Hearing Kurama's malicious voice, Mito Uzumaki smiled slightly and said nonchalantly, "Of course it's a good thing."
"Nine-Tails!Although this brat's chakra is full of the sharpness and tyranny of lightning, it is not dark.On the contrary, his chakra contains extraordinary confidence."
"Nine-tailed Fox, this old woman believes in the new life sprouting in the village!"
Nine-Tails swished its tail in annoyance at Mito's words.
"Hmph~ old woman!Don't mess it up."
Kaede Hatake was well aware of the terrifying nature of the seemingly young old woman in front of him, but even knowing this, he didn't intend to say anything more!
Of the disciples of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, aside from Akimichi Torifu, who remained uninvolved, and the deceased Uchiha Kagami, the remaining four all harbored their own ulterior motives to varying degrees.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still possesses the demeanor of a "heroic ninja" and is exceptionally skilled.He was appointed Hokage amidst the chaos of war.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, developed the strength of Konoha Village, leading to its gradual prosperity.
He appointed members of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's guard as elders of Konoha, suppressed numerous ninja clans, and gradually centralized power.
They cultivated elite disciples such as Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya, which enhanced the foundation of Konoha Village.
However, the Third Hokage misjudged people and placed too much emphasis on his relationship with the elders.This led to Danzo's rise to power and subsequent harm to the entire Hidden Leaf Village.Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado then dominated the upper echelons, suppressing newcomers.
As a result, in the original timeline, Sakumo Hatake committed suicide, Tsunade left, Orochimaru defected, Jiraiya traveled the ninja world, and many powerful figures either died or left.
Especially after the death of the Fourth Hokage, Konoha Village suffered a severe shortage of talent, with no one able to step up and take on the mantle.
Currently, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, has not yet reached the point of being old, senile, and indecisive.Elders Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado are still quite diligent in their work.
Only Shimura Danzo never extinguished his restless desire to become Hokage.
A group of fanatics, incited by him, had already gathered around him.Although the infamous "Root" organization that would later become known had not been formally established, the rudiments of such an organization were beginning to emerge.[Note 2]
Mito Uzumaki looked at Kaede Hatake and said calmly, "Is it Danzo?" Although it was a question, there was not a trace of hesitation in her tone.
Hatake Kaede also looked at the old woman who had been famous in the ninja world since the Warring States period, without giving any reply.She simply watched her quietly.
Mito Uzumaki certainly knew Danzo Shimura.Not to mention Mito Uzumaki's Kagura Mind's Eye, which could cover the entire Hidden Leaf Village, Mito Uzumaki had seen Danzo Shimura many times when the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was still alive.
In Mito Uzumaki's view, Danzo Shimura was an ambitious man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.However, his abilities did not match his ambitions.
This could easily lead Danzo Shimura to do things with unpredictable consequences.These actions would be beyond Danzo Shimura's control, and the consequences would have to be borne by Konoha as a whole.
Secondly, he was too obsessed with external power.To put it more bluntly, he was extremely jealous of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, especially Madara Uchiha.
He witnessed the final battle between the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha at the Valley of the End, and was awestruck by their unparalleled power.Therefore, he dreamed of obtaining the power of Wood Release and the Sharingan.
However, what he didn't understand was that it wasn't the power of Wood Release and the Sharingan that was strong, but rather that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha made Wood Release and the Sharingan powerful.
Later, Danzo Shimura obtained Hashirama Senju's Wood Release and the Sharingan from the Uchiha clan, but he couldn't unleash their full potential.His use of Wood Release was inferior to Yamato's, and his use of the Sharingan was inferior to Kakashi's.
Ultimately, even Danzo Shimura might not have known that he harbored a deep fear of death.His mind was forever filled with coercion, manipulation, control, conspiracy, and scheming.
He would never allow his subordinates to surpass him in strength, so he used the "Tongue Curse" technique to control them, which is why there are no absolutely strong members in the "Root" organization.
Danzo Shimura spent his entire life scheming and petty, never possessing the magnanimity and breadth of vision befitting a Hokage.Like a rat in the sewers, he couldn't bear the light of day.
Footsteps outside the door interrupted their meaningful eye contact.Rope Tree strode in.
"Grandma, we've already arranged for someone to feed my sister some hangover soup.She's asleep now."
After explaining the situation to Mito, Nawaki turned around, smiled, walked to Kaede Hatake's side, patted Kaede's arm and said, "Kakaki-kun, I'm Nawaki from the class next to yours.Although we're not in the same class, I've heard of you before.Thank you for bringing my drunk older sister back today."
Kaede Hatake waved his hands repeatedly: "It's nothing, it's nothing!Lady Tsunade guided me to become a medical ninja and personally taught me medical ninjutsu.I am extremely grateful.Taking care of Lady Tsunade when she was drunk was just a small matter."
These were absolutely Kaede Hatake's true feelings.As for who had complained about Tsunade being drunk, or who had thought Tsunade was a pig for the New Year, they were completely ignored.
"To be personally persuaded by my sister to become a medical ninja, it seems you have a great talent for medicine!"
"Haha~ Who dares to claim superior medical talent in front of Lady Tsunade?Nawaki-kun, don't joke with me!"
"NO, NO!" Nawaki held up his index finger and waved it in front of Hatake Kaede."Yesterday, my sister told me and my grandma that she had discovered a promising talent for learning medical ninjutsu."
"That's true," Mito Uzumaki chimed in from the side."Tsunade has high hopes for your medical talent."
Kaede Hatake smiled modestly and declined repeatedly, saying, "You flatter me, Lady Tsunade."
After glancing at the sky, Hatake Kaede took his leave.Don't go home.Nawaki, with impeccable manners, personally escorted Hatake Maple out of the house.
On his way home, Kaede Hatake sighed inwardly.
Mito Uzumaki was renowned in the ninja world since the Warring States period.Danzo's underhanded tricks were utterly insignificant compared to her; he was simply too old and unwilling to manage things.
[And then there's Nawaki, as expected of Hashirama Senju's grandson.Humble and polite, with impeccable manners.Of course, as a descendant of the Senju clan who founded Konoha, how could he appear so simple-minded and foolish?]
Nawaki watched Kaede Hatake walk away until he could no longer see her back before turning back to the living room.
Seeing that Grandma Mito was still waiting, Nawaki quickly went to Mito's side and said, "Grandma, it's late, let me help you to rest."
Mito looked at her grandson, who was being helped up, and recalled how Nawaki had handled things so skillfully.She was very satisfied.Mito nodded kindly and let Nawaki help her walk towards her bedroom.
On the way, Mito Uzumaki said to Nawaki, "Nawaki, what did you think of Kaede Hatake just now?"
Nawaki lowered his head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Mito Uzumaki and said, "I haven't had any contact with him before, so I don't know much about him.But based on my first impression today, I think Hatake-kun is an interesting person."
"Interesting, what's the explanation?" Mito Uzumaki looked at Nawaki with curiosity, anticipating his explanation.
"Humble on the outside, but proud on the inside!He doesn't make friends easily, but he values those he approves of very much."
"Hahaha.Nawaki, you should communicate with Hatake Kaede more often in the future.But you should be sincere in your friendship and try to become his friend."
"Grandson understands!"
...
In the Hokage's office late at night, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was still working tirelessly, handling village affairs by lamplight.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was appointed to the position in a crisis, without following proper procedures.Not all the major ninja clans in Konoha accepted him, especially the Uchiha clan.
Fortunately, with the full support of Mito Uzumaki and the suppression of Kagami Uchiha, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was able to barely secure his position as Hokage.
During the First Shinobi World War, the six guards of the Second Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Torifu Akimichi, and Kagami Uchiha—fought valiantly and made outstanding contributions.
Thanks to this achievement, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly secured his position as Hokage.However, among the six bodyguards of the Second Hokage, Kagami Uchiha was killed in battle, and Torifu Akimichi was seriously injured.Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were also covered in wounds.
The most bizarre was Shimura Danzo, who had become a one-eyed man with thick bandages wrapped around his right eye.His dark aura was even more intense.
After recovering from his injury, Akimichi Torifumi stepped down from the front lines.The Konoha leadership officially took center stage in Konoha's upper echelons.