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Shin and his group returned to the Land of Whirlpools.
As soon as they arrived, they saw Hanabi, whose little mouth could practically hang an oil bottle from her pout.
“AHHH! You big meanie! Why didn’t you let me come with you?!”
Hanabi wailed, lunging towards Shin. He caught her easily, gave her a spanking on the bottom until she settled down.
“Little girl, still dare to call me a big meanie now?” Shin asked Hanabi teasingly.
“Hmph! Why wouldn’t I dare?” Hanabi retorted, though it was just bravado. In reality, she was already scared; she was just putting on a brave face.
“Why are you back so soon?” Mei Terumī asked curiously.
“Watched the big show; there was no reason to stay. Besides, Konoha’s beds aren’t nearly as comfortable as yours.”
Shin’s words made Konan and Mikoto blush slightly. As for Tsunade and Mei Terumī… sorry, they weren’t as thin-skinned as Mikoto and Konan.
“Right, Tsunade, Hiruzen Sarutobi died. Are you going to attend his funeral?” Shin asked Tsunade.
“The old man… died?” Tsunade’s expression froze in shock.
“Yes. Killed by Orochimaru,” Shin nodded.
Tsunade’s expression turned complicated. “So he finally died at his student’s hands…”
“So, Tsunade, are you going to the funeral?” Shin asked again.
“Well… he was my teacher once. If I didn’t know he died, it wouldn’t matter. But since I know, I should go pay respects.” Tsunade considered for a moment, then nodded at Shin.
——
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.
Today was the day of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral. Shin accompanied Tsunade to Konoha.
Kushina, Mikoto, and the others didn’t come. They were indifferent towards Hiruzen’s funeral.
“Haven’t been back to Konoha in a long time. It’s changed so much—seems worse than before,” Tsunade remarked, looking at the somewhat dilapidated village.
“Actually, Konoha is more prosperous now than before. The damage is mostly from Orochimaru’s attack,” Shin explained to Tsunade.
Only three days had passed since Orochimaru’s invasion and the Konoha Crush plan; the village hadn’t had time to repair the damage yet.
“Why did Orochimaru suddenly invade Konoha?”
Tsunade was puzzled. Orochimaru didn’t seem to have that much hatred for Hiruzen or Konoha.
“I don’t know either. If you want to know, you’ll have to ask Orochimaru himself.” Shin shrugged. Who knew Orochimaru’s specific motives? Shin certainly didn’t.
——
Within Konoha, almost every household displayed white mourning cloths. Many people gathered at the Konoha Cemetery to attend the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral.
The Yamanaka clan was making a fortune today—As flower vendors, everyone attending the funeral would buy at least one chrysanthemum from them.
Shin and Tsunade also bought a bouquet of chrysanthemums to pay their respects.
“Tsunade, didn’t expect you to come. I thought you wouldn’t.” Jiraiya looked at Tsunade with a complex expression.
“The old man died. Regardless of the past, I had to come see him off. By the way, I heard Orochimaru used Edo Tensei to summon the souls of my grandfather and grand-uncle?”
Tsunade’s expression turned cold. She was furious about Orochimaru’s actions. Disturbing the peace of the dead was a major taboo, especially when it involved her relatives.
Jiraiya nodded grimly.
“Tsunade, I need to discuss something with you.”
“What is it?” Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya, asking indifferently.
“About the Hokage position… I want to recommend you become Konoha’s Hokage. You understand Konoha’s current situation; the village is in dire straits. Only…”
“First, I don’t understand Konoha’s situation. Second, I’m no longer a Konoha ninja. What does the Hokage position have to do with me?” Tsunade interrupted Jiraiya with a cold, dismissive laugh.
She wasn’t even a Konoha ninja anymore; why would she become Hokage? Tsunade had never desired the Hokage title.
Back when Shin hadn’t left Konoha, Tsunade had considered supporting him for Hokage, but she never wanted the position herself—It was simple: becoming Hokage meant losing her current leisurely freedom. Obviously impossible.
“Jiraiya, even if Tsunade wanted to be Hokage, do you think it’s possible?” Shin asked Jiraiya.
Jiraiya was speechless. He knew that even if Tsunade agreed, others in Konoha wouldn’t—Especially Danzō and the two advisors—they would definitely oppose it, and Jiraiya lacked the influence to sway them.
However, in Jiraiya’s mind, Tsunade taking over as Hokage was the best choice. Given Tsunade’s relationship with Shin Uzumaki, her becoming Hokage would essentially pull Shin Uzumaki back into Konoha’s sphere.
But this was just Jiraiya’s wishful thinking. He didn’t have much say, and his support was meaningless.
Moreover, Tsunade wasn’t willing. She looked down on the Hokage position.
“This is my earnest request. I hope you’ll consider it, Tsunade. I will do my best to handle the pressure from the Konoha leadership,” Jiraiya pleaded solemnly with Tsunade.
“No need to ask. I have zero interest.” Tsunade flatly refused again.
Shin and Tsunade then left, leaving Jiraiya looking disappointed.
“Sigh…” Jiraiya sighed heavily. He felt the most distressed now.
Although Jiraiya had spent recent years traveling abroad, rarely returning to Konoha, it didn’t mean his feelings for the village had faded. On the contrary, Jiraiya felt deeply for Konoha.
During the days preparing for the Third Hokage’s funeral, Jiraiya had thoroughly grasped Konoha’s internal situation.
The village couldn’t even select a new Hokage.
Jiraiya favored Kakashi, his grand-student, but Kakashi’s strength was still lacking. Perhaps he could handle the responsibility in the future, but not now.
If Kakashi wasn’t suitable, then no one else was either. Especially Danzō—Danzō absolutely could not become Hokage.
Jiraiya knew Danzō too well. If Danzō became Hokage, Konoha might truly be finished.
Jiraiya’s current goal was clear: no matter what, Danzō could not become Hokage.
For this, Jiraiya was willing to pay any price. He absolutely could not let that sinister old man become Hokage.
After sighing, Jiraiya headed towards the Hokage Tower. He had invited Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, along with Danzō—whom he reluctantly included—to discuss the selection of Konoha’s next Hokage.
The village couldn’t remain without a Hokage for long. If a successor wasn’t chosen quickly, Konoha could descend into chaos.
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