"Congratulations, Tsunade-sama."
In the Shikkotsu Forest, Katsuyu arrived upon sensing movement and congratulated Tsunade.
"Sage Slug, may I ask how long I've been asleep?" Tsunade asked.
"It has probably been more than four years. It's already Year 38 of Konoha."
Katsuyu thought for a moment before answering. For a nearly immortal being like her, those few years were nothing more than a fleeting moment.
But in the human world, four years was enough time for the entire shinobi world to undergo earth-shattering changes.
"I actually slept that long?"
Upon hearing this, Tsunade was first taken aback, then suddenly remembered the most important matter in her heart. Joyfully, she murmured to herself, "Heiyan must have already come back to life."
As soon as the words fell, she hastily bid farewell to the Sage Slug and rushed back toward Konoha.
"Oh, Tsunade-sama..."
Katsuyu wanted to tell Tsunade that Heiyan had never actually died, but Tsunade had already vanished into a puff of white smoke.
However, thinking again, it seemed better this way. Wasn't it more surprising for Heiyan himself to personally deliver the news to Tsunade?
Thus, Katsuyu sent word to Heiyan through a special method, informing him that Tsunade had awakened.
An hour later.
In the Hokage office, Leaf Village.
Bang!
Tsunade slammed her hand down on the desk in a rage. The immense force blew the pile of papers across the room, scattering them everywhere.
"Why? During the years I was away, why did Heiyan go from being the village hero to becoming a universally despised criminal? What exactly happened here?!"
Tsunade fixed him with a piercing glare and began interrogating Hiruzen Sarutobi across the desk.
Before he could respond, she pointed threateningly at Danzo Shimura standing beside him, angrily demanding, "And also, why is this person allowed back into the village? Why is he even present in this office?!"
Without waiting for a response, she unleashed a powerful aura that filled the entire room, causing both Hiruzen and Danzo's expressions to change, instinctively feeling fear.
It seemed as though if Hiruzen couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation, she might literally tear down the Hokage Tower with her bare hands today.
"Tsunade, please don't be angry. Just listen to me..."
Hiruzen immediately stood from his seat, carefully choosing his words before sighing and explaining, "This was all arranged by Gamamaru."
He told Tsunade that four years ago, Gamamaru had sacrificed Heiyan's reputation for the greater good, making the deceased Heiyan take the fall and become an enemy of the entire shinobi world.
However, this situation wouldn't last forever. Once Heiyan returned to life, he would no longer need to bear these accusations and would once again become Konoha's hero.
As for Danzo, he'd brought back the Six Paths stone tablet and large amounts of secret intelligence regarding Mist and Madara from the Mist Village, making significant contributions to Konoha.
Since Danzo had supposedly reformed, Konoha's high-ranking elders allowed him to return and offered him a second chance.
"Therefore, no matter your explanation, I only want to ask one thing—after four whole years, has Heiyan returned yet?"
Tsunade fixed Hiruzen Sarutobi with a cold stare and delivered a piercing question straight from her soul.
"I've asked Gamamaru many times about this issue too. It seems like he's run into some trouble, so we'll need to be more patient..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi explained helplessly.
However, before he could finish speaking, Tsunade cut him off directly.
"The Third, after everything that's happened, you still don't understand? Gamamaru promising to revive Heiyan was nothing but a complete fraud. We've all been tricked by it."
After Tsunade spoke these words in a calm tone—her anger and disappointment reaching their peak—she turned around and left without looking back.
"Oh no, she's heading for the Great Toad Sage's temple!"
Realizing something was wrong, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stood up to chase after her, ordering Danzo to notify the other high-ranking elders of Konoha.
Behind Konoha's mountains,
A tall temple loomed solemnly, exuding majesty and reverence at this location.
At the entrance of the temple, two giant three-meter-tall frogs from Mount Myoboku stood guard on either side, wielding weapons and shields while glaring menacingly at anyone daring to approach.
Suddenly, a figure strode toward them from the distance.
"Halt!" The two frogs drew their weapons, blocking her path as they declared condescendingly, "This is the residence of the Great Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku! Without his personal invitation, even the Hokage isn't allowed inside!"
"This is Konoha, not Mount Myoboku!" Tsunade coldly replied, completely ignoring their attempt to stop her as she continued walking inward.
"Darn it! Stop this woman!" The two frogs shouted furiously, swinging their weapons.
The next moment—
Boom!
The temple's massive double doors exploded inward, ripped from their hinges, and those previously arrogant frogs flew backward through the air, crashing into walls with their weapons and shields cracked.
Swoosh!
Tsunade barged directly into the main chamber of the temple.
Inside the chamber, Gamamaru had been dozing on its Sage Throne. This unexpected visitor interrupted its pleasant dream, causing it to slowly open its hazy eyes.
"Ahh, Tsunade, you're here."
Gamamaru spoke slowly, seemingly already aware of Tsunade's imminent arrival.
"Great Toad Sage, what about your promise back then?"
Tsunade clenched her fists tightly while looking upward at Gamamaru. Her aura was as vast and unfathomable as the ocean depths—an imposing presence that didn't falter even against this thousand-year-old immortal sage.
Facing Tsunade's fierce questioning, Gamamaru stayed calm. It silently formed seals and summoned a mystical, translucent crystal taller than a person.
Within that crystal lay Heiyan sleeping peacefully—his complexion healthy and vibrant, as if he might wake up any moment.
"I've successfully restored Heiyan's physical body," Gamamaru sighed heavily, speaking nothing but truth, "but I've never managed to find his soul in the Yokai Realm. Sorry, I've done everything within my power."
It truly had gone to the Yokai Realm and indeed hadn't found Heiyan's soul there. Of course, even if it had located him, it wouldn't have brought Heiyan back.
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and others hurriedly arrived.
"Tsunade, we know how you feel, but please don't do anything reckless—so there's still hope for His resurrection."
Everyone repeatedly tried to dissuade her, desperately trying to stop Tsunade from confronting Gamamaru.
"I get it."
After a long pause, Tsunade finally replied. Her expression darkened as she walked toward the crystal. Gently stroking its surface and gazing at Heiyan sleeping peacefully inside, she gradually calmed down.
They remained like this for a while.
Gamamaru looked around the room at everyone present before suddenly asking:
"I've heard that the Second Hokage developed a forbidden technique called Impure World Reincarnation, capable of summoning souls from the underworld and reviving them. Is that true?"
"Yes, there is such a jutsu. It's recorded in the Kinjutsu Library's Scroll of Seals. However, the mastery of Impure World Reincarnation is extremely difficult—no less so than mastering Kekkei Tota. So far, only the Second Hokage has managed to master this technique."
Hiruzen Sarutobi answered Gamamaru's question before frowning and asking, "So what exactly are you implying, Great Toad Sage?"
"Third Hokage, if you don't mind, let me see the full sealing method of Impure World Reincarnation. With that technique, I might be able to bring Heiyan back completely."
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