XX-level Hokage

Konan hesitated for a moment, but didn't know what to say. "Let me explain," Mashiro said softly.

"I met Konan and Nagato when I returned from Kumogakure. They were being chased and I happened to save them. That's when I found out they were also members of Akatsuki."

However, for some reason, they left the Akatsuki organization and were subsequently hunted down by Akatsuki members. "Mashiro explained. "You... joined that mysterious organization?" Jiraiya looked at his former disciples and said with some emotion.

"Actually, the Akatsuki organization was originally founded by Yahiko. Later, after Yahiko's death, I also became the leader of the Akatsuki. My leg is..."

It was broken at that time.

Later, we were deceived by a masked man and changed the Akatsuki's mission. We thought we could achieve world peace, but we didn't expect that we were being used. Even Yahiko's death was his conspiracy. When we discovered this, the masked man attacked me and took my eyes.

"At the critical moment, Konan helped me escape, and later we met Mashiro," Nagato said.

Konan glanced at Nagato, then at Mamoru, seemingly puzzled as to when the two of them had discussed this.

"So that's how it is?" Jiraiya's hands clenched tighter and tighter. His disciple had been tricked and reduced to this state, and he was filled with rage.

"After I saved Nagato, I heard all this from him, and then I gave him the remaining Byakugan of our Hyuga clan," Mashiro said softly. Jiraiya turned to look at Mashiro and said with utmost sincerity, "Thank you so much, Mashiro."

"Don't be shy. Take Konan and Nagato around. They haven't been in Konoha long and are unfamiliar with everything here. No, Konoha has changed a lot; you'll probably feel quite unfamiliar with it too," Mashiro said softly.

"Haha, I noticed it when I arrived. I was quite puzzled at the time. I've only been gone for less than a year, and the entire Hidden Leaf Village has expanded by half. Shiro, you are truly suited to be Hokage," Jiraiya said with a smile.

Mashiro smiled but didn't reply.

"Come with me, Konan. I know a really good barbecue restaurant. Let's have a good meal together today, and I'll pay the bill," Jiraiya said with a smile as he walked towards Konan.

Konan glanced at Jiraiya's smile, then at Nagato's recovered body, and finally at Mashiro in front of her. This was the life she wanted.

Teachers, friends, and relatives gather together and live peacefully.

"Excuse me, who are you three? What brings you to Konoha?" asked Izumo Shingetsu, one of Konoha's two gatekeepers. The visitor didn't speak, but instead took out an envelope and handed it over.

Konoha's other gatekeeper, Kotetsu, saw the pattern on the envelope, quickly took it, opened it, and read its contents.

"Please come in, three of you." He handed over the envelope. The three were Kakuzu, Sasori, and Zabuza.

Kakuzu accepted the returned envelope, and the three of them walked through the gates of Konoha together.

Mashiro quickly received the news.

After finding the three, Mashiro arranged for Kakuzu and Sasori to stay at an inn.

"You can stay here for a while. I'll have someone send the money over later. I have to go out for a bit, and I'll make arrangements when I get back," Mashiro said to Kakuzu and Sasori.

The two naturally had no objections and agreed. Then they arranged for Zabuza to stay at another inn.

"Because of Haku, I will give you two choices. The first choice is to become a villager of Konoha. I will find you a job so that you can live a stable life in Konoha."

"My second option is to join Root and secretly carry out some missions for Konoha. If you perform well, I will officially make you a Konoha ninja, and even let you mentor Konoha students," Mashiro said, looking at Zabuza.

Zabuza pondered for a long time before saying, "I choose the second option."

"A wise choice. Someone will come to see you tomorrow," Mashiro said softly, and then left.

Lying on the hotel bed, Zabuza stared at the unfamiliar ceiling. "Haku, are you alright?"

That evening, Mashiro went into Shiro's room. Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Before we knew it, it was time to depart.

I made a special trip to visit Yakumo and told him about this. I left Konan and Samui to handle the government affairs on their behalf.

He explained some important points to Han and Tayuya. He also inquired about the research progress of Kabuto and Hazakura.

After arranging everything, Mashiro, along with Jiraiya and Kakashi, walked out of the gates of Konoha amidst the cheers of the people and embarked on the road to the Land of Iron.

Similar scenarios were unfolding in the other four countries. (Cloud Village)

After arranging everything, Ai entrusted the administration of Kumogakure to Mabui, and then, together with Darui and hope, left Kumogakure and embarked on their journey to the Land of Iron.

Kurotsuchi was urging Onoki on.

"Grandpa, let's go, we'll be late if we don't leave now," Kurotsuchi said, tugging at Onoki's beard.

After several years, Heitu has grown even more beautiful, with a pair of incredibly long and slender legs that are particularly captivating.

"Stop pulling me, stop pulling me. Honestly, I didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing with my old bones, but this organization has gone a bit too far," Onoki said.

After finishing their preparations, Onoki led Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi to the gate of Iwagakure.

"Kurotsuchi, Akatsuchi, please." A female ninja waved her hand and said from the crowd seeing them off. "Lord Tsuchikage, you need to teach the other village chiefs a lesson." Another male ninja shouted.

"At my age, even attending meetings is difficult enough, let alone carrying a bomb. They don't even know how to be considerate of me. These young people these days are all too troublesome," Onoki said, rubbing his lower back.

“Then retire, old man. You can’t keep clinging to this honorary position forever,” Black Earth said with a smile.

"Hahahaha, I'll take care of Tsuchikage's luggage," Akatsuchi said with a laugh.

"Don't touch it, Akatsuchi, mind your own business." Onoki slung his luggage over his shoulder. "That's about it."

She twisted her waist as soon as she finished speaking.

"Ahhh, my back!" Onoki collapsed to the ground.

"So, should we send someone else?" Kurotsuchi said with a mocking smile.

"Xin, you idiot, what do you take me for? I am the Great Scales of Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage who commands respect! I'll carry my own luggage," Onoki said, forcing a smile.

Chapter 156 The Five Shadows Meeting (Part Two)

Onoki strained to lift his luggage again, then twisted his back once more.

"Really, what a stubborn old man," Heitu said helplessly, rubbing his forehead.

Then, to Kurotsuchi's surprise and confusion, Akatsuchi lifted up both his luggage and Onoki's, placing them on top of his own luggage behind him, and said in a simple and honest manner, "Then you should each carry your own luggage."

Then he picked up the Tsuchikage hat that Onoki had dropped on the ground. "Let's go," Akatsuchi said with a smile.

"Fine, whatever." Onoki said arrogantly, sitting on Akatsuchi's lap. "Not very honest, old man." Kurotsuchi looked up at Onoki and said with a smile, "Have a safe journey, Tsuchikage-sama!"

As the three set off, the people seeing them off shouted in celebration. (Kirigakure)

"Then I'll leave Lord Mizukage in your care." Please don't let Lord Mizukage work too hard.

The Mist Ninja who came to see them off said to Ao and Chojuro, who were there to escort them. "Understood," Ao nodded.

At this moment, an old man, carrying a cane and holding a straw hat that signified his identity as the Water Shadow, walked forward with difficulty and tremblingly handed the hat to Terumi Mo.

“Thank you, Elder. I’ll stake my name as the Mizukage on this mission.” Terumi Momo said, taking the straw hat. Terumi Momo’s voice was very magnetic, and she exuded a mature and alluring aura.

The elder wanted to say something, but because he had no teeth and couldn't open his mouth, no one could hear him.

At this moment, a ninja who came to see him off said, "As one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, you must protect Lord Mizukage, Chojuro." "Yes, yes, I think there shouldn't be any problem," a boy who looked rather mentally challenged replied, blushing.

"You need to be more confident. You are very strong, otherwise we wouldn't have chosen you as our bodyguard during the talks, Chojuro." Terumi turned to look at Chojuro and encouraged him with a smile.

"Yes, I think I should try my best." Hearing Terumi's encouraging words, Chojuro clenched his fist and replied, "How can you be so gentle?" Looking at Terumi's smiling face, Chojuro's face flushed slightly, and he thought to himself...

"Just answer yes, that's all. What kind of careless attitude is this? That's why young people these days don't have much perseverance." Qing scolded Chojuro, rubbing his forehead and sighing.

When Mei Terumi heard Ao mention "perseverance," she misheard it as "wedding date," and her face instantly darkened. (In Japanese, "perseverance" and "wedding date" are homophones.)

"Qing, stop lecturing us. If we don't leave now, we'll miss the meeting," said one of the ninjas who came to see him off.

Mei Terumi interpreted the ninja's words as "missing the best age for marriage," and her face darkened further. "Preaching is for his own good, in our time..." Ao said.

Mei Terumi suddenly moved closer to him, interrupting him, and said with a smile, "Shut up, or I'll kill you." Ao's eyes widened instantly, and cold sweat poured down his back.

"Chojuro, Ao, let's go." Mei Terumi smiled, energetically raising the straw hat representing the Mizukage, and said. Then she turned and walked towards the village entrance.

Chojuro watched Mei Terumi's retreating figure and secretly made up his mind.

"I will protect the Mizukage's gentle smile, if I can do it."

Then he quickly followed. Qing was still standing there, stunned.

"What are you doing, Ao? The Mizukage has already gone far away." Seeing that Ao hadn't made any move, a ninja who had come to see him off asked.

Ao then realized what was happening and quickly gave chase. "Wash the motor, Mizukage-sama, wait for me! Sand Village!"

"So slow, Kankuro-sensei," Matsuri complained, looking at the belated Kankuro.

"Assembling the new suit took some time," Kankuro said. "Then, Lord Kazekage, please be careful on your journey."

"Lord Kankuro, and the festival, we entrust Lord Kazekage to you all," said the Sand Ninja who came to see him off.

"I will do my best to protect Master," Cha said with a smile.

“Speaking of which, Gaara doesn’t need any guards at all,” Kankuro said with a smile.

“Then let’s go,” Gaara said. The three turned and walked towards the gate of the Sand Village.

“Speaking of which, Master must be the youngest of the Five Kage, right?” Cha said, rubbing his head.

"So it's also our responsibility to ensure that the Kazekage isn't underestimated. What will the village chiefs of the other villages be like at the Five Kage Summit?" Kankuro said with some emotion.

"I...I will try my best," Matsuri said nervously. Looking at Matsuri, Kankuro sighed heavily.

Among the five great ninja villages, the Sand Village is undoubtedly the weakest, especially after Granny Chiyo's death. Apart from Gaara, the Sand Village has almost no other fighting force to offer.

Even the guards for this Five Kage Summit are a problem. Besides Kankuro, there's simply no other choice for the second guard. There are too few strong guards; a few must be left to protect the village, and the weak ones are of no use.

In the end, it was Gaara who made the final decision to choose Matsuri. Matsuri was Gaara's disciple, and after many years of careful teaching by Gaara, she was quite capable.

Anyway, there's no danger at the Five Kage Summit, is there? And so, the five Kage embarked on their journey to the Land of Iron.

The Land of Iron is a neutral country with its own culture, authority, and military strength. It is also the largest neutral country in the ninja world. There are no ninjas in the Land of Iron; instead, there is a group of warriors known as "samurai" who protect it.

Long ago, the ninjas made a pact not to attack this country, thus avoiding several ninja wars and maintaining good relations with the major ninja villages.

Ai chose the Land of Iron as the venue for the Five Great Nations and Five Kage Summit, and Mifune, the leader of the samurai of the Land of Iron, also served as the host of the summit. After several days of travel, the five Kage arrived in the Land of Iron one after another.

"I have been waiting for you, Lord Kazekage. I am Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron." Mifune, accompanied by two guards, stood in front of the meeting place for the Five Kage Summit and said.

"Nice to meet you, I am Gaara, the Kazekage," Gaara said, pulling down his scarf. On either side of him, Kankuro and Matsuri were already shivering from the cold.

"It's so cold, the complete opposite of the climate in the Land of Wind," Kankuro said, shivering. "Come up and have a cup of hot tea," Mifune said.

In the Land of Iron, on the top floor of the Samurai Pavilion, the Five Kage have all gathered. The Five Kage Summit has officially begun.

“Please place the Five Kage’s hats in front,” Mifune said.

Miki, Onoki, and Gaara all placed their straw hats on the table in front of them. Mashiro smiled and also removed her straw hat, placing it in front of her as well.

"In response to Lord Raikage's call, the Five Kage have gathered here today. I am the host, Mifune. The Five Kage Summit will now begin." Five lamps lit up one by one, illuminating the Five Kage, and Mifune began to speak.

“I’ll speak first, and you all listen up…” Gaara began.