"The Ginseng Fruit looks like this. Eating it can grant immortality!"
"Have you heard?
This fruit resembles a human, but eating it can turn you into a god!"
Various versions of the legend quickly spread throughout Konoha.
The main reason this happened
was that those spies had deliberately guided the rumors.
After all,
this was a perfect opportunity to make the major clans of Konoha turn against one another.
And the results were indeed obvious.
The major clans had started suspecting one another.
However,
this did not last long.
Because something major happened in Konoha—Third Hokage was critically ill!
After the Konoha Crush,
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had already exhausted his life force.
It was just that no one had expected him to become critically ill so soon.
Thus,
the major clans and all the more renowned ninja hurried to the hospital to visit the critically ill and unconscious Third Hokage.
The entire village fell into an atmosphere of extreme sorrow.
Many people had already begun preparing black clothes for Third Hokage's funeral.
Amid this atmosphere,
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura sought out Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya."
Sitting on the rooftop with his back against the wall and gazing at the sky, Jiraiya turned his head at the sound of his name.
"Oh~
It's Uncle Homura and Teacher Koharu~
What do the consultants want with me?"
"What do we want?"
Mitokado Homura said expressionlessly, "You should already know without us telling you, right?"
"You don't have to make such a scary face~"
Jiraiya said with a grin, "The negotiations with Sunagakure ended smoothly, didn't they?"
"Sunagakure publicly announced that everything was caused by Orochimaru.
Besides,
Sunagakure has already announced its unconditional surrender to Konoha.
Even their Jinchuriki is in our hands.
At a time like this, the negotiations are no longer that important."
"For Konoha, the most important thing is choosing a new leader!"
Utatane Koharu continued, "We need a powerful leader we can trust!
There are potential sources of conflict everywhere right now."
"You don't need to tell me about something like that~"
Jiraiya continued playing dumb.
"I'm planning to go gather material~
Well, see you another day~"
"Jiraiya!"
Mitokado Homura's face hardened as he said in a deep voice, "Let me first tell you our basic policy.
What we need right now is the Fifth Hokage!"
"Then, at the emergency meeting held with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire yesterday,
Jiraiya,
we unanimously decided to choose you as Hokage!"
Utatane Koharu spoke rapidly, "Not only that.
Your teacher, Third Hokage, also recommended that you become the new Hokage.
Sarutobi has already discussed this with you, hasn't he?"
"What a shame~"
Jiraiya did not turn around. "I'm simply not cut out for that."
"This is already decided.
Besides, if even a ninja like you, who is praised as one of the Three Ninja, can't do it,
then we really can't think of anyone else who could."
"As for the Three Ninja, isn't there still one more person?"
Jiraiya turned around and looked seriously at the two consultants.
"Isn't Tsunade a very suitable candidate?"
"That girl does indeed have the ability."
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance,
pretending to look surprised.
"However, no one knows where she is now!"
"I'll find her!"
Jiraiya stared at the two of them and slowly said, "Compared to an unmotivated person like me,
the capable Tsunade is clearly more suited to become Hokage.
What do you think?"
"But..."
The two pretended to hesitate before finally agreeing.
"Understood. We'll discuss it.
However, we need to assign three Anbu to accompany you in the search party for Tsunade."
"There's no need."
Jiraiya shook his head. "I'm not going to run.
Also, I want to ask you for someone."
"Who?"
"Naruto Uzumaki."
"Ding~"
Outside Konoha,
two men suddenly appeared on the high wall.
They wore black cloaks embroidered with red clouds and straw hats tied with wind chimes, their faces completely obscured.
A breeze passed by, causing the wind chimes on their hats to ring continuously with crisp sounds.
"This village sure is lucky~"
Kisame Hoshigaki said with a faint smile. "The invaders were destroyed not long after appearing.
However,
although not many people died,
the village was heavily damaged~"
"That once-prosperous village..."
Itachi Uchiha looked down at the village and said calmly, "How pitiful..."
"That's not like you.
Could it be that you still feel attached to your homeland?"
"No. Not at all."
Itachi slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
"We'll enter the village at dawn tomorrow.
Don't forget the mission.
Investigate that newly emerged Black-Clad Organization."
"Got it~"
The next morning.
A heavy fog suddenly enveloped Konoha.
Through the dense fog, two figures slowly entered Konoha.
They were Kisame and Itachi.
However, they did not know that
not long after they entered the village,
two more strange men in black wearing straw hats entered Konoha.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Karin and Izumi's Return, New Members for the Organization! [Second Update—Please Send Flowers and Collect]
Bai Hao got up very early today.
Because today was a very special day—the day Karin and Izumi returned!
Not only that,
today was also the day Karin and Izumi would bring his two new subordinates back.
"I wonder if these two newcomers will be obedient?"
Curious, Bai Hao arrived at a bedroom on the second floor.
He had modified this bedroom.
A teleportation array had been carved into the floor.
This teleportation array was a special item obtained from a system draw.
It was paired with his organization system.
As long as Karin and Izumi reached the secret base near the Land of Fire,
they could use this teleportation array to come directly to him.
Time slowly passed.
Before you continue