Tsunade coughed violently.
The ideas presented by Akihara Kagura were indeed outrageous.
All the Hokages present firmly opposed the proposal because the position of Hokage was the dream most desired by the ninjas of Konoha, while the positions of Mizukage and Kazekage held no appeal for them.
Once Tsunade succeeded as both Mizukage and Kazekage, the Konoha ninjas would gradually realize that being Hokage was not a dream but a position that also included the roles of Kazekage and Mizukage.
This would be a fatal blow to the future development of Konoha.
"If the position of Hokage becomes a political role instead of a goal for the village's ninjas to strive for, the ninjas will lose their trust in the Hokage, whose existence is the origin of Konoha... Konoha absolutely must not let the position of Hokage bear any other labels!"
Moreover...
The ninjas from the villages of Sand Village and Mist Village would never approve! Honestly speaking...
It would be better to kill people from the two ninja villages instead!
"Wait a moment..."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes as if she remembered something: "Although we don't have such thoughts, Kagura's idea might make it more acceptable for them to sign the agreement..."
Tsunade had some political sense.
Akihara Kagura's outrageous ideas were too extreme, but they made other ideas acceptable, at least everyone was willing to accept a more moderate condition.
Chiyo and Terumi Mei were quite angry and dissatisfied when signing the agreement, but they could only helplessly choose to accept it, their eyes almost unable to contain their hatred and anger.
However...
Tsunade's words eased their mood.
Tsunade saw their anger and dissatisfaction, and consoled them: "Actually, when we were discussing how to deal with Sand Village and Mist Village, Kagura suggested that I take on the roles of the Fifth Kazekage of Sand Village and the Fifth Mizukage of Mist Village..."
"!!!"
Chiyo and Terumi Mei tensed up.
Tsunade saw their tense expressions and continued with a solemn demeanor: "But I believe that being Kazekage is the dream of the Sand Village ninjas, and being Mizukage is also the dream of the Mist Village ninjas. Out of respect for the future of the ninjas in both villages, I did not agree with Kagura and instead modified his proposal to this one, where Konoha will designate the positions of Kazekage and Mizukage..."
"Deeply grateful..."
Chiyo and Terumi Mei relaxed.
"Interesting..."
Akihara Kagura crossed his arms, his left finger lightly tapping his right forearm.
This new superior had actually learned to let him take the blame; Tsunade really thought she and the Root were helping to take the blame!
Akihara Kagura's gaze was slightly cold, watching Chiyo and Terumi Mei: "This idea I will not change, even if Lady Tsunade temporarily disagrees with this view, the future Hokage must also hold the positions of Kazekage and Mizukage!"
"!!!"
Chiyo and Terumi Mei's expressions changed simultaneously.
Because Akihara Kagura, a strong and powerful aide to the Hokage, is definitely a key force in Konoha, his words cannot be taken as a joke...
"Kagura!"
Tsunade quickly stopped Akihara Kagura, saying sternly: "We have already discussed this matter, it should not be decided by you, I am the Hokage!"
This guy...
Is way too aggressive! If this continues, once Sand Village and Mist Village gain power, they will continue to be hostile to Konoha, and the hatred will continue to spread!
"You will regret this, Lady Tsunade."
Akihara Kagura turned and left the meeting room, seemingly a bit angrily closing the door of the meeting room, the loud noise making everyone present somewhat uneasy.
"I will persuade him to give up this idea..."
Tsunade sighed, continuing to console her future allies: "I hope you can submit your candidates for the Fifth Kazekage and the Fifth Mizukage soon after you return..."
"Yes..."
Chiyo and Terumi Mei were still somewhat uneasy.
On the other side.
Akihara Kagura arrived at the Konoha prison.
This prison housed captives from Sand Village and Mist Village who had incited riots in Konoha, including the Jinchuriki Gaara of the One Tail and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from Mist Village.
The Hozuki brothers, Suigetsu and Mangetsu, were taken directly back to the Root base by Akihara Kagura, and the guarding Konoha ninjas dared not stop him.
Inside the Root base.
Akihara Kagura looked with interest at the seriously ill Mangetsu.
"What the hell do you want!"
Suigetsu hurried to protect his brother, fearing that Akihara Kagura might harm him, knowing his brother had no power to resist.
Of course.
It had always been so.
"Suigetsu, step aside."
Mangetsu asked his brother to move aside.
"Lord Kagura, what do you want me to do?"
Mangetsu's heart was not uneasy, knowing his own condition; the disease had been tormenting his body, and his life had already been ticking down.
"Take this kid out first."
Akihara Kagura first had people take Suigetsu away, leaving Mangetsu alone.
"You're dying."
Akihara Kagura looked at Mangetsu and calmly asked, "I could give you a chance, a chance for your brother to live..."
"What do I need to do!"
Mangetsu showed a full set of shark teeth, but with a renewed spirit.
After all...
He was terminally ill and about to die! If he could exchange it for Suigetsu's survival, it was a fair deal!
"I hear you have a talent for summoning techniques..."
Akihara Kagura raised his finger and softly said, "If you die, I can use a jutsu to imprison your soul within your body, and in the future, I will turn you into a puppet, of course, your soul will also reside within the puppet..."
Mangetsu was the perfect candidate for the second Animal Path puppet.
Because the more skilled a ninja was at summoning techniques, the stronger they would become after being made into an Animal Path puppet.
"..."
Mangetsu's body trembled.
The people of the ninja world generally believed that souls ascend to heaven, even ninjas believe that the dead live in paradise, and preventing a soul from reaching paradise is a cruel act.
"Will you agree?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Mangetsu, seemingly waiting for his answer.
"Do I have a choice?"
Mangetsu seemed to have made peace with his fate, his mouth revealing a full set of shark teeth, as if he had found his release: "At least that idiot Suigetsu can still live..."
"That's good enough then."
Akihara Kagura nodded, signaling the Root ninjas to take Mangetsu away, and then brought Suigetsu into his office.
"Where's my brother?"
Suigetsu looked for traces of his brother.
"He's dying."
Akihara Kagura watched the young ninja.
"I know that! If he's going to die, let it be!"
Suigetsu grumbled dissatisfiedly, persistently asking, "At least I should be by his side before he dies, right?"
This somewhat goofy Suigetsu also had this side!
"I have a jutsu."
Akihara Kagura looked at Suigetsu, continuing softly, "Even if he dies, I can still bring people back from the dead in the future, you still have a chance to see him, as long as you're willing to help me carry out a mission..."
"What mission?"
Suigetsu furrowed his brow, not believing there was anything Kagura could not do: "What can't you do by yourself? Don't get me wrong, I'm just curious about the mission, I'm not really interested in him coming back to life..."
"Go undercover to Orochimaru."
Akihara Kagura's finger lightly tapped the desk.
"!!!"
Suigetsu broke into a cold sweat!
Are you kidding! Do you want him to die there?
"I will arrange a companion for you."
Akihara Kagura watched Suigetsu, continuing softly, "And there will be someone there to protect you, you won't die there..."
"That's still okay."
Suigetsu nonchalantly nodded, then continued, "So can I see my brother now? I'm not interested in him coming back after he's dead, just worried about when he's going to die now..."
"He's already dead."
Akihara Kagura frowned, softly stating, "After you go back, defect from Mist Village to join Orochimaru, to avoid Orochimaru's suspicion..."
"I understand."
Suigetsu grimaced, showing the same shark teeth as his brother: "So you're using that guy as a hostage against me, huh?"
"..."
A group of Root ninjas escorted Suigetsu back to the cell.
Time passed quickly.
The ceasefire agreement had already been signed.
Sand Village and Mist Village sent their reparations and jutsu scrolls, Chiyo took away the Suna captives, and Terumi Mei took away the Kiri captives.
Just before everyone left, a small incident occurred.
The current leader of the Mist Village Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Mangetsu, was ill, and Terumi Mei hoped Tsunade could help treat him, but they couldn't find any trace of Mangetsu.
"Lady Hokage, our village's Seven Ninja Swordsmen Mangetsu..."
Terumi Mei anxiously inquired Tsunade about Mangetsu's disappearance.
"This..."
Tsunade wasn't quite sure about this matter.
"He's dead."
Akihara Kagura responded nonchalantly.
"Where is his body?"
Terumi Mei quickly looked at Akihara Kagura, emphasizing, "There's also a ninja sword on Mangetsu, it's a treasure of Mist Village..."
"He's dead, that's that!"
Suigetsu muttered carelessly beside Terumi Mei: "Since he's already dead, why ask so many questions, anyway he's already done quite a bit for Mist Village, it's quite normal for you high-ups to have killed him here..."
"..."
The faces of those present changed.
"Lady Hokage, we'll head back first."
Terumi Mei didn't want to argue with this brat here.
In the future, they could still come to Konoha to request the return of the lost ninja sword, it was embarrassing enough for Mist Village to be made a laughingstock here.
Tsunade watched a group of Mist Village ninjas leave Konoha, rubbing her forehead, and asked Akihara Kagura: "Is Mangetsu really dead?"
"What's the matter?"
Akihara Kagura's gaze focused on Tsunade, as if he hadn't heard, curiously repeating the question: "Lady Tsunade, don't you trust me?"
"It's not that."
Tsunade furrowed her brow, looking at Akihara Kagura's expression, which seemed curiously as if he found the matter strange...
This...
What's so strange about it?
It's just a trivial matter, right?
Wrong!
Edo Tensei!
Tsunade suddenly remembered that Akihara Kagura was skilled in the Edo Tensei technique, perhaps Mangetsu was already dead, and Akihara Kagura had revived him using the technique for his own purposes?
This...
Caused Tsunade to hesitate.
Jiraiya had repeatedly reminded her not to let Akihara Kagura get lost in evil techniques like the Edo Tensei, but after this young man had revived the previous Hokages...
It seems...
He had already delved into it?
If so...
She might be betraying Jiraiya.
Now that Konoha's wars and foreign relations had been settled, she needed to find time to talk to Akihara Kagura properly about the Edo Tensei technique.
"I need to get busy."
Akihara Kagura turned to head straight back to the Root base to rest, and also to study the ninja technique scrolls sent by Sand Village and Mist Village.
"Wait..."
Tsunade called out to Akihara Kagura, seriously saying, "Kagura, there are some things I want to talk to you about, have you been using the forbidden technique Edo Tensei improperly?"
"Lady Tsunade?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Tsunade, seemingly not quite understanding her thoughts: "Wasn't this technique created to break the rules?"
"But..."
Akihara Kagura looked at Tsunade, continuing to ask, "To protect Konoha, isn't it acceptable to use any means necessary, right? Just like we revived the previous Hokages.."
"That's because we were worried Orochimaru would use the previous Hokages..."
Tsunade immediately countered, sighing, "For a Konoha ninja, it's worth sacrificing even their life to protect Konoha, but..."
Protecting Konoha at all costs.
That statement indeed has no fault.
But to continuously engage in unauthorized activities using this statement isn't right, is it?
Tsunade remembered the red-haired little girl under Akihara Kagura's command, who also liked to shout slogans for the sake of Konoha, she was a bit worried that the little girl was being led astray by Akihara Kagura.
"By the way."
Tsunade remembered a decision she had made before her succession when she met Kurenai, saying aloud, "I've seen Karin from the Root, I plan to bring that little girl to my side..."
"..."
Akihara Kagura's eyes narrowed.
Akihara Kagura faintly felt this scene was somewhat familiar, he vaguely understood how the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen must have felt when he transferred him to the Anbu, the feelings of Danzo at that time...
Hokages are all like this...
It's no wonder Danzo was always arguing with Hiruzen!
"Do you have another idea?"
Tsunade looked at Akihara Kagura in surprise, proactively asking, "Others have mentioned to me that Karin has always been your assistant in the Root, but her talents are very strong, staying in the Root is really a waste of her talents..."
"History seems to always repeat itself..."
Akihara Kagura sighed deeply, his eyes becoming slightly colder: "Perhaps Advisor Homura Mitokado was right, because of the war, Konoha could ease its internal conflicts, but once the war ended, the internal conflicts surfaced..."
"!!!"
Tsunade was startled.
The new Hokage seemed to see the shadow of Shimura Danzo in Akihara Kagura's eyes!
~~~
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