Chapter 415: How About You Become the Sixth Hokage?

Chapter 415: How About You Become the Sixth Hokage?

Silver hair, tall, masked, and eye-covered—definitely a teacher.

He had three students, two boys and a girl, a high-cold handsome guy with a troubled past, an optimistic and funny guy with a monster sealed inside, and a woman who was more manly than any man.

Apart from the 50-50 style, everything about Kakashi and Gojo was eerily similar.

It seemed that even in the jujutsu world, Ruke had accidentally mixed things up, so he felt his mispronunciation was somewhat justified.

Fortunately, Kakashi wasn't the type to nitpick. He just stared at Ruke for a moment before urging him to get ready to head back to the village.

Given that representatives from various countries were vying for his attention, Ruke had become a hot commodity. To avoid any delays, he hoped to return as soon as possible.

Kakashi was highly efficient. He quickly rented a carriage for the journey, prepared the necessary supplies, and only after they left the gates of the Land of Iron and confirmed they weren't being stopped did he ask:

"Do you have any valuables you need to take with you? I brought a scroll."

He unstrapped the large, heavy scroll from his back. This was a common storage tool in the ninja world, using space ninjutsu and sealing techniques to store items like rations, soldier pills, and shurikens.

Though the scroll was bulky and required finding the specific section to retrieve items, it was far more convenient than carrying a large amount of supplies by hand.

Ruke smiled and shook his head, stopping Kakashi's movement. He raised his hand, showing a ring with strange engravings.

"No need, I've already packed everything."

With the accumulated knowledge from over a dozen different worlds, countless analyses of magical tools, weapons, and items, and Ruke's own love for learning, his forging technique had reached an unimaginable level.

Even in a world as fantastical as "Veil Heaven", if the materials were available, he could craft an emperor weapon. A storage ring was a mere trifle by comparison.

Kakashi was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked at the ring.

"This is a storage-type ninja tool, and you can make these now?"

Ruke's face showed admiration, respect, and a touch of nostalgia as he answered earnestly.

"Regarding this, I can only say that Master Munenaga was a sage beyond this world..."

Kakashi fell silent for a moment, then took the reins of the carriage, driving it with professional skill while asking softly:

"How large is the storage space in this ninja tool? Is it easy to store and retrieve items? How stable is it?"

Ruke answered honestly, point by point: "It's pretty decent. It should be able to hold a daimyo's mansion. To store or retrieve items, you just need to focus your mind. Ninjas might find it easier to use, but ordinary people can also learn with some training. As for stability... even a full-strength strike from Samurai Leader Mifune can only leave a mark."

After all, it was just a quick, casual creation. He no longer needed to toil over equipment or gear up for battles; he could simply overpower anything that came his way!

Kakashi's body stiffened as he heard this. He turned to look at the distant, still majestic buildings, his eyes full of shock and confusion, a look of existential doubt crossing his face. It took him a while to recover.

He remembered that Mifune, as the leader of the samurai in the Land of Iron, was no less powerful than an elite jonin, perhaps even stronger.

A storage space large enough to hold a daimyo's mansion, accessible to ordinary people, and strong enough to withstand a full-strength attack from a top-tier warrior?

Had Ruke's growth over the past two years been too exaggerated...

Kakashi's mood became unusually complex, a mix of emotions like watching a fledgling bird grow into a mighty eagle under his protection. He shook his head.

"When I was gathering information, I heard that Master Munenaga, the ninja craftsman, was over sixty and severely ill. You became his disciple, and he passed away within two months?"

Ruke, without a hint of embarrassment, slapped his thigh and smiled, giving a thumbs-up.

"That's why Master Munenaga was a sage beyond this world! He could transform me in just two months."

Two years ago, he had deliberately chosen a nondescript, nearly retired old man, using money to get him to take him as a disciple, ensuring that his identity would be unverifiable once the old man died.

After the old man's death, any achievement he presented had a ready explanation.

Why could he craft powerful weapons?

Because Master Munenaga was a sage beyond this world!

Why could he develop assembly-line production workshops?

Because Master Munenaga was a sage beyond this world!

Why could he design scientific ninja tools?

Because Master Munenaga was a sage beyond this world!

This explanation might not be entirely credible, but as long as he had it and was valuable enough, no one would openly question him. It also made it easier for him to do other things.

The only thing he hadn't anticipated was how quickly things had evolved. Now, he could overpower the entire ninja world, making his disguise almost irrelevant. But maintaining the status quo... seemed interesting in its own way.

After all, he had the right to end the game at any time, tearing off the disguise and bringing it to a close.

Ruke's lips curled into a pleased smile, feeling that he was indeed a talent of the Chaos·Evil faction.

The surrounding noise gradually faded, and the vegetation grew more lush. The shadows cast by the tree canopies were scattered across the ground, with occasional rays of sunlight piercing through the gaps in the leaves, casting golden specks. The carriage left the city and entered the domain of the forest.

Seemingly concerned that Ruke might get bored, Kakashi kept up a conversation with him during the ride, filling him in on the events that had transpired in Konoha over the past two years.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had stepped down along with the elders Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane, entrusting all power to the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju. He himself had retreated behind the scenes, rarely making an appearance.

Jiraiya, after inviting Tsunade back to the village, had stayed to help. He had mustered the courage to confess his love to Tsunade, hoping to have a passionate romance with the goddess he had once missed. However, he was cruelly rejected.

The reason was the book written under the pen name "Umbrella Needed for Sword in Rainy Night."

[Jiraiya's grades were not great, but he did manage to get accepted into the Konoha Ninja Academy in the Land of Fire...]

Due to the widespread circulation of "Young Jiraiya", Jiraiya seemed to have lost his romantic prospects entirely. Tsunade looked at him as if he were a piece of meat that had rotted over time.

"Ah, well..."

Hearing this, Ruke awkwardly cleared his throat.

"At the time, I was trying to help you find the person and complete the mission..."

Kakashi sighed, "I know. Jiraiya-sama didn't blame us either. After being rejected by Tsunade-sama, he spent a few days drowning his sorrows in the bar before recovering..."

Ruke, somewhat surprised, rubbed his chin, "Really? He recovered that quickly?"

Kakashi's typically expressionless face showed a hint of oddity, "While that book destroyed Jiraiya-sama's romantic prospects, it also brought him many fans..."

"Fans?"

"Yes, many male fans, and quite a few female fans..."

Kakashi cleared his throat, hinting at something.

"Oh~ No wonder, the lecherous sage!"

Ruke marveled, never expecting that being the protagonist of an adult novel would come with such hidden perks. Although it brought social death, with a thick enough skin, it could be a kind of benefit.

Jiraiya, who spent his days peeping at women bathing, clearly had a face thick enough to withstand a tailed beast's attack, even the Ten-Tails!

Feeling that the topic was getting awkward, Kakashi brought up the most powerful and problematic clan in the village.

After the night of the incident, the Uchiha clan had returned to their original settlement, and their relationship with the villagers was no longer as tense.

This was partly due to those who had spread rumors and sowed discord stopping, and partly due to the efforts of the two shining geniuses of the Uchiha clan, Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, who had helped to mediate.

The proud nature of the Uchiha, with their red-eyed arrogance, had never changed. They always acted as if the world revolved around them, boasting that the next Hokage would definitely be from the Uchiha clan.

It was only because of the immediate threat that the Uchiha were a solid force, an indispensable part of Konoha. Eliminating them would come at a heavy cost, otherwise, their arrogant attitude would indeed make all the leaders want to remove them.

"However, Shisui and Itachi Uchiha are indeed genuine geniuses. Despite their young age, their strength is already quite formidable."

"Moreover, these two are not confined to their clan. They act for the benefit of the village as a whole. Individually, they do have the qualifications to vie for the position of Hokage."

Kakashi seemed to have a certain level of respect for these two, perhaps from a mutual admiration among top geniuses?

Ruke listened lazily for a while, stifling a yawn. He was only really interested in aliens, not the petty squabbles in the village.

After all, it was just a place that could be flattened with a single "Ultra Almighty Push."

Seeing his lack of interest, Kakashi sighed and seriously laid out the situation.

"Ruke, Tsunade-sama has decided to appoint you as the head of the Ninja Tools Department. This is an important position, and you will inevitably be a target for many people."

"For example, the Uchiha, the Hyuga, and other clans like the Yamanaka and Akimichi. You are very useful, and no one will dare to touch you in the short term, but if you don't clearly align yourself during the next Hokage election, you will be at risk. So..."

Ruke blinked, interrupting Kakashi's endless speech.

"How about this, Kakashi. Why don't you become the Sixth Hokage?"

Compared to the inherently evil Uchiha or their convoluted bloodlines, his good friend was clearly the best candidate for Hokage!

"Me?"

"Yeah!"

Ruke perked up, straightening his posture to encourage Kakashi.

"You are the head of the Hatake clan, the Fourth Hokage's student, and the current leader of the Anbu. Your strength is sufficient, and your reputation is solid. You have every right to compete for the position of Hokage."

"Didn't you say the position of the Shinobi Tools Department Head would be crucial? Then let me become your pillar of support and help you ascend to the Sixth Hokage. This way, you won't have to worry about so many things."

Kakashi was taken aback, falling silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I have no interest in the position of Hokage."

His father's sacrifice was a hurdle he could never overcome.

Over the years, he had come to understand that the legendary White Fang of Konoha, who had abandoned a mission to save his comrades, had been surrounded by rumors, which was clearly abnormal behavior.

More likely, his father's high reputation made him difficult to control and posed a threat to the position of the Fourth Hokage, leading to political turmoil and his eventual demise.

If it weren't for Ruke and the support of his Team 7 companions, he might have truly lost all faith in the village.

Unfortunately, his teacher, Obito, and Rin were all gone, leaving only Ruke, and perhaps a half-hearted addition in the form of Might Guy...

Kakashi's gaze darkened for a moment.

"You can always pick yourself up from where you fell. If you detest political struggles, then eliminate them altogether. Centralize power in the village under your governance and rejuvenate it. That's true reform!"

Ruke lifted his chin. "Didn't that mysterious invader say he wanted to see a different Konoha? Perhaps that was his true intention."

"Guessing the enemy's intentions doesn't seem very reliable."

Kakashi seemed to find such a notion too far-fetched, explaining earnestly:

"Besides, Tsunade-sama is doing an excellent job. She can make quick decisions on many things that the Third Hokage would have deliberated over for a long time. There's no immediate need to consider the Sixth Hokage's position. My previous words were just a precaution."

Before Ruke could persuade him further, Kakashi continued:

"The immediate priority is to deal with the attack of that mysterious enemy. Tsunade-sama believes your scientific ninja tools could be a way out. We still have eight years..."

Eight years? Isn't that a bit too long?

Ruke rubbed his chin, pondering.

He had initially thought it would take at least ten years to become the strongest in the ninja world. At that time, he planned to emulate Madara Uchiha, standing alone against the entire ninja world and unlocking everyone's potential.

He didn't expect his golden finger to be so powerful. In just two years, Sasuke and Naruto were still in the Ninja Academy, Black Zetsu was still grunting and searching for pawns, and the Otsutsuki clan hadn't even appeared, and he had already achieved his goal.

Launching an attack prematurely seemed to lack martial integrity and would ruin his image. Perhaps he should find a pretext to make Konoha and the entire ninja world come to him, to initiate a war against him?

This way, he could conveniently eliminate potential threats and then extricate himself. It seemed like a viable option.

Ruke began drafting a vague plan in his mind, similar to the "Konoha Destruction Plan Lite v1.0" he had once created.

At that moment, he lowered his eyebrows, a look of keen interest on his face, placing his right foot on his left knee.

Kakashi, who was driving the carriage, lowered his eyelids and remained silent, silently replacing himself with a Shadow Clone, his right hand subtly resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist.

The carriage continued to move smoothly, but the forest was unusually quiet, with no sounds of insects or birds, only the faint creaking of the wheels on the ground. A faint, almost imperceptible aroma wafted through the air.

"There's an enemy."

Kakashi's soft, brief voice reached Ruke's ear, his tone grave, clearly sensing that the hidden enemy was no ordinary foe.

The Shadow Clone driving the carriage collapsed, and in the next moment, a flash of light shot through the gaps in the trees—a scorpion's tail hook!

Boom!

At the same time, various venomous snakes suddenly appeared, twisting and writhing together in a torrent, engulfing the entire carriage and tearing it to pieces.

"I thought this was just a routine mission, but it seems there's an unexpected bonus."

A raspy, sinister voice echoed, and a hunched, hideous old man and a young, sinister-looking man with long hair stepped out side by side. Their cold, reptilian eyes fixed on Kakashi and Ruke, who had just appeared nearby.

The old man, his gaze on Kakashi's silver-white short hair and the short sword named "White Fang" in his hand, spoke in a muffled voice.

"I want to kill this one."

"Such arrogance, Scorpion. Hatake Sakumo was a predecessor I once admired..."

Orochimaru, his eyes on the person Kakashi was protecting, licked his lips with a long, thin tongue.

"However, as you wish. Right now, I'm more interested in scientific ninja tools."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end