Chapter 3: Sasuke Comes to Ask?
After Jiraiya left, Konoha soon held an inauguration ceremony arranged by Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
The ninjas and villagers of Konoha were summoned to attend.
The purpose was to introduce the acting Hokage for the next two months and to announce that Su Li was a disciple of Jiraiya.
They wanted everyone to know that Konoha still had a successor to the Sannin to calm people's hearts.
Of course, having an acting Hokage suddenly appointed out of nowhere, someone most people had only heard of but never seen, would naturally take some getting used to.
Still, out of respect for Jiraiya, no one publicly questioned Su Li.
After all, everyone understood that Su Li was merely Jiraiya's representative not someone who would make major decisions on his own.
And Su Li had no intention of meddling in village politics anyway.
He preferred to use his time to strengthen himself.
"Everyone," Su Li began, standing on the rooftop of the Hokage Building and looking down at the crowd of shinobi and villagers, "since my master asked me to serve as acting Hokage, I'll keep it brief. From now on, every shinobi of Konoha must work harder to improve your strength. We need to become stronger!"
Hearing those words, the ninjas below nodded in agreement.
As Su Li said —only by becoming strong could they protect what they cared about.
"If we remain this helpless," Su Li continued, "then after Orochimaru and the Sand Village, next time it will be the Cloud or the Stone!
If you don't want to see your friends and family die at the hands of the enemy, then use all your time to train, to cultivate your abilities, and to raise your combat power!"
"If there's anything you don't understand during your training, you may come ask me. I'll do my best to help."
Despite his words, Su Li didn't expect many to actually seek his guidance.
Most of the Jōnin had their own clan techniques and their own pride —they wouldn't come to consult a newcomer like him.
And as for the Genin or Chūnin without clan backgrounds, they might want to ask, but they probably assumed Su Li wouldn't hand over any high level techniques anyway.
In the end, it was mostly just a formality.
After the inauguration ceremony, Su Li returned to the Hokage office.
For the next two months, he planned to focus entirely on drawing manga there using his system to steadily increase his strength until he could rival, or even surpass, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
However…
Just as Su Li was beginning to draw, there came a knock on the door.
Knock, knock.
"Acting Hokage Su Li."
"Hm?"
Su Li looked up toward the source of the voice and was surprised to see Sasuke standing at the door.
What's Sasuke doing here?
"Come in… is something wrong?" Su Li asked, still puzzled.
He had never spoken with Sasuke before, so he couldn't imagine what business Sasuke might have with him.
Surely he wasn't here to ask about training, right?
That would be awkward after all, Su Li's power came entirely from the system, and he didn't actually know how to cultivate the traditional way.
But before he could think further, Sasuke spoke bluntly.
"I want to become stronger."
Those words weren't spoken on a whim.
During the mission to the Land of Waves, Sasuke had witnessed Naruto defeat Haku.
During the Chūnin Exams, Naruto had stood up to Orochimaru.
During the Konoha Crush, Naruto had even defeated Gaara, the One Tail Jinchūriki.
And now, Naruto had gone off to train with Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin.
Watching the back of that "dead last" fade farther and farther ahead of him while he remained stuck in place Sasuke's frustration and anxiety were beyond words.
Lately, Konoha had been so busy handling post war affairs that Kakashi had little time to train him.
So, little by little, another idea began to grow in Sasuke's mind one planted during the Chūnin Exams, when Orochimaru had whispered temptation in his ear.
Go to me… and I'll give you the power to take revenge.
Orochimaru had even killed the Third Hokage proof enough of his strength.
If he could gain that same power, Sasuke thought, maybe he could finally avenge his clan.
But now, with a new acting Hokage appointed someone who had claimed everyone could come to him for training advice Sasuke decided to try once before making his final choice.
He didn't know how strong Su Li really was, but as someone trusted by Jiraiya to represent Konoha, Su Li had to be worth something.
So, holding on to that faint hope, Sasuke came.
If Su Li couldn't help him grow stronger… then he would go to Orochimaru without hesitation.
"…"
Su Li was momentarily speechless.
Did I just shoot myself in the foot?
He'd told everyone to come to him with training questions and now someone actually had.
He couldn't exactly say, "I don't know," could he?
That would ruin his image.
For a moment, he thought hard. Then, an idea struck him.
"Sasuke," Su Li said, "this is the key to my current residence. Maybe you'll find something there that can help you."
Since he was now living at the Hokage office, Su Li had sealed away most of his earlier manga drafts and stored them in his Konoha home.
He didn't know how to guide Sasuke's training directly, but among the countless powers and techniques drawn in those manga pages, perhaps something might spark inspiration.
Whether Sasuke could gain anything from them would depend on his own talent and comprehension.
If he succeeded great. If he didn't well, that just meant his understanding wasn't deep enough.
Either way, Su Li came out looking wise.
Most importantly, this would get Sasuke out of his office, letting Su Li return to drawing in peace.
After all, he knew just how terrifying Pain's Six Paths were.
If he wanted to rewrite Jiraiya's fate, he had no time to waste.
He had to keep getting stronger no matter what.