Konoha's Mission Master

Time flies like an arrow; in the blink of an eye…

On August 20th, Yakumo continued his mission.

When Yakumo arrived, Hatake Sakumo was drinking tea with his left hand and flipping through a book with his right. Recently, Yakumo noticed that Hatake Sakumo had lost some of his sharpness and brilliance, and had become more gentle and refined like a scholar. Sitting there, he no longer seemed as sharp as a blade, but rather more like a scholar studying history in the Faculty of Letters.

"Come on in, have a seat."

Upon hearing this, Yakumo sat down next to Hatake Sakumo, poured himself a cup of tea, and began to eat the nut platter. It contained sunflower seeds, pine nuts, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds, which were scattered around but were very fragrant and crispy. Clearly, the maker of the fruit platter was a master chef.

For a moment, only the rustling of pages could be heard.

Half an hour later, Sakumo Hatake put down the book in his hand.

"I've read a lot of books in the past six months..."

Sakumo Hatake began to recount his understanding over the past few days, while Yakumo continued to eat sunflower seeds and occasionally sip tea to moisten his throat.

"I discovered that during the Warring States period, kings would have highly valued ministers. Some of them were strong and healthy warriors with advanced skills, while others were resourceful, eloquent, and capable of governing the country. However, their fates were usually not good, and they ended up with broken families and the extinction of their clans."

Why do you think this is happening?

Upon hearing this, Yakumo put down the melon seeds in his hand, took a sip of tea, and said that this question was not difficult for him. He had some knowledge of the history of the Warring States period in the ninja world. Two thousand years of history were filled with betrayal, cannibalism, and double-dealing.

"Because of trust, because of betrayal, because of straying from one's true self, because of ambition for power, because they are two-faced, despicable and shameless scoundrels."

"That's right. Even I can't guarantee that I'll always be the one working for the benefit of Konoha. Who can guarantee that they won't be corrupted by power, just like the Third Hokage many years ago wasn't... the way he is now?"

Sakumo Hatake's gaze was somewhat distant as he reminisced about the Third Hokage of the past, the ninja hero Hiruzen Sarutobi for whom he was willing to offer his loyalty and life.

"Are you scared?" Yakumo asked back.

“That’s right,” Sakumo Hatake said bluntly.

"I'm afraid I won't be a good Fourth Hokage."

“I’m afraid of betraying the trust of my supporters, and I’m afraid of losing my true self and becoming someone I’m no longer.”

"A person who wields a knife must be fearless in mind in order to be invincible."

Yakumo replied.

“I understand, and Orochimaru is more suitable than me.”

Upon hearing this, Yakumo asked in return.

Do you think Orochimaru is capable of being the Fourth Hokage?

“Orochimaru is calm and wise, knows how to make choices, and is extremely ruthless. He has many supporters, has outstanding military achievements, and is powerful enough to command respect. Isn’t he a very good candidate for the Fourth Hokage?” Hatake Sakumo asked rhetorically.

"But he colluded with Danzo to steal the First Hokage's body for scientific research and to conduct human experiments."

Yakumo gently lifted the teacup, blew away the steam rising from it, took a small sip, and a happy smile appeared on his face.

In the past few days, he hadn't figured out how to persuade Sakumo Hatake, but he could make Sakumo Hatake the only suitable candidate for the Hokage position.

"What?" Sakumo Hatake couldn't hide his surprise.

“That’s true…” Yakumo said.

"The previous daimyo fell into a coma due to poisoning. In the ninja world, only Orochimaru and Chiyo have such mastery of poison. And the person who orchestrated that incident was Danzo."

Yakumo dropped another bombshell: when Hatake Sakumo learned of this news, he felt that Orochimaru would no longer be suitable to become the Fourth Hokage. At that time, Hatake Sakumo would have no choice, because he could not stand by and watch Orochimaru become the Fourth Hokage.

“You…” Hatake Sakumo sized up Yakumo.

During this time, Yakumo tried to persuade him many times, whether by appealing to family ties or righteousness, he remained unmoved, but there was this one thing he couldn't do...

"Orochimaru like this... is indeed no longer suitable to be the Fourth Hokage of Konoha."

The Hokage…the spiritual symbol of Konoha Village, shouldn't bear so many stains on his body; his virtues cannot overshadow his flaws.

Sakumo Hatake shook his head and sighed.

"But I am not suitable either. I have been walking alone in the darkness of night for too long and can no longer understand the light of day."

Sakumo Hatake shook his head again.

"Uncle Sakumo, do you know?"

"Only by taking root deep underground in the cold, dark, and putrid soil to absorb water and nutrients can a tree grow into a towering tree that rivals the sky. The trials in darkness will only make you understand more about the preciousness of light in the daytime."

Yakumo stood up, clenching his fists.

He spoke in a clear, enthusiastic voice.

"You have kept your voice hidden for so long, but it will eventually shake the ninja world."

Sakumo Hatake's expression shifted slightly. For some reason, he felt a soul-stirring power from Yakumo's simple words, as if a towering god was walking in a desolate wilderness, issuing a deep and melodious cry that could span the entire continent.

This statement possesses unimaginable power.

That sentence seemed tailor-made for him. He had already accomplished the first half—walking alone in the darkness of the night to accumulate his strength—only the second half was missing: to shake the ninja world with his voice.

Sakumo Hatake stood up and looked towards the Hokage Rock. The statues of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju watched over the entire Hidden Leaf Village, but unfortunately, they could not suppress the treacherous undercurrents within the village.

"Actually, I know myself very well. I was originally an unambitious person. I never envied or hoped for the position of Hokage. I didn't have any lofty ambitions or ideals. Therefore, I don't think I can become a qualified Hokage."

Even though he was somewhat tempted, Hatake Sakumo still felt that he was not suitable for the position of Hokage.

Yakumo understood. Hatake Sakumo had spent most of his life as a sword in other people's hands, never imagining that one day he would be the one wielding the sword. No wonder it is said that the son is most like the father... Under Kakashi's sharp gaze, he also had a heart that dreamed of becoming a lazy bum.

Kakashi, who picked up Icha Icha Paradise, wasn't fulfilling Obito's ideals or ambitions; rather, he had found the right way to lie down in the world and his most beloved possession.

"Uncle Sakumo, what do you think of the Hokage's accusations?"

"Do everything in our power to protect the village and create peace!"

Sakumo Hatake answered immediately, without any hesitation. He had already thought of the answer to this question a long time ago.

"Yes, that's enough."

Sakumo Hatake shook his head in rebuttal.

"It's difficult... I can protect the village, but I haven't found a workable way to bring peace to the ninja world."

Yakumo's eyes suddenly brightened; he had already come up with a reason to persuade Hatake Sakumo.

"Uncle Sakumo, have you ever thought about how the First Hokage achieved peace?" Yakumo stood up and came to Sakumo Hatake's side to ask.

"What do you think."

"The First Hokage first used overwhelming military force to deter the outside world, and the Second Hokage assisted with internal affairs in Konoha. This was enough to make Konoha the strongest ninja village in the ninja world within thirty years. By then, even if the First Hokage passed away, Konoha would still be full of talented people and be able to deter the ninja world... enough to guarantee peace for the next hundred years."

Yakumo paused slightly before continuing.

"Unfortunately, the First Hokage left the stage prematurely due to his decisive battle with Madara Uchiha, and the Second Hokage also died in the First Shinobi World War. Konoha fell from its period of rapid development and lost its former strength. At the same time, this also led to the failure of the First Hokage's century-long peace plan, and the ninja world once again entered a period of chaos."

"And then...?" Sakumo Hatake asked.

"If you become the Fourth Hokage, we can completely emulate the First Hokage and use our overwhelming strength to dominate the ninja world, bringing decades of peace."

"But I don't think I can be as intimidating as the First Hokage, who forced the four great nations to refrain from waging war during his lifetime."

Sakumo Hatake shook his head. This tactic was indeed feasible, and there were indeed monarchs in history who achieved peace through this method. However, he couldn't do it. He couldn't achieve peace through intimidation.

Because it's not strong enough.

“But I… can,” Yakumo said confidently.

Sakumo Hatake turned around and looked at Yakumo. However, his eyes showed little surprise. He believed that Yakumo had the potential to reach the Kage level at the age of eight and reach the level of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, at the age of twenty without any problem.

He never imagined that this boy who created miracles would have such a grand ideal.

"After you become a powerful figure comparable to the First Hokage, will you be willing to serve as a deterrent to the entire ninja world for Konoha Village?"

"I think... I will."

"Then... I'm willing to become the Fourth Hokage!"

Sakumo Hatake turned around and solemnly promised.

"For peace and justice," Yakumo said.

"That's right! For peace and justice."

"Hatake Sakumo said loudly!"

At this moment, the two reached a consensus: mission accomplished!

Yakumo breathed a sigh of relief…

After three and a half months, we successfully defeated the BOSS!

PS: Requesting monthly votes.

Chapter 146 Rina Uzumaki, missing.

Hatake Mansion.

Yakumo and Hatake Sakumo chatted for a while longer, and finally decided to propose the Hokage election to the Daimyo in the 41st year of Konoha.

"Uncle Sakumo, we need to win over the Uchiha and Hyuga clans in advance, and it would be best to also win over the Aburame, Inuzuka, Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clans..."

Yakumo suggested that although some ninja clans had been allies of the Sarutobi clan since the Warring States period, as long as you wield your hoe well, there is no corner you can't dig up. Yakumo firmly believed this.

“There’s no need for that,” Sakumo Hatake shook his head in refusal.

“We just need to participate in the election in the normal order. I am confident that we will have more supporters than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi…” Sakumo Hatake replied.

Yakumo shook his head helplessly.

We had no choice but to settle for second best.

"I will be responsible for the speech for the Hokage election."

“Okay,” Sakumo Hatake replied.

The two finalized some details, and Yakumo left the Hatake mansion and walked home. Although Hatake Sakumo had been walking alone in the dark for a long time, his character remained unaffected.

Always upright and honest, such a person can be defeated or killed, but his inherent pride and adherence to the rules can never be erased.

Such people are rare in this world. Most people pursue their own interests, and the reason why the ninja clan was willing to support Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage was also because of... closely intertwined interests.

The Konoha Finance Department, Medical Department, Mission Department, and Root Department are basically all within Hiruzen Sarutobi's sphere of influence, while Sakumo Hatake's influence is limited to the Anbu.

Of course, there was also the support of Tsunade and Jiraiya, which Yakumo had won over, but it was still very difficult for Hatake Sakumo to become the Fourth Hokage.