Chapter 45 Respect for Teachers and Values the Way
"Um..."
Jiraiya pondered for a moment, remaining silent, while Minato watched him nervously.
I never expected to suddenly hear about such an important matter as the successor to the Hokage!
Mitokado continued:
"Tsunade is probably beyond redemption, and even if she were, she's even more impulsive and reckless than you.
Even though she's the granddaughter of the First Hokage, I don't think she's fit to be Hokage.
While you might not be the most reliable person regularly, you're quite dependable when it comes to important matters.
In that respect, you're indeed very similar to Sarutobi..."
"Oh? That's really unexpected. I didn't expect you to be so kind as to speak so highly of me, Uncle Homura!"
"Hmph, I'll just say some nice things to appease you."
A slight smile appeared on Mitokado's face, and he added:
"Sarutobi is getting old, Tsunade has left, and Orochimaru cannot be trusted, so you are the only one who can succeed him as Hokage."
"How about it, Jiraiya?
Just consider it an act of filial piety towards your teacher and a way to share his burdens?"
"Hey, Uncle Homura, I've already been stabbed twice. Aren't you enough to help the old man out?"
"Not enough! What? You don't want to?" Mitokado asked, frowning.
Jiraiya pondered for a long time before finally answering:
"Hmm... I really don't want to."
"Why?"
"Firstly, I like to travel around and don't want to be bogged down by the endless trivialities of the Hokage.
Secondly... although you might think it's childish, I hate being compared to Orochimaru by that old man!" Jiraiya said in a deep voice.
"..."
"If the old man himself prefers me to succeed him, then we can consider it.
Just like you said, Uncle Homura, it's not a bad idea to do it as a way of showing filial piety to the old man.
But from what you've said, the old man is clearly still hesitant between Orochimaru and me.
He might even be more inclined towards that guy Orochimaru!"
"Teacher…" Minato looked at Jiraiya with a mixture of surprise and nervousness.
Jiraiya widened his eyes and shouted:
"Even the old man doesn't acknowledge me, yet he expects me to eagerly compete with Orochimaru for the Hokage position, just so I can be stuck in Konoha like a slave every day? Are you kidding me?
Don't I have any dignity?"
"..."
Jiraiya and Mitokado gazed at each other in silence.
After a long pause, Mitokado sighed and said softly:
"So what are your thoughts?
We can't really let Orochimaru succeed as Hokage, can we?
Here's what we'll do: when I get back, I'll team up with Akimichi and Utatane to persuade Sarutobi..."
"No need! I've already said, even the old man doesn't approve of me, so I'd rather not take this lousy position of Hokage that's like being a slave!"
"Then what do you want?"
Jiraiya suddenly laughed, reached out and put his hand on Minato's shoulder, pulling him to his side.
"Huh? Teacher?" Minato asked, looking puzzled.
"I have a good idea. I won't compete with Orochimaru for the Hokage position; I'll let my disciple compete for it!"
"What?"
"Teacher, this…" Minato was terrified.
"Shut up!"
Jiraiya covered Minato's mouth with his other hand and grinned at Mitokado:
"This kid is my most prized disciple. He's very strong, no less than me.
He's faced old monsters like Onoki, Hanzo, and Chiyo many times without being at a disadvantage.
His record is impressive. The old man and your advisors also like him very much.
Compared to Orochimaru in every aspect, he has a good chance of winning, right?"
"Watergate..."
Mitokado scrutinized Minato.
Although Jiraiya's suggestion seemed surprising at first glance, upon closer inspection, it didn't seem like a bad idea.
Although Minato Namikaze was young, a generation younger than Jiraiya and the others, his strength was no less than that of the Legendary Sannin.
He had fought against various Kage-level powerhouses on the battlefield in the Land of Rain, and his record and reputation were quite high.
Strength is the most important thing.
For example, Sarutobi's eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, is currently the vice-captain of the Anbu.
Although he could succeed as Hokage in terms of status, his strength is somewhat lacking.
Mitokado estimates that Shinnosuke's strength is about the same as his own, and he probably won't make much progress in the future.
It would be too much of a stretch for him to become Hokage.
The four great nations of Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Water have always coveted Konoha, and each side has many powerful figures.
In this environment, to protect Konoha, the Hokage ultimately has to rely on strength.
After considering for a moment, Mitokado nodded slightly and said:
"It is indeed worth considering. If it is Minato, Sarutobi, Akimichi, and Utatane should also be able to accept him.
They are strong enough and of good character. Minato has the advantages of Sarutobi and you, but without your disadvantages.
Moreover, in terms of connections, Minato's partner is Kushina Uzumaki, and he also has Mochizuki Souji, a friend of many years."
"I don't need to elaborate on Kushina's importance.
Although Mochizuki Souji is only a newly promoted Jonin who has just emerged, he has the combat power to fight against Kage-level, and his medical ninjutsu level is extremely high."
"Now that Tsunade is gone, Mochizuki Souji might be the number one medical ninjutsu master in Konoha.
His importance to Konoha is no less than that of Uzumaki Kushina.
If Minato becomes Hokage, he can completely bind the two of them together, which would be of great help to both him and Konoha."
"Right? Compared to my easygoing and carefree personality, Minato is definitely a more suitable candidate!"
"Teacher! Making me Hokage is really..."
Minato hurriedly tried to refuse, but Jiraiya shouted:
"Shut up!
Didn't you hear what Uncle Homura just said?
Just consider it a way of showing filial piety to your teacher and relieving my burden!
Don't you know what it means to respect your teacher!"
Jiraiya covered Minato's face again, looking utterly helpless, and then burst into laughter:
"Although Minato is still a little weaker than me, he is definitely more suitable to succeed Orochimaru as Hokage, and his chances of winning are very high!"
"That's true, but if we really lose to Minato, Orochimaru will probably be furious, right?
What if even Orochimaru leaves as Tsunade did..."
Mitokado pushed up his glasses and said with some concern.
Although they disliked Orochimaru, he was still a Kage-level fighter, and they couldn't afford to lose him easily...
"Why worry about all that?
As Uncle Yan said yourself, we can't really let Orochimaru become Hokage, can we?
If he's really that petty, getting angry and wanting to leave just because he lost to my disciple, then let him leave!"
"If you can't handle it, don't play! If Orochimaru won't do it, plenty of others will!" Jiraiya laughed heartily.
"You make it sound so easy..."
Mitokado looked helpless, but as Jiraiya said, if Orochimaru really wasn't allowed to succeed as Hokage, then Orochimaru's leaving might be inevitable.
Shaking his head to stop thinking about it, Mitokado smiled and said:
"Then let's decide it this way.
Let Minato compete for the Hokage position in your place. I'll discuss this with Sarutobi and the others when I get back. It's rare for you to come up with such a good suggestion."
"I was worried that if you were made Hokage, your clumsy and stupid appearance would be a disadvantage when you meet and negotiate with the daimyo of various countries to secure missions for Konoha...
But if it's Minato, there won't be any problem.
His appearance is much better than yours and Orochimaru's!"
What the hell!?
Jiraiya's eyes widened, and he said with extreme dissatisfaction:
"Nonsense! Minato is nowhere near as handsome as I!"
"Get some rest. Once the commander concocts the antidote for you, we'll launch our counterattack!"
Mitokado waved his hand, too lazy to say more, and left the room.
"Teacher, making me succeed as Hokage, it really is..."
Minato looked serious, about to discuss it with Jiraiya again.
But Jiraiya pointed at him with a displeased expression and shouted:
"Shut up! How could you possibly be more handsome than me! You jerk! You have no respect for your teachers!"
"..."
Minato looked helpless.
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End of this chapter...