The story returns to the present.
After finishing most of the breakfast meant for three people, Tsunade accepted the tissue Ryan handed her, wiped her mouth, and asked, “So, when are we leaving for the next world?” “Soon.
Very soon.” “You said the same thing last time.” Tsunade rolled her eyes in annoyance.
“Can you actually do it or not?
Don’t tell me you were just fooling me.” Ryan could only smile helplessly.
His mysterious ability had awakened completely by accident.
There was no instruction manual explaining how it worked.
He had been forced to figure everything out through trial and error.
After a month of experimentation, he had finally learned a few things about it.
First, his ability allowed him to travel to other worlds through any door.
As long as it was a door, it could potentially become a gateway.
Second, besides the Naruto world, he could indeed connect to other universes.
However, doing so required time.
Exactly how much time, he couldn’t say.
He simply had an instinctive feeling that the ability needed time before it could establish another connection.
Third, whenever Ryan entered a new world through one of these doors, he automatically gained the ability to communicate with its inhabitants.
For example, after entering the Naruto world, he could speak with Tsunade effortlessly.
Even when Ryan spoke Chinese, Tsunade somehow understood exactly what he meant.
Likewise, when Tsunade traveled through the door into Ryan’s world, she automatically gained the same ability.
That was why she could read and understand the manga from his world without any difficulty.
It was an incredibly convenient power that saved Ryan countless headaches.
So far, these were the only abilities he had discovered.
Whether his mysterious gift possessed even more functions remained unknown.
That was why, when Tsunade pressed him for an answer, he couldn’t give her a definite response.
All he could say was, “Soon.” But this time, he wasn’t making excuses.
Deep down, he could sense that his power was almost ready to connect to another completely new world.
Tsunade glanced at him and was just about to speak when an elderly voice came from outside.
“Tsunade, are you home?
I’ve come to see you.” The moment she heard the voice, her expression changed.
She looked both annoyed and troubled.
Forming a hand seal, she created a Shadow Clone and sent it to answer the door.
A moment later, the clone returned with an elderly man wearing the white ceremonial robes of the Hokage.
It was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha.
Ryan nodded politely.
“Lord Hokage.” To him, Hiruzen was simply a stranger.
A simple greeting was enough.
Hiruzen paid little attention to someone as insignificant as Ryan.
Had Ryan not returned to Konoha together with Tsunade, Hiruzen probably wouldn’t have spared him a second glance.
Tsunade frowned impatiently.
“What do you want, old man?” Hiruzen wasn’t offended by her attitude.
Instead, he smiled warmly and sat down.
“Tsunade, you’ve been back for a while now.
Have you considered helping me?
I’m getting old.
I don’t have the strength I once did, so I’d like you to…” “I’m not interested.” Before he could finish, Tsunade interrupted him.
“If you’re really tired of being Hokage, then hand the position over to Kakashi.” Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.
After a bitter smile, he replied, “Kakashi is an excellent shinobi, but he isn’t ready to become Hokage yet.
I still hope you’ll succeed me.” “Not happening.” Tsunade rejected him without the slightest hesitation.
Her decisive refusal completely baffled Hiruzen.
Half a month earlier, Tsunade had unexpectedly returned to Konoha with Shizune and Ryan.
At the time, Hiruzen had been overjoyed.
He assumed she had finally changed her mind and returned to inherit the title of Fifth Hokage.
He truly was getting old.
His body could no longer keep up with the responsibilities of leading the village.
If Tsunade accepted the position, he could finally retire and enjoy a peaceful life.
But after waiting several days in the Hokage’s office…
Tsunade never came to see him.
Left with no other choice, Hiruzen had personally come to discuss the matter.
Yet she refused every single time.
He simply couldn’t understand.
If she had no intention of becoming Hokage…
Then why return to Konoha at all?
Did she miss home?
Or had she accumulated so many gambling debts that she’d come back to hide from her creditors?
Well…
That wasn’t entirely impossible.
After all, he knew his student’s personality better than anyone.
Seeing the old man lost in thought and making one wild guess after another, Tsunade sighed.
“I’ll tell you the truth, old man.
I have something much more important to do.
I won’t become Hokage.” “Something more important?
Like what?” “Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand.” “If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to understand?” “Exactly because you wouldn’t understand, I don’t feel like explaining.” Hiruzen nearly choked on her answer.
He never imagined that after only a few years away from Konoha, his student had somehow mastered the art of meaningless circular arguments.
Where on earth did she learn that?
His gaze slowly shifted toward Ryan.
Ryan kept his eyes fixed firmly on the tea table, pretending it was the most fascinating object in the world.
Hiruzen fell silent.
If Ryan weren’t Tsunade’s guest…
And if provoking Tsunade weren’t such a terrible idea…
He would have seriously considered teaching this disrespectful young man a lesson.
Finally, Hiruzen sighed.
“Very well.
Since you’ve made up your mind, let’s pretend this conversation never happened.” After thinking it over carefully, he decided not to press the issue.
Some things couldn’t be rushed.
As long as Tsunade remained in Konoha, she would eventually rebuild her bond with the village.
When that happened, the position of Hokage would naturally fall to her.
There was no need to hurry.
With that thought, Hiruzen slowly rose to his feet and leisurely left the Senju Clan compound.
Once he was gone, Ryan turned toward Tsunade with a faint smile.
“Do you think Hiruzen really came to ask you to become the Fifth Hokage…” “…or was he simply testing you?” Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
“What exactly are you implying?” “Exactly what I said.” Ryan shrugged.
“You’ve already read the Naruto manga.” “You’ve also seen all those online discussions…” “And the various conspiracy theories surrounding Hiruzen.” “During his time as Hokage, the once-great Senju Clan dwindled until only you remained.” “The Uchiha Clan was massacred.” “Sakumo Hatake took his own life.” “Orochimaru defected.” “Jiraiya left the village.” “You left as well.” “Every one of those events happened while Hiruzen and his old companions were in power.” “Konoha was once strong enough to defeat the other four great ninja villages.” “Yet under his leadership, the village gradually declined, leaving an entire generation without enough capable successors.” “So…” Ryan looked directly at Tsunade.
“Do you honestly believe he came here because he sincerely wanted you to become the Fifth Hokage?” ( End of Chapter )
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