Chapter 157 Sarutobi Hiruzen’s plan
The answer was just as Jiraiya expected.
The two old guys were indeed plotting against the guy from Iwagakure Village.
"Where is Danzo planning to send you?"
Seeing that Jiraiya had gotten the answer but didn't say anything, Sarutobi Hiruzen put his pipe aside, looked at his disciple and said.
"Let me go to the Land of Grass."
After confirming that his teacher was not in danger, Jiraiya returned to his usual nonchalant self.
He carelessly pushed aside an Anbu next to him and sat down at the table.
"You are still that reckless guy..."
Seeing that his disciple had no intention of respecting his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not care. He just laughed and scolded him, and then talked about business:
"There will definitely be a war in the Grass Country. You must take this opportunity to perform well, so that after the war..."
"No, no, no, stop it."
Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could finish his words, Jiraiya, who understood the other party's implication, immediately interrupted him.
"I will do my best, but there is no need to discuss what happens next."
Jiraiya's refusal was completely within Sarutobi Hiruzen's expectations.
It was no secret that this was never the ambition of his disciple.
All along, Sarutobi Hiruzen has intended to choose his successor between Orochimaru and Tsunade.
But of these two disciples, one has been inseparable from Danzo and has now become the second-in-command of the Root.
The other one spends every day in the medical department, and goes to the street to drink and play cards after work.
Only Jiraiya, who was the last one in the group at that time, was left to implement the will of fire.
In order to keep the Hokage line under control within the power structure created by the second generation, the next Hokage can only be Jiraiya.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had a very good plan. He would retreat behind the scenes and assist Jiraiya.
The rights of Danzo, Koharu and En will be gradually stripped away, and then the Root founded by Danzo can be naturally inherited by Orochimaru.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru are equivalent to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo today.
As long as the position of Hokage is passed down from generation to generation according to this framework, the will of fire will continue forever.
"There is no room for negotiation on this matter, Jiraiya. This is the teacher's greatest hope for you, and it is also the expectation of your predecessors."
Shaking his head, Sarutobi Hiruzen was very determined on this matter.
Since Orochimaru, Tsunade and Jiraiya left their schools, Sarutobi Hiruzen has never accepted any disciples.
The job of Hokage was already stressful enough for him, and he had no chance to expand his own faction.
Whether Jiraiya agrees or not, he must shoulder this burden.
"What a stubborn old man."
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen so determined, Jiraiya, knowing his teacher's temper, scratched his head in dissatisfaction.
Although Jiraiya no longer needs to leave the village to look for the so-called child of prophecy, his experience of traveling around the ninja world in his early years has made him not very fond of life staying in the village.
"My disciple is pretty good, why don't you consider him?"
The disciple that Jiraiya was referring to was naturally Minato Namikaze.
"Minato, he is indeed a genius."
When he heard the name of Minato Namikaze, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned subconsciously, and then relaxed his brows.
It was just a moment, but Jiraiya captured it keenly.
"Minato is still too young and needs more experience."
Shaking his head, Sarutobi Hiruzen rejected Minato.
Although Minato is Jiraiya's disciple, he should be considered as a disciple of Sarutobi Hiruzen, and he was also well influenced by the will of fire.
But he was too close to Danzo, and was promoted by Danzo.
If he became Hokage, he would have no way of suppressing Danzo.
Jiraiya is still more reassuring.
Jiraiya was also a smart man and he quickly figured out the connection.
[What a pity! It seems that Minato will have to wait until Danzo retires completely before he can fulfill his ambition.]
Feeling sorry for his disciple in his heart, Jiraiya jumped off the table.
"Anyway, let's just survive this war first."
Jiraiya shook his white hair and said in a rather heroic manner.
"Be careful."
Seeing that Jiraiya was unwilling to continue this topic, Sarutobi Hiruzen habitually pulled down his hat, but the empty feeling made him realize that he was not in the Hokage's residence at the moment.
But in your own home.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had already reached out his hand to his head, could only touch his forehead.
"Ah."
With his back turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya waved his hand, leaving only a benevolent back to his teacher.
......
"Danzo-sama, Jiraiya just left the Sarutobi residence."
Shortly after Jiraiya left, Danzo in the Hokage's office received a report from his subordinates.
At this time, Danzo was focusing on the information he had gathered from the Iwagakure Village, and did not express any opinion on the matter.
Seeing Danzo's silence, the Root ninja who came to report lowered his head tactfully, and then slowly disappeared into the shadows.
After a long while, Danzo put down the information and said leisurely:
"The Iwagakure Village has done a much better job of keeping secrets than before."
Putting down the information in his hand, Danzo's eyes turned cold.
Even though he dispatched Nono, the pharmacist with the best intelligence gathering ability among his subordinates, he was unable to obtain the key information. It seems that Lao Zi's disappearance has made Ohnoki more vigilant.
but......
Pick up the battle report beside you.
It was clearly recorded above that the Hidden Cloud Village had sent reinforcements, and Hyuga Shimizu switched from offense to strategic defense and repelled the enemy many times.
Now more than 20,000 people from Konoha and the Hidden Cloud Village are fighting in the Land of Hot Springs, but Ōnoki did not attack him immediately.
Prove that the other party is now interested.
We need to add more fuel to the fire.
Ohnoki is a typical guy who won't release the eagle until he sees the rabbit.
The biggest reason why Konoha is fighting with the Hidden Cloud Village is that the children of the big families have not been sent to the front line on a large scale. Now only the elite Hyuga clan is supporting the front line.
At this time on the Muyun front, the ratio of troops deployed by both sides was 8000:.
Among these 8000 ninjas, the large Konoha clan only accounted for more than 1500 people.
The quality of the Konoha ninjas can be seen from the fact that they were able to withstand the enemy's counterattack despite having inferior military strength.
Part of the credit for this can also be attributed to Kakuzu who was killing so many people on the front line.
The number of enemies that Jiaodu has killed during this period has exceeded the number of bounties he has killed during his years of exile.
If any of the Earth's resentful creatures had no limit on the number of hearts, Jiao Du would have to have at least a thousand hearts.
We must not show any signs of decline at a time like this. Only by continuing to advance can we make Ōnoki believe that the Hidden Cloud Village is about to collapse.
"Reinforce the troops!"
Without giving it much thought, Danzo made his decision.