Chapter 312: Mirror's High Emotional‑Intelligence Statement

I, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang.

Since childhood my dream has been to become the Hokage of Konoha Village, and I have kept moving toward that dream, enduring countless setbacks and hardships, but never once thought of giving up...

At first he regarded Lian Ye's existence as the biggest obstacle to the Hokage Position, but he was wrong; Lian Ye is not interested in the Hokage role and even proactively recommended to Teacher Feijian that he take on the Hokage.

From that moment on, Lian Ye became his best friend!

Because Lian Ye refused to become Hokage, Teacher Feijian could only settle for choosing one of them to inherit the Hokage Position.

And Ri Zhan was his sole competitor!

During the three-year assessment, Tuan Cang was meticulous each day, rigorously and seriously carrying out the evaluation tasks assigned by the teacher, daring not to make even the slightest mistake.

Until today, Teacher Feijian announced that he had passed the assessment, and the three-year evaluation finally ended!

He thought he could naturally become Hokage, but did not expect that Ri Zhan also passed the assessment.

The huge gap was hard for him to accept, but the final outcome was good...

On Lian Ye's suggestion, Teacher Feijian finalized the choice. And he, to his satisfaction, was selected by the teacher and became a Hokage Assistant!

Overall, this moment owes everything to Lian Ye!

When he eventually becomes Hokage, he will never shortchange his benefactor.

Don't think he's just a Hokage Assistant; anyone with eyes knows the teacher is grooming him!

In the future, when Teacher Feijian retires, the position of the Third Hokage belongs to none other than himself.

Before he could even celebrate, the teacher's words, "Hokage Position, the capable may occupy it," made him realize.

He hasn't fully become Hokage yet; currently he's a Quasi-Hokage Heir. If he performs poorly before then, he may miss out on the Hokage Position!

He must not make mistakes; he needs to perform well before the teacher to ensure the teacher can retire with peace of mind.

As for Ri Zhan?

He should simply become his Hokage Assistant!

When he later serves as Hokage, he could be given a Hokage Advisor position, where his opinions on trivial matters could be taken.

"Alright, you may go back now," Qianshou Feijian waved at the three, still needing to handle the documents on the desk.

"By the way, you two will start reporting to the Hokage Office tomorrow," Qianshou Feijian said, looking at Tuan Cang and Ri Zhan; with their help reviewing documents, he could be a bit more relaxed.

"Yes, Teacher!" The two were excited as if injected with adrenaline.

Although Sarutobi Ri Zhan was not chosen by the teacher, he understood the teacher's words.

In other words, as long as his performance surpasses Tuan Cang's, the teacher might reconsider the successor.

Before the teacher fully retires, he still has a chance to become Hokage!

"Hokage Position, the capable may occupy it!"

Lian Ye looked rather speechless at Qianshou Feijian, thinking the old fellow was truly deep‑minded!

No wonder the innately evil Qianshou Feijian, with a small scheme, can mislead his disciple into a dead end; his skill at painting pictures is really something.

Fortunately he isn't interested in the Hokage role; the pitiful Ri Zhan and Tuan Cang can only desperately showcase themselves.

Not even having become Hokage yet, they already have to start the brutal, cut‑throat competitive life.

Don't understand, but respect.

The three left the Hokage Office side by side.

"You two..." Lian Ye began to speak but stopped, sighing helplessly, "Never mind, everyone has their own aspirations."

Each person's pursuit differs; he cannot impose his own thoughts on others.

"Lian Ye, don't go home yet; I'll treat you to a meal," Tuan Cang, in high spirits, unprecedentedly invited Lian Ye to dinner.

"Fine." Lian Ye did not refuse.

"We'll call Mirror, Menyan, and Xiaochun along," Tuan Cang said with a smile.

Now that he's become a Quasi-Hokage Heir, he naturally wants to brag to a few friends.

As the saying goes, wealth does not return home, just like traveling at night in brocade.

Ri Zhan, seeing Tuan Cang's spirited demeanor, showed a complex mix of emotions in his eyes.

Shock, confusion, bewilderment, unwillingness, regret, envy and jealousy intertwined.

Even though he still has a chance to become Hokage, Teacher Feijian's first choice is Tuan Cang, not him.

That is an indisputable fact.

Although his emotions quickly settled, Tuan Cang still noticed.

Tuan Cang couldn't help but show a relieved expression; the scene from the Genjutsu had truly manifested in the real world!

Ri Zhan, seeing this, instinctively clenched his fist.

One day, he will surpass Tuan Cang, earn the teacher's approval, and naturally become Hokage!

Lian Ye quietly glanced at the ambitious Tuan Cang and the sullen Ri Zhan; their scripts seemed swapped.

Ri Zhan can't go down the darkening path, can he?

From now on, regular psychological counseling for the two will be necessary.

Sure enough, the Konoha Village ninjas are a bunch of troubled children.

Looks like a child psychology course needs to be introduced at the Ninja School.

Little does anyone know, Lian Ye's own psychological issues are the most severe...

He just hasn't realized it.

Lian Ye's hotel business.

"Congratulations on your promotions!" Uchiha Jing raised his glass and sincerely offered blessings to the two.

One must say, Mirror's emotional intelligence is spot‑on—he offered blessings without offending anyone.

"Congratulations, congratulations!" Zhuan Qin Xiaochun and Shuihu Menyan quickly echoed.

"Hahaha, thank you everyone." Tuan Cang replied with a flushed face, saying today was the happiest day of his life!

In contrast, Ri Zhan forced a smile and drank his sour wine by himself.

The three of them didn't know how to offer words of comfort.

There is only one Hokage position; whoever becomes Hokage, the other will feel sad.

"If you can't be the Third Hokage, you could be Yondaime," Tuan Cang patted Ri Zhan's shoulder.

After all, that's what he thought back then—if you can't be the Third Hokage, you could run for Yondaime, the Fifth Hokage, or even the Sixth Hokage!

It was just his luck; Teacher Feijian had taken notice of him.

If Ri Zhan wants to become Hokage, he would serve only thirty years, then step down and let Ri Zhan run for the Yondaime position.

Ri Zhan is now 23 years old; thirty years later he'll be only 53…

Serving another ten or so years as Hokage is absolutely no problem!

If Ri Zhan weren't his friend, he could never have been Hokage for thirty years!

"Hahaha, Tuan Cang is right," Uchiha Jing said with a laugh, smoothing things over, "There will be plenty of opportunities later."

Upon hearing that, Ri Zhan's depressive mood vanished, and he smiled, "Hahaha, what you say makes sense."

"However," he turned his words, "there's still a chance to compete before Teacher Feijian retires!"

"Hmph, bring it on." Tuan Cang raised his cup, "Ri Zhan, I am the Third Hokage!"

"Let's wait and see," Ri Zhan said with a smile, clinking cups with Tuan Cang.

The two drained their cups in one gulp and, simultaneously, broke into smiles.

Their friendship seemed not to have cracked over the Hokage matter.

Lian Ye silently watched the two laughing and chatting.

He hoped the thing he worried about wouldn't happen…

…

…

ps: Everyone, I failed to apply for overtime with the boss and ended up getting a half‑day vacation; I'm so troubled, Ying—Ying—Ying…