Chapter 33: I want Ramen!

Why is there always someone thinking of deceiving oneself?

Who dares say that Danzo is not easily angered?

Can anyone in Konoha be found who loves to lose their temper more than Shimura Danzo!

Akihara Kagura quietly watched the old man's smiling face, this old guy is clearly the chief culprit who made Shimura Danzo so angry that he wanted to kill someone!

"Let's go fishing first!"

The old man leisurely blew a smoke ring, his smile appearing very kind: "If the little guy doesn't eat well at night, it can affect his growth..."

The old man saw that Akihara Kagura seemed unmoved and continued: "If you go back too late and Danzo gets angry, I'll help you persuade him."

"Oh?"

Akihara Kagura raised an eyebrow, showing a provoking expression: "Lord Danzo is the Hokage's advisor in the village, do you think your words matter?"

"I and Danzo have been old friends for many years..."

The old man nodded, his eyes clearly showing confidence. He was very confident that he could suppress Danzo: "When I speak, he listens."

"The old man just likes to brag..."

A hint of dissatisfaction appeared on Akihara Kagura's face.

"Grandpa is the Hokage of the village!"

Uzumaki Naruto quickly responded, but then clenched his little fist, adding: "But this is only temporary, when I grow up, I will definitely replace him as Hokage, and I will surpass him!"

As Uzumaki Naruto said, the old man was indeed the Third Hokage of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, but this time he was not wearing the Hokage's hat.

Sarutobi Hiruzen originally intended to observe the village's situation after watching the commotion in the Forest of Death from his office, and then he saw Akihara Kagura and Uzumaki Naruto together.

Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately wanted to take the opportunity to meet these two youngsters and pass on the Will of Fire to the future of the village, something he always liked to do.

Because Sarutobi Hiruzen was not very formal, including Uzumaki Naruto, the children didn't have much fear of the Third Hokage, only respect.

Of course.

Some children in the village didn't know that the old man who always wandered around the village was the Hokage. When they suddenly found out from others, they would exclaim in surprise, showing a very astonished look, and their attitude would become respectful.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was always happy to kindly pat the heads of children at times like these, showing that the village's Hokage was a gentle and kind old man.

These kinds of children often grew more affectionate towards the elderly.

These kinds of children were also more easily sown with the seeds of the Will of Fire.

However…

Today was a bit unusual.

Upon realizing that the old man before him was the Third Hokage, Akihara Kagura showed a look of shock, followed by a hint of wary hostility!

"Hehe…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen still had that kind, smiling face, seemingly indifferent to Akihara Kagura's hostility. He knew that the children under Danzo's care were not quite normal.

"You… are the Third Hokage?"

Akihara Kagura watched Sarutobi Hiruzen warily, shaking his head with furrowed brows: "You don't look like a Hokage at all. A real Hokage should be like Lord Danzo…"

As Akihara Kagura spoke, he seemed to recall the declaration of Uzumaki Naruto, who was beside him, about wanting to become Hokage.

"Kids shouldn't dream!"

Akihara Kagura pressed down on Uzumaki Naruto's head, messing up his hair: "You have no chance, the Hokage of Konoha will definitely be Lord Danzo!"

"Get your hands off me!"

Uzumaki Naruto grabbed Akihara Kagura's wrist, retorting loudly: "Impossible! I will become Hokage! That Danzo guy has no chance at all!"

"Why is it impossible?"

Akihara Kagura patted Uzumaki Naruto's head: "Konoha can be without anyone, but it can't be without Lord Danzo! Lord Danzo will definitely become the Hokage!"

"..."

Observing all this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes revealed a hint of sharpness.

However, this sharpness disappeared in an instant, and the old man quickly returned to his kind demeanor, as if it had never appeared.

"Oh?"

"Danzo wants to become Hokage, huh?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled lightly and continued slowly, "I grew up with him since childhood, and I've never heard him express the desire to become the Hokage…"

"..."

How can you say such a thing?

How can you say such a heartless thing?

Do you, old man, have no idea about Danzo's thoughts at all?

Yes.

Danzo never told me.

But as Lord Danzo's top confidant, I definitely know Lord Danzo's thoughts!

Akihara Kagura suppressed the urge to continue arguing with Uzumaki Naruto and asked Sarutobi Hiruzen seriously, "Does Lord Danzo truly not wish to become the Hokage?"

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was at a loss for words for a moment.

This question, if lied about, could easily be exposed, leaving the impression on the young man in front of him that he is a liar. How could he then pass on the Will of Fire to him in the future?

"Maybe he thought about it."

Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to use a baseless tactic.

"I knew it was so."

Akihara Kagura patted Uzumaki Naruto, signaling the little guy to calm down, and continued to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "So, Lord Danzo had indeed thought about becoming the Hokage, right?"

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen silently nodded.

"Didn't the Third Hokage just say that he and Lord Danzo were friends?"

Akihara Kagura seemed to have grasped the truth and started to make up stories carelessly, "Perhaps initially, both the Third Hokage and Lord Danzo had the opportunity to compete for the position of Hokage. Lord Danzo might have had a great chance to become the Hokage, but he didn't want to compete with a friend and risk losing their friendship, so he had to give up the position of Hokage to the Third Hokage…"

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

The original position of Hokage was personally designated by his teacher, the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama. It can even be said that it was a command in a crisis. Danzo never had the opportunity to become Hokage!

You little kid...

You are too biased against Shimura Danzo!

Sarutobi Hiruzen vaguely felt that the topic of his conversation with Akihara Kagura was deviating. Wasn't he here to pass on the Will of Fire to the future of the village?

Why discuss his competition with Shimura Danzo for the position of Hokage?

"Little kid."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a long drag on his cigarette, blew out a big smoke ring, and decided to steer the conversation back on track: "Hokage is not a position people fight over, but a responsibility to bear. The Hokage carries the hopes and recognition of everyone in the village..."

"Hokage..."

Akihara Kagura lowered his head in deep thought, seemingly persuaded by Sarutobi Hiruzen's words: "Does it mean bearing the hopes and recognition of everyone in the village?"

"Yes..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice sounded weary.

Seeing both Akihara Kagura and Uzumaki Naruto in front of him deep in thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally nodded in satisfaction, ready to give these two youngsters a good lesson.

"Third Hokage."

Akihara Kagura's expression suddenly became serious: "My hope is to have a bowl of hot Ichiraku Ramen when I am hungry..."

"Me too! Me too!"

Uzumaki Naruto also quickly raised his hand, looking at Akihara Kagura and saying: "When I become Hokage in the future, I will definitely treat you to ramen every day!"

"...Alright, I'll treat you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gripped his pipe tightly.

After all, he had just said that the Hokage must bear the expectations and recognition of everyone. If he didn't satisfy these two now, it seemed impossible to make them willing to continue listening to the lesson about the Will of Fire…