Sakumo Hatake was silent for a moment, his face expressionless.
“So, what is your purpose?
There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.”
After being deeply betrayed, Sakumo Hatake had to admit that the will of fire might exist in the Village, but if you said these ninja clans were helping him ascend because of his will of fire, he wouldn’t believe it.
“No, we don’t want anything.
If we really had to say, it would be fairness!
The Hokage has always been in the Senju lineage, while our Uchiha’s background is rather awkward.”
Uchiha Fugaku said in a deep voice.
What a joke—they were the Uchiha, second to none!
All they needed was fairness, and the Hokage after next would be theirs!
“Is that so?
Sakumo thanks everyone here.
Let me think about it.”
Sakumo Hatake bowed deeply.
Regardless of the reason, he had to accept their kindness.
“Brother Sakumo, the arrow is on the string and must be shot.
We’ve long built up momentum for you, and now the Village is practically shaped around you.”
Uchiha Fugaku said excitedly.
What was there to consider?
He was a man destined to become Hokage!
“Thank you, but I need to think about it.”
Sakumo Hatake felt that sensation even more acutely—a sense of being trapped in the world, unable to control one’s own fate.
Was he really going to be pushed onto the throne of Hokage by these people?
“Fine then, Brother Sakumo, take your time thinking about it.
I’ll take my leave now.”
Uchiha Fugaku shook his head helplessly, a strong sense of unease surging in his heart.
Sakumo Hatake’s hesitation, an unexpected variable outside the plan, left him with little control over the unfolding situation.
White Fang of Konoha, what are you thinking?
This is the position of Hokage!
After Uchiha Fugaku left, Sakumo Hatake sat alone in the courtyard.
The morning sunlight spilled through the clouds, and the delicate aroma of warm green tea filled the air.
Everything appeared so peaceful and beautiful.
Sakumo Hatake lowered his head, quietly gazing at his own reflection on the surface of the tea.
“Perhaps the so-called Hokage is merely a puppet kidnapped onto a moral high ground by various factions, a puppet without freedom.”
At this moment, he was clearer-headed than ever before.
He only needed to take one more step, and becoming Hokage was inevitable—of this he was certain.
But what then?
Having no power base of his own, managing the Village would force him to rely on these ninja clans.
Civilians were too weak, and it would already be a cause for celebration if the original Senju faction didn’t cause trouble.
The Village might regress to an era dominated by ninja clans, completely betraying the ideal of First Hokage Senju Hashirama.
The god of shinobi, who gave up his clan name to integrate his people among civilians, certainly didn’t want the Village to turn out like this.
And his successor?
Perhaps only the Uchiha Clan would be able to take over.
Relying on the immense political achievements gained during his term, only an Uchiha could become the next Hokage.
Funny as it was, after the Senju and Uchiha jointly founded the Village, an Uchiha could only dare to dream of becoming Hokage after a commoner like him had held the post.
And what about after that?
Sakumo Hatake didn’t want to think any deeper.
Perhaps the so-called will of fire had already become nothing more than a politically correct slogan.
“Is my becoming Hokage truly the right choice for this Village?”
Sakumo Hatake shook his head after a moment of silence.
He was too weak, unworthy of the position—not weak in strength, but weak in lacking a power base of his own.
Unless one possessed the earth-shattering power of the god of shinobi that could make anyone sit down and listen to soft whispers, who would listen to you otherwise?
The deterrent power of the White Fang Short Blade was still too small.
“My life is truly such a failure, yet such a success.
A failure because I cannot control my own life, and a success because everyone wants to use me.”
At this moment, Sakumo Hatake felt incomparably weary.
The collapse of morality in his heart during this time, the pain of the high-ups mocking the will of fire, the ignorant and mindless villagers, the darkness of politics, and a future life where he would likely be unable to control his own fate…
Every single event pressed down on him like a massive mountain!
“As the master of this body, perhaps I can decide the life of this body.
I’m sorry, Kakashi, this is the last time.”
…
“Hiruzen, think of a way quick!
If this continues, the position of Hokage will be snatched away by Sakumo Hatake!”
Danzo said anxiously in the Hokage Office.
He felt completely innocent—he had merely sent his men to splash some dirty water.
How had the situation suddenly turned out like this?
When he splashed dirty water on the Uchiha in his free time, nothing like this ever happened!
Moreover, if Sakumo Hatake really became Hokage, how was he supposed to play?
Let alone the next Hokage, even his position as Hokage Assistant would be gone, Root would be disbanded, and they might even come looking for trouble over him splashing dirty water.
What should be done?
Hiruzen, save me!
“Danzo, who told you to do that!
Isn’t protecting comrades by abandoning a mission part of the will of fire?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted in anger as well.
Hearing Hiruzen dump the blame onto him first, Danzo wasn’t about to take it lying down.
“Indeed, I did it.
So what?
You are the Hokage, you are the master of Konoha!
You didn’t stop me, doesn’t that mean you tacitly approved it?”
Danzo turned the tables.
You are the Hokage!!!
“Danzo, you!
It seems I have been too lenient.
Starting today, you are dismissed as Hokage Assistant.
Go home and reflect on your actions!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious.
Damn Danzo, he was truly vile!
He definitely didn’t want things to turn out like this; his will of fire was stronger than anyone else’s!
“Hmph!”
Danzo let out a cold snort and slammed the door as he left.
In his heart, however, he was secretly pleased.
It seemed Hiruzen was going to take the blame himself.
Even if White Fang became Hokage later on, he probably wouldn’t end up too badly off.
Hiruzen, we really are the best of friends in the world!
Utatane Koharu had a headache.
She didn’t know what to say to this pair of fools, who still had the mind to bicker at such a critical moment.
“Hiruzen, don’t mind Danzo.
Let’s solve the issue with White Fang first.
If this goes on, the Hokage position really will be taken away.”
But Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored her, looking distantly into the far expanse with lifeless eyes.
After driving Danzo away, his mind was filled with the news gathered by the Anbu.
“Can a mission compare to a comrade?
The Third and those Konoha high-ups letting such rumors spread through the Village is a desecration of the will of fire!
They have lost the will of fire!”
Whatever insult was directed at him didn’t matter, but this sentence was like a White Fang Short Blade stabbing brutally into his heart.
They have lost the will of fire!
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi asked himself: Had he lost the will of fire?
When the rumors first spread, he had naturally known right away, and he knew clear as day who had spread them.
But he had chosen to remain silent.
For what?
To let his disciples inherit the mantle of Hokage.
Whether Orochimaru, Tsunade, or Jiraiya, he had always wanted one of the three to inherit the Hokage position.
Not for any grand reason—just human nature, favoring those close over those merely worthy.
And against such a perfect White Fang, how could any of them compete?
That was why he tacitly allowed it this time.
So, he really had lost the will of fire, if only just that once!