"That's impossible!" Tsunade's whole body trembled as she stared at Mizuki, disbelief flashing across her face.
"There's nothing impossible about it." Mizuki replied blandly, as if the topic were no more than the weather.
Shizune, standing off to the side, immediately stepped forward, "Reviving the dead… even with Lady Tsunade's superb medical ninjutsu — that's something she can't do. That's already beyond the scope of ninjutsu. You're just trying to deceive Lady Tsunade."
Tonton also let out a dissatisfied "oink", as if adding their own stamp of disapproval.
Mizuki didn't so much as blink. Calm, almost leisurely, he said, "Whether it's possible or not — won't you know once you've seen it for yourselves after some time?"
"Lady Tsunade, don't believe him. He's a Konoha Missing-nin. He definitely has bad inten — "
Tsunade raised a hand, cutting Shizune off with a single, decisive motion. Her eyes stayed locked on Mizuki as she said, "Fine. I'll wait in the Land of Birds for half a month. We'll see whether you truly have the ability to revive the dead. If you really can revive Nawaki and Dan, then I'll join Fushigakure."
Mizuki smiled — small, confident, the kind of smile that said he was already counting down the days, "I won't disappoint you. Oh, right. For these two weeks, all your expenses in the Land of Birds will be covered by Fushigakure."
Half a month was more than enough time for himl. As long as Tsunade didn't leave today, she wouldn't be able to leave later even if she wanted to.
❊❊❊❊❊
Back in Fushigakure, Mizuki trained Heaven Grudge Fear with even more urgency than before.
"Soon. At most three more days, and I'll master it."
Meanwhile, Konoha was in turmoil.
Orochimaru had returned. With the Third Hokage's final decree in hand, he came to inherit the position of Fifth Hokage. Root, led by Danzō, supported him with all their strength.
Danzō also produced a top-secret file. It recorded, in detail, Hiruzen's orders for Orochimaru to defect as a pretense and establish the Otogakure. All of it had been prepared while Hiruzen was still alive. The old man's character might have been questionable, but his work was indeed airtight.
With that file, Orochimaru's identity became legitimate. Even if the village's ninja and civilians opposed him, they could no longer attack him on the basis of "defection".
But everyone still refused to accept Orochimaru as the Fifth Hokage. All the major clans, the two advisors, and the Jōnin and Chūnin in the village opposed him.
Danzō, cunning as always, directly invited the Fire Daimyō and recommended Orochimaru as the Fifth Hokage.
Inside the meeting room, he was brimming with pride.
"Lord Daimyō, in Konoha today, other than Orochimaru, there is no one else who can inherit the Hokage position. The Fifth Hokage can be none other than Orochimaru."
The Daimyō also didn't want Orochimaru as Hokage, so he asked, "Besides Orochimaru, do you have any other candidates to recommend?"
Koharu Utatane said, "Lord Daimyō, Jiraiya has already set out to find Tsunade. As the First Hokage's granddaughter and a princess of the Land of Fire, she is more suitable than Orochimaru to serve as Hokage."
The Daimyō immediately nodded, "Tsunade is indeed the best choice for the Fifth Hokage."
Danzō immediately said, "Lord Daimyō, I've received information that Tsunade is addicted to gambling and is deeply in debt — at least five hundred million. If she becomes Hokage, Konoha can't pay that sum. Then I'm afraid Lord Daimyō would have to help repay it. Otherwise, for the Hokage to owe money and refuse to repay it… that would be an ugly title."
Hearing "five hundred million", the Daimyō's expression changed and he fell silent.
Homura Mitokado said, "I recommend Jiraiya!"
The Daimyō immediately said, "Jiraiya is fine. He's sunny, and the villagers would surely accept him."
In other words: Orochimaru was too dark, and the villagers wouldn't accept him.
Danzō immediately refuted, "Lord Daimyō, Jiraiya is loose and undisciplined. Rather than a ninja, he's more like an erotic novelist. The Icha Icha books he writes are obscene and violate the Three Ninja Prohibitions. If he becomes Hokage, the Land of Fire will become the laughingstock of the entire ninja world."
Both Tsunade and Jiraiya were rejected by Danzō, making the two advisors lose face.
"Danzō, Tsunade and Jiraiya are both suitable choices. The debt and the novels are trivial flaws. But Orochimaru once conducted human experiments and harmed many innocent people. The entire village will never accept that."
Danzō said, "That was all on Hiruzen's orders. Orochimaru only followed orders. His nature is actually kind."
Everyone: "…"
So now that Hiruzen was dead, you could just dump everything on him?
Everyone was furious.
Danzō, however, was delighted. Hiruzen — when you were alive, I carried the blame for all the dirty work. Now that you're dead, it's time for you to taste what it's like to be the one carrying the blame.
You always have to pay your debts. If you can't pay them while alive, you keep paying after death.
At that moment, Shikaku proposed, "I recommend Hatake Kakashi as the Fifth Hokage."
The Daimyō's eyes lit up, "Copy Ninja Kakashi? I've heard he's the Fourth Hokage's disciple. A promising young man, upright, with no blemishes. Yes — I think he works."
Danzō immediately jumped out again, "Lord Daimyō, Kakashi is too young. And the Hokage of every generation is the village's strongest. Kakashi may be an Elite Jōnin, but his strength is insufficient. If he becomes Hokage, it will be difficult to convince the public."
He stared at the Daimyō, a threat beginning to show in his eyes.
"Orochimaru is the best Hokage candidate. He is the Third's disciple, and his strength ranks among the top in the entire ninja world. These years, he endured humiliation to complete the Hokage's missions without a single complaint. His character is without flaw. Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed him as Fifth Hokage before his death. That proves that, in his eyes, Orochimaru was the most suitable choice.
Furthermore, Orochimaru built the Otogakure and cultivated many experts. If we do not elect him, we will surely chill many hearts. Surely none of you want the Konoha Crush to happen again, do you?"
That was a naked threat.
The two advisors glared at Danzō, wanting to scold him — but they couldn't speak. They were afraid too.
Behind Orochimaru there wasn't only Root, but the entire Otogakure. If things truly broke down, the consequences would be unthinkable.
They could only blame Jiraiya for not bringing Tsunade back sooner — for letting the situation spiral beyond control.
Even the Daimyō felt chilled by Danzō's threatening stare.
"S-since that's the case… then… then we will propose Orochimaru as the Fifth Hokage… Is there anyone present who… who objects?"
No one spoke. No one dared object.
If it were only Orochimaru, they wouldn't care. But with Danzō added, what did they have to oppose with?
"In that case, I formally appoint Orochimaru as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village."
The Daimyō's decree was issued soon after.
Orochimaru successfully ascended to the position of Fifth Hokage.
As the Snake Pervert took office, the overall atmosphere of Konoha changed. The once-bustling marketplace thinned. It was no longer as lively as before.
Worry hung on the villagers' faces. Their steps quickened. Everyone looked hurried.
The efficiency of ninja missions dropped. The number of commissions posted in Konoha plunged.
In one word: bleak.
By the time Jiraiya and Kakashi returned to Konoha, it was too late.
"This is bad!"
After Jiraiya returned, the two advisors came at once. When they learned Tsunade refused to return, their hearts were full of bitterness.
"Ah… we're old. Tomorrow we'll resign as advisors and retire in peace."
Jiraiya hurriedly said, "Don't rush. We still have a chance. If we unite the major clans and the Jōnin of the village, we can drive Orochimaru out."
The two advisors shook their heads, smiling bitterly.
"And drive Orochimaru out… then what? If Tsunade doesn't return, who becomes the Fifth Hokage? You?"
Jiraiya: "No matter who it is, it's better than Orochimaru. If we let him continue, the village is finished."
The advisors still shook their heads.
"The Daimyō has already issued the formal appointment. His identity as Fifth Hokage has already been recognized by the Land of Fire. If we refuse, it changes nothing. If we force him down by uniting against him, that's rebellion. The Daimyō may dislike Orochimaru too, but he values face. The decree was signed by him personally. He won't slap his own face.
"If Tsunade returned, we might still have a chance, given her special identity. But she didn't return. If we openly oppose Orochimaru, the Daimyō will brand us as rebels. Konoha can't withstand any more turmoil. Let it go."
The two advisors left with sighs.
Jiraiya stood in place for a long time. Then he too sighed.
Kakashi asked, "Lord Jiraiya, what do we do now?"
Jiraiya looked up at the Hokage Tower in the distance, "At this point… nothing we do will be in time. The only thing we can do is try our best to 'clean up' Orochimaru's reputation — to make all the villagers accept him. Only then can Konoha stabilize."
❊❊❊❊❊
Three days passed in a flash.
Fushigakure. Fushikage Tower.
"I've finally mastered the secret technique — Heaven Grudge Fear."
His body turned into a transparent, viscous liquid. Like water, it flowed along the ground, climbed onto the windowsill, reached the outer wall, then slid down along the wall and seeped into the ground — moving through the cracks in the soil.
Soon, the liquid reached the roots of a tree and seeped into them. That tree — thick as a bucket — began to wither rapidly. Its lush leaves dried. Its trunk dried.
At a speed visible to the naked eye, the tree became dead — completely rotted.
A breeze blew. Dry leaves scattered. Dead branches snapped. The trunk toppled.
The liquid emerged from the ground and reformed into Mizuki. At this moment, he could feel his body brimming with vitality — overflowing with life. Even his appearance looked younger, his skin and posture subtly renewed.
"System, show my status panel!"
〖 Mizuki 〗 〖 Title: Fushikage 〗
〖 Lifespan: 56 (Remaining) 〗
〖 Chakra: 54.8 Ka 〗
〖 Chakra Recovery Speed: 2.5 Ka/Min 〗
〖 Chakra Control: 99.9999% 〗
〖 Ability Parameters 〗
〖 Ninjutsu: 10 〗
〖 Taijutsu: 9 〗
〖 Genjutsu: 9 〗
〖 Intelligence: 8 〗
〖 Strength: 8 〗
〖 Speed: 8 〗
〖 Stamina: 10 〗
〖 Hand Seals: 10 〗
〖 Total: 72 〗
〖 Ninjutsu: Body Swap Technique (Substituition), Perfect Transformation Technique, Phantom Body Switch (Clone), Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, Earth Release: Earth Spear, Earth Release: Stone Mirror Wall, Sky Walk Technique, Rasengan, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, Six Paths: Yin-Yang Rasengan, Secret Technique: Heaven Grudge Fear, Sharingan Dōjutsu, Rinnegan Dōjutsu… 〗
〖 Taijutsu: Tai Chi (Mien Chuen) 〗
〖 Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Hell Technique 〗
〖 Fūinjutsu: Five Elements Seal 〗
〖 Kekkei Genkai: Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan (Left Eye), Rinnegan (Right Eye) 〗
〖 Ninja Tools: Telepathic Shuriken, Explosive Bomber, Six Spirits Floral Water 〗
〖 Disciples 〗
〖 Naruto Uzumaki: S Rank 〗
〖 Sasuke Uchiha: S Rank 〗
〖 Sakura Haruno: A- Rank 〗
〖 Daisuke: C Rank 〗
〖 Rock Lee: A Rank 〗
"Remaining lifespan" was a newly appeared stat.
Mizuki found another bucket-thick tree and used Heaven Grudge Fear's liquefaction to devour all of its life force. After devouring it, he checked the status panel again.
Remaining lifespan had increased from 56 years to 66 years. Just this one tree's life force had given him a 10-year lifespan increase.
"Devour an entire forest… and I'll be immortal!"
❊❊❊❊❊
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
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Take a look at the new books I'm translating on my profile, Cyberpunk 2077: A God-Level Skill Every Day and Infinite Worlds: Building the Strongest Harem! They are also on my website for $5 and $1.5, respectively!
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