Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 22: Rising Tide

The Chunin Exams of the 60th year of Konoha were destined to be etched in the annals of ninja history.

The joint attack by the Sand and Sound ninjas on Konoha. 

Orochimaru, once one of the legendary Three Ninjas, successfully killed his master.

The Third Hokage, known as the "Ninja King" and active in the ninja world for over forty years, has perished.

The Fourth Kazekage is missing.

And someone who stands shoulder to shoulder with gods has reappeared in the world.

This series of explosive events has thrown the long-peaceful ninja world into upheaval.

Not only has Konoha lost its leader, but the Sand ninjas have also been making constant moves.

Large village forces like the Cloud, Stone, and Mist ninjas, as well as other smaller and mid-sized ninja villages and organizations, are all in a state of turmoil.

Many war-weary elders cannot help but frown.

The current situation gives them a sense of looming disaster and the possibility of renewed conflict.

Let’s hope it’s just an illusion.

In a bustling casino in the Land of Fire, amidst the chaos of shouts like “Big! Big!” “Small! Small!” “All-in!” “I won! Hahaha!” and “Ahhh! Just kill me!”—

A mature and beautiful woman dressed in a tea-green "Gambling" robe, with light gold twin-tails tied behind her and a strikingly elegant figure, eagerly grabbed the chips she had exchanged and fed them into the slot machines one by one.

Minutes later.

Clink, clink, clink~~~

A massive amount of chips poured out of the slot machines once again.

Seeing the chips piling up like a small mountain in front of her, the black-haired woman, Shizune, was overjoyed.

“Lady Tsunade! We’ve won again!!!”

Yet Tsunade's brows were tightly furrowed.

Despite winning, she looked as though she had lost a great deal, and she continued to place bets on the slot machine.

As before, the wealth continued to roll in.

Shizune, relieved that she wouldn’t have to sleep on the streets tonight, quickly moved to support the precariously stacked chips.

Tsunade, however, remained still, lost in thought.

At that moment, nearby gamblers’ conversations reached their ears.

“Have you heard? Konoha was attacked by the Sand ninjas and a little-known small ninja village. The Third Hokage was killed.”

“Such a powerful Third Hokage was killed?”

“The attacker was Orochimaru, one of the legendary Three Ninjas, who was once the Third Hokage’s disciple.”

“Orochimaru is that formidable?”

“Indeed. I heard a rumor that the missing Fourth Kazekage was also killed by Orochimaru.”

“Unbelievable!!! If true, Orochimaru alone has taken down two of the Five Kage.”

“…”

“By the way, speaking of the Five Kage, I heard another piece of news. The man who was on par with the First Hokage and once caused one of the Five Kage to die and another to be severely injured, who is said to be on par with gods, also appeared at the Chunin Exams site and has since left Konoha.”

“No way! How could someone from the First Hokage’s era still be alive?”

“My sister’s third uncle’s friend’s older brother said so. He is a Konoha ninja and was there at the scene.”

“It must have been a mistake. Perhaps the information was miscommunicated. Oh, I remember now. That person was called Hagoromo Gengetsu, but he was killed by the First Hokage. The Valley of the Gods was built for him. How could a dead person come back to life?”

“I see. It looks like the news was indeed mistaken. But the fact that Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage is definitely true.”

“Konoha and the Land of Fire are in for troubled times. I wonder who the next Fourth—no, Fifth Hokage will be? Hurry and choose one to avoid panic.”

“…”

Crack.

The chips in Tsunade’s hand shattered.

Shizune, who was holding the chips, froze and instinctively looked at Tsunade.

“Shizune!” Tsunade called out with a blank expression.

“Yes!” Shizune straightened up immediately.

“Pack up. We’re leaving,” Tsunade instructed.

“Okay!” Shizune quickly began to pack up and didn’t forget to ask, “Lady Tsunade, are we heading back to Konoha?”

Tsunade’s gaze was complex but soon shrugged it off, saying, “Konoha? No! We’re going to the next casino!”

“Huh?”

Shizune was taken aback.

At the same time, as the Konoha ninjas and villagers who had just held the Third Hokage’s funeral silently departed in black attire, Jiraiya was stopped by two Konoha advisors.

“Now that the Hokage is gone, we’ve established an emergency executive committee, but it’s only temporary. Konoha needs a new Hokage. Jiraiya, you should become the Fifth Hokage.”

Tsunade’s old friend, Koharu Utatane, spoke directly to the point.

Mito Gate, next to her, added, “Jiraiya, you’re the most qualified to be Hokage now. Don’t refuse.”

To the advisors, Jiraiya and Tsunade were the most qualified to be the Fifth Hokage.

With Tsunade currently absent, the only choice left was Jiraiya, who was close at hand.

As for their old friend, Danzo Shimura, although they knew he was deeply obsessed with the Hokage position, they still preferred not to see this cold, hard man, buried in darkness for too long, come to the forefront.

The title of Hokage is undoubtedly a dream for the vast majority.

But not for Jiraiya.

Hearing the advisors’ request, Jiraiya, as if faced with a hot potato, repeatedly shook his head and said, “No, no, no! I can’t handle being Hokage. Please don’t ask me!”

Koharu Utatane and Mito Gate continued to persuade him.

Unable to withstand their pressure, Jiraiya, indeed, suggested Tsunade instead: “It’s better to find Tsunade. She’s more suitable for the position of the Fifth Hokage.”

“Don’t worry. My frogs will find her soon.”

“I will definitely bring her back!!!”

In the underground base known as “Root,” which was even more solemn than the Third Hokage’s funeral, Danzo Shimura sat in the darkness, leaning on his cane, remaining silent for a long time.

Finally, with a complex expression, he spoke in a low voice:

“Hiruzen.”

“Danzo-sama.” A Root ninja approached.

“What’s the matter?” Danzo asked, his tone cold.

The Root ninja reported, “The Konoha upper echelons have decided to have Jiraiya find Tsunade and bring her back to become the Fifth Hokage.”

“Tsunade, huh?”

Danzo wasn’t surprised.

Tsunade, born into the Senju clan, who established Konoha’s medical system and saved countless Konoha ninjas, was indeed the most qualified for the Hokage position, even though she had been away from Konoha for many years.

In another timeline, even Danzo himself would only have emerged from the darkness to take up the temporary Sixth Hokage position when Tsunade was unconscious and Konoha was leaderless.

“Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Danzo realized that he wasn’t as impatient as he had imagined.

Perhaps it was due to Hiruzen’s passing.

He shook his head slightly and then resumed his dark ninja demeanor, coldly instructing:

“Send word to Orochimaru. I have something to discuss with him.”

“Also, order the Root ninjas to search for Hagoromo Gengetsu’s whereabouts. I need to know what he has been doing recently.”

Hagoromo Gengetsu, a person on par with the First Hokage, was far from the minor threat that Koharu Utatane and Mito Gate believed him to be.

Even though he was now dead.

Danzo believed that Hagoromo Gengetsu, having carefully freed himself from the limitations of the Reanimation jutsu, must have some astonishing plans.

Such a person, with grievances against Konoha, could not be left unchecked.

So…

Find him!

Imprison him!

Uncover all his knowledge and secrets!

And use them for oneself!

Danzo slammed his cane hard, his single eye emitting a terrifyingly fierce light.