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[Sorry about yesterday, took a sick day off!]
"Uchiha Madara... His technique can prevent the regeneration of Edo Tensei? It seems this power goes beyond even a Kekkei Tōta."
After escaping, Tobirama used the Body Flicker Technique and the Flying Raijin Technique to make his way to safety, only stopping when he was far away.
Once he stopped, Tobirama noticed that the hole in his chest caused by the black rod hadn't healed, which surprised him. That black rod could nullify ninjutsu.
"If it weren't for the chakra bestowed upon me by the Sage of Six Paths in the Pure Land, my chakra would've been thrown into disarray the moment the black rod pierced me."
And those eyes, the Rinnegan, just like the Sage of Six Paths.
Reflecting on his memories, Tobirama felt that the trouble posed by Madara was even greater than the individual the Sage of Six Paths had mentioned. After all, if Madara were to collect all nine tailed beasts, the ninja world would face ruin.
"Madara's Rinnegan, and the newly awakened Rinnegan, both need to be stopped. But I only trust myself."
With that, Tobirama decided to head back to Konoha and bring his brother back through Edo Tensei.
"Since they sought me out, the Sage of Six Paths must have contacted my brother too. Once back in the village, I'll have Saru mobilize Konoha's forces to seal Madara."
Having made up his mind, Tobirama surveyed his surroundings and started heading toward Konoha.
The place where he was summoned appeared to be in the Land of Grass, and in his rush, he had ended up in the Land of Earth.
...
[Daily Sign-In]: Randomly sign in daily to receive an item, the type varies.
A simple description like that left Yoichi feeling somewhat disappointed. Such uncontrollable abilities left little room for exploitation and relied solely on luck.
If lucky, he could get something incredible; if not, sometimes he'd end up with a rat's tail.
Having accumulated three chances to draw superpowers, he could exchange them for previously drawn powers to handle any unexpected situation. So each month, Yoichi used the new opportunity to draw a new power.
However, luck didn't seem to be on his side this time. He'd have to wait until next month to try again.
Knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door. Rumi got up to open it, feeling a bit displeased. She had just managed to get Kurenai to leave, and seeing Yoichi lost in thought, she was about to start a conversation when someone else arrived.
Opening the door, Rumi found it was Inoichi, the head of the Interrogation Squad, and she stepped aside to let him in. "Yoichi-sensei, Yamanaka Inoichi from the Interrogation Squad is here."
"Please make some tea, Rumi, and then let me have a word with Inoichi-kun."
After Rimi prepared the tea and served it to Inoichi, she left Yoichi's office.
Once it was just the two of them in the room, Yoichi spoke, "Inoichi-kun, you should be aware of the relocation and re-enrollment plans for the Ninja Academy. Do you have any concerns regarding the academy's enrollment?"
The Ninja Academy had been moved to the outskirts of the village. The school buildings and training grounds were expansive, and starting this year, the enrollment would increase to 300 students per class. The graduation rate was typically around 40%.
Those who didn't pass would undergo three years of additional training in other skills, and by the time they finished, they would be about fifteen or sixteen years old. These skills would contribute to Konoha's development, so the years in school wouldn't be wasted.
Up until now, children of suitable age from various clans had already enrolled, except for four clans that hadn't cooperated.
"No concerns, Yoichi-san," Inoichi said, keeping his expression neutral despite the weight he felt in his heart. "The expansion of the Ninja Academy is a good thing for the village, and the Yamanaka clan fully supports it."
"Is keeping your clan's suitable-age children from enrolling in the Ninja Academy considered full support, Inoichi-kun? I don't like beating around the bush. If you have any issues with me, just say so!"
Yoichi stated bluntly, using chakra to toss a document towards Inoichi, landing it precisely on the table in front of him.
The document contained the names of children from the Ino-Shika-Cho and Sarutobi clans who hadn't enrolled in the Ninja Academy. The Yamanaka clan had enrolled three, but seven suitable-age children had not been enrolled.
Traditionally, three to four children from the Yamanaka clan enrolled in the academy each year, while most remained within the clan.
But this time, with the academy's reform under Yoichi's direct orders, the Uchiha had taken the lead, and Yoichi had convinced the Hyūga clan to follow. Other clans also responded positively.
While every clan had responded, four clans stood out, hiding most of their children within their own clans for training, as they had done for several years.
"There is no dissatisfaction, Yoichi-san. You misunderstand," Inoichi replied, trying to maintain his composure.
"I know whether it's a misunderstanding, and so do you, Inoichi-kun. We both know the reason, so there's no need for pretense. As I've said before, I don't like beating around the bush."
Yoichi pulled out two dismissal notices, throwing them in front of Inoichi, then handed another document over to him.
"When you leave, give this to Shikaku. You three clans should think things through. I don't want to see disloyalty in the village's development, especially when I become Hokage!"
Inoichi's heart trembled at Yoichi's blunt words, and he sighed helplessly.
He took the documents Yoichi handed him, stood up, and left.
Not long after leaving Yoichi's office, Inoichi encountered Sakumo.
"Inoichi-kun, you seem upset," Sakumo observed. His keen intuition caught the slight shift in Inoichi's mood, and he had noticed Inoichi leaving Yoichi's office.
"It's nothing, Yondaime-sama," Inoichi replied with a smile, trying to mask his feelings, though he couldn't completely hide it from Sakumo.
Sakumo spoke earnestly, "Inoichi-kun, you've seen Konoha's changes over the past few years. While I am the Fourth Hokage, much of our prosperity is thanks to Yoichi's efforts. He's about to become the Fifth Hokage. It's best to support him in making the village even more prosperous."
Sakumo's advice was heartfelt. In his view, Yoichi was the best candidate for Hokage.
Comparing Konoha from three years ago to the present day, it was hard to believe the transformation had occurred in such a short time.
The village's strength had grown, and the villagers wore smiles of contentment. Everyone wanted to move to Konoha. Without Yoichi, even just recovering from the post-war trauma would have been challenging.
Sakumo had experienced the aftermath of war firsthand. After the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha took seven to eight years just to recover its strength.
Yoichi's contributions were unparalleled.
"I understand, Yondaime-sama," Inoichi nodded, watching Sakumo walk toward Yoichi's office. He guessed they were discussing the Hokage election.
Five days ago, the village announced the Fifth Hokage election, with Yoichi being the overwhelming favorite. Holding power, backed by the Police Force, village businesses, and the Ninja Park, his election as the Fifth Hokage seemed almost certain.
Inoichi decided to visit Shikaku at the Nara clan grounds, knowing Shikaku wasn't at the Hokage building today.
Upon arriving at Shikaku's house, he knocked on the door and heard a stern voice from inside.
"I'm coming! Oh, it's Inoichi-kun, please come in. Shikaku is resting inside."
The door was opened by Shikaku's wife, a woman who appeared gentle but was known for her fearsome temper, making even Inoichi hesitant at times.
"Sorry to bother you. I have some important matters to discuss with Shikaku," Inoichi said as he stepped inside, changing his shoes and walking into the house.
Seeing Shikaku looking tired in the hallway, Inoichi greeted him with a sense of relief. Shikaku scratched his head and said, "Come in for some tea. I was planning to have a drink with you and Choza tonight, but let's discuss the important matters first."
Sensing his wife's stern gaze, Shikaku quickly led Inoichi to the guest room overlooking the garden. After pouring some water, Shikaku sat across from Inoichi and asked, "What's going on? What brings you here so suddenly?"
"Take a look at this first. Yoichi asked me to bring it to you."
Inoichi handed Shikaku a document. Inoichi opened his own document and looked through it.
As he expected, it was a notice of his dismissal as the head of the Interrogation Squad. Although Inoichi had anticipated this, seeing it still made him feel uneasy.
"Shikaku, yours must be the same."
"Yes, I'm no longer the head of the jōnin squad. Is that one for Choza? I don't think he has any official village position aside from being a jōnin."
Shikaku noticed another document bag in Inoichi's hand and asked.
"No, this is also for me," Inoichi said, opening the document bag and feeling a chill run down his spine.
Inside were three applications, stating: "Application for the Entire Clan to Leave Konoha." Seeing this, Inoichi was at a loss for words.
"Shikaku, this..."
Inoichi showed Shikaku the applications, and Shikaku's face also paled.
If they signed these, their three clans would have to leave Konoha and might not even be able to stay in the Land of Fire. They'd have to find refuge in smaller nations. If they didn't sign, they would have to submit to Yoichi's will. But they had already conceded; they just wanted to preserve some of their old traditions.
'Can't he even tolerate this?' Shikaku clenched his fists slightly, unable to say a word for a long time. The three applications seemed to be meant for the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.
As for why the Sarutobi clan wasn't included, it was probably because Hiruzen was the Third Hokage.
It seemed that Yoichi wasn't afraid of them leaking Konoha's secrets or that he was waiting for them to do so, giving him a legitimate reason to act.
"Shikaku? Shikaku?"
Pushed twice, Shikaku finally came back to his senses, looking at Inoichi. The mere thought of the consequences had made him break out in a cold sweat.
"Inoichi, this may not be Yoichi's final move. He will continue to pressure us, forcing us either to fully comply with his wishes or leave the village. This time, he's serious."
Shikaku told Inoichi, realizing that Yoichi wouldn't stop now that he had sent these documents.
As Shikaku finished speaking, Nara Yoshino entered the room, her expression troubled. "Shikaku, some clan members are here to see you. They're at the door."
Exchanging glances, Shikaku and Inoichi both understood this was likely the next step in Yoichi's plan.
Shikaku stood up and headed to the door. When he and Inoichi reached the entrance, they saw some unfamiliar clan members. They soon recognized them as clan members who had joined the ANBU.
"Clan leader, we've been notified to leave the ANBU today."
"Members of the Yamanaka clan also left with us today. We noticed that only members of our two clans were being removed."
"Clan leader, what is going on?"
Shikaku felt a headache coming on. The first step had targeted him and Inoichi; the second step involved their clans' members in the ANBU. Would the third step prevent their clan's shinobi from taking on missions?
"I'm aware of your situation. Please go back and wait. This matter doesn't concern only our two clans. I need to discuss it with Inoichi and Choza."
Shikaku reassured his clan members and, after seeing them off, knew this matter needed a swift resolution.
"Inoichi, let's find Choza."
Although few members of the Akimichi clan held official positions in the village, they took on many missions. If Yoichi blocked them from taking missions, it would be a severe blow to the three clans.
Without mission income, they would have to rely on the clan's business earnings to support their members. Even so, Shikaku felt that Yoichi wouldn't let them off the hook.
"Such powerful chakra, and more than one... It feels familiar."
On his way back to Konoha, Tobirama sensed several strong chakra presences. Using a sensory technique, he finally recognized whose chakra it was.
"Saru? Why is he in the Land of Earth?"
Though puzzled, Tobirama headed toward Hiruzen's location. His sensory abilities wouldn't lie; it was definitely Hiruzen.
Since Edo Tensei didn't require chakra consumption, Tobirama continuously used the Body Flicker Technique to travel, quickly approaching Hiruzen's group.
As he got closer, Tobirama noticed that Hiruzen and his companions were already on high alert, likely mistaking him for an enemy. However, Tobirama didn't stop using the Body Flicker Technique and appeared directly in front of them, saying, "Saru, what are you doing here?"
"You, you're... Sensei?"
Hiruzen's face shifted from surprise to shock upon seeing the figure that had suddenly appeared before him.
Transformation techniques could deceive people, but chakra couldn't fool him. This person was indeed Tobirama-sensei.
(End of Chapter)
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"Tobirama-sensei, are you in an Edo Tensei body now?"
Hiruzen noticed the cracks all over Tobirama's body and the lifeless look in his eyes, similar to those reanimated during the previous wars using Edo Tensei.
"Due to some unexpected events, I was summoned using Edo Tensei, but I've broken free from its control."
Tobirama explained, noticing that Hiruzen was accompanied by some powerful shinobi. One of them, a white-haired ninja, seemed to have even more chakra than Hiruzen, and looked somewhat familiar. He asked,
"Saru, what are you all up to?"
Despite being almost sixty years old, Hiruzen felt a sense of nostalgia at Tobirama's familiar nickname for him. He explained,
"Tobirama-sensei, we're on a mission. Currently, there is an organization called Akatsuki in the ninja world, founded by one of Jiraiya's students. One of its members possesses the Rinnegan."
Tobirama's expression grew more serious at the mention of the Rinnegan. Upon hearing about Nagato, he felt that this wasn't the person the Sage of Six Paths had mentioned.
Moreover, Tobirama was always cautious about the words of the Sage of Six Paths, as he only trusted himself. Now that he was back, he needed to investigate.
Hiruzen did not hide anything when providing Tobirama with information about Nagato. It wasn't necessary, after all. Nagato's animosity towards Konoha wasn't Hiruzen's doing; he had originally wanted to ally with the Akatsuki, but Danzo had ruined those plans.
"Saru, I remember making you the Third Hokage. Why are you out of the village on a mission? Or is there a Fourth Hokage in the village now?"
As Tobirama spoke, he noticed Hiruzen's face looked quite old, possibly even older than Tobirama's age when he died. So he asked,
"The current Hokage is the Fourth, Sakumo. You might remember him, Tobirama-sensei. When you visited the Ninja Academy, you said he would be a pillar of the village."
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Tobirama recalled who the Fourth Hokage was—the genius who wielded a short sword in the academy.
After pondering for a moment, Tobirama asked seriously,
"Saru, are you confident in this mission? The Rinnegan isn't something to be taken lightly. And if I'm not mistaken, the Rinnegan in Nagato's possession doesn't belong to him."
Although he needed to investigate what the Sage of Six Paths had said, the origins of the Rinnegan were unlikely to be a lie. There should only be two pairs of Rinnegan in the ninja world, with a third pair still developing.
Aside from the Sage of Six Paths' Rinnegan, the second pair belonged to Uchiha Madara.
Tobirama crossed his arms and said,
"If you go, you'll likely come back empty-handed. The Rinnegan in Nagato's possession is someone else's. If you encounter him, you'll likely meet Uchiha Madara."
"Uchiha Madara!?"
Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and the others exchanged shocked glances.
Hiruzen quickly responded,
"Tobirama-sensei, according to our information, although Madara didn't accept his fate in the ninja world, he died three years ago."
Tobirama replied,
"He's like me now, an Edo Tensei body. Let's return to Konoha, Saru. I have other matters that require the village's assistance. Fill me in on what's been happening in the village."
Madara would certainly value Tobirama's awareness of his Rinnegan. Hiruzen and his group might not be able to secure the Rinnegan and could even run into Madara, leading to unnecessary losses.
"I understand, Tobirama-sensei."
Hiruzen agreed with Tobirama's suggestion. Although this was a mission issued by Yoichi, they had encountered the Second Hokage.
Moreover, Hiruzen had been reluctant to undertake this mission with Jiraiya. Even if they captured Nagato, the Rinnegan would belong to the village, while the losses would be borne by the Sarutobi clan.
On the way back, Hiruzen gave Tobirama a brief overview of recent events.
"Kushina-san."
A familiar voice suddenly called from behind, startling Kushina as she battled her inner darkness. The scene around her vanished, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself in her familiar bedroom.
Turning her head, Kushina's face filled with anger.
She was about to shout but remembered Naruto was still sleeping. She lowered her voice,
"What are you doing here? This is my home."
"I know, but don't you want the videotape? If you don't, I'll take it back."
Before Yoichi could finish his sentence, Kushina had already snatched the videotape from his hand.
Just as she was about to crush it with a punch, Yoichi grabbed her wrist and reminded her,
"Kushina-san, don't forget our agreement. Ten tapes mean ten times, or else..."
"I know, you don't need to remind me."
Kushina replied angrily, puffing her cheeks. She cursed herself for being too slow this time.
"In that case, why not enjoy watching while we proceed? Once it's over, the tape is yours to dispose of."
Yoichi took the tape, pulled out a storage scroll, and retrieved a TV and a VCR, setting them up as if Kushina's bedroom conveniently had outlets and a table.
Seeing Yoichi's actions, Kushina's face turned pale with anger and she whispered furiously,
"Are you crazy? Here? I won't agree to this! Naruto is sleeping next door."
"That's why you should set up a barrier, Kushina-san. Besides, do you really have a choice now?"
While speaking, Yoichi connected the TV and VCR, inserting the tape he took from Kushina.
"Bastard!"
Kushina was furious that Yoichi would dare do such a thing in her home, especially something like this. She rushed forward to stop him.
However, fearing making too much noise, her attempt to stop him was futile. In the end, she blushed and retreated, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You bastard..."
Seeing her embarrassing moments appear on the TV, Kushina reluctantly formed hand seals to activate a barrier. Placing her hands on the ground, the barrier's runes quickly spread throughout the room.
"You... how dare you..."
Before Kushina could finish, the TV screen lit up, and the sound of her own voice filled the room. Hearing her voice, Kushina felt a strange sensation.
The bed frame began to creak, but thanks to the barrier, it didn't wake Naruto sleeping next door.
With Yoichi's clones guarding outside, he had no fear of being interrupted.
As the noise from the bed grew louder, Kushina's cheaply-bought bed seemed on the verge of collapsing.
"Take down that photo! You... you jerk, let me go!"
As Kushina knelt on the bed, enduring, she suddenly noticed the wedding photo on the bedside table. Overcome with shame and anger, she wanted to break free and remove the photo.
However, Yoichi held Kushina tightly, pinning her down with his weight.
After struggling for a while, Kushina found herself unable to break free, and she buried her face in the bedding, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.
'Minato, I'm sorry!'
"Mm..."
...
...
"Yoichi-sensei, you're back! The Hokage robe is ready. Shall I help you put it on?"
Rumi greeted Yoichi with a sweet smile as she took out a Hokage robe. The design was simple, reserved for those with the highest status in Konoha.
"Is it finished already? By the way, Rumi, has the new Hokage hat been completed as well?"
Yoichi turned around, allowing Rumi to drape the Hokage robe over his shoulders. The Hokage hat hadn't been replaced since the First Hokage. While every Hokage got a new robe, the same hat had been used for fifty years.
Thinking about it was disheartening. It was time for a new one.
"Yes, Yoichi-sensei, it's ready. We've also sent people to notify the daimyō and the smaller nations surrounding the Land of Fire. They should arrive in Konoha in three days."
Rumi adjusted Yoichi's collar and blushed slightly, realizing she was acting like a wife, so she quickly changed the subject,
"The Police Force has also been informed. They've prepared security plans for the Hokage election day and arranged accommodations for visiting nobles and merchants."
The Police Force was, of course, not falling behind. They were the most enthusiastic department about the Hokage election. The Fifth Hokage would be their Uchiha clan leader, symbolizing the Uchiha's rise as the village's leading clan.
Even within the ninja world, the Uchiha's reputation was well-known, thanks to Yoichi. The Sharingan had become one of the most feared Kekkei Genkai.
Konoha had grown increasingly prosperous, with separate commercial and residential areas, resembling a modern metropolis.
The village's size had expanded, stretching seventy to eighty kilometers from the Ninja Park to the other side. Even for shinobi, covering that distance required time; it was even more challenging for ordinary people.
If not for the tram system being established, connecting twenty stations within the village, the villagers would have demanded it.
The Police Force patrolled the village's outskirts with a substantial presence. Konoha's prosperity made it a potential target for those looking to cause trouble, like a human bomb with explosive tags. It would be a significant blow to the village.
This was why Yoichi had held lengthy discussions with Hiashi, involving Hyūga clan members in the Police Force. Hiashi's brother, Hizashi, now led the Police Force's fifth division.
Swish, swish, swish!
As Tobirama and his group neared Konoha's outskirts, they were intercepted by two patrol teams.
"It's the Third Hokage and Jiraiya-sama..."
Recognizing the group, Zoshi Uchiha spoke up. After confirming with his Sharingan that they weren't using transformation techniques, he allowed them to pass and reported through his radio,
"All clear, it's the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and the shinobi who went on the mission last time."
"But Third Hokage, what's with him? Why does he look like the Second Hokage?"
Having seen the Hokage Rock hundreds of times, no shinobi could fail to recognize the past Hokage. Upon confirming that Tobirama wasn't using a transformation technique, Zoshi was shocked.
Hiruzen replied,
"This is classified. I'll report to the Fourth Hokage. Clear the way."
"Understood."
After making way, Zoshi watched the group leave and reported his encounter through the radio.
Seeing the Konoha gates, Tobirama asked Hiruzen,
"Saru, is the Police Force patrolling outside the village now?" He had also noticed Hyūga clan members among the Police Force. What was going on?
They had returned so quickly that Hiruzen hadn't had a chance to explain all the village's changes, but Tobirama sensed that the village had changed a lot before even entering Konoha.
"Tobirama-sensei, I haven't handled village affairs for a long time. This should be the work of the Fourth Hokage and the Hokage advisor, Uchiha Yoichi."
"Is that the Uchiha kid who was with Tsunade? Let's keep moving."
Tobirama continued toward Konoha, but as he entered the gate, he noticed a hunched old man sweeping the ground. The figure seemed very familiar, so Tobirama went to take a closer look.
"Danzo? Why are you sweeping here?"
Approaching, Tobirama immediately recognized his disciple, Danzo. However, Danzo had changed significantly; he was filthy, his chakra so weak it was nearly undetectable, likely sealed.
Danzo's eyes were dull, mechanically repeating his sweeping motions. A quick sensing confirmed he was under genjutsu.
"Release!"
Tobirama frowned as he dispelled the genjutsu. Hiruzen had only mentioned that Danzo had done something foolish and been punished but hadn't described the nature of the punishment.
Under genjutsu, with his chakra sealed, and sweeping at Konoha's gate, this was sheer humiliation.
"What happened?"
"Tob-Tobirama-sensei?"
Gradually regaining clarity, Danzo saw the figure before him, a mix of fear and longing in his heart. He regretted not achieving more to prove himself to Tobirama-sensei. It was his mistake in choosing the wrong person back then.
"Danzo, why are you..."
Before Tobirama could finish, a four-man squad of Police Force members appeared.
Seeing the genjutsu on Danzo dispelled, Matsuro Uchiha frowned and asked,
"Third Hokage, Jiraiya-sensei, and... the Second Hokage?"
(End of Chapter)
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