Naruto: From Capturing the Main Clan to Becoming the Mastermind

Chapter 50 Making a Wedding Dress for Others

After chatting with the Third Hokage for a while, Hyuga glanced at the shadows in the command room, then got up to say goodbye.

"Teacher, what are your thoughts?"

Long after Hinata Yu left, a soft, feminine voice finally rang out from the corner.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru as he emerged from the shadows and smiled wryly, "I didn't expect you to care about something like this."

"After all, it concerns me." Orochimaru licked his lips. "You want me to take over Root, right?"

"I hadn't considered this before. It's my fault for getting too close to Danzo. I shouldn't have let you go to Root in the first place."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was complex, but a smile played on his lips: "But I'm glad that you stepped down and gave the Hokage position to Minato when Konoha needed you."

"After this, not to mention Koharu and the other two, Danzo will definitely have to step down from his position as Hokage's assistant, and Root cannot continue to be handed over to him."

"Originally, I preferred Shikaku to be the Hokage's assistant. Every generation of the Nara clan has a very good mind. Except for those who were pulled into Root by Danzo, none of them actively participated this time."

"However, it's customary for them to serve as Jonin class leaders, and with Minato's suggestion, choosing Hyuga Hare isn't bad. It's just..."

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone became somber.

"Root is no good. Danzo has already given a negative answer regarding the position of Hokage's assistant and the fact that he leads a single army."

Wasn't that caused by your indulgence?

Thinking to himself, Orochimaru chuckled, "Then how about leaving it to me?"

"You spent some time in Root, so you're more suitable than him. Besides, while the title of Hokage's assistant is prestigious, only when the Hokage has real power and is willing to delegate can things get done. In other words, that position requires someone the Hokage trusts."

"Hyuga Yu is a member of the Shadow Guard, so it's only natural that he's qualified for that position."

Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered, "Konoha should have a fresh start. Minato, Hyuga... you three Sannin, it's time for us old guys to retire."

That letter had a much bigger impact than we imagined.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, "In the letter I sent you back then, who did you think of when it mentioned 'New Wind'?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze.

Whom did you think of?

The contents of that letter flashed through his mind.

A letter recommending Minato to become Hokage would naturally describe his strengths.

Gentle and friendly, with exceptional individual combat skills, he is deeply trusted by civilian ninjas...

Whom did you think of?

Konoha once had a ninja who was very similar to Minato. Like Minato, he was skilled at assassination, as gentle as Minato, and as trusted by ordinary ninjas.

When Minato and Kakashi stood together, that familiar feeling made him feel suffocated.

That's Konoha... White Fang!

Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously didn't want to think about it, but looking into Orochimaru's eyes, he knew he couldn't hide it.

"I didn't intend to force Sakumo to his death. Danzo only wanted to damage his reputation. We never expected him to die!"

"He has a five-year-old child, and Kakashi to take care of. Why choose such a drastic method?"

The Third Hokage, who had been calm just moments before, now smoked a cigarette listlessly, his eyes glazed over. "We don't want him to die."

Seeing this, Orochimaru's eyes showed a hint of pity.

Guilt is a knife.

White Fang's death was also a major contributing factor to the start of World War III.

As the war continued, the teacher probably wondered more than once what would have happened if White Fang hadn't died.

When Minato, a ninja who resembled White Fang, appeared in his field of vision, some things naturally followed.

"I've been thinking lately, what if I gave the Hokage position to Sakumo?"

"Like Minato, he lacked experience and only had reputation, with little support from the ninja clans."

"But if I could make up my mind and help him forge a path, wouldn't things be better now?"

The third generation looked towards the door of the command room, as if looking at someone.

"He doesn't know anything about politics, but I can teach him. He has no support, but I can give him that support. Sakumo is such a gentle person, he'll definitely get along well with Minato, and then he'll gain more support."

"If he doesn't take the Hokage position, who can say he's truly unsuitable?"

The Third Hokage seemed to see Sakumo Hatake wearing the Hokage hat, with Minato, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Tsunade, Hyuga, and others standing behind him. He felt the scene was too dazzling and couldn't help but close his eyes.

"If he were alive, Kakashi wouldn't be confused between his comrades and missions, and he would grow up much faster. It would probably only be a matter of time before the second White Fang of Konoha was born."

"If he were alive, many people in Konoha wouldn't have died. He's the White Fang of Konoha, the one who kept Sunagakure up at night!"

"I've already made a mistake once, I really can't afford to make the same mistake twice!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his eyes and said those words again, his cloudy eyes staring directly at Orochimaru.

"Back then, Danzo, the two advisors, and I were all at fault for Sakumo's death. But those ninja clans were equally responsible; they fueled the flames and were happy to see it happen."

"For commoner ninjas like Sakumo and Minato, the ninja clans are their greatest adversaries. Last time I hesitated, but this time... I'll take action myself!"

"Do you think I was right this time? I think I was, right?"

Orochimaru stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi's somewhat bewildered gaze, remaining silent.

Perhaps. Compared to the previous Hokage, you did a very good job this time.

But at the same time, you were also used by Yu Jun as a tool to cut away all the troubles he needed to face to rise to power!

The game is designed to allow you to find Tsunade and break the Caged Bird Seal in order to prevent Danzo from abusing it.

He was promoted to Jonin and, as a member of the branch family, came to the attention of the Fourth Hokage, becoming one of the Shadow Guards.

This will exacerbate the conflict in Konoha, bringing the conflict between the ninja clans and the Hokage into the open, forcing you to consider a solution.

Those ninja clans were terrified of Minato because the clans that supported him to rise to power were the Hyuga and Uchiha clans with bloodline limits!

Because of their bloodline inheritance, they are more difficult to replace and stronger than ordinary secret technique ninja clans. Once Minato rises, the interests of ninja clans that did not bet on him in advance will be damaged, and it will be difficult for them to surpass the Hyuga and Uchiha in the future.

The old ninja clan circle that you led to rise in the past is irreconcilably opposed to the new ninja clan circle that Minato has led to stand at the core of Konoha.

This forces you, who are watching Minato and Kakashi being tormented by Sakumo's presence day after day, to make a firm decision to eliminate the influence of the old ninja clans in order to prevent internal strife in Konoha.

He—Hyuga Hare—gains the opportunity to openly release the Caged Bird Seal by taking advantage of the incident caused by Danzo.

Thus, the Hyuga branch family member, who should not have been able to become a high-ranking member of Konoha, was only lacking the prestige to become the Hokage's assistant.

The opportunity to increase his reputation has been given to him by the Hidden Mist Village.

Danzo is your sword, used by you to ignite the discontent of the ninja clan. You are Hyuga Yu's sword, eliminating things that are detrimental to his rise to power.

Orochimaru sighed inwardly.

He thought of a phrase: "doing nothing but making a wedding dress for others."

Just as you said, teacher, the Hokage's assistance requires the Hokage to have power, as well as enough trust from the Hokage.

After you paved the way for Minato and gradually eliminated the influence of the original core ninja clans with your contingency plans, what kind of power could Yu, who was deeply trusted by Minato, obtain?

Even without Root, if Yu wanted to build his own army, would Minato stop him?

With Yu's abilities... it's hard to say who will control Konoha in the future.

Yu-kun, you said you wanted to stay in Konoha for the time being to watch over the peace that Minato hoped for... You really chose a special position.

But you probably want more than just that, right?

……

Hinata Yu walked out of the command room and watched the sky gradually brighten.

Under the one country, one village system, the daimyo has no right to manage Konoha's politics. Konoha, as the military organization of the Land of Fire, is more like a mercenary organization and can even accept missions from other countries without having to report to the daimyo.

The main source of income for the ninja village is missions from the Land of Fire, not trade.

The daimyo controlled the economic lifeline of the ninja village, but lacked the strength to confront it.

A twisted, bizarre symbiotic relationship.

The supreme leader did not hold military power, but instead used soft power such as economic means to control the ninja village.

It lacks all the advantages that a good political system should possess.

It's even less efficient.

Chakra, a resource useful in many ways, is only controlled by ninjas, samurai, monks, and the like, and is mostly used for fighting, killing enemies, and improving combat power.

How many people does Konoha have? How many does the Fire Temple have? And how many does the Land of Fire have?

With everyone mastering chakra, the Land of Fire's war potential and foundation will grow rapidly.

However, the Daimyo doesn't promote it, nor does he dare to... because he doesn't have the ability to control this power, and neither does the Hokage.

Old things are not necessarily right; this applies to Jinchuriki and ninja clans alike.

The one-country-one-village system is also an example!

(End of this chapter)