Kairen and Hashirama quickly threw themselves into the work of rebuilding Konoha.
Kairen split off two hundred Wood Clones, three hundred Earth Release Shadow Clones and Water Clones… directly forming the Earth-and-Wood Construction Corps.
As for himself, he wore a foreman's hat and surveyed each project.
Although Hashirama had subdued the Warring States with Wood Release, he usually focused more on greening work and lacked civil-engineering knowledge.
What he didn't understand, he asked about very humbly, following Kairen's shadow clones around—asking here, asking there.
"What is this?"
"Laying foundations. Only then will the houses be solid!"
"Oh!"
Kairen folded his arms, looking at the hills lying ahead.
The previous three Hokage Rock faces had been beaten into a mess and had already lost Konoha's greatest symbol.
And today Tsunade had just taken office, so Kairen would carve a Hokage Rock for her!
Chakra gathered in his left hand, then transformed into earth-natured chakra, and Kairen slapped the ground.
The small hill ahead suddenly changed dramatically. Rock fell away, becoming fine and smooth, and finally four faces appeared.
The first was Hashirama's—full of smiles, hearty and open, making one feel close at a glance.
The second was Tobirama's, with a stern face, written all over with calm—making people feel he was reliable.
The third was not Sarutobi's; it was Kairen's own face. He had already beaten the old man, so Kairen had no need to erect a statue for him.
Kairen stuck out his tongue, making a funny face, like a carefree wanderer playing at life.
The fourth was Tsunade's—heroic and valiant, imposing in manner—at a glance she looked immense.
The changes to Hokage Rock couldn't be hidden from the villagers. Everyone lifted their heads, looking at the four newly standing faces and chattering.
"Who's the one making a funny face? Where's the Third?"
"Shh! That's Lord Kairen, the victor of this war. We should show some respect. He'll be our provider from now on."
Hashirama was making windows and doors. He glanced at the changes on Hokage Rock, especially his own hearty smile, and smiled.
"Hmph!"
Tobirama only snorted.
He had no objection to his own face, but he had a big problem with Kairen hanging his own head up there without permission.
Even if you put yourself up there, you should at least look serious. What's with that prankster expression?
Is being Hokage something to play at!
...
Kairen looked at his work and nodded.
Then, a distant call came.
"Kairen!"
Kairen turned to look—it was Kurenai.
Beside Kurenai stood Yūhi Shinku, and with them were Shizune, Kakashi, Obito…
When chaos suddenly erupted at the Chūnin Exam arena earlier, Kairen had his shadow clones rescue them.
Now that the turmoil had subsided, Yūhi Shinku had found them and brought them here to Kairen.
Kairen waved his hand. "Kurenai!"
Seeing Kairen safe and sound, Kurenai smiled, ran over to him, took his hand, and said, "Kairen, you won!"
Kairen nodded. "Of course."
He then pointed to the third face on Hokage Rock.
"This is the symbol of victory!"
They all looked up and easily saw the Hokage Rock completely different from before.
One more face out of nowhere, and one swapped out of nowhere.
Obito looked odd. "Kairen, why did you hang up your own head?"
Kairen froze—there was nothing wrong with that question, was there?
With full confidence he said, "I won the war. It's not too much for Hokage Rock to be carved in my likeness, right?"
Obito was clearly displeased.
"That's the symbol of the Hokage. You haven't become Hokage yet, you can't break the rules."
Kairen curled his lip. "I'm already the Hokage's man."
Obito shouted, "I'm the one who's going to be the Hokage's man!"
Kairen looked at the masked Kakashi and said to Obito,
"Kakashi has to wait another ten-plus years."
Obito was puzzled. "What did you say?"
Kairen shook his head, then looked at Yūhi Shinku.
"Shinku-san, any interest in working in the Anbu? I can make you the head of Anbu!"
Yūhi Shinku was shocked. "Anbu? This—"
Only then did he truly realize that the village had really changed hands.
Kairen nodded. "Yes, Anbu. We're short of people. You'll be the head of Anbu!"
Kairen had previously promised the Uchiha to hand Anbu over to them, but the four people he promised had all been sent away by Sarutobi.
Besides, the Uchiha were rebellious by nature—hand Anbu authority to them and they'd overturn the heavens.
Yūhi Shinku could be trusted—after all, he was the father-in-law.
Kairen liked best to appoint people based on family ties.
Want office? Just form a marital bond with me—family makes things easy!
Yūhi Shinku hesitated; he was indeed tempted.
Head of Anbu—what a big post.
The Hokage's right-hand hound, commanding the special Anbu units.
Though not keen on power, authority is recognition of ability. To serve as head of Anbu would mean he had not lived these years in vain.
Seeing Yūhi Shinku hesitate, Kairen decided directly, "It's you, Shinku-san. Later go find Tsunade! Just say it was at my request."
Yūhi Shinku no longer stood on ceremony. "Thank you, Kairen!"
He was still rather dazed.
He had only met Kairen two months earlier and then thought him just a very promising ninja.
But surprise followed surprise.
From single-handedly holding the Eighth Line, to soloing Sunagakure special forces, to routing Sunagakure's front-line troops alone.
Raising havoc in Konoha, taking down Danzō, launching a coup, overturning the Land of Fire in a single day.
Since ancient times, it was a first.
Even Uchiha Madara would have to call him the strongest.
Kairen casually appointing the head of Anbu left his companions utterly stunned.
Kurenai tightened her grip on Kairen's hand, silently grateful.
"Thank you, Kairen!"
Yūhi Shinku saw it, and only then understood why the position of Anbu head had fallen to him.
So it was nepotism.
But that's a relationship I like!
Obito watched with envy, edged up to Kairen, slung an arm over his back.
"Good, you gave the head of Anbu to a stranger—now just name me the next Hokage!"
Kakashi muttered from the side, "Idiot!"
"What did you say, Kakashi! My Uchiha clan are great contributors to this coup. From now on I'll walk sideways—you'd better watch it!"
"Idiot!"
"You—"
The two started arguing at once, and Rin hurried to calm them.
Kairen glanced at Obito—trying to rise by nepotism.
Yūhi Shinku had the cute Kurenai.
What do you have?
"Moku Kairen!" a spoiled voice rang out.
A little girl with light purple hair came into view—it was Anko.
Kairen looked down at Anko, hands on hips, face full of stubbornness.
"What is it, little Anko?"
Anko questioned Kairen, "Where is my Orochimaru-sensei? Did you capture him?"
Kairen's eyes turned, and he answered, "Your Orochimaru-sensei ran away."
"Ran away?"
Anko thought carefully, then cursed Kairen, "It's all your fault! If not for you, how would Orochimaru-sensei have run? You have to bring him back!"
So wild at such a young age—whether licking or being licked in the future would be up to her… Kairen thought to himself.
He gave Anko a slight threat.
"Anko, your Orochimaru-sensei is wanted. You're his disciple—come home with me now, I'll interrogate you personally."
"Bleh, bleh, bleh…"
Anko stuck out her tongue, made a face at Kairen, then ran off without looking back.
As she ran she still shouted, "Moku Kairen, you little thief, just wait till Orochimaru-sensei comes back and chops you up to feed the snakes."
Kairen smiled.
The storm he'd raised had unintentionally changed many people's fates.
Anko hadn't been cursed by Orochimaru, Obito had not fallen to darkness, Might Duy had not yet died…
Of course, there were many regrets too.
Fugaku had died young; Jiraiya and Minato had left the village.
Mikoto and Kushina kept lonely chambers!
...
Konoha was being rebuilt in a blaze of activity, and the various ninja clans involved in this coup each faced different fates.
The Sarutobi and Shimura were struck from the rolls.
Although the Uchiha leadership had all died, they had profited greatly.
The Hyūga and Aburame stayed neutral—no gain, no loss.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio of clans suffered heavy losses, and the Inuzuka lost several dogs…
For the ninja clans on the losing side—having placed the wrong bet, they now had to be ready to send wives and daughters.
Canon led the men of the Eastern Bureau to visit the various ninja clans.
"Waaah, that's my grandfather's coffin—don't dig it up! Don't dig it up!"
The Eastern Bureau men didn't care and kept hoeing the earth.
"We're just following procedure. Your grandfather took part in the conspiracy against the Second. Not implicating the family is already the Fourth's great magnanimity. Burn more incense at home to be grateful!"
"Waaah—th-thank your whole family!"
Those who had taken part in the plot against the Second had basically all died. The Eastern Bureau hadn't caught a single living person, so they could only dig up their graves.
At the Nara residence, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans and leaders of various ninja clans were all gathered together.
Except the Uchiha, who didn't come; the Aburame had innate stealth.
All the ninja clans of Konoha were present.
Everyone watched the Eastern Bureau men dig up their ancestors' coffins, daring to be angry but not daring to speak.
This was the loser's consequence.
And the fate of this whole group still depended on the expression of the new ruler.
Canon, full of arrogance, lifted his nose and said to the Ino–Shika–Chō trio,
"The boss already said—letting your three clans off is easy: be struck from the rolls!"
"From now on, you lose your surnames."
At these words, the whole hall was shocked.
The Inuzuka head hurried forward. "Our Inuzuka…"
Canon waved his hand. "Your Inuzuka clan just raises dogs. Not many followed Sarutobi, so you won't be pursued."
A member of the Kurama clan hobbled forward on a cane, needing to gasp for breath with every sentence.
Canon quickly stopped him. "You Kurama are the same—the circumstances aren't serious."
"This… this is good!"
In the end, only the Ino–Shika–Chō trio were struck from the rolls.
Everyone quickly stepped aside, isolating the three clans, looking at them with schadenfreude.
All three had taken Sarutobi as their lead to follow. Sarutobi had been exterminated; just this war alone had cost them more than half.
What is even more frightening is that now they also face the crisis of clan extermination.
A pineapple-headed man from the Nara clan stepped forward; this was Nara Shikaku, and he tried to soften his voice as much as possible.
"Sir, I am Nara Shikaku. Do you recognize me?"
Canon looked carefully for a moment.
Back when Tsunade became the Hokage's assistant, he had come together with Yamanaka Haiichi and Akimichi Chōza to offer gifts.
"I recognize you. The three of you really know how to deal with people."
Nara Shikaku couldn't help but feel happy. As long as there was no hostility toward them, there was still room to salvage things.
Nara Shikaku pleaded, "Sir! Our three clans who pledged loyalty to the Third's faction have all committed seppuku. They have atoned. Could you spare our families a path to survive?"
Canon shook his head. "No. I am the Governor of the Eastern Bureau, famous for enforcing the law impartially."
Seeing that begging was useless, Nara Shikaku took a notebook from his pouch and handed it to Canon.
"This is all the property of our three clans. We only beg Kairen-sama not to erase the clan names of our three clans."
Ninjas value reputation greatly and regard their surnames as even more important than their lives.
Canon looked at the sincerity of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio; they really had handed over everything.
It must be said, the Nara clan truly lives up to being clever people—they know what should be kept and what should not!
But Canon shook his head and put the notebook back.
"I can't decide this matter. Everything depends on what the boss says!"
Nara Shikaku took back the notebook and let out a faint sigh.
Kairen controls the entire Land of Fire; the little money their three clans hold isn't worth his attention.
If the other side doesn't value money, then what are they moved by?
Nara Shikaku asked softly, "Sir, is there any way?"
Canon smiled and glanced around; all the ninja had pricked up their ears.
Canon whispered beside Nara Shikaku's ear, "The boss likes to go with the flow. Once he's happy, he will forget about your three clans."
Nara Shikaku was puzzled. "Then how can we make him happy?"
Canon slowly uttered two words: "Women."
After saying that, he turned around and led the Eastern Bureau people carrying coffins out of the gate.
Although Canon's words were very soft, everyone present was a ninja with extraordinary hearing, and they suddenly understood.
Then they looked at each other and could all see the gleam in one another's eyes.
Pillow-side persuasion—how could they forget such an ancient tactic?
Hiashi smiled faintly and said to Hizashi beside him, "Let's go! We're heading back."
Hizashi was confused. "Why go back?"
"To send the most beautiful member of the main family!"
"Big brother, this—"
Hizashi was shocked. They were after all an ancient ninja clan, and now they had fallen to the point of sending a woman—and from the main family, no less.
Was there really a need to be this spineless?
Hiashi was in a good mood and explained to Hizashi, "You still haven't seen clearly Moku Kairen's position. He is essentially a second Sage of Six Paths."
"If our Hyūga clan wishes to prosper for generations, we must obtain his protection."
"Therefore, pillow-side persuasion must not be neglected."
Hizashi was still confused. "But we can't send someone from the main family!"
Every member of the Hyūga main family is a treasure and never marries out, to prevent the kekkei genkai from flowing outside.
Hiashi glared at him. "So you'd use someone from the branch family? Do you think our Hyūga clan isn't dying fast enough?"
Sending someone from the Hyūga branch family—wouldn't that be the same as sending a spy?
Hizashi hurriedly waved his hands. "No!"
The Hyūga clan slowly returned home, and the remaining families also began forming their own little plans.
Nara Shikaku looked helplessly at Chōza.
"Your Akimichi clan should stay out of this."
"Oh! (ﾉ∇︎〃 )"
Akimichi Chōza scratched his head in embarrassment.
"I think our Akimichi clan might still have a chance—what if Kairen-sama likes sturdiness!"
Yamanaka Haiichi patted Akimichi Chōza on the shoulder.
"Better not gamble. We no longer have the capital to gamble!"
Akimichi Chōza gave an awkward laugh.
Nara Shikaku looked toward Yamanaka Haiichi.
"You also know our Nara clan can't produce breathtaking beauties, so we'll have to rely on your Yamanaka clan."
Smart people like to use their brains for thinking and don't care much for dressing up.
Yamanaka Haiichi nodded slightly.
"Miki is just at the age for marriage. It's no longer suitable for her to stay at home. This time, we'll entrust this to her!"
"Yamanaka Miki!"
A gleam flashed in Nara Shikaku's eyes. The great beauty of the Yamanaka clan—many had come to propose to her in the past.
"Then it's settled. The fate of our three clans will rest on Miki's charm!"
Other clans were also tempted by the idea of pillow-side persuasion, but unfortunately, the people in their families didn't quite fit the aesthetic.
Members of the Inuzuka clan smell strongly of dogs, unbearable to ordinary people.
Members of the Kurama clan have frail constitutions, likely unable to withstand Kairen's vigorous energy.
After all the great ninja clans dispersed.
Only a group of hooded people remained on the spot.
Aburame Shibi pushed up his glasses. "Should we also send a woman to do pillow-side persuasion?"
The Aburame clan's great elder shook his head.
"Better not, if we don't want to die too quickly!"
The women of the Aburame clan are full of insects—no one could bear that!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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