Chapter 109 : Riku, Who Has Learned The Sage Arts , Is Enough To Support Konoha
Riku sighed. "Orochimaru had planned this for a long time. After all, he is one of the Legendary Sannin... but what’s most important now is Lord Hokage. I can sense that his chakra is extremely fragile. I’m afraid..."
Riku trailed off, but the meaning was clear.
Morino Ibiki looked toward the arena where the Chūnin Exams were still taking place, his brow deeply furrowed. "He’s one of the Sannin... but I never imagined Orochimaru would actually turn against Lord Hokage. Wasn’t he once the Hokage’s own student?"
Riku shook his head. "Who knows what happened between them back then? Regardless, even if Orochimaru was the Hokage’s student, he’s still a traitor."
Ibiki didn’t respond. He knew some of what had happened in the past, but not enough to comment. He remained silent.
In truth, Ibiki had originally wanted Riku to rush to support the Third Hokage. But hearing what Riku said—that the Hokage’s chakra was so weak—it was almost certain that the Third had been killed by Orochimaru.
Moments later, Riku’s expression darkened further. "The Third’s chakra is gone. It seems... he’s fallen."
He looked furious, but inside, he felt nothing at all.
After all, he had no personal bond with the Third Hokage.
Letting the Third go out this way—as a hero who protected the village to his dying breath—was perhaps the most fitting end for him.
In truth, the old man had already been nearing the end of his natural lifespan.
Ibiki clenched his fists, frowning. He understood all too well what the consequences of the Third Hokage’s death would mean.
Konoha’s losses would draw the attention of neighboring ninja villages, who might take advantage of the situation. The village could be targeted.
Especially the other four Great Nations.
Konoha had already been weakened severely before this attack. Now, with the Hokage dead and countless ninja lost in battle, they would need someone with immense strength and prestige to take up the mantle of leadership—someone who could act as a deterrent against the other villages.
Ibiki’s mind raced.
If Riku were only a bit older, if he had the same reputation as the Sannin—or even just that of someone like Kakashi—Ibiki would already be pushing for him to become the Fifth Hokage.
Just as Ibiki and Riku stood contemplating the situation, a voice called out to them. Jiraiya appeared at their side. "What the hell happened?!"
He had just returned to the village and was stunned by what he saw.
Half of Konoha was in ruins.
Casualties were everywhere, and fighting was still going on inside the village between Konoha ninja and Sunagakure forces.
The sight made Jiraiya’s gut twist.
Riku turned to him, voice calm. "Orochimaru... he allied with Sunagakure. Konoha’s suffered heavy losses. I’m afraid the Hokage is already dead. I just returned from Ryūchi Cave."
Jiraiya’s expression changed immediately. He turned and rushed toward the exam arena. "Riku! Come with me!" he shouted as he ran.
Riku glanced at Ibiki. "You handle things here. I’ll go with Jiraiya-sama."
Though Riku’s strength was already superior to Jiraiya’s, he had no desire to show off. It simply wasn’t in his nature.
There was no need.
Ibiki nodded. "Go. I’ll take care of things here. Be careful."
Now that Konoha had lost so many of its elite, and with the Hokage gone, Riku—Kakashi’s student and part of the Hokage’s lineage—was already being viewed by Ibiki as the future of the village.
His attitude toward Riku had grown warmer.
They had all heard, at least in passing, that the Third Hokage had once intended to groom Riku to be his successor.
No one expected the old man to die before that plan could come to fruition.
Among the ANBU and Konoha’s inner circle, it was already clear: aside from Jiraiya, the village’s hopes rested on Riku and Kakashi.
These three were now Konoha’s most powerful assets.
In fact, if Jiraiya hadn’t returned at this critical moment, Ibiki likely wouldn’t have even thought of him as a candidate.
But Riku’s power clearly surpassed Kakashi’s. His summoning of Shinya, the mighty serpent from Ryūchi Cave, had already proven that.
Riku followed Jiraiya swiftly toward the Chūnin Exam venue.
Before long, the two arrived at the battlefield.
All around them, broken trees and debris littered the area—and there, lying lifeless on the ground, was the Third Hokage.
Riku frowned. "So it’s true... Lord Hokage..."
Jiraiya stared silently, his face grim.
Gathered around were the Jonin of Konoha—Kakashi, Might Guy, Asuma, Kurenai, Anko—all standing solemnly over the Third’s fallen body, their expressions filled with grief.
But beneath the sorrow was another, growing concern: with the Hokage dead and so many ninja lost, Konoha was vulnerable to attack from rival villages.
At this point, all they could do was brace themselves for the storm that might follow.
When they saw Jiraiya arrive, several of them let out a breath they hadn’t realized they’d been holding.
The loss of the Third Hokage had shaken everyone deeply—but even more frightening was the possibility that no one remained capable of carrying the village forward.
Right now, Konoha needed a Hokage who could command respect and intimidate any who dared attack.
Of course, a Hokage didn’t usually take the front lines. During the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, the Kage of the Five Great Nations rarely fought directly. Though they were the pinnacle of their respective villages, they remained behind the scenes, intervening only when absolutely necessary.
Only rare exceptions, like the Third Raikage—who was killed during negotiations in the Land of Earth—ever entered battle directly.
In other words, when it came to Hokage, reputation often mattered more than raw power.
That made Jiraiya the most suitable candidate to become the Fifth Hokage.
As Kakashi spotted Riku, he walked over to him.
Riku nodded silently.
A flicker of light returned to Kakashi’s downcast eyes. He placed a hand on Riku’s shoulder. Though he was still mourning, a small smile threatened to form.
He was proud.
Kakashi knew that Riku had gone to Ryūchi Cave to train in Sage Mode.
Now that he had returned, and with his strength so clearly displayed, it was clear the training had been a success.
It was the first good news Kakashi had received in a long time.
He finally let out a breath of relief.
With Sage Mode, the Flying Thunder God Technique, Chidori, even mastery over Wood Style and various Forbidden Jutsu—Riku had become something more.
His strength had likely surpassed Kage level.
So long as Riku remained in Konoha, the village would not fall.
High-level combat power was everything to a Hidden Village. Especially one of the Five Great Nations.
During the Third Ninja War, Konoha had come close to ruin. It was the arrival of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, that turned the tide and secured victory—even if the village ultimately had to make humiliating concessions to end the war.
Without Minato, Konoha would have lost.
That alone proved how vital a single powerhouse could be to a major village.
And now, Kakashi believed, Riku had surpassed even the Fourth Hokage.
A heavy burden had lifted from Kakashi’s shoulders.
As long as Riku stood with Konoha, the village would endure.
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