Chapter 252: Hiruzen Sarutobi Has No Chance of Winning
Just as Jiraiya was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, sitting silently and at his wit's end with the two Toad Sages, Fukasaku and Shima
Pat.
A faint landing sound occurred.
A small, agile, entirely emerald-green messenger toad, leaped into the slightly noisy small tavern from somewhere. It ignored the surrounding patrons, pushed off with its hind legs, and with a light hop, landed precisely on Jiraiya's table, which was cluttered with sake bottles.
"Ribbit! Ribbit, ribbit!"
It urgently chirped a series of croaks at Fukasaku Sage and Shima Sage.
Jiraiya immediately noticed a flash of unconcealed surprise simultaneously cross the wrinkled toad faces of Fukasaku and Shima.
As the small toad finished conveying its message, leaped away, and disappeared into the shadows, the expressions on the two Sages' faces became even more complex.
This made Jiraiya's drowsy head clear up significantly.
He exhaled a turbulent breath heavy with the smell of alcohol, couldn't help but lean closer, and asked urgently in a lowered voice: "Has new information come from Mount Myōboku? Is it a new directive from the Great Toad Sage?"
Fukasaku Sage coughed lightly, seemingly organizing his thoughts, then nodded: "Mhm, it was a messenger sent by the Old Master."
Jiraiya's eyes lit up, and he immediately pressed: "What instruction did the Great Toad Sage issue? Is it is it a new arrangement concerning the Child of Prophecy?"
"This " Fukasaku Sage showed a hint of shyness and hesitation on his face, seemingly unsure how to begin.
Shima Sage, next to him, sighed and took over the conversation with a complicated expression. Her voice was much deeper than usual: "The Old Master instructed us to temporarily suspend all actions to contact the Child of Prophecy for the time being."
"And, to avoid direct conflict with Ikeizumi Uchiha and the Slug Sage as much as possible."
Jiraiya was stunned, unable to immediately grasp the situation: "This... is this the entirety of the Great Toad Sage's directive?"
"Not just that."
Shima Sage shook her head and continued: "The Old Master also had the messenger relay the reason for this decision he said he wants to wait and see what kind of changes 'Absolute Justice' can bring to the ninja world."
Jiraiya was utterly dumbfounded.
Fukasaku Sage chimed in to explain: "This is most likely a strategic compromise made by the Old Master after personally negotiating with the Slug Sage. The Old Master probably doesn't want a head-on conflict with Shikkotsu Forest, which is one of the Three Great Holy Lands, at this juncture. That would benefit neither side and would only cause Mount Myōboku to needlessly make an enemy, and a very powerful one at that."
It exhaled, then continued: "It's just that the Old Master didn't clearly tell us, if the changes brought to the ninja world by 'Absolute Justice' eventually turn out to be genuinely positive, then what is our next step... how should we respond?"
Shima Sage, upon hearing this, shook her head resolutely, saying: "How can 'Justice,' maintained by extreme slaughter, possibly bring about true positive change to the ninja world? I think it will only gratuitously add endless massacres to the ninja world, plunging it into ceaseless internal strife, constantly depleting the ninja world's own vital forces!"
"Even we have to admit that the latent evil in the ninja world can never be eradicated! As long as the dark aspects of human nature greed, selfishness, and desire exist, new villains will continuously breed."
"I really cannot imagine how many people need to be killed to so-called 'eliminate all' villains? How many living people will be left in the ninja world by then?"
"Even if Ikeizumi Uchiha truly has the ability to kill all existing villains and forcibly curb all evil, is this order maintained by terror and violence truly the change people desire?"
"That's right," Fukasaku Sage also nodded in agreement, giving an example: "Take Konoha Village for instance. The number of people Ikeizumi Uchiha has dealt with, both openly and secretly, in the village must have already exceeded a thousand, hasn't it?"
"And that's still far from completely eradicating Konoha's 'sins' if he were to cleanse the sin of the entire ninja world, what kind of terrifying number would that be? That's no longer change; that's a massacre!"
Jiraiya hesitated, unable to resist interjecting in defense: "Ikeizumi he wouldn't go to such extremes, would he? From what I've observed, for some smaller wrongdoings, he doesn't seem to resort to immediate killing."
"Like those from the Hyūga Main House, they were only imprisoned in Konoha Jail. It shows that his 'Absolute Justice' is primarily aimed at those with heinous crimes, and these people should still be a minority proportionally."
Shima Sage frowned, looking earnestly at Jiraiya, and said: "Little Jiraiya, you are too naive to think that way. People with extreme temperaments often go further and further down that path; he won't remain unchanged."
"Do you truly dare to guarantee that Ikeizumi Uchiha will always maintain this so-called 'restraint' of yours, instead of implementing his extremism to the very end?"
Jiraiya was speechless. His understanding of Ikeizumi Uchiha was indeed not profound, mostly based on observation and rumors.
Human hearts are volatile, especially those with great power and extreme convictions. Who can truly guarantee where they will go in the future?
He fell into silence.
"But," after a few seconds, Jiraiya looked up and said with a sense of powerlessness: "The Great Toad Sage has also ordered us to temporarily stop contacting the Child of Prophecy. In this situation, it seems we can't do anything?"
Fukasaku Sage: "... "
Shima Sage: "..."
This time, it was their turn to be speechless.
No matter how much they internally disagreed with "Absolute Justice," or how worried they were about the future risks, they could not disobey the highest decision made by the Great Toad Sage.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Jiraiya slammed his hand on the table, springing up like a coiled spring.
This sudden movement rattled the sake bottles on the table, startling both Sages, Fukasaku and Shima.
Jiraiya's face shone with the excited light of sudden realization: "I suddenly thought of a method that satisfies all sides! It won't violate the Great Toad Sage's command, won't anger Tsunade, and won't directly provoke Ikeizumi Uchiha!"
Shima Sage and Fukasaku Sage were both momentarily stunned, asking in unison: "What method?"
Jiraiya's eyes sparkled with shrewdness, and he said clearly, word for word: "The Ninja Academy!"
At the same time, throughout the streets and alleys of Konoha Village, villagers were eagerly discussing a major event that would determine the future direction of the village, scheduled to take place a few days later the election of the Fifth Hokage!
There were two candidates: one was the legendary "Sannin of Konoha," Tsunade Senju, and the other was the current Third Hokage, the "Professor of Konoha," Hiruzen Sarutobi.
To many ordinary villagers, both were famous and prominent figures.
They had no clear preference in their hearts about who to choose.
Thus, most people involuntarily turned their gaze toward the ninja adults in the village.
They hoped to gauge the trend from the attitude and comments of these ninjas.
Then, they heard a quite prevalent directional view from the mouths of many Konoha ninjas.
"You're asking me who I'll vote for as the Fifth Hokage?" A seemingly ordinary Konoha Chūnin was surrounded by several curious villagers. He first glanced left and right mysteriously, confirming no Anbu or other spies were nearby, then lowered his voice and said: "If it were up to me, I definitely wouldn't vote for the Third Hokage again."
He explained: "After all the Third Hokage-sama is getting old. His energy is probably not what it used to be. Moreover, the most crucial thing is, he has absolutely no authority over the Military Police Force! He simply cannot command those Uchiha ninjas."
He changed his tone: "Conversely Tsunade-sama is different. Although she has been semi-retired for the past few years, her reputation among the Military Police Force is excellent, and it's said she has a good personal relationship with Commander Ikeizumi Uchiha. If she becomes the Hokage, she can mobilize and restrain the power of the Military Police Force."
He summarized, his tone carrying the sincerity of 'I'm doing this for the village's good': "In other words, the Third Hokage-sama can no longer control the powerful force of the Uchiha, and only Tsunade-sama can unite the village's internal strength."
"In this situation, for the stability of the village, I will certainly choose the person who can stabilize the situation to become the Hokage."
He looked at the villagers in front of him, who were showing expressions of 'sudden enlightenment,' and finally added: "As for who becomes the Hokage to ensure a more stable and peaceful life for all of us, I think I don't need to say more, do I? You should all have an idea in your hearts."
After saying these seemingly heartfelt words, the Chūnin waved his hand, squeezed through the crowd, and quickly left.
However, not long after, he deliberately circled to another densely populated street and proactively started a conversation about the Hokage election.
Facing a new audience, he slightly modified his previous remarks.
And repeated them again.
After another group of villagers showed expressions of "sudden realization," he once again agilely slipped into the crowd and vanished.
Evidently, this Chūnin was not just an ordinary conversationalist. He belonged to a ninja clan that had already placed its bets on supporting Tsunade.
Since they had taken a side, they needed to spare no effort in shaping public opinion and garnering popular support for their chosen candidate.
On the other side, outside a training ground in Konoha.
Kakashi Hatake, drenched in sweat, with his characteristic dead-fish eyes, wore a helpless expression as he faced Tsunade, who was blocking his path.
"Kakashi, have you thought it over?"
Tsunade stood with her arms crossed under her chest, a posture that made her look formidable.
She stared directly at Kakashi, not shying away, waiting for his answer.
Kakashi scratched his silver hair with a slight headache, saying helplessly: "Tsunade-sama, my personal opinion and choice shouldn't be particularly important, should they? After all, I'm just a single person, without a clan or faction, and I can't influence too many people."
Tsunade was unmoved, cutting directly to the core: "Kakashi, you underestimate your own influence. You are an extremely credible and famous Elite Jōnin of Konoha among the younger generation."
"You think you can't influence others, but in reality, many eyes are on you, especially those middle-of-the-roaders who haven't made a decision yet."
She leaned slightly forward, her tone carrying a sense of pressure: "Whatever choice you make, those who follow you are very likely to emulate you and make the same choice. So, I must ask clearly today: what are your thoughts?"
Kakashi: "..."
He felt like a rat caught between two bellows, caught between two difficult choices.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had been his mentor and benefactor, always trusting and heavily relying on him.
On Tsunade's side, not only was she a powerful Sannin herself, but more importantly, she stood on the same front as Ikeizumi Uchiha.
Thinking of Ikeizumi Uchiha, Kakashi was even more conflicted.
He indeed owed the other party several favors and hadn't found a suitable opportunity to repay them.
Furthermore, and more importantly, Minato-sensei's child Naruto Uzumaki was now visibly very close to Ikeizumi Uchiha and his followers
He was truly stuck between a rock and a hard place!
"Um Tsunade-sama," Kakashi attempted to struggle, asking weakly: "Can I can I remain neutral?"
Tsunade calmly but unequivocally shattered his illusion: "Even if you politely refuse me today, the Old Man will soon seek you out. At that point, you will still have to make a choice. Evasion won't solve the problem."
Kakashi: "..."
He slowly took a deep breath, as if making some kind of resolution, and said: "I need a little time to consider."
Tsunade stared at him for a few seconds and said: "Time is running out. The election is in a few days."
"Tonight." Kakashi gave a clear time point: "Tonight, I will give you a definitive answer."
Watching Kakashi turn and leave, Shizune, standing behind Tsunade, couldn't help but ask weakly: "Tsunade-sama, will Kakashi truly support us?"
"He seems like the type who doesn't want to offend anyone, and the Third Hokage-sama was genuinely good to him..."
Tsunade's lips curled into a confident smile, and she analyzed: "Shizune, under the current circumstances, with the Old Man still being the Hokage, Kakashi didn't righteously refuse me immediately. He only used 'needing to consider' to stall."
"This, in itself, already indicates that the scale of his internal loyalty has begun to waver. He is not 100% firmly supporting the Old Man."
She looked in the direction Kakashi had disappeared, stating firmly: "When he said he 'needs time to consider,' in fact..."
"He already had the answer in his heart."
Shizune was startled: "What answer?"
Tsunade said softly: "He will ultimately choose to stand on our side. Or, to be more precise, stand on the side of Absolute Justice that Ikeizumi represents."
Night fell, as scheduled.
Kakashi met Shizune, who was handling documents, as promised.
Under Shizune's questioning gaze, Kakashi's tone was filled with complex fatigue, and he said in a low voice: "Please inform Tsunade-sama that I will support the candidate I believe can make Konoha better. I hope Tsunade-sama does not disappoint this expectation."
Shizune: "!!!"
She was instantly dumbfounded, watching Kakashi once again turn around decisively and disappear into the night.
"Tsunade-sama was right after all!"
Shizune muttered in shock: "Even a figure like Kakashi Hatake chose to stand on Tsunade-sama's side "
"Then this time, the Third Hokage-sama is probably truly beyond salvation."
Simultaneously, in the Land of Water, the night was deep.
Enveloped by the dim moonlight and thin mist.
The faint silhouette of the Hidden Mist Village's massive village gates, shrouded in a hazy water vapor, was barely visible.
Several figures, treading through the night, openly stepped onto the territory of the Hidden Mist Village. Two of them wore Konoha attire, and a plump ninja cat squatted on the shoulder of the girl; the other person was a rogue ninja of the Hidden Mist Village Jūzō Biwa, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
The last two were Mei Terumī and Ao.
The appearance of such a strange combination instantly triggered the Hidden Mist Village's most sensitive nerves!
Almost the moment they stepped past the village entrance's alert line
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
From shadows in all directions, on rooftops, in ponds, behind rocks
Countless cold gazes instantly locked onto them.
.............
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