Ninja World: I'm really a support-type ninja

Hiashi Hyuga was taken aback, then shook his head with a serious expression. "I don't know what the Third Hokage is talking about, nor do I know what happened today."

"Is that so?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression softened considerably, and he glanced back at the Hokage's guards. "Are you the same?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

The members of the Hokage's guard had followed Hiruzen Sarutobi for a long time, and they could guess his general meaning from just a glance.

The members of the Hokage's Guard naturally chose to turn a blind eye to this highly sensitive incident.

"Very good. We are at a critical stage of the war, and the village must not be in chaos!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi offered a further explanation before turning away and continuing on his way without looking back.

Hiashi Hyuga, who also chose to compromise, did the same, but his lips twitched as he strongly disapproved of Hiruzen Sarutobi's blatant protection of Danzo Shimura.

A mistake is a mistake, and that can never be erased.

Moreover, internal stability must precede external defense; there will be no peace as long as Shimura Danzo remains unpunished. If he can do such things for personal gain today, he will do even more outrageous things for personal gain tomorrow!

Even though Hiashi Hyuga disliked it so much, he could only endure it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi is still the Third Hokage of Konoha, so openly opposing him would be very unwise.

But today's incident caused Hiashi Hyuga's perception of Hiruzen Sarutobi to plummet once again.

……

When Hiruzen Sarutobi led his team back to Konoha, they were greeted by a scene of Konoha villagers helping each other and working with great enthusiasm.

Akira Hatake, on the other hand, directed from the sidelines and sometimes even took action himself.

However, whenever Akira Hatake takes action, someone always takes over his work so that he can rest first.

Knowing he couldn't persuade him otherwise, Akira Hatake simply let it be.

"Ming, well done!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Third Hokage." Hatake Akira bowed. "And it's also thanks to Minato-sensei's excellent teaching."

"Is that so?" Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "Minato has taught a fine disciple!"

He patted Akira Hatake on the shoulder and said, "It feels pretty good to be surrounded by people, doesn't it?"

Feeling the strong force on his shoulder, Akira Hatake felt a surge of anger, but he quickly suppressed it.

"No, on the contrary, I feel rather apprehensive." Akira Hatake glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "There are many things I haven't done well, and these praises don't feel real to me at all."

"Not arrogant or impatient, very good." Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes. "The front lines still need you, right? Take a rest and hurry back."

"Actually, I don't need to rest. I can go back now."

"Are you really not going to take a break?"

"Really, there's no need. I've already rested for a while, and my chakra has almost fully recovered."

Akira Hatake still had a smile on his face, waved at Hiruzen Sarutobi, and then disappeared in a flash.

After Akira Hatake left, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked to a relatively high ruin, his face showing both a kind expression and a deep sorrow.

"Everyone come here for a moment, I'm here today..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried far, and the villagers and ninjas of Konoha, upon hearing it was Hiruzen Sarutobi, all put down their work and gathered around in an orderly fashion.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then delivered a speech, mentioning Iwagakure, the culprit behind the destruction of Konoha, acknowledging his own mistakes, and making a series of guarantees.

He then quoted historical examples to encourage the villagers and ninjas of Konoha, and also talked about his own hardships and efforts.

Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi recounts his role and performance in the incident, followed by a collective mobilization and the arrangement of various tasks.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's impromptu speech was a great success. The residents of Konoha and some ninjas were as if they had been injected with adrenaline, and they were full of enthusiasm and energy.

However, halfway through the speech, Hiashi Hyuga made an excuse to leave.

He simply couldn't stand Hiruzen Sarutobi's hypocrisy!

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was the biggest contributor to the attack on Konoha, didn't mention a word about Akira Hatake!

Hiashi Hyuga was about the same age as Minato Namikaze, and they were both young and impetuous. Even though they were somewhat shrewd, they still couldn't stand some things.

Akira Hatake, who used the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel, did not choose to return directly to the front-line battlefield.

He doesn't have enough chakra!

"Damn it!" Akira Hatake's suppressed anger erupted. "He's really getting worse with age. I haven't even done anything yet and he's already so wary of me. Does he really think I want to be Hokage?!"

Anyone with a bit of spirit would find this situation unbearable, and even someone as composed as Akira Hatake would find it difficult to cope.

It's not that Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions were thankless; they were clearly a way of keeping an eye on Akira Hatake, suspecting that he was becoming too powerful and overshadowing his master.

The problem is that Hiruzen Sarutobi is not the emperor of Konoha, and Akira Hatake is not a tool.

Akira Hatake didn't need praise, but kicking someone out as soon as things were over was something only someone with a stroke could do.

Furious, he crushed the soldier's ration pill in his hand, hurling the crumbs into the air, and gritted his teeth as he used two skill points he had previously saved.

As the light of the skill level upgrade flashed by, the passive effect of the Time Prophecy equipment was triggered, and Akira Hatake recovered 40% of his total chakra within six seconds.

Without hesitation, Akira Hatake once again vanished from his spot in a flash.

……

"Has Ming not returned yet?"

Jiraiya approached Minato Namikaze, his face showing concern.

Given Akira Hatake's speed and chakra reserves, he should have returned long ago after coordinating with Minato Namikaze.

"No."

Minato Namikaze's face showed some worry, but more than that, regret.

If Akira Hatake had returned the moment he sent the signal, the victory could have been increased by another 30%, given his unparalleled ability to mow down enemies.

However, Akira Hatake was delayed for some reason. Although Minato Namikaze expressed his understanding, Akira Hatake still had to bear some of the blame for missing the opportunity.

"Since Ming hasn't returned yet, let's chase him here..."

Jiraiya was also somewhat unwilling.

The Konoha ninja forces also suffered heavy losses in this battle. Although the brilliant teamwork between Akira Hatake and Minato Namikaze turned the tide, they still suffered more than half of their casualties.

Of the nearly 4000 ninja troops, fewer than 2000 remained.

Despite suffering greater casualties and losing the Third Raikage, effectively crippling half of the Hidden Cloud Village, the Cloud Village still failed to achieve its intended effect.

If Akira Hatake had returned immediately...

"I know Ming; he wouldn't deliberately delay the battle. He must have encountered an unexpected event that we don't know about."

"What kind of unexpected event could possibly occur in Konoha Village...?"

When Minato Namikaze defended Akira Hatake, Jiraiya initially refuted him, but his voice grew softer and softer as he slowly widened his eyes.

"Could it be..." Jiraiya dared not think further. "No, stop the pursuit. We must question Akira properly!"

"I know, teacher, I've already made contact."

It has to be said that Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze had a very accurate sense of intuition. However, just as Minato Namikaze raised his hand to communicate with Akira Hatake using the Flying Thunder God Seal, Akira Hatake arrived at Minato Namikaze's side at the same time.

"Teacher, Grandmaster."

"I'm late..."

Just as Akira Hatake appeared, he only had time to say two words before Jiraiya anxiously approached him to ask what was wrong.

"Ming, has something happened in the village?"

"Otherwise, you wouldn't have come back so late."

Jiraiya's questioning made Akira Hatake give him a deep look, somewhat admiring Jiraiya's keen insight, before nodding.

"Some unexpected situations did indeed occur."

Akira Hatake recounted in detail how Konoha Village had been attacked by the Iwagakure Earthquake Core Team, which immediately enraged Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze.

The two of them couldn't tolerate having their home raided.

But when they learned that Hiruzen Sarutobi had dismissed Akira Hatake with just two sentences, both of them fell silent, their eyes flickering with uncertainty, as if they were thinking about something.

"Ming, the old man may have his own reasons..."

Jiraiya knew perfectly well that his words were weak and ineffective. He couldn't finish his sentence and his face turned as red as a monkey's bottom.

"Yes, he has his reasons."

Akira Hatake nodded slightly, unusually omitting honorifics in his speech.

"I'm going to clean up the battlefield and comfort my wounded comrades while I'm at it." Jiraiya took the opportunity to slip away, clearly not wanting to get involved. "You and Minato take care of this area, I'll go check out the rear."

After saying that, Jiraiya disappeared in a flash, leaving Akira Hatake and Minato Namikaze behind.

"Ming, I know you're upset, but I also know that you'll be able to vent your frustrations sooner or later."

Minato Namikaze looked at Akira Hatake with unwavering eyes, "I'll take care of everything."

Akira Hatake was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.

Although Minato Namikaze didn't say it outright, his meaning was quite clear: he wanted to actively compete for the Hokage position!

"I believe in my teacher."

Akira Hatake nodded, then reached into his ninja tool pouch, took out a sealing scroll, and handed it to Minato Namikaze, his expression somewhat amused.

“This is…” Minato Namikaze was very curious.

"It's a lunchbox that my master's wife asked me to bring you." Akira Hatake stared at Minato Namikaze's face, and after seeing his face turn a deep purplish-red, he couldn't help but feel a little amused.

"And my teacher's wife also instructed me to make sure you finished your lunchbox..."

Chapter 169: Choosing between Nohara Rin and inheriting Uchiha Madara's mantle?

No one is more qualified to comment on Kushina Uzumaki's culinary skills than Minato Namikaze.

Upon hearing Akira Hatake's last words, Minato Namikaze instinctively clutched his stomach.

With a wicked chuckle, Akira Hatake stuffed the sealing scroll into Minato Namikaze's arms, instantly dispelling his gloomy mood.