Chapter 242: The Sannin Confrontation!
The sudden, heavy boom of a massive object plummeting to the ground in the distance caused Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart to involuntarily skip a beat.
Located in the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed slightly. He immediately put away the weary look on his face, stood up without hesitation, and quickly walked to the window to look into the distance.
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's line of sight, an extremely colossal Slugs Sage clone stood upright in one direction of Konoha Village.
Its massive, huge size contrasted sharply with the nearby buildings.
This immediately allowed Hiruzen Sarutobi to recognize it as Tsunade's summoned creature!
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, muttering: "What is going on with Tsunade? Why would she suddenly summon a Sage in the village? Doesn't she know that doing this will cause panic among many people?"
But upon recalling that Tsunade had been very close to Ikeizumi Uchiha lately.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately understood because when Ikeizumi Uchiha took action in the village, he also didn't care about the impact, or whether ordinary civilians would be panicked.
It seemed Tsunade had completely fallen and had become the same kind of person as Ikeizumi Uchiha.
After this thought flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, he immediately summoned two Anbu ninjas.
These two Anbu ninjas were among the few remaining in the Anbu who were still relatively loyal to him, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After all, there were still some people in the Anbu whom he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had personally promoted. Even after going through so much, their loyalty might not be as high as before. But compared to the other Anbu ninjas who leaned towards Ikeizumi Uchiha, they were already relatively better.
At least Hiruzen Sarutobi felt he could trust them.
"The two of you, come with the old man to see what's going on!"
After giving the command, Hiruzen Sarutobi directly exited through the window.
And leaped down from the window ledge.
The two Anbu ninjas said nothing and followed him down closely.
At the same time.
Konoha Military Police Force.
"This is Tsunade-sama's summoned creature!" A Military Police ninja immediately spotted the Sage clone in the distance. It was at this moment that a thumb-sized Sage clone crawled out of the Military Police ninja's ninja tool pouch.
The clone spoke in human language: "The main body told us to immediately go and support Tsunade-sama. Because the toads of Mount Myōboku are trying to take away Konoha's Jinchūriki."
Upon hearing this, the Military Police ninja's expression changed.
Konoha's Jinchūriki is Naruto Uzumaki? That is one of the village's trump cards!
At the same time, the boy is also an Absolute Justice follower of Ikeizumi-sama!
Furthermore, he is a student at the village's Ninja Academy.
And Tsunade-sama is in a cooperative relationship, or even a friendship, with Ikeizumi-sama. Clearly, Ikeizumi-sama intends to push Tsunade-sama into the position of Hokage. Barring any surprises, the next Hokage will undoubtedly be Tsunade-sama.
Although Tsunade is not an Uchiha, she now stands in the same camp as the Uchiha.
Her becoming Hokage would certainly be better for the Uchiha clan than Hiruzen Sarutobi being Hokage.
At least she wouldn't discriminate against the Uchiha clan.
Nor would she isolate and exclude the Uchiha.
Whether for public or private reasons, whether for the sake of the village or for justice, the Military Police ninjas absolutely could not stand idly by.
"Notify all available Military Police members!" An Uchiha Jōnin in the Military Police Force commanded decisively: "Immediately grab all ninja tools and go support Tsunade-sama!"
Soon.
A large number of Military Police ninjas immediately gathered. They all rushed towards the direction of Tsunade's summoned creature.
"...Slugs Sage, haven't you always refrained from interfering in the affairs of the Shinobi World? Why choose to intervene now? Furthermore, as a Sage who has lived for over a thousand years, why would you stand in the camp of a Uchiha junior?"
Fukasaku-Sennin's forehead was sweating slightly. He already knew that it would be impossible to take the Child of Prophecy away today.
But the doubts in his heart sought an answer from the Slugs Sage.
The largest Slugs Sage clone slowly said: "I do not know what the main body is thinking. I only know that you cannot take this child, Naruto Uzumaki, away. This child's destiny trajectory has already changed since meeting Ikeizumi Uchiha. He is already completely different from the 'Savior' predicted by the Great Toad Sage."
"I can only advise Mount Myōboku not to be too obsessed with Naruto Uzumaki. The Shinobi World is not dictated by your Great Toad Sage."
The Slugs Sage clone paused, then added: "I am not very good at verbal debates in this regard. In any case, as long as I am in Konoha Village for one day, Mount Myōboku cannot covet Naruto Uzumaki."
"If you truly want to covet him, summon the Great Toad Sage. You two juniors of Mount Myōboku are not qualified."
Fukasaku-Sennin: "..."
Shima-Sennin: "..."
It is generally known that the Slugs Sage is the most good-tempered, gentle, friendly, and helpful Sage among the Three Great Sages' Domains.
The words it spoke now were probably the harshest tone the Slugs Sage had used in its entire life.
If Mount Myōboku continued to "harass," this Sage might truly take the initiative to attack.
"Little Jiraiya, today is not the time." Fukasaku-Sennin could only whisper into Jiraiya's ear: "The Child of Prophecy is indeed important, but we cannot destroy the friendship between you and Tsunade because of this."
It phrased its words very nicely and tactfully.
It did not admit that it was scared.
" Hoo, alright." Fukasaku-Sennin's words finally lifted a heavy stone from Jiraiya's heart. In this situation where Jiraiya was somewhat indecisive, the opinions of the two Sages of Mount Myōboku were clearly extremely important.
And just at this moment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two Anbu ninjas finally arrived. Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately led the Anbu ninjas to stand between Tsunade and Jiraiya.
His old face darkened: "Tsunade! Jiraiya! What are you doing? This is the village! And you are both the Konoha Sannin. Are you going to have an internal fight in the village? If so, how will the ninjas in the village view you?"
It was unexpected for Hiruzen Sarutobi that his two students almost came to blows.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had initially thought that perhaps a foreign spy had appeared in the village, and Tsunade was fighting the opponent, but Tsunade's action was just a bit too grand.
Who would have thought that Jiraiya, whom he had just met, was also here?
And even more unexpectedly, Tsunade and Jiraiya were in a hostile confrontation.
"Old man, you'd better keep an eye on Jiraiya."
Upon seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi arrive, the coldness on Tsunade's face softened slightly, but her tone had not changed: "If I had been a second late, your precious Jinchūriki would have been taken away by him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned.
He looked at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's face was awkward, and he scratched his head. At this point, he knew that even if he didn't explain, Tsunade would tell the story anyway, so he might as well just say it himself.
"Old man, I told you about the Child of Prophecy." Jiraiya explained: "I need to personally teach him how to transform the Shinobi World."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was so angry that he almost fainted. The two Konoha Sannin almost fought over this matter?
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, calming the turbulent emotions in his heart.
He glared at Jiraiya: "Jiraiya, do not try to apply those external practices to our Konoha Village!"
Jiraiya: "..."
Although he had expected it, Jiraiya still didn't anticipate that the old man would only scold him and not scold Tsunade.
This indicated that in the old man's eyes, his actions were wrong.
The old man still didn't believe in any Child of Prophecy.
Nor did he believe in any savior of the Shinobi World.
That's right...
If the old man believed in such things, he would probably have believed in Ikeizumi's Absolute Justice long ago. This resulted in the old man and Tsunade, who were originally in opposition, being forced to stand on the same side as Tsunade because of his own actions.
Jiraiya sighed slightly in his heart.
He could only scratch his head with an awkward smile.
He didn't know what to say.
And the two Sages of Mount Myōboku had already chosen to keep silent, because large numbers of Slugs Sage clones were observing them from all directions. The Slugs Sage had said so much to them; if they said anything more, they would be completely disrespecting the Sage.
At this moment, a large number of Military Police ninjas also rushed over. They all stood on Tsunade's side, and even shouted in unison in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Tsunade-sama!"
The unified shout from the Military Police ninjas caused Hiruzen Sarutobi's already somewhat darkened face to become even darker.
It seemed
Tsunade had already gained the trust and approval of many Uchiha ninjas in the Military Police Force.
I have done so much for the Uchiha clan over the years, yet I have not gained the approval of anyone in the Uchiha clan except Itachi, Fugaku, and Shisui.
What has Tsunade done now? Merely believing in Absolute Justice, and so many Uchiha trust and approve of her?
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a little jealous in his heart.
So much so that he couldn't help but look at Tsunade, and said in a hoarse voice: "Tsunade, it seems many people in the village support you."
"Even the Uchiha clan is no exception."
Tsunade's eyes met Hiruzen Sarutobi's. Under the gaze of everyone, Tsunade responded bluntly: "If I didn't have everyone's support, why would I run for Hokage?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.
He keenly noticed that when Tsunade was being so resolute, many Uchiha clan ninjas were somewhat excited.
It was as if as long as Tsunade raised her arm, this group of Military Police Uchiha ninjas would rush towards him, the Hokage, without hesitation of course, this was just Hiruzen Sarutobi's malicious conjecture.
"Old man, you only have one week." At this moment, Tsunade suddenly took the initiative to say. Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned: "What do you mean?"
Tsunade slowly said: "In one week, most of the ninja clans and ninjas in the village will jointly submit a letter to you, the Hokage, requesting you to initiate a new round of Hokage elections."
Tsunade said word for word: "This is the public opinion of Konoha. Hiruzen-sensei, you shouldn't resist public opinion and choose to ignore it, right?"
"And by that time, I will be your only competitor."
Her address to Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed from "Old man" to "Hiruzen-sensei."
Although it sounded more formal and polite.
But...
It also became more distant.
"Little Jiraiya, your old friend who can summon a Sage seems to be completely turning against the Third Hokage of Konoha." Shima-Sennin said sarcastically: "She really doesn't respect her elders. I still clearly remember the tone she used when she spoke to me."
Jiraiya was embarrassed.
On the other side.
Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, both seeing a slightly bewildered expression on the other's face. Although they both believed in Absolute Justice, they mostly stayed in the Ninja Academy, and were not sensitive to the situation in the village.
Clearly, they did not know that this "Grandma Tsunade" was running for the next Hokage of Konoha.
It wasn't until Tsunade explicitly declared these words in front of so many people.
That Naruto and Sasuke belatedly realized it.
Naruto scratched his head and muttered: "So, I'm not the only one who wants to become the Hokage of Konoha. If she becomes the Hokage of Konoha, what should I do?"
Sasuke calmed down and said: "It's not like she can be the Hokage of Konoha forever. Not everyone sits in the Hokage position for as long as the Third Hokage."
"When you grow up, maybe she will have already retired. After all, I heard this Konoha Sannin is already forty or fifty years old. By the time you are old enough to run for Hokage, perhaps she will already be sixty or seventy years old."
Naruto clapped his hands in realization: "Oh, right! After all, she is an old lady, so she definitely can't hold the position for too long."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Tsunade: "..."
The voices of the two children were not quiet, and naturally reached the ears of both adults.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't expect that in Naruto's eyes, he, the old man, was also someone who should quickly retire. Because Naruto did not complain about his current situation, it showed that the child Naruto was completely unconcerned about whether he retired or not.
And veins were already beginning to slightly twitch on Tsunade's forehead.
The term "old lady" was too devastating to her.
So much so that Tsunade even completely ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi. She turned around, cracking her knuckles, and walked towards Naruto. The aura radiating from her was even more terrifying than a man-eating demon.
Scared, Shizune wisely hurried to get out of the way.
"Brat!!!"
Tsunade was grinding her teeth: "What did you just call me?"
Sasuke instantly stiffened. Feeling the aura emanating from Tsunade, he was instantly drenched in sweat.
Naruto instinctively said: "Called you ol "
Sasuke hastily covered Naruto's mouth and frantically dragged Naruto backward.
Sasuke forced a stiff smile: "This idiot dead last is just talking nonsense, please don't take it to heart."
Watching the two children flee in panic.
Tsunade's aura receded, and her grittingly angry expression returned to normal. She murmured: "Fugaku's child seems to be gradually emerging from the low spirits of losing his father."