Danzo, Stop Right There!

"Nani!"

Danzō slammed his palm against the desk in a rage.

"Orochimaru's summoning beast? Is Orochimaru still refusing to give up?"

Deep down, he felt both a sense of joy and a flicker of displeasure.

He was happy that Jiraiya had yet to bring Tsunade back.

He was displeased because he worried that no one would be sent to their deaths this time, and he wanted to preserve his strength to compete for the position of Hokage.

"No, that's not right!"

"Orochimaru is indeed on top of the Ten-Tailed Snake's head, but Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya are there as well!"

"It seems they defeated Orochimaru, but for some reason, they have contracted his summoning beast!"

The Root ninja finished relaying the intelligence quickly.

Danzō's face turned dark and stormy.

If Tsunade truly returned, he would once again be denied the position of Hokage!

"Damn it!"

It was all Hiruzen Sarutobi's fault.

It was one thing for him to be Hokage, but now his grand-student and his disciple were to be Hokage as well?

This Konoha should be under his, Danzō Shimura's, absolute rule; it should not belong to Hiruzen Sarutobi!

"Ignore them. We of the Konoha Root exist in the shadows to draw nourishment, and our duty is simply to protect Konoha."

Danzō spoke these flowery words, yet he was gritting his teeth in frustration.

The village, however, was currently erupting in cheers.

Tsunade had returned!

The greatest medical ninja in history!

Those who had survived the Konoha Crush Plan could finally be saved!

The Ten-Tailed Snake lowered its head to deposit the group at the gate.

Naruto reached back and patted the Ten-Tailed Snake on the head.

"Is this the extent of the strength of Ryuchi Cave? You're still far too weak. You must become stronger, Ten-Tailed Snake!"

Naruto's words caused the Ten-Tailed Snake to press its head even closer to the ground.

"As you command!"

The look in the Ten-Tailed Snake's eyes as it gazed at Naruto was filled with respect and dread.

It then vanished in a puff of smoke.

Is this the true terror of Naruto? The Ten-Tailed Snake is a summoning beast known to turn on its master; it wouldn't even listen to Lord Orochimaru, operating only on a contractual basis. Yet, in Naruto's hands, it is exceptionally obedient.

Kabuto wondered just how powerful Naruto must be in the eyes of the Ten-Tailed Snake.

Having been defeated by Naruto midway through the battle, Kabuto had no idea what had transpired afterward.

He was even less aware of how Orochimaru had been subjected to a "baptism," or the scene where thousands of snakes failed to escape with their lives.

The ninjas welcoming them at the village gate witnessed this scene as well.

This was especially true for Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, who were responsible for guarding the Konoha gate year-round.

What could have possibly happened to make the Ten-Tailed Snake abandon Orochimaru's summoning jutsu and bow down at Naruto's feet?

The advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, came out to greet them personally.

"Princess Tsunade, it is time for a decision. The sooner the news of you becoming the Fifth Hokage spreads, the sooner the village can find peace and return to a normal state."

Koharu Utatane spoke up.

"Me, as Hokage?"

Tsunade couldn't help but laugh.

She specifically turned to look at Jiraiya.

"Hey!"

Jiraiya did not want Tsunade to act on impulse at a time like this.

"Of course."

"You personally defeated and captured Orochimaru. Combined with Jiraiya's recommendation, the Daimyo's approval, and the trust of the village..."

"If you were to become Hokage, it would be the best choice to stabilize Konoha once again!"

Homura Mitokado spoke, expressing the consensus of all the advisors.

Might Guy had also arrived at the scene from behind the gate.

Konohamaru stood in the corner, listening to the adults talk.

He knew Naruto had returned and wanted to know who the new Hokage replacing his grandfather would be.

"You guessed wrong."

Tsunade laughed and patted Naruto on the back.

"I am returning to Konoha, but it is to establish a medical ninja squad so that Konoha's ninja teams can receive timely treatment in the future."

"But the person who truly defeated and captured Orochimaru was not me; it was Naruto Uzumaki!"

Ah!

Everyone exclaimed in unison, filled with surprise.

Naruto was still just a newly promoted Chunin!

"So I am not here to become Hokage; I am here to recommend Naruto to become Hokage!"

Tsunade's hand remained pressed on Naruto's shoulder, offering him the greatest support.

She really said it!

Jiraiya and Shizune both had black lines running down their faces.

Good heavens, who would ever agree to such an unreasonable request!

"Those two old things will never agree to it, because the younger and less familiar a person is, the harder they are to control."

"What Konoha needs is a dog—a dog with powerful strength that will absolutely die for Konoha!"

"When the Fourth Hokage died, he was isolated and helpless. They said he lured the Nine-Tails away for the sake of the village, but later, the Uchiha, who served as Konoha's guards, were almost wiped out. The truth was completely buried."

"Who will be the next one to pass their test? I truly want to know as well."

The mere sound of Orochimaru speaking made people shudder.

Those with strong wills glared at him with fury.

The weak didn't even dare to look Orochimaru in the eye.

Orochimaru was, after all, Orochimaru.

"Shut your mouth; you are nothing but a prisoner now!"

Behind the crowd.

Danzō had his subordinates clear a path.

He had finally arrived in person.

He originally hadn't wanted to come, so as to avoid being snubbed.

But upon learning that Tsunade was recklessly recommending Naruto for Hokage, he was incensed.

Fine!

So they wanted another Minato Namikaze, did they!

In their dreams!

As for what Orochimaru said, the villagers turned a deaf ear, pretending that the next Uchiha would never be them.

When Danzō stepped into the area, all the silence turned into disgust.

Stillness.

Taciturnity.

What Hiruzen Sarutobi brought was a dark acquiescence beneath a surface of peace and tranquility.

Ninjas were not beings who lived in the light, so there were destined to be those who cleaned up the refuse.

Danzō Shimura was the filthiest one in Konoha.

Naruto knew this.

When people know they are being unreasonable, they often resort to self-deception.

Someone like Danzō would attribute everything to the sake of Konoha.

"Danzō."

The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled up, returning a twisted smile to his former experimental partner.

"Have any ninjas in Konoha been dissected by you lately? You've been wrapped in bandages quite a lot recently, and your eyes are always like that—did you have this habit in the past as well?"

Orochimaru's words caused everyone to look at Danzō at once.

That's right.

Ever since the night of the Uchiha massacre, Danzō had changed his appearance.

Had he gone through some great battle?

Or was it caused by trying to save the Uchiha during the massacre night and fighting Itachi Uchiha with all his might?

Neither was the case.

It was common knowledge that Danzō Shimura was a failure when it came to protecting the village.

"Shut your mouth."

Danzo turned to look at Tsunade.

"Since you are unwilling to become Hokage, and Jiraiya is also unwilling, we should invite the Feudal Lord to decide on a new Hokage together."

"As for Naruto Uzumaki, he only promoted to Chunin a dozen days ago; he is someone here who has no qualifications to become Hokage!"

Danzo tapped his wooden cane and walked toward the village.

He did not give anyone a chance to respond.

"Danzo!"

Naruto had sensed intense malice from Danzo even before he appeared.

From beginning to end, this bastard had maintained the strongest level of disgust toward Naruto, the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.

From the Zabuza incident, the Chunin Exams, and the attack on Konoha, to even this recent defeat of Orochimaru.

The goodwill of the ninjas present had long since replaced their malice toward Naruto.

Only Danzo had never changed.

"You have no right to speak to me while I am serving as the leader of Root and an advisor to Konoha, because you are merely a Chunin!"

Danzo turned his head back.

His one exposed eye was filled with disgust and contempt.

"The Ninja World never looks at rank."

"It only looks at strength!"

Naruto slammed one hand onto the ground.

He activated five summoning techniques simultaneously!

Poof! Poof! Poof!

Ten-Tailed Snake, Gamabunta, Katsuyu, the Rabbit Family, and Enma.

The entire group appeared and blocked Danzo's path!

"When did Naruto learn my summoning technique?"

Tsunade was completely bewildered.

The ninjas in the village could not help but retreat.

Naruto's strength was already this terrifying!

"When one possesses absolute strength, is there still a need for tolerance?"

"Even if Naruto Uzumaki is the new Madara Uchiha, this village no longer has a Hashirama Senju."

Orochimaru let out an irrepressible burst of laughter.

The smoke cleared.

Naruto stood before Danzo, holding the Adamantine Ruyi Staff.

"Danzo, stop right there!"