Next time, use the best sacrifice for Monkey

(Bonus chapter 5/6, please subscribe!)

Ignoring his brother's self-pity, Tobirama Senju began to inquire in detail about the situation in Konoha.

He assumed that with such an outstanding Fifth Hokage selected, Konoha must have had a very smooth history.

But as Shazo narrated, Tobirama Senju first froze, then his face twitched as if he had been hit on the little toe with a hundred-pound hammer.

It's heartbreaking.

Even the carefree Hashirama Senju stopped wallowing in self-pity.

The two brothers stared wide-eyed, exclaiming in surprise.

Hashirama: "What? The Monkey didn't send reinforcements, just watched the Land of Land of Whirlpools perish, and let the Uzumaki Clan wander the Ninja World?"

Hashirama & Tobirama: "What? The Senju Clan's elite Ninja went to provide support, and they were all wiped out?"

Hashirama: "What? Nawaki is dead?"

Tobirama: "What? Sakumo committed suicide?"

Hashirama: "What? The Fourth Hokage was killed by the Nine-Tails? How is that possible? How could the Nine-Tails kill Hokage?"

Tobirama: "What? The Monkey has regained the Hokage Position and will continue as the Third Hokage?"

Hashirama: "What? The Monkey Monkey allowed Shimura Danzō and the outside enemies to annihilate the Uchiha Clan?"

Hashirama Senju was furious. "Tobirama! What kind of trash did you choose as the Third Hokage? And that Danzo, why didn't you kill him when you died?"

Tobirama Senju gritted his teeth. "I was so damn blind!"

The two Hokage were so angry they were practically fuming, their bodies trembling as the Impure World Reincarnation) scattered.

The collapse of their Impure World Reincarnation bodies signifies that their time has come, and they are about to return to the Pure Land.

Tobirama Senju pulled Shazo back. "Don't kill Orochimaru, let him properly improve the [Impure World Reincarnation] technique----"

"Next time, the next time wake me, my brother, and Hiruzen all together, remember that!"

Hashirama Senju comforted his younger brother, saying, "Don't be angry. We're all dead now, and Konoha has welcomed its best Fifth Hokage. All the disasters are over."

Tobirama Senju wouldn't listen to a word he said. He emphasized again, "To awaken that bastard Hiruzen, we must use the best sacrifice—the kind that can be resurrected even after dying a hundred times!"

Seeing the Second Hokage grinding his teeth, Shazo Zuo nodded and agreed to his request.

Seeing that Shazo had agreed, Tobirama Senju finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned into a Impure World Reincarnation of ash.

Hashirama Senju shook his head, then smiled and made his request, "Fifth, if possible, prepare an even better offering for me next time, so we can have a proper fight."

Shazo Zuo laughed and said, "First Hokage, I will become even stronger by then, and you will definitely be no match for me."

Hashirama Senju laughed as he turned to ashes.

After seeing off the two Hokage, Shazo calmly used Wood Release.

[Wood Release: Natural Recovery]

He released his Chakra in the gentlest way, controlling the proportion of trees, shrubs, and grass, and preventing the trees from growing too large.

At the same time, Shazo Zuo expanded the range of the Wood Release Secret Technique until all the affected land was covered.

Afterwards, he returned to the Konoha Ninja, where Ninja was greeted with enthusiastic cheers.

Long live the Fifth Hokage!

"Konoha Number One Under Heaven!!"

Amidst the fervent cheers, even the prisoners from the Otogakure revealed a hint of fanaticism in their eyes.

Shazo raised his hand to quiet everyone down, and everyone immediately fell silent.

He looked at Orochimaru and said, "I originally wanted to go back to the village to see you, but since I've seen you here, I'll ask you all the questions I need to ask right now."

"Orochimaru, is there more to your reasons for defecting? Did you kill those Konoha Ninja were brutally experimented on?"

Orochimaru let out a hissing, hoarse laugh, "Of course there's more to it than meets the eye. I didn't kill a single Konoha Ninja."

"You know, all the experiments I did were approved by the village, and the materials were also provided by the village."

"I have so many experiments to do, where would I find the time to hunt Ninja?"

"Besides, my experiments require living people; dead corpses are of no use to me, and I don't eat human flesh."

Shazo Zuo nodded, changed his form of address, and asked again, "Orochimaru- senpai, when you defected from the village, did you have any shady dealings with the village that prevented them from sending Ninja to hunt you down?"

Orochimaru sighed, "Yes, but my teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is dead. I have no proof."

Shazo smiled slightly and changed his form of address again, "Lord Orochimaru, would you be willing to return to Konoha?"

Orochimaru paused for a moment, then smiled and asked, "What kind of treatment will I receive if I return? What if I don't want to return to Konoha?"

Shazo smiled broadly, "Lord Orochimaru, if you return to Konoha, I can grant you special permission to reinstate your rank of Jonin Konoha."

"You don't need to take on any combat missions, but you will be responsible for research on Ninjutsu, the Human Body, and the mysteries of Chakra. You can conduct your own personal research in your spare time, and the village will not interfere."

"For research assignments designated by the village, all expenses will be covered by the village. For your own research, you will naturally bear the expenses yourself, but of course, you can also sell your research results to the village."

Then Shazo's smile faded, and he said, "If Orochimaru, you're unwilling to return to Konoha, then I'll have no choice but to consider you missing-nin and take your head back with me."

"Of course, afterwards I will collect all the children you have placed the Cursed Seal on, either kill them or remove the Cursed Seal to prevent you from being resurrected."

"That's ruthless, Fifth Hokage, but it makes sense."

Orochimaru casually inquired about the question that truly concerned him, "I'd like to know, when I'm conducting my own research, can I use the village's resources to purchase equipment and supplies?"

Shazo agreed without hesitation, "Of course."

Orochimaru asked again, "Then one last question: what will happen to my children?"

Shazo Zuo chuckled and said, "The children Lord Orochimaru has collected are all very Talent. I will accept them as Konoha Ninja."

"Of course, those under the age of 12 must attend the Ninja Academy."

Orochimaru asked in surprise, "Fifth Hokage, some of these children are from the Kaguya Clan. Aren't you afraid the Kirigakure will cause trouble?"

Shazo sneered, "I am the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. Why should I care about Kirigakure's attitude when I do things?"

"If the Mizukage is unhappy, then keep it to himself. But if he dares to open his mouth and make a sound, I'll beat him until he shuts up."

Orochimaru sighed, "I'm fine now."

"Fifth Hokage, I choose to return to Konoha and become Konoha Ninja once again."

Shazo waved his hand, signaling Shisui Uchiha to release Orochimaru's Restraint Device.

Then he pulled out a Forehead Protector he had prepared beforehand from his pocket, and handed it to Orochimaru with a smile, "Welcome back, Lord Orochimaru."

As Orochimaru's identity changed, all the prisoners were transformed into Konoha Ninja or students of the Ninja Academy.

Then the Konoha Ninja regrouped and quickly left the Land of Rice Paddies.

Such a massive war that alters the landscape cannot be concealed, even if it takes place in the heart of the Land of Fire, let alone in the Land of Rice Paddies.

When Xia Zuo and his group returned to Konoha Shazo, the Tsuchikage Ōnoki of Iwagakure and the Raikage A of Kumogakure both received the information.

The Fourth Raikage sighed and said to Dodai, "It seems the Fifth Hokage didn't use his full strength when he fought us last time."

"If he were to use this technique of unleashing a thunderstorm from the sky, ninety percent of the Cloud Ninja would probably be killed or injured."

Dodai sighed, "I've always felt that the First Raikage's last words were too despairing and pessimistic."

"Now I actually feel like I can understand the First Generation."

"But there's good news too. The Fifth Hokage Shazo, not only has strength close to that of the First Hokage, but his personality is also similar. He seems to be actively avoiding killing more people."

"Lord Raikage, if we just be patient, we'll eventually see the Sixth Hokage."

"Konoha will always produce another idiot like the Third Hokage."

The Fourth Raikage shook his head and said, "How old was the First Hokage when he became Hokage? The First Raikage only waited 12 years, and his entire spirit and energy were completely worn out from waiting."

"The Fifth Hokage isn't even 18 yet, I definitely won't live to see him die, but can the Fifth Raikage live to see him?"

"If the Fifth Hokage had served as Hokage for 50 years Hokage, would Kumogakure have become the village begging and pleading to join Konoha?"

Dodai listened in stunned silence, offering only a weak attempt at reassurance. "Probably not. There will always be resolute Cloud Ninja step forward. Kumogakure won't, won't be so despondent."

The Fourth Raikage scoffed, "To leave life and hope to fate is not in the nature of Cloud Ninja!"

"Accelerate the research on ' Dodai, Chakra Cannon ' and ' Heavenly Transfer Technique '."

Dodai was a little confused. "Ah, Lord Raikage, why are you speeding up the research on these two?"

The Fourth Raikage replied irritably, "The ' Heavenly Transfer Technique ' allows me to intercept the Fifth Hokage at any time, while the Chakra Cannon ' can blast us both to death while I'm entangled with the Fifth Hokage."

"I, as the Raikage, am no match for the Hokage, and my successor won't have such a prodigy. But we must have a means to take down the Fifth Hokage together."

"Only by taking the Fifth Hokage's life can we find a way to protect Kumogakure."

Dodai had nothing more to say. He stood at attention and bowed. "I understand, Fourth Raikage. I will do my best to supervise them."

After reading the intelligence, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, collapsed weakly onto his desk.

When his granddaughter, A Kurotsuchi, came in, she saw the old man using his desk as a bed, rolling around and wailing, complaining about everything.

"Damn Roshi, he just won't listen to my orders as the Tsuchikage, and he still wants to leave the village and live in seclusion!"

"If it weren't for the fact that we're classmates, I would have killed you long ago, treating you like missing-nin!"

"Alas! My foolish apprentice, why couldn't you think straight?"

"Who the hell instilled this idea in you? That explosions are art, you bastard!"

"Deidara, you brat, get back here and become the Fourth Tsuchikage!"

Suddenly, the overturned pen holder rolled right behind the Third Tsuchikage with a crisp "crack".

Ōnoki immediately let out a bloodcurdling scream, "My back! My back! I've twisted my back!"

Kurotsuchi quickly stepped forward, lifted her grandfather off the table, and called for Medical Ninja to treat the Tsuchikage. After some fuss, the Third Tsuchikage returned to his office, where he lay on a stretcher and continued to handle various tasks.

But his complaints continued, "Sigh, Konoha has produced some amazing Ninja. He defeated that kid, the Fourth Raikage, and even kicked that old guy, the Third Hokage, flying. It's truly enviable."

"If only there were a young Ninja like that among the Iwagakure Ninja, capable of plotting a coup and ousting me from power, how wonderful that would be."

"I don't even expect him to be as good as the First Hokage. If he's even just a little bit stronger than me, I'll happily step down to him."

"I'm not like that idiot Hiruzen Sarutobi, who's almost 70 years old and still fighting for power with a 17-year-old, forcing him to be drowned in a pond."

"Oh, no."

"I trained Deidara myself, yet he has absolutely no ambition and runs off to pursue art on his own!"

"I'm 73 years old, can't I retire?"

Kurotsuchi spat inwardly. Despite the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki's constant complaining about "giving way,"...

"Retirement" and "decentralization" are just empty words.

If a Ninja similar to the Fifth Hokage were to actually appear, this old man would definitely jump up and down shouting, "This is outrageous!" "This is utterly disrespectful!" and then beat the person to death.

How did Deidara become so twisted?

It was all because the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was pushing Deidara too hard. Not only were his studies demanding, but he also gave him no privacy whatsoever, driving Deidara to the brink of insanity.

Fortunately, Deidara only became a mentally ill artist, not a mentally ill explosion demon; otherwise, how could Iwagakure have been saved?

Kurotsuchi sighed softly. "Grandpa is an old stubborn man, Dad is a big idiot, and my senior brother is a mentally ill artist. None of the men in Iwagakure can be trusted."

The future still depends on my Kurotsuchi!

The Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure received the information a little later, but he learned about the battle on the third day. He was also informed of Orochimaru and Tsunade's return to Konoha.

With Jiraiya still staying in Konoha, all Konoha Sannin have actually returned.

With three more top-tier Kage-level Ninja suddenly appearing, Konoha's strength is simply outrageous.

The Fourth Kazekage sighed. The decline of Sunagakure was too severe; only he, Chiyo, Ebizo as Kage-level Ninja.

Apart from the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, who is still in his prime, the Chiyo siblings are both nearing 70 and should have retired long ago.

In two years at most, I will be the only Kage-level Ninja left in Sunagakure.

At that point, Sunagakure would be unable to withstand any further turmoil, and there would be no room for maneuver. A slight misstep could cause it to fall out of the ranks of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Rasa stood up, hurriedly left the office, and headed to the secret base outside the village to check on his son's progress in adapting to his Jinchuriki.

If Gaara can adapt to and master the power of the One-Tail, even at the age of 10, he will possess the strength of Kage-level Ninja, enough to provide security for the village.