Then Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped speaking and didn't continue looking at Mokgetsu, taking advantage of the idle moment to read the documents on the table.
"What does Sarutobi Hiruzen want to do?" Mokgetsu was a bit surprised to hear Sarutobi Hiruzen's words.
According to Sarutobi Hiruzen, this was almost like creating another Anbu within the Anbu, and Mokgetsu was the leader of this other Anbu.
If Mokgetsu had thoughts like Shimura Danzo, he could quickly use the resources of Anbu to develop another existence similar to Root.
It might even develop faster than Root back in the day because Mokgetsu has Captain-level assignments.
"Could he want me to be Hokage or the assistant to the next Hokage?" Mokgetsu's mind raced.
Anbu has always been a department directly commanded by the Hokage, and Shimura Danzo's smooth development of Root was also due to his identity as Hokage Assistant.
This plan of Sarutobi Hiruzen made it hard for Mokgetsu not to think more about it.
For Sarutobi Hiruzen to have this motive was not strange at all.
Tsunade was the most suitable candidate to become Hokage, whether by identity or strength or achievements, no one can question Tsunade becoming Hokage.
But Tsunade backed off, now she doesn't even want to be a ninja, let alone Hokage.
Jiraiya was Sarutobi Hiruzen's best choice in mind, but Jiraiya also doesn't want to be Hokage, and he recently suffered a defeat.
The cold-blooded, twisted Orochimaru has already lost the qualifications to become Hokage in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.
All three Hokage candidates were unsuitable, and now Mokgetsu performed better than Minato, and he has a layer of learning Ninjutsu relationship with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
In this situation, the possibility that Sarutobi Hiruzen wants Mokgetsu to be Hokage is not small.
As for the assistant to Hokage, the reason is even simpler.
Mokgetsu's abilities are outstanding and he has a good personality, serving as an assistant to the next Hokage would be without any problems.
"Third Hokage, I choose the first one." Mokgetsu pondered and replied.
Mokgetsu has no interest in being the Hokage or Hokage Assistant.
However, this special assignment as Anbu Squad Captain is indeed somewhat useful to him.
If he wants to level up a certain skill in the future, he can organize training for the ninjas himself.
"But I think there's no need to supplement team members, during wartime manpower is scarce, there's no way to waste usable combat power on this, I can complete all the teaching work alone." Mokgetsu continued.
He doesn't want to create a second Root, that would only add more to his tasks.
Mokgetsu's idea is that if Sarutobi Hiruzen has a task, then he'll teach, otherwise, he'll organize training activities based on his own needs.
Although this would make him become a lone commander as Anbu Squad Captain, it would also allow Mokgetsu to be more leisurely.
After all, being a full-fledged Anbu Squad Captain, where would Mokgetsu have the time to teach disciples, lead disciples to do tasks, and gain prestige on the battlefield?
"If you think it's okay, then it's fine as is." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and said.
Since he mentioned letting Mokgetsu decide for himself, he understandably wouldn't go back on his word.
Moreover, Mokgetsu indeed has the strength to say this, as Mokgetsu previously trained hundreds of ninjas alone without any issues.
After everything was explained, Mokgetsu left the Hokage Building and headed to the Southern Border Forest to teach his disciples.
"Mokgetsu, are you a good choice?" Watching Mokgetsu's departing back, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into deep thought.
Now Sarutobi Hiruzen is somewhat confused about the choice of Hokage, which he hadn't anticipated before.
He has three disciples, one being the granddaughter of the First Hokage, another a genius ninja since childhood, and the last one a late bloomer who isn't inferior to anyone.
With these three disciples, how could Sarutobi Hiruzen have thought he would ever worry about having no successor?
"Let's observe a little more." Sarutobi Hiruzen thought.
Among the ninjas of Jiraiya and Orochimaru's generation, only the Sannin are qualified to become Hokage, and beyond that, it's Mokgetsu and Namikaze Minato.
Only ninjas with extraordinary strength and reputation like them can somewhat break through the age barrier.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen hasn't decided who to choose yet, as the position of Hokage is too important to Konoha to be decided carelessly.
"Maybe in a few years, their thoughts will change."
Sarutobi Hiruzen still hopes Tsunade and Jiraiya can step forward, Mokgetsu and Namikaze Minato are too young.
An hour later, a ninja dressed as Anbu knocked on the door and entered the Hokage Office.
"Third Hokage, I've organized the information you wanted." The Anbu, holding a Sealing Scroll with both hands, handed it to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took it, checked it slightly, and then returned it to Anbu, "Deliver it to Mokgetsu."
The Anbu nodded, left the Hokage Office, and quickly went to Mokgetsu's house in the main district.
"If you can truly develop Wood Release, that would be ideal." Sarutobi Hiruzen inserted the tobacco pipe into his mouth, exhaled wisps of white smoke, and sighed.
If Mokgetsu can develop Wood Release, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't have to keep choosing, he'd directly take Mokgetsu as his disciple, letting Mokgetsu continue earning military merits and developing Anbu, retiring when it's suitable and passing the position to Mokgetsu.
There was nothing to pick on, as with Mokgetsu's performance, cultivating Wood Release for a few years at least turns him into a minor God of Ninjas.
However, that's after all Wood Release, and Sarutobi Hiruzen thinks the probability of Mokgetsu developing Wood Release is about the same as Jiraiya changing his mind.
...
Night falls.
Mokgetsu received a message from Shimura Danzo, so he stealthily went to the Root Base.
"Mokgetsu, how has Sarutobi Hiruzen arranged for you to teach Observation?" Shimura Danzo asked eagerly.
Originally, this was a matter that should be decided and discussed in a high-level meeting.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen refused on the grounds of caring for Mokgetsu's feelings, stating that he would discuss it individually with Mokgetsu.
Considering Mokgetsu just won a big battle, the two advisors did not object, making Shimura Danzo's opinion naturally unimportant.
But that didn't deter Shimura Danzo, as if Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't say, he would ask Mokgetsu himself.
"The Third Hokage made me Anbu Squad Captain with special assignments..." Mokgetsu selectively told Shimura Danzo the discussion content.
Being Anbu Captain is a matter that cannot be concealed from Shimura Danzo; Root and Anbu are too close, and Shimura Danzo is also a high-ranking Konoha official.
"He is indeed generous to you." Hearing Mokgetsu received a special Anbu Captain assignment, Shimura Danzo felt annoyed.
Not annoyed with Mokgetsu, but with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Back then, he had to persuade a lot to get a squad assignment from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"If you capture more Hidden Rock Spies like those in the future, you must immediately acquire their body tissue." Shimura Danzo instructed.
With Mokgetsu capable of sensing malice in Konoha, Shimura Danzo hasn't heard of other Ninja Villages having such means, and the kind of Transformation Jutsu that can disguise Chakra is too challenging to detect.
Mokgetsu nodded.
In the future, if there's a White Zetsu, he won't point it out, he'll handle it quietly.
Mokgetsu was just leaving Shimura Danzo's office when he encountered a Root Ninja walking towards him.
"Lord Mokgetsu." The Root Ninja slightly lowered his head in greeting to Mokgetsu.
Mokgetsu smiled as a response and continued forward.
"Lord Danzo, Lord Orochimaru's reply has arrived!"
Once the Root Ninja entered the office, he quickly closed the door and reported.
Danzo initially didn't pay much attention, but when he saw the reply, his face quickly showed a surprised expression.
"That Nagato was once Jiraiya's disciple!"
Shimura Danzo contacted Orochimaru with the mindset of trying, as Orochimaru is now not busy, unexpectedly obtaining from Orochimaru the vital information he didn't know.
He genuinely didn't know that the boy with the Rinnegan, now regarded as the Ninja World's foremost genius, Nagato, had a mentor-disciple relationship with Jiraiya.
"Could this relationship with Jiraiya be exploited..." Shimura Danzo pondered.
He desired the technology of Hidden Rock spies, but even more, he wanted the Rinnegan and Ninja Sect legacy.
PS: I still somewhat overestimated my state.