Will of embers

Chapter 5

The Third Hokage sat silently by his desk for quite a while now, not doing anything but staring at his table. Kakashi Hatake, an ANBU operative nicknamed Dog, couldn't help noticing such moments. After the attack of the Demon Fox, Kakashi harbored many doubts, especially when he and other high-ranking shinobi were ordered not to help in the battle because they were considered children.

That order came from the Third Hokage himself. If not for those orders, he might have been able to save his sensei and Kushina. He was captain and a leader of the ANBU team. He had the right to fight in that battle as any other shinobi. So, it was hard to accept it for Kakashi. And the words from Danzo sounded more true with each minute Kakashi observed the Third Hokage.

After five minutes of staring blankly at his table, he sighed. It was a tired and old sigh, making the Third Hokage even older in Kakashi's eyes. The way the Third Hokage acted of the late made Kakashi think he was weak. Kakashi didn't know what it was. Maybe the way he walked or the pause every time an ANBU operative revealed themselves before the Third Hokage showed that the Third Hokage wasn't as strong as he used to be.

Everything pointed out that Danzo was right. The Third Hokage was not best for the future of the village. That is why Kakashi decided to join Danzo, even though he had suspicions about him. But Kakashi couldn't let the ineffectual, passionless leader be the Hokage of the Konohagakure. Not after he let Kakashi's sensei die.

…

Name: Hiruzen Sarutobi

Age: 55/76

HP: 100%

Chakra: 20%

Strength: 8/11

Speed: 8/11

Stamina: 8/11

Intelligence: 9/11

Charisma: 7/11

Ninjutsu: 8/11

Taijutsu: 8/11

Genjutsu: 8/11

Fuinjutsu: 8/11

"Ding!!! To the host's information, a human's highest peak is 10 in any stat. Only a few humans in the history of this world managed to reach 10 in a few of their stats. Some people called them the God of Shinobi. But no human could ever have 10 in every stat. Otherwise, they would start reaching godhood like those of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. Ding!!!"

If Hiruzen didn't need to keep his appearance, his eyes would probably have fallen out of his sockets. Finding out that 10 was the peak a human could reach gave him a newfound respect for Hiruzen Sarutobi. He could understand intelligence, as he felt quite smart, able to adapt to this world and somehow not be discovered as a fraud. But everything else?

Strenght, speed, and stamina being at 8 was quite impressive. And he was already quite old, way past his prime. There is indeed a reason why Hiruzen Sarutobi was called the God of Shinobi. It wouldn't surprise him if these stats were 10 when he was in his thirties. But the question was, why the system showed out of 11 if 10 was the peak.

"Ding!!! To the host's information, If any of his stats reached 11, he would be in the same league as the Otsutsuki Clan, even without possessing Rinnegan or other dojutsu or kekkai genkai. Even though it is rare, humans can achieve such a level, even if it is temporally. And it might have dire consequences for the human body. Ding!!!"

That wasn't very pleasing to know. Still, at least he now knew. But he will keep far away from reaching 11 in any stat. He didn't want to find out what kind of consequences he would then have to experience after that. He already had his hands full with other things, so he will let others do it, and he will be satisfied by cheering on them from the sidelines.

"Ding!!! The quests have been changed because of the rewrite to give the host more information. Now, the host will not only be provided with the information about the quest but also the reward he will receive upon its completion and the penalty he will receive upon its failure unless the system can't calculate the reward or the penalty. Ding!!!"

"Ding!!! New quest. Conspiracy of the shadows of Konoha- Danzo and few others don't believe the host can lead the village. So, they are aiming to remove you from your position one way or another, including sabotaging your work or assassinating you. It would be best if you stopped them. Ding!!!"

Reward: An A or higher rank random ninjutsu or taijutsu and random memory.

Penalty: Death.

'Well, that isn't nice,' The reward was quite good. Having another A or S rank ninjutsu at his disposal would make him quite safe. After all, if Naruto was fine knowing two jutsu, there was no reason why Hiruzen shouldn't be. Well, maybe because he didn't have any battle experience. Yet it didn't matter because if he can't stop Danzo, he will die.

Thinking about it more carefully, Hiruzen was worried. At this moment, he knew that Danzo and Orochimaru were working together. Danzo also had the Root organization. Hiruzen didn't know how powerful it was, but hopefully, it wasn't better than his ANBU. But thinking of ANBU, another character popped into his head.

'Wasn't Kakashi at one point been at Root?' Hiruzen tried his best to remember. As far as he knew, Kakashi was still in ANBU. He didn't want to check the list of ANBU members as he knew he was watched. But he was certain that Kakashi was under his service. He needed to think of a plan to eliminate Danzo and the Root.

Maybe he didn't get it, but Hiruzen couldn't justify the Root's existence. Nothing came to his mind as he tried to remember what the Root had done in the past or would do in the future. It was ANBU with extra unnecessary steps. Maybe they had a pivotal role in previous shinobi wars, but his ANBU was capable of anything the Root could do.

The question was, how should he go about it? There was no way he could go to a head-to-head battle, as it would mean he would need to participate in this battle. He knew his stats were pretty good, but he had no idea how to use them. He couldn't even think of a way to utilize his speed or strength. And it would soon be discovered by Danzo, Orochimaru, or anyone else if he got into a fight.

He needed to train himself without being discovered by those watching him. Even his residence only provided so much privacy, and he could train without worrying in his room by using shadow clones. But there was no way he could practice his ninjutsu without someone discovering that he sucked at it. He could only make one mistake before he was discovered.

There was only one way to do it. A way to learn basics without anyone suspecting anything. He would need to teach someone so that he could practice simultaneously. Nobody would question why he was practicing basic stuff if he taught it to someone. It was the only way he could do it without anyone suspecting him.

Yet, was it even possible for him to take anyone as his student right now? Even with shadow clones, he had to study how he should lead the village; there was too much work for him. And it took its toll on him. Not only the work but also trying to pretend to be someone he wasn't. Watching every move he made, agonizing over every word he said, was too much for him, sometimes.

Hiruzen knew he needed to get strong. Not to be able to fight but to avoid a fight. He wasn't arrogant enough to believe that he could fight against shinobi, who trained for all their lives. He lacked battle sense, and everyone could overwhelm him with their experience. Even with all the jutsu in the world under his belt, he didn't see himself winning against anyone.

A fight against shinobi was more than throwing jutsu at each other; even if it were, Hiruzen still wouldn't be able to win. He would have no idea what kind of jutsu or when to use it. He knew he was powerless until he got back his memories. So, he had to avoid fighting at all costs. Everything was so complicated, but he had to persevere.

"Dog," Hiruzen couldn't just drown himself in self-deprivation. He needed to act.

"Hokage-sama," A shinobi appeared before Hiruzen.

A child, fourteen years or maybe fifteen years old. It was hard to tell, especially with the mask covering his face. His silver-gray and pointy hair was a mess. If Hiruzen had seen the kid in his previous world, he would have thought nothing of him aside from his hair looking cool, but here, this kid was one of the deadliest shinobi.

"Take off your mask," Hiruzen said and didn't break eye contact.

"Why?" Hokage would command his ANBU to remove his mask for only a few reasons.

"From this moment, you are no longer a member of ANBU."

"Why?" Hiruzen could detect not only confusion but also anger directed at him. Kakashi's eyes promised murder.

"Why are you trying to protect someone you don't believe?" Hiruzen asked as Kakashi's behavior confirmed his suspicion of Danzo approaching him. "You still a hundred years too young to fool me, kid. I know Danzo better than he thinks."

Kakashi's lone eye looked surprised at Hiruzen's words, further confirming Hiruzen's suspicions. Before Kakashi could do or say anything, the rest of the ANBU in the office surrounded Kakashi with their blades pointing at him. But they did nothing else, waiting for Hiruzen's orders or for Kakashi to make a foolish decision.

"Did he tell you that I am weak?" Hiruzen asked, no emotion coming from his tone. "Or that I am softhearted? Or is there something you saw in me that you couldn't accept?"

"Why?" Kakashi lifted his head slowly to look at Hiruzen. "Why didn't you allow me to fight? Why have you forsaken sensei's life?"

It was quite a loaded question that Hiruzen didn't have an answer to. From his words, Hiruzen deducted he spoke of the attack of the Demon Fox. It was probably he who gave the order not to let Kakashi and the other children join the battle. And Kakashi probably resented him for that. And it was a similar question he couldn't answer before to Asuma.

"Even if you have joined, nothing would have changed. Or where are you planning to die with your sensei?"

"It was something I had to do!" Hiruzen held his hand to stop his ANBU from reacting to Kakashi's outburst. "I would have rather died protecting what is precious to me than watch everything fall apart."

"That not something a friend-killer should say," One of the ANBU replied.

Maybe because Hiruzen knew of Kakashi's past and how much he had suffered, he felt anger rise when he heard this comment. He didn't know how to react. He was afraid to say or do something to make them realize he was a fraud. But his heart commanded it, and he didn't feel like refusing it. The table cracked first, then the floor couldn't take it and started to split. The walls shook, and everyone in the room knelt under pressure.

"Ding!!! The host must stop exerting his chakra as it has fallen to a dangerous level for your body to handle. Ding!!!"

Chakra: 2%

In mere seconds, 18% of his chakra disappeared. Hiruzen didn't even know he could do this. He just let it out, and the surroundings reacted accordingly to the pressure of his chakra. He remembered doing something like that the first time he got into this world and was surrounded by the strongest shinobi in the village.

Back then, he remembered himself to be in shock before the crying baby in his hands woke him up. Then he couldn't control his chakra at let it leak for a second before forcing it to stop. But now he knew how to control it and realized how much chakra this body had. Just letting a small amount out of his body put everything before him under immense pressure. It was a nice trick. Too bad it took too much chakra to cause only such an effect.

"Whatever you believe or whatever Danzo said about me is probably true," Hiruzen said as the surroundings returned to normal. "I am weak. I am softhearted. I could not see my children getting into a battle I knew they would not return from. I am sorry that Minato had to die, and it wasn't me."

"Could he have been saved?" Kakashi asked as he, as well as other ANBU, regained their composure.

"I don't know," Hiruzen replied, trying to hide his nervousness. He needed Kakashi on his side, so he must think carefully about what to say next. "But I refuse to make presumptions that are better suited to me like you are doing right now. Instead of asking and clearing your doubts, you believe them because it is easier. Danzo told you about many things about me, but do you even know what it means to be a Hokage?"

"No," Kakashi said, being caught red-handed in his narrow-mindedness.

"Then why not find it out?" Hiruzen asked as he gave out the best impression of a kind smile. "From this moment on, you will be my assistant. You will do paperwork with me, attend the meetings, and always be by my side. If you want to see with your own eyes what kind of person I am and if I am suited to lead the village, be my guest, Kakashi."

"Ding!!! Hidden Quest completed. Congratulations host. You have cleared the doubts Kakashi Hatake harbored toward you under Danzo Shimura's influence. Ding!!!"

"Ding!!! New Quest: Make Kakashi Hatake your successor. Ding!!!"

Reward: Unknown.

Penalty: Unknown.

Hiruzen didn't need anyone to say what he should do. Maybe it was a spur-of-a-moment decision. But who was a better successor than the student of the Fourth Hokage? The idea came to him when he realized that Danzo might be using Kakashi as he remembered something like this happening. So, why couldn't he use Kakashi?

Hiruzen might not be able to fight, and he is weak, but he has something that no one else has. Knowledge of the past and the future. He wasn't the real Hiruzen. He didn't harbor any goodwill for Danzo. And he knew how Danzo was thinking and what he was up to. He didn't need to fight him. He will defeat him without a fight. With his first small victory, it was time to see what he got as a reward.

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852. And if you have any requests for stories, I will only take them on my pa treon.