Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 185 The Hardworking Second Generation

Tobirama Senju even laughed and remarked, "Ah, if I had so much inspiration in this area, I would have been able to enjoy these convenient things in my lifetime."

Orochimaru nodded in agreement. Most of the high-tech experimental equipment he used was actually made by himself.

When Xia Zuo faced the two great scientists of the ninja world, he saw undisguised contempt in their eyes, as if they were looking at an illiterate person.

The Fifth Hokage could only laugh awkwardly before making a request: "In any case, the emergence of so many new things will definitely stimulate consumer enthusiasm in the ninja world and trigger a huge flow of wealth."

"Second Hokage, Orochimaru, wealth represents not only money, but also the shift in power. I believe that with the birth of these new things, a brand new era is about to begin."

"Konoha Village cannot fall behind in this new era. We must keep up with the changes. No matter what new things others come up with, Konoha Village must come up with something with the same function but better quality."

"As the center and overlord of the ninja world, Konoha Village must prevent others from overtaking us."

"So no matter what new things appear, no matter what new ninjutsu is developed, Konoha Village must arrange for people to keep up, and then rely on its advantages in resources and scale to become the strongest in this field."

Orochimaru frowned in thought, while the Second Hokage's eyes lit up: "Fifth Hokage, you're right, no, you have excellent judgment."

Upon hearing the Second Hokage's approval, the Fifth Hokage, Natsume, immediately seized the opportunity and pounced on Tobirama Senju, grabbing his hands. "Second Hokage, you are indeed incredibly wise. With your support, I feel much more confident."

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"So, I'll leave this to you!"

Tobirama Senju stared in disbelief: "—Huh?"

And so, the unfortunate Second Hokage was tricked by Xia Zuo and ended up spending a year in the most secret laboratory in Konoha.

He continuously produces new product designs, reducing manufacturing difficulty and lowering manufacturing costs.

Taking advantage of the situation, Konoha Village launched large-scale production, crushing all new electrical appliances on the market, forming a monopoly, and earning a steady stream of money for the village.

It was precisely because of money that Konoha Village was able to expand in all aspects.

If the Ministry of Education could expand the size of the Ninja School a thousand times and build a new Ninja Higher Education Academy, it would require a massive amount of money.

It was precisely because of this vigorous development that the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was able to restrain his temper and willingly work in Konoha for so long.

If he doesn't want to, what can Xia Zuo do to him?

Tobirama Senju was a dead man. Can a dead man resurrected through Edo Tensei be killed again?

If you want him to work, it can only be if he does so voluntarily.

As darkness fell, the Fifth Hokage appeared on the rooftop of the Hokage Building with the Second Hokage, showing him the lights of Konoha Village and explaining to him what the newly added lights were for.

"That's the sixth commercial street, which specializes in selling all kinds of snacks and late-night meals."

"That's a real-world simulation training ground, simulating the arid deserts of the Land of Wind, the high mountains and deep valleys of the Land of Earth, the torrential rains of the Land of Rain, the thunderous lands of the Land of Thunder, and the dense fog of the Land of Water."

"That large factory is the manufacturing base for your research results, Second Hokage. It is now the largest source of income for Konoha Village, far exceeding the contributions and mission bonuses of the Fire Daimyo."

Tobirama Senju was taken aback: "A daimyo's offering?"

Xia Zuo chuckled, "Right, it's a sacrifice. The Daimyo clearly offered money to get Konoha's protection, yet he dared to call it a gift." Heh heh, I made him change it.

Tobirama Senju laughed along, "Yes, a guy who can't even protect himself, yet he thinks he's so noble."

"How did you convince him? I tried to persuade him quite a bit, but he just wouldn't give in."

Xia Zuo replied, "It was just a simple threat."

"Ultimately, it's because I have no relationship with him. He wasn't sure if I would kill him, and he was so afraid of dying, so of course he gave in."

"People become more confused as they get older, and they also become more afraid of death. A great man is afraid of death, and three generations of people become confused. This is the essence of the saying."

Tobirama Senju remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "It seems that's indeed the case. I've never encountered a clan leader over 60 years old before, and even those over 50 are rare. I have absolutely no experience with this."

"It turns out that it wasn't that I chose the wrong Hiruzen Sarutobi, but that I didn't arrange for him to step down early enough."

Xia Zuo chuckled and retorted, "No, you chose the wrong person, Hiruzen Sarutobi."

"You didn't even realize that he was so afraid of death after becoming Hokage. Not only did he never go to the battlefield, but he also didn't leave Konoha Village for 30 years."

"Isn't this just a matter of your poor taste?"

Tobirama Senju feigned anger and remained silent.

His eyes darted around greedily, as if he could never get enough of looking.

Suddenly, Tobirama Senju pointed at the Hokage Rock and asked, "Why are there still only four portraits? I remember you've been the Fifth Hokage for two years already. Is there anyone who's dissatisfied?"

Xia Zuo raised his voice: "Second Hokage, don't slander people like that. I have a very high reputation in Konoha Village, and no one dares to challenge me."

"I stopped the Hokage Rock incident, and I even gave a special order forbidding Konoha Village from erecting a sculpture of me while I was still alive."

Tobirama Senju frowned. He seemed to understand something, but he wasn't sure, so he asked, "Why?"

""

Xia Zuo gestured with his hands to indicate the width and said, "Second Generation, look, this cliff is only this wide. Even if it extends to the right in sequence, it can only accommodate about 11 heads."

"Is Konoha going to be destroyed during the time of the 11th Hokage?"

"Of course, this is just a minor issue. For us ninjas, extending the cliff face is not difficult at all."

"But don't you think two of the four heads here are unworthy?"

Senju Tobirama seemed to be deep in thought, listening silently as Xia Zuo continued, "The First Hokage swept across the ninja world, ending the Warring States period and ushering in the era of ninja villages. He was also a major leader in the founding of Konoha Village. It is only natural that he left his portrait behind."

"Next is your head."

Tobirama Senju suddenly felt a surge of tension as he listened intently to the Fifth Hokage's evaluation of him.

"Second Hokage, you established all the systems in Konoha Village, turning Konoha Village from the ideal of the First Hokage into reality. Your influence is visible everywhere in Konoha Village. No matter how I reform, I am just making repairs on the basis of your system."

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"This is an achievement even greater than winning the First Shinobi World War, worthy of having one's own statue erected upon it."

"Next up is the Third Hokage. Heh heh, the influence he left behind was also significant, but it was negative."

"Victory equals defeat, Konoha declines, ninjas die, children perish, ninja clans expand, and daimyo becomes arrogant. With his head on top, Second Hokage, don't you feel disgusted?"

Tobirama Senju couldn't help but scratch his cheek, as if it were covered in something dirty, and the spot he scratched was right next to the Third Hokage on the statue.

He sighed, "I can feel it, it really is very uncomfortable."

Xia Zuo grinned and said, "I feel the same way."

In China, this is called a platform collapse.

Sima Yi pointed at the Luo River and farted. The Luo River had been stinking for almost two thousand years and had lost all its sacredness.

Emperor Zhenzong of Song ceded territory and paid reparations, then went to Mount Tai to perform the Fengshan ceremony. From then on, no emperor ever performed the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai again. The greater the emperor's achievements, the more disgusted he felt.

Tobirama Senju felt the same way that Emperor Chenglong felt when he saw Emperor Zhenzong of Song—he wanted nothing more than to draw his sword and kill him.

Xia Zuo pointed to the last head and said, "The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was a very powerful and gentle ninja, as well as a very thoughtful Hokage. He was considered perfect at the time."

"But he died too young, his reign lasted less than a year, and he was sidelined by the Third Hokage, unable to even command the Anbu. So you could say he left no lasting impact."

"To be honest, I don't think the Fourth Hokage is qualified to stay here."

"A few generations from now, when the personal legends surrounding Minato Namikaze fade away, what will the Konoha ninjas remember when they see his image?"

Xia Zuo's face darkened: "Was it to fight to the death to protect the village and the Nine-Tails?"

Tobirama Senju thought of his elder brother, how he grabbed Kurama, rubbed it against the ground, and shouted, "Ku-Tails, you're too dangerous, so I'm sealing you away!"

Then, thinking of the Fourth Hokage, who was forced to his death by the same Nine-Tails attack, Tobirama Senju sighed deeply.

He asked, "Young man of the fifth generation, what are your thoughts?"

Xia Zuo replied, "It's very simple. There are no statues of living Hokage. It's only three years after their death that their emotions have completely faded, their achievements have fully surfaced, and then the Konoha Jonin vote to decide whether or not to carve their portraits."

Tobirama Senju chuckled: "You're quite confident, kid."

Xia Zuo deliberately raised his head, feigning arrogance: "Of course, I will definitely create achievements comparable to the First Hokage and you, and restore the sacred aura to this Hokage Rock."

Tobirama Senju laughed heartily: "Not bad, Fifth Hokage, you are truly outstanding."

"Just based on the way you squeeze every last drop out of me, even a dead man, I believe you can do a good job!"

Xia Zuo smiled slightly embarrassedly: "I'm glad you don't mind."

"Actually, these are all unimportant details. Whether someone is a good Hokage or not doesn't depend on his character or personality. Just look at whether Konoha has become stronger, richer, safer, and has allowed the most people to share in the benefits under his leadership."

"Other methods, such as reputation, are unimportant."

Tobirama Senju nodded and said, "Indeed, what you said makes a lot of sense. So, your killing of the Third Hokage was just a detail?"

The room fell silent instantly.

A few minutes later, Xia Zuo answered Tobirama Senju's question seriously: "I think it is indeed a matter of detail."

"The death of the Third Hokage was an accident, but this accident stopped the decline of Konoha Village. It did not damage the reputation of Konoha Village, nor did it cause any major losses to Konoha Village."

"Compared to details such as how he died and who killed him, this is the most important question."

Tobirama Senju touched his nose and sighed, "I accept your explanation; you are right."

Xia Zuo laughed, "The title of 'Third Hokage, Professor of Ninjutsu' is truly well-deserved. In such a short time, even while being beaten up by you, Second Hokage, you still managed to pass on quite a bit of information."

Tobirama Senju said dismissively, "That's all the monkey is capable of. If he could focus his energy on the right things and develop fewer of these little tricks, his strength would definitely not be this level."

"Kid, do your job well. I won't say anything more. I believe you can lead Konoha to a better future."

At this moment, the Edo Tensei (impure earth) on Tobirama Senju's body began to dissipate, and his Edo Tensei body had exceeded its limit and was beginning to collapse.

He glanced at his body and said nonchalantly, "My time has come. I've been busy for so long, it's time to go back to the Pure Land and get a good night's sleep."

Xia Zuo asked with a wicked grin, "Second Hokage, the Joint Chunin Exams will be held in Konoha in a month. Don't you want to see the prowess of the junior genin?"

"I guarantee that this will be a very exciting event, and we will definitely see many, many excellent genin."

Tobirama Senju swallowed hard, even though he didn't have the ability to secrete such a substance.

Then he said with a sneer, "You little bastard, you talk as if I can make decisions for myself."

"If you need me, just call me out yourself."

After saying those last words, Tobirama Senju's form instantly collapsed, turning into a pile of filthy dust.

Before Xia Zuo could do anything, Orochimaru suddenly sprang out from the shadows and began to carefully examine the corpse exposed in the Edo Tensei.

He compared the sacrificial offerings with the medical report from a year ago, item by item.

"The person is already dead, and the body shows severe signs of skeletal decay, proving that the person has been dead for a long time."

"The chakra was completely drained, and even the bones showed new signs of osteoporosis. As expected, the Edo Tensei user used the chakra of a sacrifice."

"That makes things easier. We can consider strengthening the offerings."

"Hmm, we still need to find an opportunity to test whether only normal enhancement is effective, or whether a randomly cobbled-together chakra source can also have an enhancement effect."

Xia Zuo waited quietly for Orochimaru to get busy, watching him carefully sweep away the remnants of the earth, sifting out all seven types of items, and letting them turn to ash and disappear on the ground.

Then, the Great Serpent King packed and sealed the sacrificial corpses that had been examined, and put them into his arms before quietly standing up.

He opened with a bombshell question: "So, you really did kill Sarutobi-sensei?"

Xia Zuo remained expressionless and replied with a smile, "You already know the answer yourself."

Orochimaru looked at Xia Zuo and asked again, "Can I get a definite answer from the Fifth Hokage?"

Xia Zuo shook his head and said, "No."

Orochimaru suddenly laughed: "Fifth Hokage, I'm relieved to hear you say that."

"As long as you don't explicitly say that Sarutobi-sensei was killed by you, I won't be forced to choose to break ties with you."

"This is for the best."

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