44. The Current Situation Inside The Konoha


    Amid the notable figures, from Konoha''s side, whose reputations were solidified during the war, Sakumo Hatake emerged as a formidable shinobi, earning the moniker "White Fang" due to his unparalleled skills in kenjutsu.


    His unique fighting style and extraordinary feats on the battlefield made him a legend across the shinobi world.


    Hikari''s evaluation of Sakumo''s strength ced him on par with Hiruzen Sarutobi, both assessed as being at the Late Kage level.


    However, Sakumo''s reputation within Konoha didn''t quite match up to his true capabilities. Hikari understood that this discrepancy was due to the Hokage''s faction actively downying Sakumo''s achievements.


    By controlling the narrative within the vige and assigning him to less critical missions, they ensured Hiruzen remained the most celebrated figure, limiting Sakumo''s recognition to his duel and defeat of just two Elite Jonin from Sunagakure, Sasori''s parents, and Chiyo''s son and daughter inw, quite below Sakumo''s true capability.


    This strategic sidelining of Sakumo shed light on the lengths to which Hiruzen and his faction would go to maintain their hold on power, influence, and fame.


    Sakumo''s tragic end, his suicide, which was previously a bewildering act, now made sense to Hikari. It was a typical illustration of the dark underbelly of vige politics, where even the most talented shinobi could be sacrificed on the altar of power dynamics of seemingly ''positive'' and celebrated ''characters'' in Hikari''s past life.


    However, this was the real world, not an idealistic fairy tale, that readers of the story from his past life were familiar with.


    Sakumo''s independence and remarkable rise to power, relying solely on his skills and his n''s hidden techniques, made him a difficult figure for the Hokage''s faction to assimte.


    Unlike the Sannin or Minato Namikaze, who were nurtured within the folds of the Hokage''s faction from their youth, Sakumo represented a formidable force that had emerged outside of their direct influence.


    Given that Sakumo Hatake belonged to a generation younger than Hiruzen Sarutobi, he naturally emerged as a strong candidate for the position of the next Hokage after Hiruzen''s tenure.


    However, Hikari recognized that Hiruzen''s faction, driven by a desire to cling to power, would never entertain the idea of Sakumo assuming such a pivotal role.


    Their preference leaned towards Orochimaru, Hiruzen''s most talented and favored disciple, for the next Hokage, even though Orochimaru was, in reality, not as strong as Sakumo.


    Orochimaru''s perceived controbility, owing to his lesser strength and his close ties with Hiruzen''s faction, made him a more appealing choice to them.


    Orochimaru, being directly under Hiruzen''s guidance, was seen as someone who could be easily influenced and kept within the fold of their power structure. In contrast, Sakumo''s independence and formidable capabilities posed a threat to their continued dominance.


    Hikari spected that these political dynamics and the systematic undermining of Sakumo''s contributions and potential ultimately contributed to the tragic course of events leading to Sakumo''s demise.


    If the original story''s timeline were to hold, Sakumo''s suicide would ur a few years down the line, a direct fallout from the intense pressures and istion imposed by the vige''s leadership and their relentless pursuit of power.


    Hikari spected that it was likely members of Hiruzen''s faction, including his two civilian advisors and Danzo, who initiated the damaging rumors about Sakumo abandoning a mission to save hisrades.


    This tactic was possibly employed when it became evident that Orochimaru''s standing within the vige couldn''tpete with Sakumo''s burgeoning reputation as a suitable candidate for Hokage.


    In Hikari''s analysis, the notion that a shinobi of Sakumo''s caliber would face universal condemnation for prioritizing the lives of fellowrades over a mission didn''t align with the intrinsic values of the shinobi world.


    Shinobi of Sakumo''s strength and capabilities were exceedingly rare and highly valued across all viges, making the bacsh against him for such a decision seem disproportionate and orchestrated.


    The immediate and widespread vilification of Sakumo for his actions seemed unlikely without a concerted effort to tarnish his reputation.


    However, Hikari also reasoned that while Hiruzen''s faction intended to merely discredit Sakumo and sideline him from the Hokage session, they hadn''t foreseen the devastating personal impact their actions would have.


    Sakumo''s suicide was an unforeseen consequence, one that likely took even his detractors by surprise. This tragic oue not only robbed Konoha of one of its most formidable shinobi but also marked a turning point in the vige''s fortunes.


    Hikari firmly believed that a shinobi of Sakumo Hatake''s exceptional skill and insight would have been acutely aware of the machinations against him love time.


    It seemed imusible to Hikari that Sakumo wouldn''t have recognized the deliberate efforts to undermine his reputation and the orchestrated nature of the rumors that led to his ostracization.


    Therefore, Hikari surmised that Sakumo''s decision to end his life was not merely an act of despair but also one of defiance and retribution against those who sought to discredit him.


    Feeling disillusioned and betrayed by the very vige he had devoted his life to protecting Sakumo''s suicide could be interpreted as his final stand against the political scheming that sought to diminish him. In taking his own life, Sakumo not only removed himself from the toxic environment that had turned against him but also left Konoha significantly weaker on the eve of the potential next shinobi world war.


    Upon realizing the full extent of Sakumo Hatake''s ordeal and its implications, Hikari began to strategize on how to leverage this situation to weaken the Hokage''s faction and, in doing so, create more breathing room for the Hyuga n to expand its influence within the vige.


    He saw an opportunity not just for the n but also for himself to gain political leverage from the fallout of any damage inflicted upon Hiruzen''s faction.


    Knowing that his own parents had been close acquaintances of Sakumo, often undertaking missions together, in the past, and even serving under hismand at the onset of the Second Shinobi World War, Hikari recognized a personal connection that could be utilized to his advantage. Their camaraderie and shared experiences provided a foundation upon which Hikari could build his n.


    Hikari envisioned a scenario where, instead of sumbing to the pressures and taking his own life, Sakumo could be persuaded to take a stand that would simultaneously expose the machinations of the Hokage''s faction and bolster the position of the Hyuga n.


    Such a move would require careful nning and maniption of the existing sentiments within the vige, turning the tragedy of Sakumo''s intended fate into a strategic advantage for those opposed to Hiruzen''s faction.


    This ambitious n, however, was not something that could be enacted immediately. Hikari was prepared to y the long game,ying the groundwork for his strategy to unfold over the years, and act when the opportunity arrives.


    However, unlike the rest of the Main Branch Elder, Hikari perceived that still, despite the current challenges, the long-term outlook for Konoha, and specifically for those opposed to the Hokage''s faction, wasn''t nearly as bleak.


    Hikari recognized that even without directly leveraging Sakumo Hatake as a weapon against the Hokage''s faction, the faction''s power was likely to wane over time due to various internal and external pressures.


    This decline was not solely dependent on any one individual''s actions but was a broader trend influenced by several key factors and events within and outside of the vige.


    He recognized that the vige''s strength, both in terms of its leadership and its notable shinobi, was on a decline, a trend that would inevitably continue based on the progression of events in the original story.


    This decline would inadvertently create openings for the Hyuga n and others to gain political ground - if they were smart enough and listened to him at that time that was.


    The aftermath of the Second Shinobi World War revealed vulnerabilities within Konoha''s ranks. Tsunade, deeply affected by personal losses, especially after the death of her lover Dan Kato during the recent war, developed a phobia of blood that rendered her virtually ''useless'' on the battlefield.


    Jiraiya, having spent much of his time in Amegakure and focusing on deciphering ''suspicious'' Toad Immortal''s prophecies, had little direct involvement with the vige, choosing instead to establish awork of informants.


    Orochimaru''s ambitions lead him increasingly to lean towards personal power and immortality, spurred by the death of his disciple Nawaki Senju, slightly before the Second Ninja World War,


    Leading him down a path of questionable ethics and detachment from the vige''s overall well-being, while doing questionable moves for his research that were potentially politically very risky.


    Moreover, both Hiruzen and Danzo were aging, with their physical prowess and, in Hiruzen''s case, his strategic and intellectual acumen, showing signs of decline.


    The shift in Hiruzen''s reputation from the "God of Shinobi" to the "Professor" underscored the trend of his personal strength declining, over the years, the best.


    After all, Danzo and Hiruzen would already be in their forties during the Third Great Shinobi War for example, certainly at least a level below their peak like today.


    Sakumo''s passing further weakened Konoha''s standing, signaling to other viges that Konoha was bing increasingly vulnerable—a perception that would precipitate the Third Shinobi World War, during which Konoha resorted to even deploying newly graduated Academy students to the front lines due to theck of power and the trend of decline.


    Beyond the erosion of physical strength, Hiruzen''s prolonged tenure in power was marred by increasing corruption and poor decision-making.


    Danzo''s actions became more audacious, creating a political climate ripe for challenge. Hikari saw this period of turmoil and transition as an opportunity to strategically position the Hyuga n and himself for greater influence within the vige.


    The potential vacuum created by these developments underscored the critical role Minato Namikaze would y in shaping Konoha''s future.


    Without his full rise, Konoha''s standing in the ninja world could have faced severe repercussions, and questionable status in the future.


    Hikari understood that this tumultuous period represented a strategic opportunity to realign power structures within the vige.


    By anticipating these shifts and positioning himself ordingly, Hikari aimed to navigate the Hyuga n through the politicalndscape, exploiting weaknesses in the Hokage''s faction to enhance the n''s stature and secure a more favorable position for himself and his allies.


    As Hikari pondered over the ascent of Minato Namikaze and the tales circting within the Hyuga Main Branch about him, he couldn''t help but let out a smirk, followed by a chuckle.


    Minato, still a genin but immensely famous within the vige due to Hiruzen''s faction''s efforts to tout him as a ''civilian'' prodigy never seen before, was bing emblematic of a new wave of shinobi.


    This generation, which blended Senju lineage with civilian blood, was gradually emerging from the Academy, each batch seemingly stronger than thest, of which Minato was the strongest individually.


    Hikari thought deeply about Minato Namikaze''s abilities. Mastering near-perfect Sage Mode wasn''t something just anyone could do; it required unique body traits and lots of chakra, which ordinary people didn''t have.


    Then, there''s Minato''s incredible feat of fighting the strongest Tailed Beast, Kurama, and Obito at the same time. He managed to defeat Obito, split Kurama''s chakra, and seal it into Naruto and himself.


    This raised questions for Hikari: Where did Minato get such vast chakra reserves to do all that, and to continuously use high-level, high-ss jutsus during his battles in general?


    Moreover, the lineage of Ashura''s reincarnations was historically entirely within the Senju n alone just as the Indra reincarnations were inside the Uchiha n alone. Thest known reincarnation of Ashura was Naruto.


    Since the Uzumaki n is only distantly rted to the Senju, Hikari spected that it made more sense if Minato had a more direct connection to the Senju n, hence Ashura. This would also mean Naruto had more Senju blood in him.


    It also aligned well with the fact that Senju started changing their surnames, marrying civilians like ''crazy'', under the policy of Tobirama, leading to them dissipating in only one or two generations. Considering all of these points, Hikari was almost fully convinced Minato had some Senju DNA.


    Yet, what amused Hikari the most were the heroic tales and rumors of Minato rescuing Kushina Uzumaki, Konoha''s new Jinchuriki, from Kumogakure''s spies just recently.


    Considering the feats clearly aplished by the Kumogakure shinobi; Prating Konoha, capturing Kushina Uzumaki, the vige''s most important asset, and then nearly escaping with her, even exiting the vige perimeters and entering the forest outside, sessfully,


    It seemed thenpletely illogical that they could be so easily bested by one genin, fresh from the Academy, even one as talented as Minato.


    This apparent contradiction suggested to Hikar that, while these Kumogakure shinobi were skilled enough to infiltrate the vige and execute their mission, they might not have been particrly formidable opponents.


    However, this then raised another, the most important question: if they were not especially strong, how were they able to carry out such aplex operation sessfully in the first ce?


    The answer likelyy in the maniption of events from within Konoha itself. The ease with which Minato defeated these supposedly capable shinobi hinted at a setup that was orchestrated by Hiruzen and his faction. It was all a clear screenwriting, making of a movie.


    It seems probable that these Kumogakure operatives were allowed, perhaps even facilitated, to kidnap Kushina, creating an opportunity for Minato to y the ''hero saving a beauty'' in a carefully staged rescue.


    This scenario, seemingly lifted from the pages of a scripted drama, was likely engineered to enhance Minato''s reputation as a ''hero'' within the vige and further bind Kushina to the Hokage''s faction by weaving a narrative of heroism and romantic destiny between the two, possibly even inspired by their rtionship and indicate spying over them during the times they were together at the Academy.


    By engineering such a situation, Hiruzen''s faction achieved multiple objectives: Kushina, feeling indebted to Minato, would naturally grow closer to him, thereby ensuring that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki remained under the influence of the Hokage''s faction, Minato was part of, and the vige in general.


    Simrly, Minato''s new attachment to Kushina would subject him to indefinite political machinations of Konoha''s leadership, given her politically sensitive status as a Jinchuriki.


    His all actions and decisions would be henceforth needed to align with the expectations and directives of Hokage and his circle if he didn''t want to jeopardize his romantic rtionship with Kushina due to her politically sensitive identity as the vige''s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.


    Hikari found the entire setup so absurdly overyed that it brought him toughter, marveling at the extent to which Hiruzen''s faction would stoop to weave such a tale.


    It was, in his eyes, a testament to their desperation to maintain and expand their power, resorting to concocting a love story between children that doubled as a political maneuver.


    However, arriving at his home, Hikari shifted his focus from theplex web of vige politics to the more immediate task at hand—the rest of his daily routines.


    Despite the intrigue and the long-term strategies he had begun to devise, he was aware that his direct involvement in vige politics was still a few years away.


    His immediate priority was to strengthen himself physically and mentally, preparing for the day he would step into the political arena as part of his broader ns. This period of preparation was crucial. It was a time to build the foundation upon which his future rests.