The succession matter proved troublesome beforehand but proceeded swiftly once formally beginning.
Though merely a swift affair, shinobi capable of returning to the village tried their utmost to return. Jiraiya naturally attended. Even Shimura Danzo ended his "special mission" today, appearing among observing elders.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen handed over the Hokage hat and Tsunade received it before all villagers, she became Konoha's Fifth Hokage.
No lengthy inaugural speech occurred. After Tsunade accepted heartfelt applause and cheers from the populace, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Of course, for the newly appointed Fifth Hokage, busyness had only just begun. After formally assuming office, people requiring meetings proved endless.
However, this no longer concerned Shuji, a jōnin. Having worked overtime through an all-nighter and lasting until ceremony conclusion this morning, he departed the Hokage Tower.
"Yo!" A tall, long white-haired man slapped Shuji's shoulder. "Now I can directly call your name, right, Shuji?"
Shuji confirmed that ANBU attire looked impressive, yet not only Kakashi, his own identity also could not be concealed even slightly.
"Jiraiya-san, good morning."
"You look rather spiritless, kid," Jiraiya leaned closer, stroking his chin while examining him. "This won't do. Young people must be full of vitality!"
If not lacking Sharingan, Shuji would definitely open eyes on the spot for Jiraiya to see. You, a guy constantly outside searching for the Child of Prophecy, gathering material, and visiting pleasure quarters, asking an all-nighter-pulling workhorse why he lacked spirit.
He felt his fists somewhat itchy.
"Jiraiya-san, rather than congratulating the Fifth, what are you finding me for?"
"Appropriate congratulations were already said," Jiraiya waved his hand before restraining some playful demeanor. "I heard that Orochimaru... previously sought you out?"
"Yes."
"Be careful. He's a very persistent guy."
The persistent Orochimaru currently experienced rare embarrassed withdrawal.
Of Root squad members beside him, only two now remained.
Even while disguised and not wishing Konoha to know of his appearance here, Orochimaru had not used snake techniques. With his strength, defeating ordinary jōnin required no techniques.
When facing Kakashi, who had spent several years in ANBU, Orochimaru also only used a kunai, defeating him within two exchanges.
Therefore, when he chose ambush, that Uchiha ANBU squad was instantly killed—two people dead, plus one more killed by Root squad attack.
Just as Orochimaru was about to conclude this mission, Uchiha Shisui arrived.
Then, that was it.
Orochimaru also learned that with his genjutsu resistance, he could still be controlled by one glance, unable to move.
Uchiha Shisui did not clearly know who the person controlled by his genjutsu was, but this did not prevent him from using his short blade to strike toward Orochimaru's neck.
A Root member beside Orochimaru blocked one strike, allowing him time to break free from genjutsu.
Orochimaru immediately activated Wind Release, temporarily forcing Shisui back. Making a decisive judgment, the remaining two Root members—one carried his companion's corpse, one took an Uchiha corpse—withdrew.
Recalling the feeling just now of being completely suppressed by that Sharingan's ocular power, the rapidly moving Orochimaru not only felt no frustration but instead his mouth corners hooked into an irrepressible smile.
This feeling. This was the Sharingan's power.
The Root member carrying a corpse spoke with some hesitation. "Orochimaru-sama, currently one mission target remains uncleaned. Danzo-sama's orders..."
Orochimaru glanced at him. "What Danzo wants is stimulating the Uchiha. Leaving one actually better achieves his purpose."
"Yes... but the Sharingan..." Currently only seizing one corpse. Danzo-sama wanted four pairs of Sharingan.
"Hehehe, I will personally tell him," Orochimaru said.
"Yes."
As hired shinobi working for pay, when battle circumstances clearly proved unfavorable, their withdrawal speed far exceeded regular shinobi village forces.
Plus, they originally comprised temporarily assembled teams, mutually lacking any trust whatsoever, much less orderly alternating covered retreats.
The hired shinobi army appearing fairly orderly when engaging completely revealed its motley nature when retreating—scrambling competitively, utterly routed.
Konoha forces chose not pursuing deeply. At least today, their mission was merely repelling enemies.
On distant forest high branches, Uchiha Obito quietly overlooked this defeated scene. The atmospheric pressure around him proved frighteningly low.
White Zetsu said, "Oh my, truly disastrous defeat, Obito. Both this side and Kirigakure's side."
Obito coldly glanced at Zetsu. "Why did Konoha know operation timing and location?"
Black Zetsu took over. "Gathering so many wandering shinobi, message leakage proves unsurprising."
Obito remained silent briefly before asking, "What about Orochimaru?"
White Zetsu immediately answered. "He properly did his work. Even killed three Uchiha. Finally, due to Uchiha Shisui, he had no choice but withdrawing."
Black Zetsu supplemented. "Orochimaru also took one corpse."
"Two remain then..." Sharingan proved useful regardless, and these were three-tomoe Sharingan.
He would find opportunity to retrieve the eyes.
As for Orochimaru, since he truly acted, he could consider absorbing him into the organization.
Losing Kirigakure, so be it. So-called one of Five Great Shinobi Villages, when actually using it, proved completely unwieldy.
The Cloud Village incident plus this operation's failure also made Obito realize that relying on external forces to shake Konoha ultimately proved limitedly effective.
In the end, opportunities must still be sought from within Konoha.
Inside the temporary camp tent, Uchiha Enblade sat alone in a corner, gaze vacantly staring at two companion corpses covered with white cloth on ground bedding. His mind remained completely blank.
Though Police Force rarely conducted field operations, as an Uchiha capable of activating three-tomoe Sharingan, he naturally did not lack mission experience.
Yet today's matters still proved difficult to accept.
Like-minded companions who experienced so many missions together died in a mere operation cleaning up wandering ninja.
"Enblade," the tent flap lifted. Uchiha Shisui walked inside, his face also carrying sorrow. "Kakashi-senpai already applied for your squad to immediately return to the village for rest. Tomorrow, a new squad will come relieve your defense zone."
Uchiha Enblade still did not respond, only his hands placed on knees unconsciously clenching tight.
Shisui looked at his clan member's appearance, lips slightly pressed together. Today among Konoha's losses, the most severe was this Uchiha ANBU squad.
That attacker.
Could actually break free from his genjutsu so quickly. Definitely no ordinary wandering ninja.
Shisui recalled what Shuji once warned him about.
Explicitly targeting the Uchiha while possessing such strength. Could that person be Orochimaru...
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild