The Hokage Is Confident of Victory

Uchiha Clan, Neji Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki Uchiha Sasuke, Aburame Shino, Gaara, Temari, Hozuki Mangetsu.

Those who make it to this stage are all exceptional individuals, and their future achievements will likely be quite remarkable.

At this moment, smiles appeared on the faces of the several figures.

No, Ōnoki wasn't laughing; the two Hokage present were laughing the most.

Uchiha Shingen was also very happy; it was finally over.

After announcing a month-long holiday to the test takers, the three Kage from the neighboring village departed, leaving the two Hokage to savor the afterglow of their "great victory."

The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, didn't want to stay a second longer; the Iwagakure team was completely wiped out—it was too humiliating.

After all the outlying village ninjas had left, and even the Konoha Ninja were beginning to disperse, Uchiha Shingen approached Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Lord Hokage, I have an important matter to report to you privately."

"Um?"

Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Hiruzen exchanged a glance.

The ANBU discovered the bodies of the three Kusagakure members in the forest and captured two imposters. The matter has been reported to the two Hokage. Their unique death appearance was practically as if Orochimaru's signature sinister smile had been drawn on them.

His former beloved disciple has become a troublemaker, a thought that gives Sarutobi Hiruzen a headache.

"Shingen, let's talk in the office," Namikaze Minato said.

"Please, all Jonin, join us. This is the time when we need to work together," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

In the original timeline, he had considered canceling the Chunin Ninja Exams, but Leaf Village in that timeline couldn't take the risk in the face of Orochimaru's threat and could only give up after taking it one step at a time.

This timeline is different. The scale of the exam is much larger. All the prominent figures on the continent either came in person or sent their representatives. No matter what reason Leaf Village wanted to give for canceling the exam, it wouldn't work, and it would deal a major blow to Leaf Village's reputation.

Furthermore, their mindset was different. At this time, Leaf Village was incredibly strong, and Orochimaru couldn't shake Leaf Village. Hiruzen Sarutobi Hiruzen was thinking about "keeping family scandals private."

Uchiha Shingen had no objection to the two Hokage's decision, but discussing Orochimaru here was indeed inappropriate.

He followed the two Hokage to the Hokage Building.

As soon as the Hokage's summons was issued, the Jonin.

Jonin travel, they are bound to be graceful. When the group of Jonin gathered at the Hokage Building from various areas of Leaf Village, they did not disturb the public at all, and did not even attract much attention from ordinary people.

The ninja masters from different villages, who were either leading teams or serving as guests in Leaf Village, reacted differently to this scene.

Meanwhile, at the Leaf Village Bathhouse, Jiraiya, who was engrossed in watching with professional spying equipment, had a glint in his eyes when he saw a figure flying across the sky.

"Good heavens! The female ninjas in the village have gotten better and better figures!"

He muttered to himself.

"Should I... change my angle of approach?"

Suddenly, he remembered his near-death experience.

And it was also at a bathhouse.

Hmm, let's forget about it...

But... that was a Jonin, did something happen?

"Lord Jiraiya!"

An ANBU appeared behind him.

"The Lord Hokage urgently summons you!"

Jiraiya's expression immediately changed drastically.

"Ahhh! Someone's spying on us!"

Suddenly, a commotion erupted on the other side of the wall.

Jiraiya's imposing physique seemed to have been drained of its strength in an instant, and he slumped down.

When he turned around, his expression was as if he had lost hundreds of millions.

"Aren't you from the ANBU? Aren't the ANBU supposed to be quiet? Why are you speaking so loudly?"

Anbu Ninja: "... Lord Jiraiya, the Lord Hokage is really in a hurry, please stop playing around."

"Tch..." Jiraiya scoffed.

He stood up, his imposing figure blocking the Anbu Ninja's view.

"Okay, I'll go right away."

The Anbu Ninja bowed respectfully and withdrew.

"This guy... he could have done it without making a sound." Jiraiya felt a pang of regret. The girl from earlier was really nice; he was practically overflowing with thoughts of her.

He dropped his joking demeanor.

The Hokage's urgent summons suggests that he could roughly guess what was going on.

He stomped his wooden clogs on the ground, making a few soft sounds, and then vanished in a flash.

Of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade is "big," Orochimaru is "soft," Jiraiya "hard."

When he was little, he couldn't do anything well; now, he can do everything well.

With his exceptionally strong physique, Jiraiya's Body Flicker Technique was also unparalleled.

The Body Flicker Technique is Taijutsu with a low barrier to entry; it's commonplace by the Chunin level. However, theoretically, the Body Flicker Technique has no upper limit.

When Leaf Village was first established, the Godspeed Ninja World was Senju Tobirama, who possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique. However, those who knew the Flying Thunder God Technique believed that the fastest Godspeed should be Senju Muzoku, who had mastered the Body Flicker Technique to the point of "shrinking the earth into an inch and reaching the ends of the earth in a short distance".

Before Jiraiya trained Namikaze Minato, he was the most skilled in Body Flicker Technique within the Sarutobi Clan's faction. Although he didn't reach the level of the former Senju Muzoku, he was still quite remarkable.

However, Jiraiya a well-rounded fighter, and his Sage Mode power is so outstanding that people don't focus on that aspect.

When Jiraiya arrived at the Hokage Building, someone was already waiting there and led him to the Jonin activity room.

As soon as the activity room door was pushed open, all eyes immediately focused on the last remaining member of the Legendary Sannin.

"Everyone looks very energetic." Jiraiya smiled and strode into the activity room.

"Lord Jiraiya, you've finally arrived!"

"Lord Jiraiya, do you remember me? I am..."

A familiar scene is playing out once again.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was gratified; the boy who used to spy on... no, inspect the safety design of the bathhouse with him back then had now become a symbol of Leaf Village.

Besides, even if criticism is necessary, isn't the root cause the problem the Wu Zu teacher instilled in us?

If it weren't Wu Zu Teacher Tenten's constant reckless and carefree lifestyle, how could he have possibly embarked on this path of no return out of mere curiosity?

This effectively relieved his stress. Danzo met such an end precisely because he failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind it.

"Teacher, I've been waiting for you for so long." Namikaze Minato greeted him. "How are you feeling about being back in the village?"

"It's very good, but I think the safety design of the bathhouse is still insufficient." Jiraiya stroked his chin, his expression serious. "But it's okay, I'll check it again another day and give you specific suggestions."

"Okay... Actually, I invited you here because there's something very important." Namikaze Minato felt it was safer to get down to business. "In fact..."

"It's Orochimaru, isn't it?" Jiraiya interrupted Namikaze Minato.

"The teacher knows too?"

"I've been keeping an eye on everyone else in the village, and there haven't been any unusual movements so far. If it weren't them, the only one who could make such a big fuss for you and the old man would be Orochimaru."

In the years since Orochimaru left, Jiraiya become the main force in the Hokage Building to gather intelligence from the outside world. Over time, he has become more and more familiar with the task, and his keen sense of perception has not diminished at all.

"Since you already know, teacher, I won't go on." Namikaze Minato nodded, and then began to explain the information that the ANBU and Uchiha Shingen had given him.

Chapter Fourteen: The Confident Lord Hokage

"I see..."

After hearing all the information, Jiraiya said he understood.

"You can't believe a single word Orochimaru says!" he said firmly. "That kid has never told the truth since he was a child. Lying is in his nature. Even when he was my student, he always used despicable means to beat me!"

"Oh! As expected of Lord Jiraiya, only the Legendary Sannin!"

"I knew something was wrong. No wonder! Even if they were the legendary Legendary Sannin, they're now missing-nin. How could they be so kind as to help Leaf Village!"

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya has said that, everything becomes clear!"

The group of Jonin talking all at once.

The praise is in full swing.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Jiraiya, who was smugly standing in the crowd, and couldn't bring himself to tell the truth.

This is our only child, so let's cherish it...

In the arena, Jiraiya the crowd's flattery.

Jiraiya a sense of shame, unless it's related to Orochimaru.

So he enjoyed it.

With so many Jonin endorsing him, from then on, the matter was settled in the word of the people of Leaf Village. He was that handsome young man who was exceptionally talented from a young age, loved by everyone, and the representative of the Legendary Sannin.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, was a loser who used despicable means to bully this innocent and honest boy.

That's so evil, so outrageous, and so heartbreaking.

Outside the crowd, Namikaze Minato, witnessing this scene, couldn't help but reflect: could his long-held impression of his teacher have been wrong?

But he always felt that something wasn't quite right.

So... is he the only one who feels that something is still wrong?

Namikaze Minato couldn't help but look at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and found that the old man had a solemn expression, as if he was reminiscing.

Why is she keeping her hand on her chest?

"Third, are you... feeling unwell?"

Namikaze Minato Sarutobi Hiruzen a little nervous. Hiruzen Sarutobi was now a real old man, and if anything happened to him, the village would be devastated.

"I'm fine," Sarutobi Hiruzen said expressionlessly. "I took a really strong drag and choked a little."

My conscience is breaking!

He finally couldn't listen anymore; he couldn't take it anymore.

That's enough, you guys!

"Alright, everyone, let's get back to business," Sarutobi Hiruzen reminded everyone.

He used Chakra, and the sound was incredibly loud.

The group of Jonin gradually quieted down, each of them looking like they wanted more.

"Leave Orochimaru to me." Jiraiya indicated that he was particular; since he had accepted the flattery, he would take care of it.

"Alright, with the teacher here, there's no need to worry about that. Now, let's talk about the movements of the various villages." Namikaze Minato said, "While Orochimaru's words can't be taken at face value, they might not be entirely unfounded. According to the latest news, Sunagakure has moved some of its military forces to the border of the Land of Rivers. Of course, Leaf Village has already received Sunagakure's official document stating that this is a military exercise."

"Lord Hokage, besides Sunagakure, have any other villages made any moves?"

"This is what I wanted to say to everyone during this important occasion," Namikaze Minato said. "Besides Sand Village, Iwagakure is also taking similar actions on the border of the Land of Grass. We don't know about Cloud Village yet, and the situation with Hidden Mist Village is unknown, but the ANBU have already gone to investigate."

Upon hearing that it was the ANBU) who were investigating, the Jonin present immediately showed expressions of tension.

Everyone's eyes were the same—such an important matter, isn't it a bit much to leave it to the ANBU? Lord Hokage, are you just going to shirk your responsibilities?

Uchiha Shingen was able to observe firsthand the true reputation of the ANBU in the village.

This is beyond what can be described as "miserable".

"Don't worry, everyone. This time, Shingen has arranged for Root ninjas to take charge." Faced with the overly piercing gazes of the crowd, Namikaze Minato could only say helplessly.

As the Hokage, especially the Hokage who personally defeated Root, these words really shouldn't have come out of his mouth.

But look at the expressions on these Jonin's faces! If he didn't say that, morale would collapse!

Namikaze Minato felt that the grass was endless.

Upon hearing the Hokage's "personal promise," the Jonin all breathed a sigh of relief and showed expressions of reassurance.

Oh, it's just the little cuties at the Root. That's alright then, everything's fine.

Some Jonin even gave Namikaze Minato a look that said, "Lord Hokage, you're really cheeky."