Chapter 58 The Tired Third Hokage
"Third Hokage-sama."
After Uchiha启 entered the Hokage Office, he bowed respectfully and honestly to the middle-aged man sitting at the desk.
Although he was called a middle-aged man, he was already at the very end of middle age. Perhaps in a few more years, he would enter the 'elderly' stage?
However, even so, the Third Hokage's strength was still terrifying. Even as he sat there, Uchiha启 could feel a sense of deterrence.
"Ah, it's Ke." The Third Hokage was originally looking at some documents. When he saw Uchiha启 enter, he quickly smiled and said, "I'm very sorry, I've been too busy recently and haven't had a chance to see you. I've wanted to see you for a long time."
The Third Hokage's attitude was very gentle, seemingly completely devoid of any indication that he was once a decisive Ninja hero. He gave off a feeling akin to Minato Namikaze, like a refreshing breeze.
If Uchiha启 hadn't read the original story, he might have truly been fooled, or rather, if he hadn't known about the relationship between the Third Hokage and Danzo, and Danzo's character, he probably would have been fooled.
However, no matter what, the Third Hokage was still the Hokage, and Uchiha启 was just a Chunin. Their statuses were worlds apart.
"Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sama." Uchiha启 was very honest and respectful: "Serving Konoha is what every Konoha Ninja should do."
"Serving Konoha?" The Third Hokage frowned slightly, but quickly he smiled.
He felt he was overthinking things. How much could a kid think about? And what this kid said was also true; he did what a Konoha Ninja should do.
Perhaps it was due to his increasing age and the recent multitude of vexing matters, causing him to constantly magnify small issues infinitely.
The Third Hokage was no longer that energetic young man. He also had to accept the fact that he was gradually growing old. He himself could feel that his energy was completely insufficient.
"Hokage-sama, may I ask why you summoned me?" Uchiha启 didn't know what the Third Hokage was thinking, and even if he did, he wouldn't care, because Uchiha启 said it on purpose.
"It's like this, because of your performance on the battlefield, we've made some decisions." The Third Hokage composed himself and said with a gentle expression.
Just looking at this kid in front of him, the Third Hokage's heart was also filled with emotion. This kid really accomplished a series of incredible things!
While ensuring the mission, he also saved many Konoha Ninja. Although only Yamanaka Masato returned alive among those Konoha Ninja in the end, their retaliatory activities behind the Iwa Ninja lines could be said to be exceptionally successful!
To some extent, this was even more outstanding than the orders issued by the Third Hokage. Even if only Yamanaka Masato returned in the end, in the Third Hokage's mind, this one person was enough!
This kid caused such a big stir, successfully completed his own mission, and also joined the Namikaze Squad, which had suffered casualties, to complete this mission that could end the war.
Even though this kid was only thirteen, his calm judgment on the battlefield, his ability to single-handedly kill a Jonin, and the existence of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan made the Third Hokage decide to promote him.
"From today onwards, you are a Konoha Jonin." The Third Hokage said kindly to Uchiha启: "Congratulations, Ke, you just need to fill out this form."
"Is that so? No exam needed?" Uchiha启 took the form with some confusion, looking at the responsibilities and duties of a Jonin printed on it, as well as the related benefits of a Jonin, and couldn't help but ask curiously.
Jonin truly transcended the realm of low-ranking Ninja; one could say that Jonin was the threshold to accessing Konoha's core.
However, crossing this threshold was extremely difficult. The Uchiha Clan still had quite a few Jonin, but perhaps only Uchiha Kagami, who had long since died, truly entered the core threshold.
As for how Uchiha Kagami died, it remained a mystery. Uchiha启 didn't know and couldn't guess. No one could say whether anything was hidden within this.
"Yes, you have the qualifications." The Third Hokage nodded. He stood up and looked at Uchiha启 in front of him: "Thank you for everything you've done for Konoha. You are Konoha's hero!"
"Hokage-sama, I am unworthy." Uchiha启 felt a wave of nausea internally upon hearing this, but he maintained a calm and composed demeanor on the surface, saying, "Because I am a Konoha Ninja. Without Konoha, there would naturally be no Uchiha启."
Speaking to people in their language and to ghosts in theirs, Uchiha启 was very skilled at it.
"Oh?" The Third Hokage's eyes flickered, and soon he showed an even gentler expression: "I understand, child. You seem to have something else to do, don't you? It's been almost a month since you returned to Konoha, and you haven't really left the Uchiha Clan compound."
"Indeed, there's still something. I was injured before and needed to recuperate. Now that I've recovered, I naturally have to go see my teammates, and Kakashi." Speaking of his teammates, Uchiha启 seemed to naturally show a slight smile.
Seeing this, the Third Hokage immediately signaled for Uchiha启 to hurry. Uchiha启 did not linger too long. After hastily filling out the documents the Third Hokage gave him, he directly left the Hokage's office.
Uchiha启 merely glanced at the towering building and the Hokage Rock behind it, and a cold sneer once again rose in his heart.
Sure enough, they really treated him as 'Uchiha Shisui'.
On the other side, the Third Hokage's benevolent smile gradually faded. Looking at Uchiha启's departing back, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Uchiha启's answer seemed a little too perfect, and Uchiha启's performance was exceptionally perfect.
He looked exactly like an Uchiha Ninja who 'suffered grievances but was loyal to Konoha and loved his teammates.' The Third Hokage knew what Uchiha's love was like; it might manifest towards family or friends.
Clearly, Uchiha启 probably valued his teammates greatly, and strictly speaking, Uchiha启's mission was indeed 'suffering grievances.'
Because Uchiha启's mission was essentially a suicide mission, it was reasonable for Uchiha启 to harbor some resentment. But given how calm Uchiha启 was, he probably understood, right?
What the Third Hokage couldn't understand, however, was why Uchiha启 would suddenly have such affection for his current teammates?
He lost so many teammates, yet he himself was still alive. This was something the Third Hokage couldn't quite grasp.
"Perhaps his previous teammates all died, and this time his teammates all survived?" The Third Hokage pondered over and over and finally came up with a barely plausible explanation: "Further contact and observation. I hope he can become a useful one."
The Third Hokage shook his head. If it were before, he would never have trusted an Uchiha so easily, but now...
Orochimaru's matter was giving him a splitting headache, especially some of the Anbu's investigation results which had made him unable to attend to too many things.
The Uchiha Clan's problem, the negotiations after the Ninja War, and Orochimaru's matter—three things weighed heavily on him, making him feel truly old.
He felt that he really should find a vigorous young man to be the public face.