Chapter 163: Abolishing the Hokage
Konoha, Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, looking at the piles of casualty reports, pension applications, supply approval documents, and other papers. He smoked his pipe in brooding silence, his aged face shrouded behind the smoke, emotions indiscernible.
"Lord Hokage." Someone knocked and entered.
"Oh, it's Itachi!" Sarutobi Hiruzen set down his pipe, squeezed out a smile, and waved for him to sit. "Has something else gone wrong on the western front?"
"No, the western front is stable. Though the Land of Wind has rejoined the war, their strength has been greatly damaged. Their offensive isn't fierce. I can hold them."
"Good, good." Sarutobi Hiruzen breathed a long sigh of relief. "Then what brings you here?"
"It's like this, Lord Hokage." Itachi straightened his posture, speaking seriously. "Konoha's current situation has become extremely dire. Even children are entering the battlefield now."
"So these past days I've been considering how to break Konoha's current predicament."
"I believe that to break the deadlock requires more powerful elite shinobi, not throwing in genin who can only serve as cannon fodder."
"Previously I wondered why Uchiha Yasushi and Uchiha Obito could use Wood Release, but after talking deeply with ANBU's Tenzo, I'm certain—their Wood Release should be like Tenzo's, obtained through transplanting cells from the First Hokage. The executor was probably the rogue ninja Orochimaru."
"The village's situation is extremely dire now. So I'm requesting First Hokage cell transplantation for myself."
"As long as I also have Wood Release capabilities, my combat power will definitely undergo a qualitative leap, breaking the battlefield stalemate in one stroke."
"I see!" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Itachi, first praising him with a smile. "Itachi, you truly can look at problems from a Kage's perspective as I said!"
"Having a shinobi like you is Konoha's fortune!"
But after speaking, his gaze began flickering, somewhat unable to make a decision.
He certainly trusted Itachi's loyalty, but... Itachi's mental state—he really wasn't confident about that.
No one understood better than him how unstable the Uchiha clan's mental state could be.
Today a warm, cheerful young man—tomorrow perhaps transformed into a demon lord wanting to destroy the world and slaughter all living beings.
Because of the previous "choice" incident, Itachi had been ostracized throughout the village. Everyone avoided him.
Could someone hated by everyone in the village, subjected to constant verbal abuse, truly remain loyal to the village forever?
Even Sakumo Hatake, that kind of powerful elite shinobi, couldn't endure the gossip and cold violence, ultimately choosing self-termination. Could Itachi be an exception?
Under these circumstances of being condemned by thousands and spurned by all, how long Itachi could last was a difficult question to estimate.
Perhaps tomorrow he'd go mad under everyone's ostracizing gazes, transforming from loyal Itachi who loved the village and protected Konoha into a Death God seeking justice for the unjust treatment his family suffered.
Who could say for certain?
He was already very strong now, but at least Jiraiya could still restrain him.
But if he also fused First Hokage cells and awakened Wood Release, perhaps even Jiraiya wouldn't be his match.
After his thoughts raced, the Third smiled at Itachi:
"I understand you're anxious about the village's situation and want to urgently increase your strength."
"But the problem is, since Orochimaru left, the village's technology for First Hokage cell transplantation is almost completely blank. We have no experience at all."
"Now that Tsunade has also died, there's no one who can perform surgery for cell transplantation."
"According to known information, except for Tenzo who fortunately survived, all experimental subjects who received First Hokage cell transplants died miserably."
"I can't let you risk that."
After hearing this, Itachi was very moved and hurriedly stood to express his position.
"Lord Third, for the village, I'm willing to risk it!"
"I believe since both Obito and Yasushi successfully transplanted First Hokage cells, there's no reason I can't!"
"No, no, no." The Third waved repeatedly, speaking earnestly. "Itachi, of course I know your intentions."
"But right now the village desperately needs combat power. We can't risk any danger."
"If something goes wrong during your cell transplantation, the precarious balance the village has maintained will immediately collapse. Then the village will face certain destruction."
"As for the war, don't worry about it. I've made up my mind—I'll end this war soon."
Hearing the Third invoke the village's safety, Itachi had no recourse. He could only give up, walking out of the Hokage's office disgruntled.
The Third sat alone in his office, puffing on his pipe and exhaling clouds for a long while. Finally he sighed, took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, and had someone invite the leader of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Moments later, a shinobi walked in from outside, standing boldly before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage, you summoned me?"
This person's attitude was quite discourteous, but Sarutobi Hiruzen knew he was the daimyo's man. Right now he needed them, so naturally he wouldn't mind this small offense.
He smiled and invited the other to sit, then spoke with a sigh:
"Kazuma, I know you have many dissatisfactions with me, but please believe—everything I do is for the good of the entire Land of Fire."
"Hmph!" Kazuma laughed coldly, noncommittal.
"I know many people in the capital think there shouldn't be any Kage in the nation. All shinobi should be directly commanded by the daimyo, loyal only to the daimyo."
"I won't debate the right or wrong of this matter with you here."
"I'll only promise you one thing."
"As long as you help deliver this letter to the daimyo and persuade him to act according to my plan, I will abolish the position of Kage."
"What?!" Kazuma immediately jumped up, both shocked and delighted, half-believing and half-doubting. "May I know your plan?"
"Of course." The Third didn't hesitate, picking up the letter from the desk and handing it to Kazuma with both hands.
Kazuma hesitantly reached out, taking the letter from the Third's hands and carefully opening it to read.
After just a few glances, he became furious, slapping the letter on the desk and cursing angrily:
"Bastard!"
"I absolutely cannot agree to this!"
"The daimyo will never agree either!"