Chapter 41: Shoot the Sun, Exterminate the Pests!

After Orochimaru’s death, the Hidden Leaf’s collapse plan was declared a failure.

The remaining Sound ninja scattered throughout the village were hunted down like stray dogs.

The once noisy and chaotic village gradually returned to its former calm.

With the death of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the position of Hokage remained vacant.

The two advisors, Mizukage En and Tōnami Koharu, stepped in under emergency circumstances, temporarily assuming the Hokage’s duties and beginning to manage the complex post-war affairs.

Under their leadership, the Hidden Leaf accepted the Hidden Sand’s surrender; after negotiations, both sides signed a peace treaty.

Gaara, the One-Tails’ jinchuriki captured by Luo Jie, along with all captured Sand ninja from the Hidden Leaf’s collapse plan, were returned home in full.

Despite being the hero who turned the tide of this crisis, Luo Jie still held only the position of Hokage’s secretary.

He was granted no new title and received no due reward.

He remained a genin, never promoted to chunin.

He had become the ultimate sucker, betrayed by the Hidden Leaf’s high command.

After all his efforts, Luo Jie realized it was all pointless internal competition.

The clown was himself.

His position would likely only change once the new Hokage took office.

As before, Luo Jie spent most of his time in the room housing the Scroll of Seals.

He no longer needed to accompany his teammates or sensei on missions.

This seemingly peaceful life subtly felt more like the village’s high command fearing his power—effectively a disguised house arrest.

Luo Jie noticed the Anbu guarding the Scroll of Seals had increased in number.

It wasn’t just to guard the scroll—it was to watch him.

…

Several days later, before the Memorial Stone of the Hidden Leaf, the atmosphere was solemn and reverent.

A funeral was being held for the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Ninja and civilians alike spontaneously came to attend, honoring the Hokage who had protected the village the longest.

To mourn the death of the Third Hokage.

Even if Hiruzen had been an old lecher in life and committed many mistakes.

Some saw him as a kind old grandfather, others as a shrewd schemer, still others as a weak appeaser.

But no one could deny that under Hiruzen Sarutobi’s leadership, the Hidden Leaf enjoyed one of its rare periods of peace, allowing its people to live in security and prosperity.

Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage who founded the village, and Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage who shaped its structure, were great—but too distant.

For most villagers, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been the Hokage since the day they were born.

Thus, most still remembered him fondly.

Especially since he died defending the Hidden Leaf—his sacrifice moved them deeply.

During Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral, the sweltering summer brought an uncommon rain.

Drops fell gently, soaking people’s clothes.

But no one rejoiced at the temporary relief from the heat.

Instead, every face bore sorrow.

They held flowers in their hands, placing them softly before the Memorial Stone to express respect and remembrance for the departed Third Hokage.

Luo Jie, dressed in black mourning attire, walked silently among the crowd, his gaze fixed on the Memorial Stone ahead, his eyes filled with complex emotion.

Regardless, to Luo Jie, the Third Hokage had been a worthy teacher—he had given Luo Jie much guidance and aid.

Luo Jie gently placed his flowers down.

This memorial service was not only to honor the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, but also to remember the many ninja who died in the wars against the Hidden Sand and Hidden Sound.

Yet sadly, the two advisors’ weakness had nearly squandered most of the hard-won gains from these sacrifices.

The Hidden Leaf had gained some benefits after the war.

But compared to the losses of ninja, civilian casualties, and the glorious victories that should have been achieved,

those benefits were negligible.

Compared to the aging and weak Hiruzen Sarutobi, the two advisors—who had long managed the village’s administration and negotiated more with the Land of Fire’s nobility—were clearly even weaker.

They were unquestionably the dove faction.

Most importantly, Luo Jie was furious.

After achieving such great deeds, he didn’t even expect to be named Fifth Hokage.

Yet he received nothing—completely like working for free.

Worse, these two old bastards had used the duty of organizing the Scroll of Seals to confine him and assigned Anbu to spy on him.

In a way, this was an old Hidden Leaf tradition.

But Luo Jie was not Kakashi Hatake—he would never do something like kill himself.

He was here to become Hokage.

Those who follow me prosper; those who oppose me perish.

Moreover, he had long despised those two advisors and Danzo, the leader of Root.

Fuck, how could anyone run politics with these vermin?

It was time to shoot the sun and exterminate the pests.

Time to strike hard!

Give them a taste of their own medicine.

…

On the way back, the sky remained gray, the rain still falling steadily.

Luo Jie suddenly stopped, extended his hand, and caught the raindrops falling from the sky.

Kuma Yagumo and Lei Menyue looked at him in confusion.

“Luo Jie, what’s wrong?”

Hearing Lei Menyue’s question,

Luo Jie shook his head: “Nothing. I’m just lost, now that the Hokage is gone.”

Lei Menyue comforted him: “Even though the Hokage has passed, I heard Jiraiya has returned to the village—he’s one of the Legendary Sannin, surely things will be fine.”

“Besides, the Hidden Sand has surrendered.”

Luo Jie nodded: “Perhaps.”

But his eyes flickered with resolve—as if he had already seen the Hidden Leaf’s future.

His own future.

Orochimaru has shot the sun; now it’s my turn to exterminate the pests.

…

After the Third Hokage’s funeral,

the Hidden Leaf appeared calm on the surface, but behind the scenes, its high command plunged into a power struggle.

All factions quietly vied, each seeking advantage in this vortex of power.

Though Luo Jie could not join this power struggle, he was far from idle—he began visiting the families of his two allies.

The clan heads of the Kuma and the Yamanaka.

Though the Kuma clan had declined and become a minor ninja clan,

they were still a bloodline family, once illustrious, having once been the Hidden Leaf’s famed illusionary arts house.

Even now in decline, their influence in the village remained significant, with many jounin among their ranks.

As for the Yamanaka clan, no further explanation was needed.

Yamanaka Ino’s father, Yamanaka Haiichi, was head of the Hidden Leaf’s Analysis Division, overseeing intelligence.

Known as the God of Intelligence, he was the idol of countless ninja spies across the ninja world.

The Yamanaka clan had long-standing ties with the Nara and Akimichi clans.

Since the Warring States era, they had formed an unbreakable alliance—locked in forever.

Moreover, the Pig, Deer, and Butterfly clans had deep ties with the Sarutobi clan.

They were staunch supporters of the Hokage line, holding immense weight in the Hidden Leaf’s power structure.

(End of Chapter)