Tsunade admitted in the hospital room that she was still plagued by hemophobia. Can a Ninja who can't see blood become Hokage?
Jiraiya's qualifications, ability, and prestige were all fine, but he used the excuse of being unmotivated to say he couldn't be Hokage. The Third Hokage didn't believe him at all. Wasn't that nonsense?
Who is born able to be Hokage?
According to common sense, the succession order of Konoha should have been Third Hokage, Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze. The ages and teacher-student relationships of the three were all perfectly aligned.
When the Third Hokage grew old, Jiraiya's strength would have just reached its peak. During the Nine-Tailed Demon Foxs Attack, if he and his student Minato Namikaze had joined forces, plus the retired Third Hokage, they could have mostly weathered it with their sheer strength. This way, Minato would have gained an extra decade or so of growth time, and when Jiraiya stepped down, Minato would smoothly become the Fifth Hokage.
If Minato Namikaze hadn't died during the Nine-Tailed Demon Foxs Attack, but instead sealed half of the Nine-Tailed inside himself, then he could basically achieve what Naruto would accomplish in the future.
Just think about it, Rasengan, Nine-Tailed Mode, Sage Mode – except for not having Asura Chakra, Minato Namikaze had everything Naruto had, and he also had the brain that Naruto lacked.
By the time of the Konoha Crush, a thirty-something Minato Namikaze facing a fifty-year-old Orochimaru, without the Third Hokage's Dead Demon Consuming Seal, an enhanced Minato Namikaze could beat the shit out of Orochimaru.
This order was the most appropriate. Now that Minato Namikaze had died early, Konoha could only rely on the old Third Hokage to lead, and the succession order was completely disrupted.
If Jiraiya were willing to take over, he would definitely be more suitable than Kakashi.
The paralyzed Third Hokage tried to persuade Jiraiya, but with little effect.
"Hiruzen, you are no longer fit to be Hokage. The Village needs someone to step up and make decisions. Can you stand up?" Danzo asked sinisterly in the hospital room.
The Third Hokage's vitality was rapidly draining, his face was extremely aged, and his voice became weak.
Hearing Danzo's sarcasm, he remained unmoved: "I really can't stand up. I will also take responsibility for Konoha Village being attacked."
"So I think you should step down from the position of Hokage," Danzo pressed on.
The Third Hokage looked at him with some effort: "And then? Are you trying to say you are the most suitable candidate for Hokage? Unfortunately, you won't have the chance; the Daimyo won't agree."
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado next to him both nodded. Danzo was confused. What's going on? The Daimyo? What does the Daimyo have to do with this?
Homura Mitokado mocked him: "You know what you've done yourself."
What do I know? What have I done?
He had done so many shady things in secret that for a moment, he didn't know which incident Homura Mitokado was referring to.
He only knew it was related to the Daimyo. Since he knew the target, it was easy. Danzo's methods were always simple and crude, and he had no respect for the Daimyo. He gently covered his bandaged right eye. The Daimyo? Hmph!
Konoha Village suffered greatly this time. Floods, plants, and yellow sand made the cleanup work very cumbersome.
Ino took the opportunity to have Karin and Buggy enter the scene with the Takigakure Village's signboard to participate in the reconstruction efforts.
As a friend of the Takigakure Village leader, she would naturally introduce the Cross Guild to the Village. Currently, who is the Ninja responsible for coordinating materials and organizing personnel for the Village's reconstruction? It's Nara Shikaku.
These are all their own people. Shikaku roughly understood Ino's intentions and agreed without a second thought.
The Cross Guild is under the name of Takigakure Village, which is a public-to-public relationship with Konoha. With Shikaku's approval, Shibuki's approval from Takigakure Village, and Ino's connections, there were no obstacles.
However, Karin's identity as a Grass Hidden Village Ninja could not be kept secret forever.
Ino gave her instructions.
She bit Karin's ear and whispered, "Later, you're going to see my dad."
Karin gasped, her face flushed: "Is, is it to see Father?"
Ino narrowed her eyes at her: "Don't go around claiming relatives! That's my dad!"
"Yes, yes!" Karin was very obedient, nodding repeatedly.
"When you see my dad, if he asks, you say this..."
Fifteen minutes later.
Inoichi, in the Konoha Interrogation Department, formally questioned Karin.
Were you a Ninja from Grass Hidden Village before?
What is your purpose in coming to Konoha as a Takigakure Village Ninja this time?
Karin's expression was slightly exaggerated, and she spoke in a strangely accented tone.
"I love Konoha, Konoha is truly wonderful!"
"Grass Hidden Village is not good, Konoha Village is good!"
"Our Konoha defeated Orochimaru, our Konoha Village is truly amazing!"
After a barrage of flattery, Inoichi was utterly confused. He looked at Morino Ibiki, who was accompanying the interrogation, implying, 'Is there something wrong with this kid's head?'
Karin's resume, apart from her origin in Grass Hidden Village, had no other issues. Moreover, she was now considered a Takigakure Village Ninja, and Takigakure Village was much stronger than Grass Hidden Village. Since both of those Villages didn't see a problem, Konoha certainly didn't either.
Inoichi waved his hand, signaling that she could leave!
"Goodbye, Father!" Leaving that one sentence, Karin scurried away without a trace.
Inoichi was full of question marks, looking left and right, and then behind him. There was no one behind him. Who was she calling?
The Cross Guild brought nearly a hundred skilled workers. They cut timber, built walls, and helped Konoha Village with its reconstruction efforts.
Buggy was indeed very knowledgeable about construction. He could build a bandit's stronghold in an orderly fashion, and the plains environment here in Konoha was much better than in the mountains. He had the skills, Ino's connections, and through strategic alliances, he ultimately took on nearly a fifth of the reconstruction project.
It's impossible for one family to take on everything; other Ninja clans also needed a share of the pie.
Another day passed, and the Sunagakure elder Ebizo arrived at the border between the two countries. Accompanying him were over a thousand Sunagakure Ninja. At this point, Sunagakure had gathered over three thousand Ninja on the border line.
Gaara was not the Kazekage after all, and the three siblings had no say in front of the Village elders.
Ebizo sent an envoy with a formal letter to Konoha Village, demanding that Konoha Village immediately hand over the Fourth Kazekage's body and explain the entire incident.
"They are threatening Konoha Village! Hiruzen, step down! I'll take my men and wipe them all out!" Danzo hadn't even had time to set off for the Land of Fire's capital when he received Sunagakure's declaration of war. He immediately became excited, clamoring to give Sunagakure a lesson they would never forget.
The Fourth Kazekage was killed by Orochimaru. Where would Konoha find the body? This was just an excuse.
Currently, the Third Hokage here in Konoha is not dead, Jiraiya and Tsunade have returned to the Village one after another, key figures like Kakashi are all present, and the younger generation like Ino has also grown up. This strength is completely capable of crushing Sunagakure.
Danzo wanted to stir up trouble, but the Third Hokage absolutely refused. Do you actually take such extortion seriously? If a war broke out over just a few words like that, the Ninja World would have been destroyed long ago.
No response at all. You make your fuss, we'll mind our business.
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