"Shinji, I regret it a little now."
After Hiruzen laughed heartily, he turned his head to look at Shinji and said.
???
Shinji was a little confused for a moment, not understanding what Hiruzen meant by that.
"You were too cautious in the past, which prevented you from appearing before me sooner."
"No, if you weren't cautious, perhaps this situation wouldn't exist now. It can only be said that everything is just right."
Hiruzen said with what seemed like a sigh, and helplessness.
Shinji on the side immediately shivered. No, this challenge can't be passed like this, right?
Again!
Although his internal thoughts were rich, Shinji's expression on the surface was one of confusion, as if he didn't understand what Hiruzen was saying.
Shinji knew clearly that Hiruzen was definitely not a gentle person. Perhaps when dealing with the children of Konoha, he truly acted as an elder to care for them. But for him now, or Shisui, or even Itachi in the future, that would definitely not be the case.
Counting the people he could refer to as having 'Hokage's mindset', how many ended up well?
Although it was also a problem with Shisui and Itachi's thinking, Shinji knew very well that if a person had no value to utilize, Hiruzen would definitely not say so much to him.
He had already demonstrated his value in the previous and recent words. And now, he was waiting for Hiruzen's recognition or arrangement for himself.
Ignoring the confused expression on Shinji's face, Hiruzen continued speaking, "Regarding the compensation for the Uchiha clan and some exchanges of matters, I have made arrangements, but now there is only one last thing missing."
He looked at Shinji, a hint of anticipation actually showing on his aged face.
Uh—
Shinji touched his nose, pointing at himself with some uncertainty and said, "Hokage-sama, the last thing you're talking about wouldn't be me, right?"
"Yes." Hiruzen smiled and nodded.
Gak—!
Shinji's expression became strange.
No... what did he have that was useful to the Uchiha clan?
Seeing that Shinji still didn't understand what he meant, Hiruzen said, "Fugaku's youngest son is in your class, right?"
Shinji blinked, countless thoughts flashing through his mind. Then, he looked at the Hiruzen with some disbelief.
Was he being asked to take Sasuke as a disciple?
"Hokage-sama, you mean you want me to be Sasuke's sensei?"
"That's right."
Hiruzen nodded, his expression serious as he said to Shinji, "However, with your status, you aren't qualified to be the teacher of the Uchiha clan's young master."
Shinji naturally knew that what Hiruzen had said was correct.
For Konoha to mend ties with the Uchiha now, it showed the value of the Uchiha as Konoha's foremost ninja clan. They had begun to gradually regain the status they should have originally held.
And Shinji, as an ordinary teacher, indeed did not have the qualification to take Sasuke as a disciple. This was reality. Even an ordinary Jonin might not have this qualification.
Maybe after the Uchiha Massacre, there would be a possibility, but Shinji doubted it. To be honest, only Kakashi or Hiruzen's disciples throughout Konoha truly had this qualification.
Hmm?
Just as Shinji thought of this, he couldn't help but look at Hiruzen with some surprise.
"However... if it's the Hokage's disciple, they do have this qualification." Hiruzen's lips moved slightly, and he spoke these words that were startling.
Even though Shinji had thought of it himself, he couldn't help but feel his mouth dry at this moment, and he couldn't help but gulp.
"Shinji, be my disciple."
Over the past few months, this was what Shinji had been saying during the system's disciple recruitment.
At this moment, these words were spoken by Hiruzen, this old man who was in the twilight of his years.
Although he had guessed it in his heart, hearing it with his own ears was another matter.
Shinji was in a daze for a long time before quickly responding, "I am willing, sensei."
Having said that, Shinji immediately knelt down towards Hiruzen, performing the disciple's greeting.
Looking at Shinji before him, Hiruzen reached out and patted Shinji's hair. This was the action of an elder towards a junior, and it was also his formal acknowledgment of taking Shinji as a disciple.
— — —
The next day.
Konoha seemed to have been revitalized, even the streets became lively.
The Daimyo had confirmed that the crimes of Danzo, the rogue ninja of Konoha, were unforgivable, and he should be executed. The villagers didn't know who Danzo was, only that the tumor of Konoha had been removed.
Konoha would become even stronger!
Big matters have small meetings, small matters have big meetings, and especially important matters are discussed behind closed doors.
At this moment, a particularly important meeting was being held behind closed doors in the Hokage Office. A meeting about the future survival of the Uchiha clan.
Fugaku, Itachi, and Shisui, the three individuals who were currently the strongest and held power within the Uchiha clan, appeared before Hiruzen.
Hiruzen, clasped his hands on his desk and said with a tone full of emotion, "Fugaku, Konoha's arrangements for the Uchiha have already been decided in the jonin meeting this morning."
Hearing Hiruzen say this, Fugaku had a solemn expression and bowed his head in greeting towards Hiruzen, saying, "Yes, thank you, Hokage-sama, for your leniency towards the Uchiha clan."
In the jonin meeting this morning, Hiruzen had announced a series of arrangements concerning the Uchiha clan.
Danzo was executed.
Koharu and Homura, the two advisors, stepped down and were no longer allowed to participate in Konoha's governance.
The Konoha Council, with the approval of the Fire Daimyo, was officially abolished, and all power was returned to the Hokage.
The Mitokado and Utatane clans each handed over half of their clan territories to the Uchiha clan as new clan territories. The Uchiha clan's original territory was re-planned and incorporated into Konoha's new construction.
The Uchiha's Konoha Military Police Force was renamed the Konoha Police Force, with various Konoha clans participating.
A new deputy representative was added to the Jonin class, to be served by Fugaku.
This was the content of the jonin meeting. It can be said that Hiruzen had made drastic changes this time. Not only did he bid farewell to his old classmates, but he also brought Konoha back to life.
The exchange of power satisfied the various ninja clans of Konoha. In fact, their current view of Hiruzen was even better than their view of the Fourth Hokage in the past. After all, the Fourth Hokage only governed for one year.
The measures proposed by Hiruzen were actually based on what the Fourth Hokage, Minato, was preparing to implement back then.
"Fugaku, this is what Konoha owes the Uchiha." Hiruzen shook his head and smiled.
Hearing this, Fugaku dared not truly accept it. "It was the Uchiha who were too arrogant in the past, and it is you, Hokage-sama, who are magnanimous."
Hiruzen waved his hand, his eyes looking directly at Fugaku before him. "Alright, let everything from today onwards be in the past."
"I want Itachi to become an Anbu Captain and Shisui to become the Hokage Guard Platoon Captain."
Fugaku seemed to have expected this. Without any surprise, he nodded and responded, "This is Hokage-sama's high regard for these two children."
Shisui and Itachi, standing beside Fugaku, immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
(End of Chapter)
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