Chapter 233: New Konoha Village
"I just feel like Konoha Village is different from before."
Today, Kakashi had a rare half-day off. He held a copy of Icha Icha Paradise whose corners were already worn and wrinkled. From time to time, he glanced at the content of the novel, then raised his eyes to look at the Konoha civilians passing by him.
What word should be used to describe it?
Perhaps—it was more orderly and more harmonious.
On some streets of Konoha Village, there used to be many small vendors arbitrarily setting up stalls, almost completely blocking the entire road.
Now, the Military Police Force had specially demarcated an area for these vendors to gather, which prevented disruption to the street order.
Even the street cleanliness was much better than before, because getting caught by the Military Police Force for littering would genuinely result in a fine.
Kakashi had heard that a Konoha Jonin was surrounded by two Military Police Force ninja after spitting gum on the ground and was told to pay a fine of at least one thousand Ryo.
Moreover...
Kakashi also acutely noticed that no one in the village was privately discussing Naruto Uzumaki as the incarnation of the Nine-Tailed Fox anymore.
This kind of bullying and ostracizing behavior directed at a child was, for some reason, very effectively curbed.
And some of the conspiratorial rumors most favored by the Konoha civilians.
It seemed they were often suppressed directly by the Military Police Force ninja before they could even spread. All those who maliciously spread rumors were locked up in the Konoha Prison.
A minor offense would see you locked up for half a month to reflect; a severe offense would land you directly in prison for half a year.
As for incidents involving fighting, assault, or more serious murder cases, the Konoha Military Police Force was even more unforgiving.
If the criminal cooperated, it was fine. If they didn't cooperate, they would likely be killed instantly by the Military Police Force ninja!
Ikeizumi Uchiha's intense and forceful methods had begun to be emulated by many ninja in the Military Police Force.
"I actually feel—it's not bad..." Kakashi muttered in surprise: "After Absolute Justice took control of the village, the village atmosphere wasn't as high-pressure as I imagined. Ikeizumi Uchiha outwardly seems completely ruthless, but in some aspects, he's quite understanding, he just doesn't show it."
Kakashi could see this "understanding" from the somewhat restrained enforcement methods of the Military Police Force.
After all...
If [Absolute Justice] was truly as bloody and extreme as the rumors suggested, then casually littering on the street wouldn't be as simple as a fine, but your hand would be directly cut off.
Petty theft wouldn't be as simple as locking you up in the Konoha Prison, but your head would be directly taken off.
Just as Kakashi was feeling emotional, he suddenly heard a rather familiar voice coming from ahead.
"I told you! I don't want to accept you as a teacher! I don't need you to teach me any ninjutsu! Ikeizumi-sensei can make me an excellent ninja! Can you, you white-haired weird uncle, stop following me? You're like a stalker!"
This rather childish, impatient voice immediately reminded Kakashi of one person—Naruto Uzumaki!
When he unconsciously quickened his pace and walked forward.
Sure enough, he saw a small back figure ahead.
That head of golden hair was very conspicuous in Konoha Village.
Kakashi also saw a very lewd-looking back figure following beside Naruto.
Upon closer inspection...
Isn't this Jiraiya-sama, one of the Legendary Sannin?
"Naruto, Ikeizumi Uchiha is now the Captain of the Military Police Force. He has many things to be busy with every day. It's unlikely he can spare time to teach you." Jiraiya said earnestly: "Furthermore, with me, Jiraiya the Hermit, teaching you, perhaps in the near future, you can become the Hokage of Konoha?"
Jiraiya hadn't expected Naruto, the Child of Prophecy, to be so difficult to deal with.
He had been shamelessly sticking to Naruto for two or three days.
But he hadn't expected Minato's child to be so unyielding.
"You're not the Konoha Hokage, so why would I believe you when you say you can train me to be the future Hokage?" Naruto said impatiently: "Even if Ikeizumi-sensei doesn't have time to teach me, I can still get stronger by following Ikeizumi-sensei to execute Justice!"
With that.
Naruto hurried to quicken his pace, trying to shake off this annoying, perverted uncle.
Watching Naruto's quickly departing back, Fukasaku, the Great Toad Sage on Jiraiya's shoulder, spoke: "This child is more difficult than we imagined. He has been severely brainwashed by Absolute Justice."
Shima, the Great Toad Sage on the other side, said: "Little Jiraiya, stop using these roundabout methods. If you truly want to nurture the Child of Prophecy into a savior, perhaps some drastic measures are needed."
"For example?"
"Knock him out directly and take him to Mount Myōboku. At that time, we can use a sealing jutsu to seal the memories of his belief in Absolute Justice, and then carefully guide and nurture him."
Fukasaku hesitated: "Isn't that a bit too drastic?"
Shima said earnestly: "The boy's father, if we don't take such measures in this situation—if the Child of Prophecy is truly completely brainwashed by Absolute Justice one day, it will be too late. Little Jiraiya, there's no need to keep hesitating."
Jiraiya: "..."
Jiraiya was indeed hesitating, because the suggestion made by Shima-sensei had always filled him with doubt.
With such an extreme method, if Naruto Uzumaki's memory seal was broken one day... wouldn't he hate him to death?
It might even produce negative effects.
If the Child of Prophecy turned dark, he, Jiraiya, would be the sinner of the entire Shinobi World.
"Jiraiya-sama, are you...?" Suddenly, a voice from behind almost startled Jiraiya.
Turning to look.
Jiraiya immediately recognized the person speaking to him.
"Kakashi?"
Jiraiya remembered the names of most excellent ninja in the village, let alone an exceptional ninja like Kakashi.
Kakashi asked suspiciously: "You seemed to be following Naruto Uzumaki just now, right? That child looked very impatient. Is there some conflict between you and Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Cough! No!"
Jiraiya coughed awkwardly and said: "I just wanted to take this child as my apprentice, but Naruto seems a bit too... stubborn, he just keeps refusing me."
Kakashi was surprised.
The esteemed Sannin wants to take an apprentice, and is targeting Naruto Uzumaki?
Could it be...
Is it because of Minato-sensei? After all, Minato-sensei was Jiraiya-sama's disciple, and Naruto Uzumaki is Minato-sensei's child.
At the same time.
Hidden Cloud Village.
"Raikage-sama, the mission to incite internal conflict in Konoha has failed."
An Hidden Cloud ANBU ninja knelt on one knee and reported to the Raikage: "Although our people successfully turned the Sarutobi Clan ninja, the faction represented by the Konoha Hokage did not have an intense conflict with the faction represented by Ikeizumi Uchiha due to the Konoha Hokage's handling. Instead, the matter was downplayed."
"The Konoha Hokage's indecisiveness also exceeded our expectations. We didn't expect him to be so enduring. The successive deaths of his two sons and a daughter-in-law did not cause him to completely lose his mind, only making him slightly emotionally distressed."
Hearing this.
Fourth Raikage, A's expression showed little change. He said gruffly: "Since the mission failed, have our people withdraw first. In any case, this was merely a probe of Konoha, and a probe of the once-famed Third Hokage of the Shinobi World."
Speaking of this, the Fourth Raikage's tone carried a hint of wistful emotion: "The mission is not a complete failure. At least it allowed me to know what that Konoha Third Hokage looks like now."
"It seems he is old after all."
After a pause, the Fourth Raikage continued: "You can arrange for some ninja from the village to infiltrate the Land of Fire. Since the Third Hokage has become weak, the Hidden Cloud Village doesn't need to be courteous."
The ANBU ninja's heart tightened. He could probably guess that the Raikage-sama was preparing to target the resources of the Land of Fire.
Sending ninja from the village was certainly meant to forcefully seize resources from the Land of Fire.
It just wouldn't involve starting a war.
But...
If this kind of action provoked Konoha, it could indeed escalate into a wartime situation.
Of course, this was not something a lowly ANBU ninja should worry about.
"Yes, Raikage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama, are you really not going to step in to control the strange rumors in the village? Although the Military Police Force has been cracking down on 'rumors' during this period, the Military Police Force ninja seem to be ignoring the 'rumors' concerning the Hokage-sama."
"Perhaps... perhaps because, in the eyes of that group of people, the rumors circulated by the villagers about the Hokage-sama are actually likely to be true."
"Therefore, the Military Police Force, adhering to Absolute Justice, did not crack down on the rumors concerning the Hokage-sama."
One of the few ANBU ninja still intensely loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi advised and cautioned Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed: "Some conspiracy theories are already deeply imprinted in the hearts of many people... Even if I step in to stop the spread of rumors, it will probably be futile."
"They can choose not to discuss it openly, and not to discuss it privately, but they will think about it in their hearts. I cannot curb their thoughts."
"But..."
The ANBU ninja hesitated for a moment, then finally cautioned: "The spread of these remarks has triggered very negative consequences."
"It has led some people in the village to believe that the Hokage-sama is no longer suitable to serve as the Hokage of Konoha."
"There is even a public sentiment—the Third Hokage has been in the Hokage position for so many years. Logically, after the Fourth Hokage's demise, the Fifth Hokage should take office. Why does the Third Hokage continue to govern Konoha? When can the Fifth Hokage of Konoha be chosen?"
The ANBU ninja took a deep breath and dared to say: "Hokage-sama, if this continues—perhaps, some people in the village might truly initiate an election for the Fifth Hokage."
The three words "some people" seemed to carry a specific meaning.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a long while, shook his head, and said hoarsely: "The Fifth Hokage is not so easy to serve. No one in the Military Police Force is suitable."
He added: "Even Ikeizumi is not suitable to hold the Hokage position, let alone anyone else."
But just then.
Another ANBU ninja knocked and walked in, reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Hokage-sama, Lady Tsunade had her disciple Shizune release a message in the village. In less than two hours, the message has already spread like wildfire through half the village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi heard the complexity and shock in the ANBU ninja's tone.
This further fueled Hiruzen Sarutobi's ominous premonition.
"Tsunade—" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked: "Isn't she supposed to be setting up some new Medical Squad? What message did she release?"
The ANBU ninja said with a complicated tone: "Lady Tsunade's disciple said—Lady Tsunade has decided to inherit the will of the Fourth Hokage and wants to become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village. She even said she wants to sweep away everything of the Old Konoha Village and establish a New Konoha Village."
Crack—
Vaguely, the ANBU ninja heard something being crushed.
He could feel that the Hokage-sama's emotions had undergone extremely violent fluctuations in that brief instant.
"Tsunade wants to become the Fifth Hokage? And openly declared this message to the entire Konoha... That's quite like her style of doing things, reckless and not bound by any rules."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly took a deep breath.
If Tsunade had actively offered to take his place in the past, Hiruzen Sarutobi would actually be quite pleased. He would also be very willing to train Tsunade to become Konoha's Fifth Hokage.
After all.
The village ultimately needed a younger person to govern, and he was, after all, getting a bit old.
The problem was—that was the Tsunade of the past. The current Tsunade was no longer worthy of his trust.
Because Tsunade now stood on the side of Absolute Justice!
If she became Konoha's Fifth Hokage, what difference would it make from Ikeizumi Uchiha becoming the Fifth Hokage?
She was purely a disciple who turned her back on her own kind!
"...Did many people in the village hear the message released by Tsunade?" Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples, asking.
"Yes." The ANBU ninja nodded: "At least all the ninja clans in the village know, and the vast majority of Konoha ninja have also heard about it. Perhaps only the ordinary civilians are less aware."
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a very strong sense of urgency.
The immense pressure made him somewhat breathless.
Somewhere in Konoha.
"Lady Tsunade directly stated that she wants to inherit the will of the Fourth Hokage." Inoichi Yamanaka slowly said: "She did not mention the Third Hokage, which implies that, in her eyes, the Third Hokage does not count as a Hokage in the strict sense."
Shikaku Nara interjected: "To be precise, Lady Tsunade is going to directly target the Third Hokage this time. She must have communicated with Ikeizumi. She is going to contribute to Justice in this manner."
Chōza Akimichi sighed with emotion: "This is clearly telling the Third Hokage to step down! Lady Tsunade is too simple and crude."
Shikaku Nara curled his lips: "Perhaps it is precisely this simple and crude method that can catch the Hokage-sama off guard. Didn't Ikeizumi also use this method to make the Hokage-sama continuously retreat?"
"Sometimes, there's no need for any schemes."
.......
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