Naruto: Uchiha Youngjo's Konoha Spring

Chapter 322 Finale
Countless white cocoons hanging from the branches of the divine tree began to crack and peel away their hard outer shells. Like cicadas shedding their skins, bewildered figures fell from the cocoons, collapsing to the ground. Their eyes returned to their original color, but were filled with a dazed feeling of surviving a catastrophe and a lingering attachment to the beautiful dreams they had just experienced, making it difficult for them to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Uchiha Touko led Naruto and the other two back to the reanimated versions of the previous Hokage who had participated in the battle.

“Doukaku…you…” Hashirama Senju looked at Uchiha Doukaku, whose aura had been completely concealed, and said with a complicated expression.

Previously, when Uchiha Touko activated the Infinite Tsukuyomi, everyone felt as if the sky had fallen, but now it seems that there is another reason behind it.

"I'm sorry, things happened so suddenly before. I had to rely on that technique to break through the original limits in order to be confident in killing all the enemies," Uchiha Touko said.

"It seems everything is over?" Minato Namikaze looked up at the moon, which had returned to normal, and said.

“I have fulfilled my mission,” Uchiha Touko said. “All the enemies who deserved to die are dead, and those who needed to be sealed have been sealed.”

“I see,” Tobirama Senju nodded. “Then, it’s time for us to return to the Pure Land.”

"So, Douguang, what are you planning to do next?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

"After that, I plan to have Kakashi succeed the Sixth Hokage," Uchiha Touko said. "As for myself, I plan to establish a new holy land to teach Sage Mode to the genius humans of the ninja world."

Kakashi, whose face was still somewhat pale, nodded as he looked at Uchiha Touko's unquestionable gaze.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged voice was filled with undisguised shock; he even forgot to smoke his pipe. He stared at the calm-faced Uchiha Touko before him, as if he were truly seeing this young Fifth Hokage for the first time. After ending the Fourth Shinobi World War, unifying the ninja world, and resolving the Infinite Tsukuyomi crisis, Uchiha Touko's prestige was at its zenith.

In name only, the sole monarch of the ninja world, Genji, had entrusted all the power of state affairs to him, the Grand Minister of State of the Fire Country Federation. In reality, with his unparalleled prestige and unfathomable strength, the Federation's military power, political power, and even the hearts and minds of its people were firmly in his hands. He was already an uncrowned emperor, and with just a slight hint of his intentions, it would be almost as easy as turning his hand to don the imperial robes and usher in a completely new era.

However, he chose to retire gracefully and create a transcendent "sacred place".

“Touko, you…” Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth, unsure how to comment on this sudden decision.

“I understand your surprise, Third Hokage.” Uchiha Touko’s gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on the distant horizon, staring directly at the vast yet dangerous starry sky. “The peace we have now is only temporary. Although we have dealt with Kaguya and Isshiki, we have also been completely exposed to the depths of the starry sky, to the sight of the Otsutsuki clan.”

"Otsutsuki Isshiki and Kaguya are far from being top-tier powerhouses in their clan. As far as I know, their 'ancestor,' a being named Otsutsuki Shibakai, possessed strength that far surpassed our comprehension. If we don't prepare early, when an even stronger enemy arrives, all the current prosperity of the ninja world will collapse like a sandcastle, and the vitality of the entire world will be ruthlessly stripped away, turning into the fruits that sustain them."

Upon hearing this, Hashirama Senju frowned and said in a deep voice, "The power of the Otsutsuki clan is indeed terrifying. If it weren't for the fact that Isshiki didn't seem to be good at real life-or-death combat and his fighting style was a bit rigid, his pure power alone would have been enough to bring annihilation to the ninja world." Recalling that almost suffocating sense of oppression, he still felt lingering fear.

“That’s right.” Uchiha Touko nodded. “Therefore, we cannot place our hopes on the weakness or mistakes of our enemies. We must possess the power to confront them head-on, and even surpass them. Establishing a new sacred land, gathering talents, and exploring a path of training that transcends the existing ninjutsu system and points directly to the origin of Yin-Yang Release is a necessary step to accumulate power for the future.”

His gaze turned to the three Hokage resurrected through the Impure World Reincarnation: Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze: "Therefore, First Hokage, Second Hokage, and Fourth Hokage, I'm afraid you will need to wait in the Pure Land for a while. After some time, once I am ready, I will personally perform the jutsu to truly revive you and bring you back to the world of men."

"Direct resurrection?!" Hashirama Senju's expression turned serious. "In the battle of life and death, there is an order to life and death; this is the most fundamental law of the world. Forcibly blurring the line between life and death could cause great chaos!"

Uchiha Touko met Hashirama's worried gaze, his eyes as firm as a rock: "I am aware of the risks involved, but, First Hokage, in order to deal with the future crisis, we now... have no other choice. We need the strength of every hero, we need your wisdom and experience. This is not a desecration of the order of life and death, but an extraordinary measure that must be taken to protect more survivors."

Upon hearing this, Naruto's bright blue eyes lit up instantly, and he looked excitedly at the blond man beside him: "Dad! Did you hear that? You...you and Mom really can..."

Minato Namikaze looked at his son tenderly, a warm, sunny smile on his face. He reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Ah, it sounds like Kushina and I really do have a chance to see you in a handsome suit, marry your bride, and maybe even hold your grandson." His words were full of longing for the future and love, which eased some of the heavy atmosphere surrounding the taboo of life and death.

After a brief silence, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju exchanged a glance and finally nodded heavily. They understood that Touko Uchiha's decision was not out of personal desire, but for the survival of the entire world. Hiruzen Sarutobi also sighed and said no more.

Soon, the three former Hokage summoned through the Impure World Reincarnation began to emit faint wisps of light, their souls gradually detaching from their impure bodies and returning to the Pure Land. Before completely disappearing, Hashirama Senju gave Uchiha Touko one last deep look, his gaze complex, which ultimately turned into a faint sigh.

Uchiha Touko then turned around and led the survivors away from the devastated battlefield, returning to Konoha.

Upon returning to the village, Uchiha Touko immediately began the power transition process. He personally promoted and presided over the election of the Sixth Hokage.

Although everyone knew that Kakashi Hatake was the most popular and only person who could smoothly take over, all the necessary procedures were followed. As a result, people often saw the usually lazy silver-haired Jonin forced to pull himself together, put on the Hokage robe, and frequently appear throughout the village to comfort the villagers, guide reconstruction efforts, and give speeches, beginning a period he jokingly called "being forced to promote his old face."

Meanwhile, in the political center of the Land of Fire Federation, another important personnel arrangement was quietly under the leadership of Uchiha Touko. Hyuga Neji, the Hyuga genius who played a crucial role in the final battle and possessed the Tenseigan, was personally brought into the Federation's highest decision-making body by Uchiha Touko. Under Touko's careful guidance, Neji began to gradually become familiar with the core political affairs of the vast empire, from economic planning and diplomatic strategies to public welfare projects. His talent and calm insight quickly won the recognition of many.

As Kakashi and Neji gradually got on track, Uchiha Touko himself, the powerful Grand Minister of State, consciously began to withdraw from daily political affairs. He appeared less and less in court, devoting more of his energy to far-reaching plans for the future and the construction of the "Human Sage Mode Holy Land" that was currently being planned. An era slowly came to a close, and a new era, accompanied by hope and unknown challenges, quietly began.

Two years later, deep within a pristine mountain range in the Land of Fire, a place sparsely populated yet brimming with natural energy so dense it materialized into mist, Uchiha Touko appeared atop a steep cliff. He gazed down at the mist-shrouded, vibrant valley below, his dark Rinne Sharingan and greyish-white Sage Marks simultaneously illuminating his eyes.

He slowly raised his hands, his immense will mixed with the incomparably pure Yin Sage chakra, like an invisible giant hand, beginning to "organize" and "shape" this world.

The earth seemed to writhe as if it were alive, and according to its will, the foundations of ancient and solemn palaces rose up. These buildings were not built by man, but were "grown" directly from the rocks, blending perfectly with the surrounding environment.

Natural energy is guided and gathered, forming a shimmering, vibrant spring in the center of the valley.

The mysterious runes are not engraved, but rather "emerge" directly on the building's exterior walls and ground, creating a powerful barrier that gathers energy and defends against external enemies.

The sacred land of the human race's immortal mode began to take shape here.

This is not a sacred place for summoning spirit beasts like Mount Myōboku or Ryūchi Cave, but a sacred place exclusively for humans, where they rely on their own spiritual power to resonate with natural energy, pursue the essence of Yin and Yang, and explore higher levels of life and power. It will abandon the theory of bloodlines and sectarianism, and be open to all humans with sufficient talent, temperament, and will.

Having done all this, Uchiha Touko's figure vanished silently, as if merging into the clouds of the sacred land he had created. He would remain behind the scenes as the founder and guardian of the sacred land, no longer directly interfering in worldly disputes, but instead turning his gaze to the more distant exploration of the origins of life and power.

Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The ninja world was reborn from the ruins, ushering in unprecedented true peace and prosperity. The systems of the Land of Fire Federation became increasingly完善 and deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Konoha Village has long been rebuilt, and is even more magnificent than before. On the Hokage Rock, next to the portrait of the Sixth Hokage, Hatake Kakashi, the portrait of the Seventh Hokage—Uchiha Sasuke—has been engraved.

Sasuke sat upright in the Hokage's office, dealing with a mountain of documents. He had shed some of the coldness of his youth, and his brows now held a calm and dignified air. Only his deep black eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light, reminding people of his former title and power.

He governed the village and the Federation with a combination of iron fist and wisdom, with extremely high efficiency and clear rewards and punishments. Although he was not as "approachable" as the previous Hokage, he won absolute respect and trust.

His wife, Karin Uzumaki, who was in a political marriage with the Uzumaki clan, became the leader of the sealing team in Konoha. Although it was a political marriage, the two had grown up together since childhood and there was not much of a gap between them. They managed Konoha and the Uchiha clan very well.

Meanwhile, in the capital of the Fire Kingdom Federation, in a more modern political center.

Neji Hyuga, dressed in a sharp dark suit rather than traditional ninja attire, stood before a huge floor-to-ceiling window, discussing economic, transportation, and technological cooperation with representatives from various countries. He had temporarily relinquished his ninja duties, relying on the extraordinary insight, calm mind, and excellent strategic vision granted by his Tenseigan to gradually rise to the position of Minister of State of the Land of Fire Federation. He became Sasuke's most capable political right-hand man and ally, second only to the Hokage in actual power. Together, following the blueprint drawn up by Touko Uchiha before his retirement, they steadily propelled the ninja world from a simple alliance of ninja villages towards a more modern and institutionalized federal state.

As for Naruto Uzumaki...

No one knows exactly where he is. There is no portrait of him on Hokage Rock, nor is his name on the list of high-ranking officials in the federal government.

But it seems that his story is told in every corner of the ninja world.

Some say that deep in the desert of the Land of Wind, they saw him helping local villagers find water and tame rampaging sand beasts;
Some say they saw him training alone in a canyon in the Land of Lightning, his golden chakra illuminating the perilous terrain.

Some people say that he would often return to Konoha to secretly visit old friends and teachers, or go to Ichiraku Ramen to eat several large bowls of food, and then run away laughing before being discovered.

The last time he made a public appearance in front of everyone in the ninja world was at his wedding to the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan. However, the couple went out together the day after the wedding. It wasn't until half a year later that the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan returned to the village with a big belly. For this, the new Minister of State of the Land of Fire put on his battle suit again after many years and reportedly chased down most of the ninja world.

But no matter what, he fulfilled his childhood dream, became a hero of the ninja world, and saved the world, but in the end, he chose a path of freedom and ease.

He continues to protect the people and land he cherishes in his own way, no longer needing the constraints of any titles or positions.

The new era has begun, and everyone has a bright future.

The mentor who ushered in a new era and pulled the world back from the brink of despair has retreated to a sacred place, pursuing a higher realm.

The story of the ninja world has never ended; it has simply been passed down in a different form.

(End of the book)

The extra chapters will be released in the next few days.

(End of this chapter)