Naruto: Who made him a ninja?

Kakashi nodded calmly. He suddenly realized that his adaptability was quite strong.

It seemed he also had the talent to become the Hokage's assistant, or even the Hokage himself.

Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about these things and looked forward with Hideki, towards the approaching group of people.

The person in the lead wore a white robe and a straw hat.

On the straw hat, there was a large character for 'Wind'!

There weren't many ninjas accompanying him, probably only a few dozen. Clearly, they were accompanying the Kazekage to watch the Chunin Exams.

"Kazekage-sama, welcome to Konoha."

When the Sand Shinobi group arrived at the entrance of Konoha Village, Hideki led Kakashi to greet them. He looked at the Kazekage in front of him and smiled.

He could naturally tell that the guy in front of him wasn't Orochimaru in disguise, which made him feel somewhat emotional.

This guy's fate seemed to have changed, but it didn't seem to have changed that much.

"Oh, you're the Hokage's assistant from Konoha, Hideki Shiwara?"

Rōshi looked at Hideki in front of him and raised his eyebrows, as if somewhat amused.

"I'm truly honored to be able to meet you, sir. Your name is probably known throughout the entire ninja world, just like your predecessor, Danzo."

"You flatter me, sir. Danzo's skills are what I aspire to learn."

Hearing this, the smile on Hideki's face became even brighter. He smiled nonchalantly.

"Danzo knows everything about the ninja world, but I'm still a bit short on experience. Perhaps I can get better in the future."

"Oh, become like Danzo?"

Rōshi smiled noncommittally, while Hideki remained calm.

"Maybe even surpass Danzo. After all, the benefits I've brought to Konoha, in some ways, surpass Danzo's."

Saying this, Hideki looked at Rōshi meaningfully.

Why bring up something that shouldn't be brought up?

Since he brought it on himself, Hideki wasn't afraid to confront him head-on!

"Hmph."

Seeing this kind of look, Rōshi immediately understood Hideki's meaning, but he had to endure it now.

"Hokage Assistant-sama, may I ask what the arrangements are for the next steps? Is this the way Konoha treats its guests?"

"The Hokage is already waiting. Please, Kazekage, come with me."

Hideki shrugged and smiled, while Rōshi nodded blandly.

"Since that's the case, please lead the way. I'm also very much looking forward to this trip to Konoha."

"Kazekage-sama, this way please."

After saying this, Hideki turned around and waved to Kakashi and the ninjas behind him. They walked towards Konoha together.

"Hey, the atmosphere is a bit heavy."

When Hideki walked back to Kakashi's side, Kakashi immediately lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Didn't you just say to give him some face?"

"Didn't I already give it? Otherwise, how could he enter Konoha?"

Hideki also lowered his voice and asked with a soft laugh. This question left Kakashi speechless for a moment.

Although Sand was considered an ally of Konoha, the higher-ups of Konoha were very clear about the nature of this alliance.

Even Kakashi was clear that Konoha's real ally was Yekura, a woman who had received the support of Hideki and even the higher-ups of Konoha.

As for Rōshi...

Everyone didn't like him very much, and it was very obvious in certain details.

The Kazekage had arrived, and Konoha had a welcoming ceremony, but it wasn't at the entrance of Konoha Village, but directly moved to the reception hall!

This kind of welcoming ceremony couldn't be described as low-key anymore, it could completely be said to be simple.

Moreover, Rōshi's evaluation within Konoha wasn't high, basically being labeled as 'ambitious but incompetent'.

What's more, Konoha had received word that Sand was probably going to make some unexpected moves this time.

How could Konoha have too good of an arrangement for such a person?

"Oh, our Fourth Kazekage has already arrived?"

In Konoha, inside the room where Yekura was staying, Yekura, holding a cup of tea, looked at Hideki who had suddenly appeared in front of her, a smile on her lips.

"Since that's the case, why did Hokage Assistant-sama come all the way to my place? Are you planning to hand me over to Kazekage-sama?"

"That seems like a good idea. I'll consider it carefully."

Hideki rolled his eyes and sat directly opposite Yekura.

Although Yekura's room was still a foreign guest residence, Hideki took good care of her.

The facilities here were complete, the environment was excellent, and Hideki had never restricted her freedom. Except for some sensitive areas that she couldn't go to, she could enter and exit other places at will.

What's more, even ordinary Konoha ninjas weren't allowed to approach those sensitive areas!

"That's really heartbreaking."

Yekura waited for Hideki to sit down before deliberately showing a bitter face.

"It seems that Konoha has finally made the 'correct' decision."

"Alright, let's not talk about these useless things."

Hideki propped his head up with one hand, not paying attention to Yekura's joke.

"Rōshi's purpose is not pure, you and I both know this. Konoha is already starting to prepare. I want to see what you think."

"Oh?"

Yekura raised her eyebrows, and then sat up straighter.

"What kind of thoughts do you have, or rather, what level do you want to achieve this time?"

"Don't you already know?"

Hideki spread his hands, a smile on his face.

"How does the title of Fifth Kazekage-sama sound?"

"."

At this moment, Yekura's originally slightly playful pretty face immediately tensed up. She knew too well what this sentence meant!

Hideki's frankness had already indicated Konoha's attitude to some extent, which made her feel indescribable.

Was it really going to come to this?

She hated Rōshi in her heart, and this couldn't be concealed.

She was known as the 'hero of Sand', but sadly, all she got was betrayal!

The first time she met Hideki, she had already experienced Rōshi's shamelessness.

She still hadn't forgotten the pain of that betrayal!

Although Konoha wasn't being very kind either, the purpose of many things they helped her with was also very clear. In her opinion, they were just trying to control Sand.

But she didn't resist too much in her heart, because although Konoha wasn't being kind, Rōshi was even more inhumane.

At least Konoha had truly given Sand substantial benefits through various means, and could even be said to have solved their survival problems.

And what about Rōshi?

The tragic Third Ninja World War was still vivid in her mind, selling out the village's heroes for immediate gains, and inciting the village to confront Iwa after the end of the Third War.

The village's interests did need to be fought for, but did it really need to be done in such an extreme way?

"He wants to prove himself too much. After all, he came up after the Third Kazekage-sama disappeared. Everyone isn't that convinced of him."

Yekura thought of some things that Ebizo and Chiyo had told her about Rōshi, which made her sigh even more in her heart.

Over the years, these two had really been cultivating her according to the standards of a Kage. Now that the final step was coming, her heart was naturally filled with complexity.

"Don't you like this title? Or rather, do you think you're not enough to stand in this position?"

Looking at the silent Yekura, Hideki tilted his head and asked with some doubt, while Yekura sighed and gently shook her head.

"I don't know, I feel a bit complicated. Actually, I really want to ask you a question."

"Please speak."

"What level do you hope I can achieve, what level does Konoha hope I can achieve?"

"That's your question."

Hideki smiled, and then his expression became serious.

"I told you a long time ago, I'm not Danzo, and what I've always been pursuing is a win-win situation.

Although there aren't many cakes in the ninja world, there are enough for us to share. If Konoha has a bite, it will naturally take care of the people who are with us.

But there's a premise here, this 'person' is our ally, a true ally!"

Saying this, Hideki stood up and looked at the bustling streets below, he chuckled.

"There's always a struggle for interests in the village, but it's always important to put yourself in the right position.

Rōshi is an ambitious person, but Sand can't bear his ambition, and the ultimate result will be misery.

What Sand should be pursuing has never been the position of the ninja world. The geographical environment, resources, and climate sometimes determine many things.

He's probably blinded and confused by power and the obsession to prove himself.

But you're different. I recognize you, I believe in you, you can see many things clearly, and you understand what Sand really needs.

What's more, Sand is already one of the five great ninja villages in the ninja world. What can you do if you go further?"

Hideki's words made Yekura somewhat silent, because these words did speak to her heart.

Although she longed for Sand to be better, Sand's geographical environment really determined many things.

And she had always been questioning one thing, can Sand only be made better by pursuing it through force?

Perhaps it was really like this before, but the situation seemed to be somewhat different now.

This guy in front of her was the one who was trying to change all of this...

"So, work hard. Konoha won't treat its own people badly, and I won't treat my own people badly either."

Walking slowly to Yekura's side, the seriousness on Hideki's face had disappeared, replaced by a warm smile.

"I will promote Konoha to introduce a series of policies to better help the allies who fight alongside us.

Of course, don't think that Konoha is doing charity. If you benefit, Konoha will definitely not suffer.

And you also need to make trade-offs for some things, understand?"

"Just like your 'North Water South Transfer', making Sand owe you so much?"

Yekura also recovered a lot, looking at Hideki in front of her, she also laughed.

"Damn it, Sand owes you a lot of debt. Aren't you afraid that we'll kill the debtors?"

"You can try it, I don't mind."

Hideki chuckled nonchalantly. Of course he knew that Yekura was joking, and he couldn't take it seriously.

"Also, this time Konoha plans to try it out, and the problems on your side may be solved with Wood Release.

And Konoha is the only place in the entire ninja world with the ability of Wood Release. Maybe, your place may become a paradise in the future."

"What's the price?"

Yekura rolled her eyes, but undeniably she also had some longing for the future.

Sand was indeed already one of the five great ninja villages in the entire ninja world. What she should be pursuing most now was probably a better life for everyone.

But there were gains and losses, and Yekura was quite depressed about this.

"It seems that you've already put yourself in the position of Kazekage, which is pretty good."