Not only would he deliberately make time to go to the Ninja Academy and give lectures to the children about the Will of Fire,but for children who showed potential to become ninjas, he would often visit and care for them.As for war orphans like Kitahara Kaede, they would come to him monthly to receive living expenses.
And they would have some conversations and such.
It seemed very considerate.
But all this... is it actually useful?
Not really.
Among this generation in Konoha, only the Konoha 12 rose to prominence.
And the other 11 couldn't even hold their own against Naruto.
So instead of laying down all this groundwork, it would've been better to just focus on elite training.
But for someone like Kitahara Kaede, who simply receives living expenses,the Third Hokage's generosity and care for children still left a good impression.
And this was also the reason why he chose to come to Konoha.
Sunagakure was too poor.As for Kirigakure… forget it, they kill their own comrades.Kumogakure… too many muscleheads.Iwagakure… all about earth-style ninjutsu.
"Lord Third... Kitahara Kaede has arrived," said Yamato, knocking on the door.
[Ding!]
At that moment, the system notification sounded.
[Daily quota for Kitahara Kaede's livestream mini-group has been activated]
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Finally, he's here.[Tobirama]: Hm... ah... I'm so pissed off.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: By the way, this building looks kind of familiar.
[Minato Namikaze]: Yeah, looks really familiar.
[Kakashi Hatake]: This is the Hokage Office.
[Former Hokage]: …
[Former Hokage]: Damn, so it's this place.
They were all Hokage, so naturally they all worked in the Hokage Office.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So, continuing from yesterday, Kakashi, is the Third Hokage summoning young Kitahara Kaede now?
[Kakashi Hatake]: Yes.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: But... why only now, the next day?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Isn't the Sand and Sound alliance planning to destroy Konoha? Shouldn't it be urgent?
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
[Kakashi Hatake]: Um… you're asking me…
[Tobirama]: Big brother, just leave it.[Tobirama]: …I've already given up on Hiruzen.
[Tobirama]: After this Chūnin Exams arc ends, let's have Hiruzen step down.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Uh… fine, I support you.
[Minato Namikaze]: If the Third is stepping down, I support it too.
[Minato Namikaze]: But I hope the next Hokage will treat my dear Naruto better.
[Minato Namikaze]: I don't ask for Naruto's identity to be announced, but I hope he won't keep… sob… my poor Naruto.
[Tobirama]: Don't worry, I have someone in mind. This person will definitely treat Naruto well.
Tobirama reassured Minato.
[Tobirama]: Speaking of disciples... I haven't asked clearly before. Kakashi, how many of my disciples are still alive?
Back when Tobirama founded the Ninja Academy, he had six personal disciples:Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Kagami Uchiha, Torifu Akimichi, and Homura Mitokado.
[Kakashi Hatake]: As for that, Hiruzen Sarutobi is now serving as the Third Hokage,Danzō is the leader of the Root organization, and Koharu and Homura are village advisors.
[Tobirama]: I see. So Kagami Uchiha and Torifu Akimichi have already passed away.
[Tobirama]: Those two were good kids…
[Tobirama]: So then, everyone, I've decided to have Danzō succeed as the Fifth Hokage. What do you think?
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
[Kakashi Hatake]: That… might not be appropriate.[Tobirama]: ??
Tobirama had a bad feeling.Because Kakashi had the same evasive attitude earlier when discussing Hiruzen.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Actually, after Lord Minato died, I was approached by Lord Danzō…He convinced me to attempt an assassination of the Third.
[Kakashi Hatake]: The attempt failed, but the Third forgave me, so I continued in ANBU… for over ten years.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Danzō was also forgiven and continued his work in Root.
[Minato Namikaze]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Tobirama]: …
He actually attempted to assassinate the Hokage… that's practically treason.But—
[Tobirama]: From the perspective of valuing talent, Hiruzen's actions were indeed commendable.
[Tobirama]: Of course, Kakashi, don't take it to heart. But as for decisiveness… Hiruzen really failed there.
[Tobirama]: Sigh!
Tobirama let out a sigh.
[Fifth Mizukage - Mei Terumi]: …
[Cowardly Old Man - Ōnoki]: …
Mei Terumi and Ōnoki exchanged a glance.Because the information Tobirama casually dropped was terrifying.
Kakashi was talking about a major betrayal—attempted assassination of the Hokage—yet Tobirama just brushed it off casually.
This meant… that Tobirama might actually think things would've been better if Hiruzen had died back then?
In other words, Tobirama's view of the Third had completely bottomed out.
[Tobirama]: So you're saying both Danzō and you attempted to betray the village, so he's unfit to be Hokage?
[Tobirama]: But Kakashi, when you joined the group, the system declared you the Sixth Hokage.
[Tobirama]: So don't beat yourself up over it.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then Tobirama, are you saying you still want to trust Danzō?
Hashirama still felt uneasy about someone who tried to assassinate a Hokage.
[Tobirama]: …[Tobirama]: Among my disciples, the most talented one was Danzō.
Hiruzen was too indecisive.
Danzō was decisive.
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: In that case, Tobirama, you'd better shut up.
[Tobirama]: Huh?
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: Why are your emotions suddenly flaring up?
[Tobirama]: Eh?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Tobirama, just look for yourself. If Izuna hadn't lost his temper, I would've.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Can I now suspect this is the real truth behind the Uchiha clan massacre?
[Tobirama]: Huh?
Tobirama was still confused.
He quickly looked toward the livestream screen in the center of the group.
He'd been so busy chatting, he hadn't watched the screen.
But now—
[Tobirama]: Crap!
Tobirama let out a furious curse.
Because…
While Kitahara Kaede was walking toward the Hokage's Office, Danzō appeared and blocked his way—seemingly to invite him into the Root organization.
Yamato nearly thought everything was falling apart.
Fortunately, Kitahara Kaede didn't take the bait.
Instead, he responded to Lord Danzō with a single line:
"Instead of recruiting me, you should be worried about whether you're about to be fired."
Fired?
Danzō being fired?Even after trying to assassinate the Third, he was forgiven…
And while Yamato was still confused—
Boom!
Danzō's clothes exploded open.
The bandages around his right arm burst off, revealing the embedded Sharingan eyes.
Counting them… there were 11 Sharingan eyes on his arm.
The Uchiha clan had been wiped out,and Danzō had hoarded a bunch of Sharingan.
Normally, the Uchiha's Sharingan is not like the Hyuga clan's Byakugan—Byakugan can be used by anyone, but Sharingan… is different.
Even someone like Kakashi was constantly having his chakra drained just to keep one active.
Worse yet, the Sharingan could drain the user's life.
So someone like Danzō, who could implant that many Sharingan…would've needed a huge supply of Uchiha eyes and experiments—beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Which meant, no matter how you looked at it, Danzō was guilty.
"Danzō, how dare you!"
Right at that moment, the Third Hokage finally noticed no one had entered despite Yamato's knock.
He opened the door—and saw Danzō in that state.
And so, things became clear.
Kitahara Kaede left,and Danzō and the Third Hokage faced each other, alone.
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Chapter 085+ in patreon.com/dzeref887