No one objected to the Third Hokage defining Setsuna as a hero.
Firstly, they genuinely respected Setsuna's strength and courage. Secondly, they privately believed Setsuna was most likely not coming back. Granting appropriate honors to the deceased was something no one would oppose.
At that moment, Hizashi suddenly spoke. "Minato, I have two questions. First, did you leave a Flying Thunder God's mark in Sunagakure? Second, can you use the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport directly from Konoha to Sunagakure?"
Minato nodded slowly. "I did leave a Flying Thunder God's mark in Sunagakure. As for teleporting there, the main limitations of the Flying Thunder God Technique are sensory range and Chakra amount. The sensing part is easy. With my current Chakra Reserves, a one-way trip to Sunagakure isn't difficult. Under normal circumstances, while I couldn't bring Setsuna directly back to Konoha, I could at least help him escape the immediate vicinity of Sunagakure."
The Jonin present stared wide-eyed, 'Sensing Sunagakure from Konoha was considered easy? This guy was a monster too.'
Furthermore, Minato had already endured a fierce battle in Sunagakure. And according to the Third Hokage, inside the giant serpent, they were nearly shaken to the point of dizziness and vomiting, clearly indicating he got no rest either.
Yet he still retained enough Chakra to teleport from Konoha to Sunagakure? While he couldn't compare to true Chakra monsters yet, this was still no small feat.
They had previously questioned the Third Hokage's decision to appoint Minato as the team leader for the Chunin Exams, as Minato hadn't truly proven himself and didn't stand out much among Konoha's Jonin.
But now it seemed the Third Hokage's foresight was far superior to theirs.
The Third Hokage said urgently, "Minato, the mission to rescue Setsuna is entrusted to you. You must be careful yourself."
However, Minato's expression turned bitter. "Actually, shortly after I felt the giant serpent had carried us a certain distance from Sunagakure, I attempted to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to return. But it seemed the interior of that giant serpent existed in some kind of separate space, blocking my perception."
"After returning to Konoha, I tried sensing again immediately, but I discovered that the marks I left in Sunagakure are gone."
Hizashi expressed regret. "Your marks were discovered and erased by the enemy?"
Minato's expression was very serious. "Normally, it is absolutely impossible to erase Flying Thunder God's marks. Only completely destroying the object bearing the marking, for instance, with an attack on the level of the Third Tsuchikage's Dust Release, could possibly destroy the medium. But my Flying Thunder God's marks were inscribed very discreetly, so they shouldn't have been discovered so easily, in theory."
"Back to square one?" The Third Hokage sighed, not bothering to delve deeper. "Jonin willing to accompany me to Sunagakure can volunteer now."
Utatane Koharu said gravely, "Hiruzen, your stubbornness will lead Konoha to ruin."
With one hundred Jonin, if all were lost in Sunagakure, even an entity as large and established as Konoha would suffer a devastating blow.
Danzo felt he was back at that fateful crossroads from his past. He desperately wanted to shout at Hiruzen to abandon this plan, but the words stuck in his throat, as if speaking them would inevitably lead to misfortune.
When he heard Koharu's objection, he actually felt a wave of relief internally, just like back then.
Coming to his senses, Danzo felt a surge of humiliation.
'Back then, I was facing Kumogakure's elite forces, so feeling fear subconsciously was understandable. But this time, I merely wanted to stop Hiruzen from wasting military strength. Why did I still feel afraid?'
'Could it be... my subconscious fears that brat?' Danzo gritted his teeth. 'Impossible! I just… I just believe Hiruzen is making a mistake. Once he suffers heavy losses and is forced to resign, I can seize the opportunity to take over the Hokage's authority and lead Konoha down the correct path. Yes, that must be what I'm thinking!'
The Third Hokage looked into Koharu's eyes. "I only know this: a nation without heroes is unfortunate. A nation that has heroes but does not cherish them is hopeless. Even in the world of Ninja, there shouldn't be only cold calculations."
Koharu was visibly moved, as if seeing the young Hiruzen who had saved Konoha in its most turbulent times once more. She sighed. "Age makes us cautious and hesitant. I hope you are right."
Hearing Koharu concede so easily, Danzo's eye widened, 'You're giving up just like that?'
'Unfit for great responsibility! It seems only I can stop Hiruzen now. But-' Danzo hesitated again.
Just then, a thunderous cheer erupted from outside.
Soon, a guard reported: "Hokage-sama! Setsuna-sama has returned successfully!"
The guard's eyes were full of admiration. Even though Setsuna was still just a Genin, he couldn't help but use an honorific.
The meeting room fell silent for a moment, then erupted with exclamations of disbelief.
"He actually survived that situation and came back alive!"
"It's incredible! It's nothing short of a miracle!"
Amidst these exclamations, Danzo broke out in a cold sweat.
'I almost fell into his trap! Hiruzen, was this your scheme?' Danzo looked at the Third with a mixture of shock and fury, feeling for the first time that his old friend's methods surpassed his own.
'He deliberately claimed Chiaki Setsuna was in a hopeless, fatal situation, offered a glimmer of hope, then lured me into objecting. Finally, he steps forward as the good guy, not only gaining that brat's and everyone else's favor but also potentially turning that brat into a weapon against me.'
Danzo couldn't help but suck in a cold breath, his wariness of the Third reaching its peak, 'Hiruzen, oh Hiruzen... I never saw your hypocrisy before. I was deceived by you. Thankfully, I was cautious enough.'
Completely unaware of the distorted image Danzo had of him, the Third Hokage rushed out overjoyed. "Come, let us welcome Konoha's hero home."
On the streets of Konoha, Setsuna enjoyed a taste of the hero's welcome Naruto would experience in the future.
Although it was somewhat noisy and chaotic, Setsuna didn't resist the experience. He wasn't like Goku, who liked to give all the credit to others.
Among the crowd, the most excited were the candidates who had gone to the Chunin Exams with him.
Others hadn't experienced the danger firsthand, but they knew exactly how perilous it had been.
Most of them had believed they were doomed. They never expected Setsuna to step forward at the most critical moment, shouldering all the danger and sending them back to safety.
They would remember this debt of gratitude for the rest of their lives!
When the Third Hokage emerged with the Jonin to welcome him, the atmosphere reached its peak.
"When Sunagakure's conspiracy coiled around the Chunin Exams like a venomous snake, you alone cleaved a path to survival for Konoha's future. Not only did you save these tender new sprouts, but you also showed this old man a quality more precious than any Jutsu. Konoha is proud of you!"
As the Third Hokage's words fell, the crowd, unable to hold back any longer, surged forward and lifted Setsuna high into the air.
"Chiaki Setsuna! Chiaki Setsuna!"
"Hero! Hero!"
Don Slime teased Setsuna internally, "You seem to be enjoying their cheers quite a bit."
Setsuna chuckled lightly. "There's nothing wrong with that. 'Wherever the heart finds peace, that place is home.'"
"A pity. I once had the concept of a homeland too," Don Slime remarked with some emotion, "But the strong are destined to be lonely. Because the people around you will always die. In the end, you can travel the entire universe and not find a place to truly stay."
Setsuna kindly reminded it, "I can plant the God Tree and grant eternal life to those around me."
Don Slime instantly felt deflated. "Trash universe! Granting eternal life so easily... If I had encountered an opportunity like yours back in my day, I would have invaded your universe long ago."