Chapter 248

The arrival of Akatsuki members surrendering themselves was a major event in Konoha. One of them was on the brink of death and was taken directly to the hospital.

The other, determined to remain silent, was subjected to interrogation after consultation with Sakumo.

Initially, Sakumo instinctively thought to have ANBU report to Yoichi, the Fifth Hokage, but upon learning that Yoichi was out of the village, he had no choice but to stop his training and head to the Hokage building to handle the matter.

At this moment, Jiraiya had just returned from Mount Myōboku. Hearing that Konan and Nagato had come to Konoha themselves, he was so shocked that he hurried over.

Jiraiya first headed to Konoha Hospital, where he had learned Nagato had been taken. After making some inquiries, he went up to the third floor, greeted the ANBU at the staircase, and was allowed entry. As he approached the operating room, he saw Tsunade, Mina, and Rin coming out.

Jiraiya couldn't help but ask, "Tsunade, how is Nagato?"

"Not well. It seems like he used some kind of forbidden jutsu. His life force is continuously draining, and even sealing techniques can't stop it. Also, the Rinnegan is gone. It seems Uchiha Madara forced him to use a Six Paths forbidden technique to bring him back to life," Tsunade replied, shaking her head. She had been called over by Mina, but upon arriving, she found that Nagato's condition was beyond her capabilities.

This wasn't a disease or injury; it was his life force constantly fading away.

"Tsunade, is there really no way to help him?" Jiraiya asked again. Although Nagato's fate seemed sealed, he wanted to speak with him one last time before he died.

"No, ordinary medical methods won't save him. It's fortunate his life force is so strong; otherwise, he wouldn't have lasted this long. Even with our best efforts, he won't live more than a month," Tsunade said, giving her expert assessment. After a pause, she thought of Yoichi and continued, "Maybe Yoichi could have a way. He should be back this afternoon or evening, but even if he does have a method, it's unlikely he'll use it to save him."

"If it's information you want, you could get it from his mind, couldn't you?" Tsunade shook her head. Hearing from ANBU what Konan had said, she almost laughed. That little girl was too naive, thinking she could use information as leverage against Konoha.

She didn't know that the Yamanaka clan of Konoha could extract information directly from the brain.

Moreover, Konoha had already pieced together much of Akatsuki's intel from conversations with the First and Second Hokage.

Jiraiya shook his head and said, "So only Yoichi can save Nagato? Sigh, forget it."

"Don't worry about him. After killing so many Konoha shinobi, we've already done all we can," Tsunade said before walking away. If it hadn't been for Mina's concern and calling her over, she wouldn't have bothered to treat Nagato.

After Tsunade left, Jiraiya looked at Nagato inside. His life was being maintained by a series of machines, with an ANBU stationed inside to monitor him. Jiraiya sighed and left. Since he couldn't speak with Nagato, he decided to check on Konan. He still felt uncomfortable, wondering why his good disciple had come to this.

Yoichi was unaware of the situation in the village. To gather enough life energy to revive Hashirama, he had found a forest teeming with wildlife, turning more than half of it into a lifeless area. No life could survive his eye technique.

The more Yoichi used this technique, the more he realized it might be the ability of the God Tree itself, or perhaps even more terrifying.

As he accumulated more life energy, he felt a deep craving. The sensation life energy gave him was purer than that of genetic potential, and consuming it would undoubtedly benefit him greatly.

Yoichi thought that if he indulged this hunger, he might end up consuming the entire planet.

However, he didn't dwell on it. Once he had gathered enough life energy to revive Hashirama, he returned to the village. If it wasn't enough, he could use his Yama no Yama no Mi technique to supplement it.

Upon returning to the village, Yoichi went directly to the Senju clan compound. Today, Nawaki wasn't on a mission, and when Yoichi arrived, Hashirama was sparring with Nawaki.

"Ah, it's brother-in-law!" Nawaki shouted.

Before he could finish his sentence, Hashirama, unable to hold back, punched Nawaki, sending him flying over ten meters and leaving his face swollen.

"Nawaki, you fool! Never get distracted during a battle!" Tsunade scolded, making her way over to Yoichi, her pregnant belly leading the way. She smiled and asked, "Is it done?"

"Yeah, this should be enough. But the cost of reviving someone is no small thing. The village will need to start managing reforestation. Otherwise, the Land of Fire will end up like the Land of Wind," Yoichi said, revealing a glowing green sphere of life energy in his hand.

Hashirama, Tobirama, and even Nawaki, who was lying on the ground, stood up and walked over, instinctively drawn to the pure life energy in Yoichi's hand. This was a biological instinct, especially strong for Hashirama and Tobirama, whose Edo Tensei bodies craved life more than others.

Hashirama quickly regained his composure and said in shock, "To think even I could feel greed... This is remarkable."

"It's only natural. Even I couldn't help but consider absorbing this life energy on my way back," Yoichi said, noticing Nawaki's expression and cautioning him, "Nawaki, don't be reckless on missions just because you can be revived."

Nawaki, about to protest, saw Tsunade raise her fist and quickly changed his tone, "I know, brother-in-law. I'm not careless anymore."

"Well then, First Hokage, let's proceed with your revival," Yoichi said, signaling Tsunade and the others to step back. He then infused the life energy into Hashirama's body.

Sss!

In an instant, Hashirama's Edo Tensei body began emitting steam. The potent life energy triggered a transformation, turning parts of his body into living flesh and releasing hot vapor.

Powerful chakra surged from Hashirama, so potent that anyone with a sense of chakra in Konoha could detect it. Yoichi watched with his Sharingan until Hashirama was fully revived before deactivating his eye technique.

Joining his hands, Yoichi used his chakra to disperse the mist, revealing the fully revived Hashirama to Tsunade and the others. His eyes were no longer those of an Edo Tensei, and his body bore no cracks of the reincarnation technique.

"Congratulations on your revival, Grandfather," Tsunade said with a smile as she approached.

"Thank you, Fifth Hokage. Without you, this impossible feat would never have happened. Oh, and thank you, Tsunade. Although you often lose at gambling, you have good judgment," Hashirama laughed.

"Grandfather!" Tsunade blushed, cutting him off, though she couldn't help but feel a bit pleased. After all, it was Yoichi who had pursued her, proving her charm was still strong.

"Since I'm alive again, I no longer need this," Hashirama said, forming a hand seal and gathering a powerful chakra in his hands. "This chakra came from the Sage of Six Paths, but I believe the Sage's feelings were misguided. So, I entrust it to you, Fifth Hokage. Tobirama's share is included as well."

"Thank you, First Hokage, Second Hokage," Yoichi said with a smile, accepting the chakra. He hadn't expected Tobirama to give his chakra too. As the Six Paths chakra flowed into him, Yoichi sensed its unique nature, realizing it would benefit him even more than Asura's chakra.

After transferring the chakra, Hashirama smiled and said, "Well, now that I'm revived, I'm once again a shinobi of Konoha. Fifth Hokage, do you have any tasks for me?"

"Not at the moment, First Hokage. Take some time to rest. There will be many tasks suited to your skills in the future, and we'll notify you then," Yoichi replied. Tsunade then filled him in on the day's events in the village, including the Akatsuki members who had surrendered.

Beyond that, she knew little else.

...

Upon hearing Konan's request, Yoichi could only find it amusing. Akatsuki no longer held any valuable information, so he didn't bother with it. Nagato's worth now lay in being a research subject for Konoha, much like Obito.

The differences between White Zetsu cells and Hashirama's cells held significant research value, especially since White Zetsu cells were more suitable for transplantation. Orochimaru had gained a lot of insights from studying Obito.

...

The next day.

Today was a joyous occasion for Konoha. Nearly every citizen came out to watch, joined by the Fire Daimyō, other lords, and nobles, as well as daimyō from several neighboring small countries.

The ceremony for the Hokage succession was straightforward. However, the Uchiha Trading Company organized a festival to celebrate, prompting other merchants to join in, leading to a village-wide celebration.

From the morning, the patrol units took their duties very seriously. Even members of the Hyūga branch within the patrol teams used their Byakugan every few minutes to scan for disturbances, preventing even a dogfight.

After all, the Fifth Hokage had once served as the patrol unit captain.

The ceremony itself was simple: the previous Hokage would pass the Hokage hat to the next on the Hokage building.

At the appointed time, nearly the entire village gathered in front of the Hokage building, putting considerable pressure on the patrol units. However, with the patrol unit's recent expansion, it had become Konoha's largest department, capable of handling the crowd.

Sakumo walked up to Yoichi, holding the Hokage hat. As he handed it over, he said with a sense of relief, "Finally, it's yours, Yoichi-kun."

"Don't think you can relax that easily, Sakumo-senpai. As the Fourth Hokage, you'll still have to help me as an advisor. That's an order from the Fifth Hokage," Yoichi said with a smile, making Sakumo widen his eyes in surprise.

Fortunately, this exchange wasn't broadcast on the large projection screen outside the Hokage building; otherwise, it might have been reported as a story about the Fifth Hokage threatening the Fourth into retirement.

Yoichi then turned to face the gathered villagers and guests. Putting on the Hokage hat, he declared loudly, "From today onward, I am the Fifth Hokage. Konoha will become the most perfect place in the Shinobi world, the sanctuary everyone aspires to!"

The villagers and shinobi erupted into cheers, waves of applause and shouts echoing one after another. Even after Yoichi returned to the Hokage office, the celebrations outside showed no sign of stopping.

Yoichi turned to Uchiha Masato and said, "Masato-kun, have Nono start the trading company's celebration early. We need to disperse the crowd from in front of the Hokage building."

"Yes, Fifth Hokage," Masato replied, leaving the office to relay the orders.

Yoichi then assigned tasks to the other people present, one by one, until only Shisui remained. "Shisui, you've done a lot these past days. You can return to the village for now. Once you can use your eye technique, go and hypnotize the remaining two councilors."

"Yes, Fifth Hokage-sama," Shisui said, kneeling on one knee. After witnessing the Hokage succession ceremony, he felt confident that his actions had been correct. By following the clan leader's orders, both Konoha and the Uchiha clan could prosper.

"What are your plans next? Where would you like to be assigned? The ANBU, a jōnin squad leader, or the patrol unit?" Yoichi asked.

After some thought, Shisui shook his head. "I don't have any preferences. Wherever you need me, I'll go."

"Then, for now, you'll become a jōnin squad leader. The ninja academy has expanded significantly, and we'll need more and more jōnin leaders in the future," Yoichi advised before dismissing Shisui.

Currently, Konoha had raised its standards for graduating shinobi. Those who became genin at twelve needed two to three years of experience to mature mentally and prove themselves before becoming full-fledged shinobi. Otherwise, they would be assigned to other positions.

Konoha was implementing an elite education system, unlike Kirigakure and Sunagakure, where failing genin were killed. It wasn't because of financial constraints but rather to ensure the best candidates became elite shinobi.

After Shisui left, Kurenai knocked on the door and entered to report that Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza were requesting an audience with Yoichi.

(End of Chapter)