Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

The Hokage's residence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the main seat, while Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru sat below him.

Biwako busied herself with preparations, and upon learning that Jiraiya and Tsunade had arrived, she quickly went into the kitchen and prepared several delicious dishes.

Tender chicken, roasted meat, meatballs, and refreshing snacks to enjoy with drinks.

These are all foods that she remembers her children loved to eat.

Asma huffed and puffed as he carried over several jars of wine and placed them on the table.

Tsunade and Jiraiya both enjoy drinking, and as soon as they arrived, they started arguing that the Sarutobi crew hadn't reunited in a long time and they absolutely had to have a few drinks together.

"Asuma, why are you apologizing to me?" Hiruzen Sarutobi teased, seeing his youngest son's obsequious yet evasive gaze.

He could roughly guess it himself.

It's nothing more than complaining about how old-fashioned they are.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was originally a classic example of a domineering father in the late Sengoku period, whose attitude towards his son was simply to provide for him, with little to no heart-to-heart talks or casual conversations.

Because in his time, simply surviving was the best form of care.

This is how traditional ninja families were raised.

"I said something about you at school..." Asuma's face flushed red; he was too ashamed to say it, and he bowed deeply, "Father, I'm so sorry!"

"Probably just that the old man is really boring or something?" Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and shook his head. "You're not the first person to say something like that..."

Asuma looked up in confusion, his gaze shifting to his older brother beside him.

Shinnosuke's face darkened: "You brat, I've always respected my father!"

Asuma was confused. Who else would say that?

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his three disciples with a meaningful expression.

Jiraiya pretended to be oblivious, looking around at the sky while whistling.

Tsunade rubbed her hands together and chuckled, "Oh dear, that was just because I was young and naive back then, Sensei!"

Only Orochimaru remained calm and collected.

However, although he never actually called Hiruzen Sarutobi an old man, if things continued to develop as they had in the past…

They'll probably scold us in a less intimate way.

Asuma couldn't help but complain, "Heh, Tsunade and Jiraiya are so heartless! Father taught you so many ninjutsu, and you still gossip about your own master behind his back!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes dramatically: "Hey, you brat, I'm still your dad!"

Jiraiya crossed his arms: "Master, I think this brat deserves a beating!"

Orochimaru watched this scene silently.

He could actually empathize with Asma to some extent.

What this kid lacks is Hiruzen Sarutobi's recognition and care.

And he was the same, even more so.

"Asuma, your father hasn't spent much time with you in the past..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat: "If anything happens at the Ninja Academy in the future, you can come and share it with me."

Upon hearing this, Asuma's eyes lit up, and he excitedly exclaimed, "Really?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

"Dad, I won't be eating with you. It's my shift with the Anbu today..." Shinnosuke put on his mask and gave a thumbs-up.

"I can't hold you back!"

After saying that, Shinnosuke turned and left decisively.

"It's alright, it's alright, I'll stay with you!" Asuma chuckled and was about to sit down at the table.

After serving the last dish of stew, Biwako asked softly, "Hiruzen, do you want to talk about something?"

"Um."

Hiruzen Sarutobi blinked: "Thank you for your hard work."

Biwako smiled slightly, understood perfectly, grabbed Asuma by the scruff of his neck, and led him away from the table.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a surge of joy.

The Sarutobi family is very traditional when it comes to eating at the table.

As for why Tsunade was allowed to be served at the table...

Because she is not only a woman, but also a powerful Jonin, Konoha's top female medical ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi's apprentice, Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki's granddaughter, and a princess of the Land of Fire...

In terms of strength.

"Eat your vegetables first. Order them yourselves, don't make me put them on your plate..." Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at Orochimaru: "You've lost weight again. Eat more meat to replenish your strength."

"I think it's because you hit him too hard, teacher, that his chakra was depleted!" Jiraiya stuffed meat into his mouth, mumbling incoherently as he ate.

"What does he care about being fat or thin? He's neither male nor female, maybe he could even change that stinky snake..."

Orochimaru's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained calm as he elegantly ate his egg: "Fools really can't understand geniuses. Toads should just focus on eating."

But he was actually a little surprised.

Is an idiot's intuition really that accurate?

The "Reincarnation" technique he researched could indeed seize another person's body, and he had actually fantasized about it in the dead of night...

If one day I part ways with Konoha, I can try switching genders; it might be quite interesting.

But now...

Orochimaru glanced at his teacher and smiled slightly.

There's probably no need for that.

Tsunade ate heartily.

For her, after the tragic deaths of her lover and younger brother, the few important people in her heart, besides Mito Uzumaki, were the people sitting on the table.

Seeing that the Sarutobi crew was gradually drifting away and the atmosphere of the past was gone, Tsunade originally planned to leave the village in a few days to clear her head.

Out of sight, out of mind.

But now... this plan has to be temporarily cancelled.

Her teacher is implementing reforms, and it seems she's somehow reconciled with Orochimaru...

We must stay and help the teachers and the village!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's speech today was particularly inspiring to the three of them.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

Hiruzen Sarutobi clinked glasses with his beloved students and drank them down.

"Did I do alright today?" Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, lighting his pipe. "What do you guys think of their reactions?"

"That's really impressive!" Jiraiya gave a thumbs up. "I found today's emergency drill very meaningful!"

"My apprentice, Minato, told me that the village's security is a bit lax. Sometimes he can spot the ANBU, but the ANBU can't spot him..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow, pondering the name.

He rescued Kushina; she was a commoner ninja and Jiraiya's newly accepted apprentice.

"The Anbu couldn't find him?" Tsunade frowned. "The Anbu's performance today was alright. Could they actually be that lax?"

"You can't say that... Minato is a first-rate genius!" Jiraiya exclaimed excitedly, gesturing wildly. "I think he'll become a very powerful ninja!"

"My disciple Minato has the potential to become Hokage!"

Tsunade chuckled: "A fresh graduate, already a potential Hokage? You really are something, Jiraiya."

Jiraiya immediately retorted, "You don't understand, Tsunade! She's a true genius!"

Tsunade gestured towards Orochimaru with her chin: "Look, there's a genius over there whom you've watched grow up. Ask him for his opinion..."

Jiraiya was speechless, but still stubbornly retorted, "What's so great about that stinky snake? Minato is much stronger than he was as a child!"

"A true genius can develop in three to five years; they might even be able to compete with that stinky snake!"

Tsunade waved her hand dismissively, as if swatting a fly: "I can't be bothered with you."

Tsunade could only say "This is ridiculous!" in response to Jiraiya's remarks.

Unless Orochimaru gives up on himself, Tsunade doesn't think anyone else has any chance of taking over the Hokage position from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Orochimaru sipped his sake, not taking Minato Namikaze to heart, only thinking that Jiraiya was being stubborn.

That's interesting. Who isn't a genius?

"How pathetic, Jiraiya. Has he placed all his hopes on his apprentice?"

"So be it. To be an enemy of this genius, this is the inevitable outcome."

"Damn stinking snake? What stinking nonsense!" Jiraiya yelled, "You don't understand Minato!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took in the entire scene.

In this cruel ninja world, the bonds formed from childhood are extremely different... When the three of them are together, the genuine relaxation and happiness they feel cannot be faked.

And he also understood why, despite growing up together, Jiraiya couldn't win Tsunade's heart.

That person is incredibly stubborn and has incredibly low emotional intelligence!

"You only talk about your apprentices, why don't you think about doing a good job and becoming the Fourth Hokage?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi flicked a peanut at Jiraiya's forehead: "My grand-disciple was just a Chunin, wasn't he?"

Jiraiya waved his hands repeatedly: "Oh dear, I'm willing to work for the village! But I really can't be Hokage. You should do this job, old man... it's too mentally taxing!"

"Useless thing." Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed and cursed, then took out a scroll and handed it to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru took it: "Sensei, what is this?"

"This is Danzo's report against you, concerning your unauthorized research into forbidden Wood Release experiments, theft of important village ninjutsu, embezzlement of Konoha research funds, and the formation of cliques..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly.

The harmonious atmosphere froze instantly.

Orochimaru's snake eyes involuntarily narrowed as he took the materials, his emotions fluctuating wildly like a rollercoaster!

"hehe…"

Orochimaru quickly flipped through the scroll, inwardly cursing a bad feeling, but trying his best to remain calm on the surface.

Although Danzo embellished the story considerably, he did not make any major mistakes.

He did indeed do those things.

Orochimaru's mind raced. Why would Danzo betray him?

He was involved in these things, and by dragging himself into this mess, how can he possibly escape unscathed?

"Teacher, you don't actually believe this is true, do you?" Orochimaru's voice involuntarily became hoarse.

"Let me see!" Tsunade leaned over and took the scroll.

Jiraiya watched as well, and the expressions on both of their faces gradually became complicated.

Oh no, this is really well-structured; the chain of evidence is detailed enough to withstand scrutiny…

"Based on my understanding of you, it's probably nine parts truth and one part falsehood, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently lit his pipe and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke: "Danzo probably also put his own affairs on your shoulders, especially regarding funding."

"You've probably tricked him out of his research funding quite a bit, haven't you? I think he's harboring a lot of resentment..."

Orochimaru's eyes flashed.

He couldn't figure out his teacher's intentions anymore.

Is this tone meant to reprimand him? It seems like he doesn't want to punish him severely?

"You stinky snake, what exactly are you trying to do?" Jiraiya sighed, his eyes filled with confusion. "Are you going to betray the village?"

Is he really a genius?

According to Danzo Shimura, Konoha already has a small group of Orochimaru's loyal followers who have money and ninjutsu resources.

If things continue like this, it's entirely possible that one day they might even form their own hidden village!

"Teacher, Orochimaru may have gone too far, but he certainly didn't do it on purpose. There must be some misunderstanding!" Jiraiya quickly explained for his friend.

"You can't believe everything Danzo says!"

Tsunade chimed in, "Sensei, we must not listen to Danzo's side of the story. Orochimaru might have been murdered!"

Orochimaru felt a warmth in his heart.

Although they bicker with each other on a daily basis, Jiraiya and Tsunade are still willing to speak up for him when something really happens.

"Alright, Orochimaru didn't make any fundamental mistakes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up, setting the tone for the matter: "Our master and I have gradually drifted apart since the Second Shinobi World War."

Exhaustion was evident on his face.

The performance then began.

"After the Kushina incident, I started to think about this issue that I didn't want to face."

"It's wrong of you to keep what you've done from me, the Hokage, but the general direction is correct."

"You think I'm too conservative and inflexible, so you did it on your own, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a sip of his drink: "Since the three of you are here today, let's talk behind closed doors."

Why was I so conservative in the past?

Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya exchanged glances with Hiruzen Sarutobi and gently shook their heads.

"Because change always comes at a price, and change is not always a good thing."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his cigarette: "I am of average appearance, yet I was fortunate enough to take on the responsibility of the third Hokage, so I am very confused, ever since the day I became Hokage."

"I still feel fear. I worry that I won't be able to do a good job as Hokage... I have neither the strength of the First Hokage nor the wisdom of the Second Hokage, but I still became Hokage."

"Therefore, I am unwilling to adjust the policy framework for the second generation, so I can only work hard and do everything personally, for fear of failing the will of the previous generation."

"But the village is not developing well."

"During the Second Shinobi World War, I even thought about running away... I wished I could be a charging Jonin, taking down one Konoha enemy after another, dying on the battlefield as a hero, so I wouldn't have to bear this pressure."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled self-deprecatingly:

"Actually, some people have noticed, right? When I was young, I was a strong young man with the same build as Jiraiya. After serving as Hokage for a few years, even my height started to shrink. Even though I'm still middle-aged, I look like an old man."

Tsunade's expression gradually turned serious. As a more emotional person, she could better sense the suffocating pressure the person her teacher was describing.

Jiraiya felt the same way; disgusted with politics, he found it hard to breathe just listening to this narration.

Orochimaru listened silently, his eyes fixed on his teacher, and the resentment buried in his heart gradually began to dissipate.

The teacher also has his difficulties.

"After the incident in Kumogakure, I dreamed of the Second Hokage, and in the dream he scolded me severely."

He said, "Monkey, how can you be so cowardly! If each generation of Konoha doesn't have more confidence than the previous one, the village will be destroyed sooner or later!"

"After I woke up, I thought about it for a long time... Rather than saying it was some kind of second-generation spirit appearing, it was probably my subconscious."

"It's never too late to make amends! I will start changing Konoha from this moment on. I will do whatever is beneficial to the village, and I will eliminate anything that stands in my way!"

"Including my own cowardice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke calmly, but his eyes seemed to be blazing with anger.

None of the three legendary Sannin had ever seen Hiruzen Sarutobi like this.

Tough, cold, and resolute.

Like a man of steel.