Kapitel 78: Chapter 78: Rivals, Comrades!
Sakumo Hatake's expression was grave. Although Uchiha Homura was truly gifted, even surpassing Nawaki, Sarutobi Ao, and Hiashi Hyūga at one point, Sakumo didn't consider this a good thing.
He saw in Uchiha Homura the arrogance and defiance that most members of the Uchiha clan possessed. Now that they held the authority over Konoha's security forces, they had become increasingly insolent and disdainful.
For the higher-ups of Konoha, the existence of the Uchiha clan was an invisible threat. This threat had existed since the founding of Konoha.
The Third Hokage must have understood Sakumo's implication, but his expression didn't reveal the same sentiment. "I don't see it that way. Even though he's from the Uchiha clan, he's still a part of Konoha. Shouldn't we elders feel gratified to see a child's excellence?" The Third smiled.
"That's true, but..." Sakumo began, but the Third interrupted him.
"I know what you're going to say. Uchiha Homura is proud, even arrogant, but from what I understand, his nature isn't as stubborn as most Uchiha."
The Third stood up from his office chair, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke. "Sakumo, as the Hokage, I don't want to discard anyone from this village. The Uchiha clan once joined hands with the Senju clan to establish the village we live in. Shouldn't I feel gratitude towards them?"
Sakumo had never considered this perspective. Upon careful reflection, as the Third said, although the Uchiha were proud, they were an indispensable part of Konoha.
"But that was the Uchiha of the past. Everything changed after Madara Uchiha left the village," Sakumo, well-versed in Konoha's history, knew the root cause.
Whether it was the founding of Konoha or the current state of the Uchiha, it was all because of that man.
"But even Madara Uchiha once joined hands with the First Hokage! Konoha was undoubtedly at its strongest during that time!" The Third's eyes shone with emotion.
Sakumo understood the Third's implication. "You mean to restore the relationship between the village's higher-ups and the Uchiha to what it was when Konoha was founded?"
The Third's idea was indeed bold.
"Why not?" The Third said. "If our predecessors could join hands to establish the current Konoha, why can't we do the same to make Konoha truly flourish?"
"You want to change this situation through the younger generation of the Uchiha?" Sakumo asked. The Third's idea was admirable but not easy to achieve, at least not in the short term.
The Third nodded. "Yes, not just Uchiha Homura, but Uchiha Mikoto is also extremely gifted. More importantly, she's pure-hearted and kind, without the clan's deep obsession. And there's Uchiha Fugaku, whose thoughts and actions differ from other Uchiha."
"You mean the prodigy who joined Konoha's security forces at age eleven?"
Uchiha Fugaku was the son of the current Uchiha clan leader and exceptionally talented. When he was at the Ninja Academy, he was undisputedly ranked first.
"Correct. With these children, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha, Konoha's future, has hope." The Third smiled.
Seeing the Third's beaming expression, Sakumo smiled too. "I think you're not just referring to these Uchiha children, are you?"
He understood that the task of communication couldn't be done by the Third or himself.
Nawaki, who inherited the First Hokage's Will of Fire, and Sarutobi Ao, the genius youth of the Sarutobi clan.
And then there was...
"What do you think of the boy Minato Namikaze?" The Third asked with a faint smile.
Sakumo laughed bitterly. "The reason I didn't mention him is because I feel there's no need for me to evaluate him further. Minato is undoubtedly a true genius, a one-of-a-kind talent in Konoha's history."
"I didn't expect you to have such a high opinion of him," the Third said, slightly taken aback that such praise came from Sakumo, Konoha's most brilliant genius.
"It's not an exaggeration. Whether it's his talent in ninjutsu or his ability as a ninja, he shouldn't possess such skills at his age, let alone as an Academy student. With some combat experience, I believe he's capable of leading a squad as its captain."
In Konoha, there was a limited number of Jōnin, so squad leaders were usually elite Chūnin-level ninja in addition to Jōnin.
Minato was undoubtedly at that level.
He could lead a team of unremarkable Academy students to the finals of the Chūnin Exams and even use the combination of Wind and Fire Release techniques, as well as an unprecedented high-speed movement technique that even Sakumo had never seen.
It was all too unimaginable.
"Heh, that boy never ceases to surprise," the Third had also heard about Minato's performance in the Chūnin Exams from Sakumo.
These past few days, the Third had been assigned to guard Kushina Uzumaki.
"For Jiraiya-senpai to teach such a disciple is truly impressive."
The Third smiled. Minato was actually a disciple he had found for Jiraiya.
"So, do you think it's possible for him to realize my earlier hopes?" The Third asked with a smile.
Sakumo fell silent. Even he couldn't fathom the possibilities Minato possessed.
"He's friends with Uchiha Mikoto and has a good relationship with Nawaki and Sarutobi Ao," the Third said.
Sakumo nodded. "Indeed. That boy has a quality that makes it hard for even his rivals to resent him."
Sakumo laughed. "But he and Uchiha Homura are rivals, so..."
The Third didn't seem surprised. "Rivals? That's the beginning of their comradeship. The bonds between ninja are hard to define."
The First Hokage and Madara Uchiha were once true comrades.
Sakumo nodded.
Then, the Third looked at Sakumo. "However, to form such a bond, it can't just involve those two. There must be someone to bridge them, and you're the most suitable person for that."
Sakumo was surprised. "Me?"
(End of chapter)
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