Chapter 225: You Wouldn't Want to be Revived with Edo Tensei, Would You?
Orochimaru's death was a huge boon for Konoha.
All of his research materials and results were confiscated by Konoha.
Kinoshita Genichi had his puppet clone and Kabuto collect everything, and it was all packed up and sent back to Konoha.
Kabuto himself was "recruited" by Genichi and is now diligently working at the research base.
Genichi was, of course, very interested in the First and Second Hokages, and had long planned to revive them with Edo Tensei.
Especially after Tsunade had finally relented.
The First and Second were different, after all. The First was incredibly powerful; even as an Edo Tensei, he could sweep the entire current shinobi world, aside from Genichi himself and Madara.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was far weaker than the First, but he was an excellent support.
After all, he could fly (teleport) with people.
As for the others, Genichi didn't really care.
However, since Orochimaru had already done the work, Genichi wasn't going to let it go to waste. He put the Second Tsuchikage, Third Raikage, and other strong shinobi back into their coffins.
Of course, there were some that Genichi "accidentally" missed.
For example, the former One-Tail Jinchūriki, the former Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, and the Gold and Silver Brothers.
But Genichi didn't plan on telling Tsunade about these. Some of his schemes couldn't be revealed, not even to those closest to him.
"I'm worried about the others," Tsunade said. "That fool Orochimaru revived the Second Tsuchikage and the others before."
Genichi said, "Don't worry, I've collected the Second Tsuchikage and the rest. Madara won't get the chance."
"However, we can't just revive every strong person from the past with Edo Tensei."
"The other shinobi villages wouldn't thank us for it right now anyway. Let them suffer a bit first."
"Nagato was right about some things. If you don't experience the same pain, how can you possibly understand others?"
Uzumaki Ina nodded in agreement, comforting Tsunade, "Tsunade-sama, you don't need to worry so much. Genichi is the strongest. Madara isn't Genichi's match now, and he won't be in the future, either."
"We have the previous Hokage. Even if Madara has other Edo Tensei summons, they won't be a match for us. The First Hokage-sama was the God of Shinobi, even stronger than Madara was before he awakened the Rinnegan."
"The other villages won't appreciate our kindness right now. We just need to protect ourselves."
Hearing this, much of Tsunade's worry faded. She said, a little helplessly, "You're being too optimistic."
Shizune whispered from the side, "I also think Genichi is the strongest!"
Tsunade couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Of course this little bastard is the strongest right now. But what about the Ten-Tails Jinchūriki?
That was what she was truly worried about.
After dinner, Tsunade went home, and Genichi returned to his study to continue his research.
To him, the Rinnegan was a precious and vast treasure.
By absorbing this treasure, even if he couldn't awaken the Rinnegan himself, he would still benefit enormously.
After all, while the Rinnegan was important, Genichi was currently more focused on his own Mirror Eye, and even more so on the Kekkei Mōra he was developing.
...
Time passed, and it was soon past midnight.
Genichi stretched, tidied up the study, and went to wash up. When he came out, he saw that Uzumaki Ina and Shizune were both asleep.
He went over to Tsunade's house. She was frowning, staring intently at a scroll.
Genichi didn't make a sound. He glanced over and saw it was a Wood Style scroll.
Tsunade was suddenly startled from her concentration. Seeing Genichi beside her, she said crossly, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Genichi sat down and smiled. "I haven't delivered today's 'rations' yet."
Tsunade was confused for a second, then her face flushed red. She glared at him, then hesitated. "Kabuto can't possibly know all of Orochimaru's secrets. Should we... revive him with Edo Tensei, too?"
Genichi was stunned, then laughed. "Have you read Orochimaru's research on human modification?"
Tsunade shook her head. "I'm not interested in that. That bastard... he's not even human anymore."
Genichi placed a hand on Tsunade's flat stomach, stroking it gently. "Orochimaru's previous state... was actually similar to a Tailed Beast."
"A Tailed Beast?" Tsunade was puzzled, then shocked. "You mean... like a chakra life-form?"
Genichi nodded. "Correct. Although not quite at the level of a Tailed Beast, he could already switch freely between a physical body and a chakra form."
"You know he's studied almost all of the village's forbidden jutsu, especially the Reaper Death Seal and Edo Tensei."
"I looked at his Edo Tensei data. He improved it. It's even safer and more reliable than the Second's version."
"So, Orochimaru is dead now, but he's probably not completely dead."
"Let me study those materials first. I can probably find a way to bring him back."
Of course, he didn't need to find another way, but Genichi didn't want Orochimaru back just yet.
If he was needed, he could just be brought out in the "future" for a research collaboration.
Tsunade nodded, then asked, "What do you plan to do with Konan?"
Genichi looked puzzled. "Isn't that your job as Hokage?"
Tsunade sneered. "Aren't you interested in her?"
Genichi immediately cried foul. "Slander! That's absolute libel!"
"I just see her as a talent. Perhaps she can develop Paper Release, giving Konoha another Kekkei Genkai."
"That Pervy Sage Jiraiya must have been badmouthing me."
"Konan and the deceased Yahiko were childhood sweethearts. Her heart is already sealed in stone."
He wasn't a stallion, chasing every woman he saw.
There were so many beautiful women in the shinobi world. Did he have to conquer them all?
Genichi just felt Konan was a talent who could be cultivated, and it would be a shame for her to die.
Tsunade looked suspicious. It wasn't that Jiraiya had actually tattled.
It was a woman's instinct.
Besides, Genichi himself was a pervy kid. Look at Ina, Shizune, and even Kurenai... all of them were charmed by him.
But, thinking back to when she first met those three children, and the life-and-death trials they'd endured... their bond truly wasn't one that could be easily shaken.
After some thought, Tsunade said, "Fine, she can be my assistant for now."
Genichi said casually, "You're the boss."
"But, you can show her the research on Wood Style fusion."
Tsunade nodded, then changed the subject again. "Next, I plan to integrate Earth and Water Style nature transformations into my Wood Style."
"And then the other nature transformations... but I probably won't have the chance..."
Genichi picked her up in a princess carry. "As long as I'm here, don't worry. You definitely can."
"Now, let's go... conduct our Secret Ninjutsu Transmission."
Tsunade huffed. "Hmph. I hope your 'method' is useful. Help me master the Kekkei Tōta Wood Style as soon as possible."
Seeing as Tsunade was so eager to learn, Genichi, of course, "poured out" all his insights on Wood Style.
Tsunade, however, couldn't accept so many knowledge points at once. It exceeded her tolerance limit, and the knowledge... overflowed.
...
Late at night.
Tsunade was sleeping soundly, like a kitten.
But Genichi was still awake.
For some unknown reason, the mature Tsunade was even more attractive to him than Shizune or Ina.
Pakura, too.
Do I have a thing for older women?
How did I never notice this before?
But then, Ina and Pakura are about the same age.
Genichi had to admit, his resistance to Tsunade was extremely low.
Of course, he would never admit to having that kind of complex.
It was all the damned author's fault.
Gently stroking Tsunade's stomach, Genichi fell into deep thought.
Longevity was a difficult problem.
And he had others around him to think about.
"The God Tree Ten-Tails..." Genichi whispered, then closed his eyes and slept.
...
The next day.
When he returned home to wash up before morning training, Uzumaki Ina quietly hugged him from behind and whispered, "Genichi-sama, I want a child, too!"
Genichi sighed. What could he do?
He could only "pour out all his knowledge."
...
In the morning, after breakfast, Jiraiya brought Konan to the Hokage Building.
The shinobi here were all rushing about, looking extremely busy, but they were full of energy. It was a complete opposite to the oppressive atmosphere of Amegakure.
Konan watched silently, constantly comparing it to Amegakure.
Yesterday, when Genichi said their management skills were lacking, she had been inwardly indignant.
But seeing this on the way here... Konoha was a mess from yesterday's battle, and the shinobi were all in a hurry, but the atmosphere... it was completely different.
If I lived in a place like this...
Konan thought silently, This is what a Great Nation is. If only the small nations could be like this.
They arrived outside the Hokage's office. Jiraiya put on a show of knocking on the door, then entered after hearing a voice from inside.
Konan followed him in and saw Tsunade, head down, seemingly focused on handling official business.
What she didn't know was that Tsunade wasn't looking at documents, but at Genichi's Wood Style scrolls.
Documents? The unimportant ones went to the assistant team first.
The important ones went to Minato Namikaze.
Only after Minato processed them did they go to Tsunade for review.
As Hokage, Tsunade had 99% of her work cut out for her.
Konan's gaze shifted from Tsunade. She saw two other desks in the spacious office, one on the left and one on the right.
The one on the right was empty. A young woman was sitting behind the desk on the left.
Seeing Konan look over, Shizune gave her a welcoming smile.
Konan wanted to smile back, but she hadn't smiled in so long that she couldn't. In the end, she just gave a stiff nod.
"Tsunade, I don't need to make introductions, do I?" Jiraiya laughed.
Tsunade looked up at Konan. For a moment, she was reminded of the young girl who had given her a paper flower all those years ago.
"Mhm." Tsunade grunted in response to Jiraiya, then said to Konan, "You still remember me, right?"
Konan nodded. "Yes, Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade pointed to the empty desk on her left. "That will be your spot. Is that alright?"
Konan nodded again. "No problem, Tsunade-sama."
As Konan walked over and sat down, Tsunade called out, "Shizune."
Shizune nodded, then got up and left the office.
Jiraiya, seeing that no one was paying attention to him, huffed, "Hey, Tsunade..."
Tsunade looked at him, confused. "Do you... need something else?"
She's becoming more and more like that guy Genichi, Jiraiya sighed internally. He said, "I'm heading to Mount Myoboku."
Tsunade nodded, then looked back down at her scroll.
Jiraiya's face fell.
Konan, watching silently, felt a little confused. It seems... Jiraiya-sensei isn't very popular here?
Just then, Tsunade said, "Go early and come back early. Or better yet, just stay and train at Mount Myoboku. Stop wandering around so much."
"If you end up like that idiot Orochimaru, getting yourself killed by Madara..."
Tsunade looked up at Jiraiya. "You wouldn't want to be revived with Edo Tensei, would you?"
Jiraiya's face was instantly covered in black lines.
Shizune, who had just returned with several Chūnin and Genin assistants carrying a mountain of documents, heard this and laughed, "Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama is just kidding!"
Tsunade snorted. "I am not."
"Madara has mastered Edo Tensei. He will definitely reanimate strong warriors. To deal with that, I'll have to use the same method."
Jiraiya said gloomily, "I'm not an idiot like Orochimaru who didn't even know to run."
Tsunade gave a dismissive wave. "Just go. Don't bother me while I'm training."
Training?
Jiraiya was confused. He craned his neck to see... and saw a dense page of seals and formulas.
"Wood Style?" Jiraiya asked. "Haven't you already mastered Wood Style?"
Beside them, Konan was startled. "A Wood Style Kekkei Genkai?"
Tsunade said casually, "This is just the Kekkei Genkai. There's also the Wood Style Kekkei Tōta and the Wood Style Kekkei Mōra."
Jiraiya looked completely lost. It wasn't that he didn't know what Kekkei Tōta and Kekkei Mōra were.
It was... Wood Style? Since when did Wood Style have those?
Seeing Jiraiya's expression, Tsunade smirked. "Jiraiya, you idiot. You've fallen behind!"
Jiraiya was depressed. He muttered, "I just haven't had time to research it..."
"A Kekkei Genkai... is it harder than Sage Art?"
Jiraiya secretly decided that after he returned from Mount Myoboku... after "gathering material"... he would study Kekkei Genkai.
He turned and left the Hokage's office, found an empty spot, bit his thumb, and summoned Gamabunta.
"Bunta, by the way, why am I being called to Mount Myoboku?" Jiraiya asked.
Gamabunta rolled his eyes upward and exhaled a puff of smoke. "The Great Toad Sage said he wants to see you."
Hearing this, Jiraiya turned serious. "Then I'm counting on you to reverse-summon me."
"Got it."
With that, Gamabunta vanished in a puff of smoke.
Jiraiya, who had been falling, also vanished before he hit the ground.
...
Mount Myoboku.
Jiraiya passed through a forest of petrified toads and saw Fukasaku.
"Jiraiya-chan, hurry up!" Fukasaku waved, then turned and walked deeper in.
Jiraiya quickened his pace to catch up. "Did the Great Toad Sage have another dream?"
Fukasaku said, "Yes. The Old Man woke up earlier and said he was looking for you."
"But you were in a battle yesterday. By the way, how is Konoha?"
Jiraiya sighed. "The enemy was repelled. Nagato died using the Saṃsāra of Heavenly Life Technique to revive Madara."
Fukasaku said, "The child with the Rinnegan?"
Jiraiya nodded. "I never thought Nagato's Rinnegan actually came from Madara Uchiha."
Fukasaku was shocked. "Is that so?"
The two chatted as they walked, soon arriving at the most sacred place in Mount Myoboku, where they saw the Great Toad Sage, his body covered in the marks of time, his eyes closed.
"Old Man! Jiraiya-chan is here!" Fukasaku shouted.
But the Great Toad Sage didn't move. Fukasaku sighed and shouted twice more before the Great Toad Sage groggily opened his eyes.
Though, only by a slit.
"Hah, my apologies. Just dozed off for a second," the Great Toad Sage said with a chuckle. His gaze fell on Jiraiya, but his mind stalled for a second. "Uh..."
Fukasaku sighed and reminded him, "It's Jiraiya-chan."
The Great Toad Sage suddenly understood. He began to speak slowly. "Jiraiya-chan... this time, I dreamed of that boy you mentioned before."
Jiraiya's heart pounded. "Genichi!?"
"So, he is the Child of Prophecy?"
The Great Toad Sage said unhurriedly, "No. While he is indeed bringing change to the shinobi world, it's too soon to say if this change is good or bad."
Jiraiya frowned.
The Great Toad Sage continued, "Fate is always unpredictable. You get used to it."
"But, there is other good news. I saw... the eyes of the Child of Prophecy."
"That child... possesses a pair of Rinnegan."
Jiraiya gasped. "Rinnegan?"
"A pair?"
"Could it be... one of the Uchiha?"
The Great Toad Sage smiled. "That, I do not know. It was because of that child that I saw the boy you speak of."
"He always appears alongside the Child of Prophecy."
Jiraiya just scratched his head, completely confused.
The Great Toad Sage slowly closed his eyes. "Well, that's all the content for this time..."
Jiraiya quickly shouted, "Hey! You didn't even see what the Child of Prophecy looks like!?"
Unfortunately, the Great Toad Sage did not respond.
Fukasaku comforted him, "Jiraiya-chan, with this much information, it shouldn't be hard to find him."
"Fine..." Jiraiya said, exasperated. "Then I'll be heading back."
Fukasaku tried to stop him. "You're not staying for lunch? Shima's already preparing the ingredients."
Jiraiya, thinking of those variously-colored insects, turned green. He quickly made his excuses, canceled the summoning, and left.
...
Back in Konoha, Jiraiya fell into deep thought.
Rinnegan?
Always around Kinoshita Genichi?
Which Uchiha kid?
And don't they need Hashirama's cells, too?
Jiraiya felt a headache coming on. He thought for a moment. "First, I'll go 'gather material.' From now on, I'll just keep an eye on that guy Genichi."
It was winter, so no one was playing in the water, but the hot springs business must be booming.
Jiraiya immediately turned and headed for the hot springs. As for researching Kekkei Genkai... that could wait until after he'd gathered material.
...
In the Hokage's office, the documents on Konan's desk were already piled high as a mountain.
Konan just stared, stunned. Such a high-intensity workload on my first day?
And... don't they need to observe me for a while first?
Shizune smiled and explained, "These are all data files concerning Amegakure. We need to maintain, and even deepen, our close cooperation with Amegakure. That's why we need your participation."
Konan asked, "Is there a plan?"
Shizune said, "For now, there is just one 'Purge Plan.'"
"It aims to clear out certain threatening elements within both our countries to ensure the trade routes are safe and to increase exchange between our nations."
"This will not only grow our economies, but also provide more employment missions for both sides."
"Furthermore, Hokage-sama has also submitted a proposal to the Daimyō's office regarding commercial cooperation."
Konan was lost. "Commercial cooperation?"
Do shinobi do business now?
Shizune smiled and explained, "It's actually a recommendation for the Daimyō's government to increase commercial trade with the Land of Rain. It complements the Purge Plan."
Just then, Tsunade's voice chimed in. "Actually, this plan also involves the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind. But for now, we need to advance it one step at a time."
(End of Chapter)
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