“So, Third Hokage, you’ve been worrying about this all this time just because of this?” Sakura stared at the Third Hokage in disbelief.
“Come on!
Does this really have to be so complicated?
You’re the Third Hokage.
When it comes to something this trivial, do you really need to ask the Council of Elders for their opinion?
And when the Council of Elders opposed you, you actually listened to them?
What else can those old fossils do besides cause trouble?” “Cough, cough…” The Third Hokage choked on his smoke.
Come to think of it, wasn’t I also one of those old fossils on the Council of Elders during the Fourth Hokage’s reign?
“You’re the Third Hokage.
When it comes to diplomatic matters involving other shinobi villages, no matter how much they say, aren’t you still the one who has the final say?” Sakura continued mercilessly.
“You’ve got just two or three old fossils opposing you, and you’re already hesitating here?
Don’t forget, there are more people supporting your decision than opposing it!” Sakura had absolutely no fondness for Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and the other members of the Council of Elders.
Having read the original story, she knew all too well that these people did little besides cause trouble for Konoha.
In practice, they seemed to accomplish nothing useful.
“But Homura and Koharu were my classmates!” The Third Hokage was still conflicted.
When it came to Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and the others who had studied under the Second Hokage alongside him, he simply could not bring himself to be ruthless.
Just as in the original story, when Danzo had secretly arranged for the Uchiha clan to be exterminated behind his back, Sarutobi had ultimately said nothing.
Even after Danzo sent people to assassinate him, the Third Hokage had merely let the matter pass with a smile.
“If the Second Hokage were faced with a situation like this, what would he do?” Sakura suddenly asked.
“…” The Third Hokage said nothing.
He simply continued smoking.
He knew his former teacher’s personality all too well.
Kumogakure had actually dared to send people into Konoha to abduct the daughter of the Hyūga clan head.
There would have been no need for Tobirama to wait for Kumogakure to issue further threats.
Senju Tobirama would probably have mobilized Konoha’s forces and gone to war with Kumogakure first.
As for anyone who opposed him?
Given Tobirama’s temperament, they could consider themselves lucky if he didn’t beat the opposition into submission.
“I think the Second Hokage established the Council of Elders simply to give the major clans an opportunity to participate in discussions about Konoha’s affairs,” Sakura said calmly.
“The Council of Elders is supposed to advise the Hokage, not interfere with decisions the Hokage has already made!” It was called a Council of Elders in both villages, but look at Kumogakure.
The Fourth Raikage was constantly slamming his fist on the table, and the elders of Kumogakure didn’t even dare breathe too loudly in his presence.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage treated Konoha’s elders with nothing but patience and courtesy.
In the end, that had only encouraged them to become increasingly demanding.
“Lord Second…” The Third Hokage’s eyes grew distant.
Yes.
When had the Council of Elders begun to change?
It seemed to have started after the first time he compromised with them.
From then on, no matter what decision he made, the Council of Elders would interfere.
Even when the Fourth Hokage had been chosen, if not for Jiraiya’s fiery temperament and his support, along with the fact that Minato Namikaze’s wife was Kushina Uzumaki and Minato himself had a good relationship with the Uchiha clan, the position of Hokage might very well have ended up in the hands of the Council of Elders.
Thinking of this, the Third Hokage silently lowered his pipe.
Perhaps he really had been too soft-hearted over the years.
But once upon a time, he had been known as the God of Shinobi.
That title wasn’t merely because he had mastered all five basic nature transformations.
It also reflected his decisive and uncompromising style.
“Yū, go inform Shikaku.
Tell him to send a reply to Kumogakure.” The Third Hokage’s voice was firmer than it had ever been.
“Tell Kumogakure to properly explain why they attempted to abduct the Hyūga clan head’s daughter.
And have them prepare appropriate compensation.” “If they refuse, they can wait for Konoha to deliver a declaration of war!” It was only war.
Konoha had survived the days when it had fought multiple enemies at once.
Now it was merely Kumogakure.
What was there to fear?
“I think we should go notify the Hyūga clan first,” Sakura reminded him.
If those stubborn old men of the Hyūga clan forced Hizashi Hyūga to sacrifice himself just as they had in the original story, then what would have been the point of everything she had done?
“Good.” The Third Hokage nodded and stood up.
He knew all about the Hyūga clan’s reputation for stubbornness.
Besides, this matter directly concerned the Hyūga clan, so they naturally had to be informed.
Under Sakura’s mischievous insistence, the Third Hokage soon found himself standing on a pink cloud, floating through the sky.
“Sakura, why do you insist on making me fly around on a cloud?” The Third Hokage was rather depressed.
He would much rather be flying through the sky standing on a sword.
That would be much more impressive.
But Sakura had insisted that he ride the cloud instead.
She had even claimed that since he already had the Adamantine Staff, he absolutely had to have a Flying Nimbus to go with it.
What annoyed him most was that the cloud was pink.
An old man standing on a pink cloud and flying through the sky… The image was truly rather strange.
“Because only the Flying Nimbus is worthy of accompanying the Adamantine Staff!” Sakura covered her mouth and giggled.
She had deliberately used the Reality Stone to create this pink Flying Nimbus.
Who told the Third Hokage that he had the nickname the Monkey, and that his weapon was the Adamantine Staff transformed from his summoned Enma?
Without giving him a Flying Nimbus to match, Sakura felt as though the world would be incomplete.
“Besides, Grandpa Third, don’t you think standing on a cloud makes you look like some immortal sage?” “But why does the cloud have to be pink?” The Third Hokage felt miserable.
If anyone he knew saw him like this, who knew what they would say behind his back?
“The pink cloud means Grandpa Third has a young maiden’s heart!” Sakura’s eyes narrowed into crescents as she laughed.
“Alas…” The Third Hokage sighed.
He had a feeling his reputation was about to be ruined in his old age.
But he was already standing on the cloud, and they were halfway there.
The ANBU shinobi following behind him had seen him in this state long ago.
Getting off now wouldn’t accomplish anything anyway.
That day, many of Konoha’s shinobi happened to look up and witness a spectacular sight.
A long sword and a pink cloud were flying rapidly across the sky above Konoha.
A petite, adorable little girl stood atop the sword.
And on the pink cloud stood someone who looked suspiciously like their beloved Third Hokage.
Shinobi had excellent eyesight, allowing them to see the scene clearly.
The Uchiha shinobi in particular had no difficulty seeing every detail with the enhanced visual perception of their Sharingan.
This scene would later become one of the seeds of the tragedy surrounding the Uchiha clan’s destruction at Danzo’s hands and the Third Hokage’s silence.
[Kill the witnesses???] Before long, the two arrived at the Hyūga clan compound.
They lowered the Demon Sword and the cloud until they were less than half a meter above the ground, then simply floated toward the main gate of the Hyūga compound.
They’re seriously rich!
Sakura’s heart ached at the sight.
The Hyūga clan compound was enormous.
A residence of this size was more than enough to demonstrate just how wealthy the Hyūga clan was.
And in the original story, after Naruto married Hinata, that house was probably part of Hinata’s dowry, right?
Otherwise, with Naruto’s savings, how could he possibly afford a detached mansion like that?
Just look at Sakura herself.
Even after becoming one of Konoha’s senior figures, once she married Sasuke Uchiha, she had started paying off a mortgage.
A renowned S-Class shinobi had even been driven into unconsciousness by the burden of her home loan.
And at the time, Sakura was the head of Konoha’s Medical Department!
Even she was still carrying a mortgage that would take decades to pay off.
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