Chapter 77: Raikage comic

---

The Rinnegan was entirely different from the Mangekyō Sharingan.

It was the product of the fusion of Indra's bloodline and Asura's bloodline, a power that reached the "Six Paths" level.

Unlike the Sharingan, which could be concealed, the Rinnegan could not.

Tsunade stared at Sasuke's Rinnegan in disbelief. As a descendant of the Senju clan, Tsunade was naturally familiar with the legendary power of the Six Paths.

Seeing Sasuke's Rinnegan, Tsunade made a sudden decision—she would step down as Hokage.

"Sasuke," Tsunade began, "do you want to become the Sixth Hokage?"

Sasuke was taken aback. "What!?"

Tsunade clarified, "I mean exactly what I said. To be blunt, Konoha doesn't have the strength to challenge the Uchiha, especially now that you've awakened the Rinnegan! Instead of risking a conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha, it might be better for me to hand over the Hokage title to you."

Tsunade was perceptive. She understood that the position of Hokage was what the Uchiha aimed for. But it wasn't Sasuke's goal.

Sasuke shook his head, "I don't want to be Hokage. It's boring."

Tsunade glanced at Sasuke's Rinnegan again and thought to herself, 'Fine, fine, you've got the Rinnegan. Everything you say is right, everything you say goes.'

Tsunade took a long drink of strong sake, feeling a sense of release. Sasuke also took a sip, only to feel a burning sensation in his stomach.

Sasuke wasn't used to alcohol and after two glasses, he was already drunk.

Tsunade smirked, dismissing his state, "Hmph~ Still just a kid~"

She continued drinking alone under the moonlight.

...

The next day at the Hokage Building.

Sasuke awoke groggily and found himself in an unfamiliar bed. The bed had a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Realizing it was a woman's bed, Sasuke quickly got up and opened the door, only to see Tsunade deeply immersed in her work.

The complex and demanding tasks seemed to be taking a toll on Tsunade, both mentally and physically.

Sasuke asked, "What's going on?"

Tsunade looked up, her exhaustion evident. "Kumogakure has become restless again."

"They believe Konoha is on the brink of internal conflict, with tensions rising between the village leadership and the Uchiha clan."

"As a result, they've been launching provocative attacks along our borders."

Sasuke frowned as memories flooded back.

When Konoha and Kumogakure had signed the peace treaty, the Hidden Cloud had attempted to kidnap Hinata. Sasuke had been the one to save her.

It was during that time Sasuke had learned the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

But now, Sasuke knew that technique was no longer sufficient.

In terms of speed, his newly acquired Heavenly Hand Power far surpassed the Lightning Release.

In terms of power, Amaterasu combined with his new Rinnegan abilities made the Lightning Release pale in comparison.

Sasuke turned to Tsunade and asked, "Tsunade-sama, do you have Lightning Chakra?"

Tsunade blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Yes, I do."

Sasuke continued, "Then I'll teach you the Lightning Release Chakra Mode from Kumogakure."

Tsunade was momentarily stunned. "That technique? Isn't it a closely guarded secret of Kumogakure? It uses Lightning Chakra to stimulate the body's cells, making them more alive and enhancing both speed and strength."

Sasuke nodded. "Yes, I figured it out some time ago."

Without hesitation, Sasuke demonstrated the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Instantly, arcs of electricity crackled around his body.

Tsunade was taken aback. "You've really mastered it?"

Sasuke nodded and began teaching Tsunade the technique.

He explained how to gather chakra in the heart and regulate the heartbeat through special breathing to rhythmically supply blood and transport Lightning Chakra throughout the body.

However, Tsunade struggled to grasp the rhythm.

She looked at Sasuke earnestly and said, "Feel my heartbeat while I adjust it slowly."

Saying this, Tsunade placed Sasuke's hand on her chest.

Sasuke froze.

'This is...' Sasuke thought, his mind racing. He couldn't help but give her chest a slight squeeze, making the atmosphere between them suddenly tense and awkward.

Sasuke's heart pounded, and he hesitated to remove his hand.

Tsunade's cheeks flushed, a mix of shame and anger flashing in her eyes as she glared at Sasuke.

Just as Sasuke was about to explain himself, the door suddenly burst open.

Nara Shikaku walked in, saying, "Hokage-sama, I..."

But Shikaku stopped in his tracks, stunned.

He saw Tsunade sitting in her chair, with Sasuke leaning forward, his hand on Tsunade's ample chest.

Shikaku's mind went blank, unable to comprehend what he was witnessing.

Tsunade yelled, "Shikaku! You didn't see anything today!"

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Shikaku quickly replied, retreating from the room as fast as he could.

Tsunade turned back to Sasuke, her face still red. "You little brat, stop groping me and focus on the heartbeat!"

"Oh... oh..." Sasuke stammered, still flustered.

An hour later...

Finally, arcs of electricity began flickering across Tsunade's body, indicating that she had grasped the basics of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Sasuke was about to leave when Tsunade stopped him. "Wait."

"What is it?"

"Teach Kumogakure a lesson."

"Why should I?" Sasuke asked, confused.

Tsunade glared at him. "I've let you grope me for an hour!!!"

Sasuke, feeling guilty, mumbled, "Uh... I guess I owe you that much."

Deep down, Sasuke couldn't help but recall the sensation. 'She truly is the God of Thunder,' he thought. 'But how does she compare to Hinata...?'

'Well, Hinata is still growing,' Sasuke mused to himself, with a small smirk.

...

''Kumogakure''

The Fourth Raikage was trying to read a book, but the words on the page didn't make any sense to him.

Suddenly, the door flew open, and his secretary, Mabui, entered, walking briskly.

Adjusting her glasses, Mabui held out a document to the Fourth Raikage and said, "Raikage-sama, there are a few matters that require your attention."

The Fourth Raikage scowled. "Didn't I tell you to handle those things yourself? Every time I look at those papers, I get a headache!"

Mabui sighed and said, "Very well, then I'll just brief you on the major issues. First, Killer Bee has snuck out of the village again."

The Raikage's eyes narrowed. "Where is he?"

"We're not entirely sure," Mabui admitted. "But we suspect he's gone to attend a concert in Konoha."

The Fourth Raikage took a deep breath. The peace treaty with Konoha was still in effect, so he didn't foresee any major problems.

Mabui continued, "Also, Raikage-sama, someone in Kumogakure has been drawing a comic about you, and it's spreading rapidly throughout the village."

The Fourth Raikage grinned. "That sounds like a great idea. What's wrong with spreading my image as a wise and powerful leader?"

Mabui struggled to suppress a laugh. "Well... in the comic, you're depicted as a super invincible pervert who's obsessed with food and women."

The Fourth Raikage's eyes widened in shock. "What!?"

Mabui handed the comic to the Raikage.

On the first page was a caricature of the Fourth Raikage, looking rather lecherous.

The storyline was outrageous: the Fourth Raikage was shown killing his own father to seize power and then seducing his beautiful stepmother.

The Fourth Raikage's expression darkened as he read.

Later, the Fourth Raikage found a secretary. But despite having a secretary, he remained uninterested in them.

The Fourth Raikage was one of the most powerful figures on the planet. Nothing escaped his grasp, and he commanded respect and fear across the ninja world. However, over time, the Fourth Raikage lost interest in women.

On occasion, he would see Darui, his trusted escort and the captain who had fought alongside him in the Great Ninja War. When the Raikage noticed Darui's well-built physique, he couldn't help but feel... something.

Later, when the Raikage saw Gyūki, the Eight-Tails, guarding Kumogakure, he looked up at the sky and laughed, "Hahahaha, even the Eight-Tails has his charm! Are you trying to seduce me with your eight tails?"

And so, the rumors spread. The Raikage, it was said, had engaged in an unspeakable affair with Gyūki.

The comic depicting this story was detailed—too detailed, capturing every moment in explicit detail.

When the Fourth Raikage finished reading it, he was so furious that his face turned red. His voice trembled with barely contained rage as he demanded, "Who! Who created this filth!?"

Mabui, his secretary, tried to maintain her composure. "We don't know yet, but we're investigating," she replied.

The Fourth Raikage crushed the manga in his powerful hand, reducing it to pieces. The content of the comic made his skin crawl, but there was nowhere for him to vent his frustration.

The Raikage had always prided himself on living an upright life, but now his image was tarnished by this offensive portrayal.

As he tried to suppress the rage boiling inside him, Mabui gently pointed out, "Raikage-sama, you were holding the book upside down."

Realization struck. No wonder I couldn't understand a word, he thought. But that's not important.

The real issue was stopping the spread of this "virus" within Kumogakure!

The Fourth Raikage shouted, "Quick! Mobilize the entire ANBU of Kumogakure! We need to stop this abomination from spreading!"

He then decided to personally seek out Darui, the captain of Kumogakure's dark forces.

"Darui," the Raikage commanded, "no matter what it takes, find and destroy every copy of that comic in the village! And bring me the author—alive!"

Darui nodded, though the situation unsettled him deeply. He, too, had seen the comic, which had disgustingly depicted him in a compromising relationship with the Raikage.

For Darui, a man who had always been straightforward and loyal, this comic felt like the end of the world.

Could this comic really ruin my relationship with Raikage-sama? he wondered, his heart heavy with dread.

The Fourth Raikage had lived his life with honor, but this comic threatened to destroy his reputation from the inside out.

And the most intolerable part?

The comic suggested that the Raikage was attracted to the Eight-Tails!

Who could come up with such an absurd plot!? the Raikage fumed.

Just last night, he had gone to bed in a good mood. But now, as he stood here, it felt as though the sky was crashing down on him.

...

Meanwhile, in another part of the world...

Koyuki Kazahana, the ruler of the Land of Snow, found herself missing Sasuke deeply. To see him again, she planned to visit Konoha and hold a concert.

Koyuki, now using her stage name "Fujikaze Yukie," contacted her former director, who in turn arranged for her to perform at the Konoha Opera House.

The concert was scheduled to take place in three days.

As the event approached, the streets of Konoha were filled with the sight of Konoha Guard members, identifiable by their green vests.

With the Konoha Guard currently facing a serious shortage of manpower, they had been divided into multiple squads.

Teams 1 to 10 consisted of Uchiha members, while Teams 11 to 36 were composed of members from other clans.

The large number of ninjas in Konoha meant there was no need to worry about being short-staffed.

The Uchiha clan, known for their generosity, had ensured that all guards were well-compensated for their duties.

When the Uchiha clan learned that Koyuki Kazahana was coming to Konoha, they dispatched an entire team to ensure her safety.

The 10th Division of the Konoha Guard was led by none other than Kimimaro.

Koyuki was taken aback when she saw that her protector was just a boy. "You're already a captain at such a young age?" she asked, surprised.

Kimimaro, who wasn't one for small talk, simply replied, "Age has nothing to do with strength."

Due to his unique bloodline from the Kaguya clan, Kimimaro knew his lifespan would be short—he was unlikely to live past the age of 25.

Fighting was all he knew, and he threw himself into it with relentless determination.

Orochimaru, the man who had once been his master, had given Kimimaro a peculiar task: to say at least 30 different sentences each day.

For someone as reserved as Kimimaro, this was a daunting challenge. But to avoid Orochimaru's wrath, Kimimaro dutifully followed the command.

Later, Kimimaro joined the Konoha Guard to earn a living.

With his exceptional strength and fearless nature, he quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the captain of the 10th Division.

When Koyuki heard Kimimaro's words, she couldn't help but laugh softly. "Yes, I once met a handsome young man. He was just a boy at the time, but his strength was terrifying."

Kimimaro, unsure of how to respond, remembered Orochimaru's task and asked, "May I know your name?"

"Koyuki Kazahana, but you can also call me Fujikaze Yukie."

"Did you eat breakfast this morning?"

"I did."

"What country are you from?"

"The Land of Snow."

"How tall are you?"

"176 cm."

...

With just one more sentence to go, Kimimaro was close to completing his daily task. But he struggled to think of what else to ask.

Koyuki looked at the boy in front of her, sensing that he seemed troubled by something.

At that moment, a burly man with a beard approached them. His eyes lit up with recognition. "Are you Miss Fujikaze Yukie?" he asked excitedly.

Koyuki nodded, but as the man tried to get closer, he was blocked by Kimimaro.

Kimimaro spoke coldly, "One warning—keep your distance."

Finally, I've reached thirty sentences, Kimimaro thought, relieved.

However, the burly man wasn't intimidated. "Do you know who I am? Get out of my way!" he demanded arrogantly.

Kimimaro's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Two warnings," he said, his voice even colder.

Though Kimimaro had spoken an extra word, he didn't care.

When the man continued to approach, Kimimaro had no more patience.

Fighting is my specialty, Kimimaro thought as he swiftly drove his hands into his own chest, causing blood to splatter all over the man.

The sight terrified the man. "Hey, kid! I didn't even touch you! Don't try to blackmail me!" the man shouted, now on the defensive.

Without hesitation, Kimimaro ripped out two of his ribs, which transformed into sharp daggers in his hands.

Before the man could react, Kimimaro stabbed one of his bone daggers into the man's knee, forcing him to the ground in pain.

Kimimaro's eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty light as he raised the other bone dagger high above his head, ready to strike.