Chapter 107: The Position of Hokage is Mine
Konoha Main Street.
"Tonbo-sensei, long time no see. How are your babies doing?" Hana Inuzuka asked.
Their training had paused specifically because Tonbo's children were about to be born, and she hadn't had the chance to see them yet.
Tonbo: "Twins, a boy and a girl. They're very well-behaved and sensible. When they grow up, they'll surely be much more obedient than your little brother."
"What's that supposed to mean, you lying old man! So you have babies? When they grow up, I'll be the one to look after them," Kiba said, his interest piqued at the mention of children younger than himself. He was already prepared to play the role of the "Big Boss," even though they weren't well-acquainted yet.
"That's great. But my kids might end up being top-tier scholars. It would be a bit embarrassing if your grades are so bad that you're outshined by juniors several years younger than you. Are you sure you want to 'look after' them?"
There was still about a year and a half before Kiba would enter the Ninja Academy. At this point, he didn't realize how much he'd dislike studying. Hearing Tonbo's words, he patted his chest confidently:
"Hmph! My sister's grades are excellent. As her brother, I'll definitely surpass her. Don't you worry." His small face was filled with self-assurance.
"Excellent. In that case, let me treat you to a meal. I happen to be bored, so I'll test if you've actually learned anything from your sister." Tonbo knew that children of noble clans received early education; through sheer immersion, they held a significant advantage over commoners.
"Yay! Free food!" Kiba was ecstatic.
Woof! Woof! Akamaru barked along with him.
Looking at the overly-familiar Kiba and the slight curl of her teacher's lips, Hana felt that Kiba was about to be tricked into a ditch. Only those who had experienced Tonbo's "tutelage" knew he had countless whimsical ways to mess with people, and they'd have no power to resist. But she felt this somewhat reckless brother of hers could use a lesson. Suddenly, she felt a flicker of excitement in her heart!
Tonbo led them to a BBQ restaurant. "Order whatever you want. Everything is on me."
Tonbo wasn't in a rush to head home to investigate the Kurama clan's Genjutsu or ponder that terrifying illusion. Researching Ninjutsu wasn't something to be finished in a few hours. Interacting with the younger generation made him feel like he was truly living in this world, rather than being submerged in an endless sea of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu theory.
As one of the original Konoha 12, Kiba was one of his favorite characters. Just like teasing Itachi or Sasuke, messing with these kids gave him a sense of accomplishment—one no less satisfying than fighting the Six Paths of Pain.
"Yosh! I'm going to eat until you're bankrupt!" Kiba rubbed his hands together, preparing to feast. Akamaru was doing the same.
After ordering, the staff soon brought out the grilled meat and side dishes. The charcoal was already glowing red.
"Kiba, how old are you now?" Tonbo asked while flipping the meat for him.
Kiba licked his lips excitedly, eyeing his favorite grilled beef. "I'm four and a half!"
"You said you'd protect my babies when they grow up, right?"
Munch.
"That's right! Leave it to me, old man," Kiba guaranteed, taking a huge bite of the grilled beef.
Hana sat nearby, already feeling a mix of pity for her brother and internal amusement. When Tonbo started asking questions, it meant Kiba had already walked into the trap.
"But to protect them, you need to become an outstanding ninja, right?"
"Exactly! I'm going to become the Hokage, and then I'll take care of them," Kiba said, still immersed in the joy of the BBQ. One bite for him, one bite for Akamaru.
"Then do you know what kind of abilities you need to become Hokage?"
"Eh? What abilities? As long as I get strong, it'll be fine, right?" Kiba replied after thinking for a moment.
Hana covered her face. Too naive. He was just like the boys in her class—zero self-awareness.
Tonbo smiled and nodded in agreement. "As expected of you, Kiba. To have the mindset of a Hokage at age four... the chances of you becoming Hokage are very high."
Hearing this, Kiba felt a surge of energy fill his chest. "Ugly old man, really?"
"..." Are you so drunk on meat that you're calling me that? Tonbo nodded. "Correct. You have the potential. But having the 'Hokage Mindset' isn't enough. You also need to get stronger, and you need the ability to execute that mindset."
"What kind of ability?" Kiba asked, puzzled. At four years old, he didn't care about such things. But he could feel Tonbo's validation; the ugly old man was right—he did have the potential.
"Here it comes..." Hana thought, watching the show.
"In a year or so, you'll enter the Academy. The way to get stronger is in there. I'll let you in on a secret to becoming Hokage—this is what the Fourth Hokage told me personally when we were chatting."
As a ninja, intel and counter-intel skills are essential. Tonbo didn't feel like he was lying; he was "training" Kiba.
"That's amazing! You really knew the Fourth?" Kiba's trust in the ugly old man grew. He treated me to BBQ, he definitely wouldn't lie to me. He became even more excited for school.
"Of course. I'm also working hard, hoping that after I become Hokage, I can pass the title to you. But I'm getting older, and I learned this secret too late. I probably won't have the chance. But you're different—you're young. If you learn well now, you can pass the title to my babies when you retire." Tonbo led him in step by step.
Kiba was dying of impatience. After all that talk, he still hadn't heard the secret. "Just say it, old man!"
"Lord Fourth said: As long as you get a perfect score in every single subject at the Academy, your chances of becoming Hokage increase by half."
Tonbo spoke nonchalantly, even citing a "famous quote." All you had to do was attach the name of a figure Kiba admired to the statement.
"Ah... will it be very hard? My sister said it's really difficult," Kiba said, stunned by the requirement for total perfect scores. Had he misheard? His parents criticized his sister all the time, saying she was lacking in this or that.
Hana: "..."
Keep on bluffing, Sensei. Just keep bluffing! There were dozens of subjects in the Academy, and when subdivided, there were hundreds of categories. No one could get a perfect score in everything. Even Tonbo couldn't do it, and she doubted the Fourth Hokage could have either. Only those who had actually attended school knew the struggle.
Tonbo shook his head. "It's hard if you make it hard, and easy if you don't. If it were easy, wouldn't everyone be the Hokage? The reason it's hard is that others don't have your firm will to become Hokage. As long as you carry that will and study with determination, you will become the pride of your parents, the pride of your sister, the pride of Akamaru, and the pride of the entire Hidden Leaf Village."
"That's right! None of them have a will as strong as mine! For me, it definitely won't be hard!" Kiba felt the old man was right. It was just drawing and writing on paper with a pen; it surely couldn't be harder than playing hide-and-seek with Akamaru.
The position of Hokage was as good as his.
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