Simultaneous Transmigration: Freedom Across the Heavens

The weather was gloomy, with dark clouds obscuring the sunlight.

Just like the heavy and sorrowful feelings of every Konoha villager present at this moment.

Kushina Uzumaki, dressed in black, looked sorrowful, her eyes red and swollen, yet she bit her lip tightly. The little Naruto in her arms, innocent and oblivious, darted around with his tiny eyes.

boom--

As Minato Namikaze's coffin was lowered and covered with shovelfuls of earth, the glory of the Fourth Hokage returned to dust.

Bai Li stood quietly beside her, without saying anything more, only softly saying, "Kushina-sensei, please accept my condolences."

Kushina Uzumaki shook her head slightly. "Don't worry, I'm fine."

She looked down at Naruto's innocent little face and murmured softly, "I want to watch Naruto grow up!"

A light drizzle finally began to fall from the sky, as if bidding farewell to the little sun.

Bai Li held up an umbrella, shielding Kushina and her son from the rain, and stood silently in place.

Some sorrows need no words; companionship is the best comfort.

The rain pattered down, washing away the dust from the ground and the sorrow in the air. After a long while, Kushina Uzumaki finally raised her eyes and softly said, "Thank you, Hakuri."

Bai Li shook her head. "Kushina-sensei, let me take you back."

"Um..."

...

The Hokage Building, top-floor conference room.

Minato Namikaze's funeral has just ended, but the world will not stop turning because of his passing.

The village cannot be without a shadow for even a day. Thus, a new Hokage selection tournament was convened once again.

Orochimaru did not attend and drove away the messenger sent by Danzo Shimura. He had lost all interest in this childish game.

Naruto? What Naruto? Is it more important than my immortality?

Danzo Shimura, unable to stand alone, sat sullenly in his chair, his face dark.

On the other side of the conference room, the head of the Hokage's clan, a Jonin, spoke with great passion: "...Therefore, we urge the Third Hokage to once again shoulder the heavy responsibility of Hokage!"

"That's right. The Nine-Tails' attack has caused Konoha heavy losses. At this moment, only the Third Hokage can lead us to rebuild Konoha and restore its former glory!"

"I don't respect anyone but the Third Generation Lord for this position."

Danzo Shimura's gaze swept across the conference room.

The head of the great ninja clan sat on the sidelines, choosing to protect himself; the head of the lesser ninja clan happily agreed, clinging tightly to Hiruzen Sarutobi's coattails.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the head seat, showing no sign of smugness, and sighed softly, "Alas, you've really put me in a difficult position."

He stood up, his voice heavy and resolute: "So be it. Konoha is fraught with danger right now. Even if it costs me my old bones, I will dedicate myself to Konoha until my dying breath!"

Great, you finally said that.

"Well said, Lord Sandai."

"The Third Hokage is wise; he truly deserves to be called the Doctor of the Ninja World."

"With the three generations of elders here, Konoha will surely turn the tide!"

Danzo Shimura tucked his hands into his sleeves, clenched his fists, and wondered: "Hiruzen Sarutobi, does he have this kind of culture?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Bai Li and saw him smiling broadly and clapping enthusiastically. He was very satisfied. "Young man, you have potential. I'll look after you from now on."

Bai Li understood everything perfectly.

He had no interest in the position of Hokage. Not to mention the state of Konoha at that time, it was heavily constrained by Hiruzen Sarutobi above, the Konoha Elders in the middle, and Danzo Shimura below.

What to do? Kill them all? Seize power for myself?

Who owns a company that fires all its employees and then does the work themselves?

Furthermore, in the original work, Naruto Uzumaki visibly smiled less after becoming Hokage, which shows that the position of Hokage is not one that people can sit in.

Rather than being a Hokage who is mentally and physically exhausted and has his hands tied, he might as well be even stronger and become the retired emperor.

Playing around with unspoken rules in your spare time... deepening bonds, eating, drinking, and having fun—isn't that a hundred times more comfortable than being Hokage?

As expected, the Hokage faction emerged victorious at the end of the tournament.

Next comes the stage where various forces divide the pie and fight for their interests.

Bai Li didn't participate in it; anyway, he was sure to get his share, since he was currently doing the evil thing.

He quickly returned home and sensed a familiar fluctuation in his soul connection.

Kurenai stood at the door waiting, holding a small wooden box in her hand. She was slender and looked shy.

"Shirai." Kurenai Yuhi waved and greeted him as she saw him.

Bai Li quickly went to greet her, her face beaming with joy: "Hong, what brings you here?"

Kurenai presented the wooden box, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Shirai, thank you for saving my father. This is takoyaki I made myself, please...please don't mind it."

"What's there to complain about? I'll savor it."

Bai Li reached out and took it, smelling the girl's faint fragrance, and said with a smile, "Hong, we're all companions, so there's no need for thanks."

Yuhi Kurenai tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear, and seeing that no one was around, she mustered her courage, threw herself into Shirai's arms, and hugged his back.

"Bai Li, I'm really grateful to you."

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. How could Bai Li let go of such an opportunity to deepen their bond?

He put one arm around Kurenai's shoulder and the other hand rubbed her head, then stroked her soft hair and hugged her tightly.

Yuhi Kurenai's ears turned bright red, and she buried her head deeply in Shiro's chest.

In the corner of the alley, tears welled up in Sarutobi Asuma's eyes as he bit his fist, trying to keep quiet.

With a snap, he was initially puzzled, wondering what that sound was.

The next second, he realized, oh, that was the sound of his own heart breaking.

the next day.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was reinstated and convened the Nth Elders' Meeting. Hakuri also attended, solely based on her own strength.

Konoha is now severely weakened after the Nine-Tails' attack.

Tsunade and Jiraiya went away on their own, while Orochimaru became obsessed with immortality and became indifferent to worldly affairs.

Only Bai Li, the new generation's Number One, has repeatedly performed extraordinary feats in the Nine-Tailed Fox's calamity, and his reputation is growing day by day.

Konoha needs this flag.

After settling all the minor details during the meeting, we got down to business.

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a smoke ring and said, "Then, regarding the Nine-Tails, I would like to ask everyone to share their opinions."

Danzo Shimura: "Ahem..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Hakuri, what do you say?"

Shimura Danzo: "..." What's the point of me holding this meeting?

Bai Li scratched his head and said with a smile, "I'm still young and don't understand any of this. I just want to ask, is there anyone in Konoha who understands the Nine-Tails and sealing techniques better than Kushina-sensei?"

He didn't mention any deep mother-son bond or any special connection. When it comes to strategic weapons like Jinchuriki, no amount of emotion matters.

But sealing techniques are different. The sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan are unique and have no counterparts.

As the former Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and a member of the Uzumaki clan, Kushina Uzumaki was undoubtedly the best choice to manage Naruto and protect the seal.

Shimura Danzo stared intently at Shirai. He had misjudged him. This kid was no simpleton at all; he was clearly a sly little devil!

In one sentence, he blocked everyone's escape route, both praising Kushina Uzumaki and aligning with Konoha's interests, without offending anyone. Brilliant!

Danzo Shimura was unwilling to accept this: "Our Root sealing technique..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "I think what Hakuri said makes sense."

"Xiaochun, Menyan, what do you think?"

Danzo Shimura: "......" Hiruzen, you bastard!

Koharu and Homura exchanged glances and quickly reached a tacit understanding.

That's for the best. Although Kushina Uzumaki is also from the Hokage lineage, there's still a gap between them—no, two. Besides, a mother would never allow the Nine-Tails to wreak havoc on the village again in order to protect her child.

Danzo Shimura is too ambitious. If the Jinchuriki is handed over to him, he will become his number one henchman in a few years.

In a few years, we might see the Nine-Tails' enormous body in other ninja villages.

Politics is the art of balance.

Supporting Kushina Uzumaki would not only counterbalance Danzo Shimura, but also stabilize the power of the Hokage faction and ensure the safety of the Nine-Tails. It would be a win-win situation.

Turning Dorm Xiaochun: "That makes sense."

Mito Uzumaki: "Feasible."

Hiruzen Sarutobi made the decision, saying, "Then it's decided."

He looked at Bai Li and said meaningfully, "Bai Li, your ninjutsu also has a restraining effect on tailed beasts. I wonder if you would be willing to be one of Naruto's guardians, assisting Kushina in protecting Naruto?"

Bai Li bowed slightly to show his respect: "I am willing to go through fire and water for Konoha, without hesitation."

Danzo Shimura's lips twitched: The case is solved. I knew Hiruzen couldn't possibly have that kind of culture.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, secretly regretting: It's a pity that this wasn't said in private.

With the dust settled, Bai Li took his leave and went to find Kushina to tell her the news.

The meeting room was completely silent.

After a long silence, Shimura Danzo suddenly spoke: "Hi..."

"I am the Hokage."

Danzo Shimura silently got up and walked outside.

boom!

close the door.