Night
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched as the Senju ninja filed out of the reception hall one by one.
The vast hall quickly became empty, and the sudden quiet made him deeply uncomfortable. The faint chirping of crickets echoed in his ears, stirring an inexplicable unease in his heart.
Just moments ago, Uzumaki Mito had dismissed everyone present.
Now, only the two of them remained.
Hiruzen carefully observed Mito's expression. Her face was calm—there was no trace of anger at all. It was as though her earlier fury had been nothing more than an act.
"Lady Mito… about my earlier outburst—please don't take it to heart. I was just—"
After some thought, Hiruzen decided he should say something, if only to salvage his image in her eyes.
"Enough. Sit," Mito said, waving a hand to interrupt him. "I know what you're trying to say."
Hiruzen obeyed, moving to a nearby stool and sitting down—but only halfway, perching on the edge. He still couldn't read Mito's intentions and was prepared to stand again at a moment's notice.
Seeing his stiff, uneasy posture, Mito couldn't help but feel amused. Her expression softened, and that familiar, kindly smile returned to her face.
"Monkey brat," she said lightly, "your performance earlier made me see you in a new light. You're not as ordinary as I thought. You've got… something a bit beyond the norm."
She looked at his nervous expression as she spoke.
In her long life, Mito had seen countless geniuses blessed by heaven.
Her husband, Senju Hashirama.
Her brother-in-law, Senju Tobirama.
The Uchiha legends—Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna.
They were the brightest figures of an era.
Compared to them, Hiruzen's talent was as unremarkable as a stone by the roadside—easy to overlook, nothing eye-catching.
Still… his character wasn't bad.
Tobirama had taught him well. At the very least, he had inherited the Will of Fire.
"You flatter me, Lady Mito," Hiruzen said humbly. "I only did what I thought was right."
At this moment, Mito no longer resembled the terrifying figure who seemed ready to devour someone whole. She looked like a gentle grandmother next door, and Hiruzen felt his tension ease.
"There's no need to be so modest," Mito replied. "Among your generation, you are indeed outstanding. But tell me—do you truly think you're worthy of the Hokage's seat?"
Her question instantly extinguished the spark that had just been lit in Hiruzen's heart.
Am I worthy?
He wanted to say yes.
Becoming Hokage had been his dream since the day he became a shinobi—a lifelong ambition that had never wavered, even in the face of death.
But reality was cruel.
He wasn't worthy.
"I'll do everything in my power to become a Hokage who deserves that title," Hiruzen answered instead.
Admitting outright that he wasn't worthy—that was something he simply couldn't bring himself to say.
"Hmph. At least you have some self-awareness."
Mito stood up and turned her gaze to the Konoha emblem hanging on the wall. Her eyes grew distant and profound.
"In Konoha, there are many more suitable candidates for Third Hokage than you. For example—me. Or my son, Senju Taomu."
"Even Uchiha Kagami, whom we just discussed, is more suited than you."
"With overwhelming strength to suppress all opposition, a prestigious lineage, and the backing of a powerful clan—these are things you don't possess. Not a single one."
"I've thought about it for a long time, yet I still can't understand why Tobirama passed the Hokage's seat to you. That bastard really left me with nothing but trouble even at death—just like his brother Hashirama, that dead fool."
"I always thought he was the one who caused me the least worry…"
Mito muttered on to herself, her voice aged and weary, lost in memories of the past.
Now, the burden of protecting Konoha rested squarely on her shoulders—so heavy it nearly stole her breath.
Hiruzen sat there in silence, not daring to utter a word.
She'd just insulted two Hokage in one breath.
This was not a conversation he was qualified to interrupt.
"Even though I can't understand Tobirama's choice, I'll still help you," Mito said at last, turning back to him. "Because that was his dying wish."
"I hope I'm wrong about you—that there's something extraordinary in you that I haven't yet seen."
Her words made Hiruzen's heart pound violently. Joy spilled across his face.
"Lady Mito, I won't disappoint you."
"Don't celebrate too early," she replied coolly. "I said I'd help you—not that I'd definitely make you Hokage."
"You're still far from possessing what it takes to stand at the top of Konoha."
Hiruzen nodded.
He knew his own limits well enough. He wasn't delusional.
Still, things were already far better than he'd hoped. Mito's willingness to help him felt like the greatest mercy heaven could grant.
"My original plan was to conceal Tobirama's death," Mito continued, "then suppress the clans and settle everything before revealing the truth."
"But unfortunately… the Uchiha can never be allowed to lower one's guard."
"Tobirama's death has already spread throughout Konoha. And the story of you abandoning him and fleeing back to the village—well, that's become common knowledge too."
"At this point, I can't even imagine how ruined your reputations will be."
"Lady Mito, we—we didn't abandon Lord Tobirama on purpose. That was—"
Hiruzen stood up instinctively, trying to explain.
On the battlefield, shinobi obey orders—even when those orders went against their own duties.
And this had been the Hokage's command. None of them had the right to defy Senju Tobirama.
Mito raised a hand, signaling him to calm down.
"I know. There's no need to explain."
"Tobirama was always decisive. On the battlefield especially, his word was law. Once he made a decision, you could only follow it."
"But villagers won't understand that," she continued calmly. "Especially with the Uchiha guiding the narrative behind the scenes. You should prepare yourself."
Mito was offering guidance.
There was a way to handle this.
The Hokage sacrificing himself to embody the Will of Fire—protecting the young leaves of Konoha.
Coupled with Tobirama's final will, it could just barely salvage Hiruzen's reputation.
With careful maneuvering, the damage could be mitigated.
After all, the opinions of powerless civilians couldn't decide who became Hokage.
That power lay in the hands of Konoha's shinobi clans.
"I understand, Lady Mito," Hiruzen said sincerely.
His voice was filled with gratitude.
Without her support, the villagers' scorn alone would have drowned him—let alone his chances of ever becoming Hokage.
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