Jiraiya's words left the entire room in silence. Even Minato turned to Anya with a serious gaze, clearly hoping he would accept.
After a long pause, Anya let out a light laugh. "Come on, don't joke around. How many people in Konoha even know me? Do you really think I—a near stranger—could become Hokage just because you say so?"
"Don't sell yourself short," Jiraiya sighed wistfully. "If we reveal your identity, with the achievements you had during the Second Great Ninja War and the Third Great Ninja War, there wouldn't be any problem appointing you Hokage. Plus, your teacher was once the White Fang of Konoha. If he hadn't died back then, he could have been Hokage as well."
Anya's expression turned cold and indifferent. "No interest. You can leave now."
Minato suddenly spoke up at this moment. "Anya, why not consider it? I believe you fully deserve it."
"Hmph," Anya scoffed. "Jiraiya, are you thinking that the Konoha elders will find you and force you into becoming Hokage, and since you don't want to do it, you're pushing it onto me instead?"
Jiraiya's face stiffened as he scratched his head awkwardly. "Haha, I'm just not suited for being Hokage. Since you don't want it, forget it. I'll take off now."
"Wait," Anya called out, hesitating slightly before stopping himself from saying more.
Jiraiya paused, giving him a puzzled look.
Finally, Anya sighed without uttering another word.
As if anticipating what Anya wanted to say, Jiraiya spoke first. "In two days, I'll go find her with Naruto. If you change your mind, you can come with us."
However, until Jiraiya completely disappeared, Anya didn't call him back.
Understanding Jiraiya's intentions, Minato guessed aloud, "It seems like Master plans to search for Tsunade-sama and make her the Fifth Hokage."
"The position of Hokage has never been an easy one. Look at all previous Kages—how many of them ended their lives peacefully? Minato, what do you think?" Anya asked the question, though it sounded like self-reflection.
"Protecting the village is the Hokage's duty itself. Once recognized by the villagers, one must bear the corresponding responsibilities. Hokage has never merely been a title." Minato had his own understanding of the position.
"Recognized by the villagers, hah." A mocking smile appeared on Anya's face. He clearly had no interest in continuing the conversation and quickly changed the topic. "Your soul energy has been greatly depleted. I restored some of it, but if you don't fully recover soon, there'll still be consequences. The soul isn't like the body; restoring soul energy won't be simple. For now, focus on cultivating the Spirit Transformation Technique."
Fully aware of his condition, Minato felt no worry knowing Naruto was entrusted to his master. He simply nodded and agreed. "Alright."
After making sure Minato was alright, Anya went back to writing. Before he knew it, daylight filled the room outside. Closing the book, he stood up and stretched lazily. Then he decided to go out for a walk.
After two consecutive days of light rain, Konoha welcomed a sunny day. Warm sunlight comfortably touched his skin. Ever since leaving Shikkotsu Forest, Anya had never stopped cultivating Natural Energy.
However, the side effects of breaking through prematurely were enormous. Even though he had never stopped training, his body continued absorbing energy like a bottomless pit. Darkyao estimated that once his body fully recovered to its peak condition, his physical vitality alone would be enough to survive a direct hit from [Night Guy].
Beside a dessert shop, Kakashi was reading a small comic book when he noticed Kurenai and Asuma approaching. He couldn't help but tease them: "Yo, you two seem pretty close."
Kurenai quickly denied it: "I'm only here because Anko asked me to buy something."
Asuma changed the subject: "What are you doing here?"
"Nothing much," Kakashi replied cheerfully. "Just buying some offerings and waiting for someone—my apprentice, Sasuke."
After saying this, Kakashi glanced sideways at the two people inside the store.
Opposite him, Kurenai and Asuma understood Kakashi's hint and nodded solemnly.
Asuma teased back, "You're actually waiting for someone? That's rare. Are those offerings for Obito?"
"You got it," Kakashi said. Then he added, "Well, I'll go first," his gaze locking onto the two people in the store once more.
"Kakashi, you arrived early—that's unusual," Sasuke said as he walked over.
Kakashi responded, "Sometimes I do."
While the two conversed, the people inside the shop had already vanished. Kakashi's eyes sharpened suddenly. Even Sasuke, who had just arrived, sensed something was wrong.
Kurenai and Asuma immediately disappeared using Shunshin.
When they reappeared, the two intercepted the pair who had been inside the shop earlier. Though their faces were hidden beneath straw hats, Asuma—who knew village affairs well—spoke first: "You're not from the village. What exactly do you want here?"
A graceful voice responded: "Long time no see, Miss Kurenai, Asuma."
"Oh? Still an acquaintance."
As the two opposite them removed their hats, Kurenai and Asuma both gasped in shock. Those eyes—the Three-Comma Sharingan—and the slashed Konoha forehead protector on his head left no doubt. This man was none other than Uchiha Itachi, the one who single-handedly annihilated his entire clan.
Then, the person standing beside Uchiha Itachi also took off his hat, further shocking the two. He was Kisame Hoshigaki, the S-class rogue ninja from Kiri and one of the Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist.
Their conversation quickly turned violent, and the four clashed.
Kurenai used her signature Genjutsu against Itachi, then twisted and disappeared in a flash.
Asuma unleashed his chakra blades and dove into a fierce melee against Kisame.
Meanwhile, walking down the sunlit street, Darkyao suddenly froze—his soul separated from his body.
He saw instantly that Kurenai was already caught in Itachi's Genjutsu, while Asuma had been injured by Kisame's Samehada, putting him at a disadvantage.
Without hesitation, the Supreme Blade hiding within shot forth from its sheath at an unimaginable speed, so fast that the human eye struggled to follow, accompanied by a sonic boom through the air.
Itachi, about to strike the finishing blow, felt an intense premonition of danger. He warned Kisame beside him, "Be careful. Retreat now."
Without thinking deeply, Kisame respected Itachi's judgment. Instantly abandoning his opponent, he covered himself using Samehada and leapt backward straight into the pond behind him.
Whoosh...
A flash of a blade shot through. A streak of blood slid down Kisame's face as the sword finally came to a stop right before Itachi.
"What the hell is this?"
Stunned and wounded, Kisame stared intently at the suspended blade midair. He hadn't even seen its wielder yet had already been injured. Even more terrifying was how the blade hovered threateningly in front of Itachi.
Itachi gazed deeply at the blade for a moment, then said to Kisame, "Let's go."
Kisame started to protest but fell silent as he faced Itachi's icy glare. "Fine."
When Kurenai Yuhi saw the sharp blade, she froze like she'd been struck by lightning, unmoving, not even noticing Kakashi's approach.
She had seen this blade once before—in the battle to protect Konoha, [someone descended from the sky] wielding precisely such a blade to rescue her and a group of young ninjas.
It must be him—definitely him.
Her heart pounding, Kurenai ran forward without looking back, heading in a specific direction within the village.
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