[Jiraiya: No, no, no, old man. You know I'm not suited for that kind of thing. Besides, I still have to search for the Child of the Prophecy.]
[Kakashi Hatake: Lord Third, I'm still too young and inexperienced. And I have Naruto and the others to teach.]
[Tsunade: Hmph. Being Hokage is a garbage job. Only an idiot would want it. Whoever wants it can take it.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: What?! Who do you think you are, looking down on the Hokage like that?!]
Hearing his lifelong dream being mocked, Naruto immediately shouted back in protest.
[Hashirama Senju: Sigh… how did little Tsunade turn out like this?]
[Tobirama Senju: Enough. If Tsunade doesn't want the position, don't force her.]
After all, she was his grandniece. Tobirama couldn't very well pressure her.
[Tsunade: Great-Grandfather… Second Great-Grandfather… I'm sorry. I had too much to drink just now.]
Only then did Tsunade remember that both of her grandfathers were in the chat. She had just insulted the title they once held.
[Nawaki: Sis… what's wrong?]
[Tsunade: Nawaki…]
The moment she saw Nawaki's message, Tsunade could no longer hold back her tears.
Shizune and Tonton hurried forward to comfort her.
[Tobirama Senju: Then Kakashi Hatake, how about you become the Fifth Hokage?]
Tobirama thought to himself: In the future, you become the Sixth Hokage anyway. A few years earlier shouldn't matter.
[Kakashi Hatake: Ah… this… Lord Second, I've only just come to terms with myself. Perhaps someone else would be better.]
[Minato Namikaze: Haha, Lord Second, how about we continue watching the projection before making a decision?]
Seeing his student so troubled, Minato quickly smoothed things over.
[Tobirama Senju: Very well.]
[After Nagi led his people away from Otoga Kūre…]
Orochimaru watched their departing figures disappear into the distance and sighed. A new wind was rising in the Shinobi World.
He glanced at Kimimaro beside him before turning toward his laboratory.
"Come, Kimimaro. There may be a way to cure your illness."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama! Then… can I become your new—"
"That's enough. Don't say such things. I no longer need another person's body.
Also, contact Kabuto. I'll require his assistance for certain experiments."
"Yes, sir!"
Though disappointed that he would not become Orochimaru's next vessel, Kimimaro felt that being able to remain at Orochimaru's side was already enough.
[During the time Nagi devoted himself to research and training, Naruto also passed Team Seven's bell test.]
After completing a series of D-rank missions—pulling weeds, babysitting, finding lost cats—Team Seven finally received their first C-rank mission.
Thus, the Land of Waves arc officially began.
Although Naruto was no longer as underdeveloped as in the original timeline, the interference of the Nine-Tails still made it difficult for him to control his chakra properly.
The Second Hokage had once examined the Fourth Hokage's Eight Trigrams Sealing Style and understood Minato's intentions. Thus, he chose not to interfere.
It was better for the boy to gradually Eidapt to the Nine-Tails' chakra and make it his own. When the time came for him to fully control it, the process would no longer be so dangerous and taxing.
Though Naruto didn't freeze in fear this time, he was still deeply shaken.
Soon after, they encountered Zabuza Momochi and Ha Kū.
During the battle with Ha Kū, Sasuke Uchiha awakened his Sharingan. It even evolved further—but…
[Madara Uchiha: Even though I've already seen it once, it's still shocking.
On the Night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, your parents were killed and your clan annihilated—and you awakened only a single tomoe.
All these years and no progress whatsoever. And now you evolve only one eye? In all my years, I've never seen anything so bizarre. Sasuke, you truly are one of a kind.]
Indeed, Sasuke ended up with one eye bearing a single tomoe and the other with two tomoe.
[Mikoto Uchiha: Um… honored ancestor, Sasuke is still young.]
[Hashirama Senju: Hahaha! Don't be so harsh, Madara. Back in the day, you also—]
[Madara Uchiha: Silence, Hashirama.]
Soon, the story reached its conclusion. Zabuza faded away in the falling snow.
The "Great Naruto Bridge" was completed, and the people of the Land of Waves finally stood tall once more.
However…
Gato Company.
Several figures wearing animal masks infiltrated the premises.
"This is the place, Fū?"
"Correct. According to Gato's memories, his financial ledgers are hidden in these rooms."
"Understood. Leopard, Terai—search the designated locations."
"Yes." ×N
After Naruto and the others departed, these Root shinobi located Gato's corpse.
Yamanaka Fū extracted the information from his mind. Their mission was to "assist" Gato in "managing" his funds.
[Naruto Uzumaki: Sniff… even watching it again, Zabuza and HaKū's story is so moving.]
[Zabuza Momochi: Kid up there, Ha Kū and I aren't dead yet. Still… thanks, Naruto. Kakashi.]
[Ha Kū: Thank you, Naruto. And Naruto… I'm a boy.]
[Gato: Aaaah! You damn shinobi killed me—and stole my money too?!]
[Onoki: Were those Root operatives following Kakashi's team the entire time?]
[A (Fourth Raikage): Hard to say.]
[Cee: It does feel a bit too coincidental.]
[Ao: Perhaps Nagi already knew the truth about the Land of Waves. Even if Zabuza hadn't killed Gato, Root would have taken care of him.]
[Mei Terumi: Zabuza, HaKū—you should return. The Fourth Mizukage was being controlled by genjutsu. That's why Kiriga Kūre became increasingly brutal.]
[Zabuza Momochi: This… HaKū and I will think about it.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: What?! The Mizukage was being controlled? What happened?!]
[Onoki: A village's Kage being manipulated… no wonder the bloodshed in KirigaKūre intensified.]
[A (Fourth Raikage): Impossible! Wasn't the Fourth Mizukage a perfect Jinchūriki? How could he be placed under genjutsu?!]
[Ao: I'm… not sure. But the Fourth Mizukage was indeed under genjutsu control.]
[Killer B: Yo! A genjutsu strong enough to control a perfect Jinchūriki? That's scary, fool, ya fool!]
[A (Fourth Raikage): B! Until we know the full story, you're not going anywhere!]
[Killer B: Oh noooo!]
[Shika Nara: Could it be that man claiming to be Madara Uchiha? If he could control the Nine-Tails, then controlling the Three-Tails—and its Jinchūriki—might also be possible.]
[Onoki: Konoha's strategist makes a fair point. But who exactly is that masked man? And what is his objective?]
At the Akatsuki's hideout,
Several members glanced at Tobi. Controlling another village's Kage and driving it into bloody chaos…
They had to admit—this man was ruthless.
Tobi, however, paid no attention to their stares.
In his heart, Rin Nohara had died because of Kiriga Kūre.
Even if the entire Hidden Mist Village were buried with her, it would never ease his pain.
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