Return

For the past few days, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been cultivating diligently in the newly built wooden cabin.

Cultivation during the Qi Refinement Stage was still quite fast. He had remained at the Qi Refining Peak for decades in his previous life and had long since mastered every aspect of the Qi Refining realm.

The abundant spiritual energy of the Shinobi World had already allowed Hiruzen Sarutobi to reach the Qi Refining Third Level. After the ninth level of Qi Refining came Foundation Establishment.

Kage Level strength was roughly comparable to the Foundation Establishment Stage, though it also depended on the caliber of the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If they were Foundation Establishment cultivators from major sects with established inheritances, dealing with Kage Level experts would be effortless.

For ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, it would depend on the specific circumstances.

After all, the lower limit of ninjas was rather low, and some secret techniques touched upon the domain of laws, making them utterly unreasonable.

But for cultivators, the Foundation Establishment Stage was merely the beginning. Their upper limit was countless times greater than that of ninjas.

During this time, the entire village had practically forgotten about him, the Third Hokage.

Perhaps in most people's minds, the best Third Hokage was one who did not concern himself with Konoha's affairs.

Jiraiya and Tsunade returned to the village together, bickering all the way.

Still, they made it back smoothly. Even with Tsunade's hemophobia, the two of them could still run rampant across the entire Shinobi World with their strength.

As they neared Konoha, they saw the welcoming party. Standing at the front was Konoha's elder, Orochimaru.

It had to be said that after becoming part of Konoha's upper ranks, Orochimaru's bearing had changed.

Having served as an advisor for nearly half a month, Orochimaru had grown accustomed to it, and the village had also become accustomed to this new Konoha higher-up.

This welcome for Jiraiya and Tsunade had also been Shikaku Nara's suggestion.

Orochimaru had discussed many plans with him, but they could only begin once Jiraiya and Tsunade had returned and the Legendary Sannin had gathered once more.

Konoha was neither too large nor too small, and not everyone shared the same heart.

Danzo might not have been strong, but Root still carried considerable deterrent power. If Orochimaru began sweeping reforms outright, he might not be able to stabilize the situation alone.

Seeing the welcoming party at the village gate, Jiraiya could not resist showing off.

"The Toad Sage has returned!"

Before he could say anything else, Tsunade smashed him into the ground with a monstrous-strength punch.

Lying on the ground, Jiraiya felt that long-forgotten monstrous-strength fist. It hurt, but somehow, it also made him happy.

"Enough. Now that you two are back, go straight to the meeting!"

Orochimaru had not come today to reminisce. He had matters to announce.

With Jiraiya and Tsunade supporting him, Konoha was now effectively under his sole command.

Though somewhat helpless, Jiraiya and Tsunade knew that Orochimaru had to have a reason for being in such a hurry.

With the Legendary Sannin reunited, the heads of Konoha's ninja clans and its jonin had mostly gathered.

Orochimaru sat in the seat of honor, with Jiraiya and Tsunade at his sides.

Shikaku Nara stood nearby.

"Everyone, I have several matters to announce."

"First, the Uchiha Clan's duties in the Konoha Police Force will be abolished. Members of the Uchiha Clan may participate in ANBU and hold other positions within Konoha."

"Expand the Ninja Academy..."

Orochimaru announced a series of orders, and the one that drew the most attention was the abolition of the Konoha Police Force.

After laying out several policy changes, Orochimaru's tone grew solemn.

"Next, we will enter a state of war. Jiraiya and Kakashi will lead the forces and drive the Cloud Village and Rock Ninja out completely."

After speaking, he looked toward the silent Fugaku Uchiha.

"The Uchiha Clan must also send jonin to participate. Clan Head Fugaku, I have something to discuss with you after the meeting."

No one objected. Other than the abolition of the Uchiha Police Force, everything else was what they wanted to see.

The major ninja clans also understood that Orochimaru was not a conservative like the Third Hokage, but a radical who far surpassed Danzo.

With Jiraiya and Tsunade's return, Konoha's attitude toward the outside world would become even tougher.

The only thing that gave people pause was Orochimaru's attitude toward the Uchiha Clan.

He had abolished the Konoha Police Force yet asked the Uchiha Clan to go to war, leaving people unable to discern his intentions.

Jiraiya and Tsunade said nothing. Since Orochimaru had become part of the upper ranks and Hiruzen Sarutobi had handed some authority over to him, then even as his friends, they had to follow Orochimaru's command for now. They could talk after matters were settled.

Jiraiya and Tsunade suddenly felt as though they were Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.

Fugaku Uchiha stayed behind until the end.

Orochimaru still wore that half-smiling expression, making Fugaku Uchiha feel slightly uneasy.

However, his son Itachi had told him that Orochimaru would no longer target their Uchiha Clan in the future. The Third Hokage had said so.

Like most people in the village, Fugaku Uchiha both respected and despised the Third Hokage.

The young Hiruzen Sarutobi had led Konoha to prosperity, yet the old Hiruzen Sarutobi only knew how to draw nourishment from Konoha.

"The Police Force has no real reason to exist. It will only deepen the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village."

That was indeed true. The Police Force handled nothing but trivial, thankless matters, and the Uchiha were particularly straightforward by nature, making it all too easy for them to offend others.

Fugaku Uchiha had realized this problem long ago, but the proud Uchiha were unwilling to give up their work in the Police Force.

"In the future, the village will open itself to the Uchiha Clan and encourage Uchiha to move out of the clan compound and live within the village."

Orochimaru spoke with Fugaku Uchiha for a while longer before letting him leave.

"Orochimaru, I didn't expect you to handle being an elder so convincingly."

Jiraiya sighed with emotion. Perhaps Orochimaru truly was more suited to being a leader than he was.

He had a restless personality and did not have so many twists and turns in his mind. He could not handle all these village affairs.

Tsunade did not feel much about it. Having grown up under the watchful eyes of the Second Hokage and First Hokage, she was fairly familiar with such matters.

She had no favorable impression of the Uchiha Clan, since their two clans were hereditary enemies. But as long as the village did not target the Uchiha Clan, that was simply the bare minimum and nothing worth opposing.

"Tsunade, the Medical Division is yours. We may soon have a small-scale war with the Cloud Village, and there will certainly be many wounded."

Tsunade nodded. It was naturally her duty.

"We clearly won, yet we paid such a heavy price."

Jiraiya knew the village's situation very well. Konoha was clearly the victor, yet it had retreated step by step and paid dearly.

"Where's the old man?"

Tsunade wanted to see Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Why had he not handed the village over to the younger generation sooner? Perhaps Nawaki and Dan would not have died.

"Let's go see him together later."

At the mention of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru wore a strange expression as well. He had already received word from ANBU that Hiruzen Sarutobi had grown younger!

Orochimaru did not understand why this had happened. Moreover, over the past few days, Hiruzen Sarutobi had secluded himself in a small wooden cabin at the edge of Konoha, rarely emerging. No one knew what he was doing.

His teacher was still the village's Hokage.