Peak Gatherings, Kamui Eye Acquired!

Time passed.

The scent of blood that had shrouded the Forest of Death faded day by day.

The morning sun spilled down.

Having just walked out of Ichiraku Ramen with a belly rounded from a full meal, Uzumaki Naruto habitually hunched his shoulders.

In the past, whenever he walked this path, he would always be met with stones or icy glares.

But today, just like yesterday, when the villagers he passed met his gaze, they actually took the initiative to nod at him, even if their smiles remained somewhat stiff.

Naruto scratched his head, craning his neck in confusion, yet vaguely feeling that this was a good thing...

Even though Grandpa Third is dead, I should be feeling sad.

At this thought, a long-absent sense of guilt stirred in the depths of Uzumaki Naruto's heart.

Over these past five days, every aspect of his life had seen a marked improvement.

Ever since the news broke on the first day that the Hokage had been assassinated by the villain Danzo, young women wearing headbands had been coming to his home specifically to clean his room, clear out expired instant noodles and milk, and stock his refrigerator with fresh fruit in a timely manner.

When eating ramen, he no longer had to worry about not having enough money.

Because a sum of money had just been issued to him.

He heard that there would be more every month from now on!

Ichiraku Ramen, Yakiniku Q, Kanakuri Kan, three-colored dango—he could eat whatever he wanted.

After school, his classmates—Shikamaru, Choji, and Shino—would invite him to play at their clan grounds from time to time.

Most importantly, no one was calling him a demon fox from the corners anymore for no reason.

"Hehe, stinky Sasuke, Sakura-chan, here I come~"

"The Fifth is truly a Hokage who gets things done."

Teuchi, the uncle at Ichiraku Ramen, wiped the sweat from his forehead. Watching Naruto lift the curtain and skip away into the distance, his movements as he kneaded the dough slowed down involuntarily.

"Dad, I'm back~"

His daughter, Ayame, returned from grocery shopping. Before entering the noodle shop, she subconsciously raised her eyes to look at the Hokage Rock.

A rhythmic clinking sound came from there.

The craftsmen had begun their work.

The face of the Fifth Hokage, Lord Xiu, was taking shape under the sunlight, with details already carved down to the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

It was very handsome!

Recently, many female ninja had been taking the initiative to talk about this lord while eating their noodles.

The orphanage was being renovated.

The Sealing Team, the Barrier Team, and the Medical Team had received more financial appropriations.

The treatment of war orphans was improving in a way visible to the naked eye.

It was said that Lord Fifth had taken out a huge sum of gold from his own pocket to subsidize Konoha.

Commerce was flourishing as a result.

"Dad, this is the newly printed New Regulations for Village Harmony. It requires us to post it in the most conspicuous place in the shop before sunset."

"Oh, what does it say?"

"It explicitly prohibits any form of verbal abuse or bullying... and has added the Crime of Provoking Trouble. Serious offenders will be arrested by the Konoha Military Police Force."

"Hahaha, that's great."

In Uncle Teuchi's view, it wasn't just Naruto who benefited; that chubby kid named Choji Akimichi had also been coming to eat ramen recently, and he now dared to loudly order ten extra servings of roast pork without anyone daring to badmouth his entire clan as pigs.

Ninja have big appetites, isn't that to be expected?

Chakra doesn't just come out of thin air.

In short, the village was changing rapidly, in a way that no one had anticipated.

And the source of this transformation came from the Hokage office.

Meanwhile.

At the mission briefing hall.

Several civilian genin who had completed C-rank missions were handing in their reports. As they spoke to each other in low voices, the topic was no longer the complaints about insufficient pay that had persisted during the Third's reign.

It had shifted to the free training grounds that had just finished their first phase of expansion, and the Mission Risk Insurance Ordinance issued this morning!

Another raise~

For every C-rank mission completed outside the village, one could now save money according to the original plan while also taking their wife and children out for sukiyaki a few more times, and repairing their ninja tools.

"It's really good." Genin Iwasaki Yusuke looked up toward the direction of the Hokage office, where the windows were reflecting the sunlight.

"That lord... although his methods are a bit intense and quite controversial," he said, weighing his words, "but the things he has brought are visible and tangible."

The other impoverished ninjas nodded in agreement one after another.

Loyalty!

Clearly, as their lives tangibly improved and the past injustices and idle gossip were forcefully swept away, fear and discomfort were gradually replaced by a complex, observant attitude leaning toward acceptance and approval.

If the Fifth Hokage could keep this up for five, ten, or fifteen years, and a new generation grew up, what would Konoha look like then?

"Heh heh, the increased mission rewards and better welfare benefits are ten thousand times better than any Will of Fire for someone like me with two sons and a daughter."

"Danzo successfully assassinating the Third Hokage doesn't seem like such a bad thing, after all~"

"Right, that detestable Danzo!"

On the other side of the village.

Within the Uchiha clan grounds, young clansmen straightened their backs as they passed the brand-new Police Force building.

In the clan leader's residence, Elder Setsuna, who used to always wear a sour face, seemed to have suddenly achieved enlightenment, smiling at everyone he saw.

He was more of a dove than the doves themselves.

All because the Fifth Hokage was surnamed Uchiha!

This single fact was enough to wash away the years of pent-up frustration felt by the hawks, allowing them to offer smiles even during the stage of attempting to resolve issues through persuasion before resorting to violent enforcement.

Not to mention, after Xiu took office, the Uchiha's policing authority was clearly defined—maintaining the village's security, specifically including gate defense, patrols, surveillance, internal law enforcement, and responding to sudden threats.

The Police Force's exclusive prison was also preserved.

"The Daimyo doesn't care about the truth of that night at all. Hearing that one of our Uchiha was serving as the Fifth Hokage, he even proactively increased the financial appropriation, a full ten percent more than when Old Man Sarutobi was in charge."

Uchiha Yashiro, having returned from an envoy mission to the capital, sat cross-legged and laughed, "Hahaha, my Uchiha clan has a long heritage; we are not merely a martial family, let alone some small-time household."

"That's right, the court nobles also hope to see the Hokage be one of their own. When they saw us off, they proactively said they would issue more missions to the village in the future—the kind that are easy and pay well."

Several elders sipped their tea with pride.

At this moment, the moderate Elder Shin reminded them:

"I heard that today is the day our Princess of the Land of Fire, that Princess Tsunade, returns to the village. Jiraiya might already be in the village as well."

"There is such a matter, but Old Man Shin, don't you worry. With Fugaku and Shisui accompanying Xiu, there won't be any problems," Uchiha Setsuna said with full confidence. "Besides, I've supplied Xiu with ten more Three Tomoe Sharingan; there's almost no stock left on me."

"That's good. Jiraiya and Tsunade were already dissatisfied with the old order; there's no reason for them not to understand... that the external crisis has only just begun."

Elder Shin, who had watched Uchiha Xiu grow up, set down his teacup. "By the way, it's fine for everyone to call him Xiu in private, but remember to use his title while working!"

"Lord Hokage!"

At this moment, inside the Hokage office, watched by others both openly and secretly, the newly promoted Jonin Yuhi Kurenai pushed open the door.

Dressed in a black and white ninja skirt with her hair draped to one side, those deep red eyes on her beautiful face left a profound impression.

"Princess Tsunade has arrived."

As she spoke, a blonde beauty walked out from behind the door.

She wore a sleeveless top covered by a green coat, which concealed her curvaceous and graceful figure.

On her lower body, she wore light blue cropped pants, wrapping her long legs in a rounded silhouette.

In the corner of the office.

At a newly added desk, Hyuga Hiashi was hunched over, reviewing documents and dealing with all sorts of dry data.

Upon hearing the commotion, he raised his eyes to nod at the princess, acknowledging her presence, before burying his head back down to continue serving as a tool for the Fifth Hokage.

Processing all kinds of trivial matters.

Hokage Assistant!

This was the courtesy Lord Xiu extended to the Hyuga, the second most powerful clan in Konoha.

That night, when he heard the appointment in the Forest of Death, Hiashi simply couldn't believe it.

When the elders of the main branch received the news, they were so overjoyed they could have danced.

They insisted that they must find a way to marry off a noblewoman from the main branch to form a marriage alliance with the Hokage, not caring in the slightest about the Byakugan bloodline leaking out.

This was called a strong alliance!

As for marrying off a woman from the Caged Bird branch? They wouldn't dare court death like that and insult Lord Fifth.

"I just can't figure out why the Hokage would ask for a Byakugan; he hasn't restarted any relevant bloodline research..."

Hiashi muttered to himself in his heart.

For the sake of the Main God Space's creation project, Uchiha Xiu had recently requested a pair of main branch Byakugan from the Hyuga clan.

Just as Elder Setsuna kept Three Tomoe Sharingan in his collection, the Hyuga main branch had similar habits in private.

Whether out of awe for the strength of his own Fifth Hokage or as an exchange to repay the core position he had given the Hyuga clan.

The omnidirectional Byakugan was in place!

Combined with the Hyuga genetic fluid scavenged from the Root's secret laboratory and reward points, the foundation for a powerful creation was already laid.

Just waiting to return to the space.

"Princess Tsunade."

"Princess Tsunade."

Led by Clan Head Fugaku, Shisui, who stood behind Uchiha Xiu like a subordinate, greeted the princess.

--In terms of lineage, status, combat prowess, and achievements, she was more qualified than anyone else to contend with Xiu for the position of Fifth Hokage.

"I never expected... the Uchiha clan would rise in such a manner."

Taking a deep breath, the statuesque Tsunade took the initiative to speak, her gaze fixed directly on Uchiha Xiu, who held the Scroll of Seals.

The Fifth Hokage—a man who miraculously possessed both Wood Release and the Sharingan—leaned casually against the back of his chair, his entire demeanor radiating a sense of laziness.

On the Hokage Rock behind the building, craftsmen were carefully carving the details of his face.

The rhythmic clinking of chisels mingled with the faint sounds of children playing and merchants hawking their wares in the distance.

In terms of public livelihood alone, in just five short days, Konoha had not only shed its bloody atmosphere but was also developing rapidly.

And the reason was very simple...

This man was throwing money around like a madman!

He was actually paying out of his own pocket to be Hokage!!

Five tons of pure gold were being converted bit by bit into the supplies desperately needed throughout the village.

"Even in Sunagakure, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, who is supported as Kage because he uses his bloodline limit to mine gold dust and subsidize the village's finances, isn't as..."

After struggling for a long time, a stumped Tsunade spat out:

"...devoted to the village as you."

"Money? It's just dirt." Shifting his gaze from the Scroll of Seals, Uchiha Xiu, who was busy enriching himself, responded calmly.

He wasn't trying to act cool; the price of gold in the Main God Space was truly dirt cheap.

Never mind five tons—if the village needed one hundred or one thousand tons, he would exchange for as much as was required.

The issue of inflation? There was no need to consider it for now; the population of the Ninja World was not small, and the demand for precious metals had always been high.

"..." The money-loving Tsunade was rendered speechless.

Having loved money since she was a child and being addicted to gambling, she truly couldn't imagine the blissful life of having five tons of gold.

Subsidize the village?

Are you kidding me!

When it came to wealth, even her Great-Grandfather, who had founded Konoha alongside Madara, hadn't been this selfless.

"You really are a unique Uchiha."

"Don't talk about me. No one else who took the seat could have done this. Heh, before the old man died, he finally did one decent thing."

Hearing this, Fugaku and Shisui, who had been secretly bracing themselves for Tsunade to lash out with a Strength of a Hundred Technique, both let out a sigh of relief.

"Indeed... there is no logic in holding a blade to someone's throat and forbidding them from resisting."

Another deep voice drifted in from outside the door.

Guided by Yuhi Kurenai, the white-haired Jiraiya walked into the Hokage office.

His beloved student's son, Uzumaki Naruto, had been treated far too poorly in the past!

The explanations given by the Third Hokage held no water whatsoever.

Fortunately, the life of cold shoulders Naruto had endured had undergone a heaven-and-earth transformation since this young Uchiha took office.

Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he could restore his reputation as the son of a hero.

"Stinky toad, you're only just back?" Tsunade looked at him with disgust, as she had heard rumors a while back that this lecherous guy had been peeping at women bathing in the Land of Fields.

The impact was atrocious!

"Heh heh, I arrived at the village three days ago. I observed the changes; it's indeed better than when the old man and Danzo were in charge."

Meeting Uchiha Xiu's scrutinizing gaze, Jiraiya hurriedly explained: "Rest assured, Fifth Hokage, I wasn't peeping. Heh heh, the village's new policy clearly defines a crime of hooliganism."

"Good."

Uchiha Xiu didn't dwell on it.

A man of Jiraiya's stature couldn't possibly lack that much self-control, nor would he treat his own words as wind.

"The village under my leadership will absolutely not tolerate anyone's wife, mother, or daughter being offended while bathing or using the restroom."

"Very good!" Tsunade looked appreciative, ignoring the dark history of a certain someone who had once written the bestseller Young Obito.

It was just fantasy, after all.

As long as he didn't put it into action, it was fine.

In the oppressive Ninja World, it would be strange if a man wasn't lecherous at his core.

"Lord Hokage."

"Lord Hokage."

At this moment, Nara Shikaku, the Jonin Commander and high-level advisor, arrived on the scene.

Behind him was Hatake Kakashi, who had been promoted to captain of the Anbu.

With the arrival of the two, the office became a bit more crowded.

"Shadow Guard Captain Uchiha Shisui, Police Force Commander Uchiha Fugaku, and the returned Tsunade and Jiraiya—with a lineup like this, is the Fifth finally considering a foreign war?"

As the chief strategist, Shikaku braced himself.

"If we survive this ordeal, the village's prosperity will be more than just a Kyōka Suigetsu."

The old Hokage faction, having been phased out, caused no trouble.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu voluntarily surrendered their power and retired.

Sarutobi Asuma, the youngest son of Hiruzen, kowtowed before the Memorial Stone before honestly returning to the Land of Fire to serve as one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

Whether one calls it being sensible or admitting defeat, the young Fifth Hokage had truly achieved absolute control!

How to respond to the impending probes from enemy nations, or even the Fourth Shinobi World War, was his only true test.

"Four Violet Flames Formation, activate."

The next moment, with the Hokage Building as the center, Jonin from the Barrier Team jointly activated the ninjutsu from the east, south, west, and north, forming a barrier of purple flames.

Until the meeting concluded, anyone from the outside attempting to touch the barrier would be burned by the flames.

"Fifth, the prices of grain and steel from the Land of Earth are rising every day; Iwagakure will definitely dispatch troops to the border."

Jiraiya provided the intelligence with a grave expression.

"As expected. Ōnoki was beaten so badly by the former head of our clan... Uchiha Madara, that he was left with psychological trauma."

"Knowing that I possess both the Sharingan and have awakened the Wood Release bloodline, it would be strange if he didn't send troops to test us."

As he spoke, Uchiha Xiu beckoned to Kakashi.

The somewhat puzzled Anbu captain approached, completely unguarded.

The next moment, what had happened to Shisui was replicated!

One Kamui eye, acquired.

"Very good. I have grasped the lifeline of the traitor Obito."

"One Kamui eye, one Kotoamatsukami eye—tsk, what a fine collection of eyes."

Jiraiya and Nara Shikaku snapped back to reality.

"Fifth."

"Fifth!"

Trembling all over as her hemophobia flared up, Tsunade forced herself to stay calm, utilizing the Mystical Palm Technique to provide treatment for Kakashi.

"Quiet. Today's discussion starts from the night of the Nine-Tails six years ago!"

"Regarding the highest secret of our Konoha: the timing, location, and security deployment for the childbirth of the Fourth's wife, the former Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Uzumaki Kushina, and why it was mastered by the Uchiha traitor."

"..."

Supported by Nara Shikaku, Kakashi vaguely sensed something, his entire being feeling as if it had been drained dry.

Hyuga Hiashi, having pledged his loyalty, widened his Byakugan, monitoring the interior of the Four Violet Flames Formation with no blind spots.

When it comes to the mastery of intelligence, who in the shinobi world can compare to me?