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Upon hearing the question, everyone present was momentarily stunned.
But soon, Namikaze Minato, who was on the far side, reacted. He turned his head to look at Sawara Kiri and Uchiha Megumi beside him, appearing to have understood something—he hadn't heard the commotion outside yesterday because he was inside the Nine-Tails's barrier, but he had somewhat detected the Anbu's movements. Due to his responsibility of closely protecting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he had stayed in Kushina's room and hadn't gone out.
Only now did he roughly guess what had happened last night.
That woman actually charged into Konoha?
And her target was the Divine Tree Seed.
Namikaze Minato's heart felt heavy, but when his gaze fell upon Sawara Kiri beside him, he inexplicably felt a sense of calm.
The current Sawara Kiri possessed the ability to calm people's hearts whenever he appeared before a Konoha Ninja.
However, his actions at the time seemed rather difficult to explain.
Namikaze Minato couldn't help but recall the scene of Kiri and that woman pressed together, his expression somewhat subtle.
"Actually…"
Just as he was about to speak up and defend Kiri, his voice was interrupted by Sawara Kiri.
"Let me do it."
Sawara Kiri straightened his expression slightly and detailed the process of how Sand Ninja had intruded into the Land of Fire's territory, then unsealed something, attempting to cause chaos behind Konoha, only for their plot to be thwarted by him and the others.
The expressions of the Three Sannin opposite him gradually grew more serious as he spoke.
An Uchiha powerhouse capable of freely using Susanoo, like Uchiha Madara back then… this was not someone easy to deal with.
What's more, he was an Uchiha who had been sealed for a hundred years.
However, when they heard the end, the Three Sannin couldn't help but be taken aback.
"Kissed her?!"
"You brat…"
Jiraiya's eyes widened, staring in astonishment at Sawara Kiri, as if saying, "I didn't expect a seemingly honest guy like you to do something so frivolous."
Tsunade, on the other hand, had a cold face, scrutinizing Sawara Kiri with a gaze that seemed to want to cut him into several pieces.
Megumi, sitting beside him, remained motionless, her expression as stiff as a wooden dummy, as if completely fixed in place.
Sawara Kiri sat there with a forced smile, his expression somewhat awkward.
He couldn't possibly say that he was just trying to test if Sister System's 'strategy' had any effect at the time, could he?
However, the killing intent from his side and in front of him still made him feel a chill down his spine.
"Alright."
Finally, Orochimaru spoke up, breaking the delicate atmosphere and changing the subject:
"In any case, Kiri-kun has had no further contact with her besides that one time, right?"
"Do you have any idea about her changes and objectives?"
Upon hearing this, Sawara Kiri immediately shot Orochimaru a grateful look, then recomposed himself and said, "I suspect Uchiha Hikari should be the 'inheritor' that Uchiha Madara mentioned when he left. Only her strength could support one of the three major forces mentioned by the Future Team: the 'Moon Organization,' the 'Kara,' and the 'Renegade Union'—otherwise, they would have likely been annihilated by my future self long ago."
Hearing this, everyone present nodded. The moment Uchiha Hikari appeared, they had all connected it to the various crises mentioned by the Future Team.
"As for how Uchiha Hikari obtained information related to the 'Divine Tree Seed,' I don't know. It might be related to these organizations hidden underground in the Ninja World."
"Or perhaps, the Divine Tree Seed itself was left behind by one of them."
Sawara Kiri's tone was calm.
However, his conclusion made many of those present pause, looking at him in unison, clearly having caught the implication in Sawara Kiri's words.
Although after the Future Team's explanation, they had more or less accepted the conclusion that the legendary 'Kaguya' of the Ninja World was a powerful alien, this didn't mean they were prepared to fight such a monster.
Moreover, wasn't the time mentioned by the Future Team still ten years away?
Why were there Ōtsutsuki active in the Ninja World now?
Seeing their astonished expressions, Sawara Kiri slowed his tone slightly: "Although we still don't fully understand why the Ōtsutsuki want to attack the Ninja World, they will likely make ample preparations before launching an attack on the strongest Ninja."
"Or perhaps, they began preparing many years ago, but simply never had the opportunity to act due to various reasons."
"I think the comprehensive reform of Konoha needs to be moved forward a few steps, so we can be ready at any time."
"You have a point."
Orochimaru was the first to accept Sawara Kiri's view, but his brows were also tightly furrowed, and he even subtly sighed.
Why did it turn out this way?
Konoha had just finished the Second Shinobi World War, and they had a Ninja who would undoubtedly become the strongest in the Ninja World in the future. Two happy things coinciding should have been a blissful, dream-like time, but why did it turn out this way?
"Sigh."
Sawara Kiri secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, bringing up Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, who was hidden in the Kara, and making Konoha prepare for him, he wondered if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Although it would be several decades until Ōtsutsuki Isshiki defeated Naruto in Baryon Mode, Sawara Kiri himself couldn't say how strong he was now, having been lurking for a thousand years.
Now, he could only place his hopes on the next gacha event.
"Then what was Uchiha Hikari's reason for stealing the Divine Tree Seed?" Tsunade still frowned.
"That, I'm afraid, is related to the Wood Release that Uchiha Madara used before his death."
Sawara Kiri organized his words: "If I remember correctly, Uchiha Madara, according to records, was a Ninja who would never lose his eyesight no matter how much he used his 'Dojutsu.' "
"Even within the current Uchiha Clan, no one knows why—or perhaps someone does, but they keep it strictly secret from Megumi and others."
"However, judging by the power Uchiha Madara displayed, and Uchiha Hikari's eyes, which also don't lose eyesight, there's a significant possibility it's related to the Senju Clan's Kekkei Genkai."
Sawara Kiri said, casting his gaze upon Tsunade: "The rumors of the Sage Body and Sage Eyes are very likely true, and when combined, they might produce some incredible effects."
"Or perhaps, Wood Release Chakra and Mangekyo Dojutsu have some complementary effect."
"But how this point is to be proven and achieved will depend on Lord Orochimaru's scientific department."
Orochimaru nodded slightly.
He had always maintained a strong curiosity for these unknown things, so he naturally wouldn't turn them away.
Only after everything that needed to be clarified was said, Jiraiya clapped his hands:
"See, I told you Kiri-kun would be fine!"
"Now that we've cleared the air, isn't that settled?!"
"The key is to repel the enemy from outside; we can't have problems among ourselves. The Ōtsutsuki Clan is still lurking somewhere, watching us like a tiger!"
Just these words significantly diffused the previously tense atmosphere in the office.
In reality, ever since Sawara Kiri revealed himself as a Hidden Mist spy, this worry had more or less existed in the hearts of these high-ranking officials. Even if they knew he was one of their own, they couldn't help but worry—after all, he was simply too strong. What if he suddenly went crazy one day?
No one could say for sure about such things, especially since their respected teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was also decisive and resolute in his youth, yet he became unrecognizable to them in his old age.
Mutual trust would inevitably be a long process.
Sawara Kiri just listened with a slight smile, seeing through it but not speaking out.
The elephant in the room, even a slight movement, would cause an earthquake.
This was unavoidable.
Konoha was still too small.
However, upon hearing Jiraiya's words, he recalled another matter.
"Oh, right."
"Excuse me, the Fourth Hokage's election should be starting soon, shouldn't it?"
Sawara Kiri asked seemingly casually: "Whether it's the upcoming search operation for underground forces or the implementation of comprehensive reforms, all require the assistance of you esteemed lords. I wonder…?"
Hearing him suddenly bring up this long-delayed matter, Namikaze Minato looked at him with some surprise, and said in a low voice:
"Kiri-kun, isn't this a bit too rushed?"
He was still worried about Kushina.
The Kage of each village must have a sufficiently strong bond with their village's Jinchuriki; this was an unwritten rule.
But Konoha's only Jinchuriki now was his wife.
What if something went wrong?
Minato, the doting husband, thought with a rather dark mood.
Sawara Kiri waved his hand: "As long as I'm not dead, Kushina will have nothing to do with the battlefield."
"The Konoha of today is no longer the same as before."
Minato was startled upon hearing this; it was indeed true.
The Sannin behind the desk exchanged glances, a bitter smile on their faces.
Originally, they had intended to use the "Substitute Hokage Council" to stall for a few more years, waiting for Kiri to grow a few more years older and establish sufficient prestige (which he had already done, in fact), and then directly place him on the Fourth Hokage's throne, skipping the transitional step altogether.
After all, he was already designated as the Fifth Generation Hokage by people in the future, and he had performed exceptionally well; wasn't it a foregone conclusion?
However, Kiri apparently didn't think so.
No matter.
Orochimaru looked around, then swept a glance in Minato's direction, and said calmly, "The Third Hokage has yet to awaken, so now is about the time."
However, despite his words, both his and Jiraiya's gazes were clearly fixed on Tsunade.
Whether it was her relationship with the Jinchuriki, or her lineage and reputation, she was clearly the most suitable—not to mention, she had Sawara Kiri, a 'disciple' who constantly pushed her forward, standing behind her.
"Tch."
"I think you two just don't want to do any work."
Tsunade pouted grumpily, but didn't say much more, her gaze falling on Sawara Kiri, who was still smiling.
Tsk, this brat.
He's really good at causing trouble.
But, the Fourth Hokage, huh?
Tsunade turned her head, looking at the familiar faces carved into the distant cliff outside the window, a strange sense of melancholy in her heart.
This time, she owed him a favor, she supposed.
After this secret meeting concluded, Konoha suddenly began a large-scale cleanup operation against underground bounty stations and a series of secret organizations within the Land of Fire, Land of Wind, and Land of Lightning. The momentum of various underground forces was abruptly stifled, forcing them to retreat deeper into the shadows. This, however, cleared up the business environment in the surrounding smaller countries, and even led to an increase in merchant caravans.
However, despite this series of actions, many rogue Ninja were killed, but no trace of information related to the shinju seed was found.
It wasn't until this round after round of cleanup operations ended that the news of Tsunade's succession as the Fourth Hokage came from Konoha.
However, this news didn't cause much of a stir in the Ninja World.
Now, all discerning people could see that Sawara Kiri, the strongest in the Ninja World, had already taken control of the Hokage position. Everyone who had ascended to this position before him was merely a transitional figure for him.
However, the three-pronged reform, which was launched simultaneously with the Fourth Hokage's succession, tripped up many within Konoha.
Ninja High School, Jonin ranking, multi-specialized Ninja training, and so on, were all sweeping changes that completely altered the Ninja Village system inherited from the Second Hokage. In the end, even the Daimyo and various nobles of the Land of Fire sent letters of inquiry, backing a small group of great Ninja clans that had begun to decline.
But in the end, it all came to nothing. These reform measures were still enforced, leveraging the momentum of the great victory.
Everyone understood that if Konoha were allowed to develop for another ten or twenty years, they would have no rivals in the entire Ninja World.
Because of this, other Ninja Villages also began to follow suit—as for the various disturbances and infighting that occurred during the imitation process, there's no need to mention them.
The growing pains of reform were not unique to Konoha.
However...
"The struggles of ants."
At the long table, Jigen rested one hand on his cheek, the other holding a goblet, slowly swirling the wine within. He listened to the information Kakuzu brought from various channels, his expression unchanged.
In reality, he indeed had the right to say such a thing.
If it weren't for his fear of Kaguya, who was still sealed on the moon, and that eye that remained in the void after death, constantly observing the Ninja World, overturning the entire Ninja World would be a matter of snapping his fingers for him.
Even Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama back then were nothing more than slightly larger ants in his eyes.
As an Ōtsutsuki, he had the right to utter such words.
Currently, throughout the entire Ninja World, the only one worthy of his attention was Sawara Kiri—his pre-ordained suitable body.
"Besides that, has that guy done anything else?"
Kakuzu, clad in a black robe, knelt on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Sawara Kiri is still searching for Uchiha Hikari's whereabouts, but there's no result yet."
"After the previous failure, Uchiha Hikari moved underground, even relinquishing management of Takigakure to subordinates."
"She must have suffered quite a loss."
"Useless."
Upon hearing the results of the previous operation, Jigen uttered a faint word, unconsciously shifting his gaze towards Kakuzu, then looking away again.
Even if Kakuzu was granted some modifications by him, he probably wouldn't be able to pose the slightest threat to that Sawara Kiri.
What's more, Sawara Kiri's body hadn't fully matured yet.
This final period of waiting truly made his heart anxious.
One who walks a hundred miles considers ninety miles to be half the journey, perhaps that's the meaning?
Just as he was pondering how to divert Sawara Kiri's attention, to make him further improve his body so he could offer him the most excellent vessel, Jigen's expression suddenly froze.
Kakuzu slightly raised his head, his heart also surprised.
After such a long time, it was the first time he had seen this monster show such a clear expression.
"Clang."
The next moment, Jigen suddenly dropped his goblet, strode outside, and at the same time released all his senses, looking into the far distance.
"This familiar Chakra…"
Jigen, or rather, Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, had an extremely grim expression at this moment, his brows tightly furrowed:
"Pursuers?"
Suddenly, in the center of a forest far away in the Land of Lightning, a distorted rift abruptly burst open, like a wind tunnel, swallowing all the rising smoke and even the sounds that had just begun to spread, as if they were consumed by this boundless cavern.
It transformed into an eerie silence.
The next moment, several white figures suddenly leaped out of that rift, looking utterly disheveled.
"Damn it, we failed again!"
"I told you that time node was problematic, it must be a singularity, but you insisted—"
"Enough, Urashiki!"
"Shibai-sama's power is limited, and the number of times we can jump between world lines is running out. To change the future of destruction, we can only rely on us few now."
"Which time node is this now? Quickly, detect it."
"Converted, it should be Konoha… Konoha Year 41!"
"Hmm?!"
The moment they heard this time point, the four Ōtsutsuki present all perked up, clearly more invigorated than before.
"Year 41?!"
Otsutsuki Momoshiki, who was leading, looked at Urashiki behind him in surprise, then his lips curved into an almost uncontrollable smile, and his Byakugan eyes widened as if he had seen some hope.
"That's right, it's Year 41!"
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was also more invigorated than before, his tone brimming with intense excitement.
"Don't act rashly yet. Don't forget the lesson we learned last time."
Another tall, robust Ōtsutsuki suddenly spoke, interrupting their excited mood and causing the atmosphere in the area to cool down a bit.
Otsutsuki Momoshiki's face even showed a hint of lingering fear.
After Shibai-sama was slain, they received a divine oracle and continuously traversed several different world lines, seeking to eradicate the human whose name could not be spoken from its very root.
Last time, they had jumped to Konoha Year 59, and after making ample preparations, they launched an attack on that guy.
The result was extremely tragic.
Of the seven Ōtsutsuki who attacked, three were killed by a single slash from him. Even the remaining few who barely escaped suffered injuries of varying degrees and were now in urgent need of recovery.
At the same time, Shibai-sama's death on that world line was probably already fated.
That damned lower species...
He's simply a monster!
Everyone present couldn't help but feel a lingering fear whenever they recalled that world-shattering scene, yet they forced themselves not to show any sign of it.
At this moment, the amount of pressure accumulated in their hearts was self-evident.
Now, the power supporting their continued leaps was dwindling, so they had to seize every opportunity to act.
After composing himself, Momoshiki, as the temporary leader, spoke:
"In any case, let's first find a place to convert energy and replenish our consumption."
"Yes!"
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