Chapter 212: Sarutobi Hiruzen Has No Chance Of Victory
Just as Jiraiya was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, sitting in silence with Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, completely at a loss—
Plop.
A faint sound of landing rang out.
A small, entirely emerald-green messenger toad nimbly hopped into the somewhat noisy little tavern from who knows where.
Ignoring the surrounding diners, it pushed off with its hind legs and leaped lightly, landing precisely on Jiraiya’s table cluttered with bottles.
“Ribbit! Ribbit ribbit!”
It directed a series of urgent croaks at Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima.
Jiraiya immediately noticed a flash of undisguisable astonishment on the wrinkled toad faces of Fukasaku and Shima.
After the little toad delivered the message and hopped away into the shadows, the expressions on the two sages’ faces grew even more complex.
This cleared Jiraiya’s foggy head considerably.
He exhaled a breath thick with alcohol fumes, couldn’t help leaning in closer, lowered his voice, and eagerly asked: “Has new intelligence from Mount Myōboku arrived? Could it be new instructions from the Great Toad Sage?”
Sage Fukasaku coughed lightly, as if organizing his thoughts, then nodded: “Mm, it’s a messenger sent by the Great Lord.”
Jiraiya’s eyes lit up, and he immediately pressed: “What instructions did the Great Toad Sage issue? It’s… it’s a new arrangement regarding the Child of Prophecy, right?”
“This…” A hint of awkward hesitation appeared on Sage Fukasaku’s face, as if he didn’t know how to begin.
Sage Shima beside him sighed, took over with a complex expression, her voice much lower than usual: “The Great Lord wants us… to suspend all contact with the Child of Prophecy for the time being.”
“And to avoid direct conflict with Uchiha Ikeizumi and the Slug Sage as much as possible.”
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, not quite processing: “This… this is the entirety of the Great Toad Sage’s instructions?”
“Not just that…”
Sage Shima shook her head and continued: “The Great Lord also had the messenger relay the reason for this decision—it said… it wants to bide its time and see what kind of change ‘Absolute Justice’ can bring to the Ninja World.”
Jiraiya was completely dumbfounded.
Sage Fukasaku chimed in to explain: “This is most likely a strategic compromise made by the Great Lord after personally negotiating with the Slug Sage. The Great Lord probably doesn’t want to clash head-on with Shikkotsu Forest, one of the three great sacred places, at this critical juncture. It benefits neither side; it would only make Mount Myōboku needlessly enemies, and very powerful ones at that.”
He exhaled and continued: “However… the Great Lord didn’t clearly tell us what to do next if the changes ‘Absolute Justice’ ultimately brings to the Ninja World are truly positive.”
Hearing this, Sage Shima firmly shook her head and said: “That kind of ‘justice’ maintained through extreme slaughter—how could it possibly bring true positive change to the Ninja World? I think it will only create countless killings out of thin air, plunge the Ninja World into endless infighting, and continuously drain the Ninja World’s own vital forces!”
“Even we have to admit that the sins lurking in the Ninja World can never be completely eradicated! As long as human nature harbors darkness like greed, selfishness, and desire, new villains will continuously breed.”
“I really can’t imagine how many people would need to be killed to so-called ‘wipe out’ the villains? By then, how many living people would be left in the Ninja World?”
“Even if Uchiha Ikeizumi truly has the ability to kill all existing villains and forcibly suppress all sin, is this order maintained by terror and violence really the change people want?”
“Indeed…” Sage Fukasaku nodded in agreement, giving an example: “Take Konoha Village as an example—Uchiha Ikeizumi has probably dealt with over a thousand people openly and covertly in the village, right?”
“And yet, this hasn’t even cleared Konoha’s ‘sins’ completely… If it means clearing the sins of the entire Ninja World, what a terrifying number that would be? That’s not change; that’s a massacre!”
Jiraiya hesitated, then couldn’t help interjecting in defense: “Ikeizumi… he’s not quite that extreme, is he? From my observations, he doesn’t seem to execute directly for smaller evil deeds.”
“Like those from the Hyuga Main Family—they were just imprisoned in Konoha Prison. This shows his ‘Absolute Justice’ targets those with heinous crimes, who should still be a minority in proportion.”
Sage Shima frowned, looking at Jiraiya earnestly and said: “Little Jiraiya, that’s too naive. People with extreme temperaments often go further down that path; he won’t stay the same.”
“Do you really dare guarantee that Uchiha Ikeizumi will keep this so-called ‘restraint’ of yours and not carry his extremism to the end?”
Jiraiya was at a loss for words. His understanding of Uchiha Ikeizumi wasn’t deep, mostly based on observations and hearsay.
Human hearts are fickle, especially for those with great power and extreme convictions—who can truly guarantee where they’ll end up?
He fell silent.
“But…” After a few seconds, Jiraiya looked up, said with a sense of helplessness: “The Great Toad Sage has already ordered us to stop contacting the Child of Prophecy for now. In this situation, it seems we can’t do anything?”
Sage Fukasaku: “……”
Sage Shima: “……”
Now it was their turn to be speechless.
No matter how much they inwardly disagreed with “Absolute Justice” or worried about future risks, they couldn’t defy the Great Toad Sage’s highest decision.
“Wait!”
Suddenly, Jiraiya slammed the table and shot up like a spring.
This sudden movement made the bottles on the table clatter and also startled Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima.
A look of sudden enlightenment and excitement lit up Jiraiya’s face: “I just thought of a perfect solution! It won’t violate the Great Toad Sage’s orders, won’t anger Tsunade, and won’t directly provoke Uchiha Ikeizumi!”
Sage Shima and Sage Fukasaku were both stunned and asked in unison: “What method?”
Jiraiya’s eyes gleamed as he said emphatically: “Ninja Academy!”
……
Meanwhile, in the streets and alleys of Konoha Village, villagers were hotly discussing a major event a few days away that concerned the village’s future direction—the election for Fifth Hokage!
There were two candidates: one was the legendary Princess Tsunade, one of the Konoha Sannin, and the other was the current Third Hokage, Konoha’s Ninja Overlord Sarutobi Hiruzen.
For many ordinary villagers in the village, both were renowned big shots.
They had no clear preference on whom to choose.
Thus, most people couldn’t help turning their eyes to the village’s ninja elites.
Hoping to gauge the trend from this group’s attitudes and words.
Then, they heard a quite common leaning viewpoint from many Konoha ninjas’ mouths.
“You’re asking me who I’d pick for Fifth Hokage…”
A seemingly ordinary Konoha chunin was surrounded by several curious villagers. He first mysteriously glanced around, confirmed no Anbu or other spies nearby, then lowered his voice: “If it were me, I definitely wouldn’t pick the Third again.”
He explained: “After all… the Third is advanced in age, his energy probably not what it once was. And most crucially, he has… no authority at all in the Police Force! He can’t command those Uchiha ninjas at all.”
He shifted tone: “In contrast… Lady Tsunade is different. Though she’s been semi-retired in recent years, her reputation in the Police Force is excellent, and she’s said to have a good personal relationship with Captain Uchiha Ikeizumi. If she becomes Hokage, she can mobilize and restrain the Police Force’s power.”
He summed up sincerely, with a tone of “for the village’s good”: “In other words… the Third can no longer control the powerful Uchiha force, while only Lady Tsunade can unite the village’s powers.”
“In this situation, for the village’s stability, I’d definitely pick the one who can make the situation more stable to be Hokage.”
Looking at the villagers before him who seemed to get it, he added finally: “As for who becoming Hokage will make our lives more stable and peaceful, I… don’t need to say more, right? You all should have an idea in your hearts.”
After this seemingly heartfelt speech, the chunin waved his hand, pushed through the crowd, and quickly left.
However, not long after…
He deliberately circled to another crowded street and proactively brought up the Hokage election topic.
Facing the new audience, he slightly modified his earlier remarks.
Then repeated them.
After another group of villagers showed “aha” expressions, he nimbly slipped into the crowd and vanished.
Clearly…
This chunin wasn’t an ordinary chatterbox; he came from a ninja clan that had already bet on supporting Tsunade.
Having taken a side, he needed to spare no effort in shaping public opinion to win support for his clan’s backed candidate.
……
On the other side, outside a training ground in Konoha.
Sweat-drenched Kakashi, with his signature dead fish eyes drooping, face full of helplessness, looked at Tsunade blocking his path.
“Kakashi, have you decided?”
Tsunade’s arms were crossed under her chest, making her seem imposing.
She stared straight at Kakashi without evasion, awaiting his reply.
Kakashi scratched his silver hair with a headache, said helplessly: “Lady Tsunade, my personal opinion and choice… probably aren’t that important, right? After all, I’m just a lone wolf, no clan, no faction, and can’t influence many people?”
Tsunade remained unmoved and directly hit the nail on the head: “Kakashi, you’re underestimating your own influence. You’re an elite jonin from the younger generation with great prestige and fame in Konoha.”
“You think you can’t influence others, but in reality, many eyes are on you, especially those undecided moderates.”
She leaned forward slightly, her tone pressing: “Whatever choice you make, those watching you are likely to follow suit. So today, I must ask clearly—what are your thoughts?”
Kakashi: “……”
He felt like a rat in a bellows, trapped on both sides.
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen had shown him great favor, always trusting and promoting him.
While on Tsunade’s side…
Not only was she one of the powerful Sannin, more importantly, she stood on the same side as Uchiha Ikeizumi.
Thinking of Uchiha Ikeizumi made Kakashi even more conflicted.
He did owe the man several favors and had never found a chance to repay them.
Moreover, crucially, Teacher Minato’s child—Uzumaki Naruto—was now clearly close to Uchiha Ikeizumi and them…
This was truly blocked from both ends!
“Um… Lady Tsunade,” Kakashi tried to wriggle out, asked weakly: “Can… I stay neutral?”
Tsunade flatly and irrefutably shattered his illusion: “Even if you politely decline me today, the old man will soon come to you. You’ll still have to choose then. Avoidance solves no problems.”
Kakashi: “……”
He slowly took a deep breath, as if resolving something, and said: “I… need a little time to think.”
Tsunade stared at him for a few seconds and said: “Time is short; the election is in a few days.”
“…Tonight.” Kakashi gave a firm time: “Tonight, I’ll give you a clear reply.”
Watching Kakashi turn and leave, Shizune behind Tsunade couldn’t help saying weakly: “Lady Tsunade, will Kakashi… really support us?”
“He seems like the type who doesn’t want to offend anyone, and the Third Hokage has been good to him…”
Tsunade’s lips curved in a confident smile as she analyzed: “Shizune, with the current Hokage still being the old man, Kakashi didn’t righteously refuse me outright but only used ‘needs time to consider’ to stall.”
“That in itself shows… his inner loyalty scale has already tipped and isn’t 100% firmly supporting the old man.”
Looking in the direction Kakashi disappeared, she said confidently: “When he said ‘needs time to consider,’ actually… he already had the answer in his heart.”
Shizune was stunned: “What answer?”
Tsunade said softly: “He will ultimately choose to stand with us. Or more accurately, stand with the Absolute Justice represented by Ikeizumi.”
……
Nightfall arrived as expected.
Kakashi found Shizune, who was handling documents, as promised.
Under Shizune’s puzzled gaze, Kakashi’s tone carried complex fatigue as he said lowly: “Please tell Lady Tsunade… I will support the candidate I believe can make Konoha better. I hope Lady Tsunade won’t disappoint this expectation.”
Shizune: “!!!”
She was instantly dumbfounded, watching Kakashi turn and leave crisply, vanishing into the night.
“Lady Tsunade… was right after all!”
Shizune murmured in shock: “Even someone like Kakashi has chosen to stand with Lady Tsunade… This time, the Third Hokage is probably truly beyond saving.”
……
Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, under deep night.
Cloaked in dim moonlight and thin mist.
The huge gate of Hidden Mist Village, shrouded in hazy water vapor, was faintly visible.
Several figures stepped into Hidden Mist Village territory openly under the cover of night.
Two wore Konoha attire, with a plump ninja cat perched on the girl’s shoulder; the other was a rogue ninja from Hidden Mist Village—Juzo Biwa, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
There were also Mei Terumī and Ao.
The appearance of this strange group instantly touched Hidden Mist Village’s most sensitive nerves!
Almost the instant they crossed the village entrance alert line—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh…
From shadows all around, rooftops, pools, behind rocks…
Countless cold gazes instantly locked onto them.
……
……
