Chapter 369: Chapter 369: Power Transfer, Sakumo Hatake Sets His Conditions

Chapter 369: Chapter 369: Power Transfer, Sakumo Hatake Sets His Conditions



If he had been as stubborn as Danzo, he wouldn't have chosen to step down in the original storyline.

Even making Minato a puppet Hokage wouldn't have been an easy thing to pull off.

No matter how much of a figurehead the Hokage was, as long as they had some brains, they would eventually begin to grasp their own power.

Too bad Minato didn't get the chance-before he could truly shine, the Nine-Tails Night happened.

Had Minato been given a few more years, he would have slowly taken back some of the power.

By then, Minato wouldn't have just been a puppet Hokage.

The Third Hokage wouldn't have had a chance to make a comeback.

This also shows that in the original storyline, the Third Hokage was truly committed to stepping down.

"You object?"

The Third Hokage watched silently as Danzo raged before him. After a long pause, he said with a weary sigh:

"Danzo, I have grown old, and so have you. Eventually, we must accept that our time will pass, and the responsibilities of the village will fall to the next generation.

Wake up, old friend!

As long as Tsunade wants it, Orochimaru will have no chance."

"Besides, Orochimaru..."

Turning his back, the Third Hokage began to walk out of the courtyard. He took a few steps, paused, and sighed deeply:

"Besides, there is too much darkness in Orochimaru's heart. I cannot entrust the village to him.

Danzo, I am still the Hokage. The fact that I haven't intervened in many of your actions doesn't mean I'm unaware of them. I hope you understand that Tsunade will not be as lenient as I am."

"How could you do this?!"

"Sarutobi, why are you treating me this way?!"

Danzo struck the ground fiercely with his cane, shouting furiously at the Third Hokage's departing figure.

The Third Hokage shook his head slightly and left without hesitation.

There was still much work waiting for him in the Hokage office. He couldn't spend all day arguing with Danzo.

As for Danzo's concerns, the Third Hokage was convinced that even if Tsunade took over, with him around, she wouldn't go out of her way to deal harshly with Danzo.

Of course, that was assuming Danzo didn't stir up trouble.

As for Orochimaru, the Third Hokage could only silently apologize.

Whether or not Tsunade chose to become the Fourth Hokage, he could not entrust Konoha's future to Orochimaru.

Back in the Hokage office, the Third Hokage smoked for a while until the room was thick with smoke before he finally put down his pipe.

"Increase the number of personnel assisting Tsunade from the Anbu. They are to follow her orders-any orders. Also, hand over my official seal to Tsunade.

I need to head to the Daimyo's office immediately for discussions."

The conflict with the Mist Village could be seen as merely a dispute between two villages. But with Sunagakure joining in, it signaled the start of a new Great Ninja War.

The Third Hokage needed to meet with the Daimyo to negotiate funds and resources- everything necessary for war.

Without these, they couldn't sustain a war.

The two or three years of resources they had accumulated simply wouldn't suffice-they needed the Daimyo's full support.

"Good morning, Shikashige-senpai."

Takuya gave a slightly embarrassed smile and nodded respectfully to Nara Shikashige.

Regardless of allegiances, Shikashige was genuinely admirable.

Though his fame didn't match that of Sakumo Hatake, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio never sought

the spotlight.

Nodding back, Shikashige spoke with admiration:

"I heard about your feats on the coastline. You did well. Not many could infiltrate an enemy

village alone and cause such chaos. Only you, Takuya Yagami, could pull it off.

Lady Tsunade chose wisely-you truly are a genius."

""

Come on, that's ancient history, Takuya thought, feeling both amused and exasperated.

"He's the mentor I chose for Kakashi. If he didn't have absolute skill, he wouldn't be up to the

task, right?"

Sakumo chuckled as he added.

You kept refusing, but when Tsunade asked for my help and I set a condition, how could you

turn me down?

"Senpai, you..."

"I'm not cut out for it, so I'm entrusting Kakashi to you."

Straight to the point-it was a fair exchange.

Shikashige smiled knowingly. He'd heard about Takuya's reluctance to take on a student.

Even when the Hokage himself assigned candidates, Takuya only wanted to lead a team, not

mentor.

Sakumo had also turned it down several times.

But this time, there seemed to be no escape.

Tsunade had asked Sakumo to return, and while they hadn't discussed terms or rewards,

Sakumo wasn't just anyone.

Not negotiating didn't mean he didn't want something-after all, appearances mattered.

The public uproar over his retirement required something in return for him to come back.

Having Takuya take Kakashi as a student provided the perfect reason.

I've arranged something for your son; now, it's your turn to help me. Retirement? Not an option. Even if it wasn't for your sake, you'd have to consider your son-

so you have to come back.

"Senpai, you're really putting me in a spot here."

Takuya sighed, looking skyward.

"Haha..."

Sakumo and Shikashige both burst into laughter.