It really looked like the Third Hokage had lost his mind.
After all his past scandals were exposed, he finally made it back onto the rankings—only to receive a reward that was both useless and highly aggro-inducing.
Unlike Fourth Raikage A's "100% Hit Rate: One Thousand Years of Death", which, while controversial, hadn't drawn real hatred from the others…
The outrage against A had only happened because he arrogantly declared he'd craft custom spiked clubs for all the strongest ninjas in other villages. He basically asked for the backlash.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen? His case was totally different.
He wasn't just hated—he outright enraged everyone!
Not only had he crazily declared himself the strongest Hokage in history, but he'd also tagged everyone—twice—claiming to be the strongest ninja in the world.
Orochimaru shook his head.
Yep. The Third had snapped.
But honestly… that was a good thing for him.
The fewer powerful shinobi in Konoha, the easier it would be for him to escape.
While Tsunade and Tobirama might be open to cooperating with him, nothing had been finalized yet.
Given everything he'd done to the village, his situation was extremely dangerous.
After a moment of silence, the chat group exploded.
First Hokage Hashirama Senju:
@Sarutobi Hiruzen – Say that again. Who exactly is the strongest Hokage in history?
Second Hokage Tobirama Senju:
You stinking monkey! You've definitely gone insane!
Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze:
I don't agree with that statement at all. To me, the strongest Hokage in history is Lord First, Hashirama Senju.
Fourth Raikage A:
Looks like I don't need to tell any jokes today—The Third Hokage's delusions are far funnier than mine!
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki:
I agree with that one. A, you've still got room to improve as a comedian.
Uchiha Madara:
@Sarutobi Hiruzen – Strongest in the ninja world? Then what does that make me and Hashi-rama? If it's not me, then it's definitely Hashi-rama!
Sage of Six Paths:
Ahem. Hello? Am I not the actual strongest ninja in history?
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki:
Ungrateful child! Did you forget about your mother? How dare you call yourself the strongest?!
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
@Everyone – As long as I have my staff, I am not only the strongest Hokage in history, but the strongest in the entire ninja world! Don't believe me? Then kneel and catch my staff! Wahahaha!
Uchiha Madara:
I wasn't even planning to deal with you. You're way too trash to catch my attention. But now that you're acting so arrogant, rest assured—when I come back to life, I'm coming for you first. I'll show you what true power looks like.
Everyone in the group joined in flaming Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But he didn't back down at all—still clinging to the belief that he was both the strongest Hokage and the top ninja in the world.
Eventually, the mockery stopped only because the official footage about Hiruzen began to play.
[Ninja World Broadcast Footage Begins]
"When it comes to the Third Hokage, perhaps the most memorable quote is this one:
'Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The shadow of the fire will shine on the village, and the leaves will continue to grow.'
It's the guiding belief he upheld his entire life: to pass down the Will of Fire to future generations.
He was the teacher of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.
He mentored Minato Namikaze to become the Fourth Hokage.
He personally reassigned Kakashi from ANBU to mentor Team 7—Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Hokage—and even the potential Eighth—were all shaped by his influence."
The chat group lit up again.
Uchiha Sasuke:
@Naruto – See? I told you! Now that I'm the Seventh Hokage, you'll never get the chance to become one.
Uzumaki Naruto:
Sasuke! I will become Hokage!
Uchiha Sasuke:
How? Let's do the math—
Third Hokage: Hiruzen
Fourth: Your dad, Minato
Fifth: Lady Tsunade
Sixth: Kakashi
Seventh: Me, Uchiha Sasuke
And Eighth might be Konohamaru!
You planning to wait until he retires and be the Ninth?!
Uzumaki Naruto:
Damn it! No way!
But Tsunade-baa-chan said I'd be Hokage one day!
And being Hokage is my dream!
It's my ninja way: I never go back on my word! If I said I'll become Hokage—then I will!
Uchiha Sasuke:
Naruto, wake up! Stop dreaming!
You're always saying you'll beat me—yet you still haven't, not even once!
Kushina Uzumaki:
@Naruto – Don't be discouraged, sweetheart! Mom will always believe in you! You can do it!
Minato Namikaze:
@Naruto – Even though the future shown here doesn't seem to have you as Hokage, don't give up.
This scroll has already changed fate—anything is possible now.
Keep working hard! Your dream can come true.
Hashirama Senju:
Naruto, you're the hope I saw in Konoha's future.
I believe you will become Hokage one day—don't give up!
Tobirama Senju:
@Naruto – Almost forgot to mention:
Once I'm resurrected, I'll personally teach you my ninjutsu.
Even if you don't want to be Hokage, you'll still be strong enough to qualify.
Mito Uzumaki:
I've never met you, but you're from the Uzumaki clan—so carry our name with pride!
You will become Hokage. I support you too!
Uzumaki Naruto:
I've never given up! I believe in myself!
Sasuke, just wait—I'll become Hokage and I'll keep my promise to defeat you! @Uchiha Sasuke
Uchiha Sasuke:
Fine. I'll be waiting. But when you fail… don't come crying.
Hinata Hyūga:
You can do it, Naruto-kun!
Sakura Haruno:
Hinata, cheering him on won't help.
Naruto may look good in that future footage, but there's no way he'll beat Sasuke.
Uchiha Madara:
@Uchiha Sasuke – So you're dead-set on becoming Hokage, huh?
Uchiha Sasuke:
Lord Madara, it's not that I want to be Hokage.
It's just… in the future, I am the Seventh Hokage.
Sasuke didn't finish that last thought out loud.
But in his heart, he was determined:
He must never lose to Naruto.
There were two things Sasuke had sworn to accomplish in his life:
Kill Itachi himself.
Never lose to Naruto.
Konohamaru Sarutobi:
Whoa! I become Hokage in the future?! Even if it's the Eighth—I'm still awesome!
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
Well done, Konohamaru! You truly are my grandson!
The footage continued.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen was known as a kind and gentle elder.
He viewed the entire village as his family, which made him far too lenient when dealing with Orochimaru and Danzo.
But as the longest-serving Hokage, who endured all the Shinobi World Wars, he was far more cunning and strategic than he appeared.
The Sarutobi Clan was one of the founding clans of Konoha.
In the series, key characters with the Sarutobi name include Hiruzen, Asuma, and Konohamaru.
When Hashirama and Madara first proposed creating Konoha, they said:
"Besides the Senju and Uchiha, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans also want to join us."
Chat Group Discussion
Hashirama Senju:
@Madara – Madaraaaa~! I miss the old days! Remember when we founded Konoha together?
Uchiha Madara:
Hashi-rama! Don't start with that again!
Hashirama:
Madara, I really don't want to fight you.
More than anything, I don't want Konoha to fight you again.
So please, when you come back—don't start the Fourth Great Ninja War, okay?
Uchiha Madara:
Hashirama, you don't understand.
I have my own goals—things I must accomplish.
Once I do, you'll understand. You'll praise me yourself.
Ōnoki:
Am I the only one who thinks the scroll is overpraising Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
@Ōnoki – Are you questioning the scroll?!
@Hashirama @Tobirama – Lords First and Second! You've seen the scroll now—surely you believe me?
Everything I did… I truly did it for the village!
Hiruzen:
Sure, I made some mistakes with Orochimaru and Danzo.
But it was because I saw Konoha as my family! I cared too much!
Fugaku Uchiha:
@Sarutobi Hiruzen – Shameless old man! What about the Uchiha Clan?
"Senju Pikachu":
@Sarutobi Hiruzen – Despicable geezer! What about the Senju Clan?! Did you forget how miserably I died?!
Tobirama Senju:
You stinking monkey. Stop trying to clear your name. You're way too deep in the black to ever wash clean.
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
Sigh… I gave my whole life to Konoha. Even the scroll acknowledges me.
But still… I can't earn the approval of Lord First or my teacher…
The footage continued.
"As for the Shimura Clan, one name says it all:
Shimura Danzo.
The source of most of the Hokage-era tragedies—
The true King of Scapegoats."
Sarutobi Hiruzen:
@Danzo – Old man! Look at yourself!
No one can save you now!
Tobirama Senju:
I'm ashamed… I actually raised both of these disasters.
Hashirama Senju:
Don't blame yourself, Tobirama.
If we're pointing fingers, Madara and I are guilty too.
If I hadn't approved the Shimura clan's entry into Konoha, Danzo wouldn't even exist.
Uchiha Madara:
Don't drag me into this!
You're on your own for this one, Hashirama—I'm not taking the blame.
Danzo:
This is all targeted! It's a setup!
Everything I did—I did with Hiruzen!
So why does the scroll praise him and condemn me?! This is clearly biased!
Ōnoki:
I can't believe Konoha is this dark behind the scenes.
If it weren't for the scroll, I'd never have known.
Fourth Raikage A:
So this is the so-called "Number One Ninja Village"?
Well, I've learned a lot.
The footage continued.
"Danzo was Hiruzen's childhood friend.
As kids, they sat together on the Hokage Rock, dreaming of the village's future.
And perhaps because of that bond, Hiruzen always went easy on Danzo.
Hiruzen also hailed from a prestigious clan, and was a direct disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
If Tobirama was the true inventor of modern ninjutsu…
Then Hiruzen was its greatest scholar—nicknamed the Ninjutsu Professor."
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