The Sarutobi Residence
Hiruzen Sarutobi was alone, enjoying a rare moment of peace at home. Having just brewed a fresh pot of tea, he was preparing for a short nap when he saw his old friend, Mitokado Homura, walking toward him in a frantic rush.
"You're back. Come, have a taste."
Seeing his lifelong comrade, Hiruzen smiled reflexively. He gestured for Homura to sit and sample the new tea that had just arrived.
However, Homura ignored Hiruzen's invitation. With an expression of extreme anxiety, he sat down across from Hiruzen and unceremoniously shoved a memorial from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire into Hiruzen's lap.
"Look at this."
Hiruzen frowned. Looking at the friend he had known for decades, a sinking feeling of dread began to take root in his heart. He opened the memorial, and his somewhat clouded eyes scanned the text.
To His High Eminence, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire:
In the 12th year of Konoha, I, Hiruzen of the Sarutobi Clan, was fortunate enough to receive the favor of Lord Tobirama. Entrusted with leadership during a time of crisis and instability within the shinobi world, I accepted the heavy responsibility of the Hokage. For decades, I have served diligently, not daring to commit a single error.
In the 46th year of Konoha, I sought to entrust the mantle of Hokage to Minato Namikaze, whose name once shook the shinobi world. I hoped that with his strength, he could ensure the peace of the Land of Fire. Alas, the heavens were jealous of such talent; the Nine-Tails broke its seal, leading Minato Namikaze to sacrifice himself for the nation at the age of twenty, a life cut tragically short.
Due to the urgency of the situation, I could only drag my aging body back to the driver's seat to once again steer the carriage of Konoha forward.
It is now the 64th year of Konoha. I am over seventy years old, plagued by old injuries and a failing constitution. I no longer have the energy to fulfill the duties of the Hokage.
Reflecting on the past, I cannot help but shed tears. The "Shinobi Professor" who once took up the title of Hokage on the battlefield with grand ambitions is now but a piece of decaying wood, waiting silently for the end.
As I no longer have the strength to fulfill my duties, the selection of the Fifth Hokage is imperative.
In the 48th year of Konoha—the year the Fourth sacrificed himself—Sakura Haruno emerged, overwhelming all of her peers. As if by destiny, she has carried the rise and fall of Konoha on her shoulders.
During the outbreak of the Fourth Shinobi World War in the 61st year of Konoha, Sakura captured the Tailed Beasts single-handedly. She slew the Raikage, eliminated the Kazekage, and cut down the Mizukage. Furthermore, in the Land of Whirlpools, she fought five thousand Hidden Mist shinobi alone, forcing the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water to surrender.
Her individual strength has suppressed the entire shinobi world. Since the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, she is the only one capable of rivaling such power.
Heaven has blessed Konoha; Heaven has blessed the Land of Fire.
Though Sakura Haruno is only sixteen years of age, her strength is transcendent. Looking across the shinobi world, not a single person can claim a definitive victory over her. Her strategic planning is a hundred times superior to my own.
With such illustrious military achievements and the support of the people, the position of Fifth Hokage belongs to no one but Sakura. I, Hiruzen, guarantee with my very life that there is no other candidate more suitable for the office of Hokage.
Respectfully submitted to Your Eminence,May the Land of Fire last for a thousand generations.
Written by Hiruzen Sarutobi
Hiruzen Sarutobi completely ignored the content regarding his nomination of Sakura for Hokage. His gaze was fixed, stunned, on the final reply the Daimyo had written to him.
It was so simple it felt as if the man didn't want to waste a single extra word.
"No."
It was stamped with the official seal of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Hiruzen was more than familiar with that seal; it was authentic. Even the handwriting of that single word "No" carried the unique calligraphic style of the Daimyo.
"How could this be...?"
Hiruzen's mind was in a state of total chaos. He felt a pounding headache and instinctively pressed his hand to his forehead.
"What do we do now, Hiruzen?" Homura looked at his old friend with a grave expression.
They had assumed Sakura's ascension was a foregone conclusion. They never expected she would be blocked at the very first hurdle.
"Does Sakura know about this?" Hiruzen asked softly, enduring the splitting pain in his head.
"I... I told her the moment I returned," Homura replied, sounding hesitant. Was he wrong to do that? Should he have sought out Hiruzen first?
"Where is she now?"
Hiruzen's heart tightened. Ignoring his headache, he stood up and demanded an answer.
"After hearing the news, Sakura went out. I don't know where she is currently."
Homura felt a sense of impending disaster. As Hiruzen's attitude shifted, his earlier worries seemed to be manifesting into reality.
"Go find her! We must find her immediately!" Hiruzen barked.
"Right... I'll go now!"
Homura gritted his teeth and prepared to leave. But as he turned to go, a figure he knew all too well appeared before him.
"No need to look for her. She has already left Konoha."
With white hair, crimson eyes, and clad in deep blue armor, Tobirama Senju blocked Homura's path.
"Lord Tobirama!?" Homura cried out in shock and anger.
The moment he saw Tobirama, his heart sank. Even though he was Tobirama's direct disciple, was it possible that in this matter, even Tobirama was supporting Sakura?
At this thought, Homura's mind became even more of a mess. He instinctively looked back at the figure still sitting behind him. The hunched old man looked small and frail, sitting there in silence.
"Regardless of everything, Sakura is still my student. Bring her here first..."
Hearing this, Homura's spirits lifted. He quickly hurried away, brushing past Tobirama. Even though both were Tobirama's disciples, at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still the Third Hokage!
Tobirama did not stop Homura from leaving. Instead, he simply watched Hiruzen in silence. The Sarutobi residence fell into a heavy stillness.
After a long time, the hunched old man finally spoke.
"Sensei... do you share the same thoughts as Sakura?"
Tobirama's gaze remained fixed on the disciple who had dedicated his entire life to Konoha. He never looked away.
"I have no thoughts on the matter. I am merely here to inform you that Sakura has left."
Faced with Hiruzen's question, Tobirama chose to remain neutral. This wasn't because he feared Hiruzen, nor was it because he felt pity for Hiruzen's lifelong toil and chose not to argue.
It was because the moment he handed Konoha over to Hiruzen, he had transitioned from being the Second Hokage to simply being a ninja of Konoha. The current Hokage was the terminally ill Hiruzen standing before him—not himself.
A ninja of Konoha must follow the orders of the Hokage. It was a principle as simple as that. Furthermore, the Hiruzen before him was a Hokage worthy of his respect.
"I see..."
It wasn't long before Mitokado Homura returned, once again in a great hurry.
"Hiruzen! Sakura, she..." Homura's face was pale, his expression filled with panic.
"Speak!"
The hunched old man turned to look at Homura, his eyes projecting a pressure so intense it was suffocating. Even if he was riddled with illness, he was still the reigning Hokage of Konoha!
"Sakura went to the Intelligence Department first. She searched for the location of the Seven-Tails, and then she left the village with Sasuke Uchiha, Karin Uzumaki, and Hikari Uchiha!"
The Seven-Tails! Chomei of Takigakure!
It was the only Tailed Beast that did not belong to the Five Great Shinobi Nations. It wasn't surprising that Konoha's Intelligence Department had information on it. The constant scheming and power struggles between villages meant that every village was keen on any information regarding power that could bolster their strength.
This was especially true for Konoha. Its Intelligence Department was the most sophisticated and powerful in the entire shinobi world. Takigakure had always been a point of focus for Konoha, second only to the four other great nations, simply because they possessed the Seven-Tails and had successfully sealed it within a Jinchuriki.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi could not maintain his composure now.
What was Sakura planning to do?! Was she planning to stage a "Tailed Beast Riot" at the Daimyo's estate, just like the tragedy sixteen years ago?
Hiruzen gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. He had expected Sakura's actions to be extreme, but he hadn't anticipated they would be this extreme.
Searching for the Seven-Tails and taking Sasuke with her—she was telegraphing her intentions directly to Hiruzen.
Others might not know, but Hiruzen knew full well: Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. Controlling a Tailed Beast would be child's play for him!
This wasn't just a challenge to Hiruzen's bottom line; it was handing every external power a perfect excuse to condemn Konoha.
Could she really be so radical as to kill the Daimyo simply for the seat of Hokage?!
Even Danzo wouldn't have dared to do such a thing!
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