"Take it off and return it to Senju Tsunade."
People really do turn cold the moment you step out of the light.
No matter what, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been Hokage for so many years. Seeing him reduced to this state, everyone in the office felt a little awkward… but no one said anything.
Even his two old comrades, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who had followed him for half a lifetime, hadn't spoken a single word in his defense from beginning to end.
Others in the room still felt a trace of regret for Hiruzen.
But Koharu and Homura didn't show even the slightest hint of it.
Perhaps they had simply sat in high positions for too long. Even if someone had once been a close companion, once that person lost their value, they could look on with complete indifference.
"Ahem, Fourth Hokage."
Sensing the heavy silence in the Hokage's office, Koharu and Homura lightly cleared their throats, exchanged a glance, and then turned together toward Senju Tsunade.
"Hm?"
Tsunade was still riding the lingering momentum Shiki had left in the room.
That was her man, after all—handsome as hell and absolutely overwhelming.
The more she thought about it, the more satisfied she felt with her own taste. Perfect.
But being suddenly addressed by Koharu and Homura, Tsunade snapped back to reality and looked at the two of them with open displeasure.
Seriously… two old fossils who are already half in the grave, and they still insist on bothering me?
However, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura didn't care about the annoyance in Tsunade's gaze. They straightened their backs and spoke solemnly.
"The Third Great Ninja War has been over for quite some time now. Although Kumogakure has already discussed war reparations with us, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure have not!"
Obviously, Koharu and Homura wanted to talk about post-war reparations.
This was a prime opportunity to boost their own influence—there was no way the two of them would let it slip by.
"Ugh."
It would've been better if they hadn't brought it up. The moment they did, Tsunade's expression turned full of contempt.
"How exactly do you plan to 'talk', then? Sign some so-called 'alliance agreement' and then not demand any supplies at all?"
During the Second Great Ninja War, that was exactly what they had done: they signed an alliance agreement with Sunagakure.
And the result?
That agreement was about as useful as scrap paper. It didn't amount to a damn thing.
"Signing an alliance agreement is the path to coexistence!"
Koharu and Homura didn't feel anything was wrong with their proposal at all. On the contrary, they spoke with complete seriousness.
"Since we've already won the war, there's no need to demand anything else."
"That's right. Coexistence is the way to true peace."
To put it bluntly, the two elders were afraid that if they demanded too many supplies in reparations, those defeated villages would hold a grudge and start another war.
In this respect, they were almost the same as Sarutobi Hiruzen—if anything, Koharu and Homura were even more timid.
Even if they defeated the other hidden villages, they didn't have the guts to push for any real gains.
Because of this, some of the clan heads present began to look displeased.
"Two elders, if that's the case, then didn't all the shinobi who died on the battlefield die for nothing?"
If even after winning the war, they still had to be this cautious…
Then what was the point of winning in the first place?
"They are Konoha's heroes."
"Didn't we already engrave their names on the Konoha Memorial Stone?"
That blunt reply left everyone speechless.
The "Konoha Memorial Stone," huh…
Even if you posthumously name them heroes of Konoha, dead is still dead. That's a human life.
How can a few light words and a name on a stone make it all right to ignore those lives?
"Enough."
In the end, Tsunade raised her hand, cutting off the growing urge in the room to argue further.
Although everyone was unhappy, Tsunade was already the Hokage now, so they could only swallow their objections.
"In any case, these post-war talks still have to be held."
Tsunade hated these two walking disasters, Koharu and Homura, from the bottom of her heart—
But the issue of war reparations had to move forward.
"Hmph. Since Hokage-sama has said so, is there anything else any of you want to add?"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura became even more pleased with themselves.
In their minds, Tsunade's words were supporting their stance.
That thought made them look at Tsunade with satisfaction.
Not bad. Very sensible.
After this, they only needed to gradually tighten their grip on this Hokage.
Even though Tsunade was one of the Legendary Sannin, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and even had the Golden Lion Shiki at her side—
Koharu and Homura still didn't take it too seriously.
After all, they were the Elders of Konoha.
With that identity, what did they have to fear?
"Honestly."
These two fossils even dared to try and use her own words to prop themselves up?
Tsunade looked at the two of them as if they were something unpleasant stuck to her shoe.
"Very well then, let us go and prepare for the upcoming negotiations."
As they spoke, Koharu and Homura turned, ready to leave.
But this time, the ones who stopped them weren't Shiki or Senju Tsunade.
It was the Ino–Shika–Chō trio: Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza.
"Apologies, honored elders. For these war negotiations, the three of us can go in your place."
"Hm?"
Koharu and Homura frowned as they looked at the three men standing in their way.
"Don't forget your place. Negotiations can only be conducted by Konoha's Elders. Have you forgotten that?"
"Of course we haven't forgotten," Nara Shikaku replied with an easy smile. "That's exactly why we're the ones going."
Threaten us?
You're welcome to try… if you really think we'll be scared.
Leaving aside the fact that Shiki stood behind them, even without Shiki, a pair of Elders with no real power could never intimidate the three allied clans of Ino–Shika–Chō.
As for the Mitokado clan… in the eyes of the three clans of Ino–Shika–Chō, it was practically a joke.
"You—!"
Koharu and Homura weren't idiots. Their strength was weak, they had no particular skills, and they were especially prone to cowardice—
But they were not so stupid that they couldn't understand.
The implication in Shikaku's words, they could more or less guess.
Combined with the playful looks from the people around them…
The truth was painfully obvious.
"How could this be…"
Koharu and Homura turned in disbelief toward Senju Tsunade.
"What is going on?!"
"It's simple."
Tsunade gave them a playful smile before turning her gaze to Nara Shikaku and the others.
"From today onward, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza will serve as Konoha's new Elders."
"Shiki-sama."
Shikaku, Inoichi, and Chōza bowed in unison as they expressed their thanks to Shiki.
Even Nara Shikaku couldn't completely hide his happiness at this moment.
Although the position didn't come with any special powers on paper, once they became Elders, the three clans of Ino–Shika–Chō would undoubtedly receive even more support.
With the three clans united, even bloodline clans like the Hyūga and Uchiha would think twice before provoking them.
The heads of the surrounding clans looked at the trio with clear envy in their eyes.
But there was nothing they could do. Nara Shikaku and the others had been the first to side with Shiki, and what Shiki appreciated most about the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance was their humility.
Very few among them ever grew arrogant.
"If they're going to be the new Elders… then what happens to us?!"
Koharu and Homura stared at the three of them in disbelief.
They couldn't accept it.
They had just dealt with Sarutobi Hiruzen—were they now going to be dealt with as well?
"You two?"
Tsunade let out a cold chuckle and glanced at the pair.
Were they really that dense?
Did they still not understand what was happening?
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