39 Chapter 39 - Agreement

I'm saying this in advance: NO EVIL HIRUZEN! Hiruzen is a kind idiot in my opinion. He's a pushover and he desperately avoids tough decisions, but at heart, he really does want the best for everyone, and that's how I'll write him. More of an incompetent fool with a kind heart than an intentionally evil guy. In my opinion at least.

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As Ryu strolled casually toward the Hokage's tower, an Anbu appeared before him. "The Hokage requests your presence," the Anbu announced. "Alright, I'll head over now. Thanks," Ryu replied. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his spot, leaving the Anbu astonished.

Ryu's fist knocked gently on the ornate wooden door. "Come in!" a warm, aged voice called from inside. "Lord Hokage," Ryu greeted the venerable man sitting behind a desk. Hiruzen's hair was as white as fresh snowfall, and his eyes crinkled with lines earned over a lifetime.

Ryu scanned the empty room, wondering, 'Is Jiraiya not here? He must want to have a private conversation.'

"Hello, child. Jiraiya told me quite a bit about you," Hiruzen said, welcoming Ryu into his office. Despite his kind demeanor, a hint of caution lingered in his eyes.

"All good, I hope," Ryu chuckled, trying to appear at ease. "Mostly," Hiruzen replied, a playful smirk on his face. "So... What did you call me for? A warning?" Ryu inquired, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Far from it," Hiruzen responded, shaking his head. "I know you're not one to be swayed by warnings, especially given your experience. Actually, I wanted to discuss the possibility of scouting you." His eyes sparkled with interest.

Ryu raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you have in mind?"

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, his expression growing serious. "You see, you possess power that is at least equal to that of an S-class Shinobi. Your encounter with Jiraiya made that quite evident. Furthermore, I've heard about what happened to a close friend of mine, someone whose strength nearly matched my own." His voice was tinged with sadness.

Ryu frowned, recalling the incident. "That guy was your friend? Are you upset?"

Hiruzen sighed. "Yes, he was very dear to me. But his demise was the result of his own selfish actions. I cannot blame you for saving one of my Shinobi." At this, Ryu couldn't help but feel a newfound respect for the old man.

Hiruzen continued with a wry smile on his lips. "Besides, even if I wanted to punish you, I doubt I'd be able to. I've heard you took care of him with ease. But let's return to the matter at hand. I'd like to invite you to join our ranks as a Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. I assure you that we'll provide conditions fitting your abilities."

"Moreover," Hiruzen added, "even if Shisui manages to complete his mission, the Uchiha clan's reputation will still need restoration. By joining us, you'll be given a position and treatment befitting your skills, which could help in that regard."

Ryu considered Hiruzen's words before responding, "That's an interesting perspective, but I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm sure Jiraiya mentioned that I'm here to see my family. While I do plan to find them after our meeting, there's another reason for my visit." His statement piqued Hiruzen's curiosity.

Ryu continued, "I'd like to set up a temporary smithy here. I can supply the Leaf with high-quality weapons in exchange for a fair price and a few favors, of course." Hiruzen furrowed his brow, puzzled. "A smithy?" he inquired. "Yes," Ryu confirmed, "I'm a blacksmith, not a Shinobi," Ryu explained.

Hiruzen contemplated Ryu's revelation. "Is that so? In that case, you're even more valuable than I initially thought. Very well, I'll arrange for a smithy to be set up in a secluded area at the edge of the village, so as not to disturb our citizens. I'll also purchase anything you produce that meets our quality standards. As for the favors, I can't make any promises upfront," he conceded.

"That sounds like a deal. If this works out well, who knows? You might just win me over," Ryu said with a smirk, extending his hand for a handshake. Hiruzen reciprocated the gesture, and they shook hands to seal their agreement.

As Ryu was about to leave the room, a thought struck him, and he chastised himself for nearly forgetting. Glancing back at Hiruzen, he covertly activated his disguised Mangekyo Sharingan's ability on the elderly Hokage. Moments before the excruciating process of memory absorption started, Ryu disappeared from his spot, reappearing in a secluded area deep within the village's forest.

Back in his office, Hiruzen pondered the recent turn of events with a hint of amusement. 'An Uchiha blacksmith... I'm eager to see what kind of creations he'll forge,' he mused, smirking before turning his attention back to the paperwork awaiting him.

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After enduring the memory fusion effect for some time, Ryu was left with a single thought echoing in his mind. 'Poor Naruto...' He had witnessed nearly all of Hiruzen's life - from his childhood and genin days to his experiences in wars. Despite Hiruzen's reputation as a kind and wise man, Ryu couldn't help but question the wisdom of some of his decisions.

From delegating crucial village matters to his ambitious "friend" Danzo and not fighting back after seeing the consequences, to the treatment of the unfortunate Jinchuriki, Ryu was baffled by Hiruzen's choices.

To some extent, he could comprehend why Hiruzen had trusted Danzo. Despite his ruthless methods, Danzo managed to achieve results with cold efficiency. It was odd, however, that Hiruzen would accept such methods, given his compassionate nature. But as Ryu delved deeper into the Hokage's memories, he understood the rationale behind it.

Hiruzen knew he struggled to make tough decisions for the sake of his village, as his kind-hearted nature often held him back. At least, that was how he justified his actions. This realization only served to fuel Ryu's frustration.

Ryu couldn't shake the feeling that a leader with Hiruzen's experience and wisdom should have been able to balance his compassion with the necessary resolve to make difficult choices. The fact that he had allowed so many questionable actions to transpire under his watch left Ryu feeling both bewildered and angry.

While Ryu could grasp Hiruzen's reasoning, he found it to be utterly inadequate. Instead of confronting his own nature and striving to develop himself as a better Hokage and person, Hiruzen chose to relinquish responsibility for the difficult decisions to someone he deemed more capable in that regard.

As for young Naruto, the situation was even more appalling. Although Hiruzen attempted to provide Naruto a normal life by suppressing the fact that the boy was a Jinchuriki, he failed to act when Danzo leaked the information, believing it was a futile struggle.

Hiruzen thought that the villagers, traumatized by the Nine-Tails' attack, would resent Naruto simply because the fox was sealed within him – an undeniable reality. He rationalized that, regardless of how he might try to present Naruto, the boy would be hated anyway. And so, he never made the effort.

Any respect Ryu had held for the elderly Hokage evaporated in an instant. He was relieved that he had only acquired Hiruzen's memories and not his character traits. But there was no time to dwell on that now – there was a troubled young blond boy who desperately needed support!