Sunagakure Election for the Fourth Kazekage

"Hand Seals are usually used when the Flying Thunder God Mark hasn't been deployed beforehand, watch carefully!" Namikaze Minato quickly Hand Seals, Obito Uchiha widened his eyes, easily replicating the Flying Thunder God Hand Seals sequence with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

As the last seal fell, Namikaze Minato instantly transformed into a golden light and vanished from the spot, leaving Obito Uchiha. Was this the reason for the Flying Thunder God forbidden technique?

Without warning, unpredictable, vanishing into thin air—what would it mean if this happened during a battle with a ninja? It would mean your enemy is watching you from the shadows, and you have no idea where they'll come from!

Less than two seconds later, Namikaze Minato reappeared in front of Obito. "Hey, hey, those are all the techniques for the Flying Thunder God Technique. The rest is up to you to figure out. Of course, I'll write down my experience in a book and give it to you later."

"Obito, I know you're a good boy. Please use the Flying Thunder God." Namikaze Minato's eyes softened as he stroked Obito Uchiha's hair.

Obito Uchiha taken aback, then turned around, snorted, and said, "Well, let's forget about what happened last time, considering how much you care about me!"

And so, Namikaze Minato trained his disciples every day, Obito kept trying out the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Rin was reading the books given to her by Minato-sensei. When she got tired of reading, she would look at Obito for a while, and then relax.

As for Kakashi, he was sometimes making Rasengan and sometimes practicing Lightning Blade. His Lightning Blade had also been improved a lot. For a time, the four-person team was very happy. Due to the importance of Flying Thunder God and Sealing Jutsu, Uchiha Kō had already sent the Anbu to seal off the Forest of Death.

Furthermore, an order was issued that anyone trespassing into the Forest of Death, except for the Team Minato, should be killed without exception! Anbu were also dispatched to patrol the area regularly.

Sunagakure

Faced with the fact that Sunagakure's fighting force had been wiped out in the battle against Rasa, and that Sunagakure was leaderless, Chiyo decided to convene a Jonin Conference. All Jonin of Sunagakure were required to attend the conference, the purpose of which was to establish the position of the Fourth Kazekage and to discuss specific actions for post-war recovery and reconstruction.

Chiyo's heart was bleeding. To prevent Sunagakure from losing both its people and its wealth, she sent her trusted confidante, the Scorch Release Pakura, to marry into Konoha, which brought about the normal operation of Sunagakure. However, she was also very worried about the actual number of ninjas.

Damn the Third Kazekage, damn the fake Fourth Kazekage Rasa, you two have left a mess for me, an old woman in my fifties or almost sixties, to clean up! What sins have I, Chiyo, committed?

Recalling the First Hokage Kazekage, Reto, he was someone who made the First Hokage Konoha him at the negotiating table. The Second Kazekage even created the Puppet Technique, a unique fighting method. Both were leaders who revived their respective dynasties. So why did things change with the Third Hokage?

No, to be precise, it wasn't the third generation. The third generation did a pretty good job in the early stages, uniting the elders and the commoners, and appointing talented people. When did things change?

Chiyo began to ponder deeply. It seemed that the moment Konoha took all the benefits of the war with the Land of Rain, he changed. No, it was the moment he declared war on Konoha that the changes occurred, the moment of the Battle of Kikyo Pass and the defeat on the front lines.

Rasa's influence is evident everywhere here.

Chiyo sat in the conference room and sighed, "Rasa, you have such a bright future, why do you always resort to such underhanded methods? Do you think everyone knows about your tricks? Or do you think that by doing these things, your master will approve of you?"

"You're wrong. Even if you do nothing, the position of Fourth Kazekage will be yours sooner or later. Although Pakura has the Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai, you, Rasa, have Magnet Release, specifically the Gold Dust Magnet Release. Whether it's for political needs or the inheritance of your mantle, the Third Kazekage will only choose you, not Pakura."

"If you do that, it will only make you seem narrow-minded and guilty," Chiyo muttered to herself. The meeting hadn't started yet; she was reviewing the issues from the two previous Ninja World Wars.

If you talk to Ebizo, he'll only rant about the Third Generation Kaze and the Pseudo-Fourth Generation Kaze, but that won't do any good. What's done is done, and no matter how angry you are, you can't reverse the situation.

Tell Pakura? Pakura in Konoha now, and I don't even know how she's doing. Even her mother-in-law feels guilty and ashamed to see Pakura. Using a woman to save Sunagakure from paying reparations, haha. I bet her husband, the First Hokage Kazekage Reto, would blame her if he knew.

However, she did not regret it. The Ninja World needed sacrifices. Sacrificing a few to save the many and the overall situation was the right thing to do. As a politician, Chiyo was not wrong.

Soon

Ebizo led all the Jonin to the Kazekage's Office for a meeting. They found their seats, with those backed to their clan members sitting in front and those who had risen to prominence alone sitting in the back—this seating arrangement had always been in place.

Hearing everyone enter, Chiyo finally came to her senses. She slowly stood up, looked around, and then at the ninja clans and ninjas of Iwagakure, burst into tears. "I, Chiyo, wife of the First Hokage, and elder of Sunagakure, apologize to everyone!"

After speaking, Chiyo stood up, walked to the table, and bowed deeply to everyone. This scene made everyone present tremble. Who was this? The wife of the First Hokage, one of the founders of Sunagakure, whose status was no less than Kazekage of the First Hokage.

She was always the first to charge into battle, leading Sunagakure to countless victories. To strengthen Sunagakure, she personally improved Puppet Technique and researched new poisons to apply to ninja tools. Her contributions are still recorded in the history of Sunagakure.

How can they accept an apology from someone like that?

In an instant, all the Sunagakure Ninja present stood up to return the bow. Whether they were Sunagakure Ninja or villagers of Sunagakure, they were not entitled to receive such a bow.

Chiyo slowly rose to her feet, and everyone else followed suit, looking solemnly at the old man on the stage, their hearts filled with emotion.

"Because of me, I was unable to dissuade the Third Kazekage from controlling Rasa, which led to the decline of Sunagakure from prosperity. Therefore, I am a sinner!" Chiyo said with tears in her eyes.

"No, Chiyo! This is not your fault!"

"Exactly! It's clearly those two Kazekage's flawed decisions and their tyrannical rule that led to all this!"

"Chiyo, please pull yourself together! Sunagakure is in dire need of rebuilding and needs your leadership!"

"Chiyo, we support you!"

"That's right! We support you!"

Seeing the passionate crowd below, their unwavering faces, and their resolute determination, Chiyo wiped away her tears, and her hunched back slowly straightened.

"Although I am not talented enough to expand territory like the other Kazekage, I will definitely find a way to improve everyone's lives in the future!" Chiyo said loudly.

Everyone nodded, indicating their willingness to cooperate with Chiyo's every move.

Chiyo was helped back to her seat by her younger brother Ebizo. Only when she sat down did everyone feel relieved. Now, who could guide and lead Sunagakure out of its predicament? Only this old man before them.

Her prestige, wisdom, and ability are evident to all in Sunagakure. The battles she leads result in few casualties but great achievements, and 80% of her decisions are correct.

This was after three Ninja World Wars, a long period of time that everyone had witnessed, so at this moment everyone's attention was focused on Chiyo.

Chiyo returned to her seat and slowly began to speak, "Currently, Sunagakure is leaderless. I suggest that we elect a Kazekage today to lead Sunagakure towards revival and prosperity."

Everyone was stunned for a moment. Kazekage? The word made everyone present start to have doubts. If in the past, during the time of the First Hokage and Second Kazekage, everyone was happy and respectful to hear this title, after World Kazekage II and World War Third Shinobi World War, people began to be somewhat resistant to this title.

"Chiyo, if we're talking about merits and abilities, who in Sunagakure can surpass you and inherit the position of Kazekage? I think you should become the Kazekage yourself!" someone in the audience said.

This viewpoint quickly gained widespread acceptance. If Kazekage were to take on the role of Chiyo, it would likely be acceptable to everyone. Chiyo is powerful and highly respected; with her in charge, she would certainly be perfectly capable of handling the job!

Chiyo shook her head and smiled bitterly, "I'm already over fifty, almost sixty. Maybe next year, maybe the year after, I'll have to go to the Pure Land to follow the First Hokage Kazekage. Please calm down, everyone."

Everyone fell silent. In the Ninja World, thirty years old was considered a long life, and some people were even grandfathers by then. The short lifespan of ninjas was common knowledge throughout the entire Ninja World.

The root cause is war. Every Ninja World War is a meat grinder, with countless ninjas dying in it, becoming stepping stones and background walls for others. In war, the lives of ninjas are the least valuable.

The old woman in front of them was now almost sixty years old. The clan leaders present were momentarily stunned. They remembered that back then, Chiyo was only in her twenties, and now she was already over sixty.

Time truly flies like a galloping horse, and years pass by like an arrow.

"Then, Chiyo, who do you think is suitable to succeed as Kazekage? Who has the ability?" another clan ninja stood up and asked.

Chiyo didn't speak, but waited, waiting for someone to mention Chiyo Chiyo's son. And sure enough, that's what happened.

"I think Granny Chiyo, the son of the First Kazekage, is capable of this great task!" said a ninja from Sunagakure.

Immediately, everyone realized what was happening and looked at the person, but the person had already disappeared. It was obvious that this was a plant arranged by Chiyo.

However, everyone was shrewd enough to agree, and upon hearing this, they all chimed in, "Yes, right now, the strongest people in Sunagakure besides Lady Chiyo are Lord Hayashi. He is the best candidate to succeed the Fourth Kazekage!"

"That's right. With Master Lin in charge and Chiyo assisting him, we can rest assured that we can entrust our family's members to the village!"

Immediately, a wave of praise poured in, making Chiyo feel incredibly proud.