In the 60th year of Konoha, a Chunin Exam that should have been ordinary was destined to be recorded in the history of the ninja world.
The Sand and Sound ninja launched a surprise attack on Konoha.
One of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, succeeded in assassinating his teacher.
The Third Hokage, who had dominated the ninja world for over forty years and was known as the "Ninja Professor," died.
The Fourth Kazekage disappeared.
A man who stood shoulder to shoulder with the gods reappeared in the world.
This series of explosive news turned the long-peaceful ninja world upside down.
Not only Konoha, which had lost its leader, but the Sand ninja also became increasingly active.
The major villages such as the Cloud, Stone, and Mist, which had stayed out of the matter, as well as other medium and small ninja villages and major ninja organizations, were all in turmoil.
Many elderly people who had experienced wars couldn't help but frown.
The current situation made them feel a sense of impending chaos and the return of war.
They hoped it was just an illusion.
In the Land of Fire, within a bustling casino.
In the noisy environment filled with shouts of "Big! Big!", "Small! Small!", "All in!", "I won! Ha ha ha!", "Ahhh! Kill me now!", a mature and beautiful woman with twin ponytails and a large chest, wearing a tea-green gambling coat, excitedly grabbed her chips. Beside her, a black-haired woman holding a pink piglet looked on in pain and helplessness as she inserted chip after chip into the slot machine.
Minutes later.
Clink, clink, clink~~~ A large number of chips poured out of the slot machine.
Seeing the pile of chips forming a small mountain, the black-haired woman exclaimed joyfully:
"Lady Tsunade! We won again!!!"
For so many years, Shizune had never seen Lady Tsunade win so continuously instead of losing.
However, Tsunade frowned.
Despite winning, she looked as if she had suffered a great loss and casually placed another bet on the slot machine.
Just like before, more money rolled in.
Relieved that they wouldn't have to sleep on the streets tonight, Shizune hurriedly stabilized the pile of chips.
Tsunade paused, lost in thought.
At this moment, the conversation of nearby gamblers reached their ears.
"Did you hear? Konoha was attacked by the Sand ninja and a small unknown ninja village, and the Third Hokage died in battle."
"The powerful Third Hokage was killed?"
"It was done by Orochimaru, one of the Sannin and a direct disciple of the Third Hokage."
"Orochimaru is that strong?"
"Absolutely. I also heard a rumor that the missing Fourth Kazekage was killed by Orochimaru too."
"Unbelievable! If true, Orochimaru took down two of the Five Kage."
"…"
"Speaking of the Five Kage, I also heard another piece of news. A man who was on par with the First Hokage, who once caused the death of one Kage and severely injured another, known to be equal to a god, appeared at the Chunin Exams and left Konoha."
"No way! How could someone from the same era as the First Hokage still be alive?"
"My sister's third uncle's friend's brother, who is a Konoha ninja, said he was there."
"He must have been mistaken, or the message was wrong. Oh, right! That man's name was Gensou, right? He supposedly died at the hands of the First Hokage. The Valley of the End was built for him. How could a dead man come back?"
"That's true! The rumor must be false. But Orochimaru killing the Third Hokage is definitely real."
"Konoha and the Land of Fire are facing troubled times again. I wonder who the next—no, the Fifth Hokage will be. They need to decide soon to calm everyone's nerves."
"…"
Crack.
The chips in Tsunade's hand shattered.
Shizune, holding the chips, froze and instinctively looked at Tsunade.
"Shizune!" Tsunade called expressionlessly.
"Yes!" Shizune straightened up immediately.
"Pack up, we're leaving," Tsunade ordered.
"Okay!" Shizune quickly started packing, asking, "Lady Tsunade, are we going back to Konoha?"
Tsunade's expression was complicated but quickly dismissed as she said, "Konoha? No! We're going to the next casino!"
"Really?"
Shizune was stunned.
Meanwhile.
As the Konoha ninja and villagers, dressed in black, silently left the funeral of the Third Hokage.
Jiraiya was stopped by the two Konoha advisors.
"Hiruzen is gone. Although we've formed an emergency executive committee, it's only temporary. Konoha needs a new Hokage. Jiraiya, you should be the Fifth Hokage."
Koharu got straight to the point.
Homura followed, "Jiraiya, you're the most qualified to be Hokage now. Don't refuse."
To the advisors, Hiruzen's disciples, Jiraiya and Tsunade, were the most suitable candidates for the Fifth Hokage.
With Tsunade's whereabouts unknown, the best choice was the nearby Jiraiya.
As for their old friend, Danzo.
Despite knowing his deep obsession with the Hokage position, they preferred not to have someone so entrenched in darkness and rigidly cold to take the lead.
The title "Hokage" was a dream for most people.
But not for Jiraiya.
Hearing the advisors, he shook his head vehemently as if handed a hot potato: "No, no, no! I can't be Hokage. Don't ask me!"
Koharu and Homura continued to persuade him.
Unable to withstand their pressure, Jiraiya finally mentioned Tsunade: "Find Tsunade instead. She's more suitable as the Fifth Hokage."
"Don't worry, my toads will find her soon."
"I'll bring her back for sure!"
Compared to the solemn atmosphere at the funeral, in the underground base of Root, known as "Ne,"
Sitting in the darkness, Danzo leaned on his cane, silent for a long time.
Finally, with a complex expression, he murmured: "Hiruzen…"
"Danzo-sama," a Root ninja approached.
"What is it?" Danzo resumed his calm demeanor.
The Root ninja reported, "Konoha's upper echelon has decided to have Jiraiya bring Tsunade back to become the Fifth Hokage."
"Tsunade, huh?"
Danzo wasn't surprised.
Born of the Senju, the founder of Konoha's medical system, and a savior of countless Konoha ninja, Tsunade was indeed the most qualified to be Hokage, despite her long absence from Konoha.
In another timeline, even Danzo only emerged from the shadows to become the interim Sixth Hokage after Tsunade was in a coma and Konoha was leaderless.
"Let's wait and see."
Danzo found himself less impatient than he had expected.
Perhaps it was due to Hiruzen's passing.
He shook his head slightly, then resumed his role as the dark shadow of the ninja world, coldly ordering: "Send someone to inform Orochimaru that I have something to discuss with him."
"Also, order the Root ninja to fully search for Gensou's whereabouts. I need to know what he's been up to."
Gensou, a man on par with Hashirama, was not the minor threat Koharu and Homura thought.
Even as a dead man.
Judging others by himself, Danzo believed that Gensou's meticulous escape from Edo Tensei had a grand scheme behind it.
Such a man, with grievances against Konoha, couldn't be left unchecked.
So… Find him! Imprison him! Extract all his knowledge and secrets! And ultimately, use him for his own ends!
Danzo struck his cane hard, his single eye gleaming with a ferocious light.
(End of Chapter)
For Konoha, filling the vacant Fifth Hokage position is the key issue, everything else can wait.
Similarly, for the Sand ninja, finding the missing Fourth Kazekage is their top priority.
Aside from those Sand ninja currently imprisoned in Konoha, the ninjas of Sunagakure have mobilized en masse, searching for the Fourth Kazekage or his corpse, just as they had done ten years ago for the Third Kazekage.
In a way, the Sand ninja should thank Orochimaru.
After all, the plan was for the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, to lead the Sand ninja in an attack on Konoha alongside Orochimaru and the Sound ninja.
But for some unknown reason, Orochimaru chose to assassinate his ally, the Fourth Kazekage, first.
If it was to get close to the Third Hokage and deliver a fatal blow, disguising himself as the Fourth Kazekage, Orochimaru did not show any intention of suddenly attacking and killing the Third Hokage during the Chunin Exams.
If not, what was the point of assassinating the Fourth Kazekage? Wouldn't having an extra person and helper be better?
However, due to Orochimaru's assassination of the Fourth Kazekage, the Sand ninja's situation is much better now.
Otherwise, the severe damage and casualties inflicted on Konoha by the Sand ninja would not have been brushed aside, with Konoha thinking they were deceived.
It is very likely that Konoha and the Sand ninja would have entered a real war, and as history has shown, other ninja villages would follow suit, leading to the start of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
In this light, Orochimaru's assassination of the Fourth Kazekage can be seen as a blessing in disguise.
The other three Great Ninja Villages still have their Kage.
Thus, upon receiving the news of Konoha's attack, they first shared a moment of schadenfreude, giving Orochimaru a mental thumbs up, hoping he would continue his efforts in the future.
But when they learned that Gensou had broken free from Edo Tensei's control and left Konoha, their expressions turned serious.
While they didn't fully understand Edo Tensei, the Second Hokage, Tobirama, had used it enough to disgust his enemies.
From the intelligence gathered, they knew a bit about it.
Most likely, Gensou had not been resurrected but was in an Edo Tensei state, his soul temporarily summoned.
Yet, this did not change the reality that a self-aware Gensou had set foot in the living world again after decades.
Iwagakure
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, received the news of Gensou's reappearance while being treated for his old back in the hospital.
Amidst his cries of pain, his expression suddenly froze, and his eyes became incredibly complex.
"Gensou…"
If anyone in the current ninja world knew Gensou best, it was Onoki.
He had seen Gensou in person, not during the final battle at the Valley of the End, but much earlier, before the formation of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
In the Warring States period, where even five-year-olds fought, Onoki was already fifteen or sixteen years old when Konoha was founded and considered an adult at the time.
During his decade-long career as a ninja, due to various missions, he had seen the leader of the Hagoromo Clan, Gensou, in his prime, and witnessed the true genius several years his senior in action.
He didn't need solemn reminders or repeated warnings from his teacher, the Second Tsuchikage, about Gensou's terror.
Onoki had long understood and remembered Gensou deeply, and the impression still lingered today.
"Who would have thought that the person who once stood as a lackey is now the Third Tsuchikage, while you, once invincible, have long turned to dust."
Onoki shook his head in amazement, signaling the nurse to step aside, and donned his Tsuchikage robes.
"Tsuchikage-sama, what should we do?" asked Onoki's son, Akatsuchi, who had brought the information.
Without hesitation, Onoki replied, "Have the Iwa ninja forces near the Fire Country frontlines make some moves to scare Konoha. If there are benefits, take them; if not, at least it will distract them. As for Gensou…"
Onoki pondered for a long time, finally sighing and shaking his head: "Send a team to investigate. It's okay if they don't find anything."
No matter how brilliant a past, it was over.
Even if he reappeared, it would be a fleeting moment.
On a personal level, Onoki wanted to meet the person he had admired in his youth once more.
But from a broader perspective, he couldn't waste his village's resources on meaningless endeavors.
So he followed the latter.
However…
Onoki's lips curled into a smile.
He wasn't in a hurry about Gensou, but he knew some people would be.
Kirigakure
A heavy slam echoed in the Mizukage's office.
The young Fifth Mizukage, Mei, ordered coldly, "Deploy all the tracking units. Find Gensou and bring him back to Kirigakure."
As the biggest loser in the Battle of the Valley of the End, Kirigakure not only lost the First Mizukage, lowering its prestige, but also the central figure holding everything together.
Without the First Mizukage, internal conflicts, which had been suppressed, resurfaced.
Even with the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu, in power, his influence was not enough to unify the village.
Moreover, he died recklessly in the First Great Ninja War.
This intensified the internal strife in Kirigakure, leading to the "Bloody Mist" era.
Even though the Bloody Mist era had ended, the lingering issues from decades of strife continued to plague Mei.
Gensou could be seen as the source of many of Kirigakure's tragedies.
Hearing that Gensou, a name cursed by her elders, had resurfaced in the ninja world, Mei was determined to capture him, no matter his state.
Fortunately, Ao, her advisor, calmly advised, "Mizukage-sama, Gensou is likely still in the Land of Fire. In the current unstable ninja world, such a large-scale operation might be misunderstood by Konoha. Please reconsider."
"Moreover, he is already dead. It's unnecessary to expend so much effort to find him."
Even if they found him, so what?
Gensou was already dead.
Would killing him again make any difference? Would he even fear it?
After much persuasion, Mei relented, opting for a more discreet search for Gensou.
Kumogakure
Compared to the debates in Kirigakure, the decisions in Kumogakure were straightforward.
Though the First Mizukage had died, the First Raikage had only lost an arm.
Upon receiving the news, the Fourth Raikage, A, hefted his thick dumbbells and ordered without hesitation:
"Find Gensou with all your might and avenge the First Raikage's lost arm!"
"Yes!"
No one objected.
The mighty war machine of Kumogakure began operating efficiently.
(End of Chapter)
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