"Hand seals are typically used when Flying Thunder God markers haven't been deployed in advance. Watch closely." Minato Namikaze quickly formed hand seals. Obito Uchiha widened his eyes, activating his Three Tomoe Sharingan to easily replicate the sequence for the Flying Thunder God seals.
As the final seal was formed, Minato instantly transformed into a flash of golden light and vanished from his original location, leaving Obito Uchiha utterly stunned. Was this the reason the Flying Thunder God was a forbidden jutsu?
Without any warning, impossible to predict, disappearing into thin air. If this happened at the moment of combat with a shinobi, what would it mean? It meant your enemy was watching you from the shadows, and you wouldn't know where he would strike from from!
In less than two seconds, Minato Namikaze reappeared before Obito. "Now, now, now, that covers all the techniques of the Flying Thunder God. The rest is up to you to comprehend. Of course, I will write a book of my experiences and give it to you later."
"Obito, I know you are a good child. Please, after you master the Flying Thunder God, use this power to protect your cherished friends, to protect the village." Minato Namikaze's gaze was gentle as he patted Obito Uchiha on the head.
Obito Uchiha was taken aback for a moment, then turned around and snorted. Well, what happened last time is forgiven, seeing as you care about me so much!
And so, Minato Namikaze trained his students every day. Obito continuously practiced the Flying Thunder God Technique, while Rin through the books given by their teacher, Minato. When she got tired of reading, she would watch Obito for a while, immediately relaxing.
As for Kakashi, he sometimes worked on his Rasengan, and other times trained his Chidori. His Chidori had also been refined considerably. For a time, the four person team was harmonious and happy. Due to the importance of the Flying Thunder God and sealing techniques, Ryun Uchiha had long since dispatched Anbu to seal off the Forest of Death.
He also gave the order that anyone other than Team Minato who trespassed into the Forest of Death would be executed without mercy. He dispatched Anbu for regular patrols.
Sunagakure
Faced with the situation where Sunagakure's capable fighters were wiped out by Rasa in a single battle, and the village was left leaderless, Chiyo decided to convene a Jonin Assembly. All of Sunagakure's Jonin were required to attend the meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to establish the position of the Fourth Kazekage, and to plan specific actions for post war recovery and rest.
Chiyo's heart was bleeding. To prevent Sunagakure from losing both people and resources, she had sent her trusted subordinate, Pakura, the user of Scorch Release, to marry into Konoha, buying Sunagakure's current state of normal operation. However, facing the real shortage of shinobi numbers, she was also very worried.
Damn the Third Kazekage. Damn the fake Fourth Kazekage, Rasa. You two left a mess for an old woman in her fifties, almost sixties, to clean up. What sin did I, Chiyo, commit?!
Remembering the First Kazekage, Retto, he was the one who made the First Hokage kneel to him at the negotiation table. The Second Kazekage created the unique combat style of Puppetry Technique. Both were masters who revived their era. How did it change by the Third's time?
No, to be accurate, it wasn't the Third. The Third was actually quite good in his early period, uniting the elder and civilian factions, appointing capable people. When did he change?
Chiyo began to ponder deeply. It seemed it was after the battle in the Land of Rain, the moment Konoha took all the benefits, he changed. No, it was the moment war was declared on Konoha, the change that occurred with the defeat at Kikyōzan and the collapse of the front lines.
Rasa's shadow was present in all of this.
Chiyo sat in the meeting room and let out a long sigh. "Rasa, you clearly had a bright future. Why did you only use methods that couldn't see the light of day? Did you think everyone wouldn't know about your schemes? Or did you think by doing this, your teacher would approve of you?"
"You were wrong. Even if you did nothing, the position of Fourth Kazekage would have been yours sooner or later. Although Pakura possessed the Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai, you, Rasa, had Magnet Release, and Gold Dust Magnet Release at that. Whether for political necessity or for passing on the mantle, the Third Kazekage would only choose you, not Pakura."
"By doing what you did, you only made yourself seem narrow minded and guilty." Chiyo muttered to herself. The meeting hadn't started yet; she was reviewing the issues of the previous two Great Shinobi Wars.
Talking to Ebizō about it, he would only angrily denounce the Third Kazekage and the fake Fourth Kazekage, but that was useless. The events had already happened. No matter how angry you were, you couldn't reverse the situation.
Talk to Pakura about it? Pakura was in Konoha now. Who knew if she was doing well? It made this old woman feel somewhat guilty, too ashamed to face Pakura. Using a woman in exchange for Sunagakure not having to pay reparations. Hah. Probably if her husband, the First Kazekage Retto, knew, he would blame her, right?
But she did not regret it. This shinobi world requires sacrifice. Sacrificing the few to save the many, for the greater good, that is the correct approach. As a politician, Chiyo was not wrong.
Soon,
Ebizō brought all the Jonin to the Kazekage office for the meeting. They found their seats and sat down. Those backed by shinobi clans sat in the front, those who rose on their own sat in the back. The seating had always been this way.
Hearing everyone enter, Chiyo finally snapped back to attention. She slowly stood up, looked around at the shinobi clans and shinobi of present day Sunagakure, and couldn't hold back her tears. "I, Chiyo, wife of the First Kazekage, elder of Sunagakure, apologize to you all here!"
After speaking, Chiyo stood up, walked to the side of the table, and bowed deeply to everyone. This scene made everyone present tremble inwardly. Who was this? The wife of the First Kazekage, one of the founders of Sunagakure. Her status was no less than that of the First Kazekage.
Furthermore, she always led the charge in every war, leading Sunagakure to countless victories. For the strength of Sunagakure, she personally puppet techniques, researched new poisons to coat on tools. Her various contributions were still recorded in Sunagakure's history.
How could they calmly accept such a person standing up and apologizing to them?
In an instant, all the Suna shinobi present stood up and returned the gesture. Whether as Suna shinobi or as villagers of Sunagakure, they were not qualified to accept this bow.
Chiyo slowly straightened up. Seeing this, everyone else also stood up. They looked solemnly at the old woman on the platform, their hearts filled with emotion.
"Because I failed to dissuade the Third Kazekage, failed to restrain Rasa, leading our Sunagakure from prosperity to decline, I am the sinner." Chiyo said, her eyes brimming with tears.
"No, Lady Chiyo. This is not your fault."
"Exactly. It was clearly the faulty decisions and tyrannical ways of those two Kazekage that led to all this."
"Lady Chiyo, please pull yourself together. Now, when Sunagakure needs to be rebuilt from scratch, is the time when we need your guidance and leadership the most."
"Lady Chiyo, we support you."
"Yes. We support you."
Seeing the impassioned crowd below, seeing their resolute, rock like expressions, seeing their determination, Chiyo wiped her tears. Her hunched back slowly straightened.
"Though I lack talent, and do not possess the ability of the other Kazekage to expand our territories, from now on, I will definitely find ways to improve everyone's lives." Chiyo declared loudly.
Everyone nodded one after another, indicating their willingness to cooperate with all of Chiyo's actions.
Chiyo was supported by her younger brother Ebizō back to her seat. The moment she sat down, everyone's hearts finally settled. Who else could guide and lead Sunagakure out of its current predicament now, if not this old woman before them?
Her prestige, her wisdom, her ability were evident to all in Sunagakure. The battles she led had few casualties and great results. 80 percent of her decisions were correct.
This had been witnessed by everyone over the long years and through three Great Shinobi Wars. So now, everyone focused their gaze on Granny Chiyo.
Granny Chiyo sat back down in her seat, then slowly spoke. "Now, Sunagakure is leaderless. I propose we elect a Kazekage today, to lead our Sunagakure towards revival, towards prosperity."
The crowd was momentarily stunned. Kazekage? Hearing this term, everyone's hearts began to murmur. If in the era of the First and Second Kazekage, hearing this title would fill them with joy and reverence, but after the Second and Third Wars, they had begun to feel some aversion to this title.
"Lady Chiyo, if we speak of achievements and ability, who in Sunagakure can surpass you and inherit the position of Kazekage? I think it would be best if you simply assumed the role of Kazekage." Someone below said.
This viewpoint was quickly agreed upon by many. If Granny Chiyo were the Kazekage, presumably everyone could accept it. Granny Chiyo was powerful, her prestige was extremely high. With her taking charge, she would definitely be perfectly suited for the role.
Granny Chiyo shook her head with a bitter smile. "This old body is already in its fifties, nearly sixty. Maybe next year, maybe the year after, I might have to go to the Pure Land to follow the First Kazekage. Everyone, please be a bit more rational."
Everyone fell silent. In the shinobi world, thirty years old was considered a long life. Some people even became grandparents by thirty. The short lifespan in the shinobi world was well known throughout the entire world.
The root cause was war. Every Great Shinobi War was a meat grinder, countless shinobi dying within, becoming stepping stones or background scenery for others. In war, the least valuable thing was a shinobi's life.
And now, this old woman before them was almost over sixty. The clan heads present felt a sense of daze, remembering when Granny Chiyo was just in her twenties. Now she was already over sixty.
Truly, time flies like a galloping steed, swift as an arrow.
"Then, Granny Chiyo, who do you think is suitable to succeed as Kazekage? Who has the capability?" Another clan shinobi stood up and asked.
Chiyo did not speak, but waited. Waited for someone to propose Chiyo's son. And sure enough, it came.
"I think that Granny Chiyo, the son of the First Kazekage, Chiron, is fit for this great responsibility." A Sunagakure shinobi spoke up.
Immediately, everyone reacted, looking towards that person, but his figure had already disappeared. Clearly, this was a plant arranged by Chiyo.
However, everyone present was shrewd. Upon hearing this, they spoke up. "Yes, currently, the strongest in Sunagakure besides Lady Chiyo is Lord Chiron. He is now the best candidate to inherit the Fourth Kazekage."
"Correct. With Lord Chiron presiding, and Granny Chiyo assisting Lord Chiron, we can also feel assured entrusting the children of our clans to the village."
Instantly, waves of praise surged forth like tides, making Granny Chiyo feel extremely proud at this moment.
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