The Fifth Hokage's Selection Chapter: The Back Hills of Konoha
The rolling hills behind Konohagakure stretched peacefully under the afternoon sun. Though the shadows of war had finally lifted from the Hidden Leaf Village, the wounds left in people's hearts still needed time to heal. The scars of battle might have faded from the landscape, but the pain etched into the survivors' memories remained fresh and raw.
Still, life had to continue. Those who had survived the devastating conflict could not remain trapped in the darkness of the past forever. Slowly but surely, as days turned into weeks, the village began to show signs of recovery. Laughter could be heard echoing through the streets once more, and genuine smiles started returning to the faces of the villagers.
On this particular day, a group of people had decided to venture into the back mountains of Konoha for a much-needed camping trip. The clear mountain stream that wound through the forest provided the perfect spot for relaxation. Several young women had gathered by the water's edge, their cheerful voices carrying through the trees as they played and splashed in the crystal-clear stream.
"Heh heh heh..."
Hidden among the dense foliage of the surrounding jungle, Jiraiya crouched with a perverted grin plastered across his face. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he peered through the bushes, completely absorbed in his inappropriate spying activities. The Toad Sage was so focused on his peeping that he failed to notice the presence approaching from behind.
Without warning, a hand emerged from seemingly nowhere and delivered a firm push to Jiraiya's back. The legendary ninja, completely caught off guard by the sudden contact, let out a startled cry as he tumbled forward. His carefully maintained hiding spot was abandoned as he rolled out of the dense jungle, exposing himself to the very people he had been secretly watching.
"Ah! There's a pervert spying on us!"
"Get him! That disgusting man was hiding in the bushes watching us!"
"Where did he come from? Is he some kind of enemy?"
"Kill the creep!"
"Quick! He might be a hidden enemy ninja!"
The peaceful afternoon was instantly shattered as various objects came flying through the air toward the exposed Jiraiya. A smooth river stone struck him squarely on the forehead, immediately raising a large, painful bump. The legendary Sannin found himself under assault from an angry mob of campers.
"Ouch... this is terrible..."
Clutching his injured head, Jiraiya scrambled to his feet and fled the scene as quickly as his legs could carry him, leaving behind a trail of complaints and curses from the outraged group.
At the Hokage Monument
Some time later, Jiraiya found himself sitting atop the massive stone faces carved into the cliff known as Hokage Rock. The monument overlooked the entire village, providing a clear view of Konoha's ongoing reconstruction efforts. The Toad Sage cut a rather pathetic figure - a piece of tissue was stuffed up his bleeding nose, and the large bump on his forehead had grown even more prominent. His usually confident demeanor was replaced by one of pain and irritation.
"Was that really necessary? Seriously, was it?" Jiraiya grumbled, his voice nasally due to the tissue blocking his nostril. "If you needed to speak with me about something important, you could have just approached me directly. Did you really have to set up that elaborate trap to get my attention?"
The white-haired ninja sat hunched over on a large boulder, occasionally wincing as waves of pain shot through his injured head. His breathing was labored, partly from his hasty escape and partly from the throbbing ache in his skull.
Shihouin Naraku stood at the edge of the Hokage Monument, his gaze fixed on the village below. From this vantage point, Konoha appeared to be slowly healing from the devastation it had endured. The sounds of reconstruction work echoed from various districts - the rhythmic clanging of hammers against metal, the scraping of tools against stone, and the voices of workers calling out instructions to one another.
Wooden scaffolding had been erected around several damaged buildings, and villagers could be seen working diligently to restore their homes and businesses. Despite the destruction they had faced, the people of Konoha showed remarkable resilience and determination to rebuild their lives.
"Jiraiya-sensei," Naraku began, his voice carrying clearly in the mountain air, "have you ever considered becoming the Hokage?"
"Pffft!" Jiraiya immediately spat out the water he had been drinking, choking and coughing violently. He waved his hands frantically in front of his face, forming an emphatic gesture of refusal. "No way! Absolutely not! Never in a million years!"
The very suggestion seemed to terrify the legendary ninja. His reaction was so extreme that it appeared he might bolt from the scene at any moment if Naraku continued to pursue the topic.
"Ah, well, that's perfectly fine," Naraku replied with a slight nod, his tone remaining calm and measured. "I wasn't planning to recommend you for the position anyway."
"You know, that comment is a bit hurtful when you put it that way," Jiraiya said with a helpless expression, rubbing the back of his head as he stood up and moved to stand beside Naraku. "So if you didn't bring me here to discuss my potential candidacy for Hokage, what's this all about? Are you planning to show off about your upcoming appointment as the Fifth Hokage?"
A gentle breeze swept across the monument, rustling their clothes and hair. Naraku shook his head slowly, his expression serious. "I won't be the new Hokage. Tsunade-sensei has been chosen to serve as the Fifth Hokage."
"What?! It's not going to be you?!" Jiraiya's eyes widened in genuine shock at this unexpected revelation. Given the current circumstances and the departure from what might have been expected, he had assumed that someone with Naraku's power and reputation would be the natural choice for the leadership position. The news that Tsunade would be selected instead came as a complete surprise.
"There are numerous complex factors involved in this decision," Naraku explained, "but the general consensus among the village leadership is that Tsunade-sensei is the most suitable candidate to become the Fifth Hokage. That's precisely why I sought you out today, Jiraiya-sensei."
Jiraiya placed his hand under his chin in a thoughtful gesture, his expression indicating that he was listening intently and waiting for further explanation.
Naraku continued his explanation, "The war has only recently concluded, and both Konoha Village and the Land of Fire are dealing with countless urgent matters that require immediate attention. With the Hokage position currently vacant, the village has been forced to establish an emergency executive committee to handle administrative duties during this transitional period. Unfortunately, none of us can leave our current responsibilities to undertake extended missions."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in before delivering the crucial point. "Therefore, the vital task of locating Tsunade-sensei and convincing her to return to the village to accept the position of Fifth Hokage must fall to you, Jiraiya-sensei."
"Me?" Jiraiya pointed his index finger at himself in disbelief, and immediately felt a sharp pain shoot through his entire body at the thought. The prospect of tracking down Tsunade - the legendary medical ninja known for her incredible strength and equally impressive temper - and then somehow persuading her to abandon whatever she was doing to return and take on the enormous responsibility of leading the village seemed like a task that exceeded even S-rank difficulty levels.
Naraku nodded with evident amusement at Jiraiya's reaction. "Yes, you. The mission to bring Tsunade-sensei back to the village can only be entrusted to you."
"Tsk! I refuse," Jiraiya declared with a defiant expression, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not going on that mission."
The Toad Sage's mind was already racing with thoughts of all the wonderful experiences life had to offer. He had research to conduct for his next literary masterpiece, hot springs to visit, and countless other pursuits that seemed far more appealing than chasing down a notoriously difficult woman and trying to convince her to take on one of the most stressful jobs in the ninja world. He was simply too busy with his own interests to take on such a troublesome assignment.
"That's perfectly understandable," Naraku replied calmly, showing no signs of pressure or disappointment. "We certainly can't force you to undertake this mission against your will, Jiraiya-sensei." He turned as if preparing to leave, but then paused and added casually, "In that case, please make sure you're prepared for what comes next."
"Prepared for what exactly?" Jiraiya asked, a note of suspicion creeping into his voice.
"Prepared to assume the role of Fifth Hokage yourself," Naraku explained matter-of-factly. "I've already informed the executive committee about your availability and willingness to serve. Everyone on the committee agrees that you would be an excellent choice for the position."
"Wait, wait, wait! Don't leave!" Jiraiya suddenly panicked, quickly reaching out to grab Naraku's arm and prevent him from departing. "I never said I wanted to be Hokage! That's the last thing I want!"
"I'm afraid there aren't many alternatives available to us," Naraku replied with a helpless shrug. "Apart from Tsunade-sensei, you're the only person currently available who possesses the necessary qualifications and experience to serve as Hokage."
"What about you?!" Jiraiya protested desperately. "You're clearly qualified!"
"Me? I'm really not suitable for the position," Naraku responded, looking at Jiraiya with a calm, steady gaze. He presented the situation in clear, simple terms. "The way I see it, we have exactly two options available to us right now. Either you accept the position of Fifth Hokage yourself, or you undertake the mission to find Tsunade-sensei and convince her to take on the responsibility instead."
Faced with this ultimatum, Jiraiya finally relented. The prospect of being trapped behind a desk, buried under mountains of paperwork and administrative duties, was far worse than the challenging mission of tracking down his former teammate. "Fine, fine! I'll go and bring Tsunade back to the village!"
The legendary ninja had made his choice. In order to preserve his own freedom and avoid the crushing responsibilities of leadership, he would have to sacrifice Tsunade's peaceful exile and drag her back to face the burdens of the Hokage position.
It was interesting to note how the position of Hokage had seemingly become something of a hot potato - a responsibility that even the most qualified candidates were reluctant to accept.
However, Jiraiya did have one specific request before agreeing to undertake the mission. He wanted permission to bring Uzumaki Naruto along with him on the journey to find Tsunade. Naraku agreed to this request without any hesitation, recognizing that in the current state of Konoha Village, he held sufficient authority to make such decisions.
In the Hidden Depths
Meanwhile, in an unknown location somewhere in the vast ninja world, a very different kind of preparation was taking place. Deep beneath the earth's surface, in a dark and secretive underground laboratory, Yakushi Kabuto worked with meticulous precision. His skilled hands carefully mixed various chemicals and compounds in a glass test tube, creating a complex potion through a delicate alchemical process.
Despite the urgent nature of his work and the pressure he was under, Kabuto maintained his characteristic seriousness and attention to detail. Every measurement was precise, every step was executed flawlessly. There could be no room for error in what he was attempting to accomplish.
"Perfect," he murmured to himself as he examined the finished product. "I hope this works on the first attempt. If it fails, I'll have to start the entire process over again and collect all the necessary materials from scratch. With the current state of chaos in the outside world, and considering that I'm likely wanted by multiple villages, gathering those materials again would be extremely difficult."
Kabuto made his way to a large, elaborate experimental apparatus that dominated one section of the laboratory. At its center sat an ornate coffin, its surface covered with intricate curse markings and mystical seals. Inside this coffin lay a motionless figure, and clearly visible on the person's neck was the distinctive mark of the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
The coffin contained more than just the sleeping form, however. Two large white serpents were coiled around the body, their scales gleaming in the dim light of the laboratory. The moment Kabuto poured the carefully prepared potion into the coffin, both snakes began to hiss with agitation, their bodies writhing as the liquid made contact with them.
Observing this reaction, Kabuto quickly moved to seal the coffin, placing the heavy lid back in position. His hands moved swiftly through a series of complex hand seals before he applied a special binding talisman to ensure the container remained securely closed during the process that was about to begin.
"The results should be visible soon," he said to himself, his voice barely above a whisper in the silent laboratory.
With great care, Kabuto positioned the sealed coffin within a pre-prepared ritual formation that had been carved into the floor. As he slowly stepped backward, maintaining a safe distance from the apparatus, he watched as the mystical seals within the formation began to glow and attach themselves to the coffin's surface.
"Everything is now ready," he announced to the empty laboratory, his voice filled with anticipation and nervous energy.
Now came the most difficult part of the entire process - the waiting. Kabuto chose not to leave the laboratory during this critical phase, instead settling in to observe the proceedings carefully. The process of resurrection through the Cursed Seal of Heaven was, in theory, relatively straightforward. However, the elaborate rituals and preparations he had undertaken served a much more important purpose: they would allow Orochimaru to retain the vast majority of his previous strength and abilities after being revived.
"Finding a suitable host body that can properly adapt to the Cursed Seal of Heaven is incredibly challenging," Kabuto mused as he watched the glowing formation. "It's absolutely essential that this attempt succeeds on the first try."
Kabuto remained vigilant, ready to protect his master's revival process and prevent any unexpected complications that might arise during this delicate procedure.
Suddenly, a sharp cracking sound echoed through the laboratory.
"Crack!"
A thin fissure appeared on the surface of the coffin, running along one of the carved curse markings. This was immediately followed by a second crack, then a third. Within moments, the entire surface of the coffin was covered with an intricate web of fractures that spread like lightning across the ornate container.
"Bang!"
The coffin exploded in a shower of wooden fragments and mystical energy. From the wreckage emerged an enormous white serpent, its massive form uncoiling as it rose from the destroyed container. The creature's scales gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, and its eyes glowed with malevolent intelligence.
The great snake opened its cavernous mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs. From within the serpent's throat, a pale human arm emerged, covered in viscous fluid and trembling as it reached toward the outside world.
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