The actions of Ino–Shika–Chō, who wished to part ways with Hiruzen Sarutobi, were merely the tip of the iceberg within Konoha.
On the other side.
Jiraiya looked at his dispirited disciple, Minato Namikaze, beside him, his own heart filled with endless pain during this period, and he murmured to himself, “My poor disciple, how could he have fallen to this state? Old man, you truly have brought much suffering to Minato Namikaze. If Minato Namikaze cannot become the Fourth Hokage in the future, what will become of the Child of Destiny?”
The terrifying Nine-Tailed power within Uzumaki Kushina made his head throb with pain.
One must know that as the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, she is undoubtedly the exclusive property of the Hokage.
From information in a parallel timeline, it is known that only because Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage was he able to marry Uzumaki Kushina.
Otherwise, no Hokage would ever hand over such a powerful asset to Minato Namikaze; that would be irresponsible to Konoha and a threat to his own rule.
Through information from another parallel timeline, it can be known that Minato Namikaze’s position as Fourth Hokage was essentially predetermined, a matter orchestrated by his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
But now, as Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sarutobi Clan’s reputations are ruined, their disciples and grand-disciples are also notorious, like rats on the street, despised by everyone.
Jiraiya now doesn’t even dare to conduct his usual research trips.
In the past, that would have been unimaginable.
Even though such peeping behavior was highly disgraceful, who could blame him when he was the disciple of the great Third Hokage!
People could only verbally condemn and criticize him, but dared not impose more severe punishments.
But at this moment, Jiraiya no longer dared to continue such lawless behavior in the Village, fearing that his actions would completely strip him of his right to live in Konoha.
People no longer cared that he was the Hokage’s disciple.
If he were to continue peeping and researching in Konoha.
Once discovered or even caught.
He would basically be permanently expelled from Konoha Ninja Village.
This was an unacceptable horror for Jiraiya.
Jiraiya, whose heart was filled with the teachings of the fire will, still firmly believed in the existence of the fire will even after Hiruzen Sarutobi’s downfall, and wholeheartedly wanted to protect this Village.
Therefore, during this time, he had been quite peaceful, wholeheartedly following his disciple and maintaining Konoha’s stability.
At least, in his own view, that’s what he was doing.
“Sigh…” Jiraiya let out a long sigh, his heart filled with helplessness and bitterness. He couldn’t help but think of the controversial old man; although the old man had caused many losses to Konoha, Jiraiya knew that the old man also had indelible merits, having contributed significantly to at least two Ninja World Wars.
“Why can’t everyone just let it go?” Jiraiya murmured to himself, “Although the old man made mistakes, his contributions to Konoha are also undeniable! Without the old man, how could Konoha have grown so strong?”
However, Jiraiya knew in his heart that if his thoughts were known to the outside world, it would likely cause an uproar.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mistakes had already dealt a heavy blow to Konoha, not only turning the inherited fire will of Konoha into a complete joke but also leading to the constant persecution and exploitation of Konoha’s elites, and the continuous embezzlement of large amounts of Konoha’s funds to develop his own clan.
At this moment, people’s anger and dissatisfaction towards Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Sarutobi Clan were high. In such a situation, who would still understand what merits Hiruzen Sarutobi had? Were his so-called merits just wantonly squandering Konoha Village as if it were Sarutobi Village?
Of course, the inner thoughts of the other people in Konoha.
Jiraiya, as the disciple of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, naturally did not know them.
After all, Jiraiya was the disciple of the great Third Hokage, personally trained by Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was the Hokage, immediately after graduation, with free access to various Ninjutsu and resources, deeply inheriting the fire will, and his double standards were well-known, so he naturally ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi’s misdeeds.
At this moment, a troubled smile appeared on Jiraiya’s face, a smile that held both regret for the old man and disappointment in the Konoha villagers.
He knew that his thoughts might go against the majority, and he might even be seen as an outcast.
But he did not regret it, because he firmly believed that only by looking at a person comprehensively could one truly understand his value and significance, and his teacher was such a person; he only had a tiny bit of selfishness while being Hokage and developing Konoha, showing a slight favoritism towards his own clan.
However, none of this mattered.
As long as the people of Konoha had the fire will.
And understood each other.
All of this was forgivable!
“And! Even if you deny my teacher, you cannot deny everything my teacher has done, for example, the future Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, my own disciple. He protected the entire Konoha in a parallel timeline, a great being who sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tailed. Why wouldn’t you choose such a Hokage, but instead insist on choosing Danzo Shimura!” Jiraiya’s mind was full of bewilderment; he truly couldn’t understand, did these people of Konoha not have any sense of the bigger picture in their hearts?
Between Danzo Shimura, that shadowy rat, and his own disciple, Minato Namikaze, there was nothing to hesitate about.
And that Danzo Shimura, even if he discovered what his teacher had done, why couldn’t he discuss it privately?
Why did he have to expose everything at the meeting of all Konoha’s high-ranking officials at that time, utterly destroying the Hokage’s reputation?
Becoming the laughingstock of the entire Ninja World.
“Danzo, that guy truly has no fire will.” Jiraiya said resentfully in his heart, “But, it’s still good now. Although my teacher made a small mistake, he has never retreated on the true Hokage selection. With Teacher Sarutobi’s support, Minato, you will definitely be able to become Hokage just like in the future!”
“At that time, Minato, you can continue to marry Kushina, and then give birth to the Child of Destiny, the future of the Ninja World. Everything will be fine then!”
“Teacher, can I really still be Hokage?!” Minato Namikaze’s voice revealed a hint of despair and confusion, as if he had already lost confidence in himself.
Standing by the window, Minato Namikaze gazed into the distance, taking in the beautiful scenery of the entire Konoha Village. However, the scene in his eyes now was vastly different from before. The peaceful, sunny view was now shrouded in endless distress in his heart.
Jiraiya walked over to Minato Namikaze, gently patted his shoulder, and comforted him, “Don’t worry, Minato, everything will be fine.”
However, Jiraiya’s comfort did not alleviate Minato Namikaze’s mood much. He felt increasingly disappointed by Hiruzen Sarutobi’s hypocrisy, and even began to resent him.
Minato Namikaze couldn’t help but think of his future child with Uzumaki Kushina—Uzumaki Naruto. That adorable child was now being treated as a weapon by Danzo Shimura, controlled in his hands. The thought of this tore at Minato Namikaze’s heart with pain.
Despite his heart being filled with anger and dissatisfaction, Minato Namikaze knew he couldn’t let these emotions show. He had to hide everything deep inside, unable to let anyone perceive his true thoughts. Because he knew that once his attitude was discovered, it would not only bring danger to himself but also jeopardize the safety of his child, Uzumaki Naruto.
Considering these unspeakable matters in his heart.
Minato Namikaze fell silent, only able to continue maintaining his usual stance of supporting the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi alongside his teacher Jiraiya in the coming days. Although he still harbored resentment towards Hiruzen Sarutobi in his heart, believing that he had defiled the existence of the fire will and insulted the great title of Hokage.
But no matter what!
He was still the Third Hokage, Teacher Jiraiya’s master, and his own grand-master!
No matter what, his care for him could not be easily cast aside.
At least, without his identity as his grand-disciple, how could he have learned the various Konoha Forbidden Technique from the sealing scroll?
Whether it was Flying Thunder God or other Forbidden Technique.
He wouldn’t even have dared to think about them.
“Can I still shed my identity from the Sarutobi lineage now?” Minato Namikaze had an answer in his heart. He wasn’t a sentimental person by nature, but he couldn’t help but ponder.
But now, he had no choice!