I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 165 The Hokage's Secret Meeting! (Third update, 10,000 words, please vote!)

"Captain, is there a problem with the rice ball?"

Shizune noticed that Nara Ranke paused for a moment after taking a bite of the rice ball, and couldn't help but ask.

"No, the rice ball is fine, the problem is with Hinata."

Nara Rinka lifted the triangular rice ball in his hand, looked it over from all sides, and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Speaking of which, this is the first time I've ever received food from Hinata's hands... It's a really novel feeling."

Silent's expression became somewhat subtle.

She thought it was because the taste of the triangular rice ball didn't suit the captain's palate that he was standing there stunned.

Because they were on the front lines of the battlefield, the celebration in the Konoha camp was actually a series of small bonfire gatherings held by small teams.

The atmosphere is there.

But what about the food for the gathering...?

In reality, it's just food made by each squad themselves.

As a logistics medic, Jingyin has devoted a lot of research energy to culinary arts.

The squad's daily food supplies, and even the production of emergency rations, are all entrusted to Shizune.

The triangular rice ball in Nara Rinka's hand is actually a "campfire dinner" made by Shizune.

After a moment of silence, Jingyin spoke softly.

"Hyuga, she's on a diet."

"That sounds even more novel."

Nara Ranka took another bite of her rice ball and turned to look at Hinata Rei.

"Hyuga, does this mean your Hyuga main clan is going bankrupt? Is it because you ate too much?"

"Captain, eat more."

Hinata Rei handed over another triangular rice ball; her food consumption and reserves were unmatched in the team.

Even though Nara Rinka had already been given a rice ball, Hinata Rei still had a small mountain of triangular rice balls piled up next to him.

"What exactly happened?"

Nara Rinka, bewildered, took another rice ball and looked at Uchiha Shisui and Shizune.

"Hyuga Rei is on a diet, could it be that I'm under a genjutsu?"

"It's Lord Orochimaru."

Uchiha Shisui smiled and explained the reason for the matter.

"When our squad, and Minato's squad, returned to camp, Lord Orochimaru told us that we could return to the village to rest for a while in three days at the latest."

"Oh, so the holidays are coming soon..."

Nara Rinka understood, took a bite of the rice ball in his hand, and glanced at Hinata Rei beside him.

"So Hinata is planning to save room for a good meal back in the village?"

"I'm fed up with eating rice balls every day!"

Hinata Rei chewed the rice ball heavily, as if he were tearing into the flesh of an enemy.

"Fried chicken! Grilled meat! Ramen! Sweet chestnuts! Three-color dumplings! Red bean and rice cake soup..."

Hinata Rei was frantically reciting the names of the dishes while simultaneously devouring them.

The pile of triangular rice balls next to her was visibly decreasing.

"She doesn't look like she's dieting..."

Nara Ranka's lips twitched as she stood up with two rice balls in her hand.

"You guys eat first, I need to discuss something with Brother Shuimen."

In the bright yellow campfire.

Nara Rinkazu nodded to Minato Namikaze, who was standing not far away. Minato, understanding the gesture, gave a brief instruction to the three members of Minato's team beside him and then stood up.

Not long after.

Nara Rinkazu and Namikaze Minato met in a quiet, deserted open space at the Konoha camp.

"Brother Shuimen, I just heard from Shisui and the others that my squad will return to the village to rest in three days at the latest."

"Me too."

Minato Namikaze sensed his surroundings and smiled gently.

"Mr. Orochimaru also gave my team a short break."

"What about Uchiha Kagami, whom we encountered earlier, and that highly suspicious Uchiha Madara who followed him?"

Nara Ranka took a small bite of the rice ball and said with some confusion.

"Is the village not going to take care of these two anymore?"

"I was just about to tell you about this."

Minato Namikaze took out the special kunai he had used during the day from his ninja tool bag.

"After we parted ways today, I have been using the chakra contained in this special kunai to sense and search for the existence of someone who is suspected to be 'Uchiha Madara'."

"However, within my range of perception, I was unable to sense any chakra similar to this one."

"Based on my guess, that 'Uchiha Madara' is very likely not in the Land of Grass."

"The subtext of Yongdai's words is that he has already swept through the entire Land of Grass... His efficiency is truly astounding!"

Nara Rinkazu mentally translated what Minato Namikaze had said.

"Also, um..."

Minato Namikaze raised his finger, subtly pointing towards the main camp within the Konoha camp.

"I have also secretly sensed Orochimaru's chakra, and his chakra is very different from the chakra sealed in this kunai."

"So... although Orochimaru is still a suspect, we can basically rule him out as the mastermind behind today's attack."

As for why Orochimaru is still considered a suspect...

Of course, this is also because the secrecy level of the "Flying Thunder God Technique" and the "Impure World Reincarnation Technique" is just too high.

In Konoha, the number of ninjas who are truly aware of the existence of these two ninjutsu is extremely limited.

Not to mention that Uchiha Kagami himself was a "spirit" summoned from the Pure Land using the "Impure World Reincarnation Technique"!

Before the suspect's true identity is completely confirmed.

The suspicions surrounding Orochimaru can never be completely cleared.

"Why did the village give us a leave of absence?"

Nara Lan Gui pressed for an answer.

"Should we ignore Uchiha Kagami and that 'Uchiha Madara' for now?"

"no."

Minato Namikaze shook his head.

"The Third Hokage informed me today that I should continue to carry this kunai to the Land of Waterfall to secretly search for the location of 'Uchiha Madara,' the place where Uchiha Kagami-senpai last disappeared."

"As for the specific response plan, the village's leadership is still discussing it."

Nara Rinka understands everything.

He was on holiday as usual.

But Master Kemen still has to go to work.

Master Nara comforted him, saying, "Brother Minato, you've worked hard."

……

Just as Nara Rinkazu and Namikaze Minato were exchanging information, Nara Rinkazu and Namikaze Minato were exchanging intelligence with each other.

Hokage Building, inside Konoha Village.

A small, high-level meeting is being held in the Hokage's office on the top floor.

As the saying goes, small matters are discussed in large meetings, while big matters are discussed in small meetings.

At this moment, only the Hokage and two high-ranking elders are qualified to participate in this meeting.

Even the ANBU members stationed in the shadows of the Hokage's office were driven out to prevent the leakage of confidential information.

"I was busy during the day and only just found some free time now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his cigarette, and wisps of smoke drifted through the office.

"Yan, Xiaochun, you two should have received the intelligence from the front lines, right?"

"Yes, thanks to the great victory in the war against Iwagakure, another genius ninja has emerged in our village."

Mitokado pushed up his glasses, a relieved smile spreading across his aged face.

"He single-handedly suppressed Onoki of the Two Scales, and even nearly wiped out the Iwagakure front-line troops..."

"The Shadow of Darkness! What an impressive nickname!"

The title "Shadow" is not something everyone is qualified to bear.

Just like "Naruto".

The meaning behind this is "to protect the title of the ninja leader of the Land of Fire from the shadows".

The same applies to other figures such as the Earth Shadow, Lightning Shadow, Water Shadow, and Wind Shadow.

Nara's Lanka has been dubbed the "Shadow of Darkness".

This is partly due to the characteristics of his [Shadow Technique], and partly due to the implicit recognition of his strength by Iwagakure.

"I never expected that such a talented ninja could emerge from the Nara clan."

A smile also appeared on Koharu's face.

"I originally thought the Battle of Kikyo Castle was the limit of this genius's potential, but I didn't expect him to be far stronger than I imagined."

"His opponent is none other than Onoki, the Two-Scaled Horse!"

"Nara Ranka is indeed a good young man who cares about the village and his companions, but he's a bit lazy..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his cigarette, and the oppression in his heart dissipated somewhat.

"However, I may never see Nara again in my lifetime, as he is not one to slack off."

Mitokado Yan and Utatane Koharu also smiled.

In the Leaf Village, who doesn't know the traditional character of the Nara clan?

Getting the Nara clan to be proactive and diligent is even harder than getting the Akimichi clan to go on a diet!

"According to the intelligence reports from the front lines, our battle not only crushed almost all of Iwagakure's forces deployed in the Land of Grass, but also captured one of Iwagakure's Jinchūriki."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said solemnly.

"Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, is also a user of a bloodline limit."

"I have already instructed Orochimaru to arrange for the Nara Lan Gui squad to escort the Five-Tails Jinchuriki back to the village as soon as possible."

Both Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu knew what the power of the tailed beasts symbolized, and at this moment they could not hide their excitement.

The defeat of Iwagakure in the Land of Grass had already significantly weakened the enemy's strength.

Now that the Five-Tails has been lost, Iwagakure's overall strength has been significantly reduced once again.

In comparison.

The ninja power of Konoha within the Land of Grass was well preserved.

With the upcoming acquisition of the Five-Tails, Konoha's overall strength has increased significantly once again.

If we can release the Five-Tails from the Jinchuriki's body as soon as possible and then use it as a weapon on the battlefield...

The Third Shinobi World War has lasted this long.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu finally saw the dawn of victory in the war!

"You should all understand what it means for Konoha to have another tailed beast."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stubbed out his cigarette and said solemnly.

"But the reason I'm holding this meeting today is not because of the Five-Tails or the victory in the war, but because of the news that an old friend has appeared."

"Yan, Xiaochun, Jing has been resurrected!"

"mirror?"

Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen with some uncertainty.

"Hiruzen, you mean... Uchiha Kagami?"

"Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

"It's him..."

"According to the information sent back by Minato, Kagami has been summoned back to the mortal world from the Pure Land using the Impure World Reincarnation technique."

He was a member of the guard team of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Both Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu knew about the existence of the "Impure World Reincarnation Technique".

"That's impossible!"

Xiaochun, who was switching dorm rooms, instinctively denied it.

"The Impure World Reincarnation Technique... such an evil ninjutsu has long been completely sealed away by us!"

"No one should be able to use it!"

"But Kagami did appear in the Land of Grass in the form of Impure World Reincarnation, and the Impure World Reincarnation technique was lifted from behind the scenes, and his soul returned to the Pure Land."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a solemn expression.

"According to Kagami's own account, the person manipulating all of this behind the scenes is Uchiha Madara!"

"That's even more impossible!"

Mitomon Yan denied it.

"Everyone knows that Madara Uchiha died at the hands of the First Hokage!"

"That's exactly what I don't understand."

Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The death of Uchiha Madara is known throughout the ninja world."

"But since the mirror is dead, it has no reason to deceive us."

"I strongly suspect that the person who manipulated the resurrection of the mirror behind the scenes was Uchiha Madara. Moreover, as one of the founders of Konoha, he was qualified to read the Book of Seals from the hands of the First Hokage."

"After all, you all know how the First Hokage treated Madara Uchiha..."

"That's two different things."

Mitokado Yan shook his head.

"Hiruzen, you and I are both ninjas of this age now."

"If Madara Uchiha really survived the battle at the Valley of the End, he should have died of old age by now."

"In any case, we cannot afford to be careless when it comes to the existence of Uchiha Madara."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said meticulously.

"Furthermore, once it is confirmed that Madara Uchiha did not die in the Valley of the End, many questions from the past may be answered, such as the destruction of Uzushio Village..."

"In short, once Minato confirms the other party's location information..."

"I plan to send him, along with Nara Ranke, to investigate whether the mastermind behind this is truly Uchiha Madara!"

Third update.

A fourth update... is coming.

How about later, around 3 o'clock?

(End of this chapter)