Chapter 324: Mission related to Konoha's future

After returning to the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage gave the desk a thorough cleanup.

Looking at the empty desk, the Third Hokage eased his anger a little. He sat in the chair and began to recall the conversation with Danzo half an hour ago.

In order to reduce the losses on the front line, he agreed to all the conditions put forward by Danzo in exchange for Danzo's promise to rush to the front line.

To be honest, Danzo's conditions were not excessive.

He is the Hokage of the village, and any action of Danzo and the Root must be made known to him and with his permission before the action can be officially launched.

But it also means that he is responsible for Danzo's actions.

The things that Danzo did in private cannot be made public. If he really knew and agreed with Danzo's actions, it would have a very serious impact on his reputation.

In this way, the character he has painstakingly built up over the years will soon collapse.

However, he has no other choice now. If he continues to consume energy like this, the power of his faction will be greatly weakened and even threaten the safety of the village.

After calming down, the Third Hokage picked up the information sent from the front line from the ground.

After seeing the Iwagakure Jinchuriki inflict hundreds of casualties on the Konoha troops, the Third Hokage frowned and looked in the direction of the ninja school.

If Konoha's Jinchuriki had formed a fighting force, the village would never have suffered such a defeat on the front line.

This guy Danzo didn't act rashly in front of him or threaten him implicitly.

But Naruto is still very young and is far from being able to go to the battlefield. With Naruto's current strength, if he goes to the battlefield, he will only become a burden to the village.

However, although the Jinchūriki cannot be sent into the war immediately, if you calculate the time, Naruto has already been in the Ninja School for four years, and he only has two years left to graduate from the Ninja School.

It is also time to consider the candidate for Naruto's team leader. We must find a qualified jonin to lead Naruto.

At this time, the Third Hokage suddenly thought of Kakashi. Kakashi was a disciple of Minato Namikaze and was the strongest among the younger generation of jonin. It was the best choice to let Kakashi become Naruto's team leader.

We don't even have to wait until Naruto graduates from the ninja school, we can start training Naruto now.

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage said to the Anbu beside him: "Go and call Kakashi over. I need to find him for something very urgent."

……

Not long after, Kakashi, dressed as an Anbu, appeared in front of the Third Hokage.

He looked at the Third Hokage in confusion and asked cautiously, "Third Hokage, what do you want to talk to me about? Do you want me to rush to the front line to support you?"

In Kakashi's opinion, the Third Hokage must have been looking for him because of something on the front line.

After separating from Danzo's Root, he has been staying in the Anbu working for the Third Hokage. He just returned to the village some time ago and is responsible for finding the spies hidden in Konoha.

The Third Hokage looked at Kakashi, shook his head and said: "The battle on the front line is important, but I have a more important task for you... This is related to the future of the village."

"What mission?" Kakashi was very surprised. What kind of mission could be related to the future of the village?

However, these superiors always like to use exaggerated methods. It is very difficult to say whether it is actually that important.

The Third Hokage saw what Kakashi was thinking, and then said, "Do you still remember Uzumaki Naruto?" Kakashi's face changed, and he quickly said, "Naruto? Isn't he Minato's son and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Could it be that some villagers or ninjas are targeting him?"

"Not really. He has a very good reputation in the village, just like Obito did back then."

The Third Hokage shook his head and said:
"Naruto has not encountered any threats. I have always used Anbu to protect him. I asked you to come here this time because I want you to get in touch with Naruto, train him in advance, and teach him to become a qualified ninja."

At the end, the Third Hokage emphasized the word "qualified".

Kakashi hesitated and said, "Sir, I remember Naruto is still studying in the Ninja School. The teachers in the Ninja School should be more professional than me. I have never had any teaching experience."

"If the Third Hokage really wants me to teach Naruto, why not wait until Naruto graduates from the Ninja School? By then, I might be able to accumulate some experience."

The Third Hokage sighed and said:
"If it were peacetime, I would naturally let Naruto stay in the ninja school for a few more years, but the village is threatened by the Iwagakure Jinchuriki. If Naruto cannot be trained to become a qualified Jinchuriki, the village's casualties on the front line will increase greatly."

After a pause, the Third Hokage continued, "And you have worked in the Anbu for so long, have you never thought about leaving the Anbu and living a normal life?"

"A normal life?"

Kakashi fell into silence. He almost forgot how normal people lived.

He was different from most ninjas in the village. He had no parents and no lover, and the people he cared about most in his life left him forever in battles.

The only ninja in the village who could talk to him was Might Guy.

But Might Guy is not a normal person either. Every time he finds me, he only competes with me. I don’t know where his optimistic and cheerful personality comes from.

So for Kakashi, the life of ANBU is no different from that of an ordinary ninja.

After a moment's silence, Kakashi said, "I have no interest in a normal life, but if it is the order of the Hokage, I will go and get in touch with Naruto."

"Sir, do you want Naruto to graduate directly from the Ninja School and I will take him in as your disciple? Or do you want to contact Naruto in some other way?"

Hearing this, the Third Hokage fell into deep thought.

In his opinion, the sooner Naruto becomes capable of fighting, the better. It would be even better if he could be trained to become a Jonin within half a year and sent to the front line to fight.

But no matter how talented Naruto is, it would be good enough for him to become a jonin within five years.

After a brief pause, the Third Hokage said to Kakashi, "I have no intention of letting Naruto graduate from the Ninja School and let you lead the team. You should find another way to contact Naruto."

"Naruto has had a hard time living alone these years. I hope you can take care of him."

"However, I hope that you can guide Naruto well in daily life and make him a great ninja like his father."

A ninja as great as Minato-sensei...

The image of Minato Namikaze appeared in Kakashi's mind, and then he shook his head.

It has been so long since Minato's sacrifice, but he still can't forget what happened. I hope that Minato's child can really become a great ninja like their teacher.

But can he really guide a good teacher's child? Kakashi began to doubt himself.

(End of this chapter)