"Huh?"
Takemi pointed to himself in disbelief, asking in confusion, "Me? A month's time? Isn't that too rushed?"
Homura said, "What we meant is that this time, you will fully represent us at the meeting. Your status as the Fifth Hokage is a given fact."
Koharu quickly followed up, "Other things can be done slowly, like the construction of the Hokage Rock. These things can't be rushed, but you should gradually take over the Hokage's affairs."
"Is that so?"
Takemi turned to look at the Hokage Rock outside, feeling a bit speechless for a moment.
Everyone else thought the Third Hokage was 'dead', and outsiders would call him the Fifth Hokage upon seeing him.
But now, he was actually going to take over all these messy affairs?
Although he wasn't against it—Konoha was originally his—he still had a strange feeling.
"What's wrong? You've always been quite confident, haven't you?"
Kakashi walked over, putting an arm around his shoulder just like in the old days, then said with a smile.
"Why do you look so hesitant now?"
"Takemi, I told you long ago that being Hokage isn't easy, but unfortunately…"
Jiraiya also started laughing.
"You probably can't run away from it."
"I don't find this difficult at all, as I have my own way of handling things." Takemi had come back to his senses by now. He smiled and shook his head.
This was not a problem for him at all. For political affairs, he had Shikaku and Shikamaru. If worse came to worst, the Third Hokage could re-enter the workforce.
For Root, he had Tobirama, and he could even conduct experiments. The Medical Department had Tsunade.
For pure muscle, he had Naruto, Sasuke, and even Jiraiya and Hashirama. He was practically a free man, how could he possibly make himself work like a dog?
"And what I'm thinking about most right now is another matter."
"What matter?"
"The budget for the sculpture, how much is it roughly?"
"?"
"I'm even younger than the Fourth Hokage now. As Konoha's youngest Hokage, I should at least have the best sculptors in the entire Ninja World build it for me, right?"
"…"
"Konoha, and I, cannot afford to lose face."
"…"
Takemi's single sentence silenced everyone present.
He hadn't even officially taken office yet, and the first thing he was thinking about was this?
And he wanted the best sculptor in the entire Ninja World?
This…
"I'll figure out a way for the budget."
Hiruzen rubbed his temples in distress. He didn't want to dwell on it, he was about to be free anyway.
But Takemi didn't stop; he continued to speak, "Besides that, I'm also thinking about something else. Since almost all the Hokage are here now, the Fourth Hokage shouldn't continue to slumber."
"Hmm?!"
This statement instantly stunned everyone present, but they quickly understood. Jiraiya even asked eagerly, "Takemi, have you found a way?"
"Yes." Takemi smiled and nodded.
"Before I left for the Land of Water, I actually already had a method. I was just missing some necessary materials, but that problem has now been resolved."
"It's already resolved?" Hashirama was in disbelief.
Tobirama asked even more curiously, "You really found a way to break the Reaper Death Seal?"
"Not only that, I think I also have a way to solve Kakashi-sensei's father's problem." Takemi continued to smile, and this made Kakashi freeze.
Konoha's Edo Tensei list had been released long ago, and naturally, Kakashi's father, Sakumo, was on it.
And he was the first person they tried to summon, but strangely, no matter what they did, they seemed unable to awaken him.
It was for this reason that subsequent Edo Tensei summoning experiments were halted, as no one knew what had happened.
He hadn't expected that Takemi was also investigating this matter?
"Takemi, you found the answer?"
Kakashi was somewhat dazed. He involuntarily asked in a low voice.
And in his daze, there was also some confusion, because he himself wasn't quite sure if he was ready to face his father.
"I found it."
Takemi nodded. The recent improvement allowed him to have a better 'perspective' to observe this world.
He remembered that Sakumo was in the seam between the Pure Land and the human world.
This place would probably be difficult for Edo Tensei to find, but the current Takemi was different.
'Besides, not only Sakumo…'
Takemi's smile grew even brighter. Rin was also there. He had said he would give Obito a surprise. So, he naturally had to do what he said, that is his Ninja Way.
In the Land of Wind, Sasori raised an eyebrow as he looked at the scroll in his hand.
"Did something big happen in the Land of Water?"
The unexpected turn of events in the Land of Water was quite a surprise, but at least he had managed to obtain the Six-Tails' Chakra.
"However, it's not surprising that the Three-Tails' Chakra wasn't acquired, after all, that's the Mizukage."
Sasori put down the scroll in his hand, his gaze directed towards the distant, enormous, fortress-like barrier.
"It's just that the Mizukage is the Mizukage, but the Kazekage isn't. I really didn't expect the One Tail Jinchuriki to become the Kazekage, but it's not a big problem for me."
As he pondered, Sasori slowly walked forward. It had been a while since he had returned to Sunagakure. He wanted to see what Sunagakure was like now.
Inside the Akatsuki's base, everyone was still waiting for Sasori's news.
However, while the other members of the Akatsuki seemed indifferent, the 'higher-ups' were all worried.
The negative consequences and impact caused by Takeshiki were still bothering them.
"Nagato, that guy is too terrifying, can we really deal with him?" In one of the rooms, Konan whispered.
"He killed another god, and we…"
"If we don't do it, who else can deal with him? Rely solely on Takemi?" Nagato sighed, speaking with extreme seriousness.
"Relying on others is never as good as relying on yourself. Don't worry, Konan, as long as I can become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, I can definitely re-tread the Sage of Six Paths's Path."
"Sigh."
Seeing Nagato's unwavering determination, Konan could only nod in the end. Her friendship with Nagato had endured so many years and the baptism of pain that it had long become incredibly steadfast.
No matter what decision Nagato made, she would support him.
However, could becoming the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki truly deal with that Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki?
This question wasn't just on her mind. Black Zetsu had also been struggling with it. In fact, what he was struggling with was even deeper and more painful.
'Should I activate the Infinite Tsukuyomi after all? Should I release mother after all?'
Rescuing Kaguya had always been his long-cherished wish, but if he really saved her, wouldn't it mean being handed a new step on the 'Path to Godhood' by Takeshiki?
After much thought, he suddenly came up with a plan.
'The Hyuga clan's relics haven't been dealt with yet, and Obito originally planned to instigate the Fourth Great Ninja War, so if that's the case…'
Black Zetsu vaguely had an idea. He was pondering how to proceed when Madara suddenly spoke up.
"This is incredible. Did the Sage of Six Paths perceive this guy, Ōtsutsuki Takeshiki, long ago?"
Madara was holding a 'Senju Relic' and continuously examining it. His body had already recovered, so he naturally saw the information within.
"'The Ninja World may hide unknown dangers and conspiracies, you must be careful.' Is this a warning to Hashirama and the others?"
"That, I don't know either."
Black Zetsu snapped back to attention, looking at the 'relic' he had created, and also felt his scalp tingle.
"But it's very likely, after all, Takeshiki…"