Konoha Notes

Chapter 158 The Fifth Generation

The succession process is complicated at first, but once it officially begins, it's a real shock.

Although it was just a matter of a split second, all the ninjas who could rush back to the village did so. Jiraiya was naturally present, and even Shimura Danzo, having finished his "special mission" today, appeared among the elders attending the ceremony.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi handed over the Hokage hat, and Tsunade received it in front of all the villagers, she became the Fifth Hokage of Konoha.

Without a lengthy inaugural address, Tsunade received heartfelt applause and cheers from the crowd, after which the crowd gradually dispersed.

Of course, for the newly appointed Fifth Hokage, the busy period has only just begun. After officially assuming the position, he will have a constant stream of people to meet.

But it had nothing to do with Shuji, the Jonin. He worked overtime all night and stayed up until the ceremony ended in the morning before leaving the Hokage Building.

"Hey!" The tall, white-haired man slapped Shuuji on the shoulder. "Now, I can just call you by your name, Shuuji, right?"

Shuji confirmed it. The Anbu look might seem cool, but it wasn't just Kakashi; his own identity couldn't be kept secret either.

"Good morning, Mr. Jiraiya."

"You don't look very energetic, kid." Jiraiya leaned closer, stroking his chin as he looked him over. "This won't do. Young people should be full of energy!"

If Shuji didn't lack the Sharingan, he would have definitely activated it on the spot to show Jiraiya. You're the kind of guy who spends all day out searching for the Chosen One, gathering inspiration, and indulging in pleasure, yet you're asking a sleepless, unproductive person why they have no energy.

He felt a slight itch in his fist.

"Mr. Jiraiya, why aren't you congratulating the Fifth Hokage? What brings you here to see me?"

"I've already said my congratulations." Jiraiya waved his hand, then his joking expression softened. "I heard that Orochimaru... contacted you before?"

"Ah."

"Be careful, he's a very persistent guy."

The persistent Orochimaru is now experiencing a long-awaited, embarrassing retreat.

Of the Root squad members who were with him, only two remain now.

Even though he was disguising himself and didn't want Konoha to know he was there, Orochimaru didn't use snake ninjutsu. With his strength, he wouldn't even need ninjutsu to defeat an ordinary Jonin.

When Orochimaru dealt with Kakashi, who had been in the Anbu for several years, he defeated him in just two rounds using only a kunai.

Therefore, when he chose to launch a sneak attack, two members of that Uchiha ANBU squad were killed instantly, and another member was killed by the Root squad.

Just as Orochimaru was about to finish his mission, Uchiha Shisui arrived.

Then there is no more then.

Orochimaru finally realized that even with his resistance to genjutsu, he could be controlled and rendered immobile by a single glance.

Uchiha Shisui didn't know who was being controlled by his genjutsu, but that didn't stop him from using his short sword to slash at Orochimaru's neck.

A member of Root who was standing next to Orochimaru took a hit, giving him time to break free of the genjutsu.

Orochimaru then immediately activated Wind Release, temporarily forcing Shisui back. He made a decisive move, and the remaining two Root members, one took the body of his comrade and the other took the remains of an Uchiha and retreated.

Recalling the feeling of being completely suppressed by the Sharingan's power, Orochimaru, who was moving at high speed, was not annoyed at all. Instead, an uncontrollable smile appeared on his lips.

This feeling, this is the power of the Sharingan.

The Root member carrying the corpse hesitated slightly: "Lord Orochimaru, there's still one target remaining. Lord Danzo's orders..."

Orochimaru glanced at him: "Danzo wants to provoke the Uchiha. Leaving one alive would actually help him achieve his goal." "Yes... but the Sharingan..." They've only managed to get one corpse. Lord Danzo wants four pairs of Sharingan.

"Hehehe, I'll go talk to him myself."

"Yes."
-
As mercenary ninjas who are paid to do things, they can retreat much faster than regular ninjas from ninja villages when the battle situation is clearly unfavorable.

Furthermore, since they were a hastily assembled team with no trust among themselves, there was no possibility of any orderly alternation of cover during their retreat.

The mercenary ninja army, which appeared quite orderly during the initial engagement, revealed its true colors as a rabble during the retreat, scrambling and collapsing in disarray.

The Konoha team did not choose to pursue further. At least for today, their mission was simply to repel the enemy.

High on a branch in the distant forest, Obito Uchiha silently surveyed the scene of defeat, his aura frighteningly low.

White Zetsu said, "Oh dear, what a crushing defeat, Obito, both on this side and on the other side of Kirigakure."

Obito gave Zetsu a cold look: "Why would Konoha know the time and place of the operation?"

Black Zetsu chimed in, "With so many wandering ninjas gathered, it's not surprising that the news leaked out."

Obito was silent for a moment, then asked, "Where is Orochimaru?"

White Zetsu immediately replied, "He did his job well. He even killed three Uchiha. In the end, he had to retreat because of Uchiha Shisui."

Black Zetsu added, "Orochimaru also took one of the corpses with him."

"There are two left..." The Sharingan is useful no matter what, especially the three-tomoe Sharingan.

Let's find an opportunity to remove the eyes.

As for Orochimaru, since he has actually taken action, we can consider recruiting him into the organization.

Losing Kirigakure is losing it all. One of the so-called Five Great Ninja Villages, in reality, is completely inconvenient to use.

The incident in Kumogakure, coupled with the failure of this operation, made Obito realize that relying on external forces to shake Konoha would ultimately have limited effectiveness.

In the end, we still have to look for opportunities within Konoha.
-
Inside the tent at the temporary camp, Uchiha Enjin sat alone in a corner, staring blankly at the two bodies of his companions covered with white sheets on the ground, his mind a complete blank.

Although the police force rarely goes out on field duty, as an Uchiha who can awaken the Sharingan with three tomoe, he naturally has no shortage of mission experience.

But accepting what happened today is still not so easy.

His like-minded comrade, who had gone through so many missions with him, died in a mere operation to deal with the ninja.

“Flame Blade,” the tent flap was lifted and Uchiha Shisui walked in, his face also filled with sorrow, “Kakashi-senpai has applied for your team to return to the village immediately for rest. A new team will come to take over your defense zone tomorrow.”

Uchiha Enjin remained silent, his hands, resting on his knees, unconsciously clenched.

Shisui looked at his clansmen in this state, his lips slightly pursed. Of all the losses suffered by Konoha today, this Uchiha Anbu squad was the most devastating.

That attacker.

The fact that he was able to break free from his genjutsu so quickly shows he's no ordinary rogue ninja.

Shisui remembered what Shuji had warned him about.

He clearly came for the Uchiha clan, and he has such strength... Could it be that person is Orochimaru...?

(End of this chapter)