In Naruto, build the strongest Hidden Mist Village.

Chapter 76 Orochimaru's Decision, Naruto's Future (Second Update)

After cheering and making a ruckus for a long time, they all looked up at the Fourth Hokage high in the sky, waiting for him to say something more inspiring.

As is customary, what I need to do now is say something like the Will of Water to garner more support for me.

but.

How can such a speech be memorable?

Naoki Kaguya took an orange out of his pocket, carefully peeled it in half, pushed out the segments, inserted the stick of the sugar-colored dumpling, carefully lit it, and slowly lowered it into the river.

"And with this, we offer our condolences to the innocent souls and heroic warriors who perished in the mist."

As soon as the words were spoken, those on the shore who knew what was going on solemnly went to find oranges and light orange lanterns.

The remaining people, unaware of the situation, all knew that this was started by the fourth generation and followed suit. Those who had oranges would order oranges, and those who didn't would find some dry branches and stuff them into the water.

In the end, even the cold-faced Kisame Hoshigaki secretly picked up some sticks from the ground, stuck them into the oranges, and put them into the river.

A moment later, starlight began to sway and drift along the bustling river, creating a dreamlike scene between light and shadow.

Starlight shone in, the firelight flickered, and it sailed into the thin mist.

Naoki Kaguya clapped his hands, then, pulling along Mei Terumi, who was somewhat dazed yet also excited, they walked towards the Mizukage Building, their backs to the crowd still in a dream.

Along the way, Naoki felt a sense of urgency welling up from the bottom of his heart.

The Third Shinobi World War has now come to an end.

Obito Uchiha will inevitably arrive soon.

Although they have Nohara Rin as their trump card, if they are going to manipulate and cooperate, how can they simply let Nohara Rin appear?
Of course we have to beat him into submission!
Furthermore, will the Nine-Tails' rampage still erupt on schedule?

If they don't erupt, how can they find a way to pull Naruto, the protagonist, into Kirigakure?

Endless thoughts drift on the wind.
-
Just as that peace letter was stirring up a storm on the distant coast, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was still preparing for negotiations, the Legendary Sannin of Konoha were reunited once again.

"Tsunade, what happened to Minato?"

Jiraiya casually touched his pure white hair, squinted his eyes, and cautiously asked a question for Kushina, who was already so worried that she dared not speak.

"He should have gone to Watergate."

Tsunade, whose medical skills were unparalleled and who was hailed as the number one medical ninja in the ninja world, slowly shook her head.

"Is that so?"

Looking at the slowly swaying golden ponytail, Jiraiya smiled bitterly, his expression falling.

But looking at Kushina leaning against the bed, her eyes somewhat vacant.

He still tried to force a smile, opening his mouth, hoping to comfort the woman who had lost her voice with his slightly open lips, which exuded sadness.

"The lifespan of the physical body is truly short. Even a man who is about to become Hokage will decay like this."

Looking at Minato Namikaze, who was once glamorous and had a reputation that surpassed his own on the battlefield, and was about to become the Fourth Hokage, now so weak that he could only spend his days in bed, Orochimaru felt two emotions intertwined in his heart.

Fear and relief.

He feared that he too would one day be like Minato Namikaze, forced to await his own death within a decaying body.

I'm relieved to know that I was ultimately on the right path.

The only truly correct path is to pursue a stronger life, even to the point of making it eternal.

The other Hokage, Mizukage, villages, and lives are all insignificant.

An indifferent aura burst forth from Orochimaru, until a sudden tremor brought him back to his senses.

"Is there really no solution?"

Looking in the direction of the sound, even through her fiery red hair, one could still see that Kushina's tired face was covered with tears.

If you turn your head slightly, you can see that Tsunade, who is usually generous and bold, is unusually embarrassed.

"Kuyuki Nai, there is a chakra within Minato that is constantly eroding his life force. I am powerless to help with this condition."

However, it is still possible to keep the water gates operational.

Seeing Kushina gradually fall silent, and Jiraiya, that idiot, forcing a smile as he went to offer advice, the slight unease I felt because of Minato's injuries vanished instantly. He's still that idiot; what good is advice that can't solve the problem?

In the end, it was all just useless groans.

Shaking his head, Orochimaru pondered, his pupils gradually losing their luster, as he fell into deep thought.

but.

Is it a kind of chakra that constantly extinguishes the life force of others?

This must be the kind of power that Naoki Kaguya showed me.

That kind of power that can easily devour most of the life force by simply putting a tiny bit of powder into the blood vessels of flesh, an absolute killing power.

To resolve this power, the solution lies in finding a body capable of bearing it and understanding why it can bear it.

Therefore, finding Kaguya Naoki and studying the fundamental reasons why he can bear this power is the real task.

However, this is Konoha.

Konoha, forever bathed in sunlight, is led by a radiant and majestic old man.

Orochimaru's lips slowly curled upwards, revealing a mocking expression.

As a member of Konoha, how could Kaguya Naoki possibly have the audacity to tell you that he is capable of bearing the very essence of that annihilating power?

Unless that increasingly unfathomable brat can truly lead the dilapidated Hidden Mist Village to conquer Konoha.

Or perhaps Minato Namikaze, the old man who personally trained this loyal dog, will one day choose to defect to Kirigakure.

However, both options are absurd and ridiculous when viewed literally.

A look of pity appeared in his cold, serpentine eyes, and at the same time, a determination arose—a determination to choose that path for the future.

The only right path is to make life more resilient and even eternal.

Nothing else matters.

Kaguya Naoki, our meeting shouldn't be far off.

"Kuyuki Nai, don't worry too much."

"Minato is still young and can wait for many more years. Sooner or later, a solution will be found."

"Lord Jiraiya, it's me."

Kushina choked up and couldn't speak.

At that moment, Tsunade suddenly gripped Kushina's hand tightly.

“Kuyuki Nai, if I’m not mistaken.”

You must be pregnant.

"Ugh?"

The expression that had been filled with sorrow suddenly cracked with astonishment, and then the owner of that face immediately reached out a trembling hand to stroke her still-undeveloped belly.

Her drooping, fiery red hair seemed to come alive again, fluttering in the gentle breeze outside the window.

Visibly, a hint of anger appeared on Kushina's face.

"Lady Tsunade, am I really pregnant?"

Tsunade nodded emphatically.

Kushina lowered her head and looked at her unremarkable belly. Suddenly, all the bitterness and sadness in her heart disappeared.

I will definitely make sure that my whole family grows up together happily and joyfully.

Therefore, we must make the water gates better and give your child a good environment to grow up in.

I'm the only one left, so I have to do my best, Kushina.

Kushina clenched her fist.

(End of this chapter)