Chapter 8: Goal Achieved and the Game of All Parties
"Of course I want to become someone like Hokage Grandpa, and then become the Hokage!" Narutoanswered without hesitation.
"Then does Naruto know what the Hokagerepresents?"
"I know, I know!" Naruto nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with a sunny smile. "Only people who are respected can become Hokage. I've seen the scenes where people adore Grandpa!"
Naruto's words hit home for Hiruzen Sarutobi. To put it bluntly, this child had extremely high political awareness; he was one of his own!
Naruto's three-year-old appearance was already highly deceptive, and while "children speak without taboo" was just a euphemism used by adults, sometimes a child's words could be taken as truth, even more so than an adult's.
But was the truth really as Hiruzen Sarutobithought?
Not at all!
Naruto's words were mostly a performance. Although Naruto's perception of Hiruzen Sarutobihad changed, it could not erase the fact that Hiruzen Sarutobi had harbored ulterior motives toward Naruto from the very beginning.
Trying to mold Naruto into the shape he wanted through manipulation and brainwashing was Hiruzen Sarutobi's initial idea, and it remained his ultimate goal.
But Naruto already possessed mature thoughts; the fact that he would not accept being manipulated by anyone was already established.
At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan had already half-failed.
However, it wouldn't be accurate to say Naruto felt disgust toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, but it was unrealistic to expect their emotional bond to progress any further.
Indeed, after the probing was finished, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if performing a magic trick, produced a thick book from nowhere and waved it in front of Naruto.
"Do you recognize the words in this book?"
"Will of Fire?" Naruto pretended to study it for a moment before reading out the title of the book in front of him.
"Correct! That is the name of this book, and it is the first book I will teach you!" Since he had decided to teach Naruto how to read as early as possible, Hiruzen Sarutobi simply took out the brainwashing book he had prepared for Naruto ahead of schedule.
"I will read it once, and you follow along and read it once..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi got into character quickly, completely forgetting his duties as Hokage and the administrative affairs that needed timely attention. The two of them, one teaching and one learning, let the day pass by quickly.
"Grandpa, why aren't you reading anymore?"
Naruto endured the hunger in his stomach and the dim light in the room, asking with a feigned sense of urgency.
Hiruzen Sarutobi assessed the surroundings, stood up, and stretched. "It's getting late, Naruto, Grandpa is hungry!" He reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Besides, don't bite off more than you can chew. Do you recognize everything I've taught you so far?"
"I recognize them, it's not hard at all..."
"This..." Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat skeptical. "Then let me test you..."
This test took another half hour, and at this moment, Naruto's level of Genius refreshed Hiruzen Sarutobi's perception of him once again.
To say Naruto had a photographic memory would be an understatement. This was a fully upgraded version with a "mastery" buff. Not only did Narutoremember everything clearly, but he could also explain the meaning behind every word and phrase with great articulation.
"I'm tired... Grandpa is old and can't keep up with a young person like you..." Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was shocked inside, he didn't show it at all. "Come with Grandpa. We're going to Grandpa's house for dinner today, and you can learn the way. From now on, if you're hungry, just go to Grandpa's house!"
The malleability of young Naruto and the Geniusattributes he displayed at this moment made Hiruzen Sarutobi's affection for Naruto soar, or else he wouldn't have made such a decision.
After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Narutosecretly clenched his fists. He knew his plan had already succeeded for the most part; he could even declare the plan a success ahead of schedule!
Where else could be safer than the home of the Village's shadow?
Not only was his future diet guaranteed, but his future development was undoubtedly ahead of many of his peers in the Village.
Having 15 years of elite education experience, Naruto understood this aspect all too well. The education of the poor and commoners was far from that of the nobility; it was no exaggeration to say they were worlds apart.
This wasn't just a matter of wealth; more importantly, it was about connections, experience, and the secret knowledge passed between people!
"Really, Grandpa!" Naruto's eyes lit up. This time, Naruto wasn't acting; it was genuine. "Does that mean I can follow Grandpa and learn from you every day from now on?"
"'Every day' might be a bit difficult, but 'often' is definitely guaranteed." Hiruzen Sarutobi answered with a smile. After saying that, he picked up Narutoand carried him toward his residence.
Clearly, this dinner was the most meaningful meal Naruto had eaten since his return. In the end, Naruto even used his "coquetry technique," pestering him until he was allowed to stay at Hiruzen Sarutobi's house.
...
"Hiruzen! Your behavior is dangerous!"
After Naruto fell asleep, Hiruzen Sarutobi left the residence and arrived at the Hokage Office, where the sinister Danzo had already been waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrival with the two KonohaAdvisors.
"Although Naruto is the orphan of the Fourth, don't forget that the Nine-Tailed is sealed inside him!" Utatane Koharu chimed in at the right moment.
"As a weapon of the Village, Hiruzen, you should think about this more carefully..."
"Enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed the table. "Do you think I don't know your little schemes?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was well aware of the behind-the-scenes actions of Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado. It was just that as he aged, his methods had become softer, and he couldn't bring himself to take action against his old teammates.
Furthermore, as he aged, Hiruzen Sarutobi's combat power had deteriorated, and sometimes he had no choice but to be soft-handed.
"My decision to personally mentor Naruto was made after careful consideration; there is no need for you to try to persuade me otherwise." Hiruzen Sarutobi was unusually firm today. "Also, you had better restrain yourselves. It would be best not to use those behind-the-scenes tactics again!"
"Hiruzen, your temperament is not capable of controlling the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Have you forgotten the lesson learned from Orochimaru!" Danzo pretended not to understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's determination; he still had not given up his attempt to control Naruto.
After all, if he could control Naruto, Danzo's chances of competing for the position of Hokagewould increase significantly.
But this sentence from Danzo completely infuriated Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Aura of the former Shinobi Professor erupted violently once again. Hiruzen Sarutobi stared fixedly at Danzo standing before him and said, word by word.
"Danzo, I believe both you and I know exactly what happened with Orochimaru! Besides, this time, I am not taking Naruto as my apprentice; I am laying a foundation for him. His future teacher will be someone else!"
"I understand." Danzo nodded coldly, seemingly unfazed by Hiruzen Sarutobi's Aura. "But I have one thing to tell you: where there is light, there is shadow. As the side of light, if there is something you cannot do well, don't blame me for doing it for you from the shadows!"
With that, Danzo left first, and after exchanging a few words with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharuand Homura Mitokado also made excuses to leave.
After the three of them left, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat slumped on the Hokage's chair, smoking his pipe silently with a bitter and deep expression.
In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi had made concessions again, and the choice of Naruto's future teacher was another headache that required maneuvering between all parties.
In politics, there are never absolute winners, nor are there ever permanent winners...
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