"What? Obito is currently learning how to handle administrative duties under Minato-dono and might become the next Hokage? Is that really true?"
Shindai was greatly shocked upon hearing from Kakashi that Obito might be chosen by Namikaze Minato as the Fifth Kage.
Kakashi nodded. "Ah, of course it's true."
Shindai gritted his teeth in frustration. "What gives that brat Obito the right?! Hey, Kakashi, what do you think of my chances as Hokage?"
Kakashi glanced up and down at Shindai. "You? What about your chances?"
Shindai glared impatiently. "The Hokage position! Don't you think I'd make a solid Hokage? Support me for Hokage, Kakashi! And then go ask Guy, Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza, and others to back me too. I'll get Asuma to support me, then I'll talk to Hinata and Shikamaru to convince them to back me as the new Hokage!
In the end, we can all go together to the Hokage Building and push Obito aside, let me take the Hokage seat, and carve my face into the Hokage Rock...
Hehehe, just imagine everyone bowing before my stone statue on the Hokage Rock, letting me finally feel what it's like to be Hokage! Then we can make posters of me and my statue and hang them in front of my shop—it'll definitely bring booming business!"
As Shindai imagined this scenario, he completely drifted into fantasy, cackling weirdly.
Kakashi, Pakura, and Uchiha Hikaku simultaneously rolled their eyes at Shindai, while Hanare covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Pakura commented bluntly, "You're just desperate for attention and glory!"
Uchiha Hikaku scoffed sarcastically, "If those posters really did appear outside your shop, the title of Hokage would forever be disgraced."
Shindai snapped, "Hey! How could you two say such things about me!"
Kakashi tilted his lips sideways. "Do you really think Obito is happy about this? This morning when I saw him, Obito looked like he had lost all sparkle in his eyes. If you don't believe me, go check on Obito first before meeting up with Naruto and the others."
Shindai couldn't quite believe that Obito would actually lose his spark—after all, Obito had dreamed of being Hokage since childhood; chances were he was secretly laughing now.
When they arrived at the Hokage Building, they found a disheveled-looking Obito buried head-deep in paperwork, working diligently. Shindai's mouth slightly dropped open.
Minato held a document recently reviewed by Obito, sternly reprimanding him, "Obito, rewrite this entire report. Clear handwriting without any typos is mandatory. Sometimes a single character mistake can cause serious misunderstandings, triggering a chain reaction of negative consequences!"
"Y-yeah…"
Obito accepted the paper miserably and began reviewing it again.
Minato noticed Shindai and the others standing at the doorway and regained his gentle smile. "There you are."
Obito's eyes burned with desperate hope as he stared at Shindai and the others, as if pleading, "Save me!"
Kakashi said with obvious delight, "Minato-sensei, just now Shindai said he wanted to become the Hokage..."
Shindai quickly covered Kakashi's mouth and gave a nervous chuckle, "I didn't say anything. Congrats, Obito! Looks like you're gonna be Hokage any day now. Dream come true and all that—go for it! I'm sure you'll make one heck of a Hokage!"
After saying that, Shindai immediately bolted.
Minato Namikaze looked at Kakashi in confusion.
Kakashi shrugged helplessly, "That guy actually wanted us to support him as Hokage just now, but I think he's already given up on that idea."
Minato shook his head with a helpless smile.
He had considered it before, but Shindai's personality just wasn't suited to being Hokage.
After Kakashi and others left, the faint glimmer of hope that had appeared in Obito's eyes vanished completely.
Outside the Hokage Building,
Scared me to death! That desk's stacked with paperwork—who'd ever finish that? Fire Hokage? More like fire slavery!
Kakashi teased, "Actually, I'm totally willing to support you as Hokage. How about… taking the job?"
Shindai's face instantly turned green. He shouted at Kakashi, "You dare say more, and I swear you'll suffer greatly! Hanare, let me tell you—Jiraiya-sama's been releasing another new book lately, and this guy Kakashi keeps fawning all over him… [cough]!"
Shindai wrenched free and scoffed, "Jiraiya-sama writing a serious book? I wouldn't believe that if my life depended on it!"
"It's true! The Great Sage has prepared a brand-new novel—it's a sequel to *The Tale of the Resolute Shinobi Will*. This is the latest masterpiece based on the last great war!"
Just then, speak of the devil—and he appears.
Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha shot Jiraiya disgusted glances. Hanare's cheeks flushed slightly, while Kakashi looked utterly miserable.
Shindai stroked his chin thoughtfully and remarked, "These curves look fantastic~ Somehow familiar too~"
"Curves?" Jiraiya glanced confusedly at the cover in his hand.
"Oh no, wrong copy—I meant to release my new work *Love and Sunlight*!"
Flustered, Jiraiya quickly pulled out another cover. On it were two main characters—one with blond hair, the other black-haired. Obviously modeled after Naruto and Sasuke.
Shindai immediately asked discontentedly, "Where am I?"
"Huh? You? What do you mean, 'you'?" Jiraiya asked in bewilderment.
Shindai shoved his face right up to Jiraiya's and protested, "Saving the world isn't just Naruto and Sasuke's job! Even if you left out Obito and Kakashi, you should at least put me on the cover as the main character!"
Jiraiya casually waved his hand, "Don't sweat it, don't worry about such a little detail. In this novel, you're still an important character—after all, you're the one guiding Naruto and Sasuke."
"Guide my ass! I want to be the protagonist!" Shindai snapped.
"Next time, next time I'll make you the protagonist," Jiraiya said with a lazy wave of his hand.
Spotting Tsunade and Shizune at the other end of the street, Shindai's eyes lit up with mischief. He called out to Tsunade, "Tsunade-sama! Just now Jiraiya-sama showed us the cover of his latest novel Love and Sunlight. He even drew you in it looking absolutely scandalous, and he's here showing off about it!"
Jiraiya stared at Shindai in disbelief—this guy... actually wanted him dead!
Over there, Tsunade's forehead vein was bulging. Shizune tried to calm Tsunade down, but... failed.
"Jiraiya! Die already!"
With a fist the size of a boulder, Tsunade charged toward Jiraiya. Feeling his scalp crawl, Jiraiya turned tail and ran, throwing Shindai a death glare as he fled and growling, "You just wait!"
Shindai scoffed, hands on his hips. "I'll be waiting!"
Kakashi, Pakura, Hikaku Uchiha, and Hanare watched pitifully as Jiraiya got chased by Tsunade. Looks like he was going to suffer greatly.
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