Chapter 77: Something More Important
In Mito's eyes, Kei was a good person.
That was true whether judged by his past actions or by the feeling his chakra gave off.
So she naturally chose to believe him.
"If your teacher were still here, he would naturally be the candidate everyone was satisfied with. But since he has gone missing, then only you can succeed him."
Mito spoke softly. "As for that child Danzo, he is not a suitable candidate for the position of Hokage."
As Tobirama's student, she had naturally met Danzo before.
In her view, he did resemble Tobirama on the surface, but the aura of his chakra was soaked in darkness and coldness.
Even though it was hidden deeply, it still could not be concealed from the Mito before him.
If someone like that became Konoha's Hokage, it would definitely not be a good thing.
"Actually, if possible, Tsunade would also be a very good candidate."
Kei spoke softly. "She has a very kind heart. Although she has some minor flaws, she also has the capacity and ability to become Hokage."
"Given enough time, her future is destined to be brilliant."
"Tsunade is still too young..."
Mito shook her head. "And with Tobirama's way of thinking, it is also not very appropriate for someone from the Senju clan to inherit the Hokage position again."
Neither Hashirama nor Tobirama wanted Konoha to be confined to a single clan.
So even though they themselves were leaders of the Senju clan, they also did not want the Hokage position to remain in Senju hands for too long.
That was why Tobirama deliberately did not choose a student from within the Senju clan and instead focused on training Hiruzen.
The First and Second Hokage of Konoha were both from the Senju clan. If the Third Hokage were also from the Senju clan, then would Konoha belong to everyone, or would it become the private property of the Senju clan?
Tobirama clearly did not want that, so he intentionally chose to reduce the Senju clan's prominence.
Whether it was establishing the Ninja Academy or choosing Hiruzen as Hokage, the purpose was the same.
On this point, Hiruzen had not betrayed Tobirama's wishes either.
No matter how he later governed Konoha, and no matter whether he used the convenience of being Hokage to seek benefits for the Sarutobi clan, one fact remained unchanged. He did not choose to train someone from the Sarutobi clan as Hokage, and instead chose Minato Namikaze as the Fourth Hokage.
Not only Minato, but among the three disciples he took, aside from Tsunade, the other two were commoners. That alone was enough to show his inclination.
He might have had limited ability and grown somewhat muddled, but he never deviated from carrying out his teacher's ideals.
From that perspective, Tobirama had not chosen the wrong person.
"It is indeed inappropriate for the Senju clan to produce Hokage in succession, but the future will be different after all."
Kei said, "If this generation does not work, and if there are no suitable candidates in the next generation, then letting her try would not be a bad thing."
This was a promise.
Once he stepped down, the next generation's Hokage could still come from the Senju clan.
Mito smiled. "There is no need to force it."
She could sense Kei's meaning and knew he was not being perfunctory, but sincere. Even so, she still shook her head in the end.
"Konoha belongs to everyone. It is not a good thing for the Senju clan to keep holding the Hokage position."
"Besides, with Tsunade's personality, if she became Hokage, I am afraid she would gamble away the entire Konoha."
Thinking of Tsunade's temperament, she could not help but laugh.
"I understand what you mean."
Kei spoke softly. "No matter what, I will remember the friendship of the Senju clan."
"That is enough."
Mito nodded and did not continue the topic.
"The Uchiha clan head has been very high profile lately."
After moving away from the subject of Hokage, she asked again, "What are your thoughts?"
"It does not matter much."
Kei shook his head and spoke softly. "The people of the Uchiha clan will naturally be handled in the Uchiha way."
"As long as you know what you are doing."
Mito nodded, not too concerned.
She had lived through the era of Hashirama and Madara.
The wars of that age were far more dangerous than the present one.
Compared to that, Konoha's current internal situation was no more than children playing house.
Kei also felt his heart settle.
With the support of Mito, the Nine Tails jinchuriki, he was effectively standing in an invincible position.
In the current Konoha, Mito was nearly invincible.
This world still depended on strength in the end.
Mito's support did not merely represent the entire Senju clan. It also represented the support of Konoha's strongest person.
Her status and strength were both beyond question.
Overall, the atmosphere of their conversation was quite pleasant.
That was thanks to the deep foundation laid in the past.
In a true sense, Kei had been watched over by Mito as he grew up.
He and Tsunade were childhood friends. He had been appreciated by Tobirama since childhood, and he shared a deep bond with the Senju clan.
Others did not have such conditions.
"Nawaki should be two years old already."
Sitting there, Kei suddenly spoke. "If possible, may I take him as my disciple?"
This was a gesture of reciprocity.
Since Mito had chosen to support him in becoming Hokage, he naturally had to give something in return.
What he said earlier about supporting Tsunade to become Hokage in the future was only words. Compared to the present, it was still intangible.
But taking Nawaki as his disciple was a tangible action in the present.
Mito gave Kei a deep look and naturally understood his intention.
She thought for a moment, then nodded.
"That is not bad."
"However, Nawaki is a bit of a troublemaker, so I will have to trouble you to put in more effort."
"It is no trouble."
Kei smiled. "Most children at that age are like that. They only need proper guidance."
Senju Nawaki was Hashirama's grandson and Tsunade's younger brother.
Like Tsunade, he was of pure Senju blood and the future successor of the Senju clan.
By taking this child as his disciple, Kei was also showing his sincerity in maintaining a friendly relationship with the Senju clan.
Mito felt this, so she did not refuse.
After all, even if she herself did not care, the Senju clan ultimately needed some guarantees.
At a time when Hashirama and Tobirama had passed away one after another, and the younger generation like Tsunade and Nawaki had not yet grown up, the Senju clan needed such guarantees to ensure its survival.
After all, she herself was already quite old and might pass away before long.
When Kei left the Senju clan compound, his expression was still calm, but his mood seemed a little lighter.
He did not leave alone. He brought Tsunade with him.
"What are we doing next?"
Looking at Kei in front of her, Tsunade asked curiously, "Are we going to succeed as Hokage?"
In her view, with Grandma Mito's support, Kei becoming Hokage was no longer a problem.
Should he not just succeed directly now?
"There is no rush for that right now."
Kei patted Tsunade's head and smiled. "For now, we have something more important to do."
Something more important?
Tsunade could not help but grow curious. At a time like this, what could be more important than succeeding as Hokage?
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 10–50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Soul Land, NBA, and more — all in one place.]