard to guard against a thief within your own household.
So that's where it was!
Tsunade probably never imagined that the answer to the unsolved mystery of Nawaki's death would lie with her boyfriend.
Thinking about this...
Suddenly, Araki felt a sense of clarity and understanding.
When Nawaki said he wanted to become Hokage, Tsunade wholeheartedly agreed and even gave Nawaki the necklace of the First Hokage, thus boosting his Nawaki.
At least at this point in time, the villagers generally believe that Nawaki's chances of becoming Hokage are far greater than Minato Namikaze's!
Hokage is all about bonds!
The First Hokage was a member of the Senju Clan, the Second Hokage was a member of the Senju Clan, the Third Hokage was a disciple of the Senju Clan, so the Fourth Hokage must also have some connection with the Senju Clan.
Tsunade was originally the most qualified to succeed him.
However, when Tsunade gave the First Hokage's Necklace to Nawaki, it was tantamount to giving Nawaki the right to inherit the Hokage Position, which brought Nawaki to the forefront.
As for Minato Namikaze...
Not to mention that Minato Namikaze at the moment was a complete nobody with absolutely no family background, even if he became Jiraiya's disciple a few years later and could be considered a disciple of Sarutobi, it still wouldn't be enough.
Let alone Jiraiya's disciple...
Jiraiya himself, compared to Tsunade and Nawaki, who were of the bloodline of the First Hokage Hashirama Senju, had no connection with the Third whatsoever.
To some extent...
As long as Nawaki grows up smoothly and doesn't make any unforgivable mistakes, Tsunade, with her abilities and influence, will easily push Nawaki to the Hokage Position.
after all...
At that time, Jiraiya was probably supporting Nawaki, not his disciple Minato Namikaze.
Therefore, the connection with Minato Namikaze becomes even more meaningless.
Only the Nawaki died.
Minato Namikaze's connections are what truly constitute an advantage!
certainly...
There's another prerequisite.
That is, after Nawaki died, there was another person who said he wanted to become Hokage. He gave Tsunade a feeling similar to Nawaki, and took meticulous care of her during the time when Tsunade felt empty inside, and successfully obtained the First Hokage's Necklace.
That person was none other than Dan Katō!
Araki had never thought so much about such things before, but now that he thought about it, it was terrifying. Coupled with Dan Katō's current appearance, there might really be a huge conspiracy involved.
at the same time.
Araki expressed his sincere admiration.
He's definitely someone who's destined for great things!
This trick seems very easy to understand; it's nothing more than a battle for inheritance. Yet, it makes everyone overlook the past, and no one suspects Dan Katō at all.
Why?
Is there something else going on here?
etc...
Araki's eyes suddenly widened as he realized another possibility.
perhaps...
Dan Katō is not the mastermind...
It was merely a knife used by the mastermind behind the scenes!
Use someone else to do your dirty work!
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!
Or rather...
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole hiding behind!
At that moment, a classic case from the Third Hokage's term suddenly flashed into Araki's mind— the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
There are many similarities here!
First, the right of inheritance!
Konoha was jointly founded by the Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan was a powerful clan that was no weaker than the Senju Clan. With the decline of the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan became the number one clan in Konoha, with a large population and great strength. Moreover, there were people in the clan who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan with ease.
In a sense, Uchiha Fugaku already possessed the qualifications to become Hokage.
Secondly, use someone else to do your dirty work!
The person who quelled the Uchiha Clan incident, the mastermind behind it all, was none other than the famous Uchiha Itachi.
By personally wiping out his own clan, Uchiha Itachi disqualified those with the right to inherit the position, thus ensuring that the Hokage Position would remain secure.
Thirdly, the oriole is hiding behind!
The real masterminds behind the scenes seem to exist without ever existing, yet they undeniably reap the greatest benefits.
In this particular situation, it's not so much similar as identical.
First, Nawaki is qualified to succeed Hokage Position.
Secondly, Dan Katō was like a sword similar to Uchiha Itachi, killing Nawaki, who was qualified to inherit the Nawaki.
Thirdly, the masterminds behind the scenes reap the greatest benefits.
certainly.
There was an unexpected turn of events.
That is, Dan Katō gained Tsunade's trust, obtained the First Hokage's Necklace, and became the person qualified to inherit the Hokage Position.
only...
A knife is still a knife!
When a blade is useless, how can you let it cut your own people? Of course, you should render the blade useless!
Actually, this was also related to the fact that Uchiha Itachi was kept in exile outside Konoha, while Sasuke Uchiha was still in the village. The two sides kept each other in check, thus concealing the whole matter.
"Why..."
Araki was praising Dan Katō as a man destined for great things just a moment ago, but the next second he couldn't help but sigh.