Chapter 380 - 65

Chapter 65: Hokage Successor(Thanks to Li Jianmin who loves eating ginkgo nuts for the gift, muamua.)The Third sighed upon hearing this and said faintly, "You don't need to deliberately say these things to me here. What is the point of us two getting red in the face arguing here?""After all, no matter what, I am no longer the Hokage now. How about this! Although it is impossible for me to help you handle these matters again, I will point out a clear path for you, which might be of some help to you."Tsunade raised her eyelids upon hearing this and asked, "Oh? Let's hear it!"The Third took a puff from his pipe and said, "Given your personality, I'm afraid you won't handle those trivial matters regardless. If that's the case, when the next Hokage takes office, they will be taking over a mess.""In that case, you might as well choose a few successors to cultivate now. It will not only lighten your burden, but when they actually take office, they will also be more comfortable with the role."Tsunade's eyes lit up after hearing this. She quickly propped her chin and started thinking. Soon, she seemed to have thought of something and said excitedly, "Naruto? Didn't he say he wanted to become Hokage in the future? Then I'll just let him handle these matters!"After hearing her words, the Third's face was immediately covered in black lines. He, who had been calm and indifferent from beginning to end, finally couldn't hold it in anymore and roared, "What kind of joke are you making?""Is becoming Hokage something you can just decide to do? Even if Naruto might have the potential to become Hokage, that is something for ten or twenty years from now. But how old is he now? Letting a child handle Village affairs—have you gone mad, or have I? If this gets out, do you want Konoha to become the laughingstock of other Villages?"Seeing the Third like this, Tsunade raised her hands and said with an apologetic smile, "Alright, alright, old man, why are you getting so angry? I was just saying it casually.""I've been away for so many years and don't really understand the situation in the Village. Since this is your suggestion, why don't you introduce a few people to me!"The Third sighed, sat back down on the stool, and said, "The Hokage is a role that leads the entire Village forward. One must absolutely not be careless with the selection. It cannot be based solely on strength; it must be considered from many aspects. Therefore, the targets for cultivation should also be treated this way.""Originally, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi from the Uchiha Clan were two candidates I highly favored. Aside from the trouble of their family background, they were impeccable in all other aspects. But who could have imagined that something like this would happen.""Now, in the Village, I think there are two most suitable people: Asuma and Kakashi Hatake. And among these two, Kakashi Hatake is undoubtedly the more suitable one.""He is the child of Sakumo Hatake; you shouldn't be unfamiliar with him! Come to think of it, the prestige of the 'White Fang of Konoha' back then was even above you 'Three Legendary Ninjas of Konoha'.""But because he gave up a mission to save his companions, he was blamed by the people in the Village. In the end, even the companions he saved turned around and accused him. Eventually, unable to bear the ostracism of the crowd, he chose to commit suicide. This also caused Kakashi Hatake to have shadows in his heart from a young age.""But Kakashi Hatake is a very strong person. Even though he has lost important people time and time again in his life for various reasons, he did not choose to hate this world or other people. He always keeps his inner pain to himself and lives with an optimistic attitude.""Furthermore, he inherited his father's talent. At a young age, he has already become an elite Joninand has made a name for himself in the Ninja World. He is calm and decisive when encountering problems, neither arrogant nor rash. If cultivated properly, he would definitely be an outstanding Hokage.""As for Asuma, although he is my son, it is precisely because of this that I understand him better. He was very rebellious when he was young, and even left the Village to venture out on his own after having a falling out with me.""Although his heart is filled with the Will of Fire after returning, and he even became one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Land of Fire, in reality, he is still too rash when doing things. At times, his personality is too impulsive, relying only on hot-blooded passion to act. This is not a symbol of a qualified leader.""But whether it is in terms of strength or love for the Village, there is no one better than him except for Kakashi Hatake. Plus, he is still young. You should just take them both by your side and cultivate them well!""In this way, it can not only lighten your burden and fulfill your wish to slack off, but it can also help the Village select the next Hokage.""Also, the Nara Clan will be a great help to you. You should know that the people of this clan have very high IQs. Because they are always able to come up with the best strategies first, Shikaku is even specially permitted to participate in the Land of Fire's political council.""If you give him the position of Hokage Assistant Advisor, it will be of great help to you."The Third finally finished speaking. He let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed his throat was a bit parched from talking, so he picked up the water cup on the table and took a sip.At this moment, Tsunade, who had been silent all along, stood up. She turned around, looked out the window, and with her back to the Third, said, "Teacher, thank you. I understand what you have said.""But... I still have some words to say to you. Do you want to hear them?""Speak!" The Third seemed to have already guessed what Tsunade was going to say, but at this moment, he had already seen through all of this, his face full of indifference.Tsunade did not stand on ceremony and said directly, "Teacher, as the Hokage, what you have contributed to the Village over so many years is worthy of our respect and learning. The peaceful and comfortable scene of the Village now is inextricably linked to you.""But I don't know if you have ever thought about whether a greater crisis is hidden behind this peace? Perhaps this prosperous scene before us is just a short-lived and false appearance.""The Uchiha Clan prepared for a rebellion, but it ended in the annihilation of the clan. You should know better than me what kind of feelings Uchiha Itachi had for the Village, but now we have lost him.""Then if another clan wants to rebel tomorrow, who will we lose next?""I know that the annihilation of the clan was not your intention. You hoped more to resolve these things in a peaceful way. All of this was Danzo's doing behind the scenes.""But have you ever thought about why, as the Hokage at that time, you were blackmailed by Danzo despite doing everything with a clear conscience for the Village, and even lost your say in this matter?""If it weren't for your blind tolerance and compromise, and if you had nipped Danzo's ambition in the bud in time, how would he have had such an opportunity?""I don't believe you didn't know how many heinous things the Root organization under Danzo has done over so many years. Yet you acquiesced to all of this and did not pursue it afterwards, did you?"