With the Sound ninja defeated, the Sand ninja retreating, Konoha emerged victorious.
However, although they won the battle inside the village, they gained no advantage; instead, they suffered many casualties and considerable damage to buildings.
The greatest loss was their highest leader, the Third Hokage, who died in battle.
So even in victory, Konoha's morale hit rock bottom.
The entire village was shrouded in an atmosphere of repression and sorrow.
Konoha Maru, the great-grandson of Konoha, was already crying uncontrollably.
Uzumaki Naruto was also in a daze, tears streaming down his face.
The first person to acknowledge him, and the one who loved him most—his Third Grandpa—was gone!
But the heaviest hearts belonged to Konoha's council of elders.
"Danzo is dead too. Only one survivor remains from Root."
Mito Kamio and Tazune Koharu looked at Jiraiya, who no longer wore a playful expression but a solemn one. He said in a low voice:
"According to the only survivor's account, the one who destroyed Root was a single person accompanied by a group of puppets. That person wore the Akatsuki uniform and possessed purple ripple-patterned eyes, with the ability to infinitely use repulsive and attractive forces."
"He first killed Danzo and wiped out Root, then infiltrated the Hokage building, kidnapped Tenzo, and stole the Sealing Book and some scrolls."
"This person can fly and turn invisible. Their repulsive force can destroy everything, leaving no trace of scent."
"As for those puppets, their master can be confirmed as the Akasuna no Sasori who destroyed a small country back then. His puppet technique has reached a level where chakra threads aren't even necessary for control."
"He took advantage of the chaos to steal many corpses, likely to make more puppets."
After Tazune Koharu finished, Mito Kamio also criticized:
"Jiraiya, back then you were out recruiting disciples, and you had the Sage's Eye, yet you never reported or brought anyone back, which led to that person joining Akatsuki and teaming up with Orochimaru to launch the Konoha collapse plan, indirectly causing the deaths of Hiruzen and Danzo. You must take responsibility for this."
"Hey, hey… Don't throw all the dirt on me."
Jiraiya, who had been serious and thoughtful, suddenly felt overwhelmed, responding with a mouthful of black lines:
"I don't even know if that guy is Yahiko. Based on the survivor's portrait, his body is covered in black nails. He might also be a puppet, just resembling my former disciple."
"Besides, the Sand Village was invited by the old man. Who knew Orochimaru would disguise himself as the Fourth Kazekage and cooperate with the former Akatsuki?"
"Things have already happened. Instead of shirking responsibility, why don't you pick a new Hokage quickly?"
At this, Jiraiya suddenly became gleeful:
"Danzo was really unlucky. The old man died in battle, and this former Hokage candidate, who still had hopes of becoming Hokage, unexpectedly died alongside him. What a pity."
"Shut up, Jiraiya."
Tazune Koharu scolded him with a dark expression, then suggested:
"This matter is closely related to you. Since Hiruzen and Danzo have both died, you should take the position of Fifth Hokage."
"No, I'm not interested in being Hokage."
Jiraiya raised his hand to refuse without hesitation and gave his reasons:
"Based on my investigation, Akatsuki's real target is the Tailed Beasts and Jinchuriki. This invasion of Konoha exposed the Sage's Eye prematurely, but they didn't take Naruto; instead, they targeted the Sealing Book and Root. This is very strange."
"If it was truly the Sage's Eye, the survivor couldn't have lived. He must be a deliberate live witness left by the enemy. According to the survivor's info, back then Danzo and that half-god from the Rain Village seemed to have planned something that led to his coming here for revenge today."
"If it's just revenge, then why did he mention Akatsuki's territory being in the Rain Village?"
Hearing this, Tazune Koharu and Mito Kamio's eyes flashed:
"You mean it was intentional?"
"Maybe. Or maybe the survivor really wasn't discovered."
Jiraiya was uncertain:
"That's why I want to continue investigating. An Akatsuki gathering many S-rank missing-nin, possibly with the Sage's Eye, is extremely dangerous."
"The investigation can be assigned to the Anbu."
Tazune Koharu said gravely, "Konoha cannot be without a Hokage. Apart from you, no one is fit to be the Fifth Hokage."
"Who says so?"
Jiraiya smiled meaningfully, "The legendary Sannin—there's still one more, right?"
"You mean…"
Mito Kamio and Tazune Koharu widened their eyes.
"Ah… That woman is the most suitable of all. After all… she is the princess of Konoha."
Jiraiya convinced the two elders.
…
The next day, dark clouds filled the sky and thunder rumbled.
Before long, light rain began to fall.
Konoha's ninja all wore black coats and pants, carrying white chrysanthemums, attending the memorial for the fallen ninja.
Many villagers also went voluntarily.
On the table filled with white chrysanthemums were many portraits of the deceased, two of which were enlarged and placed most prominently.
The rain suddenly intensified, as if the heavens themselves were weeping for these heroes.
Though the mood should have been heavy and sorrowful, after Izayoi laid down his white chrysanthemum and looked at the portraits of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, who changed from dark to light in death, he almost couldn't help but laugh.
Quickly suppressing the urge, Izayoi clasped his hands in a praying gesture, closed his eyes, and silently thought:
"Lord Danzo, may you rest in peace. I will make Root great again!"
Then, expressionless and tense, Izayoi returned to the formation.
Raindrops ran down his face, mixed with tears.
Many other ninja shared Izayoi's expression.
But more people quietly wept, cried aloud, or shed tears in silence…
These were mostly the new generation and ordinary ninja, baptized by the Will of Fire, but not yet exposed to darkness or the village's dirty side.
After half an hour in the rain, the memorial ended.
It also marked the official end of the era ruled by the Third Hokage and Danzo Shimura.
Once the Fifth Hokage takes office, Konoha will enter a new era.
As Orochimaru said, Konoha—the windmill that had stalled for many years—was finally about to spin again.
The higher-ups and the Land of Fire would be very busy next.
Not only cleaning up the mess, but also searching for Orochimaru and the Sound Village, handling relations with the Land of Wind and the Sand Village. Many negotiations would follow.
After all, the Sand Village's One-Tail Jinchuriki, the Kazekage's children, and many Sand ninja were sealed and imprisoned.
Jinchuriki are strategic weapons, and the Sand ninja involved in the Konoha collapse plan were elite forces.
The Sand Village would never give up.
Both Konoha and the Sand Village, having lost their "Five Kage," cannot afford the cost of war, lest their forces be exposed and trigger the Fourth Great Ninja War.
So negotiations and bargains must determine the "price."
Izayoi was not interested in political matters.
He didn't even have time to sort out the gains from the Konoha collapse plan.
Once the rain stopped, he began looking for a site for his new home.
Since his old home was destroyed, Izayoi had no intention to rebuild it.
He planned to buy land and build a large house.
With Lord Danzo gone as a threat, and now himself a rising star of Konoha, Izayoi no longer feared questions about the source of his wealth.
Without evidence, no one dared to provoke a top-tier powerhouse.
Plus, Izayoi had the Hyuga sisters as cover.
"Onii-chan, the house is gone. Where do you plan to live now?"
The Hyuga sisters followed Izayoi, and Hanabi spoke up: "The inn is too small and expensive. Why don't you move into Hanabi's house?"
"Yeah, Izayoi-kun, why not move in with me? I'll convince Father." Hinata softly echoed.
Hearing this, Izayoi felt tempted.
But thinking of seeing Hyuga Hizashi's zombie-like face every day, and the daily "Byakugan" stares from the Hyuga clan, he shuddered, goosebumps rising.
He shook his head and teased Hinata:
"No need. It's not yet time for a visit."
Hinata, understanding what he meant, blushed and stopped insisting.
Also, a boy suddenly living with rich girls—even if he was a promising star—would invite huge gossip.
Though often teased by Izayoi about wanting to "keep him," Hinata knew he was proud and wouldn't want such attention.
"Damn Sand and Sound ninja! My hot spring inn was just built! We'd only dug two wells and hadn't opened yet when it was destroyed. I invested with loans. Now it's all ruined!"
At that moment, a crying voice reached the three.
Looking toward the sound, they saw a middle-aged man in a black suit, obviously just arrived from out of town in recent days, kneeling before the ruins, crying loudly like a child.
Hearing his words, Izayoi's eyes lit up.
Then, under the surprised gaze of passersby, Izayoi floated up, flew over the street, and examined the ruins, measuring the size of the unopened hot spring inn.
After a while, a pleased smile appeared on Izayoi's face.
He floated down before the middle-aged man and smiled, asking,
"Interested in doing some business? I'm very interested in your hot spring inn."
"Yes, yes, yes…"
The middle-aged man nodded repeatedly, like grasping a lifeline.
"Hinata, go to Ino's flower shop and ask Ino to help…"
Izayoi leaned close and whispered to Hinata.
Hinata listened quietly and nodded seriously:
"I understand, Izayoi-kun."
After Hinata disappeared, Izayoi smiled at the middle-aged man:
"Let's go to the Hokage building."
Konoha is the Land of Fire's military base, and its relationship with the Land of Fire is a "one country, one village" system.
To transfer land ownership, village consent and witnessing are required.
Izayoi didn't know the land price but didn't want to be cheated, so he planned to bring a member of the Yamanaka clan to help avoid being scammed.
After all, no trade is without fraud, in any world.
"No problem." The middle-aged man readily agreed, eager to get rid of this hot potato.
Even if his property was damaged, the village would compensate somewhat, but repairing and opening would take a long time.
Meanwhile, the accumulating interest would far exceed compensation.
Now that someone was willing to take over, the man was grateful.
When Izayoi and the others arrived at the Hokage building, Hinata soon followed.
Beside her was Yamanaka Ino.
"Izayoi, wow, you want to buy a hot spring inn? When did you get so rich?" Ino teased.
"Borrowed. I'll have to pay it back later."
Izayoi glanced at Hinata, creating a fake impression for Ino.
"Ino envied their relationship, wondering when she'd have something like Sasuke's."
Ino wasn't surprised, only sighed softly.
Hinata smiled shyly and didn't discourage Ino.
From her observation, Uchiha Sasuke had no interest in women.
If he weren't a man, Hinata would even feel hostility toward him.
That guy was sometimes clingier than her and Hanabi.
After some chatting, Yamanaka Ino addressed the middle-aged man:
"Uncle Yusuke, thank you."
"Nothing at all." Yamanaka Yusuke smiled and nodded.
Under the watch of the green-vested Yamanaka members and the two Byakugan girls, the middle-aged man, knowing these people were influential, didn't dare cheat.
He quickly transferred the land for 66,666,666 ryo to Izayoi.
The land was definitely not worth this price, and Izayoi had to cover some of the man's losses.
After signing the contract and obtaining the new deed from the village, Izayoi happily planned to treat Yamanaka Ino and Yamanaka Yusuke to a meal.
The latter declined, but the former agreed readily.
The weather was cool—perfect for hot pot.
So the four went to a hot pot restaurant.
While the three women ordered, Izayoi took out a map of Konoha, circled the hot spring inn's location, and then circled several nearby houses.
The hot spring inn's area was good, enough to build a house twice as large as his old one, but Izayoi was still not satisfied.
He wanted an even bigger new home—not only with a hot spring, but also a big courtyard and large house.
In the following days, Izayoi visited house by house, buying the land at prices they couldn't refuse.
Including the hot spring inn, Izayoi spent a total of 280 million ryo this time.
Buying from the picky people of Konoha never came cheap.
After buying the land, Izayoi hired a professional team to measure the area and start designing the blueprints.
Once he was satisfied and finalized the design, construction could begin.