Chapter 48: Relax, It's Just a Casual Chat
As long as war exists, there will always be those who continue to sacrifice themselves.
This sentence echoed repeatedly in Uchiha Obito's mind like an incantation.
He had never thought about such things before, nor had he considered anything this far ahead.
At this moment, he turned his head blankly to look at Uchiha Madara.
Madara continued, "You, your friends, and your comrades—there will be countless others like you who will lose their loved ones or even their own lives because of war."
"But… but…"
The young Uchiha Obito couldn't see through Madara's tactics at all.
Madara's words had shaken him, leaving him feeling utterly lost.
"But even if war continues, I still have to save my comrade!"
"That's Rin—she is my…"
Obito trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
Madara silently observed him, taking in every reaction.
He had already suspected this boy's feelings toward that girl, and now his suspicions were confirmed.
At that moment, a plan targeting the young Uchiha in front of him took shape in his mind.
"If you want to leave, then focus on recovering from your injuries first."
"When you can move freely again, you will naturally be allowed to go."
With that, Uchiha Madara turned and disappeared into the darkness.
—
Meanwhile, Namikaze Minato was escorting Sarutobi Hiruzen out of Konohagakure, heading toward the Land of Fire's capital to meet the daimyo.
On one hand, this was to participate in the peace talks between the Five Great Nations—negotiations meant to bring a complete and final end to the long war that had caused immense losses to all sides.
On the other hand, it was a duty to report to the daimyo.
Although Konohagakure was powerful, its economy relied heavily on the financial support of the Land of Fire's daimyo.
In fact, all ninja villages were in a similar situation.
Without funding from the daimyo's government, not only would the smaller villages struggle to function, but even Konoha would be unable to sustain itself.
Thus, in theory, even the Hokage had to answer to the daimyo of the Land of Fire.
The daimyo even had the authority to appoint the Hokage.
This was one of the key reasons Sarutobi Hiruzen was bringing Namikaze Minato along to meet the daimyo.
As they walked side by side, Hiruzen suddenly spoke.
"Years of war have severely impacted every aspect of Konohagakure. The village is in shambles and in desperate need of rebuilding. Minato, where do you think we should start to restore the village's strength as quickly as possible?"
Caught off guard, Namikaze Minato paused for a moment before furrowing his brows in thought. Then, without hesitation, he answered:
"Now that the war is over, we can start by easing some of the village's restrictions and encouraging more merchants to come to Konoha for business. This will help stimulate economic recovery and growth."
"At the same time, we must properly handle the aftermath for the ninjas who were wounded or lost their lives. Only by addressing these concerns can we reassure the hearts of those who have begun to waver."
"Additionally, we need to encourage childbirth and expand the ninja academy so that more children can receive proper ninja education. This will ensure a steady influx of fresh blood into our ranks…"
Minato laid out several proposals, all of which had been carefully considered.
He spoke not only from his own perspective but also from the standpoint of someone who could one day be responsible for Konoha, thinking about what was truly necessary to help the village recover.
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction after listening to his response.
"What about the relationship between the village and the various clans?"
Hiruzen suddenly asked.
This was a much more sensitive topic.
Hearing the question, Minato's thoughts immediately turned to the Uchiha.
Among all the prestigious clans in Konoha, the one that the village feared and guarded against the most was undoubtedly the Uchiha.
Not only were they one of the strongest noble ninja clans in Konoha, but they also seemed to possess a certain level of ambition.
Because of this, Konoha had continuously increased its surveillance and control over them over the years.
"So is Lord Third trying to hint at something?"
Minato quickly regained his composure, his mind racing through countless possibilities.
He promptly responded, "Protecting Konoha and ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens in a stable and peaceful environment is the duty of every Konoha ninja."
"At the same time, it is also the responsibility of every ninja clan that has taken root in Konoha and calls this land their home."
"Hahahaha…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly burst into laughter before lightly patting Minato's shoulder.
"It seems Jiraiya has taught you well, Minato. But relax—you don't have to be so serious."
"This is just a casual chat."
"Yes, Lord Third."
Minato still maintained his disciplined demeanor.
But deep down, how could he not recognize the deeper meaning behind Hiruzen's questions?
Bringing him to the daimyo's capital and allowing him to participate in the peace talks among the Five Great Nations—
This wasn't just an opportunity to learn. It was also a chance to gain exposure before the leaders of other nations and, more importantly, in front of the Land of Fire's daimyo.
At that moment, Minato couldn't help but recall the bet he had made with Uchiha Dali.
"Could it be… he was right all along? Is Lord Third actually considering me as the next Hokage?"
A bold thought surfaced in Minato's mind.
Just then, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly asked, "Jiraiya once told me that, since childhood, your dream has always been to become Hokage. But Minato, do you truly understand what it means for a ninja to bear the title of Hokage?"
Hearing this question, Minato immediately perked up.
He had aspired to become Hokage since he was a child, and he had thought deeply about this question—and many related ones—countless times.
This time, he answered without hesitation:
"The title of Hokage represents responsibility."
"A Kage is not only the strongest ninja of their village but also the one who holds the greatest prestige and best represents the interests of all its people."
"To protect the village and its citizens, they must be willing to sacrifice themselves if necessary."
"Therefore, to become a Kage, one must first be a great and selfless person. Personal character comes first—only then do strength and leadership abilities matter."
Minato's earnest response once again resonated deeply with Hiruzen.
Jiraiya's student—his own student's disciple—was, in many ways, like a grandson to him.
And both in terms of personal connection and through this conversation, Minato was proving himself to be exactly the successor he had been searching for.
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