Kiri, isolated overseas, under the leadership of the Immortal Sage, pursued a policy of peaceful neutrality.
With this statement, the elder had managed to gain Konoha's goodwill without offering any tangible assistance to them. At the same time, he indirectly stabilized the current situation in the shinobi world. Villages like Sand, Rock, and Cloud wouldn't regard Kiri as an enemy simply because of those two words from the Immortal Sage; instead, they would continue to court Kiri, hoping to form alliances.
Kiri was a balancing force—a power that continuously stirred up the murky waters of the shinobi world through continental balance-of-power politics, reaping maximum benefits from the chaos.
Now that's clever.
Snapping out of it, the Kiri ninja couldn't help but admire the Immortal Sage's foresight. He truly was wise beyond measure.
Actually, both Konoha and Kiri were overthinking.
Mei Terumi hadn't considered anything so complicated.
She just thought the hotel beds were extremely comfortable, with free three meals a day and delicious snacks provided. And most importantly—she wasn't done enjoying herself on this trip to Konoha yet.
...
January 1st, Konoha Year 39. This day was destined to go down in history.
This date was originally meant to usher in a new era for the shinobi world, but instead brought forth a nightmare.
The Leaf Village at the epicenter was shrouded in gloom.
Tsunade, the newly appointed Fourth Hokage, had been abducted. Konoha made no plans to rescue her, because everyone knew it was impossible.
They actually felt relieved that after abducting Tsunade, Uzumaki Heiyan didn't stay behind to seize control of Konoha, let alone further unify the shinobi world.
In fact, many people found this confusing.
From Uzumaki Heiyan's perspective, after defeating Tsunade, no one could stop him across the entire shinobi world. And yet, he abandoned easily attainable power as if it were worthless.
Could it be—that in this man's heart, living a life together with Tsunade mattered far more than ruling the entire world?
Though nobody knew exactly what Heiyan was thinking, fortunately for the shinobi world, this great villain hadn't taken over, plunging it into an even darker age.
Everything that happened at the inauguration ceremony was completely recorded by dozens of television stations and hundreds of video cameras, capturing every angle and immediately spreading worldwide.
In the following days, the ripple effect of this event continued to grow. Discussions about the couple Heiyan and Tsunade swept throughout the shinobi world—especially the footage of their immortal battle, which was replayed endlessly in every corner of society.
In the wake of the incident, new TV shows mushroomed across networks, endlessly recycling the hype and fighting for audience attention.
Ultimately, the biggest winners from this incident were the media conglomerates represented by major television networks.
Three days later,
the leaders of the Land of Rain, Land of Wind, and Land of Earth reached an agreement. Hanzo signed the document personally, releasing the tens of thousands of Wind-Earth Allied troops imprisoned inside Ame Village's prisoner camp.
On the same day, Ame Village officially issued a statement announcing its secession from Konoha and reaffirming its independence once again.
Akagakure, Sunagakure, and Raikage swiftly acknowledged Ame Village's legitimacy and expressed their welcome.
Meanwhile, the Mist delegation that had remained in Konoha departed on their return journey the same day.
Worth noting was that Great Toad Sage did not travel with the Mist ninja but instead disappeared somewhere unknown. Since he always came and went mysteriously, like a shadow in the wind, everyone had long since become accustomed to this behavior.
Thus, after traveling all around, the world of shinobi returned to its original state.
This event proved that the formation of the Unified Shinobi Alliance had relied entirely upon Tsunade's personal strength and charisma, rather than shared ideals or philosophies.
Once Tsunade was gone, this alliance immediately crumbled into disarray, scattering like frightened animals.
This once again validated Heiyan's perspective: if they couldn't foster a shared culture and identity, such unification would inevitably collapse eventually.
In the meeting room of Hokage Tower...
High-ranking elders of Konoha convened here to discuss the most urgent matter now threatening the village.
"It's already been three days, and the village is in turmoil with panic spreading everywhere. If this continues, Konoha will collapse from within before any other ninja villages even declare war on us," Danzo said solemnly, expressing his view.
"Konoha could not remain without a clear leader at its helm any longer; a new Hokage candidate must be selected immediately."
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened carefully while puffing on his pipe, then asked with furrowed brows, "Then according to you, who would be more suitable?"
"I recommend myself."
Danzo didn't hesitate for a moment, directly recommending himself. After speaking, he swept an intense gaze across those present.
The warning meaning in his eyes was clear—this Hokage position was his, and no one dared challenge him for it.
Moreover, after Danzo spoke, Gamamaru unusually voiced his support as well:
"Mmm, I support Danzo."
With Great Toad Sage's backing, Danzo gained even greater confidence. He immediately bowed deeply to Gamamaru, guaranteeing solemnly:
"Please rest assured, Honorable Elder! I will definitely lead Konoha out of crisis and restore its former glory!"
As these two played good cop and bad cop, the Hokage position seemed practically decided.
Seeing this situation, Hiruzen's frown deepened further. He looked around and asked,
"Is there anyone else who wishes to run for Hokage?"
Hiruzen wanted to stop Danzo because he knew how dark the latter's heart truly was, how cruel his methods could be, and how obsessively he craved power.
If Danzo truly became Hokage with supreme authority, Konoha's future would be unimaginably bleak.
If no one stepped forward, he, as former Hokage, would have no choice but to come out of retirement.
His fellow elders did not disappoint Hiruzen.
People in this room weren't cowards—they were proud geniuses with overbearing pride.
Even though Danzo was Root's leader and had Gamamaru's support, this still wasn't enough to discourage others.
"Sensei, I've decided to run for the next Hokage position."
Orochimaru was the first to step forward.
Although usually he devoted himself completely to research, unconcerned with worldly affairs, this didn't mean Orochimaru lacked ambition or aspirations.
Orochimaru knew that as soon as he announced his candidacy, his teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi and his best friend Jiraiya would definitely choose to support him, giving him the power to rival Danzo.
"Hmm, good," Orochimaru said.
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction. Orochimaru was his most outstanding disciple, and indeed hadn't disappointed him, stepping forward bravely at this crucial moment and taking up the responsibility.
Danzo frowned slightly but said nothing. A mere Orochimaru wouldn't be difficult to handle.
But that wasn't all.
"I will also participate in the Hokage election."
Fugaku Uchiha raised his hand and spoke solemnly.
As the clan head of the Uchiha clan, he had the obligation to fight for the clan's interests. Since the era of the Second Hokage, the Uchiha clan had always been suppressed by the Hokage lineage and treated unjustly.
Fugaku wanted to seize this opportunity to claim the title of Hokage and restore the Uchiha clan's status within the village.
"Me too."
Hiashi Hyuga also spoke immediately afterward.
His reasoning was similar to Fugaku's. As the officially recognized largest clan in Konoha, it was time for the Hyuga clan to produce a Hokage.
Danzo was stunned, his entire body going rigid, his lips twitching slightly.
Just a moment ago, he still believed himself chosen by heaven, but now, suddenly, three more competitors had appeared.
"All right. Danzo, Orochimaru, Fugaku, Hiashi—whichever of you four becomes the next Hokage will be decided soon."
After thinking briefly, Hiruzen decisively made the decision.
"Announce the candidates immediately."
He ordered Sakumo Hatake beside him, then turned to address the four, "You should return and prepare yourselves well. I will soon organize a vote among all villagers in Konoha and select the new Hokage fairly and justly."
When they heard this, the four exchanged glances filled with tension, their eyes seemingly sparking fire—a highly charged atmosphere filling the space between them.
They all went their separate ways.
Meanwhile, outside Konoha's outskirts,
Long ago, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had fought fiercely on these distant lands of Konoha. Battling day and night, their destructive chakra transformed the local terrain, eventually forming what is now known as the Valley of the End.
Now, compared to that legendary battle, the clash between Uzumaki Heiyan and Tsunade lasted much shorter, yet was even fiercer—so intense, in fact, that describing it as heaven-shaking and earth-shattering wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Their clash alone resulted in the formation of a vast dammed lake deep within the mountains far beyond Konoha's outskirts—over fifty square kilometers in size, with depths reaching up to two hundred meters.
From above, vibrant, nebula-like masses of chakra floated over the lake's surface, creating a breathtaking spectacle. At night, the glowing energies painted the sky like a celestial galaxy, illuminating the landscape below.
The lake's waters shimmered with crystal clarity, reflecting the sky and clouds with perfect clarity, creating breathtaking scenery.
Surrounding the great lake were towering stone formations, as if carved by blades or axes, alongside thunderous waterfalls cascading from high above.
These landscapes were created inadvertently during Heiyan and Tsunade's fierce battle, shaped by the immense power of their chakra.
This place, with its breathtaking scenery reminiscent of the ruins left by Immortal Sages, received a name akin to the Valley of the End—it came to be known as the Place of Ultimate Ruin.
Within just a few days,
Ninjas, reporters, and tourists from all corners of the shinobi world flocked to the Place of Ultimate Ruin, eager to witness up close the remnants of the legendary battle between Immortal Sages.
In reality, the vast amount of lingering natural energy and chakra surrounding the Place of Ultimate Ruin made it extremely dangerous for humans. Rushing in recklessly could easily lead to death.
Therefore, Konoha immediately issued an announcement declaring the Place of Ultimate Ruin a forbidden zone. Patrol lines were set up, warning perimeters marked with stone tablets indicating the forbidden area, and ninjas were dispatched to guard the area, strictly forbidding anyone from approaching.
However, despite these measures, many fearless individuals still found ways to bypass Konoha's security lines and sneaked inside.
It couldn't be helped; the Place of Ultimate Ruin was just too intriguing.
Those who entered might have only wanted to take a few photos or visit the battlefield of the Immortal Sage War, but they all met the same fate.
They simply vanished—without a trace.
Within three short days, over a hundred people had entered the Place of Ultimate Ruin—and not one of them returned.
Among them were even a four-man squad sent by Konoha's Anbu. Equipped with a sensor ninja as well as full sets of technology and communication tools, they nonetheless quickly lost contact after entering the Place of Ultimate Ruin.
Konoha had no choice but to increase personnel again.
On a small path downhill, a team of patrolling warriors was performing patrol duties, preventing reckless tourists from entering the Place of Ultimate Ruin.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't truly a real patrolling warrior team.
That's because all its members were only about five years old, and among them, only one was an official Genin while the rest were still students at the ninja academy.
The team consisted of Kakashi, Might Guy, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha.
Thanks to all the chaos back in the village and a serious lack of hands, Kakashi—who had just graduated—was also sent out on this patrol.
Upon hearing this news, his companions volunteered to help as well.
After all, this was just about persuading tourists, so there shouldn't be any danger involved.
Thwack!
A kunai flew through the foliage and landed in the ground between the trees.
"Ahh!"
A female journalist wearing a camera around her neck screamed in fright and raised her hands nervously, not daring to take another step forward—the kunai had landed less than ten centimeters from her feet.
"Ma'am, I need you to leave right now. Don't go any further."
Kakashi stepped out from behind a tree and said coolly.
"Little ninja, handsome boy, please show me some mercy,"
the female reporter begged with a sweet smile, "I promise not to go deep into the Place of Ultimate Ruin—just let me take a couple of quick pictures from afar and then I'll leave, okay?"
Unmoved, Kakashi slowly shook his head.
The reporter's eyes flickered, and suddenly she turned and ran, trying to escape Kakashi and enter the Place of Ultimate Ruin from another direction.
But the next second, she was blocked by Might Guy, Obito, and Rin.
"I, Obito, never hit girls, but madam, if you insist on going down this path, don't blame me for being impolite, hmm."
Obito waved his fist threateningly.
"Hehe."
The woman smiled bitterly, finally gave up, and obediently walked back along the original path.
"Yeah! Mission accomplished!" Guy and Obito happily shouted, high-fiving each other to celebrate.
[Immature.]
Kakashi glanced at the two, shook his head, then turned away and headed toward the next patrol area.
"Kakashi!"
Rin Nohara caught up with him after a short run. "Everyone's been busy all morning. How about we take a break and have lunch? I made bento last night."
"Whoa! A homemade bento from Rin!"
Before Kakashi could even respond, Obito came dashing over with a look of eager excitement on his face.
"...Alright."
Kakashi hesitated slightly before nodding in agreement.
Ten minutes later.
"Woah, it's truly beautiful."
Standing on a flat ground midway down the mountainside and looking out at Guixu Lake (the mythical realm to which all things return), Rin couldn't help but exclaim sincerely.
This place was safe and had a great view — it offered a clear sight of most of the Guixu (the mythical realm to which all things return) area. Kakashi had accidentally discovered it during these past few days of patrolling.
Kakashi chewed on his rice ball and stared off into the distance. No one could tell what was going through his mind.
"I've noticed something ever since Mei Terumi beat him," Might Guy quietly said to Rin and Obito, his tone revealing concern for his friend. "He's become different — more silent than before."
"Hehe, so delicious!"
Obito hadn't paid any attention to what Guy just said. He simply grinned and wolfed down every last bite of Rin's bento.
"Burp..."
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