Enrollment

However, no matter how vigilant Ōnoki was, he had no energy left to deal with the affairs of Konoha.

The reason is simple: Roshi, who has always disliked him, has disappeared.

As the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure, Roshi should have stayed in the village, but because he always clashed with Ōnoki, the two stubborn guys refused to give in to each other, which led to a particularly distant relationship between them.

This also resulted in Roshi staying away from the central area of Iwagakure for many years.

Ōnoki discovered Roshi's disappearance because, after hearing about what happened in Kumogakure, he worried that the old man might cause him trouble, so he sent someone to contact him.

The result was that I couldn't contact the other party at all.

"Dispatch troops immediately to find Roshi's whereabouts. Remember, it must be done secretly."

Since it concerned himself, Ōnoki's mood, which had improved because of the Fourth Raikage, vanished instantly. He frowned and arranged for his son, Kitsuchi, to personally lead the search.

Kitsuchi didn't say much and left the room directly.

"These are turbulent times."

After watching Kitsuchi leave, Ōnoki slowly jumped down from his seat, put his hands behind his back, went outside, and walked straight to a fountain.

In the very center, there is a stone, its surface smooth from being washed by water for so long.

"Willpower? In this Shinobi World, can willpower alone truly solve everything?"

Ōnoki's words sounded like he was questioning the First Earth Shadow, or perhaps interrogating himself.

Time flies.

Naruto and Karin, among others, have reached the age to enroll in school.

After a long period of busy Minato finally finished his tasks the day before school started and rushed home, managing to make it in time for his son's opening ceremony.

Kushina's complexion finally improved.

Before leaving, she reminded the two to be careful, especially to be wary of bullying from the Ninja Academy, but Kushina only received a perfunctory reply from Naruto.

"You brat!"

Waving her spatula, Kushina chased after him outside, only to find Naruto had already grabbed Karin and hurriedly run away, leaving Minato standing awkwardly in place, unsure of what to say.

"Really, Minato, keep an eye on those two troublemakers."

Seeing this, Kushina didn't say anything more. After saying this in an annoyed tone, she closed the door.

"I wonder if I'll be able to see Brother Kazashiro."

As Naruto ran along the road, he missed the times he and his friends used to play together.

Although Haku is also very gentle, he is kept under too much control, and with the stern Kimimaro always by his side, Naruto can't play to his heart's content.

"He's Hokage now, it's not appropriate for you to still call him Brother Kazashiro."

Karin corrected Naruto's grammatical errors from the side.

"Even if he's the Hokage, he's still my brother Kazashiro, and that can't be changed."

Naruto held his head high, refusing to change his tune.

Minato, who caught up with the two, overheard their discussion and grabbed Naruto by the collar.

"Alright, Naruto, slow down, be careful not to bump into someone."

When the group arrived at the entrance of the Ninja Academy, they happened to run into Sasuke and his son.

"Sasuke!"

Upon seeing Sasuke, Naruto completely forgot Minato's instructions and ran towards Sasuke, waving his hands.

"That idiot..."

Upon hearing Naruto's voice, Sasuke muttered something under his breath, but still walked towards him.

"All I see is Sasuke? This is troublesome."

Shikamaru walked over with Choji, who was engrossed in eating potato chips, and gave Naruto a little sarcastic remark.

The fathers of these individuals are all high-ranking officials, so it's understandable that they know each other.

The children discussed topics appropriate for their age, and the parents were not idle either.

"The situation in the Shinobi World is rather tense."

Nara Shikaku deliberately lowered his voice, glanced at the Hokage Rock in the distance, and told him the information he had received.

"The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning has begun calling on all the major ninja villages to attack the Kumogakure, and is unwilling to acknowledge the so-called Ninja Committee under any circumstances."

Minato nodded in agreement. He had just returned from a mission in the Land of Land of Lightning and had firsthand experience of the tense atmosphere there.

"That being said, this so-called Ninja Committee enjoys considerable support among the common people. They are firmly opposed to the slave system implemented by the nobles and demand that all nobles in the Land of Lightning abolish slavery."

Minato, who witnessed the execution of nobles by the Cloud Ninja, still clearly remembers the cheers that erupted from the common people after seeing that scene.

Fugaku did not express his opinion. As the captain of the Military Police Force, he only needed to ensure internal stability; other matters were not on his mind.

"Our Acting Hokage probably shares the same thought."

Nara Shikaku nodded. Recently, the Daimyo's Mansion has started sending letters to the clan frantically again. Clan members holding official positions in the Daimyo's Mansion have also come to persuade the Nara Clan to join forces with the Sarutobi clans to force Kazashiro to abdicate.

The reason why the Daimyo's Mansion was so excited was simple: the Fourth Hokage, Hatake Sakumo, had awakened.

Although the other party is temporarily unable to act, the daimyo who has already sensed Kazashiro's unusual behavior sees him as a lifeline and insists that Sakumo return to the position of Hokage.

Recalling the glaring signs of tampering on the seal of the letter, Nara Shikaku did not hesitate for long before rejecting the Daimyo's Mansion's request.

With the protection of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs Department, and having repeatedly improved the treatment of ninjas and strengthened the welfare of civilians, Kazashiro is no longer an existence that these Ninja Clan can easily shake.

Moreover...

If Kazashiro really intends to take that step, what benefits will his own lineage, which resolutely follows him, gain? Just imagining it is enough to make one's heart race.

Even if they fail, the Nara Clan still has members serving in the Daimyo's Mansion's prefecture, so the Nara Clan will not perish as a result.

As a clan renowned Shinobi World for its wisdom and strategy, Nara Shikaku knew exactly how to maximize the clan's interests.

"Let's see how the Acting Hokage responds to the call this time. You've come too, Hiashi Clan Head."

Before they could finish speaking, they saw Hinata leading Hyuga Hiashi toward them.

"Um."

Hyuga Hiashi's expression was indifferent as he glanced at the group, his gaze lingering only briefly on Nara Shikaku.

Seeing the look in the other person's eyes, Nara Shikaku understood that the other person had already made their choice.

Before the group could continue their conversation, they saw many Internal Affairs Department ninjas suddenly appear around the perimeter of the group.

"They've arrived."

Upon seeing the arrival of the Internal Affairs Department ninjas, the adults present subconsciously shivered, straightened their postures, and turned their gazes in unison toward the podium.