Chapter 628: Interest
"We should not be rushing now. Everyone is tired. Let''s rest right here for three hours; then, we will return to Konoha with renewed spirits. Show them the triumph in your return!"
Minato''s voice was strong and determined, and he was ready to contest for the position of Hokage. These ninjas were the foundation of his pursuit of the role.
He wasn''t sure how many among them still supported others.
Even so.
He believed he could convert these people into his subordinates using his powerful personal charisma, so he cared for them as if they were his subordinates already.
Minato was aware. He was passionate and kind, like the sun, shining his light on those around him and bringing them warmth. However, he knew the world was moreplex than it seemed. Bing a Hokage was not as straightforward as just talking about it.
Previously, Minato thought the role of Hokage was passed down through generations; that by doing well, one could be the Hokage. However, as he set his goal to be a Hokage and studied the session of past Hokages, he realized it was moreplex. There were factions within the Hokages, and he needed rification on which faction he should belong.
Because of this, he felt he needed a solid foundation. He had viewed some records of the First Hokage in the Hokage office archives, which he had ess to.
About six months ago, he aspired to be the strongest Hokage, aware that the current strongest was Senju Hashirama, the First Hokage!Minato reviewed records of Hashirama bing the First Hokage. He understood that Hashirama and Madara founded Konoha together, which could be said to have been established by the Senju and Uchiha ns. These two ns had been at odds for many years, so selecting the First Hokage, whose n''s leader became Hokage, was crucial for their internal development.
There are no detailed records on the archive.
However, Minato discovered that Hashirama initially advocated for Madara to be the Hokage. Yet, he did not know what made Madara leave Konoha and be an enemy, even returningter to duel with Hashirama.
During that duel, Madara died, and soon after, Hashirama also passed away, marking the end of a legendary era.
These revtions made Minato keenly aware that the position of Hokage might be moreplex than the records suggested. There seemed to be hidden struggles; otherwise, based on Hashirama''s support, Madara should have be Hokage!
This story made Minato realize a phrase—Long nights bring many dreams.
He even put himself in Madara''s shoes, thinking about their joint foundation of Konoha and how Hashirama had supported him in bing the First Hokage. In that situation, he should have be Hokage, and he couldn''t figure out why Madara ultimately gave up the position or, rather… was forsaken.
When Minato first learned of these events, he felt something amiss, but he couldn''t unravel the mystery, which, perhaps, might never be resolved. However, he could take it as a lesson that the position of Hokage, unless truly attained, could copse at any moment, like a castle in the sky.
Looking back to the Second Hokage, the position was smoothly passed to Hashirama''s brother, Tobirama.
There were nearly nopetitors or elections involved; before Hashirama''sst days, he had already passed the role to Tobirama, who had essentially been the decision-maker in Konoha, even needing Hashirama''s approval for decisions.
This added unprecedented pressure on Minato.
Before he set his own goal, he hadn''t considered these issues much, simply epting the seamless transition from Hashirama to Tobirama as natural.
However, now cing himself in that era, he realized that any ninja aspiring to be Hokage ultimately faced a hopeless end.
No matter their efforts!
No matter their contributions!
No matter how great a ninja they could be!
Konoha''s Second Hokage had already been determined after Hashirama''s reign!
Simply put...
All their dreams were illusory!
Their dreams couldn''t be realized!
In Hokage''s position, with the right connections and factions, there was a qualification to dream and significant achievements to be made.
Minato surveyed the entire Konoha. Whether it was the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi ns, collectively known as the "Ino-Shika-Cho," or the Hyuga and Uchiha nspeting for the top n status, they seemed powerful. Still, they were far from the center of power in Konoha. Bing Hokage was almost impossible for them.
Moving to the Third Hokage era.
The current Third Hokage was Tobirama''s designated sessor before his death, and his appointment did not require a public decision or vote or anyone else''s participation. Tobirama alone had settled everything.
Of course, before Hiruzen became a Hokage, this process had some dangers, whether it was hispetitors, Kagami or Danzo, who were Tobirama''s disciples and equally qualified to be Hokage.
That said...
To this day, Konoha has seen three generations of Hokage, each from the direct line of the Senju n!
Minato was curious to know if he belonged to this direct line.
If counted by teacher-student session, then his teacher, Jiraiya, had such qualifications, and being Jiraiya''s disciple, although a generation apart, should qualify him too.
However, only the Third Hokage followed the teacher-student session path; the first two were by family lineage, making this a rare case with little reference value.
Minato knew if the Third Hokage chose to continue with family session, the sessor would be from the Sarutobi n, which was his current worry.
As for Sakumo...
From the beginning, Minato knew he was apetitor on the path to bing Hokage.
Yet, he did not believe Sakumo could ultimately take the position of Hokage, even without his presence...
Because he had discovered that the position of Hokage was not something that just anyone or any n member could easily upy!
This had to involveplex rtionships, and these rtionships ultimately boiled down to one thing—interests.
It had to be rted to interests!
Minato''s study of the Hokage session was quite thorough. Naturally intelligent and very smart, he easily grasped the essence of things, especially since he diligently studied them.
The First Hokage would only emerge between two people, Hashirama and Madara, because these two represented the Senju and Uchiha ns, thergest forces in Konoha. Thus, the voice of Konoha had to be in the hands of these two ns, absolutely not anyone else, not just because of their formidable strength but because they represented the interests of their ns.
As for the Second Hokage, Tobirama, the Senju n needed a new Hokage to maintain their status in Konoha, which concerned the entire Senju n''s interests. Unfortunately, the Senju n did not have someone to continue this lineage, and after the Third Hokage''s session, they disappeared into Konoha history.
The Senju n was gone, and their interests no longer mattered. In a critical moment, Tobirama chose Hiruzen, whom he was rtively optimistic about. This had nothing to do with the Senju n''s interests but rted to Konoha''s interests. However, in the face of such interests, Tobirama is still willing to believe in the people he wants to believe rather than those who are more capable.
Thus...
Minato had be acutely aware.
The Third Hokage already represented the interests of the Sarutobi n!
As long as the Third Hokage remained, so did the interests of the Sarutobi n, and the chosen sessor would likely be from the Sarutobi n.
This posed some restrictions on Minato bing Hokage!
Minato deeply understood this, so his expression wasn''t as rxed as it might seem to others. He already had the qualifications to be Hokage, but that was merely superficial. If these superficial aspects were considered, Sakumo was also qualified to be Hokage because he owned a half-sleeve Hokage robe.
And from the lesson from the past!
Although Minato didn''t fully trust Sakumo''s words, he knew they were a lesson he could refer to, especially after listening to Sakumo narrate some stories. He faintly believed that his umted aplishments would turn into a half-sleeve Hokage robe if he did nothing upon returning.
If so.
Then, he would lose the possibility of bing Hokage.
To think that his action to win the Third Great Ninja War, if even that wasn''t enough to be Hokage, he couldn''t imagine what greater merits there could be! After this battle, all ninja viges would recuperate, with no major wars likely for at least ten years, only minor skirmishes. The ninja world''s structure would return to a rtively stable state.
In that case...
Minato felt that if he couldn''t seize this opportunity to be Hokage now, he wouldn''t be able to umte such merits in the future.
In the end, the position of Hokage will be passed from the Third Hokage to the Fourth Hokage of the Sarutobi n, just as it was from the First Hokage to the Second Hokage.
Minato didn''t specte about the Third Hokage with the worst intentions; his heart tended more towards respecting the Third Hokage, but that didn''t mean he was naive. He was still defensive, knowing very well that if he wanted to be Hokage, now might be his only chance. If missed, he would be forever unqualified.
"Understood!"
The ninjas nodded one after another, relieved to catch their breath.
After all.
Their nerves had been tense from the start of the war until now!
Even though they knew standing behind Minato meant no further danger!
Yet, this sense of crisis lingered in their minds and wasn''t easily dispelled!
At this moment, they could rest for a while, which suddenly caused them to feel an overwhelming sense of fatigue, making everyone feel sleepy.
Each person''s eyelids grew heavy.
Even wanting to sleep for a while.
After all, they had heard Minato''s order; they were to return to Konoha with a full spirit, presenting themselves as returning victoriously from the war.
By now.
Minato had yet to mention the matter of the Hokage''s position to them.
But each one of them was clear: Minato wanted to be the Fourth Hokage, and even if it was unsaid, they felt it!