Danzō was pissed—extremely pissed. In this Rain Village battle, Aburame Tatsuma and ten Root members under his command were all killed.
Don't ask him how he knew they were dead. With the level of brainwashing in Root, if they weren't dead, they would crawl back to the Root base even with broken limbs.
Even Gekko Chizan had returned, but they hadn't. It didn't take a genius to know they were already dead.
And they were killed by Gekko Chizan.
He was furious. From the very beginning, he had set his sights on Gekko Chizan. And what happened? Not only did he fail to recruit him, but due to various circumstances, he even pushed him onto the opposite side.
But things had already reached this point, and even though he was helpless, he was still Shimura Danzō—he would never let one person hold him back.
"Hmph! Fine, leave it at that."
"I still have business. I'm leaving."
"But, Hiruzen, regarding the ceasefire, I still maintain my stance."
Sarutobi Hiruzen simply watched Danzō leave. He understood what Danzō meant—he didn't want a ceasefire. He wanted to expand Konoha's advantage.
Unfortunately for him, Danzō was not the one in power.
"Peace is not easily gained. I won't let the village fall into war again so easily."
"Koharu, draft the ceasefire agreement. I'll have someone send it to the Daimyō's mansion."
"Also, have they sent the choice for the new Hokage yet?"
Utatane Koharu shook her head. It seemed the Daimyō's side still hadn't responded.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. He wasn't worried. He believed the Daimyō would make the right choice.
Meanwhile, after Gekko Chizan left the Hokage Building, he immediately teleported home with Flying Thunder God—clean and sharp.
He knew very well that the days ahead would be much calmer.
Once the war ended, it would finally be time for him to set his plans in motion.
But he had barely sat down before he was stunned by Chōmei's relentless, desperate screaming.
"Chizan! My bugs!"
"I'm hungry!"
"Hurry! You're back in the village! I want bugs!"
Hunger could drive people insane—and it could drive a Tailed Beast insane too. Chōmei right now was exactly that.
Having no other choice, Gekko Chizan went to the Aburame clan to find food for Chōmei.
The Aburame clan lived on the edge of the village since they raised insects and needed to be near the forest.
This environment was ideal for raising insects.
Following Chōmei's sensory ability, Gekko Chizan searched specifically for the fattest and biggest bugs, which made Chōmei laugh with joy.
But during the search, Gekko Chizan suddenly stopped.
Because he saw someone he knew—Aburame Shibi.
This was the future clan head of the Aburame, and beside him stood another man—tall, straight-backed, expression stern.
But Gekko Chizan didn't know this man.
That made him curious.
"Torune, have you really made up your mind?"
"Joining Root isn't a good decision."
Aburame Shibi put down the insects in his hand and looked seriously at his clansman.
Aburame Torune? That name stunned Gekko Chizan.
He knew that name. Many people in the village knew that name.
Because it represented high-level combat strength.
A jōnin—yes, a full jōnin, not a special jōnin.
Aburame Torune was a special figure among the Aburame. Unlike most of his clan who raised kikaichū, he raised a type of nano-sized poisonous insect with lethal toxins. He himself had antibodies to the toxin.
If anyone else was infected, their cells would be destroyed and they would die.
These insects could only survive inside living cells, reproducing by destroying those cells. Once the host died, the insects died too.
Terrifying insects—giving Aburame Torune extraordinary offensive and combat power.
In the future, his son would also become a member of Root. He hadn't expected the father to join too.
"Tatsuma is dead. Danzō demands the village send another shinobi to Root."
"Shibi, you're going to become clan head, so I'll go."
Aburame Torune's words were simple, but they were the truth.
Aburame Tatsuma had been the clan's representative in Root. Now that he was dead, the Aburame clan had to send another.
That was their responsibility.
"Chizan, that Tatsuma—isn't he the one you killed?"
Crunch.
While eating insects, Chōmei asked, and Gekko Chizan nodded.
He had indeed forgotten the relationship between the Aburame and Danzō. If he'd known, he would've kept Aburame Tatsuma alive.
Those poisonous insects were terrifying—even he found them frightening.
"Alright, Chōmei, that's enough bugs. We're going."
"I think Pakura's class is almost over."
After settling Chōmei's food problem, Gekko Chizan teleported away again.
In the evening, after the family finished dinner, Gekko Chizan called over Gekko Hayate.
"Hayate, I know about your situation."
"You can train swordsmanship, but you cannot neglect your kekkei genkai or ninjutsu."
"Starting tomorrow, your sister-in-law and I will train you separately. If you can't meet our standards, I will forcibly stop your sword training."
As the eldest brother, Gekko Chizan did not want Gekko Hayate to repeat old mistakes.
Gekko Hayate, freshly full from dinner, froze on the spot. Suddenly, even the delicious food in his stomach didn't feel good anymore.
Helpless, he looked toward Sayo and Ebisu.
But both covered their mouths and laughed—they weren't going to help him.
"I got it… Isn't it just ninjutsu training? Fine! I'll train! Happy now?!"
Hearing Hayate's response, Gekko Chizan nodded, satisfied.
Life gradually calmed down. A week later, the village finally received news from the Daimyō's mansion.
The new Hokage had been chosen!
That day, every shinobi in Konoha naturally gathered outside the Hokage Building. They all knew what the Daimyō's message meant.
Inside the office, Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the scroll delivered by the Anbu, excitement filling his chest.
Inside the scroll were only four characters.
But those four characters made Sarutobi Hiruzen burst into joyful laughter.
Because the four characters were: Namikaze Minato!
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"My judgment was right!"
"Spread the news—Namikaze Minato will become the Fourth Hokage!"
"The succession ceremony will tentatively be held one month from now!"
With Sarutobi Hiruzen's hearty laughter, the news that the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, would become Hokage spread throughout the village.
The entire village erupted in celebration.
Not long after, both Iwagakure and Kirigakure signed ceasefire agreements.
The Third Great Ninja War was officially over.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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