Chapter 30: I Am the Hokage! (Please Follow)

Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage of towering trees, leaving dappled shadows on the ground.

Within those shadows, Yuzhi's figure darted by; by now he had already left Leaf Village!

"That old man's efficiency isn't bad at all."

As he hurried, Yuzhi couldn't help but think that he had mentioned this to Uzhibo ChaNa yesterday.

As a result, that afternoon he ordered someone to negotiate with the Hokage and secured the mission, so today Yuzhi could be dispatched.

Although missions technically don't need to bother the Hokage, Leaf Village's resource management is actually fairly adequate.

The Mission Department exists precisely to handle task allocation, but Third Generation Sarutobi Ri Zhan tends to like keeping everything in his own hands.

Moreover, this mission already aligns with Uzhibo ChaNa's own ideas, namely Shisui Uchiha.

Shisui Uchiha is also a super genius of the Uchiha Clan, but he's from the "next door" family.

Though he's several years younger than Yuzhi, he already possesses the Three Tomoe Sharingan!

Such talent, especially one who could be a "rival," would surely pique Uzhibo ChaNa's curiosity.

"So, you tell me to go, and I have to abandon my own affairs and go immediately?"

For Yuzhi, meeting Shisui Uchiha isn't something unacceptable.

As for Obito and Itachi Uchiha, one is selfish to the extreme, the other arrogant to the extreme, both lacking any logic.

Yuzhi's impression of them is a three‑point diagnosis—cannot be saved, just wait to die, farewell.

And Shisui Uchiha, though also a turncoat, isn't a complete one.

In his grand yet unaccomplished life, if there is any memorable trait,

it is that when firmness is needed he rushes like a torrent, and when softness is required he never becomes overly rigid.

Besides his occasional mental lapses at critical moments, this guy still cares about his clan.

Unlike Itachi Uchiha, whose heart hardens and blade swings without remorse, sparing only his beloved younger brother while erasing everyone else regardless of age or fault.

"So, although this guy is a turncoat and rather cowardly, he's still a person after all."

He thinks that way, but he still needs to meet the person in person to know for sure.

Yet he has no time for that now; after all, his top priority is to go to Autumn Moon Valley and dig graves. —

Inside Leaf Village, the Hokage's office.

Smoke curled as Third Generation Sarutobi Ri Zhan idly puffed his pipe, staring at the documents in his hands.

This is the Peace Accord he just drafted; he hasn't shown it to anyone yet.

Yet he knows that once this paper is released, it will cause a huge stir.

Like the original story, he plans to acknowledge that Rock Village's military actions were to protect its own interests, and to forgo demanding reparations for the Rock Village war!

In his view, Leaf Village really can't hold on any longer.

Although Northern Cloud Village has paused its large‑scale offensive, they have no intention of negotiating with Leaf Village.

Though Rock Village was defeated and must still guard against Cloud Village, he does not dare underestimate their war potential.

Leaf Village's own losses are also massive; even though there is still considerable war potential to tap, he prefers to exit through peaceful means.

"And letting Rock Village and Cloud Village clash is the better choice."

Sarutobi Ri Zhan murmured, abandoning the spoils a victor would normally claim; his purpose was crystal clear.

Preserve Rock Village's vitality so it can continue to deadlock with Cloud Village!

Unfortunately, these motives cannot be spoken aloud; he has already prepared to bear the accountability after this peace talk ends.

"The most urgent thing now is to achieve peace with Rock Village."

Looking at the documents, Sarutobi Ri Zhan resolved himself completely.

After all, the succession queue is all family, so the policy can stay unchanged!

Knock, knock, knock—

Just as Sarutobi Ri Zhan made up his mind, the office door was suddenly knocked.

"Come in."

Sarutobi Ri Zhan frowned, calmly tucked the paper away, and then spoke.

"Ri Zhan."

The door swung open quickly; Tuan Zang entered with a composed face, skipping the small talk and getting straight to the point.

"Why did you let that Uchiha brat leave Leaf Village?"

"Yuzhi?"

Sarutobi Ri Zhan frowned again; he instantly understood Tuan Zang's meaning, but he answered evasively.

"Leaf Village is under heavy manpower pressure now; he is willing to take on simple tasks, which is naturally a good thing."

"Ri Zhan, you know I'm not talking about that."

Seeing Sarutobi Ri Zhan wade through the mud, Tuan Zang's face turned unusually displeased.

"Don't claim ignorance about that brat's contact with Kushina!"

"I am fully aware of his contact with Kushina, and I've already looked into the matter."

Sarutobi Ri Zhan, observing Tuan Zang's demeanor, felt some inner dissatisfaction, yet he also knew Tuan Zang acted for Leaf Village.

Having lived through Madara Uchiha's rebellion, they could not forget the brutal Nine‑Tails being easily controlled by the Sharingan.

Yet in his eyes, Yuzhi and Madara Uchiha are incomparable, though he won't blame Tuan Zang for that.

"Kushina told me Yuzhi came because of the Seal Technique, and this was Minato's request."

"Also, Obito and Kushina have a good relationship."

"Kushina has always treated Obito as a younger brother; don't forget that."

"Don't be so far‑fetched, Ri Zhan."

Danzo let out a cold snort, and his tone grew somewhat hard.

"A member of the Uchiha Clan interested in the Seal Technique is nothing short of a pipe dream."

Even if he truly is interested, don't forget that the kid belongs to Uzhibo ChaNa.

Uchiha Obito certainly has potential, but before this no one discovered it, and he hasn't developed it either.

Most importantly, he's already dead, and there's no Uzhibo ChaNa left after him.

Hiruzen, the Nine-Tails matter cannot tolerate any carelessness!

The current Danzo hasn't yet been battered from all sides, and his attitude remains very tough.

Perhaps only after enduring his roots being shattered by Nagato, the assassination of the Third Hokage being backstabbed by Kakashi, and finally being surrounded by the ANBU and forcibly taken away with Kou.

Only then would he show respect toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, rather than treating him now as a mere rival.

He has always thought that he was only slow to speak, which allowed his old friend to become the Third Hokage.

"Danzo, I know your good intentions, and I also know your concerns."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Danzo, and after taking a drag of his cigarette, even though his inner dissatisfaction rose, he still patiently said.

"But Yuzhi has earned Minato's trust, and his performance has no issues."

Now Leaf Village is in a critical period; we need to unite everything and act uniformly outward.

Moreover, don't forget that the child is Leaf Village's hero.

"Isn't that because you elevated him so highly?"

Danzo didn't concede; he knew Sarutobi Hiruzen was right, yet he didn't think he was wrong.

"Even though he has some achievements, this time he has overstepped."

I stand by my opinion; we must bring him back for convenient observation.

If necessary, we also need to conduct an investigation.

"If internal problems cannot be solved, how could we be at ease and act uniformly outward?"

"Enough, Danzo, you've now overstepped!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen at this point could no longer hold back; he didn't want to continue arguing with Danzo.

He was fully aware that their personalities were actually very similar—

Both believed they alone were correct, and only they could lead Leaf Village to success.

Only Danzo, though tough, while Sarutobi Hiruzen still remains that renowned ninja of the shinobi world!

"Leaf Village lacks people, the war hasn't fully ended, we need to maintain unity, just as before; you go back."

"You"

Danzo was taken aback by Sarutobi Hiruzen's words; seeing his old friend's unmistakable expression, he knew the friend had already made up his mind.

"Hmph, Hiruzen, you will regret this sooner or later!"

"That will be a later matter; the urgent priority is to end the war."

Sarutobi Hiruzen coldly stared at Danzo, and after taking a drag, said at an unhurried pace.

"Don't forget, I am the Hokage!"

A newbie kneels, begging for a reread; now a reread will determine everything about a book, raising a book is easy but can also kill it.

Thanks to all the big brothers, Onz.

(End of chapter)