Naruto: Hiding in the Anbu Until I Became a Super Kage

Chapter 503 503: So Understandably Compliant It's Almost Despicable(Bonus Chapter)

Tsunade, panting heavily, rushed along a ridge in the Land of Earth, finally catching up with the Konoha forces ahead.

This unit, commanded by Fox, had utterly routed the Iwa-nin.

Fox was on the mountaintop. The Konoha ninja on the slopes all watched the hurried Advisor Tsunade.

Their eyes were filled with sympathy. With the Third Hokage killed, as his student, Tsunade must be in great pain.

From the surrounding ninjas' eyes, Tsunade could tell they had learned about the Third Hokage's death before her.

Of course. Fox controlled the Transport Altars; he would naturally be the first to know about anything.

Reaching the mountaintop, Tsunade saw Fox studying a map with Squad Leader Kika.

The mask hid most of his expression. Yōkō said, "Advisor Tsunade, my condolences."

Tsunade's expression was dazed, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Yōkō gestured for the others to leave; he needed to talk with Advisor Tsunade alone.

After the others had moved away, Tsunade asked in a trembling voice, "Fox... the Third Hokage is dead. Did you do it?"

"It shouldn't have been me. It shouldn't have been."

Hearing Fox's answer, Tsunade understood the truth.

Years ago, Fox had told her not to misjudge, not to let fear of patriicide interfere with his actions.

She knew the Third Hokage had done many evil things: the extermination of the Uzumaki clan, the Nine-Tails transfer incident involving the Senju, Nawaki's death, and so on. But truly hearing that the Third Hokage had been killed still left her heart unsettled.

Yōkō said, "According to my intelligence, Uchiha Obito infiltrated the capital's Tenshu Castle using his Space-Time Dōjutsu and killed two Daimyō. Subsequently, Uchiha Obito, Tobi (who obtained Uchiha Mahiru's Mangekyō Sharingan), and Sarutobi Kanenosuke worked together to ambush and kill the Third Hokage."

"Advisor Tsunade, you can no longer stay on the front lines. As the sole remaining Hokage Advisor, you should return to Konoha Village to take charge."

Hearing this, Tsunade nodded.

She was not an indecisive person. Even guessing the truth, she wouldn't pry into the details.

After thinking, Tsunade said:

"The war in the Land of Grass is proceeding very smoothly. There's too much strength concentrated here. Me, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and you—four Kage-level combatants are here. It's unnecessary."

"I should indeed return to Konoha Village to stabilize morale. Konoha Village is in chaos, and so is the Land of Fire. The Daimyō's family of the Land of Fire was almost wiped out by the Akatsuki. We cannot stand by and let the Land of Fire fall into disorder."

"I want Squad Leader Nara Rokaku to also return to Konoha Village. Have Nara Rokaku coordinate with the Three Gods Religion to establish Transport Altars in all towns of the Land of Fire as quickly as possible."

"In any town with an altar, Konoha ninja can appear rapidly, command samurai, and ensure basic social order."

"Therefore... I think we should send Jiraiya to the Land of Whirlpools to replace Nara Rokaku in commanding the war there."

"Leave Orochimaru here to command the war in the Land of Earth."

"Nara Rokaku returns to the village to assist me in handling the chaos in Konoha Village and the Land of Fire."

Yōkō nodded repeatedly. "Excellent, Princess Tsunade. You're already thinking like a Hokage."

"I will use the Flying Thunder God to adjust troop deployments immediately. After the war ends, we can smoothly push for you to succeed as the Fourth Hokage."

In the original storyline, Tsunade held deep grudges against Sarutobi Hiruzen.

She loved Konoha deeply but was unwilling to return. Only after Sarutobi Hiruzen's death did she seize the opportunity to return to Konoha.

This lifetime had been less turbulent; Tsunade's life had gone much more smoothly.

Going down the mountain, Orochimaru and Jiraiya were already prepared.

Tsunade explained her plan to Orochimaru and Jiraiya, and both agreed wholeheartedly.

Dozens of Iron Vines emerged from Yōkō's sleeve, wrapping around Tsunade, Jiraiya, and several dozen of their familiar subordinates.

Orochimaru looked at the Iron Vine on Jiraiya's wrist and said:

"Fox, if you were to carve a Flying Thunder God formula on Jiraiya right now, wouldn't that make him absolutely doomed?"

"Lord Orochimaru, you sure know how to joke. Am I that kind of person?"

Orochimaru's lips twitched. Aren't you, Fox?

Instantly arriving at Ryosei Port in the Land of Whirlpools, Yōkō saw messenger ninja stationed in the courtyard of the Divine Hall.

The messenger ninja immediately went to find Commander-in-Chief Nara Rokaku.

The appearance of Transport Altars had greatly increased Konoha's reaction speed, like building a high-speed neural network. Nara Rokaku quickly learned the news and had made arrangements early.

Nara Rokaku hurried into the Divine Hall. With his multitasking mind, he listened to Tsunade's arrangements for the war while contemplating the future.

Tsunade... seemed to be the nailed-on Fourth Hokage.

Among the Sannin, Orochimaru and Jiraiya naturally supported Tsunade.

Among the higher-ups, Minister Fox had long stood with Tsunade.

The village's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Kushina, was Tsunade's cousin.

The Konoha medical system, including Konoha Hospital and frontline medical units, had always been part of Tsunade's sphere of influence.

From any perspective, as long as Tsunade was willing, no one could stop her. On the contrary, support for her was everywhere.

Nara Rokaku deeply realized that Konoha was about to undergo a major upheaval.

The ones who once held power in Konoha were the Third Hokage, Advisors like Mitokado Homura, the Sarutobi clan, the Shimura clan, the Ino–Shika–Chō Trio Clans... Unnoticed, the power factions within Konoha Village had undergone a massive reshuffle.

The Shimura clan was the first to suffer heavy losses. Centering around the position of Guardian Ninja for the Daimyō of the Land of Grass, many Shimura elites died.

The Sarutobi clan followed. Sarutobi Shinnosuke, representing the Sarutobi clan's future, died. Sarutobi Hinotama, Sarutobi Enosuke, and others were also killed. Now, Sarutobi Shizutaka, the Sarutobi clan's Guardian Ninja Captain for the Land of Fire Daimyō for over a decade, was also killed.

The Third Hokage's three advisors—Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Shimura Danzo—were killed one after another.

The current Konoha had no remaining forces of opposition aside from Tsunade's faction.

Fortunately, the Ino–Shika–Chō Trio Clans had switched sides early, boarding Minister Fox and Advisor Tsunade's ship. Though they had also suffered casualties, their core vitality remained unharmed.

After hearing Advisor Tsunade's arrangements for the war, Nara Rokaku repeatedly nodded and said:

"I fully agree with Advisor Tsunade's plan. I will return to Konoha Village immediately to resolve the troubles in Konoha and the Land of Fire."

"However, there is one more, even more important matter."

"Hmm? What matter?"

Seeing Advisor Tsunade, Jiraiya, Minister Fox, and others look at him, Nara Rokaku said:

"The Third Hokage-sama's murder is tragic. However, we should also select the Fourth Hokage as soon as possible. Commanding the war and seeking revenge against the Akatsuki requires a central figure."

"I recommend Advisor Tsunade to become the Fourth Hokage."

"The Daimyō's family is almost completely wiped out. I don't see the need to seek the Daimyō's approval anymore."

"Minister Fox, Jiraiya, what are your opinions?"

Yōkō thought to himself, I was planning to push Tsunade into position after the war ends, Squad Leader Rokaku. You can't even wait that long. You're so understandably compliant it's almost despicable.

(End of Chapter)