Chapter 22: Tetsuya's Personal Charm, Konoha with No Successor

"Tetsuya!"

Naruto looked at Tetsuya with tears in his eyes, his heart swelling with warmth. Only Tetsuya, only Tetsuya believed in him. Naruto secretly vowed to do everything in his power to become Hokage, to live up to Tetsuya's expectations.

"Tetsuya believes in you, and so do I, Naruto," Hinata spoke timidly but firmly, standing by Tetsuya's side.

Not to be outdone, Ino declared, "Yes, I trust Tetsuya! Naruto, you'll definitely become Hokage!"

The other students in the class were stunned. They did not expect that after Tetsuya spoke, two prominent clan members would voice their support for Naruto.

And that wasn't the end of it.

Shikamaru straightened up, sighing. "Ino–Shika–Chō," he muttered. "Even the pig has spoken; how can I stay silent?" Reluctantly, he added, "Naruto, if you want to be Hokage, just work hard. Words alone won't get you there."

The implication was clear. Naruto wiped his tears and nodded vigorously. It was the first time he had received so much encouragement.

Chōji finished his snack and gave Naruto a thumbs-up. "Me too!"

Sasuke snorted, saying nothing, but he took note of Naruto.

Iruka, caught off guard by the turn of events, struggled to regain control. "It seems everyone here is very supportive. Let's hope Naruto works hard. Now, it's time for the next student to introduce themselves."

He looked at Tetsuya curiously. Who was this boy who commanded such respect?

Tetsuya stood up slowly, no hesitation in his step. "My name is Kamiyo Tetsuya. My dream is to become the strongest in the entire ninja world so I can protect my friends. And if I can marry a few more wives, that would be great."

Hinata blushed deeply, and Ino's eyes sparkled.

Iruka's forehead creased with black lines. A Hokage, the strongest in the ninja world, and wanting several wives? This boy was something else.

Forcing a smile, Iruka allowed Tetsuya to sit down and quickly ended the self-introductions. He felt exhausted. It was his first year teaching, and he was already facing such challenges.

...

In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage watched the scene unfold through his crystal ball, a smile of relief on his face. This year's class was special. Not only was Naruto, the Jinchūriki, present, but also the future heads of several major clans, and Tetsuya, the suspected descendant of the Senju. As Hokage, it was only natural to keep a close eye on them.

He felt a pang of guilt watching Naruto. His own inaction had caused the boy so much pain. But seeing Tetsuya's actions brought him comfort.

"With such a friend, Naruto, I believe you will never be alone again," he murmured.

Tetsuya's influence was evident. On the first day of school, he had the support of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio. The last person with such charisma was Namikaze Minato.

The Third Hokage put away the crystal ball and turned his thoughts to the village's current situation. Shisui's death had temporarily halted Uchiha's rebellion, but the underlying tensions remained.

As Hokage, he didn't want this simmering conflict to explode, but the Uchiha were a crucial part of Konoha's defense. Suppressing them would come at a high cost. All he could do now was maintain a delicate balance.

Swish!

A figure wearing a cat-faced mask appeared, a faint trace of blood visible beneath it.

"Itachi..." The Third Hokage greeted the young man with a smile.

"Lord Hokage," Itachi said respectfully, "I'm here to report on the mission."

He had just killed a ninja fleeing with critical information about the village. Since joining Anbu, Itachi had seen too much darkness, and the constant killing had numbed his heart.

The Third Hokage listened silently to the mission report and offered some words of encouragement. He was very satisfied with Itachi. Not limited by clan interests, Itachi thought from the perspective of a Hokage. But unfortunately, he was an Uchiha.

Recently, Konoha had been experiencing a decline in talent. Among the younger generation, aside from Kakashi, Itachi was the most suitable to become Hokage. This was why the Third Hokage had high hopes for Tetsuya.

Wasn't it a kind of sadness? Once the largest village in the ninja world, now struggling to find a Kage-level powerhouse.

The Third Hokage looked at the boy in front of him and finally asked, "Itachi, if the village and Uchiha truly come to a point of no return, what will you do?"