Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 352 You've Really Grown Old
rustle……

Jiraiya and Tsunade walked into the forest clearing one after the other.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was already waiting there, his back to the two of them, his figure appearing somewhat hunched and lonely in the dappled shadows of the trees.

"Hey, old man, why did you call us to a place like this? Can't we talk about this inside?"

Jiraiya casually joked, "You're acting all sneaky, like a thief."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly turned around, opened his mouth, and was about to speak.

"If you still want to repeat that same rhetoric."

Tsunade crossed her arms and interrupted him rudely, saying impatiently, "We suspect that Hyuga Kumokawa is being controlled by Shimura Danzo using the Caged Bird Seal, so we should be wary of him."

"Then there's no need to say anything more."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi was momentarily speechless.

He dared not tell others about his suspicions about Hyuga Kumokawa and Danzo, but he naturally would not hide them from Tsunade and Jiraiya, whom he trusted very much.

However, it was clear that neither of them believed his suspicions.

"You still don't believe my judgment?"

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "I'm not targeting Yun Chuan personally, but Danzo's methods. You know he's absolutely capable of doing something like this!"

Seeing the almost obsessive worry on his teacher's aged face, Jiraiya's usual playful smile gradually faded, replaced by a more complex sense of helplessness.

“Old man, it’s not that we don’t believe you, but we saw it with our own eyes.”

He scratched his head and said helplessly, "Whether before or after taking office, everything Yun Chuan did was enough to prove his Will of Fire."

"Even if the reform plan he proposed today is drastic and touches on the interests of some people, in the long run, it will undoubtedly be a huge benefit to the village."

"Looking back at your performance at the meeting today, you first vehemently opposed education reform, and then resolutely refused to lead the team to explore the underground palace. Your actions are truly..."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but seeing the teacher's gloomy face, Jiraiya ultimately couldn't bring himself to say them, and instead let out a deeper sigh.

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face showed obvious excitement, and his voice rose a few decibels as he said, "Do you really think that I refused to lead the team because I'm afraid of dying?"

“No, of course not!” Jiraiya shook his head without hesitation. “I know very well that you have never been afraid to sacrifice yourself for Konoha.”

"This is precisely why we are still willing to respect you and stand here to talk to you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tense expression relaxed, but Jiraiya suddenly changed the subject.

“But…” he said in a deep voice, “your suspicion is just suspicion, there is no evidence.”

"So far, what Yun Chuan has shown is a courage, wisdom and sense of responsibility for the village that far exceed his age, rather than ambition and threats."

"Unless there is conclusive evidence that he will harm Konoha, he is the Fifth Hokage recognized by Konoha and deserves our unwavering support and trust!"

“And you should understand,” Jiraiya stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi, “that having you, an experienced Hokage, personally lead the exploration of the dungeon is the safest and most suitable choice.”

"But because of your baseless suspicions, because of your fear and wariness of Yun Chuan, you have given up on your duties as an advisor."

"The reason I feel disappointed is that the Hokage cannot trust his comrades."

The last sentence struck Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart like a heavy hammer, draining all the color from his face.

Could it be that I was really wrong?
Am I being too suspicious and losing the courage to trust?
The thought had barely formed when it was forcefully suppressed by an even stronger stubbornness deep within him.

No! That's not right! I know Danzo too well; he must have obtained the Caged Bird Seal!
"I will find the evidence." Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly raised his head. "I'm going to find Danzo and confront him face to face. Knowing his personality, as soon as I ask him, he will definitely..."

"and then?"

A cold and impatient voice interrupted him without any mercy.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly turned his head to look at Tsunade, who had spoken.

She crossed her arms and stared straight at him: "Even if your suspicions are true, even if Danzo frankly admits to you that he controlled Hyuga Kumokawa."

Tsunade paused for a moment, then said, word by word, "And then?"

"Jiraiya and I will help you temporarily subdue Hyuga Kumokawa, depriving Danzo of the opportunity to control him. So, what's next..."

Her gaze was fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi's frozen face as she asked, "Can you bring yourself to kill Danzo on the spot and eliminate this threat forever?"

"Or, you and Jiraiya can restrain Hyuga Kumokawa, and I can go and kill that old man."

"I could do it, but would you allow it?"

"No, you won't allow it." A mocking smile appeared on Tsunade's face. "You'll definitely stop me, won't you?"

Upon hearing this soul-searching question, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have all his strength drained away instantly. He opened his mouth and said, "I..." He could only utter a meaningless single syllable, and all subsequent words were stuck there. He couldn't say a single word, and a deep sense of powerlessness swept over him.

Yeah, what then?

Even if the worst-case scenario comes true, what can he do?
What else could he do besides completely break ties with Danzo and expose the hidden festering wounds of Konoha to the public, causing even greater turmoil?
Kill Danzo?
If he could truly make that decision, if his methods were truly that ruthless and merciless...

So, many years ago, when Danzo failed to assassinate him, Shimura Danzo had already disappeared from the world. How could he possibly be alive today?

Without a doubt, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't do it.

The days when I studied and fought alongside my teacher with Danzo, Koharu, and En in my youth...

The trust they placed in each other on the battlefield, and Danzo's obsessive yet blood-shedding nature...

Scenes from the past uncontrollably flooded my mind.

The older people get, the more nostalgic they become.

Those years we spent together are like heavy chains, wrapped around my heart layer by layer.

With each additional year of life, another chain is added, and so does the amount of caution.

In youth, one can act swiftly and decisively, for there are few worries, and the only goal in sight is the one ahead.

But at his age, looking back, all he sees are old friends and memories, and every choice he makes seems to tear apart a piece of the past.

As a result, one's heart inevitably becomes softer and softer.

Perhaps one can still be ruthless towards the enemy.

However, for a "comrade" with whom one has known for decades and whose relationship is intertwined with grievances...

The rights and wrongs, friendships and resentments between them have accumulated over many years, and have long been a tangled mess.

How could he possibly bring himself to actually wield the sword against Danzo?

This "kindness" and "indecisiveness" became the biggest shackles binding him, making him no longer rational and calm.

This made him indecisive when he should have been making calm judgments, which became Danzo's reliance to repeatedly challenge his bottom line and damage Konoha's interests.

Seeing the undisguised struggle and eventual dejection on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, Tsunade already knew his answer.

"Hmph." Tsunade couldn't help but chuckle, unsure whether she was laughing at Hiruzen Sarutobi's weakness or at the sliver of hope she still held for him.

They are in their prime, full of vigor, and their actions are based on a balance between immediate advantages and disadvantages and future development.

As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the former Third Hokage, he has truly grown old, his steps already slowed down by the long passage of time and heavy memories.

Without further hesitation, Tsunade didn't even bother to look at him again, and walked past Hiruzen Sarutobi with a blank expression.

Jiraiya gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a deep look, his eyes filled with complex emotions, which ultimately turned into a soft sigh.

“Old man…” he said, “I understand your concerns. If Danzo and Unkawa are really up to no good in the dark and harming the village’s interests, I will be the first to not let them off the hook.”

"But now, we can't let doubts cause us to put the cart before the horse or throw the baby out with the bathwater. Let's give him more trust."

After saying that, Jiraiya patted Hiruzen Sarutobi on the shoulder and walked past him.

But at that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's hoarse voice came from behind.

“Whatever you think…” he said in a low voice, “what if my suspicions come true?”

"What if everything Hinata Kumokawa has done is ultimately paving the way for some far more terrifying purpose that we haven't yet discovered?"

"He's too strong."

"He's so strong that no one can stop him."

“If he chooses to do something to Konoha, I cannot bear the consequences, and Konoha cannot bear the consequences either.”

“So…” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s tone became increasingly calm and composed, “I will definitely keep a close eye on him.”

Jiraiya paused, turned his head slightly, and glanced at the figure behind him.

"Aren't you tired?" He shook his head and said helplessly, "At this age, wouldn't it be better to just enjoy your retirement?"

"Hyuga Kumokawa is the child of prophecy."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiraiya disappeared into the forest, leaving only Hiruzen Sarutobi standing there, his shadow stretched long by the setting sun.

(End of this chapter)