Chapter 202: Sannin Confrontation! Stances Laid Bare!
A sudden “boom” from a heavy object crashing onto the ground in the distance made Sarutobi Hiruzen’s heart tremble involuntarily.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, located in the Hokage’s Office Building, had a slight change in expression. He immediately restrained the weary look on his face, stood up without hesitation, and quickly walked to the window to gaze into the distance.
In Sarutobi Hiruzen’s line of sight—a massive Slug Clone was standing in one direction within Konoha Village.
Its enormous body formed a stark contrast with the nearby buildings.
This also allowed Sarutobi Hiruzen to immediately recognize it as Lady Tsunade’s Summoned Beast!
Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brows, muttering in astonishment: “What’s going on with Lady Tsunade? Why did she suddenly summon Slug Sage in the village? Doesn’t she know this will cause panic among many people?”
But when he thought of how close Lady Tsunade and Uchiha Ikeizumi had been recently.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately understood—because when Uchiha Ikeizumi acted in the village, he didn’t care about any influence, nor did he care if ordinary civilians would feel panicked.
It seemed… Lady Tsunade had completely fallen, becoming the same kind of person as Uchiha Ikeizumi.
After this thought flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen’s mind, he immediately called over two Anbu Ninjas.
These two Anbu Ninjas were among the few in Anbu who were still relatively loyal to him, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
After all, there were still some people in Anbu whom Sarutobi Hiruzen had personally promoted. Even after all these events, their loyalty might not be as high as before. But compared to the other Anbu Ninjas who leaned toward Uchiha Ikeizumi, they were already quite good.
At least Sarutobi Hiruzen felt he could trust them.
“You two, come with me to see what’s going on!”
After Sarutobi Hiruzen gave the order, he jumped out the window directly.
And leaped down from the windowsill.
The two Anbu Ninjas said nothing more and followed closely by jumping down.
……
Meanwhile.
Konoha Military Police Force.
“This is… Lady Tsunade’s Summoned Beast!” A Police Force Ninja immediately spotted the distant Slug Sage Clone. At that moment, a thumb-sized Slug Sage Clone crawled out from the Police Force Ninja’s Ninja Tool Bag.
The clone spoke: “The original body tells us we need to immediately go support Lady Tsunade. Because the toads from Mount Myōboku are trying to take away Konoha’s Jinchuriki.”
Hearing this, the Police Force Ninja’s expression changed.
Konoha’s Jinchuriki was none other than Uzumaki Naruto? He was one of the village’s trump cards!
At the same time, he was also Lord Ikeizumi’s follower of Absolute Justice!
He was even a student at the Ninja Academy in the village.
And Lady Tsunade… was in a cooperative relationship with Lord Ikeizumi, even a friendly one. Now, Lord Ikeizumi was clearly pushing Lady Tsunade toward the Hokage position. If nothing unexpected happened, the next Hokage would definitely be Lady Tsunade.
Although Lady Tsunade didn’t have the Uchiha name, she now stood in the same faction as the Uchiha.
Her becoming Hokage would certainly be better for the Uchiha Clan than Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage.
At least she wouldn’t discriminate against the Uchiha Clan.
Nor would she isolate or exclude the Uchiha.
Whether for public or private reasons, whether for the village or for justice, they Police Force Ninjas absolutely could not stand by idly.
“Notify all available Police Force members!” A Uchiha Jonin from the Police Force decisively shouted: “Immediately grab all Ninja Tools and go support Lady Tsunade!”
Soon.
A large number of Police Force Ninjas quickly assembled and rushed toward the direction of Lady Tsunade’s Summoned Beast.
……
“…Slug Sage, haven’t you always stayed out of the Ninja World’s affairs? Why now… choose to intervene in the Ninja World? And as a Sage who has lived for over a thousand years, why stand with a Uchiha junior’s faction?”
Sage Fukasaku broke out in a bit of cold sweat on his forehead. He already knew he probably couldn’t take the Child of Prophecy away today.
But the doubt in his heart sought an answer from Slug Sage.
The largest Slug Sage Clone slowly said: “I don’t know what the original body is thinking. I only know we can’t let you take Uzumaki Naruto away. This child’s destiny trajectory changed when he met Uchiha Ikeizumi; he is already completely different from the ‘Savior’ in the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy.”
“I can only advise Mount Myōboku not to be too fixated on Uzumaki Naruto. The Ninja World isn’t ruled by Mount Myōboku’s Great Toad Sage.”
The Slug Sage Clone paused, then added: “I’m not too skilled at verbal debates anyway. As long as I’m in Konoha Village for a day, Mount Myōboku can’t touch Uzumaki Naruto.”
“If you really want to touch him, call out the Great Toad Sage. You two Mount Myōboku juniors don’t have that qualification yet.”
Sage Fukasaku: “…”
Sage Shima: “…”
It was well known that Slug Sage was the most good-tempered, gentle, friendly, and helpful among the Sages of the three holy sites.
Her words now were probably the heaviest tone Slug Sage had ever used in her life.
If Mount Myōboku continued to “entangle endlessly,” this Slug Sage might really take action herself.
“Little Jiraiya, this isn’t the time today.” Sage Fukasaku could only whisper in Jiraiya’s ear: “The Child of Prophecy is indeed important, but we can’t destroy your friendship with Lady Tsunade over this.”
He phrased it beautifully and tactfully.
Without admitting he was backing down.
“…Phew, alright.” Jiraiya’s heart finally eased the heavy stone from Sage Fukasaku’s words. In this situation where Jiraiya somewhat lacked resolve, the opinions of the two Mount Myōboku Sages were especially important.
And just then.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the two Anbu Ninjas finally arrived. Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately led the Anbu Ninjas to block between Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya.
His old face darkened: “Lady Tsunade! Jiraiya! What are you doing? This is the village! And you’re both part of the Konoha Sannin—do you intend to fight among yourselves in the village? How would the village’s Ninjas view you then?”
His two students nearly fighting was something Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn’t anticipated.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had originally thought maybe some foreign village spy had appeared in the village, and Lady Tsunade was fighting them, just making a bit too much noise.
Who would have thought Jiraiya, whom he’d just met, was here too.
Even less expected was that Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya were in a confrontational, hostile state.
“Old man, you better keep Jiraiya in check.”
After seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen arrive, the coldness on Lady Tsunade’s face eased slightly, but her tone remained unchanged: “If I’d been a second late, your precious Jinchuriki would have been taken away by him.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned.
He looked toward Jiraiya.
Jiraiya looked embarrassed, scratching his head. At this point, he knew even if he didn’t explain, Lady Tsunade would tell the story, so he might as well say it himself.
“Old man, I told you about the Child of Prophecy.” Jiraiya explained: “I need to personally teach him how to bring Change to the Ninja World.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen nearly blacked out from anger—just over this, two of the Konoha Sannin nearly fought?
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath to calm his fluctuating emotions.
He glared at Jiraiya: “Jiraiya, don’t apply that outside Konoha nonsense to our Konoha Village!”
Jiraiya: “…”
Even though he had anticipated it, Jiraiya still didn’t expect the old man to scold only him and not Lady Tsunade.
That meant in the old man’s eyes, his actions were wrong.
The old man still didn’t believe in the Child of Prophecy.
Nor in any Savior of the Ninja World.
Of course…
If the old man believed in such things, he would have long believed in Ikeizumi’s Absolute Justice. This led to the old man and Lady Tsunade being in opposition now, yet forced to stand on the same side as her because of his actions.
Jiraiya sighed inwardly.
He could only awkwardly scratch his head.
Not knowing what to say.
Meanwhile, the two Mount Myōboku Sages had already chosen to stay silent, as Slug Clones were watching them closely from all directions. Slug Sage had already said so much to them; if they said more, it would be giving her no face at all.
At this moment, a large number of Police Force Ninjas hurriedly arrived, all standing on Lady Tsunade’s side. They even shouted in unison in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“Lady Tsunade!”
The unified shout from the Police Force Ninjas made Sarutobi Hiruzen’s already darkening face grow even blacker.
It seemed…
Lady Tsunade had already gained the trust and recognition of many Uchiha Ninjas in the Police Force.
He had done so much for the Uchiha Clan back then, yet hadn’t earned recognition from anyone in the Uchiha Clan except Itachi, Fugaku, and Shisui.
What had Lady Tsunade done now? Just by believing in Absolute Justice, she gained the recognition and trust of so many Uchiha?
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a bit jealous inside.
So much so that he couldn’t help looking at Lady Tsunade and hoarsely said: “Lady Tsunade, it seems many in the village support you. Even the Uchiha Clan… is no exception.”
Lady Tsunade’s gaze met Sarutobi Hiruzen’s. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she unhesitatingly responded: “Without everyone’s support, why would I run for Hokage?”
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed.
He keenly noticed that when Lady Tsunade acted so boldly, many Uchiha Clan Ninjas seemed excited.
As if Lady Tsunade just needed to raise her arm, and this group of Police Force Uchiha Ninjas would charge at him, the Hokage, without hesitation—of course, this was just his malicious speculation.
“Old man, you have one week.” Lady Tsunade suddenly said.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned: “What do you mean?”
Lady Tsunade slowly said: “In one week, most Ninja Clans and Ninjas in the village will band together to submit a letter to you, the Hokage, requesting a new round of Hokage elections.”
Lady Tsunade emphasized each word: “This is Konoha’s public will. Teacher Sarutobi, you wouldn’t resist public will and choose to ignore it, right?”
“And by then, I will be your only competitor.”
Her address for Sarutobi Hiruzen had changed from “old man” to “Teacher Sarutobi.”
Though it sounded more formal and polite.
But…
Also more distant.
“Little Jiraiya, your old friend who can summon Slug Sage seems about to completely fall out with Konoha’s Third Hokage.” Sage Shima said sarcastically: “So disrespectful to elders and youth—I still clearly remember the tone she used with me.”
Jiraiya broke out in sweat.
On the other side.
Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, both seeing the bewildered expressions on each other’s small faces. Although they both believed in Absolute Justice, they mostly stayed at the Ninja Academy and weren’t sensitive to the village’s situation.
Clearly, they hadn’t known this “Granny Tsunade” was running for Konoha’s next Hokage.
Until Lady Tsunade openly said it in front of so many people.
Only then did Naruto and Sasuke realize belatedly.
Naruto scratched his head, muttering: “So I’m not the only one who wants to become Konoha Hokage. If she becomes Konoha Hokage, what do I do?”
Sasuke calmed his mood and said: “She can’t be Konoha Hokage forever—not everyone sits in the Hokage seat as long as the Third Hokage.”
“By the time you grow up, she might have stepped down. After all, this Konoha Sannin is said to be in her forties or fifties. By the time you’re old enough to run for Hokage, she might be in her sixties or seventies.”
Naruto struck his fist into his palm, suddenly enlightened: “Right! She’s an old granny, so she definitely can’t serve for long.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen: “…”
Lady Tsunade: “…”
The two kids’ voices weren’t quiet, naturally reaching their ears.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn’t expected that in Naruto’s eyes, his own old bones were also due for retirement soon. Since Naruto didn’t complain about his current situation, it meant the kid didn’t care at all whether he retired or not.
Lady Tsunade’s forehead was already sprouting a few twitching veins.
The term “old granny” was too damaging to her.
So much so that Lady Tsunade directly ignored Sarutobi Hiruzen. She turned around, cracking her knuckles as she approached Naruto, her aura more terrifying than a man-eating demon.
Shizune wisely stepped aside to clear a path.
“Brat!!!”
Lady Tsunade’s teeth nearly ground to bits: “What did you just call me?”
Sasuke stiffened, feeling the aura from Lady Tsunade, instantly breaking out in sweat.
Naruto instinctively blurted: “Call you old…”
Sasuke hurriedly covered Naruto’s mouth, yanking and pulling him backward.
Sasuke forced a stiff smile: “This dumb dead-last is talking nonsense—please don’t take it to heart.”
Watching the two kids flee in panic.
Lady Tsunade’s aura subsided, her gritted-teeth angry expression returning to normal. She muttered: “Fugaku’s kid seems to be gradually emerging from his father’s death-induced low mood.”
……
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PS: There’s more update today~ Currently typing away in the outline
