Chapter 136: Naruto's Ambition (Bonus Chapter 6 for Patron Blue Porthole 20190325)

The moment Naruto spoke, the ninjas present were immediately engulfed in deep confusion.

Naruto now possessed impeccable style, dressed in simple yet perfectly fitting attire that exuded a unique charm. He took great care of his appearance, always maintaining an excellent state—radiant and handsome, fresh and refined. His bright eyes seemed to hold the stars and the sea, irresistibly drawing people in.

The older generation in Konoha, upon seeing Naruto, often found themselves momentarily dazed, thinking he resembled the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. That familiar face, those familiar eyes—it was as if time had folded and merged into this young ninja.

To build momentum for Naruto and help him smoothly assume power, Hiruzen Sarutobi had gradually lifted restrictions on information concerning Minato Namikaze and Naruto himself. In the days following Sarutobi’s passing, advisors Hidamon En and Tennei Koharu handled matters cautiously, avoiding any scandalous turmoil, carefully maintaining established protocols.

Slowly, the information that “Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage” quietly spread within Konoha’s ninja intelligence circles. By now, except for a few indifferent to intelligence matters, Naruto’s identity was widely known among Konoha’s shinobi.

Everyone tacitly assumed that with the Third Hokage’s death, Naruto would naturally succeed as the Fifth Hokage.

Over the past seven days, Naruto had arranged Konoha’s affairs with meticulous precision; every decision was perfectly timed and executed, leaving no room for criticism. Even those opposed to his appointment could find no reason apart from his youth.

Yet Naruto himself declared he would not take the position of Hokage. This caught the ninjas, who had mentally prepared themselves, utterly off guard.

“Naruto-sama, do you mean you’re not willing to become the Fifth Hokage? Perhaps the Sixth or Seventh...?” A special Jonin from the Yamanaka clan couldn’t help but ask, his voice filled with confusion and concern.

This was the question on the minds of most present. Were they to understand that Naruto felt too young to assume the role immediately? Or was he planning to have another ninja serve as a transitional Hokage until he matured enough?

Naruto shook his head.

“No. What I mean is this: I vow, until death, I will never assume the office of Hokage.”

His words first triggered a collective silence. In the conference room, the ninjas exchanged glances, each reading the shock and disbelief on the others’ faces.

Soon, the room erupted into a clamor, voices rising as everyone expressed their opinions.

Many pleaded earnestly with Naruto to accept the position, their words sincere and heartfelt, hoping he would change his mind.

“Naruto-sama, you are the most suitable candidate!”
“Konoha needs your leadership!”
“Indeed, there’s no one else more fitting than you in all of Konoha!”
They spoke with urgency.

Meanwhile, others repeatedly questioned if they had heard correctly, their faces full of astonishment, unable to believe their ears.

“How could this be?”
“Naruto-sama, please reconsider!”

The room was noisy, filled with unease and anxiety. Some, flustered, sought out Tennei Koharu and Hidamon En, desperation shining in their eyes. They hoped these elders might provide clarity on Naruto’s thoughts or persuade him to change his mind.

Yet Hidamon En sat quietly, eyes fixed yet inwardly focused, like a silent statue, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Tennei Koharu rambled on vaguely, her words offering no concrete information. Her shifting gaze suggested she knew more but was reluctant to disclose it.

Sarutobi’s closest aides—Nara Shikaku, chief of intelligence, and Yamanaka Inoichi, head of the analysis team—stood silently with arms crossed and eyes closed. Their expressions were indifferent, as if not pondering the origin of this sudden upheaval, but rather its potential impact on Konoha’s future.

The conference room buzzed with overlapping voices, a deafening roar of debate. Emotions ran high; tension thickened the air.

At last, after a long while, silence gradually reclaimed the room.

Naruto lifted his head slightly, cleared his throat, and spoke again.

“Why panic? I’m simply refusing the title of Hokage, not abandoning the Land of Fire.”

His voice was steady, resolute, as if injecting calm into the crowd.

“I have too many matters at hand. It’s neither possible nor necessary to manage just the Land of Fire alone.”

Raising his chin subtly, he continued:

“In fact, my plan is to appoint someone to govern the Land of Fire for me.”

His gaze swept across those present, gauging their reactions.

“And I will manage resources for the Land of Fire on a much broader scale.”

Among those present, the sharpest minds caught the implication behind Naruto’s words.

He was not merely referring to governing Konoha, but the entire Land of Fire.

And the reason he refused the Hokage position was because his responsibilities extended beyond the Land of Fire itself. This meant...

Some quick-witted individuals felt a surge of excitement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, as if glimpsing a brand-new future.

Tennei Koharu, watching Naruto’s profile, was profoundly shaken. Naruto had previously shared his thoughts and strategic plans with her and Hidamon En through chakra communication. But she had never imagined his ambition stretched so far — aspiring to unify the entire ninja world.

A complex mix of surprise, admiration, and a hint of apprehension welled within her heart. She was utterly unprepared to evaluate Naruto’s vision, having only witnessed the relationships within Konoha and between the Land of Fire’s daimyo, at most involving some of the country’s great clans.

She had never conceived of planning for the entire ninja world.

“The youth are truly formidable.” This was Tennei Koharu’s sole thought at that moment.

Meanwhile, Hidamon En’s mind had already drifted far away. He was only contemplating how to devote his remaining strength to assisting Naruto in unifying the ninja world.

Indeed, he had never doubted Naruto’s ability to control the Land of Fire.

In his eyes, if Naruto could command the village of Uzushio and the Land of Waves with overwhelming power, he could do the same with the Land of Fire.

Though the Land of Fire was larger than the Land of Waves, its daimyo, noble families, and court samurai were no different in essence.

Hidamon En firmly believed it was only a matter of time before Naruto controlled the entire ninja world.

He already envisioned a renewed ninja world, flourishing under Naruto’s leadership.