At noon, at the newly - opened barbecue restaurant of the Akimichi clan
The Akimichi clan members all had huge appetites, and regular customers of this barbecue restaurant were mostly from this clan. The food here was served in large portions and could satisfy one's hunger.
The clan leaders of the Uchiha, Hyuga, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Nara clans, along with Kiyosuke, a total of six people, sat around the barbecue.
Shikaku Nara, the current head of the Nara clan, asked, "Mr. Kiyosuke, is there something unpleasant between you and Lord Danzo?"
Otherwise, there wouldn't be such intense confrontation.
Kiyosuke said, "I just don't like him." He chuckled and said, "Let me tell you something funny. I heard this from someone else."
He coughed and continued, "During the First Great Ninja War, the Second Hokage led the Third Hokage, Danzo, and others to retreat from Kumogakure. Behind them were the pursuers led by the Golden and Silver Brothers. At that time, the Second Hokage was seriously injured, and the pursuers were closing in. They needed a decoy."
"So he asked, 'Who is willing to be the decoy and lead away the pursuers?' Danzo wanted to sacrifice himself at that time, but he was too scared to speak up. Then the Third Hokage said he would be the decoy and lead away the pursuers. And so, the Third Hokage became who he is now. The Second Hokage attracted the fire and died in battle. If it weren't for that split - second hesitation, the Third Hokage might have been Danzo."
He sneered. "Just as I said, he suffered from being slow. One wrong step, and he missed the position of Hokage. He'll never be able to become the Hokage. He's just a guy who plays petty tricks behind the scenes and lacks the necessary responsibility."
Moreover, this guy took the blame for the Third Hokage, and his reputation was so bad that there was no way he could become the Hokage, unless all the capable people in the village died and he was the only one left.
But by then, Konoha would probably be on the verge of destruction.
"This is really a secret. Mr. Kiyosuke, where did you hear this?"
"I heard it from the White Snake Sage in Ryuchi Cave. It seems a snake happened to see it at that time." Kiyosuke was talking nonsense.
"The White Snake Sage..."
The others believed it to some extent. After all, only Jiraiya and Kiyosuke in Konoha knew Sage Mode, and it was normal for them to come across some secrets.
"Just a split - second hesitation, and he missed the Hokage position. It's really a twist of fate," Hiashi Hyuga sighed. He was dragged here by Kiyosuke. Otherwise, he wouldn't have participated in such a gathering.
It was really worth coming. He could hear such a secret.
"On the night when Minato - sensei had the accident, all the ninjas in the village were there, but that old guy didn't show up, not even sending a single Root member. He was just afraid of death. Since he's so afraid of death, he should just hide. But he still wants the Hokage position. Hmph, it will never be his."
So that's what it was about?
The five clan leaders finally understood why Kiyosuke had been targeting Danzo. It was because of this. But they didn't think it was strange. Everyone was risking their lives, but the leader was hiding. It was really inappropriate. If such a person became the Hokage, it wouldn't be a good thing for the village.
Especially for the Uchiha clan, it would be a disaster!
Everyone could see Danzo's hostility towards the Uchiha clan. If he came to power, the Uchiha clan would surely have a hard time.
Shikaku Nara asked, "I wonder why Mr. Kiyosuke has gathered the five of us here?"
The five of them were the clan leaders of the big clans in the village. Among them, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans were the two most powerful ninja clans. The gathering of the five ninja clans was no small force.
Kiyosuke picked up a piece of barbecue and put it in his mouth. The taste was quite good. After swallowing it, he said, "Today, it's mainly about Naruto."
"The son of the Fourth Hokage?"
"Yes."
Kiyosuke nodded and said, "I hope to give this child a healthy and stable growth environment. I don't want him to be excluded by the villagers. You five are the largest ninja clans in Konoha. So I hope your clansmen won't hold any ill - will towards this child. Please!"
The Nine - Tails was the Nine - Tails, and Naruto was Naruto.
But the villagers had transferred their hatred for the Nine - Tails to Naruto, which was wrong.
Kiyosuke didn't want his "youth" to grow up like that. At least, he wanted to make his life better.
Fugaku Uchiha was the first to speak up. "The Uchiha clan will naturally not hold any ill - will towards the child of the Fourth Hokage. Please rest assured, Mr. Kiyosuke."
"The Hyuga clan won't do that either," Hiashi Hyuga said.
"The Ino - Shika - Chō won't either."
Shikaku Nara spoke on behalf of Kai Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi.
"Then, thank you!"
With the five major clans settled, there were still some difficult - to - handle people left.
After the meal, Kiyosuke went to Fugaku's house and brought the baby Naruto over.
He came to the liveliest place in Konoha, where the Uchiha clansmen had already set up a platform and were maintaining order.
Seeing him arrive, an Uchiha clansman whispered in his ear, "Lord Kiyosuke, the people you asked for are ready."
On the roadside, some people looked at them curiously, wondering what they were up to.
Holding Naruto, Kiyosuke stood on the platform and shouted, "Everyone, stop for a moment."
People looked over curiously, looking at Kiyosuke. Some recognized him as the hero of Konoha who had fought against the Nine - Tails that night.
Everyone gathered around, looking at him, wondering what he was going to say.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Kiyosuke Asakawa. I believe some of you have heard my name."
"We know you, Lord Kiyosuke, the hero who saved Konoha together with the Fourth Hokage!"
"Yes! If it weren't for you holding off the Nine - Tails at a critical moment, the Fourth Hokage wouldn't have had time to take the Nine - Tails away!"
"Lord Kiyosuke, you're our hero!"
More and more people gathered, blocking the traffic, shouting Kiyosuke's name from the bottom of their hearts.
"No!" Kiyosuke looked at the increasing number of residents and said, "The real hero is the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
He began to tell the story. "That night, I held off the Nine - Tails and was taken away together with the Fourth Hokage. I can say that I'm the only one who witnessed the whole process of sealing the Nine - Tails."
"The power of the Nine - Tails is simply too terrifying and difficult to capture. We could kill it, but if we did, the tailed beast would be reborn elsewhere. If it was obtained by ninjas from other villages, it would bring a terrible disaster to Konoha!"
"For the sake of the village and all of you living here, after careful consideration, Lord Minato made a heart - breaking decision!"
"He, together with his wife, at the cost of their lives, sealed the giant that could destroy Konoha into the body of their newly - born child who was only a few hours old!!!"
As these words were spoken, the crowd was shocked. The Fourth Hokage had made such a great sacrifice, sealing the terrifying monster, the Nine - Tails, into his son's body?
What great courage it must have taken. How painful must the Fourth Hokage have felt when making this choice?!