Chapter 241 – This Is How You're Gonna Be Hokage? Ōnoki's Memories
"Neh, neh, why is it just the four of us this time?"
In a small town within the Land of Grass, Naruto glanced at their group: Jiraiya in the lead, Sasuke beside him, and Gen looking as carefree as ever.
He muttered under his breath, unable to hide his doubt. Sasuke, however, gave a short snort.
"The four of us are more than enough. What more do you want?"
"It's not that I'm complaining… it's just, without Kakashi-sensei around, going with Pervy Sage and Gen feels… I dunno, kinda unreliable."
Naruto pursed his lips, whispering to Sasuke. Sasuke nodded instinctively, then shook his head.
"Don't spout nonsense. If you get yourself killed, don't drag me down with you. Since when has Gen-senpai ever been unreliable?"
"Pfft, coward."
Naruto gave Sasuke a disdainful look, but when Sasuke shot him a you're-an-idiot glare, he thought better of continuing.
He knew full well what this mission was about—and it both excited and worried him.
That giant fox inside him had brought Konoha more than enough suffering already.
"Even if that bastard Gen calls it 'collecting rent,' I can't help but worry…"
Naruto muttered to himself. Beyond the Nine-Tails, what he really feared for was his parents' chakra. After all, it was only thanks to Kurama's chakra that they could continue to exist inside him.
"Don't worry, Naruto."
Kushina's voice rang gently in his heart.
"Jiraiya-sensei may be unreliable at times, but when it comes to this kind of thing, he'll have prepared safeguards."
"She's right, Naruto."
Minato's tone followed, as warm as always.
"This was the whole reason I sealed Kurama inside you in the first place. I believe you'll be fine."
Kushina, however, couldn't resist grumbling.
"But still, all these years and Konoha hasn't rebuilt the destroyed facilities… now Naruto has to go to Iwa to learn. Seriously—"
"Maybe the village just doesn't have enough records left," Minato tried to soothe her. "After all, we both—"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'm not being unreasonable. But I heard Iwa's Jinchūriki once blasted you with a Tailed Beast Bomb?"
"That was in the past, Kushina. Times have changed—"
"I know, I know. It just annoys me. And what annoys me even more is that Jiraiya-sensei is making Naruto pay for everything! That shameless old man!"
"…"
"And he's even trying to trick Gen into going to that kind of place. Damn perv!"
"…"
"…Why aren't you saying anything, Minato? Don't tell me you also used to go with him?"
"Of course not!"
Listening to his parents bicker inside his head, Naruto couldn't help but chuckle. Sure, it sometimes gave him headaches, but deep down… he loved it.
I can't let them down, he thought firmly. Then, glancing at Gen, he added to himself, And I can't let that bastard down either. If it weren't for him…
His thoughts cut off as Gen crooked a finger at him.
"Naruto, settle the bill, would you? Thanks."
"…."
Naruto clenched his fist. Yeah, nope. Can't focus on his "good" side. Every time I do, I regret it.
"Oi, isn't squeezing your subordinates like that kinda bad?"
Jiraiya asked between bites, watching Naruto sulk as he pulled out his flattened frog-wallet.
"They'll start resenting you, y'know."
"Then stop eating."
Gen shot him a sidelong glance, voice dripping with disdain.
"And besides, this brat's already a full-fledged ninja. What's so wrong about buying lunch for his future Hokage? Learn to read the room."
"…This is how you're gonna be Hokage?"
Jiraiya nearly choked on his food.
"Don't tell me you're gonna run Konoha into the ground, brat!"
"Tch, as if. Konoha's overflowing with talent."
Gen chewed leisurely, speaking as if it were obvious.
"Jonin teams? Kakashi can handle that. He's already doing great with the ANBU. Medical? Tsunade's got it. Administration? Nara Shikaku's brilliant—and his kid can take over one day. Intelligence? Uncle Inoichi, naturally. Why should I worry?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Wait, that's it? You're just gonna—"
"When I step in, I'll have Shikamaru move into the admin office and feed me reports every day. I'll just stamp approvals. Done."
"…"
"C'mon, you don't really expect me to micromanage like the Third did? Specialized work should go to specialists. Simple."
"…"
"And if someone can't cut it, we just replace them. Konoha's got no shortage of capable people."
Jiraiya pinched the bridge of his nose. "So then what do you do? If you're dumping everything else—"
"I am the Hokage."
Gen spread his hands casually, smiling.
"The Hokage sets the direction. Makes sure the village stays on the right track. You think I'm gonna sit there assigning D-rank missions all day?"
"…Huh. When you put it like that…"
As much as Jiraiya hated to admit it, Gen's logic was airtight.
Guiding the village—that really was what Hokage was supposed to be about.
"…Still feels like you're taking shots at Hiruzen."
"Got any proof?"
Gen smirked, then tapped his chin.
"Anyway, I should probably double as principal of the Ninja Academy."
"…What?"
"Konoha's education system is already collapsing."
"…"
"If I take over, maybe I can fix it. Restore order."
"…"
"I'd give those kids a real wake-up call."
Jiraiya was left speechless. Behind them, Naruto and Sasuke—who had been eavesdropping the entire time—nearly burst out laughing.
At first, Gen's vision for Hokage had sounded inspiring, even to Sasuke.
Naruto, of course, had always dreamed of becoming Hokage. Sasuke, after his talks with his parents, had begun to secretly consider the idea too.
But the moment Gen started talking about doubling as Academy principal…
Neither of them could hold it in anymore.
It wasn't just Naruto—everyone was left dumbfounded.
Konoha's education collapsed… and isn't that because of you?
"Alright, let's pick up the pace."
Gen had no idea what they were thinking. He glanced at the darkening sky and spoke casually.
"For some reason, I've got a bad feeling. And if past experience is anything to go by…"
"…whenever I'm on a mission with Pervy Sage or Kakashi-sensei, trouble always finds us."
---
Land of Earth – Hidden Stone Village
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, couldn't shake an uneasy feeling gnawing at him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't focus on his paperwork.
"What's going on? Why do I feel like something terrible is about to happen?"
He frowned, rubbing his temples. Maybe… maybe Deidara had caused trouble again?
But ever since Deidara returned from Konoha, although he'd been jumpy and erratic, that had become his new normal. At least he hadn't caused any chaos within the village itself.
"Tch. What a headache…"
Ōnoki stood at the window, staring out at the distant mountains. He sighed heavily.
"If only Deidara could be more like Kitagawa Gen—strong, capable, and level-headed. Someone who puts people at ease…"
Gen wasn't just monstrously powerful—he was reliable, sharp, and composed. The kind of person you could trust to lead without hesitation.
Deidara was brilliant too, of course, but his volatile nature made Ōnoki's head ache daily. If only the boy could learn even a fraction of Gen's steadiness.
"But speaking of Konoha…" Ōnoki muttered. "News from there has been scarce lately. They stirred up quite the incident in Takigakure, and it seems they were attacked themselves as well…"
As Tsuchikage, he had his sources, but Konoha was tight-lipped. Allies they may be, but every village still guarded its secrets.
"Regardless, we must be cautious. Akatsuki grows bolder… and then there's that Otsutsuki threat."
Ōnoki's muttering was cut short. Suddenly, a heavy sense of dread washed over him. His body froze. He spun around—
The air twisted and warped. A ripple spread, and from the distortion stepped a man in an orange spiral mask.
"Uchiha… Obito!"
Ōnoki's eyes hardened instantly, his frail body brimming with lethal intent.
"No wonder I felt uneasy. To think you'd dare appear here of all places."
"There's nowhere I can't go. Nothing I don't dare to do."
Obito's voice was eerily calm. He stared coldly at the Tsuchikage.
"Hand over the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, and no harm will come to your village. Refuse…"
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Ōnoki didn't hesitate. His hands glowed with blinding white light, shaping a crystalline prism that fired straight through Obito's body.
But the prism phased harmlessly through him. Obito tilted his head slightly, as if unsurprised.
"As expected. But this only makes things… better."
"Better?"
Ōnoki's brow furrowed. Then he saw it—azure chakra erupting from Obito's body, rapidly coalescing into a colossal half-formed warrior.
The Susanoo tore through the Tsuchikage's office, shaking the very village foundations. Dust and debris rained down everywhere.
"Su… Susanoo?!"
Ōnoki's heart lurched. Memories surged unbidden—moonlight, a towering figure, the shadow of Uchiha Madara looming in his mind.
"Yes," Obito's cold voice reverberated, carried by the Susanoo's roar.
"Perfect. Now, I can truly test my power."