Noon, at the Akimichi clan's newly opened barbecue restaurant.
The Akimichi clan was known for their enormous appetites. Naturally, this barbecue spot was often packed with members of their clan—big portions, full stomachs.
Uchiha, Hyūga, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Nara—the five clan heads—sat together around the grill, joined by Kiyosuke.
The current Nara clan head, Nara Shikaku, asked:
"Kiyosuke-san, is there some kind of personal grudge between you and Danzo-sama?"
Otherwise, there wouldn't be so much open hostility.
Kiyosuke replied:
"I just don't like the guy, that's all."
He chuckled and added:
"Let me tell you a funny story I heard from someone else."
He cleared his throat.
"Back during the First Great Ninja War, the Second Hokage led the Third, Danzo, and the rest of their group in retreat from Kumogakure. They were being pursued by the forces of the Gold and Silver Brothers. The Second was gravely injured, and the enemy was closing in fast. They needed someone to act as bait to draw off the pursuit."
"So the Second asked: 'Who's willing to be the decoy and draw the enemy away?'"
"Danzo wanted to step up. He really did. But he couldn't say the words. Fear got the better of him. Then the Third volunteered to be the decoy and led the enemy away. In the end, the Third became the Third Hokage. The Second died in battle, drawing enemy fire."
"If Danzo had spoken up first, maybe he would've become the Third Hokage instead."
Kiyosuke scoffed.
"Like I said—hesitation cost him everything. One wrong step and the Hokage title slipped through his fingers forever. He'll never be Hokage—not someone like him. All he's good for now is pulling dirty tricks behind the scenes. He doesn't have the resolve."
"On top of that, he's taken the fall for all of Hiruzen's messes. His reputation's in the gutter. The Hokage seat? He shouldn't even dream about it—unless every capable person in this village drops dead and he's the last man standing."
"But if that ever happens, Konoha's probably already finished."
"What a story... Kiyosuke-san, where did you hear this?"
"I heard it from the White Snake Sage in Ryūchi Cave. Said there was a snake who happened to witness the whole thing."
Kiyosuke lied through his teeth.
"The White Snake Sage, huh..."
The others found it at least partially believable. After all, only Jiraiya and Kiyosuke in the entire village were known to know senjutsu—it wasn't far-fetched for them to have access to hidden knowledge.
"To think, a single moment of hesitation cost him the Hokage title. Life really is unpredictable."
Hyūga Hiashi sighed deeply. He'd only come to this meal because Kiyosuke had dragged him here. Normally, he wouldn't bother attending such gatherings.
But now he was glad he came—he'd never have heard such a juicy piece of history otherwise.
"That night when Minato-san died, every ninja in the village showed up. But that old bastard didn't even leave a shadow behind. He didn't even send a single agent from Root. Just hiding in the dark, afraid to die."
"Since he's so afraid of death, then let him stay in the shadows. Want to be Hokage?
"Heh. In this lifetime, not a chance."
So that was the reason?
The five clan heads finally understood why Kiyosuke was always going after Danzo. So this was it.
But they didn't think he was wrong. Everyone had risked their lives that night. For the supposed "leader" to go into hiding—it was shameful. A man like that becoming Hokage wouldn't bode well for the village.
For the Uchiha, it would be a catastrophe.
Danzo's hostility toward the Uchiha clan was obvious to all. If he ever rose to power, the Uchiha would suffer.
Nara Shikaku asked:
"Kiyosuke-san, what did you gather the five of us here for?"
They were the heads of the five great clans in the village. Among them, the Uchiha and Hyūga were the most powerful. United, they were a formidable force.
Kiyosuke picked up a piece of grilled meat and popped it into his mouth. The flavor was pretty good.
After swallowing, he said:
"Today, it's mainly about Naruto."
"The Fourth's son?"
"That's right."
Kiyosuke nodded.
"I want this child to grow up in a healthy and peaceful environment. I don't want him to be rejected by the villagers."
"You five represent the biggest clans in Konoha. That's why I'm asking you to ensure that your clans harbor no ill will toward this child. Please."
The Nine-Tails is the Nine-Tails.
Naruto is Naruto.
But the villagers had shifted their hatred for the beast onto the boy. That was wrong.
Kiyosuke didn't want his "youth" to grow up like that.
At the very least, he wanted Naruto to live a little better.
Uchiha Fugaku was the first to respond.
"The Uchiha clan holds no resentment toward the child of the Fourth. You have my word, Kiyosuke-san."
"The Hyūga won't do anything like that either," said Hiashi.
"Neither will the Ino-Shika-Chō."
Nara Shikamaru spoke on behalf of Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza.
"Then I thank you all."
With the five major clans on board, the rest would be much harder to convince.
After the meal, Kiyosuke went to Fugaku's house and picked up little Naruto.
Then he headed to the liveliest part of Konoha. There, the Uchiha had already set up a platform and were maintaining order.
As he arrived, an Uchiha clan member whispered to him:
"Kiyosuke-sama, everything's ready."
People on the street looked over curiously, unsure of what was happening.
Kiyosuke stepped onto the platform with Naruto in his arms and shouted:
"Everyone, everyone—please, a moment of your time!"
Curious villagers turned toward the voice.
Some of them recognized him—that man who had fought the Nine-Tails that night.
A hero of Konoha.
More and more people gathered, wondering what he was about to say.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Asakawa Kiyosuke. I believe some of you have heard of me."
"We know you, Kiyosuke-sama!"
"You and the Fourth were the heroes who saved Konoha!"
"Yeah! If it weren't for you holding off the Nine-Tails at that critical moment, the Fourth wouldn't have had the time to take it away!"
"Kiyosuke-sama, you're our hero!"
More and more people crowded in, blocking traffic, shouting his name from the heart.
"No," Kiyosuke said, looking over the swelling crowd.
"The true hero was the Fourth Hokage—Namikaze Minato."
He spoke gently but clearly.
"That night, I helped hold off the Nine-Tails and was taken along by the Fourth. You could say I was the only person who witnessed the entire sealing process."
"The Nine-Tails' power is terrifying—nearly impossible to contain. Sure, we could've killed it."
"But if we did, it would've just reincarnated somewhere else. If ninja from another village got their hands on it, Konoha would face an unimaginable catastrophe."
"To protect this village, to protect all of you... Minato-sama made a heartbreaking decision."
"He and his wife used their lives to seal the beast that nearly destroyed Konoha into the body of their newborn son—just a few hours old!!!"
The crowd gasped in shock.
The Fourth Hokage had sacrificed so much...
To seal that monster, the Nine-Tails, into his own son's body?
What tremendous courage.
What unbearable pain he must have felt when he made that choice?!
----------------
Check out my new fanfic, Learning Ninjutsu in a Single Glance. For me personally, this is the kind of fanfic you read in a single breath, featuring an over-talented MC and packed with events. It's an enjoyable read where you don't need to overthink anything; you just keep going until the very end. You can find it by searching for the title.
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo