"Iruka-sensei, why are people willing to risk their lives for others?" As it ended, Naruto slowly asked Iruka.
"People die alone, disappear. Their past, present life, and future all vanish together. Many die in missions or wars, it's surprisingly simple. Hayate was one of them. These deceased also had dreams and goals."
"However, everyone has something they cherish: parents, siblings, friends, and loved ones. People important to oneself, trusting and helping each other. The bonds with beloved people from the moment one is born. These red threads of fate grow thicker over time. There's no logic to it!"
"Those who have this red thread will definitely do so again, because it's important." Hearing Naruto's words, Iruka fell silent for a moment before speaking emotionally.
"I can understand too, but... death is really painful." Naruto looked at Hiruzen's portrait sadly.
"The Third Hokage didn't die in vain. He properly left important things for us. Well, someday you'll understand too." Looking at Naruto, Kakashi couldn't help but offer a reminder.
"I feel I can understand that point too." After hearing Kakashi's words, Naruto showed a smile again.
The memorial service completely ended two hours later, and the heavy rain finally stopped slowly at the very end.
After the memorial service ended, everyone gradually dispersed. Takeru also took Ui and Ritsu back to the house. As for Karin, not being a Konoha's Ninja, she just waited quietly at home for Takeru and the others when they left.
…
In the blink of an eye, two more days passed. On this day, Konoha welcomed two uninvited guests...
"Ex... excuse me..."! Seeing the two who wanted to walk straight inside, the gate guard Ninja opened his mouth to ask for their information.
However, Itachi, wearing a bamboo hat, just glanced slightly at the Chunin guard. The Chunin's consciousness became confused, then he slowly fell down, falling asleep.
Afterward, the two walked inside without stopping.
On Takeru's side, after the Chunin Exams ended, the known mission in this world was to survive for two months. Now, there were still over ten days left until the two-month mark, and Takeru didn't plan to waste these days.
He still took the three for daily training. Konoha's reconstruction wouldn't affect Takeru and the others.
Based on memory, Takeru knew Itachi and Kisame would come to Konoha during this period. Itachi's purpose for coming was simple: ostensibly to gather intelligence on Konoha, but actually to warn Danzo not to lay hands on Sasuke.
Entering Konoha Village would lead to their first battle with Kakashi and others. Takeru was quite interested in the two and wanted to test whether Amaterasu, which could burn anything, could further upgrade his Twilight Moon set.
As for whether it could harm him, Takeru was very confident about his thick skin.
After all, Takeru's current base defense attribute was 868 points. Combined with the talent [Absolute Defense], it was already 1,736 points. Adding the 393 points from equipment bonuses, Takeru's defense attribute alone had reached 2,129 points.
If combined with Nen and Armament Haki, Takeru's defensive ability would rise several more levels. So Takeru held no fear toward something like Amaterasu.
Compared to the rebuilding Konoha, Sunagakure suffered heavy losses in this operation. Although the battle location was in Konoha, less than one in ten of their participating Ninja survived. Out of over a hundred Chunin and Jonin who attacked, only a dozen or so escaped Konoha.
Most importantly, they now discovered their Kazekage was already dead and realized the so-called Konoha Crush Plan was just being used as Orochimaru's pawn...
Now, several Sunagakure's Ninjas gathered in a special valley. A Jonin pointed at three corpses below for the others.
The corpses were severely decomposed, with crows and insects having fed on them, making them hard to identify, but everyone clearly recognized the attire on the bodies.
"Dead for a long time, probably before the Chunin Exams, right?" The Jonin who discovered them first spoke with his head lowered.
"Is that so? That's how it is. Damn it, Orochimaru. Orochimaru or Kabuto disguised as Kazekage-sama. I was too careless!" Baki was furious, but he clearly understood now that if they didn't quickly apologize to Konoha, once Konoha recovered, they might launch a war against the Land of Wind.
With the Land of Wind's strength, they'd probably be flattened in one round. Especially since Baki, for some reason, remembered Takeru's figure, who is easily suppressing Gaara in his Vessel State.
Also, he heard from the Ninja who escaped back that Takeru easily slaughtered the three giant snakes serving as the vanguard, and wherever he went, corpses littered the ground. He practically single-handedly caused their assault to completely collapse.
…
In the Otogakure, a hidden underground room. Orochimaru was currently roaring in anger.
"Bastard! That damned old man!" Orochimaru's hands were already bandaged by Kabuto.
"It wouldn't be that simple. After all, the opponent was the Hokage known as the strongest among the Five Great Nations. But you did really well, actually taking down two of the Five Kage." Kabuto spoke comfortingly to Orochimaru.
"Please don't... don't say things that sound like comfort. I might kill you." Hearing Kabuto's words, Orochimaru felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Of course, I don't mean that. Although we indeed didn't capture the village, another objective of the plan, Uchiha Sasuke, you've already put a collar on him." Seeing the somewhat violent Orochimaru, Kabuto changed the topic.
In terms of strength, Orochimaru, having lost both hands, might not necessarily be a match for Kabuto now. But Kabuto's loyalty to Orochimaru wouldn't diminish just because Orochimaru's power weakened.
"Heh, it was bought with my hands and all my Ninjutsu. By the way, if I could have gotten that Uchiha Itachi, then it would have been fine. And that special guy. But these are already unattainable dreams because they are stronger than me!"
Speaking of Uchiha, Orochimaru thought of Itachi. Speaking of being stronger than himself, Orochimaru couldn't help but think of the special Takeru.
Having personally fought and witnessed Takeru's strength, he also felt Takeru's hidden mysteries and terrifying abilities.
Clearly having no Chakra, yet his pure physical power far surpassed Ninja like them, along with those completely unfathomable freezing abilities.
…
"Oh ho ho, here they come, here they come! So good, so good! As expected, Konoha Village, the average level is very high!" On a rooftop, Jiraiya used a telescope to peep into a bathhouse.
"Are you still doing these boring things?!" Just as Jiraiya was watching intently, two figures appeared behind him, admonishing him.
"It's at least considered gathering material! It's Homura-san and Koharu-san! What business do the advisors have with me?" Turning his head, Jiraiya changed his expression, speaking indifferently to the two.
"What business? You should know without being told!" Hearing Jiraiya's words, Homura Mitokado frowned and said.
"Don't look so scary. The negotiations with Sunagakure ended smoothly, didn't they?" Jiraiya said with a playful grin.
"Sunagakure publicly announced everything was due to Orochimaru. Moreover, when Sunagakure announced their complete surrender to Konoha, negotiations weren't that important anymore!"
"As for Konoha, to restore national power, we could only accept the proposal." Homura and Koharu also continued.
Then they informed Jiraiya that Konoha's power had fallen to a terribly low level and first needed a trustworthy spiritual leader.
"You don't need to specially report these things to me. I'm going to continue gathering material!" Hearing this, Jiraiya directly played dumb.
"I'll tell you a basic policy first. We need the Fifth Hokage now!" Seeing Jiraiya's actions, Homura directly made it clear.
"Then, at the emergency meeting with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire yesterday, Jiraiya, we decided to choose you." Koharu also looked seriously at Jiraiya.
"Terribly inconvenient. I'm not cut out for that." Hearing her words, Jiraiya refused without thinking.
If Naruto knew his dream was something Jiraiya didn't want at all, he'd probably be so angry he'd challenge Jiraiya to a duel...
And there's also a certain schemer old man, who finally waited for Hiruzen's death. However, Homura and Koharu had never thought of letting Danzo become Hokage.
"This is decided! And if even a Ninja like you, praised as one of the Legendary Sannin, isn't suitable, then who else is there?!" Hearing Jiraiya's refusal, Homura said somewhat angrily.
"If it's the Legendary Sannin, there's still one more person, isn't there? That woman, Tsunade!" To avoid trouble, Jiraiya had to bring up Tsunade.
There's no helping it. He was used to a wild nature.
Making him sit properly in charge in Konoha is impossible. Moreover, according to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, he still carried a great mission.
But out of love for Konoha, he couldn't completely ignore it either. So finally, he took on the mission of finding Tsunade to become the Fifth Hokage, and he chose Naruto to accompany him...
Though curious about Takeru, Jiraiya wasn't familiar with him. After learning he was from the Nara Clan, he didn't intend to have much contact.