Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 97 Choice

"...Fifth Hokage, this is for the sake of Konoha, and we can't tolerate your willfulness!" Koharu's tone became stern. The three people present had all watched Tsunade grow up, and they couldn't help but carry a kind of seniority.

But who is Tsunade? She's not one to back down easily. If you push her too far, she doesn't care if you're a veteran of Konoha. Even though the Senju clan has declined, the title of God of Shinobi still resounds, and all the other shinobi clans, whether they submit or not, must maintain a facade of respect. Moreover, Tsunade is recognized as the strongest medical ninja in the shinobi world. How many of those who fought in the Third Shinobi World War hadn't been healed by her? Her influence is enough to rival these old fogies, which is why their first choice for Hokage was Jiraiya.

Unfortunately, Jiraiya had no interest in power and supported Tsunade's rise to the top, so their worst fears came true.

Previously, with the Third Hokage blocking their way and Itachi's intimidation, they couldn't make a move on Sasuke. This opportunity to smoothly control the last Uchiha descendant was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and even Itachi couldn't find fault with it; he should even thank them for finding a way to save his brother.

“I have seen Sasuke’s condition. His cursed seal is currently very stable and there are no problems. I can guarantee that he can continue to live like a normal ninja.”

Certification from industry authorities is enough to shut most people up, but unfortunately there are a few here.

Danzo persisted, saying, "The stability of the cursed seal doesn't mean Orochimaru will give up. Once he leaves the village to carry out a mission, he could be killed anywhere you can't protect him. The only way to prevent this possibility is to train him into an elite through 'Root' methods."

“He will be an elite. Jiraiya has already taken him as his disciple, and he will be training with him for the next few years.” Tsunade did not back down at all, coldly looking at her as a person she disliked. “Besides, whether it is for Konoha or for your own benefit in training him, you should know the answer in your heart, Danzo.”

"What's the difference? I'm still a member of Konoha, right?"

This dialogue was shared in real time by Naruto to his shadow clones, and then reproduced by Izuna's Sharingan to others, creating an immersive experience.

The four people at the table were all getting angry to varying degrees, especially Fugaku, who was so angry that he wanted to rush to Konoha and blow up Root's headquarters with Amaterasu.

"This was my mistake," Naruto said first, "I failed to protect him properly."

"It's none of your business." Tobirama was an old politician, and the people present were all his students. As soon as the conversation started, he knew what these brats were up to. "There are other reasons why they don't have the cursed seal. As long as Itachi Uchiha is alive and Sasuke Uchiha has the possibility of reviving the clan, they will be restless."

"What is done will always leave a trace. They know in their hearts that revenge will always come."

So... does this mean the Konoha leadership has always been hostile towards Sasuke? It started now. Before Naruto became Hokage, Sasuke's missions were endless, always time-consuming and dangerous, as if they hoped he'd die out there one day. Only after Naruto became Hokage did these advisors dare not interfere with Sasuke's missions anymore, because these missions were directly assigned by the Hokage, and they had no right to meddle.

Power... it really is something that can turn people into ghosts.

"What do we do now?" Fugaku turned his gaze to Naruto, eager to know what choice this man, who had never disappointed him, would make.

Before Naruto could answer, Hashirama spoke first, "I should have made things clear with Tsunade sooner and asked her to strip the elders of their power."

“Brother, have you forgotten the connection between the Elder Council and the Daimyo?” Tobirama frowned deeply and said, “The ninja world is in a period of stability right now. Any movement from Konoha will be noticed by the Daimyo. Moreover, they have been cultivating Konoha for too long, with their influence spreading to every department. To completely take it over, they would at least need to cultivate their own team. Are you planning to use the simplest and most brutal method? That will only backfire.”

"How is it counterproductive for the First Hokage to purge Konoha traitors? Hashirama Senju being alive is the strongest deterrent to the world! How dare they disobey?" Izuna angrily acknowledged Hashirama Senju's status in the ninja world; he had always been stubborn before.

"Who can guarantee that Akatsuki won't react negatively? Based on the intelligence we have so far, their ultimate goal is a Jinchuriki. Naruto hasn't grown up yet..."

"Alright, stop arguing." Naruto didn't use a clone to speak; instead, he spoke directly into the minds of the senior members.

We've already explored the path of intimidation through force, and it's proven to be a dead end. Therefore, Hashirama's existence cannot be revealed until the ninja world faces a true crisis.

"So, are we just going to let those guys bully us for nothing? If you dare say that, I'd like to experience the Flying Thunder God Technique for the first time in a long time." Although Izuna was of a senior generation, he was also the youngest among them, and he spoke his mind without any beating around the bush.

"Of course not." Naruto answered firmly. "Sasuke has grown up and has his own ideas. I'll wait for him to make his choice before I react."

"What else can he choose besides Konoha?" Fugaku was also blinded by his son's crisis, and only after asking this question did he think of another outsider.

Tobirama reacted quickly, "You mean Orochimaru? The Uchiha kid is only thirteen years old, right? Does he have the guts to defect?"

"That's beyond my knowledge," Naruto calmly continued. "If he chooses Orochimaru, I'll escort him to the border of the Land of Fire, eliminate any potential threats from his former Sound Ninja followers, and ensure Orochimaru entrusts him with most of the resources."

"If he chooses Konoha, I will deliberately lose control once and try to smash down the Root's gates. I will tell the Konoha leadership that the bond between a Jinchuriki and the Sharingan is unbreakable, and the only one who can stop me is Sasuke."

These words, spoken calmly, resonated deeply. Regardless of the choice, it would be entirely detrimental to Naruto. Escorting someone's defection was already an incredibly risky decision, but threatening to deliberately lose control and destroy Root... that was gambling with his future and his life. Moreover, Naruto, who was extremely averse to killing, even decided to eliminate Orochimaru's elite forces, because those coming to pick up Sasuke would undoubtedly be the strongest members of the Sound Ninja core.

Between Konoha and Sasuke, Naruto unhesitatingly sided with Sasuke.

"These are the decisions made by the main body. He said he needs to rest, and the decision he just made is his plan for his future, which is only being shared with you all."

Tobirama slammed his hand on the table, shattering it. "This is outrageous!"

This was the first time the Second Hokage had ever lost his temper during a meeting, and Izuna, who was usually the one being appeased, was now the one trying to appease Tobirama. However, the admiration in his tone had the opposite effect.

"Isn't this a win-win decision? At least you don't have to clean house now. You're a real man of your word, much more reliable than someone else."

"Izuna! This is a life-or-death gamble! Whether it's losing control or defection, it's a capital offense! Even if you don't die, you'll still give others leverage against you!"

"Then you should come up with a solution that satisfies both sides."

As the two were arguing, an extremely strong chakra pressure suddenly erupted, and everyone in the room immediately stared at the source.

Hashirama's smile was forced, but he still stated, "I support Naruto's decision. But who says either of these possibilities will necessarily damage Naruto's image? 'Losing control' has its reasons, 'defection' could be kidnapping, and 'escort' could be a desperate attempt to stop someone but failing, right?"