Chapter 93: Chapter 103
In the future, There will be mistakes in the names of titles or nicknames, but the meaning remains the same, so I don't think it will be too disturbing.
Then why don't I fix it? There are 250 chapters on Patreon, and you think I'm not lazy to fix them all?đź’€
---
"Such a nag."
"And then…"
"Hesitating again."
"Konoha has declined so badly. Even though we don't think future decisions will go wrong, it's still good to prepare some backups."
"The reason for choosing Danzo is because offering him up first would appease the others. The other three definitely wouldn't object."
"So the resistance would be minimal," said Kitahara Kaede. "Is there anything to consider?"
"And as for the Third Hokage, he is the Hokage. If we were to dismember him, and the precedent is set that a Hokage can be executed like that, it would shake the absolute authority of the Hokage's position."
"So…" Kakashi finally understood.
"You saved the Third Hokage…"
"To preserve the position of Hokage," Kitahara Kaede said.
"%..." Kakashi.
Kakashi felt like Kitahara Kaede had already anticipated that someone high up in Konoha would need to take the fall—and in the end, Tobirama had left the decision to Kaede.
It was obvious now that Kaede had already considered the fact that Tobirama had named him as a Hokage candidate.
So this was him laying the groundwork for himself.
"Then…" Kakashi continued, "If the Third keeps his title as Hokage and the other two advisors…"
"Those two don't matter," Kitahara Kaede said. "Next time something comes up, just throw them under the bus."
"…" Kakashi.
Kakashi pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
So real.
Kakashi felt that he really wasn't cut out to be Hokage. Being a secretary really was so much more comforting.
··········
With Danzo's downfall, the Chūnin Exams also came to an end.
Still, Konoha gained quite a bit from this exam.
First of all, the four Sound ninja brought by Orochimaru had jĹŤnin-level strength, and Konoha accepted them.
Konoha was short on jĹŤnin, and those four were young with potential for further growth.
The ninja from Sunagakure were all detained.
The three Sound Genin, though average, were also taken in.
So in the end, all the people Orochimaru brought ended up joining Konoha.
Orochimaru was such a generous man—despite being a missing-nin, he didn't even take a cloud away from Konoha; instead, he delivered talents right to their doorstep.
Because of Orochimaru's involvement, the Grass ninja were also detained. Upon inspection, they found a child of the Uzumaki clan—Uzumaki Karin—so she was kept too.
So what could've been a major crisis ended up becoming… a harvest.
Now, all that remained was to wait for the follow-up with Sunagakure's Temari, KankurĹŤ, and Gaara.
Having just experienced the Chūnin Exams and protected Konoha's face, Kitahara Kaede now had a decent vacation.
He was on leave.
But because of that, the daily livestreams in the little group were all about…
His regular and leisurely reading, followed by naps.
Nap, read. Watch the bunny.
Watch the bunny, nap, read.
And occasionally send some chakra to the little white bunny.
Ever since he sent chakra to her last time, the ninja rabbit (the little white bunny) no longer resisted.
During the day, she would even lean against him to absorb chakra.
As long as it involved chakra absorption, Otsutsuki Kaguya would never refuse.
"…"
"…"
And just like that, a week passed.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Tobirama, didn't you say your Edo Tensei was going to be undone?
[Tobirama]: Oh.
[Tobirama]: Ah, that—actually, Orochimaru did release his control.
[Tobirama]: But didn't I have Kitahara Kaede learn Edo Tensei?
[Tobirama]: As a reward for helping handle the Chūnin Exams, I taught him Edo Tensei.
[Tobirama]: So he used Edo Tensei to summon me again… Oh, right—it was three days ago. The group livestream hadn't started yet, so I forgot to mention it.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: I see.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: But…
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Don't you think something's off now, Tobirama?
Hashirama tried to put it gently.
[Tobirama]: Hm? I'm busy, sorting ninja data.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: That's exactly what I wanted to talk about.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: During the recent livestreams, Kitahara Kaede has just been relaxing every day.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: But… why are you the one working hard every day?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Didn't you say he was designated the next Hokage candidate after the exams?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So why is it still you doing all the work while he's just lying around?
[Tobirama]: You think I don't want to stop?
[Tobirama]: He refused.
[Tobirama]: He said Konoha's current state is too much of a mess—he has no idea where to even begin.
[Tobirama]: He really won't take the position unless we all come out to help. So while I can still handle things, I'm doing what I can now.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So honest.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Hey Tobirama, you're my little brother, right?
[Tobirama]: Yeah.
[Tobirama]: Unless you're saying Uchiha Izuna is your brother instead?
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: …Don't bring me into this right now.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then let me ask, Tobirama—back when I was Hokage, why didn't you help me this much?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: You'd catch me slacking instantly, but now you're doing everything yourself.
[Tobirama]: …
[Tobirama]: That time was different.
[Tobirama]: When you were around, the ninja world was at peace.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So it's just a different era now, huh?
[Tobirama]: Pretty much. Back then, Konoha was the number one among the Five Great Villages.
[Tobirama]: And now? Kakashi's report that there were less than 3000 active ninja was wrong. The actual number is 6666. But that count didn't include the injured and those unable to serve anymore.
[Tobirama]: Those are all costs to deal with.
[Tobirama]: Hiruzen really was getting senile—many of the records weren't even properly organized.
[Tobirama]: So I had to redo everything. It's so annoying.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Then… thanks for your hard work.
Hashirama recalled his own days as Hokage, drowning in paperwork.
At least back then, Madara would keep him company. But now, sorting all that alone… it's overwhelming.
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: …
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: …
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu has gone offline…]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Wait a second, Mr. Black Zetsu.
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: ?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: You've seemed really busy lately.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: You only pop in for a second during livestreams and then disappear.
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: I'm carrying out my mission.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: What kind of mission? Can you share?
[Filial Son - Black Zetsu]: …
What mission?
Of course—it's to carry out Kitahara Kaede's instruction to gather the Tailed Beasts for Lady Kaguya.
Since Lady Kaguya needs chakra, collecting the Tailed Beasts is naturally essential.
So he's working hard.
For a thousand years, he never once forgot his ultimate goal: releasing Lady Kaguya's seal.
But with no progress for so long, the goal had started to feel distant and unreachable.
But now, things were different.
He just needed to capture the Tailed Beasts!
So—he would capture the Tailed Beasts!
Right now, Black Zetsu felt like he was running on adrenaline. He'd never felt more fulfilled than he did now.
Finally… finally, finally, he could actually do something useful for Lady Kaguya.
That's why…
Even though he was busy every day—supervising Obito, having Obito manipulate Nagato, Nagato controlling Pain, and coordinating Akatsuki's operations—
Even with all that, he never forgot to log in during the group livestreams to check on Lady Kaguya's condition.
Excellent.
Kitahara Kaede really wasn't lying—he really did send chakra to Lady Kaguya every day.
---
Chapter 250+ on my patreon.com/dzeref887
Update Schedule:
WebNovel = 3 chapters/day
Patreon = 10 chapters/day