The Hokage had changed.
This was the recent, immediate impression shared by Konoha's ninja.
Inside the Hokage's Office, an unusual sight had appeared: five Wood Clones handling official affairs together.
According to analysis based on an unreliable rumor circulating among the people, this abnormal phenomenon was likely related to the mission to visit the Otsutsuki Clan.
The Konoha Daily had specifically interviewed Tobirama Senju, who was in charge of the matter.
They received an answer.
It was a rumor!
What had made the Hokage begin handling affairs so diligently was not some outside cause, but his innate sense of responsibility.
The Hokage's enthusiasm had also accelerated progress across every sector of the village.
The work of separating and sealing the Tailed Beasts from the other small Hidden Villages had been completed ahead of schedule as well, thanks to the Uzumaki Clan working overtime.
Tobirama and Shikahira could finally escape the questions from each village's representatives stationed in Konoha.
The Tailed Beasts were neatly stored inside Tea Kettles, with the scrolls labeled by village and sealed in order.
"Tobirama, we're not bringing elder brother Hashirama this time?"
Uzumaki Kaimi, gathered in the plaza beneath the Hokage Building, asked the silver-haired man standing amid the sea of red.
Holding the tea kettle that sealed the Seven-Tails, Tobirama gave him a helpless glance and replied, "He's too busy. The number of clones has already risen to seven."
"Kaimi, hurry up and count the people. Once the flight permit arrives, we can set off."
After giving the instruction, Tobirama tore off the Sealing Talisman and released the enormous beetle-like Seven-Tails.
The Seven-Tails appeared in the plaza and looked down at the red sea below. A chill that reached deep into his soul made him stop flapping his wings.
This was terrifying.
There was absolutely