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To Jiraiya, the way Kazuki had forcefully and directly ascended to the top did not matter at all.
Anyway, whoever became Hokage was fine with him, as long as it was not him.
Whether it was Tsunade or Kazuki, as long as they became a qualified Hokage for the village, everything else was not a problem.
Jiraiya was carefree and easygoing, so he certainly did not care about how Kazuki had become Hokage.
The Third Hokage, however, was different.
Even though in private he described Onoki as a stubborn old man, was he not himself someone with his own issues?
People like him placed extraordinary importance on procedures and conventions.
Even when his own disciple Tsunade became Hokage, every step that should have been taken was taken, even if only hastily gone through. The Third Hokage had nothing to say about that.
But when it came to Kazuki... good heavens, he just put on the Hokage's battle robe and that was it.
How was he supposed to accept that?
The Third Hokage remained silent, and Jiraiya, wearing a bitter expression, continued:
"Old man, don't overthink it. You've seen Kazuki's abilities. His capability and strength, his reputation in the village—it's all quite good. He has a high reputation in the ninja world and has earned the deep trust of the villagers. Him becoming Hokage is the most suitable outcome for the village. Besides, if there had been a choice, Kazuki wouldn't have wanted to become the Sixth Hokage either. This was all Tsunade's doing."
Others would kill for that position. Take Danzo, for example—he used every dirty trick imaginable and was completely consumed by his obsession with it.
But Tsunade and Kazuki?
One was forced into the position, served as Hokage for a few years, and then put on a grand drama of leaving the village.
The other did not want to become Hokage at all, yet was forced to make himself become one.
If Danzo knew about this from beyond the grave, he probably would not be able to keep the lid on his coffin.
"I am not questioning Kazuki's abilities, strength, or reputation."
The Third Hokage, who had been silent all along, finally deigned to speak, and Jiraiya let out a sigh of relief.
As long as he was talking, things would be fine.
Whether it was anger or inner conflict, as long as he opened his mouth, they could move on to the next step.
Otherwise, if the Third Hokage kept silent, Jiraiya could talk until his mouth was worn out and it would be useless.
Taking a deep breath and exhaling a large amount of smoke, the Third Hokage put down his pipe. A hint of helplessness flashed across his face, which was gradually developing age spots:
"Although I do not like the Uchiha, and I do not like that arrogant fellow, I must admit that you are right. His abilities are outstanding, his strength is formidable, he has earned the deep trust of the villagers, and he is a famous figure in the ninja world—his reputation even surpassed that of the Kage of other villages at one point. But his methods are wrong!"
At this point, the Third Hokage's emotions became somewhat agitated:
"I also know that he did not want to become Hokage, otherwise he would not have delayed for so long. Seeing that the Five Kage Summit was about to be convened and the village needed a Hokage to attend it, that was the only reason he was willing to become Hokage. Whether active or passive, since he has become Hokage, he should follow the village's rules and do things properly, rather than ignoring the rules set by his predecessors and directly putting on the Hokage's battle robe to become Hokage. This is disrespectful to his predecessors."
Once upon a time, when he became Hokage, aside from the grief he felt over his teacher Senju Tobirama's death, the rest of his heart was filled with immense pride.
Because he had become Hokage.
In the Third Hokage's eyes, the position of Hokage was sacred.
And now, that sacred and noble identity and profession had been rubbed into the ground by Kazuki, and even stepped on a few times. Could he accept that?
He could not.
"Sigh..."
This mission was a real headache.
Jiraiya really wanted to go on strike, but he did not dare, so he could only grit his teeth and push forward.
"Old man, don't get so worked up. At a time like this, the village can't afford to spend a great deal of time on these things, so we..."
"Can it be made up later?"
The Third Hokage went straight for the kill.
The smile on Jiraiya's face completely froze.
Make up your ass!
If you weren't my teacher, I'd kick you with the sole of my foot, believe it or not!
That brat went straight to the top precisely to skip all these things, and here you are, still thinking about making him do it afterward?
Suddenly, something in his heart shattered.
"Gulp, gulp..."
The Third Hokage, still waiting for Jiraiya's reply, saw his disciple grab a bottle of sake without a word and start chugging it down. He could not help but frown. What was wrong with this foolish boy?
Could it really be that this matter was truly impossible?
"Jiraiya, slow down, slow down!!!"
"Cough, cough!! Don't try to stop me. I feel awful. I just want to drink."
"..."
Who on earth was trying to persuade whom here?
In the end, under Jiraiya's self-destructive drinking, the Third Hokage raised the white flag. You brat, you're ruthless. I'll admit you're formidable.
But that was not right either.
Old man, I've already surrendered and admitted defeat. I'm listening to you now. Why are you drinking even harder?
"Woo woo woo, old man, tell me, why doesn't Tsunade like me? Am I really that terrible?"
"..."
How would I know about the petty matters of you youngsters?
The Third Hokage's old face twitched, and he consoled helplessly: "It's probably a matter of fate. Alright, stop drinking. Get some good sleep."
"Fate my ass. I think Tsunade just thinks I'm ugly!!!"
Jiraiya's mind suddenly flashed with insight, and the words jumped out of his mouth without passing through his brain.
"..."
The Third Hokage's gaze turned strange.
He had not expected this brat to actually have some self-awareness?
He had originally been unwilling to say this, afraid of hurting Jiraiya's feelings, but Jiraiya himself had blurted it out with a mouth full of nonsense. That could not be blamed on him, right?
Seeing Jiraiya pull out two more bottles of sake, the Third Hokage hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not stop him.
Letting this fellow get drunk might actually be a good thing.
Was Jiraiya lacking women?
Definitely not. As long as he did not go around indulging in debauchery, as long as he shifted his thoughts away from Tsunade, even in middle age, there would still be plenty of beautiful women willing to marry him.
Unfortunately, this fellow insisted on hanging himself from a single tree.
If Kazuki or Tsunade knew that Jiraiya, who had come to persuade the Third Hokage, had instead ended up making himself depressed and drinking himself into oblivion, they would definitely kick him in the face.
Fortunately, even though Jiraiya's heart was broken and he was sad, the mission was still completed.
After being pestered by him in this manner, the Third Hokage completely raised the white flag.
Perhaps Jiraiya was only one factor. More than that, it was because the Third Hokage was unwilling to take risks. After all, some of the rules left behind by previous Hokage were not necessarily more important than his own clan.
Jiraiya's arrival had, on the contrary, given the Third Hokage a way to step down gracefully.
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