Head of the Jōnin Corps and the Chūnin Exams

Gawain's low-key return did not change the situation in the Shinobi World.

The economic collapse that Sand Village faced since the end of the Third Shinobi World War still exists and has become increasingly severe over time.

In the past, after the Sand Village suffered defeat after defeat, even the Third Kazekage mysteriously disappeared.

The newly appointed Fourth Hokage of the Sand Village, Rasa, has already taken on the responsibility of bearing the decades of humiliation that the village had suffered!

He made his son bear the consequences of Shukaku, and made his son willingly immerse himself in the pain of sleeplessness.

He worked day and night using Magnet Release ninjutsu to extract iron sand and gold dust to barely maintain the finances of Sand Village, vigorously developing the puppet policy of Sand Village and strengthening the national power of Sand Village.

He didn't give his son and daughter any special treatment, but instead gave them the same treatment as every ninja in Sand Village, so that everyone in Sand Village could live like his own children.

He also brought endless suffering to his youngest son, the weapon that sealed Shukaku!

He severed any ties that existed in his son's heart.

He severed all emotional ties with his son.

All for the rise of the Sand Ninja!

Just like the ancient ancestors of the pre-Qin period, who would constantly recite the same phrase to the First Emperor at night before he fell asleep and at dawn when he was sound asleep.

Ying Zheng, have you forgotten your dream of unifying the world?

Rasa, do you remember leading the Sand Village to rise again?

Let the Sand Ninja truly become great!

Rasa demanded this of himself, and he lived by it.

After the Third Shinobi World War ended and the Third Kazekage died.

He has always done it this way.

And even now...

He finally found a breakthrough, an opportunity for the Sand Ninja to rise again!

Not long ago, a guest from Konoha privately approached him.

That person brought goodwill from Danzo.

At the same time, Konoha Village, the most notorious Orochimaru to Konoha Village years ago, and now the leader of Otogakure, one of the three, also came knocking on their door!

Their goal was very clear: to inflict a devastating collapse on Konoha!

This plan also gave Rasa hope for the Sand Village.

At first, Rasa suspected that this might be some kind of conspiracy by Konoha.

But later, Rasa gradually came to believe their claims.

Although their plan was called the Konoha Crush Plan, they all knew that Konoha could not be completely destroyed in a single attack.

Neither Orochimaru nor Danzo wanted Konoha to completely collapse.

Even... Rasa is the last person who wants that!

Rasa knew that if Konoha completely collapsed, the situation in the Shinobi World would inevitably descend into chaos, and the Fourth World War would surely break out again.

In that war, the Sand Village, which was always in a state of paying reparations and whose national strength never increased, simply couldn't gain more from the war.

The collapse of Konoha at this time would indeed allow Sand Village to avoid paying 80% of the war reparations.

However, the rise of Kumogakure Village and Iwagakure Village could potentially plunge Sand Village into hell.

So, whether it's Rasa, Danzo, or Orochimaru...

After several discussions, the three of them reached a consensus on their demands.

Danzo wanted the next Hokage position, and for this position, Danzo was willing to weaken Konoha Village's interests and relinquish at least 50% of the mission share currently held by Konoha.

In addition, Konoha, under Danzo's control, will regularly provide so-called relief supplies and subsidies to Otogakure and Sand Village.

Meanwhile, while sharing mission quotas with Sand Village and increasing their respective village incomes, Otogakure can also establish a strong alliance through this cooperation, encompassing Sand Village, Otogakure, and Konoha Village, which will be controlled by Danzo in the future.

In this proposal, Rasa yearned for the Sand Village to escape endless reparations and gain an opportunity to rise again.

Orochimaru, however, desired the expansion of the Otogakure Yamato more funding for his experiments.

What Danzo desired was the position of Hokage, a position he had coveted for decades, during which he even attempted to assassinate the Third Hokage more than once in an effort to take it!

Within this alliance, each of them believed that those they allied with possessed the same demands they had made.

But whether it's Danzo or Rasa...

How could those two politicians and schemers possibly understand a scientist like Orochimaru?

They thought Orochimaru was after revenge, or perhaps he wanted funding for his experiments.

But at this moment, after Orochimaru and Danzo signed a contract with Rasa and then returned to Otogakure.

Looking at the experimental equipment in front of him, Orochimaru did not continue the experiment.

He just stood there silently, lost in thought.

After a long while, Orochimaru sighed softly.

"Teacher, what if a ninja like you dies on his sickbed?"

That would be really ugly.

After saying that, Orochimaru smiled and gently licked his lips with his tongue.

That's right, compared to Danzo, who are considered vulgar and trash in Rasa 'Orochimaru eyes.

Orochimaru didn't care about the Konoha Crush Plan.

The reason why, even after the Nine-Tails' Attack' attack on Konoha Village Third Shinobi World War the subsequent loss of the Uchiha Konoha Village, the Shinobi World did not take advantage of this to launch Fourth Shinobi World War to seize Konoha's interests.

It is because of Orochimaru, along with Tsunade and Jiraiya, the so-called Legendary Sannin, that they are still active in the Shinobi World.

Even if Konoha Village collapses, what then?

As long as there is even the slightest sign of the Sannin reuniting, or even just Jiraiya and Tsunade taking over the village again.

In terms of raw strength Konoha Village is still stronger than Sand Village and Mist Village, and can still maintain a three-way balance of power with Iwagakure and Cloud Kumogakure!

This is the reason why the Fourth Shinobi World War was delayed for so long.

As for now...

Orochimaru's true intention in launching this so-called Konoha Village Konoha Crush Plan was not to destroy the village that had raised him from a war orphan to become the vice-leader of the Jonin team and the commander-in-chief of the war zone.

He simply wanted to use his status as a disciple to give his teacher a more glorious end.

His teacher was a powerful ninja once known as the God of Shinobi in the Shinobi World. Orochimaru was able to kill the Fourth Kazekage in one move when Rasa wasn't paying attention.

His teacher, at his peak, could have easily defeated him in one move.

How could such a great ninja die so sadly on his sickbed?

I must ensure that such a teacher dies with honor in the war against Konoha's enemies, so that his life's glory will shine even brighter in the hearts of Konoha's future children...

As for the next generation, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, who will it be?

Hehe, anyway, it definitely can't be that ghost Danzo.

As Hiruzen's disciples, how could they possibly like Danzo?

As for whether it will be that idiot Jiraiya or that woman Tsunade?

Or perhaps it's Gawain, who has recently risen to prominence in Konoha Village and is constantly being Danzo?

Orochimaru had heard information about Gawain from Danzo, such as his legendary ancestor and the ancestor of the Sage of Six Paths.

But how could Orochimaru possibly believe that?

Rather than believing that Gawain was an ancestor, Orochimaru believed that he was the last gift his teacher left for Konoha!

Because in Orochimaru's view, if the other party really was some kind of ancestor, possessing power so great that it was impossible to resist...

Why would he allow Danzo to cause trouble in the shadows?

What Danzo so special?

Based solely on the Wood Release arm and the Sharingan I transplanted for him in the past?

Does Danzo deserve it?

Leaving aside Orochimaru's current thoughts, let's focus on the present situation in Konoha Village.

Kakashi Hatake, along with Naruto and the other two, accepted the mission to build a bridge in the Land of Waves.

The person assigning them tasks wasn't the Third Hokage anymore, but rather Gawain had recently gradually replaced him.

After handing the mission information to Kakashi Hatake, Gawain smiled and patted Naruto's head before speaking.

"Kakashi Hatake, I think that the person who built the bridge has something on his mind."

This task is probably not as simple as it seems now.

As far as I know, this big merchant, Cado, seems to have some connections with Zabuza Momochi, a rogue ninja from the Mist Village. You might encounter Zabuza Momochi during a mission."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Kakashi Hatake frowned slightly and glanced at the three children with concern.

Naruto, still clueless, kept asking who Zabuza Momochi was.

Gawain ignored Naruto and the others, and continued speaking to Kakashi Hatake.

"It's not a big problem. Zabuza Momochi has been acting alone lately; he never cooperates with other rogue ninja."

Aside from himself, he should only have one Ice Release Chunin by his side, whose strength is barely at the level of a Special Jonin.

"So, if I ask you to capture them both alive, is there a problem?"

Kakashi Hatake pondered for a moment after hearing Gawain's question.

Then, Kakashi Hatake gently shook his head.

"Dealing with them is no problem for me. Although I have never fought Zabuza Momochi, I have defeated several of the Seven Swordsmen of Hidden Mist Village. The Executioner's Blade is only good at protracted battles, and it doesn't have any particularly troublesome abilities."

However, if we capture him alive, Gawain, you should understand, right?

"If we capture him alive, I'll need at least one Jonin to cooperate!"

Kakashi Hatake was right about this. Zabuza's reputation was that of the Zabuza Momochi Hidden Mist Village Shura, the Shura who ruthlessly tore apart the Blood Mist Era.

If such a person is captured alive, the only way to completely control them is to forcibly suppress them and then use illusion magic.

At least that's what Kakashi Hatake thinks. He doesn't know that Zabuza Momochi now has deep bonds and has transformed from Shura into someone who is easier to control.

So, Gawain nodded in response to Kakashi Hatake's request.

"In that case, let's secretly upgrade this mission to S-rank, with the objective being to attempt to capture Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Zabuza Momochi."

I'll assign Asuma as your assistant. That guy is obsessed with getting his disciple to participate in this year's Chunin Exams and is trying to accumulate merits.

"You two teams each get an S rating, consider it a bonus, and also to teach these arrogant brats a lesson."

At this point, Gawain patted Naruto on the head.

"Didn't you want high-level missions and not want to do those boring cat-finding and chores?"

Since that's the case, this is a secret S-rank mission, the kind where you could lose your life if you're not careful!

Can I trust you, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura Haruno?

"Sure!!!"

The three children were full of energy. People their age are not afraid in front of others. Even if they are worried, they will only worry in private.

They're very shameless.

After assigning the tasks, Kakashi Hatake looked worried and scared the three children away from the Hokage's office.

Gawain continued to push the current Hokage Shikaku Nara, to take on more responsibilities, making sure that intelligent people like Shikaku Nara continued to do more work.

Shortly after, the third generation entered the office.

After glancing at Gawain and Shikaku Nara, who were working together seamlessly— Gawain leisurely sipping tea and Shikaku Nara whose hands were cramping from writing—the old man grinned.

"Well, it seems this kind of work isn't too difficult for you, Ancestor."

"Ha, it's really not difficult. You have many talented people under your command, Hiruzen."

Gawain responded with a smile, Hiruzen nodded with a smile, only Shikaku Nara lowered his head and gave a helpless, bitter smile.

The third generation was someone who liked to handle affairs personally. He had always lived a very Nara life, which was in line with the leisurely nature of the Nara Clan.

But now...

During the twenty-odd days that Gawain was in charge, Shikaku Nara was almost exhausted!

Are you the Hokage or am I the Hokage?!

Damn it, when will Shikamaru Nara grow up?!

That's fucking amazing!

Leaving aside Shikaku Nara's frustration, after a brief chat, Hiruzen sat down opposite Gawain and said with a smile Gawain...

"Ancestor, you know that the Chūnin Exams are about to begin. We will be in charge of this year 'Chūnin Exams, but for some reason, the Sand Village has shown that it intends to co-host the exams with us."

In my opinion, this should be a signal that Rasa is trying to send the voice of Sand Village to the Shinobi World after basically resolving the domestic financial crisis.

I don't know what you think, but I think it's acceptable to allow him to participate in Chūnin Exams. A slight improvement in Sand Village's performance would put pressure on Hidden Mist Village, which is located nearby, and would also cause trouble for Hidden Rain Village.

Of course, this is not the most important thing. There is something more important for me to visit you.

During the Chūnin Exams, eighty percent of the Jonin in Konoha will gather back.

While we're at it, I'll interrupt you to let you take on the role of Jonin squad leader and meet the Jonin of Konoha Village. This will make things easier for you as you prepare to become Hokage.

Do you think this arrangement is acceptable?

Upon hearing this, Shikaku Nara froze. This was... the Third Hokage was rather impatient to abdicate.

So, are those so-called ancestral legends really true?

The third generation chose Gawain not only because of Gawain's absurd strength, but also for other reasons?

While Shikaku Nara was pondering, Gawain smiled slightly and nodded.

"The Sand Village wants to co-host the Chūnin Exams? Sure, no problem."

As for the Jonin class, let's do as you say, Hiruzen.

I'm really looking forward to it, hehe.

Amidst the laughter and conversation, Gawain turned to look out the window.

His gaze soared higher and higher in the distant sky.

I don't know where it landed.