The Third Hokage hung his head in silence, not daring to meet Mito Uzumaki's eyes.
No matter how much a person grows, there will always be individuals they deeply respect, even fear.
In the heart of the Third Hokage, besides the First Hokage Senju Hashirama and his mentor Senju Tobirama, only Mito Uzumaki could make him feel this nervous.
Mito Uzumaki held an exalted position in Konoha Village. She was not only the jinchūriki who controlled the Nine-Tails' power and the wife of the First Hokage, but also one of Konoha's founders.
During the Warring States period, without the unwavering support of the Uzumaki Clan, the Senju Clan wouldn't have been able to defeat the Uchiha's key ally, the Hagi Clan, nor would they have triumphed over the Uchiha to establish Konoha.
Even Senju Tobirama had to show Mito the utmost respect.
A deep sigh rose within the Third Hokage, a complex mix of frustration, panic, anger, and helplessness. He had never intended to trouble Mito, who had long since stepped back from public affairs.
It all began when he assigned Danzo to investigate Fuma's underground training operation. Since then, the situation spiraled beyond his control.
The Third Hokage reflected honestly on his actions. His intent was simply to dismantle an underground trade that threatened the village's order. He never intended to target Orochimaru or the Uchiha Clan specifically.
Yet now, a wildfire of controversy had erupted, one that not only consumed him, the Hokage, but also threatened Konoha's "Will of Fire."
Even during his initial appointment as Hokage during a time of crisis, the village had never been so unsettled.
He never expected that after he halted the Wood Release experiments, Orochimaru would continue the research using brutal methods.
Nor had he anticipated that Danzo would drag Orochimaru down with him, while simultaneously exonerating himself.
Danzo's recklessness and Orochimaru's unfamiliar demeanor were far from what the Third Hokage had once known. His impression of his student and old friend was frozen in time, rooted in memories from over a decade ago.
Then came Fuma's fierce retaliation in public opinion, which further fueled the Third Hokage's frustration and sense of helplessness.
The Third Hokage's governing philosophy had followed Tobirama's teachings to the letter, perhaps to the point of rigidity.
After all, unlike the previous Hokages, he hadn't inherited a strong foundation or the legitimacy to naturally command respect. If not for Mito's support and endorsement in the early days, he might never have held the title of Hokage.
The Third Hokage had long struggled with the underlying flaw in his succession, a flaw that had always cast doubt on his position.
As Tobirama's Shadow Guard, he had failed to protect the Second Hokage in battle, leading to his death. That failure was an undeniable fact.
The "Will of Fire" wasn't omnipotent. Before preaching its ideals, Konoha was, first and foremost, a ninja village, and the primary duty of any ninja was to complete their mission.
Most troubling of all, the Third Hokage himself had doubts. How could Tobirama, who had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, have fallen on that battlefield, never to return?
"Mito-sama, I have disappointed you," the Third Hokage finally spoke, his lips trembling.
Mito's voice was stern. "Hiruzen, if you lack Tobirama's abilities, then you should not blindly follow his policies."
Her face, etched with weariness, reflected the fatigue of a woman who had lived through the Warring States period. Even with her mastery of the Yin Seal, her vitality had long waned.
"You still don't understand the Uchiha Clan. Their powerful members will never bow to control. Constant pressure will only lead to disaster."
"You need to change your approach toward the Uchiha. When Tobirama drove Uchiha Madara away during Konoha's founding, what benefit did we gain?"
"Tobirama's policies must evolve with the times, Hiruzen. You must find a new path for leading Konoha."
As Mito criticized the Third Hokage, she was also venting her own dissatisfaction. She had always had reservations about Tobirama's policies.
In Mito's eyes, the competition for the title of First Hokage played out like this:
Hashirama had intended for Madara to become Hokage, but Tobirama swayed his brother, leaving Madara feeling betrayed and leading to the fateful battle between the two.
From Mito's perspective, it was all an unnecessary conflict. Peace was within their grasp, yet because of a single title, she lost her husband and was left to seal a fierce beast within herself, living the rest of her life in solitude.
Hashirama's death sparked the First Great Ninja War, and though Tobirama led Konoha to victory, he too met his end on the battlefield, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen to hastily ascend to power amidst the internal unrest.
Taking advantage of the chaos, other villages joined forces to annihilate the Land of Whirlpools, wiping out the Uzumaki Clan.
All this, because Tobirama refused to allow Madara to become Hokage. Hashirama was grievously wounded, Tobirama perished, the Uzumaki Clan was exterminated, and countless Konoha shinobi died in battle.
Mito often wondered: was it all worth it?
The Third Hokage raised his head, his gaze defiant.
Mito could criticize anything, but not Tobirama.
"Mito-sama, Tobirama-sensei's policies were not wrong. Uchiha Madara never had the village's best interests at heart. Even if he had become Hokage, he would have brought ruin to Konoha."
"The current Uchiha are no different. Uchiha Fuma treats the village's missions as a joke, severely disrupting the village's systems. He has no sense of the 'Will of Fire.'"
"This war stemmed from his negligence, resulting in a huge intelligence failure that caused significant losses to the village. The Uchiha Clan still needs to be restrained!"
The Third Hokage's voice grew louder, his confidence returning.
Mito shook her head. As long as Uchiha Fuma remained strong, these arguments were meaningless.
"So, how do you plan to deal with the current situation?" she asked.
The Third Hokage hesitated. Fuma's counterattack in the public eye had struck a nerve, and he wanted to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible.
After long contemplation, he finally spoke, "Mito-sama, I plan to have the Ministry of Administration issue an official statement, dismissing the rumors as foreign espionage. That should quell the unrest."
"As for the Uchiha Clan, I still believe their narrow clan-centric mindset poses a threat. If they gain power in Konoha, the village will become their puppet, and the very principles Konoha was founded on will be lost."
Mito sighed. The Third Hokage wasn't entirely wrong.
The Uchiha Clan, known for their extremism and reverence for power since the Warring States period, had a dark history, including members turning on each other to steal eyes.
They were indeed unsuitable to lead a hidden village, a point Mito agreed with.
If the Uchiha rose to power, they could very well use Konoha as a tool to fuel their ambitions, reigniting war and plunging the ninja world into chaos once more.
However, now the Uchiha had produced Fuma, a stable yet ruthless force with overwhelming strength.
The clan was no longer the impulsive and reckless entity it once was. Tobirama's policies to limit the Uchiha were beginning to falter.
In Fuma, Mito could even see echoes of Tobirama's own cunning.
The real issue was that Konoha was no longer as strong as it once was, and the village needed the power of the Uchiha Clan.
Everything related to the Uchiha seemed to have fallen into a vicious cycle.
"Hiruzen, I don't have much time left. You need to select a new jinchūriki for the Nine-Tails as soon as possible. That's the most pressing matter."
Mito, exhausted, rose and left. She and the Uzumaki Clan had already sacrificed enough for Konoha.
Mito's primary reason for this visit wasn't to discuss policies with the Third Hokage. She was here to address her final task: the handover of the Nine-Tails.
The Third Hokage lit his pipe, the only light in the darkness coming from the ember, flickering like Konoha's uncertain future.
Kushina, who was originally slated to be the next Nine-Tails jinchūriki, was in close contact with Fuma's disciple. Because of this, the Hokage faction couldn't entrust her with the Nine-Tails.
But finding a suitable candidate for such a volatile power wasn't easy either.
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