"Sandaime-sama, what are you looking at?"

Standing outside the venue that was specially arranged by the Daimyo of the Iron Kingdom to look very similar to the first meeting of the Five Kages, Namikaze Minato looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen who had been staying here for a long time and asked with some curiosity.

"Me? I'm probably remembering the time that has passed."

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly exhaled a large puff of smoke and sighed in a melancholy tone:

"When the First-sama invited the First Kage from each village to come to the Iron Country for talks, proposing the establishment of an alliance between various countries to maintain peace in the ninja world, and assigning tailed beasts to each ninja village to balance the combat power, I

Still a young man who just had his own subordinates...

I didn’t expect that in the blink of an eye, I would already be an old man about the same age as the first generation adults at that time.”

"It's nothing. Thirdai-sama, you are still a strong man in your prime. It would be too early to say that you are old." Namikaze Minato said sincerely.

"Ha, how can anyone not notice that their body is aging?" Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly, "My peak has long passed, and I will only continue to decline in the remaining time.

...The only ones who can continue to go up are young people like you, Minato."

"Old man, don't put too much pressure on Minato," Jiraiya stepped forward, put his arm around Minato's shoulders and said, "The existence of us old people is not just to cover up the young people before they reach their peak.

Is it weatherproof? It’s not good to put problems and pressure on them prematurely that you can’t solve.”

"Okay, let's not say these meaningless and frustrating words."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped his sentimentality and sighing at the right time, and turned to the majesty and seriousness of his time as Hokage, "Let's go, Minato, Jiraiya, the master who invited us here is still waiting for us.

Woolen cloth."

Following the guidance of the guide arranged by the Daimyo of the Iron Country, Sarutobi Hiruzen and others arrived at the venue where the formal talks were held. Looking at the three Kirigakure people who had taken their seats across from them early, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but narrowed his eyes and looked at them one by one.

Got up.

The Third Mizukage was basically a ninja of the same era as himself. They were both succeeded as the Third Kage after the second generation Kage of the village died in the First Ninja War. Since Kirigakure did not participate in the Second Ninja War,

World War, and the relationship itself is relatively closed. It can be said that this is the first time he has met the other party on a formal occasion as Hokage.

However, looking at the opponent's spirit, which was even older and declining than his appearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi basically confirmed in his heart the authenticity of the fact that the opponent had been controlled by illusions for a long time.

This is really not good news for Konoha.

The second person who caught Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes was Gouji Shikang, who looked like he was still a student at the ninja school.

From the way Hiruzen Sarutobi looks sideways at the Third Mizukage from time to time, it can be seen that he should be the kind of confidant ninja who was cultivated by the Third Mizukage. The relationship between the two parties is similar to that between himself, Jiraiya and Orochi.

If there are no surprises in the relationship between the two of them, he is the one who will succeed the Fourth Mizukage under normal circumstances.

It's a pity that the person sitting next to him now is looking at the three people on his side with an uncomfortable and scrutinizing look.

Thinking like this, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and met Kaguya Rei's gaze without hesitation.

From the pair of purple sticks that were similar to Orochimaru, but more mysterious and difficult to understand, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw an ambitious but actively burning young soul.

He is ambitious and will ruthlessly remove all obstacles in front of him in order to achieve his ideals. At the same time, he is very confident and almost firmly believes that the path he chooses will definitely change the world for the better.

.

This feeling reminds Sarutobi Hiruzen of Uchiha Madara, the strongest enemy of the first Hokage, but Kaguya Rei is a character completely different from Uchiha Madara in every aspect.

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was pondering over Kaguya Rei's first impression on him and sitting down in his own seat, Kaguya Rei, who was looking at the Konoha trio, took the initiative to speak, facing the

The vigilant Jiraiya greeted:

"Hey, Jiraiya-senpai, I haven't seen you for a while. I wonder if this time you will choose to escape from the problems you have to face like before?"

Jiraiya's face darkened.

He knew that Kaguya Rei mentioned this matter at this time in order to suppress his own momentum and seize the opportunity during negotiations, but the problem was that this was a difficult problem for which he had not yet found an answer or solution.

At this time, whether he chooses to remain silent or bite the bullet and answer forcefully, the other party will only take the initiative in the conversation. For Konoha, which is at a disadvantage in all aspects, this situation will undoubtedly make things worse.

Seeing that Jiraiya actually fell into a state of embarrassment because of the other person's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but look down on Rei Kaguya. He put down his pipe and asked Rei Kaguya in a calm tone.

road:

"If it's convenient, can I also listen to the question you asked Jiraiya, Kaguya Rei?"

"Of course you can, but I just briefly listed a few facts, and then discussed with senior Jiraiya whether our various shinobi villages have deviated from the original intentions of the founders and gradually embarked on a different path.

It's just a phenomenon of being on the wrong path, not a profound philosophical discussion, Hokage-sama."

Kaguya Rei threw the question to Sarutobi Hiruzen in a nonchalant manner, then put their fingers together and waited for the other party's reply.

"Have you strayed from your original intention and taken the wrong path?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes, and the faces of the children who had just graduated from the ninja school and died in battles appeared clearly in his mind, as well as the one he saw when he took over the various affairs of the root.

A root ninja who has lost his emotions and humanity, as well as records of many inhumane experiments conducted by the root since its establishment.

"I see. For Jiraiya, this is indeed a question that is difficult to answer."

"oh?"

Kaguya Rei looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with some surprise, and asked in a deep voice: "Then Hokage-sama, how do you plan to answer this question?"

"Because of my lack of ability as Hokage, Konoha did have many problems during my tenure that went against the original intention of the first generation to establish the village. This is an irrefutable fact...

The reason why Jiraiya is at a loss when you ask him questions is probably because he does not have a cold and hard heart like you and can say such sharp words to his superiors and teachers without any burden."

Now, Rei Kaguya was not the only one who was surprised.

"Old man!? What are you talking about!?"

Jiraiya approached Sarutobi Hiruzen with an anxious expression and shouted at him in a low voice:

"This is a problem between me and that guy. Why do you need to use this self-defeating method to help me, a fool, out of trouble!?"

"My career as a Hokage has reached the point where it's time for others to comment. What's the big deal about relieving my disciples' knots by admitting that I have made some undeniable mistakes?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head at Jiraiya, turned his attention to the thoughtful Kaguya Rei again, and asked with a hint of self-deprecation:

"Well, this answer shouldn't be bad enough to get a zero score, right?"

"I answered the question but didn't provide any solution. If it weren't for you as the person involved, I would definitely give zero points."

Listening to Kaguya Rei's somewhat dissatisfied but not easy to refute tone, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, turned his gaze to the serious-looking Namikaze Minato, and said unhurriedly:

"The problems are caused by my incompetence, so it is obviously impossible to rely on me, an old man, to solve them... But it doesn't matter, I have found a successor worthy of entrusting the future to me. Now, I just need to be like the one beside you

Just like the Sandaime, just shoulder the responsibility and the infamy, and then leave them room to show off their talents."

Hearing this, the Third Mizukage couldn't help but reveal a slightly sad smile.

If he was not controlled by genjutsu, he should be able to entrust the future of Kirigakure Village and the position of the Fourth Mizukage to the young ninjas who grew up during his tenure, right?

That guy who doesn’t know whether he is Uchiha Madara or not, you deserve to die!

!

Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen who suddenly showed his amazing arrogance, Kaguya Rei was silent for a while and said with some displeasure:

"Tsk, was it the death of Shimura Danzo that made you rediscover yourself as a ninja hero, Hokage-sama?"

"Probably so."

Hearing the name of the culprit who let Shimura Danzo hide and die, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression became much lower.

"When the roots hidden deep in the ground die, if Konoha wants to continue to flourish, someone must take the initiative to contact the darkness that originally only needed to be left to the roots to deal with..."

"Don't you plan to avenge Shimura Danzo?"

"I came here as Hokage to negotiate with Kirigakure for the purpose of peace. If the village is dragged into the quagmire of war again because of my personal relationship with Danzo, he will definitely punish him in the underworld.

Then rebuke me."

"Besides, I probably can't drag my disciples to fight with me in a battle that has no chance of winning and is not about protecting the village."

Facing the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen who showed impeccable defense, Kaguya Rei, who originally wanted to take advantage of the situation to put pressure on Sarutobi Hiruzen and force Konoha to agree to some more conditions, curled his lips and stopped angrily.

Seeing this, Gouji Shicang, who had been wary of whether the two sides would fight, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, then took out a scroll and threw it towards the three people on the Konoha side.
Chapter completed!