Konoha F4 All Present

With a flicker of his figure, Genkawa Uchiha appeared before a tree and pressed his palm forward.

Hum...

First came a clear chime.

Immediately followed by a booming explosion.

The trunk of the tree, nearly two people wide, was punched through with a massive hole by the Rasengan. Then, the Rasengan detonated, and the intensely violent spiraling air currents spread forward like blades in the direction of his strike.

The trunk was carved out into a gaping crater, and amidst the swirling dust and debris, the great tree was split in two.

"Hahaha!"

Genkawa Uchiha let out a hearty laugh, extremely satisfied with the destructive power of the Rasengan.

This feeling was simply too good.

Chakra was never an easy thing to control, but Genkawa Uchiha's current mastery over it had already reached a certain level.

Therefore, everything felt so natural and effortless.

"I didn't bring enough scrolls; I should have learned a few more techniques at home before coming out."

Well, that was that. He had mastered the Great Fireball Technique, and all that remained was the accumulation of experience and refinement, the same applying to the Rasengan.

He had originally planned to stay here for the entire morning, but only half an hour had passed.

"Can't waste time. I'd better focus on familiarizing myself with the Body Flicker Technique."

Among the low-level ninjutsu, the only one he truly valued was the Body Flicker Technique.

As for the Transformation Technique and Substitution Technique, learning them was enough; there was no need to delve deep, as there would be better alternatives later.

But the Body Flicker Technique was different.

This technique could be said to span a ninja's entire life. Strictly speaking, the Flying Thunder God could also be considered a form of Body Flicker, and its importance went without saying.

For the time that followed, Genkawa Uchiha let himself go, practicing the Body Flicker Technique deep within the forest, his experience points increasing at a speed unreachable by ordinary people.

Konoha, Hokage Building, Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the desk, staring at the office before him in a daze.

Ever since the village had elected the Fourth Hokage, he hadn't stepped foot in here for a long time. He never expected to return today in the capacity of Hokage.

There was no joy, only pain.

The Nine-Tails had appeared last night, bringing catastrophe to Konoha. To this moment, it was unknown how many had died in the disaster.

His wife, Biwako, was dead. The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, was dead. The Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, was also dead.

For him, these were unbearable losses.

In this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt he had grown old.

Click.

The door opened, and Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu walked in, with Anbu ninjas guarding the door outside.

The two sat on the office sofa, their expressions heavy.

"According to the rules left by the First Hokage when he founded the village, until the Fifth Hokage is elected, I will temporarily serve as Hokage. Once the aftermath of this incident is handled, I will set off for the Capital of Fire to meet the Feudal Lord."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu merely nodded, having no objections.

"Then, tell me, how great are the village's losses?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

Mitokado Homura sighed before speaking.

"The preliminary statistics are out."

"Go ahead."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers tightened.

"The number of dead and wounded is nearly two thousand. Among them are two hundred and thirteen ninjas: twenty-seven Jonin, one hundred and fifty-six Chunin, thirty Genin, and the rest are villagers."

Utatane Koharu added from the side, "The damage to infrastructure is even more severe. One-third of the residential buildings in the West District have collapsed, the outer wall of the South Gate is completely destroyed, and twenty percent of the grain stores were burned. The hospital's medicine is currently sufficient, and the wounded are still being sent there."

"What about the Uchiha Clan?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

"Their compound is in the center of the village, so the damage is minimal."

Mitokado Homura said, "However, their people are all guarding their own territory."

"Leave that aside for now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand. "Reconstruction must be prioritized."

Utatane Koharu adjusted her glasses and said, "Funding is an issue. Most of the Feudal Lord's annual appropriation has already been spent; we cannot pull out any more money right now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment. "First, divert a portion from the Hokage's direct treasury, and I will go to the Feudal Lord to apply for the rest."

Hiruzen Sarutobi added, "Have the Anbu take inventory of the supplies and consolidate everything that can be used."

"And what about the wounded?"

Mitokado Homura asked, "The medical team is currently short-handed as well."

"Have the Nara Clan come over to assist; they deal with medicinal herbs often and can certainly help in that regard."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and walked to the window. "Furthermore, draft a group of students from the Ninja Academy. You must also tell the villagers that Konoha will not abandon them."

Utatane Koharu nodded. "I will make the arrangements."

"Mm."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him. "As for the Uchiha, do not send anyone there for the time being."

"But... the Nine-Tails from last night was clearly controlled by someone from the Uchiha," Mitokado Homura frowned.

"I know, but that does not necessarily mean it was the work of the entire Uchiha Clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice deepened. "The Fourth Hokage already told me what happened last night. In my view, the Uchiha Clan would not do such a thing. Besides, the matter of the Nine-Tails has not been fully investigated yet; we cannot afford any more chaos."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance and nodded.

They had no objections to this.

After all, the most urgent matter at hand was the reconstruction of the village.

"Additionally, dispatch the village's ninja to the borders."

Mitokado Homura furrowed his brows. "Hiruzen, are you saying?"

"Yes, the incident with the Nine-Tails cannot be kept hidden, and the same goes for the death of the Jinchuriki. Other villages will find out sooner or later, so we need to prepare early. Although the Third Shinobi World War has ended, once news of the Nine-Tails spreads, the other great ninja villages will surely take action."

Both of them felt their hearts sink upon hearing this.

As advisors, they had naturally considered such things, perhaps even more deeply.

"Very well, I will take charge of this matter," Mitokado Homura said.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then sighed. "What about... Danzō?"

Utatane Koharu spoke in a low voice. "Fractured sternum, injured right arm, right eye gouged out. His injuries are severe."

This topic was even heavier.

"Genkawa Uchiha... he defeated Danzō using only taijutsu without mastering any ninjutsu. The village needs to pay much more attention to his talent," Mitokado Homura said.

"Indeed."

Utatane Koharu nodded. "Genkawa Uchiha was able to contend with the Nine-Tails using only taijutsu. Danzō was caught off guard and defeated by him, suffering such heavy injuries; I imagine he won't be able to move for a while."

As she spoke, she added, "Perhaps we should let Danzō rest for a period of time and suspend the operations of Root."

Just then, the office door was pushed open.

"That won't be necessary."

The voice drifted in from the doorway, and shortly after, a man was helped inside.

It was none other than Shimura Danzō.

However, Shimura Danzō looked quite wretched at this moment.

He was shirtless, his upper body wrapped in bandages, and even though his right eye had been treated, blood was still seeping through the bandages.

"I do not need to rest, and there is no issue with Root; we will also participate in the village's reconstruction. But... Hiruzen, we must teach the Uchiha a lesson this time. We cannot just let this slide."

His single exposed eye stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his gaze sweeping over the desk. Though he remained expressionless, only he knew what he was truly thinking.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances once more. The former said, "I agree with Danzō. Regarding the Uchiha, we can no longer just be vigilant; we must take a firm stance."

Utatane Koharu added, "Correct. Even if the Nine-Tails incident last night wasn't the work of the Uchiha Clan, it is certainly inseparable from them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzō. "How did you obtain that Sharingan?"

Shimura Danzō remained silent.