Bounty on Whitebeard! Konoha's Firmness Shattered!

"The guy named Whitebeard defeated the Third Hokage and took the Jinchuriki away from Konoha?"

The more radical members of the Uchiha clan, who had been clamoring for revenge for Gan, Bun, and Tsui, were stunned upon hearing this news.

They had already gathered over thirty Uchiha ninjas, most of whom were elite members of the Uchiha police force. The weakest among them were at least Chunin level in Konoha.

While the Uchiha clan members were often described as mentally unstable, they were not foolish.

Gan, Bun, and Tsui, all possessing Sharingan, had been easily defeated by Whitebeard.

Naturally, they realized that going after him with a random group would be akin to committing suicide and gifting their Sharingan.

But when they thought everything was ready and had meticulously planned their attack to take Whitebeard's head, they suddenly realized they had underestimated him.

"That guy..." one Uchiha police force Chunin muttered, swallowing hard as cold sweat dripped down his forehead, "He actually defeated the Third Hokage..."

Although they were very hostile towards Konoha's higher-ups, including the Hokage, they never considered the Third Hokage weak.

Otherwise, the Uchiha clan's internal coup plans would not have been delayed for so long.

...

The Third Hokage was defeated in a battle against Whitebeard, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was kidnapped, and the Third Hokage was still lying in the hospital, unable to get out of bed even after waking up. All these events happened in a single night, shaking all the major ninja clans in Konoha!

No one expected that someone considered the pinnacle of Konoha's combat power, the strongest Hokage in history, could be defeated by an outsider.

If this had happened outside the village, they could have made an excuse that the Hokage was ambushed. But to be defeated within Konoha, his territory, and by an outsider, no less...

How could this happen?

"We mustn't let this incident spread too much. At the very least, we can't let the villagers know about it," said Homura, one of Konoha's high councilors, adjusting his glasses with a serious expression.

At this moment, a group of people gathered in the Hokage's office, but the Third Hokage was notably absent.

Danzo was present, his face showing no emotion, but inwardly he was ecstatic.

He cleared his throat and interjected, "Yes, that's true. But a village cannot go without a Hokage for too long."

Danzo didn't care about the villagers knowing the impact of this incident. What he cared about was the position of Hokage!

Danzo looked around at the group.

He continued, "Monkey... Sarutobi is severely injured and hospitalized. The best medical ninjas in Konoha say he won't be able to get out of bed for a month, let alone handle administrative duties."

"I think we should take this opportunity to reappoint a temporary Hokage..." But before Danzo could finish his sentence, Koharu, with her gray hair and narrow eyes, interrupted him.

"We've already considered that," Koharu said. "Sarutobi indeed won't be able to handle Hokage duties for a month, and he has entrusted the ANBU to inform us that during this month, Mitokado, you, and I will handle Hokage duties together."

Koharu paused, glanced at Danzo, and continued calmly, "Until a month later, when his health improves and he can get out of bed, then the Hokage duties will be handed back to him."

Danzo's eyes widened slightly.

What does this mean?

Isn't this the same as before? Before, the four of them handled some of Konoha's administrative duties together.

Danzo's initial plan was to use this opportunity to get everyone to appoint a temporary Hokage.

And among all the high councilors in Konoha...

Who was more suitable than him?

But Danzo didn't expect that his "suggestion" would be directly interrupted and dismissed before he could even finish.

Especially when he heard "entrusted the ANBU to inform us," Danzo clenched his fists tightly, his teeth nearly grinding to dust.

That damn monkey, even lying in bed like a cripple, couldn't let go of the Hokage's power.

He didn't leave a single chance. Was he already on guard against this?

At this moment, Homura spoke up, "Sarutobi has already sent Kakashi to track the Jinchuriki and Whitebeard. If he can keep up with them, we'll be able to monitor their movements. According to what I heard from Sarutobi, Whitebeard and the Jinchuriki are looking for Tsunade outside the village!"

Shikaku, leaning against the wall with a blade of grass in his mouth, interjected, "I've heard that Tsunade-sama has been active within the Land of Fire for the past two years. If they're looking for her, they likely won't leave the Land of Fire."

Homura adjusted his glasses and nodded, "In that case, we might be able to find Tsunade's whereabouts first."

"There's a problem," said Hiashi Hyuga, also present.

His white eyes were calm as he asked, "What if other villages learn that the Jinchuriki has left Konoha and take action?"

If this were during Konoha's peak strength, everyone present would have given a definitive answer—declare war on the other village immediately!

But...

Konoha wasn't strong now.

With Sannin's departure, the Hokage's hospitalization, the Uchiha clan's distrust, and the Jinchuriki leaving the village, all these negative factors weighed down on Konoha.

It's hard to be tough under these circumstances.

But there's always an exception.

"Hmph! Isn't it obvious? Naturally, we should..." Danzo, the exception, was about to speak, but he was interrupted once again.

Homura took a deep breath and looked around at everyone.

He said, "So this matter should be kept secret if possible. If other villages do find out, we'll deal with it then. Everything will be discussed after Sarutobi recovers."

Danzo: "..."

"As for Whitebeard..." Homura continued, "I propose issuing an internal bounty within Konoha for Whitebeard!"

"Internal bounty?" The newly coined term made everyone present exchange glances.

Homura explained, "This will be a bounty known only to Konoha ninjas. A reward of 50 million ryo for Whitebeard's capture! Any Konoha ninja who can capture Whitebeard alive or bring back his head and return the Jinchuriki will receive the reward!"

"50 million Ryo..." Asuma, standing in the corner smoking, blew out a smoke ring. "That's a reasonable amount."

Someone who could defeat his father, the Third Hokage, was indeed worth that bounty.

...

On the streets of Konoha.

Choji Akimichi hugged a bag of barbecue-flavored chips.

As he munched on them, tears streamed down his face. He said to Shikamaru, "Shikamaru, I heard from my dad that Naruto left Konoha."

"Sniff, sniff... Our new friend has left us. Now our trio is just the two of us."

"...What trio?" Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "We've only known Naruto for a few days, and we're already a trio?"

He looked at the street ahead, falling silent.

Shikamaru and Choji arrived at the street where Naruto lived.

In front of them was a cordoned-off, devastated street, with a caution tape blocking the entrance.

But they could still see the ruins inside.

It looked like a demolition site.

"My dad didn't tell me much," Shikamaru said, resting his hands behind his head, his face showing a look of weariness. "But I can guess some of what happened."

"Naruto left Konoha with his giant dad, and it caused quite a stir among the adults."

"Shikamaru, will Naruto come back?!" Choji's genuine tears welled up in his eyes, which were red from crying.

But his hands and mouth didn't stop. Half a bag of chips was already gone.

"He will."

—"I will definitely become Hokage!"

Recalling Naruto's declaration and the determination in his bright blue eyes, far beyond his peers, Shikamaru said again with certainty, "He will definitely come back."

"Stop crying, Choji!" He slipped his hands into his pockets, where he kept a handkerchief he had once lent to Naruto.

Shikamaru said, "I don't know why, but I have a feeling that when Naruto returns to Konoha, he will be a completely different person!"

"Shikamaru, r-really?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

...

"Ah... Ah... Achoo!!!"

Naruto vigorously wiped his nose, which was a bit itchy today. He had sneezed dozens of times since morning.

"Dad, how are we going to find that Tsunade?"

Naruto, dragging his suitcase, asked curiously.

"Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed. "That medical ninja named Tsunade is a Konoha ninja. Konoha ninjas know their own. We just need to ask that white-haired brat."

"White-haired?" Naruto

 Was puzzled. "The masked ninja uncle?"

"Yes! He's been following us for an hour now. See that stray dog?" Whitebeard pointed out.

"Huh?" Naruto quickly turned around.

Sure enough, he saw a stray dog following them from a distance. It was hard to notice if you didn't look carefully.

The strange stray dog seemed to hear their conversation and froze.

Kakashi: "..."

...

...