Chapter 159: This Is Not What I Expected!
"No... what are you talking about..."
Minato spoke weakly, and Kushina stopped punching, simply crossing her arms and looking at him with dissatisfaction.
"I..."
Minato's expression changed several times before finally showing a relieved look.
"I understand, you're right... My own thoughts are the most important!"
"So, Minato, what are your thoughts?"
Kushina asked.
"I've always felt that Souji is superior to me in both combat strength and intelligence.
Now I know his thoughts, I agree with him from the bottom of my heart."
"Although my dream is to become Hokage. I know I can only manage Konoha as it was.
Maybe that's what advisors and others expect, but... that's not my goal!
Minato shook his head slightly and sighed:
"I want to become Hokage so that Konoha can become better, not just maintain the status quo, not change anything, and continue to do things according to the existing system."
"If this is what everyone expects of me, then I am truly disappointed and unwilling.
This cannot be called an expectation.
The real expectation should be that I can lead Konoha to become a better place..."
"Minato, so what do you mean…" Jiraiya asked softly.
"Although it may disappoint many people, I refuse!"
"I can't accept this kind of expectation!"
With a resolute expression and a look of resolute determination, Minato said:
"I'm giving up this competition to support Brother Souji fully!"
"He's more suited to be Hokage than I am!"
"Very good, that's right.
If this is your true thought, then you should do it according to your own ideas!"
Kushina nodded with a satisfied smile.
Jiraiya scratched his head and sighed.
"Hey...wait a minute, why not become Hokage first, and then push for what you want?
Isn't okay?
Giving up right away isn't a good idea, is it?"
Minato slightly covered his head and said:
"Although that's what I say, firstly, my thinking about the world isn't as deep as Souji's.
Before this, I had never even thought about the root cause of the wars.
I just thought it was because other ninja villages wanted to seize Konoha's position as the strongest ninja village."
"I haven't thought about how to resolve this situation, or rather, I've only thought about it very simply: as long as there is an enemy who wants to attack Konoha, I will use all my strength to defeat the enemy.
After that, at most, I will negotiate properly and strive for a ceasefire and the signing of a peace treaty."
"This can only achieve a temporary ceasefire, and it only prevents large-scale warfare from breaking out.
However, small-scale battles will continue during missions."
"This doesn't really solve the problem."
"Souji proposed to eliminate the distinction between ordinary people and ninjas, and to popularize chakra and ninjutsu training to everyone.
From then on, ninjas would no longer be born to fight.
This is a method I never thought of."
"If I were to become Hokage...
Although I just said I can't accept other people's expectations of me, which is to follow the established pattern, if I were actually asked to do it, I really couldn't think of how to make Konoha develop better."
"Although I was very unwilling, I really hadn't thought too much about it.
My original plan was to become Hokage first, and then learn and think under the guidance of the Third Hokage."
"But myself I am not confident that I can come up with a way to make Konoha a better place.
That would be irresponsible.
Besides, that's not what everyone expects of me.
Even if I could come up with something, many things might not be able to be implemented by then..."
"I don't want to stop something that could end the war and make everyone better just because of my own competitive spirit.
That would be wrong."
Minato looked at Jiraiya and Kushina and asked:
"Teacher, Kushina, don't you think it's pathetic that I don't even want to compete with Souji-nii?"
Kushina shook her head and said in a gentle tone:
"If it were anything else, and you gave up before even truly competing, I would definitely think you were useless.
But this time is different.
This isn't about determining a winner between you two; it represents the future of everyone in Konoha."
"You were able to decide to switch your support to Souji based on your own will.
This is not giving up; this is making a real decision."
"If you know it's wrong and you don't want to do it, but you still force yourself to do it because of other people's demands, then you're truly pathetic!"
"That's why I hit you earlier.
A man who can't make decisions based on his own will and only goes with the flow and does what others ask of him is really too weak and useless!"
"The man Kushina Uzumaki likes must be a man who dares to speak his mind and act on his beliefs!"
As Kushina spoke, she became increasingly imposing.
With Kushina's affirmation, Minato's expression softened considerably, his previous bitterness lessening.
"Thank you, Kushina..."
"Why are you thanking me?"
Minato and Kushina looked at each other and smiled.
Jiraiya watched helplessly from the side, and couldn't help but cough lightly.
"Ahem, you guys, I'm still here..."
He was originally asking about him and Kushina, but Kushina beat him to it and rattled off a whole bunch of things.
Minato immediately seemed to have the answer and started gazing deeply into Kushina's eyes.
His teacher?
He's completely forgotten about him!
Jiraiya cursed inwardly, while Minato looked embarrassed and asked again:
"What do you think, teacher?"
This casual, perfunctory attitude only made Jiraiya more annoyed, but he still answered:
"Although I was the one who pushed you out in the first place, this is what you wanted to do, so I won't stop you."
"In the end, when Uncle Mitokado said that the old man wanted to compare me with Orochimaru, I refused without saying a word, so I can't say that you did something wrong."
"Besides, the position of Hokage is full of things and responsibilities.
There's really nothing good about it.
You don't know, when I was young, I was a man who acted on his thoughts and was full of drive.
But after being tormented in the position of Hokage for so long, I don't have any of my former domineering spirit anymore."
"Someone as easygoing as me is naturally unsuitable.
Minato, you... They are too innocent and kind-hearted.
Sitting in the position of Hokage often requires you to give up your personal feelings and make cold but reasonable decisions.
For someone as pure-hearted as you, it would probably be very painful."
"teacher..."
Jiraiya's analysis touched Minato somewhat.
Jiraiya laughed:
"Now it's all good.
You don't need to worry about this anymore.
With Souji himself coming out and admitting it, it's actually a good thing for you!"
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End of this chapter...