On the other side, Yamato also bowed slightly to Lady Tsunade: "Lady Tsunade."
Jiraiya, upon seeing Tsunade, revealed a lecherous expression.
"Shizune, long time no see, and Tsunade, you're getting more beautiful by the day~"
Tsunade nodded slightly to Yamato, then turned her gaze to Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya, you've changed quite a bit. I never thought you'd agree to become Hokage!"
"Back then, when the old man wanted you to take the position, you were so scared you fled Konoha overnight."
Hearing Tsunade's words, Jiraiya glanced at Hashirama and spread his hands helplessly.
"I didn't want to, but who can I rely on when I have no one to back me up…?"
"No one to back you up?" Tsunade looked at Hashirama suspiciously.
While guessing something, she was also full of questions.
According to her grandfather Hashirama's temperament, he should have called her back to the Village to make it flourish.
But the underlying meaning in Jiraiya's words was that Hashirama allowed her to stay outside, making Jiraiya bear the responsibility?
Hashirama, seeing that Jiraiya couldn't keep his mouth shut, immediately cleared his throat twice, interrupting their conversation.
"Ahem, Little Tsunade, why are you suddenly back?"
"I heard from people in the Village that you were out traveling to clear your mind because you developed hemophobia during the previous wars, weren't you?"
"So, he knew I had hemophobia, which is why he temporarily let me stay outside!"
Tsunade immediately felt that it made sense and, no longer overthinking, nodded and replied.
"Originally, I was out traveling due to hemophobia, but hearing news of my grandfather, it was only right for me to return."
As she spoke, Tsunade thought of winning the jackpot on the slot machine.
Looking at Hashirama, she casually asked: "Grandfather, what are you and Grand Uncle, who were revived with you, planning to do next?"
"Tobirama and I?" Hashirama mused for a moment before replying.
"Tobirama's intention is that we will return to the Pure Land after assisting the Fifth Generation in becoming a qualified Hokage."
"This is, after all, the world of the living, and we who have died should not interfere too much."
Hearing this, Tsunade frowned and looked back at Jiraiya.
Could it be that something unfavorable would happen while assisting Jiraiya?
Jiraiya, feeling a little unnerved by Tsunade's sharp gaze, immediately patted his chest and guaranteed.
"What are you looking at me for? I will definitely work hard to qualify so that Shodai(1st)-sama and Second Generation can relieve their burdens early!"
At the same time, he was also worried about what to do about the Akatsuki Organization's affairs without his investigation.
"Tch." Tsunade turned her head away, clearly unconvinced.
She turned back to Hashirama and asked: "Grandfather, what are you and Grand Uncle planning to do recently, just training Jiraiya?"
Hashirama shook his head, not intending to hide anything from his granddaughter.
"Of course not. Tobirama and I plan to take people to teach that young man Orochimaru a lesson."
"We'll probably depart tomorrow for the Hidden Sound Village in the Land of Fields."
"Orochimaru's Hidden Sound Village!" Hearing Hashirama say this, Tsunade was almost certain that this matter was problematic.
Seeing Tsunade's worried expression, Hashirama smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair.
"There's nothing to worry about. We've already released this Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) ourselves, so we won't be controlled by others anymore."
"Besides, we are already dead, and we cannot be killed, unless we release the jutsu ourselves, then our souls will return to the Pure Land."
"What about sealing?" Tsunade continued to press: "Even if we can't be killed, sealing can definitely work!"
Tsunade had a premonition that if they were truly sealed, their souls would definitely not be able to return to the Pure Land as Hashirama said!
Thinking this, Tsunade directly took off the necklace she was wearing around her neck.
"Grandfather, this is your necklace. There's still some of your Chakra remaining in it. Now I'm returning it to its rightful owner."
Hearing Tsunade's implication that he might be sealed by Orochimaru, Hashirama couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ah ha ha ha!"
"Little Tsunade, although Tobirama and I don't have our peak strength, that young man Orochimaru can't seal us."
Despite saying that, Hashirama still accepted the necklace Tsunade offered.
After all, it did contain his peak Chakra, which could barely allow him to use a weakened version of the True Several Thousand Hands.
"Since you're worried, I'll hold onto this necklace for now."
After hanging the necklace around his neck, Hashirama no longer gave Tsunade a chance to ask further questions and called out to Jiraiya.
"Fifth Generation, please take Little Tsunade to understand some of the recent changes in the Village."
"Captain Yamato's Wood Release seems a bit different from mine, and I need to observe it more."
Regarding Yamato's Wood Release, Hashirama had already noticed something was very wrong.
Compared to his Wood Release, it was only similar in form but lacked the spiritual resemblance.
It was like the difference between a living tree trunk and lifeless wood.
"No problem, it's just that I'm a little afraid of what Tsunade will do to the old man after she finds out all this…"
Recalling Tsunade, who often yelled at Hiruzen Sarutobi in the past, Jiraiya had no doubt this scene would unfold… Amegakure.
Akatsuki Organization's base.
A pitcher plant suddenly emerged from the ground, revealing Zetsu, half black and half white, looking at Feng Xu and Zabuza sitting in the room.
"Oh dear, are these the two new recruits?"
"They look quite formidable."
The white half of White Zetsu emitted a slightly sharp voice.
Swish!
No sooner had White Zetsu finished speaking than the Executioner's Blade, with a whistling sound, landed in front of him.
At the same time, Zabuza's cold voice rang out: "A black and white mole that infiltrated here?"
"Never mind. I'll give you five seconds to explain."
Seeing Zabuza's intention to act, the other half, Black Zetsu, emitted a deep voice.
"Zetsu, codenamed Gen, just came to see the new recruits and, by the way, bring you the nail polish that symbolizes saying goodbye to the past."
Black Zetsu took out about ten bottles of nail polish in various colors and placed them on the table.
"This is an Akatsuki Organization tradition; every member chooses a color."
While called a tradition, it was actually Nagato's way of concealing the bloodstains under Pain's fingernails.
Hearing this, Zabuza retracted his blade, looking at the nail polish with a slight frown.
But before he could speak, Black Zetsu spoke again.
"Both of your partners have returned to the base and are resting in the conference room."
"Choose your colors and then go. Your first mission will begin tomorrow."
Zabuza's partner was Kakuzu, and their mission was to capture the Jinchuriki wandering outside.
Feng Xu, on the other hand, was temporarily teamed up with Sasori and Deidara to go to Orochimaru's recently exposed Hidden Sound Village.
Their mission was simple: if they couldn't get the rings, they were to destroy the Hidden Sound Village and everything related to Orochimaru.
Chapter 162: Feng Xu Poaching
At the main gate of Konoha.
Hashirama and Tobirama, leading a Ninja squad of about five hundred, were preparing to depart.
Beside them were several people who had come to see them off.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the Konoha F4, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As for why these four former Konoha high-ranking officials were present.
It was naturally because these Ninja were still conscripted from their clans.
Although a group had died before, that was the consequence of those Ninja not following orders.
So, these four still had to provide some Ninja who would follow orders.
Looking at the familiar faces behind Hashirama and Tobirama.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting in a wheelchair, smiled bitterly and made a final plea to the two.
"Shodai(1st)-sama, Teacher Tobirama, this is the last of my Sarutobi Clan's elite core. I hope you will take good care of them and bring them back intact."
"After all, they are innocent and unaware of my actions. They were educated from a young age to become the torchbearers of Konoha."
Minato had killed over two hundred before, then Feng Xu had killed over fourteen hundred, and now nearly five hundred more were conscripted.
Within their Sarutobi Clan, there were now less than a thousand Ninja remaining.
Among these less than a thousand, a small half weren't even Chunin, but merely the most ordinary Genin!
If these nearly five hundred elite clan Ninja were to be lost again.
It was feared that even their Sarutobi Clan's industries across the Land of Fire might not have enough people to guard them!
Hashirama and Tobirama hadn't replied yet when Tsunade's cold voice came from the side.
"You old geezer, this is going to war, not playing house!"
"With all the corrupt things you've done, you still have the nerve to ask Grandfather and Grand Uncle to take extra care of them!"
"What, should I give each of them a pacifier and a wet nurse, and carry them and soothe them along the way?"
Tsunade had long felt something inexplicably wrong in the Village, but she didn't know what.
Now that she had returned and seen the Konoha F4's crimes, she finally understood the series of abnormalities from before.
Towards Hiruzen Sarutobi, she had completely lost all affection, only disgust and dislike!
If she hadn't been stopped by Jiraiya and others, she would have rushed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's house yesterday to clean house!
"Tsunade, I… sigh." Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was very grim upon hearing Tsunade's words, but it quickly turned desolate, and he let out a long sigh.
Jiraiya looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was now emaciated, his body needing to be strapped to a wheelchair, and filled with a sense of decline.
He couldn't help but think that perhaps it would have been better if Hiruzen Sarutobi had simply died at Orochimaru's hands back then.
As the former Third Hokage, he was now not only overthrown but also became a helpless invalid.
Moreover, all his past actions were denied, destined to be nailed to the pillar of historical shame, scorned by others.
This deep-seated shame, for someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi, who meticulously cultivated a positive image and desired to be remembered in history.
It was almost like being subjected to slow torture every single day!
So Jiraiya was quite curious why Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't committed suicide.
If he had swapped places with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he would have definitely committed suicide long ago to seek liberation.
Tobirama on the other side had the same thoughts as Jiraiya.
However, seeing his once most beloved disciple come to this end, much of the anger in his heart had already dissipated.
Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been very cooperative in his several conscriptions of Ninja, so he couldn't help but offer a word of comfort.
"Monkey, if you stray from the path but can return, you can still atone for your mistakes and regain your rightful dignity."
Hashirama also stepped forward and patted Hiruzen Sarutobi's shoulder.
"Don't worry, Monkey, they are the young hope of my Konoha. I will do my best to bring them back intact."