Naruto: I, who didn't want to be hacked to pieces, saved the ninja world.

Chapter 126 Jiraiya Returns to the Village

noon.

Konoha, which had just celebrated the New Year, was once again agitated by an announcement.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was killed in an attack by Madara Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan, and most of the members of the security force also bravely sacrificed themselves in the battle against Madara Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha.

It was also revealed that Madara Uchiha was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' manipulation on the night of the Nine-Tails' death.

Madara Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha have already been expelled from the Uchiha clan.

Tomorrow, Konoha will hold a collective funeral for the village's heroes.

In an instant, Konoha, which had just experienced great joy, was plunged into great sorrow.

Public opinion regarding the Uchiha clan has become polarized.

However, with Danzo Shimura's roots secretly guiding things, it remains to be seen what will ultimately happen.

He is an expert in journalism.

Danzo Shimura was released after being detained for a few days, but he was still under house arrest, and his daily activities were strictly restricted.

Finally, it was also announced that Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, will serve as the Fifth Hokage.

The tense atmosphere in the village has been temporarily stabilized.

No one would question Tsunade becoming the new Hokage.

Although the Jonin voting meeting will not be held until the evening after the funeral.

……

Standing in front of the gate of Konoha Village.

Looking at the familiar gates of Konoha, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel sentimental and a little melancholy.

Konoha is still Konoha, but the old Konoha people have grown old.

Looking back on my youthful days, full of youthful vigor.

Now, when I close my eyes, what often comes to mind are images of the deaths of people I care about.

He should have been proud, since his teacher and students were both Hokage, and his other disciples were also excellent ninjas.

But now they are all dead.

He had told them all that a ninja's value was determined at the moment of his death.

They all sacrificed themselves for the village.

He is still on his journey to find the chosen one, the one who can bring about change to the ninja world.

How will his life end?

"Lord Jiraiya!"

Just then, a joyful voice rang out.

Jiraiya turned around and saw that it was Izumo Kamui and Kotetsu, the two guardians of Konoha Village.

It is said that because of these two gatekeepers, when Pain came to Konoha, he only dared to fly in and did not dare to use the main gate.

However, their daily task is simply to record the ninjas who come and go from the village.

"Yo!" Jiraiya composed himself and responded to the two with a smile.

Since Tsunade wants him to be more high-profile, then he might as well be high-profile.

"Lord Jiraiya, welcome back to the village!"

Both of them were very happy. This was a crucial time for Konoha, and having another Sannin in charge made them feel more at ease.

Jiraiya nodded to them. "I'll go in first."

He didn't remember either of them, and even if he wanted to talk to them, there wasn't much to say.

"please!"

Watching Jiraiya's departing figure, Kotetsu sighed, "This seems to be the first time we've helped Jiraiya-sama register."

"..."

"But everyone is more at ease now that Jiraiya-sama is back."

……

Inside the Hokage's office.

Besides Tsunade, who is the Hokage, there is also a small figure.

It was a scene of white clouds and green leaves.

"Teacher, using child labor is illegal."

Baiyun Qingye said with some dissatisfaction.

Tsunade looked completely innocent. "Illegal? Which country's law would I be violating?"

"..." Bai Yun Qingye didn't want to pay attention to this old woman who was deliberately trying to act cute.

"Haha."

Tsunade couldn't help but laugh, then said earnestly, "This is so you can get used to the work of becoming Hokage in advance."

She discovered that although Shirokumo Aoba was young, he was very intelligent and could definitely be used as a Hokage's assistant.

"But I'm only seven years old!" Baiyun Qingye protested.

You're adapting to work ten years in advance, right?

But Tsunade's protest was ineffective, so she said, "Then consider it as cultivating your Hokage mindset from a young age."

Knock knock knock!

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Go in!" Tsunade said directly.

A white-haired ANBU ninja led in a brown-haired ANBU ninja with a buzz cut.

"Lady Tsunade, I've brought Tenzo with me."

Kakashi bowed slightly to Tsunade, and he was no longer surprised as to why Shirokumo Aoba was there.

Tenzo, who was following behind him, seemed to take another curious look at Shirokumo Aoba before coming back to his senses and bowing to Tsunade.

"Lord Hokage!"

Tsunade nodded. "Take off your mask."

"Yes!"

Tianzang responded, then took off his mask, revealing a somewhat wooden and expressionless face.

His pure black eyes were devoid of any light and life.

Tsunade frowned slightly, and then sighed as she thought about the other person's experiences.

As a survivor of Orochimaru's Wood Release experiment, he was eventually rescued by Danzo and nurtured at Root, so it's understandable that he turned into this form.

However, according to Kakashi, even within the Root organization, they were not completely corrupted by darkness and still retain the desire to "protect."

"Tianzang is your name?"

Tianzang hesitated for a moment, "That's the name of another test subject."

Do you have your own name?

Tianzang shook his head. "No."

Tsunade pondered for a moment, "Wood Release is the ninjutsu that the First Hokage used to establish Konoha. He relied on Wood Release to create peace in the village. Since you also possess Wood Release, I hope that you can use it to protect the peace of Konoha."

"How about your name be Yamato from now on?"

Tianzang paused for a moment, his pure black eyes showing little emotion, but the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

A strange and eerie smile appeared on his wooden face. "Yes!"

Tsunade's lips twitched involuntarily; she thought it would be better if the other person didn't laugh.

"From now on, you'll be the Hokage's bodyguard. If you have any questions about Wood Release, feel free to ask me."

"Although I don't know Wood Release, no one in Konoha knows Wood Release better than me!"

Besides their protective duties, the relationship between the Hokage and his guards also involves a bit of a teacher-student dynamic.

Just like how Hiruzen Sarutobi and his companions, who served as Tobirama Senju's Hokage guards, always addressed him as "teacher."

Minato Namikaze also taught his Shadow Guard the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade!"

Yamato expressed his sincere gratitude.