I am Shimura Danzō.
My lifelong dream has always been to become the Hokage of Konohagakure. I have pursued that dream relentlessly, enduring countless setbacks and hardships, but I never once thought of giving up...
At first, I saw Renya's existence as the greatest obstacle standing in the way of the Hokage's seat. But I was wrong. Renya had no interest in that position—in fact, he even took the initiative to recommend me to Tobirama-sensei for the role.
From that moment on, Renya became my best friend!
Since Renya refused to take the position of Hokage, Tobirama-sensei had no choice but to pick between the two of us to inherit the title.
Hiruzen was my only competitor!
During the three-month assessment, I tread carefully every single day, carrying out each of my teacher's assignments with utmost precision, not daring to make a single mistake.
And today, Tobirama-sensei finally announced that I had passed the test. The three-month evaluation was over at last!
I thought it would naturally lead to me becoming Hokage. But unexpectedly, Hiruzen had also passed the test.
The crushing disappointment was hard to accept—but in the end, things turned out well...
Thanks to Renya's suggestion, Tobirama-sensei decided on the final candidate. And I, as I had hoped, was the one chosen by him—to serve as the Hokage's assistant!
All in all, I owe this moment entirely to Renya.
When I become Hokage in the future, I'll never forget to repay my benefactor.
Don't underestimate the position of Hokage's assistant. Anyone with eyes could see that our teacher was grooming me!
When Tobirama-sensei eventually retires, the position of the Third Hokage will undoubtedly be mine.
Before I could even celebrate, my teacher's words—[The position of Hokage can only be held by one who is worthy]—snapped me back to reality.
I hadn't truly become Hokage yet. I was only a provisional successor. If I failed to perform well before my teacher's full retirement, I could easily lose my chance at the position entirely!
I must not make any mistakes. I must perform flawlessly before my teacher and earn his complete confidence to retire peacefully.
As for Hiruzen?
He can obediently become my assistant instead!
And once I become Hokage, I might even assign him the position of Hokage Advisor. He can share his opinions on minor, inconsequential matters.
...
"Alright, you may all go now," Senju Tobirama waved his hand toward the three of us. He still had a pile of documents to review on his desk.
"By the way, the two of you will start reporting to the Hokage's office tomorrow," Tobirama said, glancing at Danzō and Hiruzen. With their help handling paperwork, he could finally relax a little.
"Yes, Sensei!" the two of them responded energetically, brimming with excitement.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't chosen by their teacher, he understood the meaning hidden behind Tobirama's earlier words.
In other words, if he performed better than Danzō, Tobirama-sensei might very well reconsider his successor.
Until the teacher's full retirement, he still had a chance to become Hokage!
[The position of Hokage can only be held by one who is worthy!]
Renya couldn't help but look at Tobirama with a speechless expression. This old man really was a master manipulator.
No wonder they called him the most cunning of the Senju. With just a few words, he could deceive his disciples into competing like madmen. His ability to draw cakes in the air was truly unparalleled.
Fortunately, Renya had no interest in the Hokage's seat. The poor Hiruzen and Danzō would now have to work themselves to death in their futile rivalry.
He didn't understand it—but he respected it.
The three of them left the Hokage's office side by side.
"You two..." Renya began, then sighed helplessly. "Forget it. Everyone has their own ambitions."
Each person had their own pursuits; he couldn't impose his views on them.
"Renya, don't go home just yet. I'm treating you to dinner," Danzō said cheerfully, uncharacteristically extending an invitation.
"Alright." Renya didn't refuse.
"Let's call Kagami, Homura, and Koharu too," Danzō added with a grin.
Now that he was the provisional successor to the Hokage, he naturally wanted to show off a little to his friends.
As the saying went: if one gains glory but doesn't show it, it's like wearing fine clothes in the dark.
...
Hiruzen looked at Danzō's confident, triumphant expression, and his eyes flickered with complex emotions.
Shock, confusion, helplessness, unwillingness, regret, envy, jealousy—all those feelings churned within him at once.
Even though he still had a chance to become Hokage, Tobirama-sensei's first choice had been Danzō, not him.
That was an undeniable fact.
Though Hiruzen quickly reined in his emotions, Danzō had already noticed them.
A satisfied smile appeared on Danzō's face. The illusion he once envisioned had finally become reality!
Hiruzen subconsciously clenched his fists.
One day, he would surpass Danzō, earn their teacher's recognition, and become Hokage himself!
Renya quietly observed the spirited Danzō and the dark-faced Hiruzen. Their roles seemed to have reversed.
Hiruzen wouldn't go down the path of darkness, would he?
Looks like he'd need to perform some regular psychological counseling for these two.
As expected, Konoha's shinobi were all problem children.
Perhaps the Academy should start offering a course on child psychology.
Little did he know, Renya himself had the most severe psychological issues of them all...
He just hadn't realized it yet.
...
At Renya's restaurant business.
"Congratulations on your promotions!" Uchiha Kagami raised his glass and sincerely offered his blessings to the two of them.
One had to admit, Kagami's emotional intelligence was top-notch—he gave his congratulations without offending anyone.
"Congratulations, congratulations!" Mitokado Homura and Koharu quickly echoed.
"Hahaha, thank you, everyone!" Danzō replied, his face glowing with joy. Today was the happiest day of his life!
In contrast, Hiruzen forced a smile and silently drank his wine in frustration.
The three others didn't quite know how to comfort him.
After all, there could only be one Hokage. No matter who took the title, the other would inevitably feel pain.
"If you can't be the Third Hokage, then you can always become the Fourth," Danzō said, patting Hiruzen's shoulder.
After all, that was what he himself had once thought—if he couldn't become the Third, he'd aim for the Fourth, or even the Fifth, or Sixth!
He just happened to be lucky enough to be chosen by Tobirama-sensei.
If Hiruzen truly wished to be Hokage, then Danzō decided he'd only serve for thirty years before stepping down to let Hiruzen run for the Fourth Hokage position.
Hiruzen was twenty-three now; by the time Danzō retired, he'd only be fifty-three...
Another ten or so years as Hokage after that wouldn't be a problem at all!
If Hiruzen weren't his friend, Danzō wouldn't even consider limiting himself to thirty years as Hokage.
"Haha, Danzō's right," Uchiha Kagami said with a smile, easing the atmosphere. "There'll be plenty of chances in the future."
Hiruzen's gloomy mood immediately lifted, replaced by a smile.
"Haha, you're right."
"But," he added after a moment, "before Tobirama-sensei retires, I still have a chance to compete!"
"Hmph, just try it," Danzō lifted his glass. "Hiruzen, I'm the Third Hokage!"
"We'll see about that," Hiruzen replied with a grin, clinking glasses with him.
The two downed their drinks and laughed together.
Their friendship didn't seem to have been damaged by the Hokage issue at all.
Renya quietly watched them chatting and laughing.
He could only hope his worries wouldn't come true...
...
Check out my new fanfic "Attack on Titan: The Titan of Fate"
A titan that exists outside the Nine Titans — the Titan of Fate.
This is the story of Yago in the world of titans.
(This book is dedicated to every reader who loves Attack on Titan, striving to make up for all the regrets of the original work.)
P.S. The protagonist is not an ordinary transmigrator; his identity is the greatest foreshadowing of this book.