"That's right…" Itachi nodded. "Madara Uchiha has a greater mastery of the divine artifacts than I do, so he snatched the Yasakani no Magatama from my hand. However… fortunately, the Totsuka Blade is still in my possession…"
"Is that so? Then I'm relieved. Otherwise, if both the Totsuka Blade and the Yasakani no Magatama fell into Madara Uchiha's hands, it would significantly increase that guy's power," Kaoru said with a smile.
"However… because of Madara Uchiha's appearance, I think I no longer have the qualifications to fight him. And his Edo Tensei body can only be sealed by the Totsuka Blade, so… I want to give the Totsuka Blade to you…" Itachi said, looking directly into Kaoru's eyes.
"Give me the Totsuka Blade?" Kaoru was taken aback. He hadn't expected Itachi to say such a thing.
"Yes, the Totsuka Blade has little use in my hands now, and it's also easily taken by Madara Uchiha. Therefore, giving it to you is the best option. After all, only you can defeat Madara Uchiha now…" Itachi said with a serious expression.
"As long as you are here, even Madara Uchiha cannot harm Konoha in the slightest."
"Then thank you…" Kaoru replied. Since Itachi was giving him the Totsuka Blade, he wouldn't refuse. Of course, he wouldn't refuse a divine artifact.
"Yes, I am, after all, a dead person. So, I can only entrust Konoha Village to you…" With that, Uchiha Itachi returned to Kaoru's courtyard.
With a thought, his red Susanoo enveloped his entire body, and a colossal figure appeared out of thin air. Fortunately, the courtyard of Kaoru's newly purchased house was large enough to accommodate not just one Susanoo, but even four or five.
In the next moment, Itachi's Susanoo conjured a gourd in its hand. This red gourd slowly began to shrink, eventually becoming only a dozen centimeters in size. It then detached from Itachi's Susanoo's hand as if shedding its shell.
Itachi extended his right hand and caught the detached gourd. The gourd was ancient bronze in color, lacking any of the brilliance expected of a divine artifact. It looked like an ordinary bronze item.
"So this is the true form of the Totsuka Blade, detached from Susanoo…" Seeing the bronze gourd before him, Kaoru couldn't help but smile. He never imagined that the weapon known as the Totsuka Blade, the divine artifact in legends, the father of the gods, Izanagi, would actually be an inconspicuous gourd.
After Itachi took the gourd out of Susanoo's hand, Itachi's Susanoo reverted to its original form. Although it still held a shield in its left hand and a sword in its right, they were now ordinary shield and sword.
"I found both the Totsuka Blade and the Yasakani no Magatama by chance in an ancient temple many years ago. They have been with me for years. However, now I entrust the Totsuka Blade to you. I hope you will use it well." Itachi casually dismissed his Susanoo and handed the Totsuka Blade to Kaoru.
Kaoru took it and examined the simple, unadorned gourd in his hand. However, he could feel an immense and terrifying amount of chakra contained within it.
"The Totsuka Blade is said to be able to seal anything. It is the world's strongest sealing jutsu, and it can perfectly fuse with Susanoo…" Itachi then explained the usage of the Totsuka Blade to Kaoru.
"I understand." Kaoru nodded. Divine artifacts like the Totsuka Blade were indeed best kept within Susanoo. Furthermore, with the Totsuka Blade, dealing with Edo Tensei individuals would be significantly easier; sealing them would be a perfect solution.
"However, Itachi, I never intended for only Konoha Village to be safe and peaceful. I desire safety and peace for the entire world…" Kaoru's tone shifted, and he suddenly spoke. "This is also your ideal, isn't it…"
"What do you mean…" Itachi was taken aback and immediately asked.
"Looking back at the past wars, they were all instigated by the Five Great Nations. Therefore, if we make the Five Great Nations… no, if we make the entire world into one nation, there will still be minor conflicts, but large-scale wars will be absolutely eliminated," Kaoru explained calmly.
"But… this wish…" Hearing Kaoru's words, Uchiha Itachi's breathing quickened. For some reason, he was moved by Kaoru's words and became agitated.
However, at this moment, someone suddenly knocked on Kaoru's door.
"Someone's here…" Kaoru responded and then got up to open the door.
A masked ANBU ninja stood respectfully at the entrance.
"Lord Kaoru, the Fifth Hokage requests your presence at the Hokage Building for a meeting," the ANBU ninja said.
"I understand." Kaoru nodded. "Please wait at the entrance for a moment."
With that, Kaoru returned to the room.
"Since the Hokage has something to discuss with you, I won't linger here any longer," Itachi said upon hearing the ANBU ninja's words.
"Then, what are your plans from now on?" Kaoru asked.
"I'm going to find Yakushi Kabuto and find a way to release the Edo Tensei, or perhaps find Sasuke and explain my intentions to him," Uchiha Itachi replied.
"Then aren't you going to say goodbye to the Third Hokage before you leave?"
"No need. I am a ninja who exists only in the past, carrying the burden of sin. Let me leave Konoha Village with this identity…" Uchiha Itachi said calmly. Despite bearing such immense hardship, he never uttered a single complaint.
"In that case… have a safe journey…" Kaoru sighed and said.
"Likewise." Itachi smiled in return. "I hope one day, this world truly becomes as you described, with the Five Great Nations united as one nation, ending all large-scale wars."
"It will… I promise." Kaoru nodded.
"I look forward to that day…" With these final words, Itachi leaped onto the courtyard wall and then used the Body Flicker Technique to disappear.
"What an optimistic fellow…" Kaoru sighed, looking at the spot where Itachi had vanished. He then prepared to leave. After a simple wash and tidying his clothes, he followed the ANBU ninja to the Hokage Building.
...
In the Hokage's office sat four individuals. Tsunade occupied the Hokage's seat, while the Third Hokage, despite his injuries, was also present. Beside them, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu seemed to be discussing something.
"Lady Tsunade, what is it you need me for?" A voice suddenly appearing in the office interrupted the discussion of the two Konoha elders, drawing all eyes to Kaoru, who had suddenly appeared at the entrance.
"There's something that should have been given to you a long time ago, and now is the time," Tsunade said, standing up from her seat and looking directly into Kaoru's eyes.
"What is it?" Kaoru had already guessed, but he feigned ignorance.
As Kaoru asked directly, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still bandaged, took a moment to gather his thoughts and then delivered a shocking statement to Kaoru: "Uchiha Kaoru, I've asked you this question before, but you refused. Now, I ask you again: Are you willing to accept the position of the Sixth Hokage of Konohagakure?"
"The Sixth Hokage?" Kaoru smiled and then asked, "Isn't Lady Tsunade still in her prime? Konoha Village is developing quite well. Why are you suddenly making such a request?"
"Hey, Kaoru, what do you mean by 'prime'… I'm not old yet!" Tsunade said, hands on her hips, clearly displeased with Kaoru's description.
"That's not important…" Hiruzen Sarutobi explained upon hearing Kaoru's words. "Because of Madara Uchiha's appearance, his power is enough to shock all the ninjas in this world. To deal with any potential emergencies…"
"Therefore, our Konoha Village needs a strong leader," Mitokado Homura continued, taking over from the Third Hokage.
"Furthermore, you have saved Konoha from dire situations multiple times. Whether in terms of honor or strength, you are the number one in Konoha. If you become Hokage, no one in the village will object. Moreover, due to Madara Uchiha's attack on Konoha, the villagers are in a state of panic. Therefore, your becoming Hokage will also help stabilize the populace."
"I hope you won't refuse this time, Kaoru," Hiruzen Sarutobi concluded.
Kaoru thought about it carefully. It made sense. Defeating the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain, and then defeating Madara Uchiha. From the perspective of the ninja world, there was indeed no one more deterrent than himself to become the Sixth Hokage.
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