---
"Hey, Yetou, why don't you reconsider? That old white-haired man—Jiraiya—went to find Tsunade. She's the next Hokage. If she returns, she'll support you. From now on, you won't have to walk on eggshells in Konoha."
No one knew how much time had passed before Ye Dou returned to Konoha.
In the end, he still rejected Jiraiya's invitation and chose to return with Might Guy.
Of course, he understood Jiraiya's intentions all too well.
Truth be told, Jiraiya's proposal had tempted him. Leaning against a large tree, feeling the cool breeze on his back, Ye Dou couldn't help but feel conflicted. As a civilian ninja with no bloodline or clan backing, being acknowledged by someone like Jiraiya and considered for Naruto's path was akin to being handed a shining future—a dream many pursued.
But—
"I don't belong here after all."
Ye Dou sat cross-legged in the training field, meditating as he gazed at the distant silhouette of Konoha.
"What I need to do is keep a low profile… and avoid becoming a threat to anyone."
Konoha—both now and in the near future—would inevitably be split into two factions.
One was the Hokage faction, led by Tsunade and Jiraiya, supporters of the Will of Fire and loyal to Sarutobi Hiruzen's ideals.
The other was the Hardliner faction, spearheaded by Shimura Danzo, who operated in the shadows with his covert Root organization, favoring control over compassion.
These two forces controlled the two most formidable branches of the village: the ANBU and Root.
Among them were members of notable clans—Ino-Shika-Cho (Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi)—traditionally loyal to the Hokage. But most other clans watched silently, aligning themselves only once the tide was clear.
This was the unspoken rule of survival in the shinobi world, the reason the great clans had lasted so long.
Ye Dou was fully aware that he had the power to tip this fragile balance. With one decisive act, he could help a faction seize total control of Konoha.
But he wouldn't do it.
This precarious equilibrium served him best.
"Before I aim outward, I must secure my position within."
Once the internal regime was solidified—regardless of which side prevailed—the first priority would be to eliminate hidden dangers from within.
And Ye Dou had done far too many things that could drive Konoha into a frenzy.
"Let them struggle with each other. That way, they won't have the energy to come after me."
---
[The Return of Konoha's Princess]
"Ne~ Yetou! Did you hear? The village seems to have decided on the Fifth Hokage!"
At the training field, Hyūga Hanabi (Huahuo) was perched on a rock, resting her chin on her hands, watching Ye Dou train with a soft smile.
"I heard my father and the elders talking. They said it's going to be Tsunade-sama!"
"…Oh."
Ye Dou gave a faint reply, continuing his sword practice without pause.
"Do you know about her? She's the only woman in the Legendary Sannin—and the strongest medical ninja in the world! Super cool!"
Hanabi had long since gotten used to their dynamic: she talked, and he listened. She liked it this way. It was peaceful, uncomplicated—something she cherished deeply.
"With her around, I bet even Kakashi-sensei will be okay! And maybe even Lee-kun… she can heal anything! She's Tsunade-sama!"
"…Oh."
Ye Dou's answer didn't change. He had no personal stake in who became the Fifth Hokage.
Because he knew all too well that the true chaos hadn't even begun yet.
What would happen in the future—the Akatsuki's movements, Orochimaru's threats, Sasuke's defection—would make today's internal struggles look like child's play.
"If I can… I want to become a kunoichi like Tsunade-sama. Everyone feels relieved knowing she might become the next Hokage."
Hanabi said it earnestly, her eyes gleaming with hope.
Thanks to the full support of the Land of Fire, Konoha's reconstruction after the destruction caused during the Chūnin Exams—especially by Orochimaru and the invasion by Suna and Oto—was progressing well.
Though it hadn't yet returned to its former glory, the village had stabilized. With food and shelter restored, morale was recovering.
Now, all attention turned to who would inherit the Hokage title and lead Konoha into a new era.
Well-informed villagers already knew: Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage and a Legendary Sannin, had a high chance of becoming the Fifth.
No one knew who leaked the news—or how it spread—but that didn't matter anymore.
All people cared about was that Konoha's Princess had returned.
For the first time in a long while, the village dared to hope again.
Such is the influence of a true leader—the kind who brings not just power, but confidence.
"…There are things you could learn from her," Ye Dou finally said, pausing his training.
"…But there are also things you should definitely not imitate."
He couldn't help but picture Tsunade's infamous gambling addiction. Just imagining Hanabi bankrupting the entire Hyūga Clan in a losing streak made him shudder.
Hanabi tilted her head in confusion but nodded obediently.
Then, her gaze drifted to the large, bandaged sword stuck in the ground nearby.
Earlier, she had tried to touch it, only to have the bandages flick her hand away, almost like it had a will of its own.
"Ye Dou… where did that sword come from?"
"…Konoha."
His eyes briefly flickered.
"I got it during that war."
He wasn't lying.
The blade had indeed come from the battlefield—but not as a trophy from a defeated enemy, as Hanabi likely assumed.
And yes, it was extraordinary.
The bandages that wrapped it seemed to react on their own, offering protection.
The blade itself… wasn't ordinary steel.
It responded to his thoughts, its size and weight adapting to his will. Ye Dou hadn't fully grasped its secrets yet, but one thing was clear:
This sword was more than a weapon.
It was alive.
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