Chapter 67: Vibrant Life, All Things Flourishing: The New Konoha

Jiraiya and Tsunade strolled down the street.

Everywhere they looked, life thrived and all things flourished.

Colorful posters and slogans were plastered everywhere—on the walls beside the road, on shop doors and windows.

They bore bold phrases like “Congratulations to the Fifth Hokage’s Ascension” and “The Fifth Hokage Guides Us.”

The words radiated the villagers’ support for the Fifth Hokage.

Looking up, a brand-new statue had appeared beside the statue of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, on the Hokage Rock.

Yet now, the statue was covered by a massive black cloth, awaiting its official unveiling.

Tsunade, with her broad heart, surveyed the village’s changes with her eyes.

A faint smile curled her lips as she teased Jiraiya beside her:

“Are those old bastards really this eager to welcome me?”

“I thought they’d give me a hard time.”

Jiraiya nodded quickly in agreement: “Of course. The whole village has been waiting for Itachi to take the Fifth Hokage seat.”

Hearing this, Tsunade crossed her arms and laughed triumphantly.

Her broad heart was pressed even deeper, more inscrutable.

No wonder she was a woman of 106 grandeur.

Yet Jiraiya’s mind was clouded with growing doubts.

Something’s off.

Very off.

Did we grab the wrong script?

From what he knew, the cunning old foxes—Shikamaru’s father, Mizukage’s ally, and Tōno Koyuki—would never welcome Tsunade’s ascension so warmly.

Even if they weren’t worried about losing power, they shouldn’t be this enthusiastic.

Jiraiya silently pondered: during the time he’d spent searching for Tsunade, something major must have happened in the village.

Could it be that Shikamaru’s father, that ambitious bastard, had seized the Fifth Hokage position through treachery?

As he wrestled with these suspicions, a large line of text on the wall caught his eye.

Crush the conspiracy of Shikamaru’s father and his Root.

Seeing those words, Jiraiya was startled—and his earlier doubts vanished.

This could never be the scene after Shikamaru’s father took power.

But the words confirmed his suspicion: something major had indeed happened in the village.

Yet Jiraiya did not panic.

Now that he and Tsunade had returned, no matter how great the crisis, the two of them together could handle it.

At that moment, Naruto suddenly pointed at several ninja in uniforms by the roadside, excitedly saying:

“That emblem’s also on Sasuke’s clothes.”

Jiraiya followed Naruto’s finger and his gaze sharpened instantly.

The emblem looked familiar—it resembled the Anbu Black Ops insignia.

The original Anbu insignia was the Uchiha clan’s flaming fan, encircled by a shuriken pattern.

But the one he saw now had an additional red circular ring, resembling the sun, surrounding the original design.

It was different, but not by much.

Tsunade also noticed the emblem and asked:

“I heard the Anbu Black Ops disbanded with the Uchiha clan’s destruction.”

“Did that old man rebuild the Anbu Black Ops?”

Jiraiya shook his head; his smile had vanished, replaced by grim seriousness.

“Something’s happened in the village. Let’s go check the situation.”

Hearing this, Tsunade’s expression turned instantly serious.

The two exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and hurried toward the Hokage Building.

…

Meanwhile.

Hokage Office.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting golden patches on the floor.

Luo Jie lounged comfortably on the Hokage throne, symbol of supreme power, his gaze drifting idly to the distance.

Shikamaru Nara was buried in a mountain of documents, diligently handling official duties.

“Nara, Itachi’ve had a lot on your plate lately. Thank Itachi for your hard work.”

Luo Jie’s voice broke the office’s silence.

Shikamaru Nara looked up and replied respectfully:

“Hokage-sama, Itachi’re too kind. It’s my duty.”

Since becoming Fifth Hokage, Luo Jie had worked barely two days before handing all tedious daily affairs to Shikamaru Nara.

As Hokage’s aide, one must shoulder more responsibility.

As for the Hokage, all he needed was to stamp papers.

Moreover, Luo Jie launched a senior reemployment program.

He recalled the retired Mizukage’s ally, restored his former post, and kept him as an advisor managing Konoha’s administrative apparatus.

Mainly because the old man’s knees were soft.

As for Tōno Koyuki, Luo Jie had long disliked her—he told her to go wherever it was cool.

Of course, this arrangement also aimed to drive a wedge between Mizukage’s ally and Tōno Koyuki.

It further isolated Mizukage’s ally within Konoha’s current power center.

After all, the Ino-Shika-Chō Sanjia were tightly united.

Their current power came entirely from Luo Jie’s grant—they naturally followed him with unwavering loyalty.

Mizukage’s ally could never shake their devotion.

Luo Jie gently turned his chair and gazed out the window at the Hokage Rock.

According to plan, his statue on the Hokage Rock would be unveiled tomorrow.

At the same time, Konoha’s five-star hotel—the Naka River Grand Hotel—would officially open for business.

Time really flies.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

Everything was progressing steadily as Luo Jie had envisioned.

Recalling this period, even Luo Jie found it hard to believe.

He had so easily secured the Hokage position and completed Konoha’s merger and restructuring.

Now, no force in Konoha dared oppose him.

The Ino-Shika-Chō Sanjia had already been pulled onto his wagon and brought under his command.

Numerous minor clans had been bought over by the rebuilt Anbu Black Ops, grateful to him.

Officially, Luo Jie was personally appointed successor by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Sarutobi clan naturally had no objections.

Moreover, they had gained substantial benefits.

Since the Anma clan was too weak,

the core of Konoha’s current Anbu Black Ops came mostly from the Sarutobi clan.

The Sarutobi family had become Konoha’s security contractor, controlling the village’s law enforcement power.

Altogether, only the so-called First Great Clan of Konoha—the Hyuga—had received no tangible benefit from Luo Jie.

But the Hyuga practiced slavery, bowed outwardly, and struck inwardly with force.

The moment Luo Jie became acting Hokage, Hyuga Hiashi bowed his head in submission.

He declared the Hyuga clan would steadfastly follow behind him.

Naturally, he posed no threat.

In less than a month, Luo Jie had forged Konoha into an ironclad fortress.

For the remnants of Root, he eliminated what needed eliminating and absorbed what needed absorbing.

Yet publicly, Luo Jie deliberately spread rumors that some Root remnants had escaped.

This gave him a Root card to play.

With this card, he could launch heavy blows against opponents under the banner of hunting Root remnants.

He could also use Root’s name to carry out actions too inconvenient to perform openly.

For instance, that fool in the capital.

Luo Jie judged he’d live no more than two years before being assassinated by Root remnants.

Poor fellow, my lord.

His death countdown has already begun.

Luo Jie was contemplating how to advance further

when he suddenly felt something—awareness stirred within him.

“Finally arrived.”

(End of chapter)