Naruto: With maxed-out affection, I am invincible in the ninja world.

"Youth is so fleeting!!"

Kai waved his hands excitedly, looking at Kakashi with a very concerned expression.

Kakashi smiled wryly:

"Okay, Kai, I'm fine, really fine."

"real?!"

Kai asked excitedly, and seeing Kakashi nod, he immediately gave a thumbs up and flashed a bright smile.

"Alright! In that case, let's have a youthful showdown!"

"It's been a full six months since our last duel!"

Upon hearing the familiar words, Kakashi's eyes immediately turned into dead fish eyes.

He refused helplessly:

"Let me rest for a bit, or... could you go find Haneda?"

Haneda, who had been eavesdropping through the wall, couldn't hold back any longer. He glanced at Kai, who was eager to try, and quickly climbed over the window, saying:

"Kai! Have you forgotten our promise?"

"Youth is about moving forward step by step!"

Kai was initially surprised by Haneda's sudden appearance, but upon hearing this, he immediately became excited:

"That's right, this is youth!"

"Kakashi! Accept my challenge!"

Seeing this, Kakashi glanced at Guy, then at Haneda, his face darkening.

He recalled some unpleasant experiences.

Kakashi tried to change the subject:

"Kai, I heard that your teacher, Orochimaru-sama, is going to run for the Fourth Hokage. Is that true?"

"What? The Fourth Hokage, so fast!"

Kai was busy with his youthful cultivation and had no interest in the earth-shattering changes that were about to take place in the upper echelons of the village.

When I went to see Orochimaru last time, I think I mentioned it briefly...

Kai asked in a low voice:

"Is the Hokage going to abdicate?"

Haneda and Kakashi exchanged a glance, and remembering Guy's thick skin, they both tacitly hummed in agreement.

Remembering Kakashi's words about his teacher, Guy said happily:

"Orochimaru-sensei is going to run for Hokage? No way? I'm going to become the Hokage's student?"

"Not necessarily." Kakashi shook his head. "Minato-sensei is also interested in running."

Haneda chimed in, "Yes, Minato-senpai also has a chance."

"As long as Orochimaru has no interest in becoming Hokage..." Haneda silently added in his mind.

Chapter 172 The Uchiha clan enters, and the conference room is shaken!

"Minato-senpai?"

Kai thought of the gentle, powerful, and near-perfect Minato and couldn't help but worry about Orochimaru-sensei.

But he quickly thought of his rivalry with Kakashi and laughed again:

"Kakashi! I never imagined that our teachers would have a youthful showdown!"

"Yosh~ That's awesome!"

Upon hearing the teacher's words, Kakashi subconsciously glanced at Haneda out of the corner of his eye. Seeing a slight change in Haneda's expression, he quickly said:

"How about this, Kai, we go have a match now?"

"Alright, Kakashi."

Kai didn't realize there was a problem; fearing Kakashi would regret it, he quickly agreed.

"Sorry, Haneda, I may have to keep you waiting," Kakashi said.

"It's alright, we can go to training right after this is over."

Haneda looked at Kakashi, who had regained his composure, and smiled.

…………

In the days that followed, Haneda continued to train with Kakashi.

His focus shifted from Lightning Release, Flying Thunder God Technique, and Five Elements Ninjutsu to developing the abilities of the Mangekyou Sharingan.

At the same time, through arrangements made with the Uchiha clan, they obtained the latest information about the village.

Especially news about Orochimaru.

Fortunately, Haneda already had a deep understanding of the Five Elements Ninjutsu; while he wouldn't say he was an expert, he was certainly familiar with it.

Significant progress has been made in attempting chakra fusion.

For example, the fusion of wind and lightning chakra, or the scorching chakra formed by fire and wind chakra.

Haneda even attempted to combine Lightning Release, Wind Release, and Fire Release techniques.

With the ability of a sage to restore his pupil power, as long as he doesn't overuse the Myriad Manifestations of the World, Haneda can recover completely overnight.

This undoubtedly accelerated the development of the myriad phenomena.

After two and a half days of training, facing the growing resentment in the village, the Third Hokage, Akira, announced his impending abdication.

Two and a half days later, the Third Hokage prepared to hold a Jonin meeting at the Hokage Building to vote on the candidates.

That is, a candidate to succeed the Fourth Hokage is elected through a vote of Jonin.

This process has, to some extent, determined the choice of Hokage.

After all, people who approve of a candidate are likely to approve of them later on.

This is a process of choosing sides.

Early morning, Hokage Building.

The Jonin, representing the upper echelons of Konoha, entered the conference room early.

Kakashi and Minato walked together, with Jiraiya and Kushina standing beside them.

As the conference room door drew near, Shuimen couldn't help but worry, and his expression became tense.

Becoming the Hokage was his lifelong dream.

But now a huge peak stands in front of him.

Even if I am not defeated by the height of the peak, the fact that I am highly likely to fail is still in front of me.

Noticing Minato's tension, Kushina rested half her head on his shoulder, comforting him:

"Don't worry, I'll support you."

"Thank you, Kushina. I will carry on with your dream and keep going."

Minato recalled their childhood dreams and smiled gently.

Having just eaten a mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection), Jiraiya coughed a few times and said:

"Don't worry, Minato, with me, Jiraiya, the white-haired toad sage of Mount Myōboku, there will definitely be no problem!"

"I will support you too," Kakashi silently echoed.

At that moment, an incongruous voice rang out.

It was Kai, Dai, and Orochimaru who came over.

"Minato-senpai, although you are Kakashi's teacher, I believe Orochimaru-sensei will never lose!"

Kai glanced smugly at Kakashi and said:

"Orochimaru-sensei has served as the commander-in-chief on many battlefields, with numerous military achievements and a prestigious reputation. He is truly the one everyone admires!"

As Kai talked about the lines he had specifically memorized from books, his eyes gradually lit up with excitement.

Orochimaru glanced at his disciple and said to Jiraiya:

"I never expected that you would give up the position of Hokage like Tsunade."

"Ah, can't you give it to a student, Orochimaru?" Jiraiya said with a friendly smile.

He originally wanted to talk to Orochimaru, but Orochimaru led Kai and the others straight to the conference room.

As Dai passed by the water gate, he said apologetically:

"Although I agree with your philosophy, Orochimaru is my son's teacher, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, my students support me just the same way, so consider it offsetting," Minato said with a gentle smile.