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"You..."
Jiraiya stared at the tightly closed door, wanting to knock directly, but after hesitating for a moment, he reluctantly lowered his hand and sat down on the floor in front of the door.
Sakura and Shizune leaned against each other, also sitting down on the ground as if drained of energy.
Soon, Kakashi, Yamato, Asuma, Kurenai, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Kiba, Shino, Hinata, Tenten, Lee... and many other ninjas arrived, gathering uneasily in the hallway.
No one spoke. Everyone silently lowered their heads, lost in their own thoughts.
Tap, tap, tap...
The sound of footsteps echoed, but the people waiting outside the door remained oblivious.
"Jiraiya-sama," Shikaku's voice broke the silent atmosphere.
He walked through the crowd and approached Jiraiya.
"What is it, Shikaku?" Jiraiya slowly raised his head, his voice hoarse.
"Jiraiya-sama, although this may seem unreasonable," Shikaku sighed and continued, "but... now that the battle is over, there are many matters that Konoha needs to handle. We need you to step up and act as the interim Hokage."
"No, I won't do it," Jiraiya lowered his head again and refused outright. "That's Tsunade's responsibility. She can handle it herself when she returns."
"Jiraiya-sama!" Shikaku didn't give up. "Today's battle has cost us many comrades. On top of that, the village's facilities have been severely damaged. We urgently need someone with authority to step up and handle these matters, to give our fellow Konoha citizens confidence. With the Hokage's current situation unclear, you are the only suitable candidate..."
"I refuse!"
Jiraiya cut Shikaku off. "This kind of thing... you, Kakashi, Asuma, anyone can do it..."
"Me?" Shikaku shook his head. "I don't have that kind of authority, Jiraiya-sama."
Kakashi and Asuma immediately retreated into the crowd.
"Jiraiya-sama..." Shikaku tried to persuade him again.
"Enough!" Jiraiya punched the ground. "Anyone can do it! I'm staying here to wait for Tsunade to return!"
Shikaku opened his mouth but ultimately relented.
"Then, let's call a Jonin meeting and have everyone discuss how to solve the problems. What do you think?" He proposed a new plan.
"Whatever. I believe you can handle it," Jiraiya waved his hand impatiently.
Shikaku sighed silently, then turned and scanned the crowd.
Seeing the people he looked at shrinking back, he felt a headache coming on.
Why do I have to deal with such troublesome things again?
Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and spoke, "Everyone, to be honest, I'm also grieving and want to wait here without a care for anything else."
His gaze swept over the crowd, who were all hanging their heads.
"But as Konoha ninjas, we must shoulder our responsibilities. Especially now, when the Hokage is unable to fulfill her duties, it's time for all of us to step up."
He walked straight through the crowd toward the staircase.
"Please contribute your strength to the village. As the Jonin Commander, I declare that a Jonin meeting will be held. Please follow me!"
The crowd remained silent for a long time, with only Shikaku's footsteps echoing in their ears.
"Let's go."
Kakashi was the first to step forward and follow Shikaku.
"Let's go."
Asuma and Kurenai followed closely behind.
Then Yamato.
The other Jonin also stepped forward one by one, following in succession.
"Shizune-nee?"
Sakura looked at Shizune in surprise as she stood up.
"I'm also a Jonin of Konoha."
Shizune stood with her back to Sakura, her body still trembling.
"Until Tsunade-sama returns, I will take care of the Hokage's office and fulfill my duties as the Hokage's assistant."
"Stay strong, Shizune-nee!"
Sakura also trembled as she stood up.
"Tsunade-sama will definitely return!"
"Please wait here for Tsunade-sama's return on my behalf, Sakura."
Shizune straightened her back and strode forward to follow the other Jonin.
"I will."
Sakura wiped away her tears, her expression firm as she also stood straight by the door of the room.
Tsunade, do you see this?
Jiraiya still hung his head, but a relieved smile appeared on his face.
Everyone is working hard for the village, and some firmly believe that you will return.
So, please... you must come back, Tsunade!
---
In contrast to the solemn and tragic atmosphere in the hallway, Kaito's paper clone inside the room was leisurely sitting on a chair, casually flipping through the information on the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
He had already witnessed Tsunade's sealing.
To be honest, the sealing techniques of ninjas and those of onmyoji share some similarities.
After obtaining the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques from Danzo, he had studied them carefully and gained many insights.
Human wisdom is truly boundless.
Although Kaito had studied them, and Konoha knew he had studied them, many things could only be done, not spoken of, and certainly not made explicit.
So he demanded the information with confidence, and Jiraiya handed it over without hesitation.
This so-called "Reverse Four Symbols Sealing" is a sealing technique designed for mutual destruction, perfectly suited for extremists like Danzo and the Root organization.
Unfortunately, Danzo died before he could use this terrifying technique.
The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing uses the cycle of the four symbols to seal the enemy, while the Four Black Symbols Formation extends and modifies this principle.
Simply put, it reverses the cycle of the Four Symbols Seal from inward to outward, then enhances its power by consuming the user's entire life force.
Kaito put down the information and stood up, stretching.
Fortunately, the windows in this room were covered with thick curtains, and Kaito had casually set up a barrier to prevent Byakugan from spying. Otherwise, if the Konoha ninjas discovered that the person they were pinning their hopes on to save the Hokage was blatantly slacking off, they would surely rise up in anger.
Kaito naturally had to stall for time, not wanting to give the Konoha ninjas the impression that he could easily break the seal.
After all, if he made it look too easy, they wouldn't be willing to pay a high price.
As for Tsunade's life or death... that would depend on fate.
In Kaito's eyes, the boundary between life and death is blurred. Even if Tsunade died, she could become an existence like Minato.
And she'd get a free Sage Mode power-up!
He would also gain an excellent tool.
Wouldn't that be a win-win for everyone?
---
In another room at Konoha Hospital, Naruto, lying on the hospital bed, opened his eyes.
He glanced around at his surroundings and, contrary to his usual behavior, didn't make a fuss. Instead, he stared at the ceiling and silently began to cry.
The image of Minato's soul being devoured by that strange man kept replaying in his mind. At this moment, he didn't want to care about anything else.
"Dad..."
Naruto whispered softly.
The scenes in his mind shifted, and memories of his daily life and training with his father began to surface.
These past two years had been the happiest time of Naruto's life since birth.
For the first time, he truly understood what happiness felt like.
But...
This brief happiness seemed to be coming to an end. He had become an orphan again.
"It hurts..." He clutched his chest and murmured, "It really hurts."
He remembered telling Sasuke before that just imagining the pain of losing a loved one was unbearable.
But he never expected that experiencing it firsthand would be a hundred, a thousand times more painful.
At the same time, an unbearable hatred was growing in his heart, gnawing at his soul, even more unbearable than the pain.
I finally understand Sasuke.
Naruto turned to his side, curling up into a ball, yet still feeling inexplicably cold.
'Maybe I should apologize to Sasuke again, more sincerely.' He suddenly thought.
Because now, in his heart, things like becoming Hokage, the village, peace... compared to his father's existence, they were all worthless.
Indeed, losing something after having it is much more painful than never having had it at all.