Chapter 72: Hiashi Is Too Soft
There's an old saying: minor issues call for big meetings, major issues call for small meetings, and truly critical issues call for no meeting at all.
For the Third Hokage to summon the handful of them to Naruto's home for such a secret talk, the weight of the topic was obvious.
Has the Third Hokage… finally resolved to make a real change?
Beside him, Akimichi Choza took one look at the tangled situation, decisively abandoned thinking, and left the headache of weighing pros and cons to his old friend Nara Shikaku; he'd simply supply muscle when needed.
After a brief silence to digest, Nara Shikaku lifted his head, fixed the Third Hokage with a sharp gaze, and asked in a low voice, "So, Lord Third, what exactly do you mean?"
The Third Hokage drew a deep breath, as though steeling himself, and slowly voiced his plan: "I intend… in a while, to bring that brat Jiraiya back and have him succeed as the Fifth Hokage."
He paused, swept his eyes across Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, and Hiashi, and spoke with a tone of entrustment: "Once he takes office, tell Naruto the whole truth about his parentage and all the grievances he's endured these years."
Let him, as the Fifth Hokage, officially clear Naruto's name."
At this point a struggle and helplessness flashed in the Third's eyes, but they finally hardened into resolve: "As for the reason behind it all… lay every ounce of blame on—on Shimura Danzo!"
A man lives for his reputation, a tree lives for its bark.
In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen still could not bear to let the lifetime title of "Hokage" be stained; he could not openly shoulder the greatest blot himself.
He had already cleaned up after Danzo countless times; what was wrong with letting the man finally admit what he had done?
He even looked further ahead: "After I formally abdicate… I'll 'take' Danzo, along with Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, with me."
Gazing out at the Village, he spoke with relief and a trace of sorrow: "We obstinate old relics should step off the stage; we mustn't remain fetters in the path of the young."
The Third Hokage's intent was for Jiraiya to take Naruto as a disciple.
Naruto already showed the makings of a Hokage and possessed a rich, unwavering will of fire.
The Third recalled an earlier moment.
Naruto, eyes glistening with tears, had told him he wanted to learn Sealing Techniques.
"Grandpa Third! I want to learn Sealing Techniques… at least before I die, that demon fox will never rampage again!"
Naruto truly is a good child!
With such resolve, he will surely become an outstanding Hokage one day.
A Jinchuriki Hokage—no need to worry about the Jinchuriki problem any longer.
Given Naruto's love for the Village, he would definitely find a suitable successor and reseal the Nine-Tails before his own death.
All four seemed infected by the Third Hokage's sorrow; they hung their heads and said nothing.
"All right, let's eat and drink!"
The Third suddenly rallied, raising his chopsticks.
But after two bites he looked up again, as if casually asking, "On second thought, Jiraiya's a bit unstable. In your view… Jiraiya or Tsunade—who would make the better Hokage?"
The four, chopsticks half-raised, froze in unison.
Come on, we're starving; could we have a couple of bites first?
They exchanged glances; three pairs of eyes landed on Shikaku.
Shikaku… cleared his throat and chose his words carefully: "Both lords have equal merit and fame; both are legendary Sannin renowned across the Ninja World… As to who's more suitable, their teacher—you—would know better than we."
In truth, if the Village weren't caught between generations, he wouldn't pick either.
Jiraiya peeps at women's baths and even wrote that make-out tactics book.
Tsunade loses every bet, drinks like a fish, and suffers hemophobia.
Neither can fight nor fully use her famed medical Ninjutsu.
If the former takes office, Hokage dignity might hit rock bottom;
if the latter becomes Hokage, the whole Village could end up pawned to a casino.
Hiashi and Inoichi exchanged glances, identical worry in their eyes.
The choice felt like asking whether you'd rather have your eyebrows on fire or your knees submerged.
The Third read their expressions and gave a wry smile.
How could he not know his disciples' flaws?
But who else in Konoha could shoulder such overwhelming responsibility?
The Third Hokage lifted his cup, took a sip, and the clear sake swirled, reflecting his tired eyes.
"That brat Jiraiya…"
He gave a bitter chuckle.
"Actually he's extremely clever—just not serious.
All day he cites Mount Myōboku's prophecy, claims he must find the Child of Prophecy, and flatly refuses the post."
Tsunade won't even return to the Village."
The four lowered their eyes, none daring to answer.
Helpless silence filled the air.
The Third's gaze drifted out the window, his voice heavy with years: "Looking back, if Sakumo Hatake had succeeded as the Fourth, then Minato Namikaze the Fifth—what a perfect line of succession… what a pity."
He paused, fingertips unconsciously circling the cup's rim: "After Sakumo took his own life, Minato stepped in early as the Fourth.
Still, he was young and able—he could have led Konoha for decades… who could have foreseen the Nine-Tails calamity?"
The Old Man's voice caught; he tossed back the wine as though to swallow the bitterness with it.
The table sank into deeper silence.
Each of them remembered that night when the Fourth and his wife gave their lives and the Village nearly perished.
"Konoha nowadays…"
The Third's long sigh carried the entire Village's weight.
"The old generation is too old, the young haven't matured. We're caught in the middle, and the mid-tier is mediocre… yet this Old Man must cling to the post."
The Third Hokage is too aged, the new geniuses too young.
His gaze swept the four again, eyes cloudy yet sharp: "But the will of fire must never die. However hard the road, we must find the one who can bear the future."
Outside, Konoha's lights came on one by one, echoing the Village's unyielding vitality.
Shikaku and Inoichi simultaneously turned to look at Hiashi.
Choza, stealthily stuffing a taro dumpling made by Naruto into his mouth, sensed his friends' gaze and also turned, forgetting to chew.
The Third Hokage set down his chopsticks; his aged yet piercing eyes likewise settled on Hiashi.
Suddenly the center of attention, Hiashi: "???"
He sat ramrod-straight, maintaining the dignified bearing befitting the Hyuga Clan head, while inner turmoil surged.
Why are they all looking at me?
If one sought the finest of the Fourth's generation after the Fourth himself, it would be Hiashi—surpassing the Ino–Shika–Chō trio in both strength and Village prestige.
The Third sighed.
Hiashi won't do—he's too soft.
At the end of the Third War, envoys from the Land of Lightning abducted Hinata; Hiashi killed the kidnapper.
Back then the Third Hokage told the Lightning delegates: if they wanted war they could have it—don't blame the victim.
Yet the Hyuga promptly delivered Hizashi's corpse to appease them.
Konoha cannot fall into Hiashi's hands—far too soft.
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