Nearly ten minutes passed before Jaxon leisurely descended the stairs.
He moved unhurriedly, as if time itself bent to his pace. The air around him was calm, measured, almost serene.
Now dressed in a simple outfit—a plain T-shirt paired with long black pants and matching shoes—he looked far more relaxed than when he'd arrived in his more formal wear.
As soon as he reached the bottom step, Jaxon's gaze landed on Sakumo Hatake, who stood upright like a statue, his posture as straight as a blade.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's go," Jaxon said with a slight smile, his tone laced with a touch of apology.
Due to the mask covering Sakumo's face, Jaxon couldn't read his expression—nor guess what thoughts hid behind it. All he heard was a quiet sigh, slipping from Sakumo's lips like wind through leaves.
Jaxon was curious but chose not to press him. Instead, he simply followed behind as they made their way toward the Hokage building.
---
Hokage Building
Even before they reached the entrance, Sakumo Hatake called out respectfully, his voice clear and strong:
"Hokage-sama, Jaxon has arrived!"
The office door remained shut. Sakumo didn't knock, simply standing at the edge with unwavering reverence.
Despite his silence, the atmosphere he exuded radiated deep respect.
A few seconds later, a deep voice replied from within.
"Come in."
Sakumo gently pushed the door open, then moved aside with impeccable decorum, standing by the entrance as Jaxon walked into the room.
---
The moment he stepped inside, Jaxon couldn't help blurting in his heart:
"Oh, come on! Why are these old geezers here too?"
Besides the Hokage, three other high-ranking figures were already seated in the office.
Anyone with even a shred of knowledge about Konoha's political structure could instantly recognize them.
Adding the Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen into the mix—wasn't this the full set of Konoha's infamous "F4"?
Before he could even process what to say, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, wearing a polite, forced smile.
"Haha! I presume this must be young master Jaxon of the Hoshino Clan?" Hiruzen asked gently, his tone deliberately non-threatening.
Not even a second passed before Danzo Shimura sneered, his icy voice slicing through the air.
"Hmph! After being notified for so long, to only arrive now… You're being quite disrespectful to Hokage-sama."
Danzo's gaze was sharp and accusing, a stark contrast to Hiruzen's calm approach.
"Danzo, mind your words!" Hiruzen snapped, frowning. His tone jumped several octaves higher, making his irritation obvious.
Jaxon watched silently, trying not to laugh.
"These two old snakes. Playing good cop, bad cop? That's rich. They've really mastered the art of political theater."
He couldn't help but admire their tactics, even as he planned to manipulate them.
---
Jaxon turned toward Hiruzen with a composed smile, responding with just the right touch of reverence.
"Such a powerful presence, yet still so approachable. This must be Hokage-sama himself."
He bowed slightly and continued smoothly.
"I've long heard of the Third Hokage's legendary name. Seeing you now, I realize the rumors don't do justice. You're even more dependable and awe-inspiring in person. I'm confident that under your guidance, Konoha will surpass even the heights it reached under the First and Second Hokage."
He paused, feigning humble remorse.
"I should've come to pay my respects earlier, but I feared I'd arrive unprepared and offend Hokage-sama with my appearance. I wanted to ensure I looked presentable. I sincerely apologize for the delay."
Even as he spoke, Jaxon felt a wave of internal cringe sweep over him.
"Good grief… I'm practically shedding goosebumps over here. But hey, if flattery was a weapon, I'd be the strongest shinobi in the entire continent."
He knew how the game was played. In this village—on their turf—even if they didn't dare touch him outright, a little slip-up could lead to future sabotage.
So what if he had to flatter them a bit? It cost nothing but words—and those, he had in abundance.
---
Hiruzen didn't even register the latter half of Jaxon's speech. He was completely absorbed by the part about "surpassing the First and Second Hokage."
That hit the sweet spot.
The forced smile on his face bloomed into something genuine. He glanced smugly at Danzo, his expression practically saying:
"See? Even the young generation knows I've achieved more than the First and Second combined!"
Danzo's only response was a cold glare and a silent eye-roll.
"You flatter me," Hiruzen replied finally, chuckling as he took a puff from his pipe. Smoke curled lazily from his mouth.
"I've still got a long way to go before I can be compared to them. But I do hope to lead Konoha toward an even brighter future."
---
Jaxon seized the momentum and struck again, his tone becoming even more sincere.
"Please don't be so modest, Hokage-sama. Even in the Capital, we've heard of your remarkable achievements.
Without your bold leadership during the First Great Ninja War, Konoha might have become a target for every other nation. If not for your decisive actions, this village wouldn't enjoy the peace and prosperity it has today."
He placed his right hand on his chest and bowed respectfully once more.
"From the growth of the village to the cultivation of countless outstanding ninja—every stone, every tree, every smiling face in this village is a testament to your foresight and unmatched leadership."
Then, he aimed his final shot:
"With the Will of Fire you uphold, I'm certain Konoha and the Land of Fire will rise to become the strongest in the entire ninja world."
---
Jaxon could almost see the words "Will of Fire" glimmer in Hiruzen's eyes.
He recalled what he knew about the Third Hokage. For all his thirst for power and obsession with control, the man was undeniably charismatic. Under his rule, Konoha had gone from a small settlement of a hundred thousand to a thriving village of nearly a million.
His leadership brought wealth and stability—far more than what the First or Second Hokage had achieved.
And among all his beliefs, nothing was more sacred to Hiruzen than the Will of Fire.
As long as anything mentioned that ideology, the Third Hokage would listen with open arms.
Jaxon watched the Hokage's satisfied expression grow wider and wider.
Internally, he chuckled.
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