Inside Hokage’s office….

Shang: No, My answer is no. Even if you ask Koharu, she will definitely say the same thing.

Hiruzen: Shang, can you give this old man a chance to at least raise one Hokage candidate successfully?

Shang: ….

Shang’s thoughts: It’s not like you don’t have a chance. With your record of candidates who you have raised, I don’t think I should give you one.

List of candidates raised by Hiruzen:

Possible candidate, Hatake Sakumo, committed honor suicide.

Possible candidate, Tsunade, abandoned the life of a shinobi.

Possible candidate, Jiraiya, used investigations as an excuse to run away, later died by the hands of his disciple, Nagato in the future.

Possible candidate, Orochimaru, defected from the village and later died by the hands of Sasuke in the future.

Successful candidate, Namikaze Minato, died one year later after becoming Hokage.

Nearly most of them don’t have a good ending.

Shang’s thoughts: This reminds me of a Chinese historical figure, Li Gang.

Li Gang, also known as Li Wenji, was an imperial tutor for three crown princes.

List of crown princes taught by Li Gang:

Crown Prince, Yang Yong of Sui Dynasty, first son of the first emperor, was executed by his brother and second son, Yang Guang who becomes the second emperor, Sui Yangdi.

Crown Prince, Li Jiancheng of Tang Dynasty, first son of the first emperor, was killed by his brother and second son, Li Shimin who becomes the second emperor, Tang Taizhong.

Crown Prince, Li Chenggan of Tang Dynasty, also known Li Gaomíng, first son of Li Shimin, was deposed of his position as he tried to revolt. He was later sent to be a military exile in another area.

Similarly, none of the students he taught have a good ending. Therefore, Li Gang was given a head title by the people of China, “Crown Prince Killer”.

Shang’s thoughts: Hiruzen’s head title should be “Hokage Candidate Killer”. Strange enough, some protagonists in other Narutoverse fanfiction who were taught personally by Hiruzen and become Hokage candidates, were not affected. They probably have the protagonist luck.

No matter how Shang thinks, he still has not avoided the main problem.

Hiruzen has chosen Piko to be next Hokage candidate.

The reason for that was her splendid performance of going solo against Kakashi during the bell test. Piko managed to take down Kakashi, who activated his Sharingan during the fight, with just taijutsu.

Tsunade's monstrous strength.

Minato’s godspeed

And the most important element of all, Otsutsuki Ashura’s Will of Fire.

She managed to display all of them during the test.

Shang’s thoughts: Even though I told her to stay low….

Shang: But Hiruzen… Can you promise me she will not end like Minato?

Hiruzen pauses for a while and then speaks.

Hiruzen: ...I can promise you that.

Shang’s thoughts: In other words, no guarantee and I have to draw my blade.

Shang: Then I agree to it.

Hiruzen: Great. About Koharu, can you convince her?

Shang:...I will try my best.

Shang's thoughts: I might have to sleep alone tonight.

Hiruzen: Thank you.

Shang’s thoughts: Time to give Danzou a warning.