Chapter 130: I Am the Head of the Konoha Clan!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's scar-covered face twitched slightly as he said, "Let's set everything else aside for now. The new world is clearly a higher-tier map than the Newbie Village. If we can gain a foothold there, the Konoha Clan will develop much faster."
"Perhaps… this is our chance to catch up."
He gently stroked the Hokage hat beside him.
Now that Konoha was stable, he had commissioned the best craftsman in the Land of Hot Water to recreate his Hokage robes exactly as they once were—to show his unwavering resolve to rebuild Konoha.
He looked up, his gaze sweeping the Hyuga Clan with barely concealed disdain.
During the Konoha Collapse Plan, they had done little. Only when Orochimaru tried to build a military empire and destroy the ninja clans did they finally move to rescue him—prioritizing their clan over the village.
If this continued, they would become just like the Uchiha once were—a poison to Konoha's stability.
But Konoha hadn't yet solidified its position in the Land of Hot Water. He still needed the Hyuga's strength.
Still, he should find an opportunity to suppress them a bit, maybe relocate their compound to the outskirts of New Konoha?
"In two days, the Konoha Clan should have twenty players able to enter Arad Continent."
Asuma frowned, thinking for a moment before giving this estimate.
Two thousand monster shards.
Right now, Konoha's player base included civilians from the Land of Fire and Land of Hot Water, oppressed former nobles, and loyal Konoha ninjas.
Sending them all out over the next two days would barely net two thousand shards—even factoring in Naruto's absurd luck.
"The Hyuga Clan requires two maps to Arad Continent."
The Hyuga patriarch didn't hesitate. He was seeking two slots for his clan in the new world.
Even after the split, the Hyuga still had a deep foundation and remained one of the largest factions in New Konoha—just behind the Nara, Akimichi, and Sarutobi clans.
So it wasn't an unreasonable request.
Still, deciding who to give the maps to was difficult—especially after being betrayed by the Branch House. He had become extremely cautious toward them.
Of the two Main House players, one had gone missing—likely killed by the rebellious Branch House—and the other was weak and unqualified.
Hiruzen glanced at the Hyuga patriarch and gave a small nod.
The request wasn't excessive.
"Lord Hiruzen, the Akimichi Clan needs four maps."
Akimichi Torifu, with his usual gentle demeanor, invoked the sacrifice of Akimichi Chōza. "He died protecting Konoha. I ask that you show compassion and grant us these maps."
Hiruzen thought for a moment and replied, "Torifu, you know Konoha's current state. You'll get three."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Torifu nodded slightly. He hadn't expected all four anyway.
The Akimichi clan had been unlucky. The players in their clan were mostly distant relatives scattered across the Land of Fire with no ninja talent. By the time they were recruited, their levels lagged far behind the elite.
Only three were close to the top tier, so three maps was appropriate.
"The Yamanaka Clan requests two maps."
"The Nara Clan needs two…"
"The Kamizuki Clan…"
All the clans present were the backbone of New Konoha. Their requests didn't irritate Hiruzen.
These would be the saplings that would grow to strengthen the village.
Soon,
all twenty maps were distributed.
Hiruzen looked at Asuma. "If there are no objections, we'll await your good news."
He smiled warmly and added, "It's during hardship that true companions shine. I'm grateful to all of you for standing with Konoha in its time of crisis. Together, we will restore our village!"
"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn—the shadow of fire will illuminate the village!"
"Hokage-sama!"
The clan leaders stood and responded with fierce loyalty.
Hiruzen looked at them, feeling the unity of the past once more. His eyes welled with tears.
But then Asuma hesitated and said, "Lord Hokage, clan leaders—the twenty maps are critical. I cannot give them to the village just yet."
Silence.
Hiruzen's expression, still softened by emotion, froze completely.
The clan leaders, who had just assumed they had received the maps, looked stunned.
That single sentence had just turned the Hokage's generous gesture into a joke.
Hiruzen's face darkened. "Sarutobi Jōnin, what do you mean the maps cannot be given to the village?"
"They will still go to Konoha ninja," Asuma said patiently, under immense pressure. "But we should first select our strongest players to explore Arad Continent."
"For example, Uzumaki Naruto, Lady Tsunade, Uchiha Sasuke—they all have high-level gear and skills. They'll have the best chance of securing resources in the new world."
"Uchiha Sasuke?"
Hiruzen's face turned cold. He pretended to think. "Do you mean the one who nearly killed a Hokage advisor during the fall of Konoha? That Uchiha Sasuke?"
The mere mention of that name made his chest ache.
If it weren't for that cursed Uchiha, his old friend Danzo would have escaped from the prison before Orochimaru arrived.
Sasuke had severed Danzo's limbs, leaving him helpless. Orochimaru had captured him during that moment of weakness.
In the end, Hiruzen had been forced to kill Danzo himself. But the one truly responsible for his death… was Sasuke!
If Naruto hadn't pleaded for him to stay, this sinister Uchiha orphan would have already fled. He should never have remained in New Konoha.
Asuma, you fool…
Raising an Uchiha orphan will doom the village.
"That's right," Asuma confirmed. "Sasuke's Agility and Spirit attributes have both reached 50. He has two advanced purple skills and a full set of purple gear. Even ordinary Kage can't match him—he's ideal for exploring the new world."
"Silence!"
Before Hiruzen could explode, Homura and Koharu interrupted in perfect sync.
Koharu, now awake, said coldly, "During the collapse of Konoha, Sasuke's disgraceful actions proved he cannot be trusted. I oppose it."
Asuma's face turned cold as well. "Advisors, don't forget—Danzo had already been stripped of his title. He was a criminal."
"Besides, his crimes—human experimentation and the Uchiha massacre—justify Sasuke's anger."
Hiruzen's face was livid. "Sarutobi Jōnin, are you accusing me?"
He knew Asuma's plan would maximize Konoha's strength.
But their perspectives differed.
Asuma thought like a ninja. Hiruzen thought like a Hokage.
If he couldn't maintain the loyalty of the clans who had stood by him, how could he stabilize the village?
Asuma didn't argue further. "Lord Hokage, everything I've done is for Konoha."
He handed over a list of names for Arad Continent.
Tsunade, Naruto, Sasuke, Hayate Gekkō… and only seven maps left for the clans.
"Sarutobi Asuma!"
Hiruzen's voice trembled with fury. "You'll regret this!"
Without the clans' support, how could they ever restore Konoha?
"Father, I am the head of the Konoha Clan now."
With that, Asuma turned and walked slowly out of the chamber.
Bang!
Hiruzen's newly made Hokage hat was hurled to the ground, landing with a heavy thud.
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