Chapter 79 - Vicious Cycle.

No matter how much a person grows, there will always be a few people in their hearts whom they respect or even fear.

In the heart of the Third Hokage, besides the First Hokage Senju Hashirama and his mentor Senju Tobirama, only Uzumaki Mito made him feel this tense.

Uzumaki Mito held an extremely exalted position in Konoha. She was not only the jinchūriki who could control the power of the Nine-Tails and the wife of the First Hokage, but also one of Konoha's founders.

During the Warring States period, if it weren't for the steadfast support of the Uzumaki Clan, the Senju Clan wouldn't have been able to defeat the Hyūga Clan, an essential ally of the Uchiha, and ultimately establish Konoha.

Even Senju Tobirama, in front of Uzumaki Mito, could only show deep respect.

The Third Hokage sighed deeply, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him — frustration, panic, anger, and helplessness.

Disturbing Uzumaki Mito, who hadn't emerged for years, was never his intention. Ever since he dispatched Danzo to investigate the matter of Hanma's clandestine dealings, the situation gradually spiraled out of his control.

The Third Hokage introspected. He only wanted to eradicate the underground transactions disrupting the village's operational system and had no intention against Orochimaru or the Uchiha. However, the complex public opinion had already become an uncontrollable wildfire. Not only did it burn up to him, but it also scorched the Will of Fire in Konoha.

Even when the Third Hokage assumed his role amidst a crisis, the people's sentiments in Konoha had never wavered as they did now.

The Third Hokage never expected that even after he halted the Wood Release experiments, Orochimaru would continue with his research, employing brutal methods. He also didn't anticipate that Danzo would drag Orochimaru down, clearing his own name in the process.

Danzo's loss of control and Orochimaru's unfamiliarity were surprises beyond his calculations. One could only say that the Third Hokage's impressions of his apprentice and old friend remained stuck in the past decade.

And Hanma's subsequent counterpropaganda further filled the Third Hokage with rage and helplessness.

The Third Hokage's governance could be said to have completely followed the path set by the Second Hokage, perhaps even rigidly and mechanically. After all, he didn't have any predecessors to cushion him; his foundation and legitimacy were not very solid.

Had it not been for Uzumaki Mito's support and acknowledgment back then, he wouldn't have been able to become Hokage.

The Third Hokage had an inherent flaw in his ascension, and yet he couldn't find a solution to this problem. 

As a protector, leaving the Hokage on the battlefield, which resulted in the Hokage's death, was an indisputable fact. The Will of Fire was not omnipotent. Before discussing the Will of Fire, Konoha was first and foremost a ninja village, and the primary duty of a ninja was to complete the tasks they undertook.

More importantly, even the Third Hokage himself harbored doubts: how could Senju Tobirama, who mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, fall on that battlefield and never return?

"Mito-sama, I have disappointed you," the Third Hokage finally uttered a complete sentence, his lips trembling.

Uzumaki Mito spoke sternly, "Sarutobi, if you lack Tobirama's abilities, you shouldn't blindly follow his policies."

With fatigue evident in her eyes, Uzumaki Mito, a woman from the Warring States period who even with the Yin Seal, no longer possessed boundless energy.

"You still don't understand the Uchiha Clan. The strong in this clan are not to be constrained. Forcing them only brings worse results. You need to adjust your attitude towards the Uchiha. Did Konoha gain any benefits when Tobirama drove Uchiha Madara away?

"Tobirama's policies should evolve with the times, Sarutobi. You need to find a new path to lead Konoha."

As she criticized the Third Hokage, Uzumaki Mito also vented her own dissatisfaction. She had reservations about Tobirama's series of policies.

From Uzumaki Mito's perspective, the competition among the first Hokages was like this:

Hashirama wanted Madara to be the Hokage, but Tobirama changed Hashirama's mind, leading to Madara feeling betrayed and fighting Hashirama.

Peace, which had finally been achieved, was shattered because of the Hokage position, taking away her husband and leaving her alone, sealing the beast within her, living in solitude. 

Hashirama's death led to the First Ninja World War. Although Tobirama led Konoha to victory over the other four nations, he didn't escape death on the battlefield. Sarutobi Hiruzen hastily assumed the Hokage position, causing internal turmoil in Konoha.

Other ninja villages seized the opportunity to band together and annihilate the Land of Whirlpools, exterminating the Uzumaki Clan. Simply to prevent Madara from becoming Hokage, Hashirama was heavily injured, Tobirama fell in battle, the Uzumaki Clan was exterminated, and many Konoha ninjas also died on the battlefield.

Uzumaki Mito sometimes pondered if all this was worth it. 

The Third Hokage lifted his head, his eyes full of stubbornness. Uzumaki Mito could say anything to him, but she couldn't criticize Tobirama.

"Mito-sama, Tobirama-sensei's policies were not wrong. Uchiha Madara did not have a heart willing to dedicate himself to the village. Even if he became Hokage, he would only bring destruction to the village.

"The current Uchiha are the same. Uchiha Hanma treats the village's missions as a joke, greatly disrupting the village's operational system, with no Will of Fire in his heart. This war's misinformation stemmed from him, causing significant losses to the village. The Uchiha Clan still needs to be restricted!"

The Third Hokage's voice grew louder, becoming more assertive.

Uzumaki Mito shook her head. As long as Uchiha Hanma had enough power, these arguments were meaningless.

"Then, how do you plan to handle the current situation?"

The Third Hokage hesitated. Hanma's counterpropaganda had indeed hit his sore spot, and he wanted to quell the incident quickly. After a long contemplation, he spoke slowly,

"Mito-sama, I plan to let the Department of Administration issue an official clarification, treating these village rumors as attacks from external spies. This should successfully quell the turmoil.

"As for the Uchiha, I still believe they hold a narrow clanism. If the Uchiha gain Konoha's authority, the entire village would become their vassal, and Konoha's foundational purpose would cease to exist."

Uzumaki Mito sighed. The Third Hokage was not without reason. The Uchiha Clan had been known for their extremism and belief in power since the Warring States period. After Konoha was established, there were even incidents of clan members fighting for each other's eyes. This clan was indeed unfit to lead a hidden village, something Uzumaki Mito also agreed with.

If an Uchiha became Hokage, there was a high likelihood that Konoha would become a tool for the Uchiha, re-igniting wars and stripping the shinobi world of peace. 

However, now there was an emotionally stable, powerful, and cunning Hanma from the Uchiha Clan. The Uchiha Clan was no longer as simple and impetuous as before. Tobirama's policy of restricting the Uchiha was gradually failing.

In this propaganda battle, Uzumaki Mito even saw a shadow of Tobirama in Hanma. 

More troubling was that Konoha wasn't as strong as it used to be. The power of the Uchiha Clan was something Konoha needed now.

The entire issue with the Uchiha seemed to be caught in a vicious cycle.

"Sarutobi, my days are numbered. Quickly select a successor for the Nine-Tails. That is the most important issue at hand."

Uzumaki Mito grew weary and rose to leave. She and the Uzumaki Clan had already given enough for Konoha.

Her primary purpose in coming here wasn't just to discuss policies with the Third Hokage, but to address the last matter before her impending death: the transfer of the Nine-Tails.

The Third Hokage lit his pipe, the ember flickering in the darkness, mirroring Konoha's uncertain future.

The initially planned Nine-Tails vessel, Kushina Uzumaki, was closely associating with Hanma's disciple. On this basis alone, the Hokage faction could not entrust the Nine-Tails to her. 

However, the Nine-Tails' power was too wild, and finding a suitable jinchūriki wasn't simple.