At night, in front of Konoha Memorial Stone.
Tsunade stood quietly with his head lowered, his eyes unfocused and confused.
What is recorded here are the names of people who died in the Shinobi World war or who sacrificed their lives to protect the village, including the names of Nawaki and Suan.
"Where Konoha flies, fire also grows..."
Before the visitor finished speaking, he was interrupted by Tsunade with a sneer, "That's enough, old man, your current expression is not suitable for saying this."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had his hands behind his back, smiled bitterly and did not continue. Instead, he looked at the memorial monument with complicated eyes and said slowly.
"From beginning to end, I seemed to have made one mistake. I originally thought that light and darkness go hand in hand, and where there is light, there will be darkness. But now that I think about it, maybe I was wrong. Even in dark corners, strong light can penetrate and illuminate."
"Dark... what..."
Tsunade murmured, and at the same time couldn't help but think of a certain man surnamed An who seemed to have done something to him, that being who was forced to endure all the dark sides of human beings.
"Tsunade, please, light up all the darkness for Konoha."
Looking at the "teacher" who was bowing his head to him in front of him as if he had aged a lot overnight, Tsunade didn't know how to describe his mood at the moment. He felt sad, hated, and couldn't bear it...
In the secret room of Hokage Building, where there were only two people, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting on the sofa, spoke first, "Orochimaru defected. He left Konoha alone yesterday when no one noticed him."
"Orochimaru?" Tsunade frowned, "Why did he defect?"
"He did a lot with Danzō..."
Hearing this, Tsunade also sneered again, folded his hands, leaned on the sofa and looked at his teacher. "No matter what I did, wasn't it your acquiescence?"
"Yes, I also need to take responsibility. My guilt is the same as theirs."
To Tsunade's surprise, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded without evading or denying.
Next, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly began to talk about how Second Hokage had passed the position of Hokage to himself, detailing everything without omitting anything, as if he was a kind old man who had reached the last minute to explain his funeral arrangements.
Bit by bit, from taking over the Konoha stall to the current Konoha form, four generations of sacrifices, Uchiha Clan getting ready to make a move, Danzō's little trouble, Orochimaru's defection... there is no concealment.
Bang!!
"So, you want me to be Hokage and deal with your mess?!"
Tsunade, who smashed the table into pieces, had a fierce expression. Of course, even though he said that, he still had a little admiration for this teacher in his heart.
After all, this old man didn't lie, he was telling the truth. In these two days, he completely recognized himself and the darkness of the village and determined to change everything.
"I... am no longer worthy of being Hokage. Now you and Jiraiya are the only ones qualified to calm down Hokage. My light may have been eroded by darkness, but you are different! I believe that your light can definitely dispel the darkness!"
"So why don't you just go to Jiraiya?"
Listening to Tsunade's slightly sarcastic tone, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also troubled. He had contacted Jiraiya as early as after Fourth Hokage's death, but the other party seemed to know that he might be entrusted with an important task. He didn't reply for two months!
Click——!
Koharu Utatane opened the door and spoke directly with a serious face, "Tsunade, now is not the time for you to be willful. Think about your grandfather, the first generation, and your second grandfather, the second generation, your responsibility..."
It's okay if you don't listen to this. As soon as you heard this, Tsunade's inner anger started to rise. Before the other party could say anything, he stood up and said angrily, "So, you just made the Konoha they gave you a mess and then asked their granddaughter to wipe your butt, right?!"
"Watch your words!" Koharu Utatane was furious.
"You are the ones! When my grandfather and grandfather were here, the village may have had a dark side, but it is definitely not as dark as it is now! This is all the result of you!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took over. "No, this is my fault alone. Without my tolerance Danzō he wouldn't be able to..."
"Old man, shut up!"
Homura Mitokado acted as a peacemaker at this time and tried to dissuade him. "Tsunade! Calm down! Now is not the time to quarrel like children! We really trust you to make Konoha rise from the ashes and that's why we want to hand over Konoha to you!"
"Trust me? Are you going to use me after pushing me to the top? Are you using your qualifications and status to control me?"
Koharu Utatane, tremblingly pointed at Tsunade and shouted angrily, "Tsunade, that's enough for you! Konoha is not the only one with a choice now!"
"Isn't that good? Why are you asking me? Why don't you just find other options that you can choose?"
Seeing Koharu Utatane who was already irritated by Tsunade and now no longer calm and started talking nonsense, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke at the right time, "That's enough, Koharu, there is no one more suitable than Tsunade now."
The subtext is: Can't you two face your mistakes like me? What are you so stubborn about? No matter how stubborn you are, there really is no hope at all!
"Listen clearly, I will not comply with your wishes. Unless you, the so-called higher-ups, admit your mistakes, give me your full strength, and won't point fingers at me in the future, then I will be able to take over this mess!"
"You..."
Koharu Utatane, who was pointing at Tsunade, could not stop trembling. This woman really wanted to cut off her escape and completely block her own way!
Just when Koharu Utatane was about to refute and angrily accuse Tsunade of cheating and attacking an old man like himself without respecting martial ethics, Homura Mitokado on the side expressed his opinion.
"Yeah... yes. I can hand over the management power of decision-making and government affairs in the village. I only retain the power of proposing strategies and opinions."
Looking at the old guy he had worked with for decades, Koharu Utatane was a little confused. Why did this old guy who should be on the same front as him surrender first?
But then, Koharu Utatane thought of something and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was still sitting on the sofa with his head down and reflecting on himself. These two people must have chatted alone in the afternoon! Been instigated (brainwashed)!
Is a Tsunade really worth trading these for? This is a huge gamble for you! You bet Konoha's future and everything on her. What if you lose? Don't you know she has bad luck with gambling?!
In fact, Tsunade was also a little surprised. He just said it casually, but he didn't expect that the other party actually agreed! The decision-making power on major matters and the management power of Konoha government affairs are already the power of the consultant!
"Koharu, we... are already old." Homura Mitokado sighed, shaking his head and sighing helplessly.
It's over... Koharu Utatane's heart skipped a beat, he was beginning to force himself. This sentence was clearly what Hiruzen Sarutobi signaled to the old man.
He actually made such a big determination this time! Aren't you always a submissive pacifist? What's going on with this thunderous momentum? no! I absolutely cannot agree so easily! Entrust everything Konoha to this woman. If something goes wrong with her decision-making, it would be really bad!
"As long as you serve as Hokage, I will no longer participate in the decision-making of Konoha and dissolve the Anbu directly under my name. From now on, my old bones will be cultivated and cultivated. If there is need, I can come forward at any time."
Hearing what Hiruzen Sarutobi said, Koharu Utatane also knew that he was completely defeated. This pacifist really made up his mind and became tough this time. Two against one, he had no way out...
At this moment, Koharu Utatane inexplicably thought of Danzō who was under house arrest at home. It would be great if Danzō was here, at least at this time, he would definitely be on his side.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "There is no need to worry about Danzō. I have already talked with him. Root will not be able to add any new members in the future, and all member information will no longer be kept confidential from Hokage. The approval and promotion of Anbu members will no longer have anything to do with Root."
Hearing this, Koharu Utatane completely understood that he had no choice. This time, in order to take a gamble, Hiruzen Sarutobi changed his previous behavior style and killed his old friends!
Koharu Utatane, who had aged ten years in an instant, finally chose to surrender like Homura Mitokado. There was no room for maneuver anymore.
"I..."
At this time, Tsunade already knew that he had been cheated. Today was a game, his last and final game set by his teacher for Konoha's new future.
However, this game has elements that cannot be described as a huge gamble.
"Tsunade, we have agreed to your request, but what is your answer?"
Looking at the teacher who was looking directly at him, Tsunade really wanted to curse him. Today he really fell into trouble. Today he has deeply realized the saying that old age is still hot.
"Oh, by the way, I also told Danzō about the orphanage thing you mentioned yesterday. He will not interfere with the orphanage thing again."
Is it fun for you to trick your own disciples like this? You are truly worthy of being able to control yourself to this extent!
After Tsunade left the reply "I'll think about it" and left, the three old people sat on the sofa in relative silence for several minutes.
"You know? If the light is strong enough..."
As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a strong flashlight from his chest and turned it on, pressing it against the edge of the solid wood table.
"... It can illuminate the darkness."
Looking at the strong light from the flashlight that penetrated three-thirds of the solid wood tabletop, Koharu Utatane sighed leisurely. This old man really changed overnight.
"Maybe. However, if it is not as strong as imagined, Konoha will be destroyed. This time, your bet is really too big, Hiruzen, and women like to act on impulse..."
"Hehehe..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed, then stood up and slowly came to the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the departing back of Tsunade.
"But I believe that Tsunade will definitely bring a different future to Konoha. Her light is still hidden in her heart, but once it blooms, it will be extremely dazzling!"
Looking at the flashlight at the edge of the table that shone through three-thirds of the board, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado finally said nothing and could only silently pray for Konoha in their hearts.
On the street, new generation ninjas are constantly greeting Tsunade respectfully. The news that Tsunade will be Fifth Hokage spread as early as yesterday.
It might be someone's intention, or it might be the work of the jounin who gathered yesterday, but Tsunade didn't care or think about this kind of thing.
Tsunade, who still didn't know what to do, unconsciously walked in the direction of Konoha's memorial monument. However, when passing by a ramen restaurant, he was awakened by a familiar man's voice coming from the ramen restaurant.
"Uncle, I want a bowl of soy sauce ramen, a full plate of barbecued pork, and a portion of fried dumplings."
"Okay! Guest, wait a moment!"
Teuchi, who didn't have that many wrinkles on his face, responded enthusiastically, then turned around and started making the ramen ordered by the blue-haired young man.
Jingle bell——
As the wind chimes hanging on the curtain rang, Teuchi said without looking back, "Welcome! There is a menu on the wall, customers can order!"
Tsunade who walked in ignored Teuchi's words and stared closely at Shinji who was sitting in front of the counter with his hands crossed and his chin closed, his eyes closed and humming some melody, as if he was looking forward to ramen.
"Do guests look forward to my ramen so much?"
Listening to the melody behind him, Teuchi also asked with a smile.
"Of course! I'm really looking forward to it!"
"Hahaha, then I can only show my special skills!"
Seeing Shinji showing childlike innocence and excitement, Tsunade was still a little surprised in his heart. Tsunade had an intuition. This was undoubtedly the true side of the man named Angra Mainyu.
But opposite to this side, the other side also has a side that can kill an entire village of people in an ordinary way. The two seemingly opposite sides are actually the true side of this person.
"Ho~" Shinji glanced at Tsunade and said with great interest, "This is really surprising, we met here."
"What are you doing here at Konoha?" Tsunade's brows were full of warning. This man regarded killing as a common and normal thing. As long as he wanted to, he would kill!
"The book says that women are creatures who like to ask questions without knowing it. It seems that this statement is true~"
Tsunade clenched his fists and lowered his voice. "Angra Mainyu! I will definitely... definitely stop you!"
"Really? Are you really going to do that? Sorry, I can't feel it. Besides, what on earth are you going to do to stop me from asking a dead man who can't speak for advice? I can't see it at all~~"
"You guy...!!" Tsunade also clenched his fists tightly after being exposed, but he finally endured it.
If you can't do it, the other party won't be able to kill him at all, and in turn, he may massacre the village. He can only make some excuses first and slowly figure it out. It's best to trick the other party away!
Only in this way is it possible to save Konoha!