Becoming Hokage? That was merely an appetizer for Naruto! He knew perfectly well: sitting on the Hokage's seat wasn't just about taking control of Konoha, the "strongest ninja village."
What did Hokage represent?
Plenty of subordinates: Ninja clans crying and begging for protection!
2.Gathering of experts: All the village's elites working for you!
3.Knowledge treasury: Forbidden jutsu? Secret techniques? All unlocked!
4.And even more important: Directly hugging the Land of Fire's golden leg! Money, food, people—you'd have everything, officially certified.
But!
Something felt like a thorn in his side; Naruto had always been puzzled and didn't understand. Look at the ninja world's broken rules: ninja villages had to grovel before Daimyō? What the hell! Can ninjas only be the Daimyō's dogs? Heh heh, it must be influenced by the history and culture of the "little suns" (Japan). The "little suns'" structure—no, the ninja world's structure was so small it was barely tooth-picking size, brother!
He, Naruto, was different; he had been nurtured by five millennia of history. As the saying goes: "The Son of Heaven, one with strong soldiers and horses shall be it; how could there be a destined kind!" Why could the Hokage only manage military affairs? Why did a powerful Hokage have to be confined within the broken cage of "ninja"? The mere nominal title of the Fifth Hokage was nothing!
The table he truly wanted to overturn was the chair under the Daimyō's butt. The Daimyō's throne of the Land of Fire—that was the first step towards becoming the sun of the ninja world. Hokage? Just a stepping stone, used to ascend the Daimyō's throne! Who would still care about being just a broken village leader?
First, set a small goal: directly grasp both military and political power! Become the undisputed, true benevolent father of the Land of Fire! As for letting a clone impersonate the Daimyō before that? Hard to control personality? Secondary. The key point was: if he could honorably sit in that position, why play sneaky with a substitute? The path of kingship should be taken openly and righteously!
Once he secured the Hokage's throne and held the gun tightly, he could casually concoct some grand justification—loyalist? Clear the ruler's side? Slogans? He could have as many as he wanted. This was the benefit of a long history; there were too many tactics to reference. Coupled with the propaganda of a media group! Directly "A-move" and snatch that golden dragon throne!
By then: he would give a rallying cry, and countless subordinates would rise. This stale, dilapidated system of "Daimyō" would be swept directly into the trash heap of history! "Dad" was starting a new version!
And the prerequisite for accomplishing all this was to become Hokage. To ascend the Hokage's throne, he, Naruto, had long been prepared. The method was simple but effective: a carrot in the left hand, a stick in the right. No, it was "justification" in the left hand, "morality" in the right. "Morality" was already prepared; all that was missing was "justification."
Actually, if it weren't for Orochimaru's "Konoha Crush" fiasco suddenly hitting him, forcing him to race against time, he, Naruto, would have a hundred tricks to slowly plan his layout. But now? Only a month left until the Chunin Exams, and the "Konoha Crush incident" was equally close! No time!
So... he could only take a shortcut. Naruto's eyes were practically glued to this eccentric old geezer! Look at this guy: a bit comical in appearance, but that physique, that aura—woah! He was a walking "political vetting pass," for crying out loud! His titles were famous:
Master's Generation: Third Hokage's last disciple!
Jianghu Status: Legendary Sannin of Konoha!
Highest Value: Fourth Hokage's personal master!
Bowing to this "Buddha"? It was equivalent to—
Instantly getting the "Hokage direct lineage" golden stamp, officially certified VIP! Doing this wasn't for anything else, purely to buy "pre-selected candidate" insurance for the Hokage election! This was an opportunity not to be missed! The Third Hokage had been in power for half a century. Who knew if this unknown Fifth Hokage would be a long-lived type like the Third.
Thinking this, Naruto took a deep breath, settling his qi in his dantian: "Jiraiya-sensei! Please accept me as your disciple!"
"Heh." Jiraiya's mouth twitched. This blonde brat changed faces faster than flipping a book! Just moments ago he was calling him "Pervy Sage," and now he's clinging to his leg? Accepting him as a disciple? It was indeed time to teach him how to control the Nine-Tails... But! He suddenly remembered today's headline in the Ninja World Daily: [Naruto Uzumaki: What genius? Being a genius is just my entry requirement!] What big talk!
Jiraiya huffed inwardly: "Let this old sage test you out. Dragon or worm, one Rasengan will tell." He immediately became a method actor, straightening his swollen face: "Accept you? Alright!"
"However..." Jiraiya deliberately dragged out the ending syllable: "Time-limited test: Within one week! You need to learn this 'Rasengan.' If you can learn it, you'll be my last disciple!"
Naresengan? Was it the Naresengan he knew?
"Watch closely! Only this once!" Jiraiya, full of swagger, spread his palm and began to demonstrate.
Zzzzzzt—
A chaotic mass of wild chakra swirled, instantly forced into a glowing blue, dazzling orb! Jiraiya, for the first time in a while, smiled. Now he finally had some dignity in front of this brat: "Kid! See that? Even a genius of this sage's level has to spend a whole week diligently forming it! Can you master it in a week? Then you're part of my lineage!"
Seeing this, Naruto just smiled without speaking. It really was the Rasengan. This was a sure thing, insurance obtained as if for free.
"Don't even say a week," Naruto suppressed his laughter, his tone as flat as possible: "I can do it right now."
"Hm?!" Jiraiya glanced at him, his eye twitching: This kid's gotten too cocky, hasn't he?!
Naruto wasted no more words, casually raising his right hand.
Oooom—
Chakra instantly condensed and spun in his palm! In just an instant, a perfectly formed, intensely blue Rasengan appeared in his palm!
Jiraiya's pupils suddenly constricted: "What...?" This kid actually knows it? Did he just learn it?
"Oh, and there are advanced versions too." Seeing the expression on the old geezer's face, Naruto was utterly relaxed.
Oooom—Boom!!
With the infusion of more chakra, the orb in his hand suddenly expanded, and the chakra raged violently! A Rasengan Pro, half a person tall and blindingly blue, was spinning wildly!
"Uh?" Jiraiya's mouth hung open, his face filled with disbelief, his jaw practically dislocated!
"Try this next." Naruto's voice remained calm, as chakra erupted around him!
Chakra swept like a hurricane! In Jiraiya's stunned gaze, a Rasengan MAX, five meters in diameter, vast as a full moon in the sky, was defiantly raised by him! The enormous, ghostly blue light illuminated the entire hot spring area like an illusion!
"Th-this..." Jiraiya's throat was dry, all sound caught in his terror!
"Finally..."
"Still... still more?!"
Jiraiya's voice trembled, his worldview teetering on the brink. Naruto raised five fingers into the air.
Whoosh—
A piercing shriek tore through the air! Wind Style chakra infused, pure, blade-like wind nature appeared and perfectly merged! A spiraling light wheel shuriken radiating destructive keenness, rotating at high speed—Wind Style: Rasenshuriken. It vibrated in his raised palm!
Silence. Absolute silence.
Jiraiya was like someone whose brainstem had been struck by a massive hammer. He stood frozen in place, his thoughts completely congealed! The fusion ninjutsu that he couldn't even figure out the direction for, this brat... could perfectly use it just by seeing the basic version? This... what kind of monster was this kid?