In Konoha, they wiped out the Sarutobi clan at the start.

Chapter 170 Kakashi's Doubts, Sasuke's Unwillingness

"Hokage-sama, should we go after them?" Kakashi looked at Orochimaru in the distance, then at Tsunade, who was clearly acting strangely, and asked hesitantly.

Tsunade did not answer, but stood there trembling.

Just as she was about to break down, Qianye's voice suddenly rang out from the dome, "Yo, everyone in Konoha, your beloved Third Hokage has just died at the hands of his most beloved disciple. Now he is waiting for you to worship this hero who died 'to protect Konoha'."

Kurenai looked up in the direction of the sound and saw Chiyo standing at the edge of the dome. Her pale red eyes instantly lit up. "Chiyo."

Tsunade lowered her head slightly, her hands clenched into fists, her hair hanging down freely, her eyes obscured by shadows, and her knuckles creaking from the force of her grip.

At the same time, Yekura, who was in the crowd, spoke up as Qianye had arranged beforehand, "Sarutobi Hiruzen is not our Hokage. He and Danzo killed Konoha's White Fang and the Fourth Hokage for their own selfish reasons, created the Nine-Tails' attack, and killed our families. Now, for their own reputation, they have plunged Konoha into war again. We do not have such a Hokage."

The Konoha villagers around were all stunned upon hearing this.

As the saying goes, when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. One of the commoners who lost his family on the night of the Nine-Tails hesitated for a moment, but he mustered up his courage, raised his right hand, and shouted: "Hiruzen Sarutobi is not our Hokage!"

Humans are social animals and like to follow the crowd.

Once there was a first, then a second, and naturally a third, then a fourth. Suddenly, the entire arena was filled with cries of "Hiruzen Sarutobi is not our Hokage."

Yekura shouted again, "Our Hokage is the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade."

Many people joined in, shouting, "Our Hokage is the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade!"

"Defeat Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura." ×2

"Long live the people of Konoha!" ×2

"Defeat Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura." ×2

"Long live the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade!" ×2

Yekura shouted a slogan, and the people of Konoha echoed it. In the end, even the wavering Konoha ninjas joined in.

Kakashi looked at the high spirits of the crowd and ninjas, feeling both relieved that his father had been exonerated and overwhelmed with worry. "This is troublesome."

Just as the people of Konoha were in a state of high spirits, Tsunade, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly stood up, stomped her foot on the ground, and the entire earth trembled instantly. At the same time, Tsunade's angry shout rang out, "Shut up, all of you!"

A sudden silence fell over the arena. In the next instant, Tsunade shot towards Chiya, who stood atop the dome, like a cannonball. Tears welled in her eyes as she unleashed a powerful punch, yelling, "Fujiwara Chiya, you bastard!"

"Is it because I pretended to be dead and didn't tell her beforehand? Let this tiger woman calm down." Seeing the fist so close, Qianye smiled and made no attempt to dodge, covering the spot on Tsunade's face where she was about to be hit with Armament Haki.

He let her punch land.

Boom—, to everyone's horrified gaze, Qianye was punched off the roof like a kite with a broken string, his body passing directly through the adjacent dome, and finally falling into the forest.

Chiya struggled to his feet and said weakly, "As expected of the future Fifth Hokage, you were able to find my true form from my genjutsu. I, Chiya, am willing to call you the strongest Hokage after the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi. Until we meet again."

After saying that, Qianye threw a smoke bomb on the spot. When the smoke cleared, he was nowhere to be seen in the forest.

On the dome, Tsunade looked at Chiya, who had been punched away and disappeared, and a feeling of unreality welled up in her heart. She had actually hit Chiya and sent him flying.

Beneath the dome, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the crowd of Konoha citizens: "Wow, is this our future Hokage? She's so strong! Even the powerful rogue ninja whom the Second Hokage admitted was no match for her was sent flying with a single punch."

Might Guy was equally happy and excited. He patted Kakashi on the shoulder and exclaimed, "Kakashi, look! Lady Tsunade actually broke through that guy Chiya's genjutsu. As expected of one of the legendary Sannin!"

"Uh," Kakashi's lips twitched violently beneath his mask, "I don't think that's the case at all, and..."

At this point, his expression suddenly turned serious. He turned his head to look at the person who had previously led the shouting that Hiruzen Sarutobi was not worthy of being Hokage. He then formed hand seals, and with a bang, the smoke dissipated, and he disappeared from the spot.

"I knew it? It seems that person is in cahoots with Chiya, and it's very likely the female ninja we encountered in the Land of Waves. So, Lady Tsunade, what is your relationship with Chiya?"

Thinking this to himself, Kakashi gazed at Tsunade, who stood atop the dome, revered by thousands, and then heard Might Guy beside him ask blankly, "Kakashi, what did you just say?"

"No, it's nothing." Kakashi shook his head, hoping it was a blessing in disguise.

Meanwhile, outside Konoha Village, as Kakashi began to suspect the relationship between Chiya and Tsunade, Kakashi was also harboring suspicions.

Naruto has already decided the victor in his battle against the berserk Gaara.

Although the Sand Village had withdrawn from the Konoha Crush plan, Sasuke, having mastered Chidori, became extremely arrogant and clashed with Gaara and the other two, just like in the original story, in order to test his current strength.

As a result, he was brutally defeated by Gaara in his tailed beast form.

Finally, Naruto and Sakura arrived in time, with Sakura, as always, playing the role of a burden.

Gaara pinned him to the tree trunk with his tailed beast-transformed sand palm.

Naruto engages in a fierce battle with Gaara in order to save Sakura and Sasuke. Under Sasuke's gaze, which is filled with complex emotions such as jealousy, envy, resentment, and horror, Naruto, who has learned the Rasengan, once suppressed Gaara in his tailed beast form.

In the end, Gaara was forced to use the Feign Sleep Technique to transform into a tailed beast.

However, he was still defeated by Gamabunta, whom Naruto summoned.

"Why, why would you go to such lengths for someone else?" Childhood memories kept surfacing in his mind. Gaara lay on the ground, turned his head to look at Naruto who was slowly crawling towards him, and asked the question.

"Because...because we're the same, that feeling of being alone must be really painful." Naruto's eyes were filled with tears as he recalled his childhood and began to use his persuasive skills.

He succeeded this time. Gaara had already been moved when Naruto first used his talk-no-jutsu on Chiya in the Forest of Death.

After this battle with Naruto, I finally understood myself.

With Kankuro and Temari supporting him, he embarked on the road back to Sunagakure.

Just then, Sasuke, who had settled Sakura in, came over.

Looking at Naruto, who had fainted due to chakra depletion, he recalled Naruto's previous battles. The stark contrast made him unconsciously clench his fists.

Erzhuzi gritted his teeth, thinking to himself, "Naruto, just how strong are you?"

P.S.: Second update, please vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets!

There will be two more updates later.

(End of this chapter)