Chapter 37 The Legend of Four Generations
A disciple who requires no effort to manage – that was the Third Hokage's assessment of Itachi.
Exercise requires perseverance.
Once you've mastered the techniques, you can continue practicing according to those techniques until you see results.
Then move on to the next technique.
There is a process involved, during which the third generation only needs to perform routine checks and provide some guidance.
With Itachi's intelligence, he doesn't need much guidance.
Such a gifted disciple is so easy to manage!
The third generation finally understood why those masters liked to teach genius disciples.
Orochimaru, what do you want with me now?
I've been teaching Itachi for several days now, still by the river near the school.
This time, watching Itachi practice his horse stance with some weights on his body... to be honest, Itachi is only six years old, this kind of weight training is not appropriate.
However, the people in this world have a somewhat special constitution, and the constitution of ninjas is even more special.
In addition, with an excellent medical ninja like Nonou by his side, he can always go find Tsunade, who is still in Konoha.
So after discussing it with Nonou, the Third Hokage appropriately added some weight to Itachi's stance training.
After each training session, Itachi would receive treatment from Nonou to try to eliminate any hidden injuries accumulated from the training.
At this moment, Orochimaru also arrived at the riverbank, watching Itachi practice his horse stance with great interest, and said, "Master, of course I have something to discuss with you."
"Speak your mind, Orochimaru."
"The Uchiha clan has some objections to your teaching of Itachi."
"oh."
"The Uchiha clan has no objection to Itachi accepting your tutelage."
After all, receiving the Third Hokage's tutelage meant that Itachi was developing a closer relationship with the Hokage lineage.
The Uchiha clan, who were eagerly anticipating the future Hokage and believed that the Uchiha clan must have a place, certainly wouldn't object.
They were overjoyed.
"But they think that you are a ninjutsu professor, yet you teach Itachi taijutsu."
Of course, the Third Hokage's taijutsu was also quite good, even very strong, but the Uchiha clan focused more on ninjutsu.
"So, they want me to adjust my teaching methods for Itachi?"
"You could say that."
The third generation took a drag of their cigarette.
"Alright, I'll make time to give Itachi some pointers on ninjutsu."
After all, he does have something in his head, and Itachi is such a genius.
He can't keep training indefinitely, so he has to take breaks.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to give him some pointers on ninjutsu during those breaks.
Orochimaru nodded with a smile.
He had earned a favor from the Uchiha clan, and the Third Hokage understood this, which is why he cooperated intentionally.
I believe Orochimaru will definitely use this opportunity to extract some benefits from the Uchiha clan.
The Uchiha were even grateful for this, believing that the Fifth Hokage had been incredibly kind to them and had truly accomplished the task entrusted to them, so they were obliged to repay him.
"Is there anything else?" The Third Hokage could tell that Orochimaru hadn't come here just for this matter.
"Danzo is making a move."
What did he do?
"Teacher, you must have heard about the recent sentiments expressed in the village regarding the fourth generation."
Upon hearing this, the three generations nodded in agreement.
Recently, there has indeed been some nostalgia for the Fourth Hokage in the village.
On the surface, this may not seem surprising, but it is important to know that before Orochimaru became Hokage, there were subtle criticisms of the Fourth Hokage circulating in the village.
What do you mean the Fourth Hokage failed to keep an eye on his Jinchuriki wife, allowing her to escape?
Even though the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tails, even sealing it inside his newborn son.
But the villagers, who had suffered the pain of separation and death because of the Nine-Tails' chaos, didn't care about all that.
They felt that the rumor made a lot of sense and that the Fourth Hokage was too outrageous!
Is this really targeting the fourth generation?
Of course not, this is clearly aimed at the Third Hokage.
You have to understand, the Fourth Hokage inherited the position from the Third Hokage, which can be said to be inheriting the Third Hokage's political legacy.
Such attacks and accusations against the fourth generation are actually accusing the third generation of being unable to judge people well and being senile due to old age.
In reality, it is all the fault of the third generation!
The one who drove all of this was Danzo.
They would stop at nothing to oust the Third Hokage, pinpointing the fact that the Third and Fourth Hokage were politically aligned.
They used the villagers' grief and anger over the Nine-Tails' attack to connect it to the Fourth Hokage, and then to the Third Hokage.
To be honest, this did put the Third Hokage in a somewhat passive position.
If it weren't for the resolute support of Konoha's two advisor elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, Danzo might have had a chance of succeeding.
But now, the Third Hokage has voluntarily stepped down, handing over the position of Hokage to Orochimaru, who is in his prime and has a great reputation in Konoha.
Danzo's offensive was naturally ineffective, and the Third Hokage, who had already stepped down voluntarily, was no longer worth such an offensive.
As a result, the attacks against the fourth generation that had been circulating in the village subsided.
However, it did leave an impression on the villagers.
Given this perception, the sudden improvement in the Fourth Hokage's reputation must have been orchestrated by someone.
Orochimaru likely sensed something amiss, launched an investigation, and discovered that Danzo was behind it all.
"What's the point of Danzo doing this?" the Third Hokage asked, somewhat puzzled.
"I was also puzzled, which is why I wanted to ask you, teacher, since you know Danzo the best."
The Third Hokage shook his head, took a puff of his cigarette, and said, "I can only conclude that Danzo wouldn't do anything unnecessary.
He certainly wasn't doing this out of goodwill towards the Fourth Hokage."
"So that's his malice."
The Third Hokage looked at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru nodded, feeling that it was just as he had expected; Danzo's malice was directed at whoever was in the Hokage position.
"Could it be that they're trying to annoy me, the Fifth Hokage, by praising the Fourth Hokage?" Orochimaru muttered to himself.
He shook his head again.
That's so naive.
Although Danzo is not incapable of doing anything offensive, the deep-thinking Danzo must have some ulterior motives.
Orochimaru, in particular, knew how much Danzo hated him now.
"In any case, Orochimaru, you'd better be careful."
Orochimaru nodded.
He had a deep relationship with Danzo and knew how twisted and crazy Danzo was, so being careful was definitely not a bad thing.
"Teacher, there's one more thing."
"What's up?"
"Jinchūriki".
Orochimaru mentioned a very sensitive word.
"I would like to ask you to look after it for me."
"Where is Jiraiya?"
That was the child of Jiraiya's most valued disciple.
"He left the village."
"About the United Security Company?"
"That's right."
The third generation thought for a moment and nodded.
"Alright then, Naruto, I'll take care of it for you."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, teacher."
Orochimaru then left.
The Third Hokage watched Itachi intently practicing his horse stance.
He took another drag of his cigarette.
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End of this chapter...