That very afternoon, a new notice appeared on the bulletin board outside the Hokage's office building in Konoha.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, has collapsed due to prolonged overwork and fatigue. He has been transferred to Konoha Hospital for closed treatment."
"Following a high-level meeting of Konoha's leadership, Tsunade has been unanimously appointed as the Fourth Hokage."
The villagers were surprised—Hiruzen, known for being in excellent health, had suddenly collapsed? That was hard to believe.
But the news that Tsunade would be the Fourth Hokage? No one really objected to that.
In the end, whoever became Hokage didn't matter all that much to the average citizen.
Ordinary people cared more about what they were having for dinner, whether grocery prices had gone up again, how much money they'd earned this month, and whether they could earn more next month.
As for the lower-ranking shinobi?
The village leadership had already made the decision. Even influential figures like Orochimaru and Jiraiya had publicly expressed their support for Tsunade.
Did they really think they had any room to voice their own opinions?
Unless they wanted to be "invited" for a little chat by the fully mobilized ANBU and Root shinobi, that is.
Besides, Lady Tsunade wasn't a bad choice at all.
She was the granddaughter of both the First and Second Hokage, and one of Konoha's most renowned living medical ninja.
Without a doubt, she had the qualifications to become Hokage.
Sure, she had a reputation for gambling, but among the Legendary Sannin, who didn't have their own little quirks?
Compared to Jiraiya, who'd been caught peeking at women's baths countless times, or Orochimaru, who always gave off an unsettling, eerie vibe—
Tsunade was clearly the more acceptable option for most people.
After Tsunade had given advance warning—and delivered just enough intimidation—to the village elders, clan leaders, and department heads...
The transition of Hokage leadership didn't cause much of a stir.
Everything in the village carried on as usual.
In fact, many clan heads even proactively went to the Hokage building to re-register their clan's shinobi.
Konoha, that creaky old ship, was beginning to show signs of new life.
...
Inside the Hokage's office.
Tsunade sat sideways in her chair, her feet propped up on the desk. After glancing through a few pages of the document in her hands, she casually signed it and handed it over to the waiting Tokuma.
Bathed in the golden light of the setting sun streaming through the window, she let out a lazy yawn, her eyes watering slightly.
"Being Hokage doesn't seem that busy~"
Around the office, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Aburame Shibi, Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Kurama Sōun, and others all looked up in unison—expressions blank with disbelief.
Damn it.
Say that again—after letting them out of this office.
Heaven knew, aside from a quick break at lunch, they had been working nonstop since morning.
Reading through documents, handling matters, passing them on for Tsunade's approval—it never ended.
Being trusted by the new Hokage was nice and all...
But being watched while you worked? While also trying to ensure your solutions fit her preferences?
It was exhausting.
They had to vet and reassign ANBU members left behind by the Third, coordinate supplies for three thousand front-line soldiers, distribute compensation for the fallen...
And because of the overly centralized policies the Third had left behind...
The workload was insane.
"I mean seriously, what's with all those faces? Shikaku—wasn't that guy, Yamanaka Shinno, talking about pushing new policies?"
Tsunade tilted in her seat and looked lazily toward Nara Shikaku on the sofa.
"Yes, Fourth Hokage-sama. The plan is to dissolve and reorganize many of the current departments. We'll streamline the workforce while refining each division's responsibilities. But even under the fastest projections, it'll take at least three days."
Shikaku straightened up and summarized the department restructuring in as few words as possible.
Promote the capable, demote the incompetent.
It sounded simple enough, but in practice, it was anything but.
If Tsunade hadn't exceeded everyone's expectations with her sheer strength—and if the reappearance of the First Hokage hadn't silenced all dissent—it never would've happened this fast.
"There won't be any more bathroom-cleaning paperwork once that's done, right?"
"Correct. Responsibilities will be clearly divided among departments, teams, even individuals. Minor matters can be handled at lower levels."
"Did you finalize my assistant yet?"
"...Me."
"Perfect, perfect. I had a good feeling about you! Your future's looking bright—hehehehe~"
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, grinning ear to ear.
Being Hokage isn't so hard after all!
Once the department reorganization was complete, she could have Shikaku cover for her, leave a shadow clone in the office, and then go wherever she pleased.
It had been way too long since she last visited the gambling halls!
"Hey, Shikaku—how much do I get paid a month as Hokage?"
"...Hokage-sama, Shinno left a message for you—he said if you dare step foot in a gambling hall, he's going to bite you."
Shikaku gave her a very strange look as he relayed the message.
The expressions of everyone else in the room turned equally bizarre.
Bite?
"He's still a person, right?!"
Tsunade jolted so hard she almost fell out of her chair.
Just thinking about the bite Shinno gave her three days ago... she practically wished she were dead on the spot.
...
Three days later.
Sunagakure — Kazekage Building, Meeting Room.
The high-ranking officials of Sunagakure had gathered, every face tense as they looked toward Chiyo, seated to the left of the Kazekage's chair.
"Everyone, Ōnoki and Kitsuchi of Iwagakure have rejected our proposal. Only Roshi, the jinchūriki of the Four Tails, is willing to help us act during the upcoming negotiation."
Chiyo looked worn out. Her voice was heavy, threaded with barely concealed frustration.
They had expected Ōnoki to be all talk and no action—just bluffing resistance while preparing to retaliate later.
Who would've thought the old bastard, stubborn for decades, was actually serious?
"Just Roshi? What about Bunpuku on our side...?"
"Any word from Kumogakure? Raikage A is supposed to be a dominant figure, isn't he?"
"He's too far. Even messenger hawks can't reach him quickly enough."
"What about Kirigakure? Didn't the new Fourth Mizukage get killed by Konoha too? Aren't they responding?"
"The situation clearly favors Konoha. According to front-line intel..."
"Didn't Fukui say he went to the Temple of Wind to request help from the warrior monks? Where is he?"
"We got word this morning—he became a monk himself, just to convince the head priest. But the priest still hasn't fully committed."
"Temple of Wind, damn it! Do they really think if Konoha takes over, they'll be spared?"
The room was a mess of raised voices and flustered arguments. The Sunagakure higher-ups buzzed like ants on a hot pan—restless, but without a single clear plan.
Not far behind Chiyo, Pakura stood silently, glancing sideways at Bunpuku, who was sitting cross-legged in a corner of the room, chanting scriptures.
Leaning against the meeting room wall, watching the windstorm swirl beyond the window, she sneered inwardly.
Just a week ago, during that disastrous battle, Rasa had been reduced to a cripple.
Though Chiyo hadn't said anything publicly, she had quietly shut down any talk of appointing a new Kazekage.
In fact, she had reshuffled the ranks in a way that seemed like promotions—but effectively transferred Pakura to command the Puppet Corps.
Everyone knew the Puppet Corps only took orders from Chiyo.
Clearly, she didn't trust her.
Today, she wasn't even given a seat—just stood behind Chiyo like some bodyguard.
Sunagakure's done for. Let it crumble.
Let someone else take this crap. She was done.
...
BOOM—
A thunderous rumble, like distant thunder, rolled across the village, accompanied by intense tremors from outside.
Pakura whipped her head toward the sound.
Through the glass, she saw it.
A towering wooden statue, like a god descending to earth, landed just outside Sunagakure's southern wall!
The massive wall—over a hundred meters high—barely reached its knees!
BOOM—BOOM—
The heavy thuds came one after another.
Pakura sprang out of the meeting room and onto the roof of the Kazekage building.
Even though she had half-expected this...
The sight before her still left her breathless with dread.
The southern and northern gates were flanked by two enormous wooden Thousand-Armed Kannon statues—each nearly a kilometer tall!
To the east and west, above the main gates, floated two towering Susanoo—one blue and over 200 meters tall, the other green and slightly smaller.
And between the wood statues and the Susanoo...
The Nine-Tails, its nine tails swaying violently. The Three-Tails, sprawled across the wall. Katsuyu of the Shikkotsu Forest. Gamabunta from Mount Myōboku. Manda from Ryūchi Cave. The giant salamander Ibuse, supposedly sealed in Amegakure. A monstrous lizard no one had ever seen before...
The blaring of emergency alarms echoed across Sunagakure.
But none of the high-ranking officials, who had just run out of the meeting room, gave any orders.
They just stared.
Frozen.
Terrified.
Because in that moment...
As true despair descended upon them...
They all realized the same, terrible truth—
To resist... is to be annihilated.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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