Back then, the Hokage took Tsunade as a disciple for political reasons, took Orochimaru as a disciple because he saw his talent, and took Jiraiya as a disciple because he valued his inner quality of 'enduring what ordinary people cannot endure'.
In the Hokage's eyes, Jiraiya might not be as influential as Princess Tsunade, or as outstanding and excellent as Orochimaru, but he was the most obedient, most enduring, and easiest to control good disciple.
Among the Three Ninja, Orochimaru obeyed orders but not declarations, Tsunade was willful and did as she pleased, while Jiraiya best fit the definition of a 'ninja', that is, the highest grade tool person.
"Overall, your statement is not wrong. Jiraiya is a tool, ninjas are tools, even I, the Hokage, am also a tool. I can be sacrificed when necessary..."
The Hokage looked seriously at Ryun, not caring about Jiraiya's discomfort beside him.
"Any ninja cannot escape the fate of becoming a tool. If we talk about who in the ninja world can break this destined shackle... I'm afraid you are the only one!"
"You are one of the rare few who has transformed from a 'ninja' into a strong person. Ninjas need to endure, while strong persons do not. Ninjas are tools, while strong persons are the ones who use the tools."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Ryun and gave an extremely high evaluation with a very serious face.
Uchiha Ryun had already broken free from everyone's control. He was no longer a tool and had completely shaken off the predetermined fate of a ninja.
As a strong person, he had the qualification to 'sit at the table' anywhere in the ninja world. And if he wanted, ninjas could also become tools in his hands, including the current Konoha, including the present Hokage!
"You can actually see reality clearly."
Ryun smiled casually, then looked at Kushina beside him. "This is also why I said he isn't too stupid..."
The Five Kage lost their qualification to 'sit at the table' after their defeat in the Land of Rain. The ridiculous thing was, they still didn't understand the situation, thinking they still had a chance to fight again...
Among the Five Kage, only this Third Hokage recognized reality, knowing that Ryun was now completely different from before. Any conspiracy or trick was just a joke in the face of absolute strength.
"Ahem... Ryun... he is after all your teacher's master, and he's not young anymore..." Jiraiya coughed lightly and said euphemistically. He felt this kid had no respect for elders.
"You think I'm mocking the Hokage? I'm telling you I'm praising him, do you believe it..." Ryun looked at Jiraiya with a serious face.
"He is right, Jiraiya. You don't understand what this sentence really means..." Sarutobi Hiruzen said with an indifferent expression.
Originally, he had many options and opportunities to 'side with Ryun'. It was his own stupidity, choosing wrong every time, messing things up every time...
The failure of the Five Kage finally made him wake up. Choosing to protect Kushina was also the most rational decision he made in a clear-headed state.
"Alright, small talk ends here. It's getting late, state your purpose for coming." Ryun clapped his hands, preparing to shoo them away.
"It concerns Kushina. Four nations are pressuring us. Konoha is powerless to cope. We need to ask for your help." Sarutobi Hiruzen's words were concise and clear.
He first mentioned Kushina, then stated the predicament, and then asked Ryun to take action.
This siege of the Land of Fire by four nations is both a crisis and an opportunity.
If Ryun is willing to take action, it's not impossible for Konoha to defeat the other four great ninja villages and dominate the ninja world in one fell swoop...
Of course, not dominating is also fine. Winning this battle and exchanging for thirty or fifty years of peaceful and stable development is also a good outcome.
"What if I say no? Don't forget, just a few days ago, the Hokage attacked me, wanting my life... Now you come running to beg for my help. What do you take me for? A dog you can summon at will?"
Ryun looked expressionlessly at Sarutobi Hiruzen. Jiraiya and Kushina beside him didn't dare speak easily, afraid of causing a worse outcome.
"My fault, I am willing to use my life to appease your anger. After returning tonight, I will commit suicide to atone for my crime... I hope you can help Konoha for the sake of us protecting Kushina. After all, the vast majority of people in Konoha are unaware and innocent..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had just said the Hokage is also a tool. As long as his sacrifice has value, then he can also die. These words were truly not said lightly.
Once war starts, thousands upon thousands of people will die. Sacrificing one soon-to-retire Hokage to preserve the overall situation is more than appropriate.
"Teacher, you..."
Hearing his teacher say he would commit suicide tonight, Jiraiya instantly became anxious.
"Don't interrupt, and don't interfere with our decision." Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted him with a very serious face.
"Commit suicide to atone? Heh... You think too highly of yourself... Who do you think you are? Sacrificing yourself is enough to appease my anger?" Ryun couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
"If that's not enough, then we can add more. I know you hate Danzo, so let's add his life too." The coldness in Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice chilled people to the bone.
Jiraiya subconsciously opened his mouth wide, his face showing a stunned, dumbfounded expression.
Tonight's conversation refreshed his understanding of the Hokage. Was this madman before him really still his teacher?
Kushina was also full of disbelief at this moment. These dialogues truly scared her!
The surprise in Ryun's eyes flashed away, but on the surface he still maintained an unmoved state.
He felt that the current Sarutobi Hiruzen finally resembled a true Hokage.
'Precisely because I am the Hokage, I must uphold an attitude of ruthlessness!'
This was a famous saying the Second Hokage often hung on his lips to remind himself during his reign. The former Sarutobi Hiruzen always felt his teacher's concept was a bit too cold. How can a Hokage be ruthless? How can ruthlessness win over people's hearts? How can ruthlessness exchange for someone else's true feelings?
The former Third Hokage did not approve of this sentence, always thinking his teacher's demands on himself were too harsh. It wasn't until he reached this point today that he suddenly understood the true meaning represented by this sentence!
The ruthlessness spoken by the Second Hokage was not meant to be towards others, but to be towards oneself. The Hokage himself cannot have selfish desires, then Konoha can have fairness. Only by being selfless can one be truly fair!
"Is my life and Danzo's not enough? Then how about adding the lives of the two advisors as well?"
In Sarutobi Hiruzen's current view, the Konoha higher-ups indeed made many failed and muddled decisions. People should be responsible for the mistakes they make.
Hadn't Uchiha Ryun always held a grudge about Konoha sacrificing him back then? So today, Sarutobi Hiruzen simply sacrificed himself, sacrificed the failed Konoha higher-ups, to prove that any decision he makes as Hokage is fair and selfless, thereby indirectly eliminating the resentment and grievances in Ryun's heart.
It has to be said, the Third Hokage's decision is very mad, but it indeed produced an effect. Ryun was finally moved.
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