Chapter 216: Candidates for the Fourth Hokage!

In the tavern, an uneasy silence filled the air. After a long pause, Jiraiya was the first to speak.

"Orochimaru, did you know in advance that Danzo would suddenly attack Sensei like that?"

Jiraiya had overheard a conversation between Uzumaki Raiden and Orochimaru at the funeral, which raised his suspicions.

"Hehehe, how could I possibly know such a thing?" Orochimaru replied with his usual eerie laugh.

"Jiraiya, don't overthink it."

"As for Sensei, I'm sure he has his own plans."

"If you called me here to talk about this, then I'll take my leave."

Orochimaru, well aware of Jiraiya's intentions, spoke in a deliberately dismissive manner. He wanted to avoid discussing these matters over dinner and pretended to leave. As expected, Jiraiya quickly got up and placed his hands on Orochimaru's shoulders to stop him.

"Come on, stay. It's been a while since we all had a proper meal together!"

Jiraiya grinned and called over the waiter, ordered food, and sat beside Orochimaru. He then turned to Uzumaki Raiden with a mischievous smile.

"Hey, kid, do you want to be Hokage?"

"If you do, I'll support you. How about that?"

Raiden glanced at Jiraiya, unimpressed. The clumsy attempt to probe his thoughts was so obvious that he didn't even feel like responding. Instead, he turned his gaze to his sister, Kushina, who was sitting beside Minato. The two were whispering to each other, smiles on their faces, clearly enjoying each other's company.

Seeing Raiden ignore him, Jiraiya followed his gaze and spotted Minato and Kushina talking. With a cheeky grin, he leaned in and whispered to Raiden:

"Hey, are you feeling left out because your sister is too busy dating to pay attention to you?"

"Minato and Kushina are a good match. They're around the same age, and now that Konoha isn't at war, don't you think it's time to arrange their marriage?"

"There aren't any elders left in Minato's family, so as his master, I'll take care of it for you!"

Jiraiya's train of thought jumped wildly. Just moments ago, he was worried about Sarutobi Hiruzen's predicament; now he was scheming about his apprentice's marriage. His voice wasn't exactly quiet, and Minato and Kushina, overhearing him, blushed and immediately sat upright.

"You think I'm a child?" Raiden shot Jiraiya a disdainful look. He had only been observing them because the atmosphere was too tense, and their casual conversation provided a rare moment of relief.

As for missing his sister's attention—Raiden had long outgrown such feelings. In the ninja world, he was "Konoha's Thunder," feared by enemies far and wide.

"I know what you're worried about, but it's not something you need to concern yourself with. Even if you did, you wouldn't be able to change anything."

"The troops I command at the northeastern border are loyal to Sensei. Whether I act or not, they will support him."

"The real threat to Sensei comes from certain clans led by Danzo and the elders he might sway to his side."

"But ultimately, it doesn't matter, because the largest clans in Konoha will never support Danzo."

Raiden's expression remained calm. He didn't know exactly how many supported Danzo, but he was sure that as long as the major clans—like the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and the Hyuga clan—stood by the Third Hokage, no amount of public pressure could shake him.

Furthermore, the younger generation of Konoha, including figures like Hatake Sakumo and the Sannin, were deeply connected to the Third Hokage. Even Uchiha Shinki, the most powerful figure in the Uchiha clan, was a staunch supporter of Hiruzen.

As long as these powerful figures remained loyal, Danzo's efforts would be futile.

In Raiden's view, Danzo was likely trying to pressure the Third Hokage into stepping down voluntarily.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was known for his strength, kindness, and compassion, but such qualities also made him vulnerable to self-doubt when faced with widespread criticism.

Letting public opinion wear down the Third Hokage's spirit—this was Danzo's true plan. As someone who had been by Hiruzen's side for years, Danzo understood his weaknesses well.

However, Raiden didn't bother explaining all this to Jiraiya. Instead, he reassured him that the situation was under control. Jiraiya mulled over Raiden's words and found them reasonable, feeling a bit more at ease.

With the tension dissipated, the group returned to enjoying their gathering.

After finishing their food and drinks, they left one by one. Kushina, Tsunade, and Nawaki returned to the Senju estate, while Jiraiya and Orochimaru headed home.

Only Raiden walked towards the village gate.

Konoha, after the war, was no longer as bustling as it once was. The streets were deserted at night, with only a few lights illuminating the path ahead.

After walking for a while, Raiden reached the entrance of the village. The guards recognized him and simply stood aside, offering respectful nods as he passed through without questioning.

"Sensei, have you been waiting for me?"

Stepping into a quiet clearing, Raiden spotted Sarutobi Hiruzen sitting under a large tree, gazing up at the starry sky.

"Yes, I've been waiting for you for quite some time. It's been a while since we've had a chat."

"How about we take a walk and talk after your meal?"

Sarutobi stood up, dusting off his clothes, and spoke in a gentle tone.

"Alright, let's go for a walk." Raiden nodded and walked alongside him.

The two strolled under the moonlight, following the path along a small stream. The gentle flow of water led them toward Raiden's home near the waterfall.

After a long stretch of silence, Sarutobi finally spoke, his voice carrying a serious tone.

"Raiden, what would you think if I asked you to become the next Hokage?"

Raiden's first reaction was surprise, but then clarity dawned on him. He recalled meeting Naruto Uzumaki from the future in Rouran, who had mentioned that Raiden would become the Fourth Hokage.

"So, the opportunity is finally here?"

Understanding the gravity of the moment, Raiden looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression serious.

"I don't want it," he answered firmly.

(End of this chapter)