Chapter 514: A New Era
Sasuke thought seriously for a moment. "Then how will you enable me to use natural energy?"
A small snake appeared on Orochimaru's shoulder. "All it takes is for my snake to bite you and leave a curse mark. Then, you can absorb external natural energy through my curse mark. The process is somewhat dangerous. I've conducted many experiments, and the number of survivors is very small. Most of them die at the first stage, their bodies unable to contain the natural energy and simply collapsing."
Orochimaru licked his lips. "Sasuke-kun, want to give it a try?"
Sasuke caught the important information in his words. "Your curse mark? In other words, this ability is under your control?"
Orochimaru said without any evasion, "Of course. If your consciousness were to perish, I could be reborn in your body through the curse mark. With your abilities, I assume you are not afraid, right?"
Sasuke sneered. "Psychological tactics? Do you take me for a three-year-old? It seems you have no interest in a deal. Just wait here to die."
He turned and left without any hesitation.
The after-effects of the Mangekyō Sharingan were severe, but he was not without a way to treat them.
Kakashi had said that Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan was in his and Ino's hands. When it came down to it, Sasuke would definitely get the eye transplant. He didn't need to agree to Orochimaru's condition, which was fraught with hidden dangers. He knew Orochimaru would set up a backdoor in the curse mark. Why would he be foolish enough to fall for it? Was he crazy?
"Sasuke-kun, if you change your mind, you can come find me anytime." Orochimaru's voice reached his ears as he closed the door. Sasuke didn't respond and left the prison without a second thought.
A week after the attack by the Sky Ninja and Pain, Orochimaru also escaped. Jiraiya took full responsibility for the failure to guard Orochimaru and Konan. Believing he had no face to continue as Hokage, he resolutely submitted his resignation to the Daimyō, officially resigning from his posts as the Fifth Hokage and the leader of the Ninja Alliance.
The next question was who would be the Hokage.
According to the normal order of succession, it should have been Kakashi. Both the former Third Hokage and the just-resigned Fifth Hokage were in agreement on this point.
The problem was that the Fourth Hokage had officially reappeared, and Kakashi was the Fourth Hokage's student. From any angle, including Kakashi's own wishes, he was not suitable to succeed as the Sixth Hokage.
Kakashi's attitude was clear. If there was really no one in the village to be Hokage, he could step up for a few days. But the problem now was that there were quite a few candidates; there was no need to force him into it.
Tsunade's qualifications were perfectly sufficient to succeed as the Sixth Hokage, not to mention Minato Namikaze, the "returned" Fourth Hokage.
The Fourth Hokage had committed no errors, had not been dismissed, nor had he resigned. Since he had returned, he should be the one to be Hokage.
Compared to Kakashi, with his dark past, the sunny Minato Namikaze was clearly more suitable for the current Konoha.
The Konoha leadership and the various ninja clans held urgent consultations. After Tsunade clearly stated that she had no interest in the position of Hokage, they unanimously agreed that Minato Namikaze would continue as Hokage.
This routine of Konoha—the Third resigning for the Fourth, the Fourth dying and being replaced by the Third, the Third dying and being replaced by the Fifth, and the Fifth resigning and being replaced by the Fourth again—left the other four great ninja villages stunned. You can do that?
Regardless of what outsiders thought, Konoha decided internally. After obtaining permission from the new Daimyō, Enchū, the Fifth Hokage Jiraiya resigned, and then Minato Namikaze, wearing the Hokage hat and ceremonial robes, succeeded as the new Hokage in the presence of the villagers.
Ultimately, a father and son do not hold grudges overnight.
Naruto had forgiven even Nagato and Obito in the original timeline; forgiving his own father was not a big problem now.
With Iruka's active persuasion, the father and son resolved the conflict between them.
Minato Namikaze's succession ceremony was held with great enthusiasm. The other four great ninja villages also recognized him as the new Alliance Leader. After all, the fame of the Yellow Flash had been built mostly on the backs of Rock and Cloud ninja. The Third Tsuchikage could pretend not to know him, but the Fourth Raikage couldn't do such a thing.
After returning to the position of Hokage, Minato Namikaze did not make any major adjustments to the village's policies or positions.
Kakashi was still his Jonin squad leader, the first candidate for the Sixth Hokage. Tsunade, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado continued as advisors. Shikaku was still the strategist.
There were no major changes in the other squads either.
The only change was probably Naruto.
Even though Naruto had not achieved the great merit of defeating Pain, he still gained the "heartfelt" recognition of the entire village, because he now had a village chief for a father.
The title that once belonged to Konohamaru now fell on Naruto's head. He became "Young Master Naruto."
He got a 20% discount when eating out, didn't have to wait in line when shopping, and won every time in the lottery. Everyone greeted him with a smile. The malicious words of the past were nowhere to be seen.
At the gate of Konoha Village.
Jiraiya had changed back into his "Oil" forehead protector, red haori, and high-geta sandals.
Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze had swapped roles. Now, Minato was in the spotlight, and Jiraiya, the retired Fifth Hokage, would move into the shadows. He would continue to investigate Akatsuki and the Kara Organization, and he also wanted to find his "illegitimate son."
"Hahahaha—I'm finally free! I'm going to do some research!" Jiraiya danced with excitement, which made Tsunade, who had come to see him off, go pale.
"Sensei, don't be impulsive! He's just like this; it's not the first day you've known him."
"Yeah, yeah, Lady Tsunade, Jiraiya-sama must be under too much stress and having some hallucinations. He'll be fine in a few days."
Ino and Shizune tried to persuade her from the side.
Did Tsunade not know Jiraiya's character? Of course, she did. Ino and Shizune had given her a way out, and she took it.
Tsunade said angrily, "That bastard. If it weren't for Minato's sake, I would have beaten him to death!"
Jiraiya was leaving the village, and everyone tacitly left the task of seeing him off to Tsunade.
Ino and Shizune were just two tool-people in this situation, meant to ease the atmosphere.
The two old people strolled ahead, and the two tool-people followed far behind, holding a pig.
A dozen li from the village, Jiraiya and Tsunade had a drink at a roadside tavern. The two old friends officially said their goodbyes.
"Alright, you guys go back. Help Minato well. Wandering is this sage's destiny. The Hokage is not suitable for me at all!" Jiraiya faced the setting sun, his back to Tsunade. He waved casually and then, without any lingering attachment, strode forward.
He had not walked more than a hundred meters when he broke into a crazed run. "All you beautiful ladies, this sage is coming to play with you!"
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