Chapter 487: The Last Hokage
Tsunade opened her eyes, a hint of mockery in her gaze as she swept it across the scene before her.
Even now, was there really no one willing to sacrifice for Konoha?
No one willing to fight for Konoha?
Everyone had raised their hands so decisively, so quickly, as if delaying by even a single second would affect their future standing in the Land of Flame.
A pang of sorrow struck Tsunade's heart.
She wondered if the past Hokage, who had given their lives for Konoha, would think all their struggles had truly been worth it.
Her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, had founded Konoha.
Yet now, Konoha was about to perish in her hands.
When she went to the Pure Land, how was she supposed to explain this to her grandfather?
And how was she supposed to explain it to her younger brother, who had always dreamed of becoming Hokage?
Tsunade even saw the Akimichi Clan head, who had lost an arm, present in the room.
He did not object.
One other even handed her a letter stating that the Sarutobi Clan also supported the decision and had collectively decided to surrender to Kenichi.
This chilled Tsunade's heart.
How dared the Sarutobi Clan?
Had they forgotten that their previous clan head, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had died at Kenichi's hands?
Tsunade scoffed.
"This is truly..."
"Since that's the case, then there will be no more Konoha."
Tsunade spoke coldly.
She stood up, no longer intending to remain in this disheartening village, nor truly intending to surrender to that madman, Kenichi.
She planned to resume her old life, wandering the world.
For a moment, Tsunade felt disoriented.
No.
There would be no more countries.
There would be no more casinos in different countries.
No matter where she went, she would always be living on the territory of this new country, the Land of Flame.
This country was filled with a group of madmen.
As long as Kenichi died, or as long as he exposed even the slightest weakness, the most brutal betrayal would await him.
At that time, the entire Shinobi World would be engulfed in war again.
Unless Kenichi could live forever.
"Hokage-sama, what about Kumogakure's ninja?"
Homura urgently asked.
If they were going to surrender, Tsunade had to be the one to lead it.
They also needed to control the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to prevent him from escaping.
Only then could they prove Konoha's sincere surrender.
"Surrender?! You want to surrender?!"
A furious voice rang out.
Then, a man wrapped in bandages pushed open the door and walked in.
His eyes were wide with rage, as if he could not believe that these ninja, who had enjoyed so many benefits in Konoha, would choose to surrender.
His whole body trembled, as if he had been betrayed at that moment.
The ninja present looked at the man who had just entered with complicated expressions.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his face allowed everyone to recognize his identity.
This was the Third Hokage's son, Asuma Sarutobi.
"Yes, surrender. There will be no more Konoha, and no more Land of Fire."
Tsunade had an unreadable smile on her face.
It was as if she was laughing, and yet also sighing.
Asuma Sarutobi... he probably does not know yet, does he?
A hint of mocking amusement flashed through Tsunade's eyes.
Asuma certainly did not know.
How could this so-called young clan head be a match for the old men in the Sarutobi Clan?
"Just because of that Amamiya Kenichi? You're going to surrender to him?!"
Asuma roared fiercely.
His voice was so loud that his previously healing wounds ruptured again, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.
The blood splattered onto the map of Konoha, forming red spots that soaked into the paper and slowly spread.
Tsunade looked at the map.
At every street.
Every house.
Just seeing the map made her feel as if she could see all of Konoha before her eyes.
As if she could see this village for which she had fought her entire life.
"This is the unanimous decision of Konoha's Elder Council and the heads of all major clans."
Tsunade spoke softly, her gaze unfocused as she looked at the blood-soaked map.
But these words only enraged Asuma further.
He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and stared fiercely at the ninja before him with the gaze of a lone wolf.
Some of the ninja present lowered their heads, not daring to meet Asuma's gaze.
They felt a little guilty.
But some other ninja watched Asuma coldly, their eyes devoid of emotion.
Tsunade did not look at the ninja in the meeting room.
Nor did she look at the agitated Asuma.
She was only looking at the map, taking one last look at it.
What would this place be called in the future?
How would Kenichi make Konoha's ninja live?
These were all questions.
"Are you just going to surrender like this? The Hyuga Clan ninja have seen it. There are white worms in the brains of those Land of Flame ninja. If you surrender, do you also want worms in your brains?"
Asuma gritted his teeth as he looked at his companions.
His fists were clenched tightly, and a sweet, metallic taste filled his throat, making him deeply uncomfortable.
Asuma suppressed the urge to vomit blood, panting in anger, his gaze fixed on the ninja before him.
"There will always be a solution, Asuma. I know you're anxious, but don't be so impatient. Now, the entire Shinobi World only has our Land of Fire left. Are you expecting us to fight Kenichi and those madmen from the Land of Flame with those brainless people from Kumogakure?"
Hyuga Hizashi tried to comfort the agitated Asuma.
"You heard Kakashi's report, didn't you? Those Land of Flame ninja all have Mangekyo Sharingan. Do you think you can handle them?"
Because Kumogakure and Konoha had quickly established a certain relationship, Kumogakure's ninja had not come to take Hinata Hyuga.
Because of that, Hizashi naturally had not died.
If Kenichi knew, he might lament how he had unknowingly changed the history of the Shinobi World once again.
Hizashi felt that his idea was correct.
So many Mangekyo ninja.
How could they fight?
One eye technique from each of the opposing side would be enough to wipe out most ninja teams.
And what use would it be even if elite ninja survived?
Could they overcome the hurdle named Kenichi?
"Then our Sarutobi Clan won't be cowards either!"
Asuma left, gritting his teeth.
He was disillusioned with this village.
These people only cared about their own interests and completely disregarded everything else.
Hiruzen had died for the village.
Yet no one was thinking of avenging him?
Asuma walked quickly.
As he left, he forcefully slammed the door shut.
The loud noise startled the somewhat dazed Tsunade back to awareness.
She glanced at the ninja in the room.
"Later, the two elders will take the ANBU ninja to talk to Kumogakure's ninja about your decision."
Tsunade spoke calmly.
Homura looked at Tsunade in surprise.
This was not right.
Shouldn't Tsunade be the one to lead the team?
Just as Homura was about to say something to make Tsunade lead the team, Tsunade stood up directly.
"From today onward, I am no longer the Fifth Hokage of Konoha of the Land of Fire. I abdicate."
After Tsunade finished speaking, she placed the Hokage hat on the table and walked toward the door.
Some people in the middle wanted to say something, but after Tsunade punched a hole through the wall, they closed their mouths and said nothing more.
They could only watch Tsunade leave the new Hokage Building with Shizune.
Tsunade walked outside.
The ANBU she passed respectfully bowed to her.
Tsunade nodded slightly.
She suddenly felt light all over.
Looking at her own likeness on the Hokage Rock in the distance, Tsunade gave a wry smile.
Was she the Hokage with the shortest tenure?
How long had the Fourth Hokage served?
She could not remember.
Her memories were a little blurry.
Tsunade walked out of the village expressionlessly.
The guarding ninja looked at Tsunade and Shizune, who was carrying a bag, in surprise.
But they said nothing.
They only bowed respectfully.
Shortly after Tsunade left Konoha, she turned her head to look at the village behind her.
The village where she had grown up.
The village where she had fought.
The village where she had fallen in love.
The village where she had taken on responsibility.
Suddenly, her vision blurred.
Tsunade gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly.
Through her tears, she saw her grandfather smiling at her.
She saw Tobirama Senju waving at her.
She saw the Third Hokage silently smoking, then sighing as he looked at her before finally smiling and ruffling her hair.
Finally...
At the very end...
A man with spiky white hair and a large nose smiled at her.
Tsunade took a deep breath.
She suddenly understood something.
She suddenly knew why Jiraiya had done what he did.
Why Jiraiya had ultimately not returned.
She suddenly knew what she had to do.
Was she supposed to wander across this Land of Fire?
And then change her mind and simply survive?
That kind of choice was not her choice.
Tsunade silently took out her Konoha ninja headband from her pocket.
She touched the headband, then resolutely tied it around her forehead.
With one hand, she took out her wartime clothes and put them on.
When she turned her head, she saw that Shizune had also changed into the same attire, silently standing by her side.
Tsunade opened her mouth to say something.
But looking at Shizune's eyes, Tsunade said nothing.
She nodded.
Then, taking Shizune with her, she dashed toward the Land of Lightning.
And just after Tsunade left, Homura and Koharu reluctantly led the ANBU out of Konoha, hurrying toward Kumogakure's encampment.
They needed to see what Kumogakure's ninja were thinking.
If they were willing to surrender together, that would be best.
But if they were not, it would be troublesome.
"Tsunade-neechan, why bother?"
Kenichi sighed as he looked at the woman before him.
By the time he received the intelligence and rushed over, the old site of Kumogakure had already been violently cleared by Tsunade.
Now, only Tsunade and Shizune sat there, in the empty center of Kumogakure, quietly watching him.
Dark clouds covered the sky over Kumogakure, making the entire place seem gloomy.
It was going to rain.
Kenichi's mood was somewhat complicated.
In his opinion, Tsunade and Shizune were still very useful.
After all, they were both medical ninja, and Tsunade's mastery of medical ninjutsu was extremely high.
It would be hard to find a stronger healer than Tsunade in the Shinobi World.
If possible, Kenichi hoped Tsunade would surrender to him and serve the Land of Flame.
But he had just finished making the thermobaric bomb and given it to Black Zetsu.
He had been about to passionately discuss the prospects of the chakra energy era with Amado.
Unexpectedly, Shiori suddenly brought him a troublesome piece of news.
Tsunade and Shizune had come to Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning and specifically requested a fight with Kenichi.
Kenichi had rushed over, and what he saw was this scene.
Looking at Tsunade in her battle attire, Kenichi knew what Tsunade was thinking.
Ninja were truly troublesome beings.
"No need to say more, Amamiya Kenichi."
Tsunade stood up.
Shizune also stood up beside her, silent, her eyes calmly fixed on Kenichi, as if she was looking at an enemy.
"Sigh..."
Kenichi sighed.
He closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, lightning patterns had appeared at the corners of his eyes.
He knew that standing before him now was a hero.
A stubborn ninja.
A pure ninja.
However, perhaps it was precisely because there were such ninja who adhered to their own ninja way, preferring death over compromise, that the current history of the Shinobi World had taken shape.
Kenichi looked at Tsunade and Shizune.
This battle might be his last one against the ninja of the Shinobi World.
No.
Perhaps it would be the second to last.
Whether it would be the very last depended on what Raikage A of Kumogakure thought.
But Kenichi knew that after this battle, there would be no more Konoha.
Or rather, there would be no more Hokage.
The Will of Fire would be buried in his era.
"Lady Fifth Hokage, may you have a good journey."
Kenichi slowly walked over.
Hearing Kenichi's words, Tsunade suddenly became excited.
She stomped her foot, and the ground cracked under the immense force.
Then Tsunade instantly vanished from Kenichi's sight.
"It's too early to say that, you brat! Today, I'll teach you how to fight a ninja!"
Tsunade's voice carried the sound of rushing wind as she swiftly charged toward Kenichi.
Shizune also charged forward without hesitation.
The cold wind whistled.
Orochimaru stood with his arms crossed, looking at the tree before him.
This tree was withered, with only a few leaves left.
It was a dead tree.
Only a single withered leaf still clung to a branch, unwilling to leave the place that had nurtured it for so long.
Orochimaru looked into the distance, his eyes lost in thought.
Then he silently picked up a piece of wood and sat on the ground.
He picked up a file.
Without using ninjutsu, he sat there, silently carving the wood in his hands.
And before him stood Jiraiya's grave.
.....
https://discord.gg/KvMN2CFsMR
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]