Konoha's Mission Master

"Oh my, so you two are planning to get married too!"

"That's great!"

“Let’s do it together!” Yakumo said.

"Then congratulations to you both..."

"Thank you... thank you."

It was now 2 PM. After a brief hesitation, Yakumo decided to have lunch at the Hatake residence before heading to... the Senju mansion.

Lunch was unusually plentiful, featuring not only the usual tofu and beef, but also several pieces of lamb, as well as a dozen or so huge crabs and lobsters.

It is said that…

This lunch cost Kakashi Hatake two months' worth of mission earnings.

Yakumo also took out chunks of Sea King meat from his storage scroll and shared them with everyone. Simply grilling them over charcoal would bring out an extremely delicious texture and flavor.

The group highly praised the taste of the sea king.

Not only does it taste excellent, but it's also not greasy at all.

…………

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Chapter 412 Tsunade's Decision

After lunch, the group chatted around the table, mainly about the changes in the ninja world over the past two years and the reactions of the various ninja villages.

Madara Uchiha stole the tailed beasts from the four great ninja villages, depriving them of their most suitable weapons for the battlefield. However, Konoha managed to stop Madara Uchiha's attack, thus creating a rumor in the ninja world.

That is, Madara Uchiha actually conspired with Konoha. This was Konoha's first step in dealing with the four great ninja villages. At first, no one believed these rumors, but as they were repeated, some people naturally began to waver and believe them.

Now that Iwagakure and Kumogakure have established diplomatic relations and become allies, Sunagakure is also showing signs of moving closer to them.

In short... Konoha may be strong, but it is isolated.

During this conversation, Hatake Sakumo proposed reopening the kendo dojo to give ordinary students a fair way to learn ninjutsu. Yakumo chose to support this, but he would not personally teach others.

Because, essentially, he's a lazy bum.

At 3 p.m., Yakumo set off for the Senju mansion, while Mori Masako and Sivana chose to stay at the Hatake residence, mainly because Mori Masako and Nohara Rin were discussing the specific steps of the wedding.

Before leaving, Yakumo suggested replacing the kimono with a Western-style suit and a wedding dress.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians in an endless stream.

In the past two years, although Konoha Village has been isolated and helpless in the ninja world, the housing prices in Konoha have increased several times. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Senju Nawaki re-planned three districts around Konoha Village and made a fortune by selling land.

Of course, the shops on the street were allocated to the ninja clans, who earned high rents every year. The security and management fees for the three blocks also increased Konoha's income, in addition to the continuous flow of money from the life cells.

Konoha is now very wealthy, which has greatly improved the treatment of ninjas and led to a rapid increase in Konoha's overall strength.

As Yakumo approached the Senju mansion, the once empty buildings were filled with the presence of many ninjas, and residences were built on the open space behind them.

It is said that... there are three families that are affiliated with the Senju clan, responsible for building houses for the Senju clan and hand-making clothes for core members, as well as a family that specializes in crafting ninja tools.

The Thousand Hands Clan provides funding and security in return for their services.

The plants and rockeries in the residential area have been restored, and three more training grounds have been built in the distance, where a dozen children are practicing shuriken throwing with their teachers.

These people originally only possessed the bloodline of the Senju clan, but now they have abandoned their original surnames and been given the name Senju. It is almost foreseeable that in a dozen years... the Senju clan will rise to prominence.

Senju Nawaki's strength is the best guarantee for the Senju clan.

Along the way, Yakumo felt the watchful gaze several times. Clearly, the person recognized Yakumo's identity and did not stop him.

A few minutes later, Yakumo arrived at the heart of the Senju clan's territory and met Tsunade and Jiraiya, who were instructing Senju Nawaki in the training ground.

"You've arrived, Yakumo."

Jiraiya stood up and greeted everyone with a big smile.

“I have rescued Minato,” Yakumo replied.

"I know about this. Minato came to visit last night..."

Jiraiya and Yakumo sat on a wooden bench, watching Tsunade instructing Nawaki in the center of the training ground as he practiced Wood Release ninjutsu.

“As you can see… Rope Tree has lost his memories of the past few years, and even the Wood Release ninjutsu he originally mastered needs to be practiced again,” Jiraiya said.

"I should be able to master Wood Release in a few days."

Yakumo could sense the life force within the signed rope tree, which was already subtly resonating with the surrounding plants. Although he had lost his memories of the past few years, his body's instincts had already remembered to respond to nature.

"The current Nawaki is more like the Nawaki I remember. Tsunade told me that Orochimaru has been using Nawaki's body to do things these past two years."

Jiraiya suddenly remembered Tsunade's favoritism towards Nawaki over the past two years, and felt a pang of resentment towards Orochimaru's actions.

"I cannot be certain whether Orochimaru has truly been killed."

After a moment's thought, Yakumo replied, "After all, there was once a powerful being in a world who split his soul into nine parts and gained near-immortality, but he also became insane."

“We grew up together, he was our best friend, but now I have no feelings for him at all.”

Jiraiya lowered his head and sighed. Orochimaru's actions over the years had truly broken his heart; he had actually deceived Tsunade...

"What are your thoughts next, Lady Tsunade?" Yakumo asked.

Now that the Senju clan has regrouped and risen again, there is no reason for them to disband again. Moreover, within five years, Nawaki will possess combat power comparable to the Six Paths level.

This is a power capable of sweeping through Konoha; its rise is unstoppable.

"Tsunade plans to have Nawaki resign from his position as Hokage in exchange for a seat on the Konoha Elders Council, since Nawaki's mental state is no longer suitable for continuing as Hokage," Jiraiya said.

Senju Nawaki had the mind of a fourteen-year-old when he died. Although he possessed immense power, he was still a mischievous and immature boy at heart, even though he appeared mature on the outside...

Orochimaru stole three years of his life.

"That's a good solution."

The Senju clan needs an elder's seat to maintain their influence and prepare for their future retake of the Hokage position.

"But Rope Tree disagrees."

Jiraiya gave a wry smile and said to Yakumo.

Why is that?

Yakumo was somewhat surprised. Since the first year of Konoha, there had never been a Hokage with the mind of a fourteen-year-old. After all, he was the leader of a village, responsible for managing Konoha's order and development, as well as external wars.

"Napaki's dream is to become Hokage."

Now that he has achieved his dream, he is certainly not willing to give up.

"this..."

Yakumo was speechless for a moment, unsure how to offer any advice.

"Fortunately... Tsunade tutored him every night, and with Tsunade and I helping him with the paperwork, things didn't get out of control for a while."

Jiraiya was also grumbling at this moment. He had always rejected the position of Hokage because becoming a flame was too troublesome, but now he was helping Nawaki deal with that document.

"Sigh, I did all this for Tsunade."

What could Yakumo say? He could only remain silent.

After all... Jiraiya can be considered a deeply affectionate character.

"Yakumo, what are your thoughts on this matter?"

At this moment, Tsunade walked from the center of the training ground to the wooden chair and asked.

Whether Senju Nawaki can continue to serve as Hokage depends on whether Yakumo agrees; this is the weight of the strongest ninja in the world.

"I have no idea... As long as Konoha doesn't cause any trouble, I won't interfere in this matter."

After a moment's thought, Yakumo replied that his most pressing goal right now was to prepare for the wedding, and he didn't want to be distracted by anything else, nor was there any need to be.

With the help of Tsunade and Jiraiya, even if Senju Nawaki is unreliable, he won't cause Konoha's economic development to regress.

Even Tsunade and Jiraiya couldn't stop Nawaki. Due to a series of wrong orders, Konoha's Thorn development showed a clear regression. At that time, he could have joined forces with the Uchiha clan and Hatake Sakumo to drive him down.

Even if things really get really bad... and Konoha is in a dangerous situation, as long as he's there, the danger will no longer be a danger.

Since Tsunade wants Nawaki to continue as Hokage, Yakumo has to give her that face... after all, he was her former mentor.

The Eye of the Soul suddenly opened and began to examine Senju Nawaki's body from the inside out... There was no trace of Orochimaru's aura, and his soul body showed no abnormal aura. That was enough.

"That's good... Thank you."

Tsunade expressed her gratitude very sincerely.

"Please check the rope tree's body for me later...whether it has... "

"Don't worry, I understand."

Yakumo discovered that the forgotten Tsunade was unkempt and lazy, but now, in order to nurture Nawaki, she has become dignified and solemn, and her aura is more like that of a strong woman.

Jiraiya, who was standing next to her, was about to say something, but Tsunade immediately confirmed her status with her eyes, and Jiraiya immediately lowered his head like an ostrich.

Upon seeing this, Yakumo couldn't help but think to himself.

"Since Jiraiya is such a coward, he's probably going to be suppressed for life."

“Then I will continue to teach Rope Tree.”

Tsunade didn't linger but turned around and said directly.

She originally wanted to introduce Nawaki to Yakumo, but for some reason... Nawaki was somewhat afraid of Yakumo, and when he noticed Yakumo, his body trembled slightly without his noticing.

Although he had no memory of the past two years, while he was sleeping at the bottom of the lake, he sensed a powerful aura, both divine and demonic, and that terrifying figure was faintly merging with the person on the wooden chair.

"The revival of the Rope Tree changed Tsunade and me."

"Although Tsunade seems happy every day, she is becoming less and less like the Tsunade I remember. Can you believe it... she hasn't been to a casino for two years."

"This... is indeed not in line with Lady Tsunade's personality."

Yakumo sighed softly, "Of course, it's not just Tsunade; Jiraiya beside me also has a very different personality from the one in the original work."

What happens in one's environment can influence personality and also determine the future.

“Who says otherwise?” Jiraiya continued, then took out a can of beer from his storage scroll and began to drink it, his large face displaying a very complicated expression.