Chapter 234: Third Hokage, You've Already Served
"Phew... I didn't expect his movements to be so fast, and he actually managed to convince Tsunade."
Homura Mitokado was also closely monitoring the public opinion trends in the village.
Ikeizumi Uchiha's decisiveness exceeded his imagination.
The opponent seemed to need no deep thought or detailed plan. He just went straight to persuading Tsunade to run for and strive to become the next Hokage of Konoha.
One must know.
Hiruzen was still in the Hokage position and had no immediate intention of retiring.
Therefore, this action was tantamount to a coup!
This...
It seemed to make the former hardliners of the Uchiha Clan look like a bunch of clowns. After all, they had formulated many coup plans to overthrow the Konoha Elders, and had even prepared to implement them.
Yet, the hardliners of the Uchiha Clan had achieved nothing in their coup attempts, and were later completely wiped out by Ikeizumi Uchiha.
And the moment Ikeizumi Uchiha attempted to overthrow the Hokage.
He didn't even need a plan, and had already put Hiruzen on the defensive.
Simple and direct might just be the most unsolvable open conspiracy.
"Perhaps... they can really succeed." Homura Mitokado was in a low mood. He sighed softly and muttered: "After all, the current Hiruzen has lost much popular support. Even members of the Sarutobi Clan have lost their loyalty and respect for him."
"In this situation... if Tsunade were to become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, perhaps the Sarutobi Clan members would turn around, abandon Hiruzen, and support Tsunade for the Fifth Hokage."
"Of course, the premise is that they don't know that Tsunade and Ikeizumi are very close, and that Tsunade's desire to become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha is actually Ikeizumi operating behind the scenes..."
Homura Mitokado could already see that Hiruzen Sarutobi's position as Hokage was precarious and on the brink of collapse.
To firmly sit in that position, what was most needed was the village's affection, loyalty, respect, and recognition.
Hiruzen once possessed all of these, even to the extent of being at the height of his power, unmatched by anyone.
But now...
Hiruzen had lost the affection of most people, because rumors of conspiracy theories about him occasionally circulated in the village. This had turned him into that kind of conniving politician in the minds of many villagers.
Few people in the village would like such a person.
This also indirectly caused Hiruzen to lose the respect and recognition of most people.
As for loyalty...
Under the circumstances that Hiruzen failed to protect the members of the Sarutobi Clan and failed to protect those ANBU ninja.
He had already lost their loyalty!
Now, Homura Mitokado found himself facing a dilemma—if Tsunade wanted to become the Fifth Hokage and wanted to drive Hiruzen out of office... then Tsunade would definitely seek or inquire about his attitude as a Konoha Elder.
And once Tsunade came to visit, it would likely be a direct demand for him to make a choice, to choose which side to stand on.
Or, before Tsunade visited, Hiruzen might visit first.
"This is troublesome..."
Homura Mitokado realized he absolutely could not maintain a neutral stance.
Just then, a junior member of the Mitokado Clan suddenly ran over in a hurry, reporting anxiously: "Elder Homura! The... the Sannin, Lady Tsunade, has come to visit! And Lady Tsunade has specifically asked to see you, Elder Homura!"
Homura Mitokado: "..."
My own jinx is truly effective.
It seemed Tsunade had come first.
Meanwhile.
On the other side.
"This... just a simple preparation like this, and you're ready to head to the Hidden Mist Village?" Jūzō Biwa was a bit confused. He saw that Ikeizumi Uchiha had only simply organized his equipment and ninja tools.
And was ready to depart with a ninja cat that looked so fat it definitely had high cholesterol, and a young female subordinate who was holding a notebook and seemed to be writing and drawing down notes.
"Don't you need to bring more ninja? There should be one or two hundred ninja in the Konoha Military Police Force, right?"
Jūzō Biwa couldn't help but suggest: "Even if you need to leave some behind to execute Justice in Konoha, you could still bring twenty or thirty people, right?"
He felt that Ikeizumi Uchiha only bringing one subordinate who didn't even look like she was of age...
Seemed to be underestimating the painful experiences the Land of Water was currently undergoing.
"No need."
Ikeizumi Uchiha said expressionlessly: "I am not invading the Land of Water. Why would I bring so many ninja? The purpose of this trip is to kill the wicked who deserve to die, and also to awaken the Justice in the hearts of some ninja within the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water."
"As long as there are still ninja in the Hidden Mist Village who possess Justice, even if only a sparse few, it means the Hidden Mist Village is salvageable and not completely beyond hope."
Hearing this, Jūzō Biwa subtly swallowed his saliva.
Keeping his expression calm, he couldn't help but ask: "If, I mean if... if the Hidden Mist Village is beyond saving?"
Ikeizumi Uchiha slowly looked at him and said: "A completely hopeless demonic den, where everyone has been twisted by deformed ideologies, and everyone might be carrying sin... How do you think I should deal with such a place when I encounter it?"
Jūzō Biwa's mouth was dry as he spat out a word: "Kill?"
"Correct." Ikeizumi Uchiha nodded lightly: "Kill them all, thoroughly cleanse it, and replace the entire population of the Hidden Mist Village with a new species."
Jūzō Biwa felt goosebumps rise all over his body.
He originally thought he had already highly estimated Ikeizumi Uchiha's murderous intent.
But he hadn't expected to have still underestimated it.
If the Hidden Mist Village was truly beyond saving, the opponent would even kill every single person in the entire Hidden Mist Village!
Hiss...
Was my decision to defect to the opponent and request him to focus his attention on the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water correct, or wrong?
Jūzō Biwa even felt like he might have harmed the entire Hidden Mist Village.
In the end, would he, the person who most wanted to save the Hidden Mist Village, inadvertently and indirectly cause its destruction?
Jūzō Biwa felt his scalp prickle.
However...
Seeing Ikeizumi Uchiha, who was already fully prepared, Jūzō Biwa could not voice the thoughts in his heart. Since things have come to this, I can't stop Ikeizumi Uchiha, can I? Jūzō Biwa worried that the moment he spoke the words of prevention, he would be hit by a magma fist!
"Lead the way."
Ikeizumi Uchiha's concise two words abruptly brought Jūzō Biwa back to his senses. He could only stiffen his face and hurriedly lead the way.
Behind him.
Ikeizumi Uchiha (the female subordinate) and Kitsujirō on her shoulder quickly followed.
"Tsunade, you're here..."
Upon seeing Tsunade, Homura Mitokado sighed inwardly, but he couldn't let it show on his face.
He gestured for Tsunade to sit down, then asked her: "Have you truly made your decision? You know that Hiruzen is your teacher. He personally guided you to become an excellent Konoha ninja. This kind of action... in the eyes of some with ill intent, is ultimately not good."
While asking, Homura Mitokado also earnestly offered a word of caution.
This was also his utmost benevolence towards Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Homura Mitokado was sitting formally in a traditional seiza, while Tsunade was sitting casually, completely disregarding the image of a Sannin. She even unceremoniously grabbed a teapot, poured herself a cup of tea, and took a sip to wet her throat.
Tsunade spoke: "It is precisely because the old man is my teacher that I cannot let him continue to make mistakes. If Konoha operates under his will and authority, it will only lead to various conflicts between Konoha's Will of Fire and Ikeizumi's Absolute Justice."
"Since the old man cannot tolerate Ikeizumi's Absolute Justice, then why not replace him with someone who can tolerate Absolute Justice as Hokage? At least I personally think that Absolute Justice has no flaws. In this chaotic world, heavy-handed measures should be used to govern."
With that, Tsunade stared at Homura Mitokado: "The Fifth Hokage... I have already agreed to that guy Ikeizumi Uchiha. I will definitely be elected."
"I must also bring fundamental reform and change to Konoha. When I have made a decision, no one can stop me."
"As for the old man, I can only say sorry to him from afar."
"So..."
Tsunade asked: "What is your attitude?!"
"I..."
Homura Mitokado opened his mouth. Just as he was about to say something, another junior member of the Mitokado Clan suddenly ran over in a panic.
"Elder Homura! The... the Hokage-sama has arrived to call, bringing two ANBU guards!"
The expression on Homura Mitokado's aged face instantly froze.
The word "terrible" echoed repeatedly in his mind.
He racked his brain but never anticipated that Tsunade and Hiruzen would choose to visit him on the same day to inquire about his attitude and opinion.
And even visit during the exact same time frame!
Homura Mitokado understood... How is this situation tormenting Hiruzen? It's clearly tormenting him, Homura Mitokado!
"...Can you stall for a moment? Ask Hiruzen to wait a few minutes?" Homura Mitokado tried to make his clan junior exert some effort to stall the Third Hokage-sama.
If Hiruzen and Tsunade met here.
The most awkward person would undoubtedly be him, Homura Mitokado.
The Mitokado Clan junior awkwardly explained: "But I have already welcomed the Hokage-sama in... After all, he is the Konoha Hokage-sama, and the Hokage-sama and you, Elder Homura, usually have a very good relationship... I couldn't possibly let him wait for a long time outside the clan compound, could I?"
Homura Mitokado: "..."
And just then, a sound of footsteps approached from afar.
Homura Mitokado saw Hiruzen Sarutobi approaching, and Hiruzen Sarutobi also saw Homura Mitokado.
And even more, he saw Tsunade in front of Homura Mitokado.
At this moment.
The smile that had been on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly stiffened.
"Old man, it's been a few days, and your spirit seems much worse than before." Tsunade raised her eyelids, fixing her gaze on Hiruzen Sarutobi. She said calmly: "If you feel the burden on your shoulders is too heavy, perhaps you can allow yourself to relax. Some heavy burdens can be handed over to us young people to bear."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly shifted his gaze from Tsunade to Homura Mitokado.
In his silent gaze, there seemed to be a quiet question and suspicion.
That look made Homura Mitokado awkwardly lower his head slightly.
Homura Mitokado wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into right now.
"..." Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, not responding to Tsunade's words. Instead, he said to Homura Mitokado: "I see. It seems I have intruded this time, and I have come at an inconvenient time."
Just as Homura Mitokado hurriedly opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, Tsunade waved her hand and interjected: "Since you know you've intruded, hurry up and go back then!"
"Anyway, you've already served as Hokage twice. Counting that as consecutive terms, old man, you've already served. Why compete again?"
Tsunade's tone and expression became slightly serious: "Although I don't want to make things too difficult for you, if you obstruct what I want to do, I will not hesitate to tear off all pretenses of courtesy."
Homura Mitokado: "..."
Please, stop talking... If you keep talking like that, it'll sound like I'm already in league with you.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly took a deep breath: "You are truly my disciples. Whether it's Jiraiya, Orochimaru, or you, Tsunade, you all chose life paths that greatly surprised me. Perhaps I am a qualified Hokage, but I am not a qualified teacher."
"Homura, take care of yourself."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had no intention of listening to Homura Mitokado's half-spoken explanation.
He turned and left without hesitation, taking his two ANBU guards with him.
Since Homura Mitokado, his long-time friend and partner, chose to meet with Tsunade first, he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, did not have the thick skin to stay here as an inappropriate audience.
"Sure enough... something happened to both Orochimaru-sama and Ryūchi Cave."
Somewhere in the Land of Fire.
Kabuto Yakushi, who had secretly sneaked back, stared at the devastation before him.
He was momentarily frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
After being stunned for over a minute, Kabuto finally tried to find Orochimaru's corpse, but couldn't find it anywhere. He only found the corpses of some of Orochimaru's subordinates, and they were all charred black.
Considering that something might have also happened to Ryūchi Cave, Kabuto mumbled a guess: "Did the final battle erupt in Ryūchi Cave? So Orochimaru-sama's body is also in Ryūchi Cave?"
The problem was...
It was not so simple to enter Ryūchi Cave. The simplest way was to be summoned in by the Sages of Ryūchi Cave using the Reverse Summoning Jutsu.
But no matter what kind of summoning jutsu Kabuto used before, he could not summon the Snake Sages in Ryūchi Cave.
"I'll try one more time... a final time..."
Harboring this thought, Kabuto used the Summoning Jutsu one more time.
He had already lost all hope, but unexpectedly, a puff of white smoke flashed before his eyes.
Under Kabuto's widened eyes, when the white smoke dispersed.
The figure of the White Snake Sage appeared before him.
"You, are Orochimaru's disciple, right?"
...
.......
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