Chapter 71: Temari, Don't!
After securing the final promise he wanted, Shiromo left the Four Violet Flame Formation in a good mood.
"Konan, we're done here. Tell Shō, who's waiting outside the village, that he can come in now."
"Mizukage, Tsuchikage, just help clean up the battlefield a bit. That'll be enough."
After giving his instructions, Shiromo headed in the direction where Gaara had smashed through the arena and escaped earlier.
He wondered whether Naruto had already succeeded with his Talk-no-Jutsu.
---
On the rooftop.
Terumi Mei and Kurotsuchi had been watching the show for quite a while.
Even though the two of them were standing at a very conspicuous high point, all the factions present had a tacit understanding to fight their own battles and not disturb them.
No one even dared to get close.
They were afraid that with just one wrong move, these two might directly side with the other party and jump into the fight.
After hearing Shiromo's words, the two exchanged glances.
"Mizukage, I'll leave this place to you. I've only just become a Kage, and my strength is still somewhat… Well, anyway, I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, Kurotsuchi activated Lightweight Rock Technique and flew off.
Her words were half true and half false.
Kurotsuchi's current strength, and even her future potential, was indeed quite a bit behind Mei Terumi's.
But that wasn't why she left.
She had overheard Shiromo speaking to Konan and realized that Deidara was on his way. Naturally, she wanted to go watch the excitement.
"Sigh, so I'm the only one left. Abandoned after being used."
Mei Terumi sighed softly, casually formed a hand seal, and spat out a Water Formation Pillar.
The surging torrent crashed down onto Konoha's streets, violently sweeping away clusters of shinobi.
As for whether it also swept away Konoha shinobi in the process, well, that couldn't be helped.
Large-scale ninjutsu was indiscriminate by nature. The fact that she hadn't used Lava Release or Boil Release already counted as showing restraint.
"Nicely done, Mizukage! Go! Go!"
Inside the Four Violet Flame Formation, the First Hokage watched Mei Terumi's move with excitement, waving his arms enthusiastically like a cheerleader.
"..."
Mei Terumi turned her head to look, and instantly felt a headache coming on.
Here she was, alone, doing hard labor and spraying water everywhere, while a bunch of old men, perverts, and dead people were sitting inside a giant barrier, leisurely spectating.
The Second Hokage sat on the ground, watching his elder brother dance around, feeling that Konoha's dignity was being completely thrown away.
"That one called Jiraiya, fine, we can't get out from in here, but you're outside. Why are you standing around watching instead of going to help?"
The Second Hokage shouted at Jiraiya.
If he couldn't scold his brother, he could at least scold this one.
"Uh, Second Hokage-sama, I've already sent Mount Myōboku's toads to provide support. I'm staying here to keep an eye on Orochimaru."
Jiraiya explained.
"Forget it. Monkey, come here. Let's talk."
The Second Hokage had completely given up. He decided to give his disciple a few words of advice and then just wait for the Impure World Reincarnation to be released.
"Sensei."
Sarutobi Hiruzen obediently walked over.
"Monkey, there's no problem with you honoring the conditions you agreed to. But you should also understand what a Hokage ought to do."
"I understand, Sensei. In fact, some intelligence has already been brought back earlier."
Hiruzen was referring to Kakashi.
"Oh? That's good. Monkey, you must determine whether the enemy he mentioned truly exists, or whether he fabricated such an enemy to realize his own ambitions."
The Second Hokage felt heavy-hearted.
If Shiromo was lying, then someone like him becoming Konoha's enemy would be terrifyingly troublesome.
If Shiromo was telling the truth, then an enemy that required even him to go to such lengths, just how frightening would that be?
"Sensei, I understand. Orochimaru was actually right about one thing: the wind of Konoha really has stopped for a long time."
"So after this is over, I plan to pass the Hokage position on to either Jiraiya or Tsunade."
As soon as Hiruzen finished speaking, the Second Hokage glanced at Jiraiya outside the barrier.
"Give it to Tsunade."
One frequents the red-light district. The other frequents Tanzaku Town.
They'd already seen the one from the red-light district. The one from Tanzaku Town hadn't been seen yet, at least there was still a bit of hope.
"Yes, yes, the Second Hokage-sama is right! Old man, if you're stepping down, don't give it to me!"
Hearing their conversation, Jiraiya hurriedly chimed in to agree.
No joke, he had no desire to go from writing "slap-slap" every day to writing "reviewed" every day.
The only thing about becoming Hokage that tempted him was Hiruzen's crystal ball that could be used for peeping, and the Telescope Technique.
If he'd known Konoha wasn't in much danger, he wouldn't have come back at all.
"However, Sarutobi, if Tsunade shows absolutely no sign of returning this time, then give it to this Jiraiya instead."
The Second Hokage suddenly changed his tone.
"Huh?"
Jiraiya didn't react in time to the sudden reversal.
"Yes."
Hiruzen nodded solemnly.
If Tsunade showed no intention of returning at all, it meant she had changed and no longer cared about Konoha. Such a person absolutely could not be allowed to become Hokage.
---
In the forest.
Naruto was locked in a fierce battle with the fully tailed-beast-transformed Gaara, more precisely, little Shukaku.
Sakura was tending to Sasuke, who had exhausted his chakra after using Chidori twice.
Temari was hiding in the shadows on a tree branch, watching the battle.
The fight had reached its most intense stage.
Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and charged toward Gaara.
The shadow clones were constantly being smashed apart.
Gaara's mind was still unhinged, but after the earlier exchange, he had already realized that what Kankurō told him before was false.
Konoha shinobi did not have a habit of targeting people's butts.
Gaara wildly swung his claws, crushing Naruto's charging clones one after another. He wanted to completely immerse himself in slaughter, no longer fearing anything, no longer,
"Take this! This is what Kakashi-sensei taught me, Konoha's secret taijutsu ultimate technique, Thousand Years of Death!!!"
Suddenly, an excited shout came from behind him.
Naruto's real body had somehow slipped behind him under the cover of his shadow clones!
And Kakashi.
And that Thousand Years of Death!
This, this is bad!
Gaara, who had ignored sibling affection for so long, suddenly regretted not listening to his brother Kankurō's advice.
Watching this scene in secret, Temari's expression changed repeatedly.
There was a bit of embarrassment unique to a girl, some disdain for Konoha shinobi, and deep concern for Gaara.
"But this Uzumaki Naruto doesn't know Lightning Cutter. He shouldn't be able to break through, right?"
Temari muttered to herself, fully aware of Gaara's defenses.
Gaara thought of that too. But as the one experiencing it firsthand, all he felt was something cold and icy against his butt.
This is, kunai?!
Wait, why is it heating up?!
BOOM!!!
Gaara's butt exploded.
That naturally evil demon fox brat had even attached an explosive tag to it!!!!
Seeing this, Temari froze completely, her entire body stiffening.
"Good thing I made it in time. This famous scene, I'll take a photo and give it to him as a gift when he becomes Kazekage."
A voice sounded behind Temari.
"Don't stab my butt!!!!"
Like a startled bird, Temari leapt in terror to another tree, clutching herself protectively.
After seeing that it wasn't a Konoha shinobi but Shiromo, she finally relaxed a little.
Shiromo, who had just finished taking the photo and was holding the camera, was covered in black lines.
Who wants to stab your butt?!
Don't slander people out of thin air!
(End of this chapter)