No one knew how much time had passed before Natsuhiko slowly opened his eyes. The blurry scenery before him gradually sharpened into clarity.
The lighting here was dim, the temperature cool, and the air carried heavy moisture. The surrounding stone walls were rough and uneven, shaped in an oval-like form.
This appeared to be a cave.
He shifted his body slightly and discovered that aside from some minor soreness and lingering mental exhaustion, there were no major issues with his condition.
That realization made Natsuhiko let out a quiet sigh of relief.
He sat upright and stretched his stiff limbs.
"The consumption this time really was beyond my expectations."
Natsuhiko gave a bitter smile, and very quickly, the memories he needed resurfaced in his mind.
He could no longer clearly remember how many days had passed.
He only remembered dragging his exhausted body toward the direction where Konoha's main forces were stationed.
His chakra consumption had been far too severe.
Even though the chakra within his body had continuously been recovering on its own, the recovery rate felt utterly insignificant compared to the sheer amount he had expended.
Fortunately, Konoha's forces had sent people to receive him midway.
Otherwise, Natsuhiko might very well have collapsed unconscious by the roadside from sheer exhaustion.
Of course, considering the battle results he had achieved, even if he had actually passed out on the side of the road, nobody would have dared mock him for it.
After all, relying solely on his own strength, he had single-handedly ended what was likely the largest war since the Third Great Ninja War.
Moreover, he had annihilated Kumogakure's main force almost completely unharmed.
Still, Natsuhiko had no intention of striking an overwhelmingly impressive pose only to collapse immediately afterward in an embarrassing display.
However, Konoha's military outpost had also been caught within the aftermath of his battle against Kumogakure.
Clearly, that base was no longer usable.
As a result, Konoha's main forces were now temporarily gathered within a mountainous forest region inside the Land of Fire, and there were no signs that they intended to immediately return to the village.
Obviously, they were waiting for Natsuhiko to awaken while simultaneously carrying out the final stages of regrouping before heading back to Konoha.
"Commander Natsuhiko, you're awake?"
At that moment, Nara Shikaku hurried into the cave after receiving the news.
His face had originally been filled with worry, but the moment he saw Natsuhiko awake, he visibly relaxed in relief.
After all, Natsuhiko had remained unconscious for quite a long time.
"Thank you for your concern. I think I'm fine now, Shikaku-sama."
Natsuhiko smiled faintly and nodded before asking calmly,
"How is the army doing right now? After returning, I only knew where the troops were stationed. Other than that, I'm not very clear on what happened afterward.
If Shikaku-sama isn't too busy, tell me everything that happened while I was recovering."
"Of course. These matters should naturally be reported to Commander Natsuhiko."
Shikaku nodded, and his expression gradually became more serious.
He quietly observed Natsuhiko, staring at that youthful face, while inwardly sighing with emotion.
It was genuinely difficult for him to connect the young man before him with the terrifying existence from several days ago—
The monster who had rampaged freely through Kumogakure's army and personally annihilated an entire force of eight thousand shinobi alone.
Yet the truth remained exactly that.
Natsuhiko really had accomplished all of it by himself.
And what he achieved could no longer simply be described as unprecedented.
It might very well become something that would never be replicated again.
With such terrifying strength, combined with all the arrangements and planning he had demonstrated beforehand, Shikaku truly felt that Natsuhiko's ambition of becoming Hokage no longer faced any meaningful obstacles.
In fact, in Shikaku's heart, he had already begun viewing Natsuhiko as Hokage—
As Konoha's Fifth Hokage.
Thinking this, Shikaku revealed a faint smile.
The attitude he now used toward Natsuhiko was already the same attitude one would use toward the Hokage himself, aside from the fact that the title had yet to formally change.
"Commander Natsuhiko, the condition of the troops is generally stable. Although due to certain unavoidable factors, the army still suffered considerable losses…"
At this point, Shikaku paused slightly.
He glanced toward Natsuhiko, a helpless expression appearing on his face.
Natsuhiko himself looked slightly awkward as well, because he naturally understood exactly what Shikaku meant.
Clearly, the enormous collateral damage had been caused by the attack he unleashed with the True Several Thousand Hands.
And unsurprisingly, that destructive force had also affected Konoha's side.
Still, Natsuhiko did not dwell too much on it.
Perhaps it was because, in this single war alone, the number of people he had killed already exceeded the total number of deaths connected to him throughout all the years since he transmigrated into the Naruto world.
Moreover, his strength had indeed already reached the level where, in this era, he could practically float in the sky while casually fixing his hair like some invincible final boss.
Because of that, whether it was Konoha's casualties or the destruction caused by his attacks, his mindset remained relatively calm.
"However, Commander Natsuhiko, please don't worry. Everyone understands the situation," Shikaku said after adjusting his expression slightly before continuing calmly.
"Because everyone knows that if we had confronted Kumogakure head-on, the number of deaths would have been far greater.
Commander Natsuhiko faced everything alone and already reduced our casualties to the absolute minimum.
Besides, with a power of that magnitude, there was no realistic way to perfectly control every shockwave and every bit of collateral damage.
At present, the morale of the troops is actually very good. I've already explained to everyone why Commander Natsuhiko waited until that moment to take action.
The explanation I gave was that gathering such overwhelming power required time, and only terrain like that battlefield could completely trap Kumogakure's forces and prevent them from escaping.
War inevitably brings death. Every shinobi understands that.
Now that our losses were kept this low, everyone is naturally relieved, and they also hope Commander Natsuhiko won't take it to heart."
Shikaku's explanation was detailed despite his concise wording, and he had clearly summarized the situation during the days Natsuhiko was unconscious.
Still, Natsuhiko could not help twitching his lips slightly.
So the collateral damage he'd caused was actually greater than the number of people Kumo had killed on Konoha's side?
Truthfully speaking, Natsuhiko had always carried the glorious reputation of being a "teammate killer."
From the time he first entered the ANBU and had no choice but to abandon a teammate…
To later killing Kusunoki, who leaned toward Danzō, for the sake of his own interests, along with Owl, the shinobi who had delivered messages alongside him.
One could honestly say that the number of "allies" indirectly or directly eliminated by Natsuhiko was not small at all.
This time, however, the scale had simply been much larger.
Thinking this far, Natsuhiko decided he could not be bothered worrying about such matters anymore.
After pondering briefly, he finally asked,
"Then have the casualties been counted? And… what's the situation back in Konoha?"
This time, Natsuhiko's voice lowered considerably.
At the same moment, a faint glimmer appeared in Shikaku's eyes.
He naturally understood what Natsuhiko truly cared about regarding Konoha.
And deep down, Shikaku had already made his own calculations.
Just like the attitude he now displayed openly, he intended to use his actions to fully align himself with that stance.
And more importantly—
Natsuhiko was worthy of that level of support.
The changes in Shikaku's mindset had actually gone through quite a complicated process.
In the beginning, when he helped Yamanaka Inoichi get close to Natsuhiko, his original intention had merely been to draw closer to the Fourth Hokage's faction.
After all, compared to others, the Fourth Hokage's side naturally had a much closer relationship with them.
However, it did not take long before Shikaku realized something astonishing.
Natsuhiko was no ordinary person.
The depth of his schemes and the methods he employed were enough to make even Shikaku feel alarmed.
Later, when he discovered that the newspaper system had been created by Natsuhiko, and that much of Konoha's public opinion manipulation had also been orchestrated by him, Shikaku became almost completely certain of one thing—
Natsuhiko desired the position of Hokage.
The only problem was that he was too young.
That youth was both his greatest advantage and his greatest weakness.
For example, the lack of sufficient achievements and prestige was an enormous obstacle blocking Natsuhiko's path forward.
It was essentially an abyss standing in his way.
Only when Kumogakure began pressuring Konoha and war became inevitable did Shikaku finally decide to completely stand on Natsuhiko's side.
Part of that decision came from the pressure of the situation itself.
But another reason was that he genuinely wanted to see just how far Natsuhiko could go.
And Natsuhiko's performance had continued refreshing Shikaku's understanding of him time and time again.
Whether it was his strength or his strategic thinking, both left Shikaku unable to suppress his admiration.
Although Natsuhiko had once given him certain promises, promises by themselves could easily be regarded as nothing more than empty checks.
Before they were fulfilled, they would forever remain merely "promises."
But now, Natsuhiko had forcibly proven through his own power that he was fully capable of fulfilling every promise he had ever made.
And through this war, he had also accumulated enough military merit.
To put it bluntly, at this moment, Natsuhiko already possessed the qualifications necessary to become Hokage.
Moreover, even while away from Konoha, he had never loosened his control over the village's public opinion and propaganda.
The increasingly terrible reputation of the Third Hokage within Konoha was already proof of that.
Natsuhiko had been preparing for all of this from the very beginning.
One could say that Shikaku had now become completely convinced from the bottom of his heart.
Because Natsuhiko was no longer merely someone with extraordinary potential.
He had already become Konoha's greatest pillar.
"As for casualties," Shikaku said after organizing his thoughts, "Konoha suffered approximately six hundred deaths, while the number of injured exceeded one thousand five hundred."
At this point, Shikaku straightforwardly reported the information he knew.
However, regarding the list of the dead, he only provided a number.
He made no effort to classify exactly how or when those people had died, and judging from his attitude, he likely intended to gloss over those details entirely in the official report as well.
"As for the situation in Konoha itself, news of Commander Natsuhiko's achievements has already been sent back to the village.
Although the details are still not entirely complete, I believe that by the time we return to Konoha, public sentiment will have reached its peak."
At this point, Shikaku paused.
Natsuhiko silently nodded in response.
However, after a moment, he suddenly spoke.
"Shikaku-sama has been controlling both the speed and the amount of information being delivered back to Konoha, hasn't he?"
"I wouldn't call it controlling," Shikaku replied with a smile. "I merely arranged for the information to be delivered in batches."
His answer was practically an open admission.
And as for his purpose, Natsuhiko naturally understood it perfectly.
Shikaku wanted Natsuhiko to fully enjoy the halo of victory the moment he returned to Konoha.
It had to be said—
Nara Shikaku truly understood how to maximize benefits.
His methods would unquestionably push Natsuhiko's gains from this war to the greatest possible extent.
"I see. Then I'll have to trouble Shikaku-sama further."
Natsuhiko smiled and nodded before continuing calmly, "Perhaps after we return, we should also begin making preparations. For example, helping the Third Hokage-sama recognize his own shortcomings, and then…"
"This matter cannot be rushed," Shikaku interrupted calmly, "but it is indeed something worth preparing for.
I believe Commander Natsuhiko has already made his decision.
In that case, we will cooperate with Commander Natsuhiko fully."
At this point, the meaning behind Shikaku's words was already unmistakably clear.
Natsuhiko could now confirm that he had completely obtained Nara Shikaku's support.
Even before this, Natsuhiko had already known that Shikaku leaned toward supporting him.
However, at that time, Natsuhiko had not yet fully displayed his strength, so neither side had gone too deeply into the matter.
Back then, he had merely tested the waters while offering several promises in return.
Even so, Shikaku had already shown a considerable willingness to cooperate.
Now, however, that cooperation had become even more direct.
Although the overall nature of their relationship had not changed much, it still left Natsuhiko far more satisfied than before.
"Then I'll have to ask Shikaku-sama to put considerable effort into this matter." Natsuhiko spoke with a smile.
"I will handle everything I should handle. Please rest assured, Commander Natsuhiko."
Shikaku did not say much, but the sincerity behind his words carried enough weight to reassure anyone listening.
Natsuhiko nodded lightly.
One could say that this conversation had been far more productive than the one they previously had regarding the distribution of benefits.
At that time, Natsuhiko had not yet fully revealed his strength.
He had merely displayed extraordinary potential.
But now, although Natsuhiko still possessed terrifying potential, to put it bluntly, his current strength alone was already enough for him to seize anything he wanted through force if he truly wished to.
And yet, Natsuhiko continued to restrain himself.
Or rather, from beginning to end, despite always possessing overwhelming power, he had consistently maintained restraint.
People who acted without restraint were certainly frightening, but such individuals also easily provoked resentment and resistance from everyone around them.
A restrained person, however, was completely different.
Someone like that was far more capable of winning people's hearts—
And far more terrifying.
"Commander Natsuhiko!"
"Commander Natsuhiko!"
At that moment, the other clan heads seemed to have received the news as well, and they quickly rushed over one after another.
It was obvious that every single one of them was extremely excited.
Still, Natsuhiko also noticed that several unlucky individuals were visibly injured, with bandages and wounds still covering parts of their bodies.
That made him once again sigh inwardly at just how absurdly destructive the power of the True Several Thousand Hands truly was.
At the same time, Konoha's large-scale retreat had clearly been far too slow.
"Commander Natsuhiko, you're finally awake."
Hyūga Hiashi was undoubtedly the most emotional among them all.
If he had not been worried about appearing overly enthusiastic, he probably would have rushed directly to Natsuhiko's side.
Although Kumogakure had initiated this war, one of the major triggers behind it had undeniably been the Hyūga Clan.
Now that Natsuhiko had single-handedly resolved the war, he had not only saved Konoha—
He had also saved the Hyūga Clan itself.
"I'm fine now, don't worry. Thank you all for your concern."
Natsuhiko smiled and nodded toward everyone present.
Truthfully, he was not particularly good at handling this level of enthusiasm.
However, he also understood that such treatment would likely become normal from now on.
After exchanging a few simple words with each clan head, Natsuhiko finally turned his gaze toward Shikaku again.
"Shikaku-sama, since I'm awake now, let's prepare to depart. We've been away for quite some time already, and everyone wants to go home."
"I understand, Commander Natsuhiko. We'll set out tomorrow."
—
Inside Konoha, the atmosphere everywhere was filled with peace and celebration.
Battle reports from the front lines continued arriving one after another, while newspapers relentlessly published updates regarding every aspect of the war.
From the moment the villagers learned that Natsuhiko had personally killed over a hundred Kumogakure shinobi during the surprise attack…
To later hearing that he alone had crushed the thousand-man force personally led by the Fourth Raikage…
Every piece of news left the people of Konoha feeling utterly incredulous.
Because none of them had ever imagined that Konoha's ANBU Commander possessed such terrifying strength.
Still, regardless of how unbelievable it sounded, they trusted both the battle reports and the newspapers.
After all, nobody would joke about something tied directly to Konoha's war effort.
For a long period afterward, the war between Konoha and Kumogakure entered a stalemate.
However, judging from the reports, Konoha clearly held the upper hand.
After all, Natsuhiko had severely injured the previously unstoppable Fourth Raikage, forcing him into recovery and leaving Konoha free to launch attacks without restraint.
This situation was unquestionably excellent news for Konoha as a whole.
The lineup Kumogakure deployed this time had simply been too powerful.
Even though Konoha had dispatched numerous clan heads, facing opponents such as a Jinchūriki and a Kage-level fighter still instinctively gave people the feeling that Konoha might not be enough.
And yet, from the moment Konoha's main army entered the battlefield until now, nearly every report had been good news.
That strange feeling of something both unreal and undeniably real left Konoha's citizens both shocked and overjoyed.
At the same time, these battle reports also made Hiruzen Sarutobi's earlier decisions appear increasingly unreliable.
The villagers genuinely could not understand why, as Hokage, Hiruzen had shown so little confidence in Konoha.
And this growing confusion had already existed for some time.
After all, the influence and reach of the newspapers were no joke at all.
Combined with Konoha's overwhelming success on the front lines, that sense of confusion and distrust toward Hiruzen Sarutobi had reached an unprecedented peak.
At least, that was what both the villagers and Hiruzen himself believed.
But when the final battle report returned to Konoha, no one would ever forget that day—
The day the entire village fell into absolute silence.
No one could believe the contents of the report in their hands, because what was written there felt far too surreal.
The report itself was actually very short, and it did not even occupy much space.
At its core, it conveyed only a single message—
Konoha's supreme commander, Senju Natsuhiko, had annihilated every enemy entirely by himself!
That report instantly stunned the entire village.
Many people even wondered whether it was some kind of elaborate April Fool's prank.
However, before long, more and more information continued arriving from the front lines.
There were interviews with frontline shinobi, photographs from the battlefield, and countless firsthand testimonies.
Everything pointed toward one undeniable truth—
Natsuhiko had really accomplished all of it alone.
Especially after the battlefield photographs returned to Konoha, many villagers immediately recognized the location shown in the pictures.
And they all knew that place had once been a vast plain.
But now, within those photographs, the entire region had become nothing more than a wasteland of destruction.
Calling it hell on earth would not have been an exaggeration in the slightest.
Furthermore, according to the descriptions provided by the frontline shinobi, Natsuhiko had unleashed an enormous Wood Release technique that blotted out the sky itself, and with that power, he had exterminated every enemy on the battlefield.
As soon as that information spread, the people of Konoha instinctively thought of one person—
The First Hokage.
The man who had once pacified the chaotic ninja world through his own strength alone.
At this moment, Natsuhiko's prestige within Konoha had already reached its absolute peak.
And after all this information had completely spread throughout the village, another piece of exhilarating news arrived—
Konoha's army was finally returning home.
That announcement pushed the villagers' excitement to an entirely new level.
Almost everyone spontaneously made the same decision—they would personally welcome home their heroes.
But as always, where there was joy, there was sorrow.
After all, happiness was never shared equally, and even within Konoha, that truth remained unchanged.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood silently beside the window.
He quietly gazed at the crowds outside that had already fallen into celebration and revelry, yet he himself remained wordless.
On the surface, he appeared calm.
But the turmoil within his heart had already reached its limit.
Truthfully speaking, he had effectively been stripped of authority during this war.
From beginning to end, he had never participated in the frontline strategic deployments.
Perhaps the only thing he had truly handled was ensuring the safety of Konoha's logistics.
Beyond that, he had contributed almost nothing.
Konoha's great victory this time had practically nothing to do with him.
Moreover, the power Natsuhiko continuously displayed during this conflict not only filled Hiruzen with increasing admiration—
It also placed growing pressure upon him.
As Hokage, Hiruzen naturally understood that if the newspapers had not exaggerated matters, then the technique Natsuhiko used absolutely had to be the First Hokage's most secret and most powerful jutsu.
The True Several Thousand Hands.
The supreme technique capable of destroying an entire hidden village.
The fact that Natsuhiko could use such a jutsu meant only one thing—
His strength had very likely already reached the level of Senju Hashirama himself.
And what it meant for Konoha to once again possess someone comparable to Senju Hashirama was something that did not even need to be spoken aloud.
With Natsuhiko present, Konoha could unquestionably rise once more to the peak of the ninja world.
Even though the village was still weak in many aspects, no one would dare harbor thoughts against Konoha anymore.
Was Kumogakure not the perfect example of that already?
And more importantly, Natsuhiko was not merely another "Senju Hashirama."
He was also a "Senju Tobirama" who had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Yet it was precisely because Natsuhiko displayed such overwhelming power, combined with his current sun-like prestige within Konoha, that Hiruzen Sarutobi felt an indescribable sense of threat.
That threat had actually existed for a very long time.
But never before had it felt as intense as it did now.
He knew about Natsuhiko's ambitions.
He also knew exactly what Natsuhiko wanted.
But Hiruzen had never imagined that this moment would arrive so quickly.
And yet, reality had silently crept up on him all the same—
Fast, ruthless, and completely without warning.
"Hiruzen, what are we supposed to do now?" Koharu Utatane, who had been standing behind Hiruzen the entire time, could no longer endure the oppressive silence and finally spoke.
"Yes, Hiruzen. Our situation is extremely unfavorable right now."
Homura Mitokado also could not remain silent any longer.
The current circumstances had already left him unbearably agitated.
In truth, he was actually putting it mildly.
For his old friend, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, the situation was far worse than merely "unfavorable."
One could say that Hiruzen's prestige within Konoha had already fallen completely into the abyss.
Senju Natsuhiko's rise was no longer something that could merely be described as overwhelming.
The man had already risen above the clouds, looking down upon the masses from high above.
Faced with someone like that, despair naturally filled their hearts.
And yet, they still had no choice but to think of ways to resist.
Because if they did nothing now—
Then in the future, they truly would no longer have the chance to do anything at all.
What they did not expect, however, was for Hiruzen to merely let out a deep sigh before finally speaking slowly.
"What exactly can we do now?" Hiruzen asked quietly. "At this point, there's nothing we can do anymore."
"Are we really just going to sit here and wait for death?" Homura asked anxiously. "Are we really going to watch that brat climb onto our heads without doing anything?"
"Do you have a solution?" Hiruzen shook his head slowly. "At this stage, all we can do is take things one step at a time."
After saying that, Hiruzen once again turned his attention toward the cheering crowds outside the window.
But within his heart, a single thought repeated itself silently.
I only hope Senju Natsuhiko won't completely exterminate us…
—
Naturally, Natsuhiko had no idea that Hiruzen Sarutobi had already silently accepted defeat in his heart.
Though even if Natsuhiko knew, he probably would not have found it surprising.
After all, this time, he had already obtained everything he wanted—
Everything he deserved to claim.
He had not left anyone even the slightest opportunity.
Under such circumstances, it was hardly strange for Hiruzen to develop thoughts like these.
At this moment, Natsuhiko was leading Konoha's massive army steadily back toward the village.
Since announcing their departure, nearly half a month had already passed.
Although every shinobi in Konoha longed to return home as quickly as possible, the army itself was simply too massive.
Moving such a large force was nowhere near as convenient as one might imagine.
Besides, they were no longer marching toward war, so naturally there was no reason to desperately rush like before.
The atmosphere during the return journey was far more relaxed.
Because of that, their pace was genuinely not very fast.
Still, no matter how slow they traveled, they were ultimately shinobi.
After more than half a month of travel, they had already drawn extremely close to Konoha.
"It really does feel nice to be back."
As he walked, Natsuhiko smiled faintly while speaking.
"Even though we only left for two or three months, for some reason it feels as though we've been gone for years."
"That's true," Shikaku replied with a smile. "But regardless, we've finally returned."
"Perhaps that's simply the nature of war. Shinobi like us are essentially weapons created for warfare, but I doubt any of us truly likes war itself."
Nara Shikaku suddenly threw out a surprisingly philosophical statement, leaving Natsuhiko momentarily unsure how to respond.
Still, he had to admit—
The words were absolutely correct.
The profession of shinobi truly was one of the greatest beneficiaries of war itself.
After all, their abilities destined them to become living weapons of battle.
But at their core, shinobi were still human beings.
They were not actual machines, nor mindless tools that only obeyed orders.
Danzō had obsessively attempted to define all of his subordinates as mere tools.
But what had the result been in the end?
Although some people truly had become tools, characters like Yamato, Sai, and even Sai's deceased older brother in the original story were all examples of people unwilling to accept becoming emotionless instruments.
One after another, they had all betrayed Danzō.
In a sense, they had thoroughly disgraced him.
Human beings were complicated creatures.
Although people naturally possessed obedience, they also possessed beliefs and convictions of their own.
Perhaps Danzō could use the slogan of "protecting Konoha" to bind those people to him.
But once some of them awakened to the truth—or discovered Danzō's real intentions—
Then betrayal would likely become the central theme of his entire life.
Natsuhiko lightly shook his head, too lazy to continue dwelling on such profound matters.
By now, they had already arrived before Konoha's main gates.
"Look! They're back!"
"The heroes have returned!"
"It's Lord Natsuhiko! Lord Natsuhiko has returned!"
"Long live Lord Natsuhiko!"
The instant Natsuhiko and the others stepped through Konoha's gates, a tsunami-like wave of cheers exploded toward them.
Looking around, the area near the village entrance had already become a vast sea of people.
Not only were there villagers and ordinary shinobi present—
Even the Third Hokage and Konoha's upper leadership had all personally come to welcome them back.
The thunderous cheers were deafening, continuously shaking everyone's senses.
Even someone as calm and emotionally restrained as Natsuhiko could not help feeling an inexplicable surge of excitement and burning emotion at such a grand scene.
He had to admit—
This feeling was strangely intoxicating.
And strangely unforgettable.
Slightly raising his head, Natsuhiko's gaze quickly locked onto Hiruzen Sarutobi.
What amused him somewhat was that Hiruzen's expression remained unnaturally calm.
However, the two advisors standing behind him looked at Natsuhiko with extremely hostile expressions, and their faces were so dark they practically looked ready to explode.
Still, Natsuhiko had no interest in paying attention to them.
Those two advisors might possess some ability, but to Natsuhiko, their usefulness was ultimately insignificant.
"I just hope you two know your place," Natsuhiko thought to himself calmly. "After all, whether internally or externally, I've always been someone willing to strike hard."
With that thought in mind, he led the returning forces directly toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
No matter what, Hiruzen was still Konoha's Hokage.
Meanwhile, Natsuhiko was merely the Commander of the ANBU.
There remained a natural hierarchy between them.
Although Natsuhiko had always intended to replace him, respect still needed to be shown where appropriate.
Otherwise, if he acted recklessly now, then in the future, when certain "parasites" attempted to replace him, they might imitate his behavior as justification.
And that was something Natsuhiko definitely would not enjoy.
"Hokage-sama."
Natsuhiko gave a slight bow before speaking softly,
"We have fulfilled our mission without disgrace."
Despite the overwhelming noise and excitement throughout Konoha, his voice still spread clearly into every person's ears.
At that instant, all cheering abruptly stopped.
Every gaze turned toward Natsuhiko with incomparable excitement and fervor.
At the same time, those gazes also shifted toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen silently looked at the young man standing before him and inwardly let out a quiet sigh.
However, he quickly restored his composure.
This was a moment worthy of celebration.
This was a moment worthy of joy.
And this was also the moment Konoha rose once more.
At this instant, he no longer wished to harbor any other thoughts.
Because this moment belonged to Konoha.
It belonged to everyone.
"Thank you. Thank you, all of you."
Hiruzen slowly spoke, his voice carrying across the crowd.
"Thank you to every single person who contributed to this war."
"You are all heroes."
"You are all Konoha's heroes!"
"And especially you, Senju Natsuhiko…"
Hiruzen looked directly at him before continuing softly,
"You are Konoha's future."
"And Konoha's future now rests in your hands."
...
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