Night fell over Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched as the Senju shinobi filed out of the reception hall one by one. The vast room soon emptied, leaving behind an oppressive stillness that made him deeply uneasy. The faint chirping of crickets lingered in his ears, stirring a restless tension in his chest.
Moments ago, Mito Uzumaki had dismissed everyone present.
Now, only the two of them remained.
Hiruzen studied her expression carefully. Calm. Unruffled. There was not a trace of the fury she had displayed earlier—as if that terrifying outburst had been nothing more than an act.
"Lady Mito… about my earlier behavior—I hope you won't take offense. I was only—"
He hesitated, choosing his words. At a time like this, he had to say something—anything—to salvage his standing in her eyes.
"That's enough. Sit. I know what you're going to say."
Mito waved a hand, cutting him off.
Hiruzen moved to a nearby stool and sat down—but only halfway, his body tense, ready to rise at a moment's notice. He still couldn't read her intentions.
Mito watched his cautious posture, the unease written all over him, and a flicker of amusement passed through her eyes. Her expression softened, the warmth of a kindly elder returning to her face.
"Monkey brat… your performance just now surprised me," she said. "You're not as ordinary as I thought. There's something about you—something that sets you apart, even if only a little."
In her long life, she had seen too many prodigies blessed by fate.
Her husband, Hashirama Senju.
Her brother-in-law, Tobirama Senju.
The Uchiha—Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna.
They were the brightest figures of their era.
Compared to them, the talent Hiruzen displayed was as unremarkable as a stone by the roadside—easily overlooked.
But—
His character was sound.
Tobirama had taught him well.
At the very least, he had inherited the Will of Fire.
"Lady Mito flatters me. I only did what I was supposed to do," Hiruzen replied humbly.
The warmth in her demeanor eased the tension in his chest. For a moment, she no longer resembled the terrifying figure from earlier, but rather a gentle grandmother next door.
"You don't need to be so modest," Mito said evenly. "Among your generation, you are considered outstanding. But tell me—do you believe you are worthy of becoming Hokage?"
The question struck like a bucket of cold water.
The faint pride that had just begun to stir within Hiruzen was extinguished instantly.
Worthy?
He wanted to say yes.
Becoming Hokage had been his dream since the day he became a shinobi. A conviction forged through countless life-and-death trials.
But reality was cruel.
He wasn't.
"I will do everything in my power… to become a qualified Hokage," he answered.
Admitting outright that he was unworthy—
That was something he simply could not say.
"Hmph. At least you have some self-awareness."
Mito rose to her feet, her gaze drifting toward the Konoha emblem on the wall. Her eyes grew distant, heavy with thought.
"There are many in Konoha more suited to be the Third Hokage than you," she said slowly. "Myself. Or my son, Senju Toma."
She paused.
"Even Uchiha Kagami, who stood here earlier, is more suitable than you. The strength to suppress all others, a distinguished lineage, the backing of a powerful clan—"
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"You have none of these."
"I've thought about it for a long time," she continued. "And I still don't understand why Tobirama chose you."
A faint irritation surfaced in her voice.
"That bastard… even at the end, he still had to leave me with trouble. Just like his brother, that damned Hashirama."
A breath escaped her lips.
"I always thought he was the one who gave me the least to worry about."
She fell into silence, lost in memories of the past.
The burden of protecting Konoha—
Now rested entirely on her shoulders.
It was heavy.
Heavy enough to make even her feel suffocated.
Hiruzen sat quietly, not daring to speak. She had just cursed two Hokage in a single breath—this was far beyond anything he could interrupt.
Was this even a conversation he had the right to join?
"Even though I don't understand his decision," Mito said at last, turning back to him, "I will still help you."
Hiruzen's heart began to pound.
"Because this is Tobirama's final will," she continued. "I hope I'm wrong about you. That there's something in you… I have yet to see."
Joy flashed across Hiruzen's face, impossible to hide.
"Lady Mito… I won't disappoint you."
"Don't celebrate too early," she cut in coldly. "I said I would help you. I did not say I would ensure you become Hokage."
Her gaze pressed down on him.
"You are still far from that position."
Hiruzen nodded.
He knew that better than anyone.
But even this—
Was already more than he had dared hope for.
Mito's willingness to support him was, in itself, a blessing.
"Originally, I intended to conceal Tobirama's death," she said. "Suppress the clans first. Stabilize the situation. Only after everything settled would I release the news."
Her expression darkened.
"But the Uchiha… those people can never be taken lightly."
"The news has already spread throughout Konoha."
"And worse—"
Her eyes narrowed.
"The story that you abandoned Tobirama and fled has spread even faster."
Hiruzen stood up abruptly.
"Lady Mito, we didn't abandon Lord Tobirama! That was—"
Mito raised a hand, stopping him.
"I know."
Her voice was calm.
"There's no need to explain. Tobirama was never someone who tolerated disobedience. On the battlefield, his orders were absolute."
"You had no choice but to follow."
She looked at him steadily.
"But the villagers won't understand that."
"And with the Uchiha fanning the flames behind the scenes…"
Her tone grew heavier.
"You need to be prepared."
Hiruzen clenched his fists slightly, then bowed his head.
"I understand, Lady Mito."
Gratitude filled his voice.
If not for her—
The scorn of the villagers alone would have drowned him long before he ever had a chance at the Hokage seat.
And this…
Was only the beginning.
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