28: Chapter 28 The Shadow in the DistanceKonoha Village, Hokage's office.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room.a mountain of documents.
The scrolls and reports nearly overwhelmed the large desk, even spilling onto the chairs and the floor, forming a daunting mountain of paper.
Jiraiya, our Fifth Hokage, was slumped in the only relatively clean Hokage chair, his eyes lifeless and his face ashen, as if all his energy had been drained overnight.
His signature white hair seemed to have lost its luster, drooping listlessly.
Because I cried so much yesterday, I have a stiff neck and am wearing a neck brace.My Hokage robe is wrinkled and crooked, and my straw hat is carelessly tossed in a corner with a few unidentified stains.
"What.what is all this."
Jiraiya's voice trembled with tears as he pointed at the mountain of documents before him, "Why is there a report like 'Villager A's cat climbed a tree and won't come down, requesting ninja assistance'?"
"Why does even something as trivial as 'the Ninja Academy cafeteria exceeded its potato purchase quota this month' require the Hokage's approval?"
Standing to the side, Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and explained expressionlessly, "Hokage-sama, these are all routine village affairs, reflecting the villagers' trust in you.As for the details, they demonstrate your hands-on approach and rigorous village management."
"I'm meticulous my ass!"
Jiraiya jumped up abruptly, nearly throwing off his neck brace."I'm the Hokage!Not some neighborhood committee auntie or a cafeteria accountant!I'm dealing with matters of national importance!It's an S-rank mission!It's a crucial decision concerning the peace of the ninja world!"
Koharu Utatane coldly handed over a scroll: "This is an S-rank mission report.It concerns the discovery of suspected Iwagakure spies by a border patrol team.Your approval is needed for the next course of action."
Jiraiya grabbed the scroll, opened it, and found it filled with dense terrain analysis, personnel deployment plans, risk assessments, and more.
He read less than three lines before his vision blurred and he felt dizzy.
"I.I need some fresh air."
He covered his forehead and staggered toward the window, trying to breathe in some "free" air.But when he saw several stylishly dressed female ninjas passing by downstairs, his eyes lit up, but he was startled by Koharu Utatane's cough and shrank back.
"Lord Hokage, please be mindful of your image and responsibilities!"
Jiraiya sat back down in his chair, feeling utterly dejected and hopeless.He picked up a pen and tried to sign a document, but his hand trembled so badly that the name he wrote was crooked and illegible, like tadpole script.
"My intimate paradise…my inspiration…are all being killed by these damned documents…" he muttered to himself, his eyes filled with despair.
Meanwhile, a long line had formed outside the office, with representatives from various clans and department heads waiting to meet the new Hokage to report on their work or request instructions.Their serious expressions made Jiraiya feel like a prisoner awaiting trial.
The first day of Hokage's life began with Jiraiya's wails, the advisors' urging, and endless paperwork.
Meanwhile, in the mountains and forests outside Tanbata Street.
The first rays of dawn were visible, and the air was fresh.
Tsunade wore a neat tea-green short jacket and trousers, and her long golden hair was tied into a high ponytail, making her look heroic and dashing.
She looked at Naruto, who was doing basic taijutsu training in the open space, and nodded slightly.
"The movements were fairly smooth and the force was strong enough, but the details were a bit rough."
She stepped forward and slapped Naruto on the back without hesitation, correcting a minor postural error he made."Here!Tighten your core!Explode your power the moment you throw a punch!Do you think fighting is about brute force?"
Naruto stumbled from the slap, grimacing as he rubbed his back, but still adjusted himself as instructed.
During the few days he spent with Tsunade, although he occasionally argued with her verbally, deep down he admired her strength and insight.Her guidance was simple and direct, yet it hit the nail on the head.
"Tsk, I know, you violent old lady," Naruto muttered.
"What did you say?" Tsunade's eyebrows shot up, and she made a move to hit him.
Naruto quickly dodged with a Body Flicker Technique, but a relaxed smile appeared on his face.
Compared to the oppressive atmosphere of Konoha, following Tsunade, although I often got beaten up, gave me a feeling of freedom.
No need to worry about being watched from the shadows, no need to face complicated gazes, just focus on becoming stronger.
During a training break, the two sat down to rest by the stream.Tsunade took out her water bottle and took a big gulp, gazing at the distant, rolling mountains, feeling relaxed and content.
"Hmph, that idiot Jiraiya, he's probably buried under files by now, isn't he?"
She smirked triumphantly, imagining her old friend's miserable state, and felt that the sky was bluer, the water clearer, and even the air smelled of freedom.
Naruto didn't reply, but silently felt the increase in chakra within his body and the more refined nature of his Wind Release.
Sound Village, a dark and damp underground base.
Tayuya knelt respectfully on the cold ground, and from the shadows in front of her, a figure sitting in a specially made wheelchair was slowly pushed out.
Orochimaru.
His condition is worse than ever before.
Not only were his hands crippled by the corpse demon's seal, but it seems that the Third Hokage's unexpected decisiveness and power in the final battle "may also have been stimulated by some unknown factors?"
The area of the seal expanded—from the neck down, the entire torso and the chakra meridian system of the legs were almost completely sealed and eroded, leaving him weak and unable to move on his own, even in a wheelchair.
On his pale, effeminate face, his golden snake eyes appeared even more eerie and venomous.His long tongue hung limply, and each breath was accompanied by a hoarse, rattling sound, revealing the decay and ruin of his body.
"Lord.Orochimaru-sama." TayuYe's voice was filled with uncontrollable fear, and he lowered his head even further.
"The news.has it been confirmed?" Orochimaru's voice was hoarse and weak, yet still carried a chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.
"Yes.yes.Tsunade.did appear in Tanabata Street, accompanied by a blond boy from Konoha."
Tayuya reported cautiously, her heart pounding wildly under the dual pressure of the Heart-Binding Curse and facing Orochimaru.
"Hehe.cough cough."
Orochimaru let out a low, broken laugh, which aggravated his injuries and caused a violent coughing fit."Tsunade.my dear old friend.your medical skills are my only hope now."
His golden, serpentine eyes were fixed on the void ahead, filled with endless desire and obsession: "I must.have her!At.any price!"
Tayuya lay prostrate on the ground, trembling, not daring to speak, but deep in her soul, she was sending this dangerous message to some distant being.
On the other side, on a secluded path leading to Konoha.
Two figures dressed in black robes with red cloud patterns walked slowly and steadily.
"Mr.Itachi, I heard that Konoha just got a new Hokage?His name is Jiraiya, isn't it?"
Kisame Hoshigaki, carrying the greatsword Samehada, grinned, revealing his serrated teeth."Looks like a pretty famous guy, a comic book writer?"
Itachi Uchiha remained expressionless, his crimson Sharingan calmly gazing ahead, his voice indifferent: "Hmm.Mission objective remains unchanged: confirm the condition of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and.the current strength and weakness of Konoha."
"Tsk, I hope that Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is interesting and doesn't disappoint me." Kisame licked his lips, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes.
Itachi didn't say anything more.
Several factions, each with their own motives, quietly began their operations.
The new Hokage of Konoha struggles in the mountains of documents, the three traitorous Sannin enjoy a brief period of peace, while the lurking in the shadows have already set their sights on this land that has just experienced trauma.
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