I, Naruto Uzumaki, don't need your approval.

Faced with the murderous aura of Hashirama and Tobirama, Tsunade abandoned her plan to die, prioritizing saving the Third Hokage.

At that moment, an Anbu member rushed over and said, "Lady Tsunade, the Third Hokage is dead. The cause of death was massive bleeding and excessive chakra depletion."

Tsunade frowned, enduring the aftereffects of her hemophobia, bit her finger, and summoned a slug clone.

The moment the giant slug appeared, it transformed into hundreds and thousands of smaller slugs, flying in all directions. Tsunade then released the Yin Seal, entered battle mode, and pounced on Orochimaru.

Even though it was somewhat presumptuous of her, she couldn't let go of Orochimaru, her teacher.

Compared to the excited Tsunade, Naruto's expression was very cold. After walking to the side of the dead Third Hokage, he realized that he did not hate the Third Hokage as much as he had imagined, and gently closed the Third Hokage's eyes.

His current identity is the leader of the Land of Whirlpools, and he has no particular feelings of liking or disliking the former Hokage of Konoha.

Whether the Third Hokage achieved great things or made mistakes in Konoha, it didn't really concern him. If the Third Hokage had treated him less exploitatively and more caringly, he might not have left Konoha.

Unfortunately, he gave the Third Hokage many opportunities, but the Third Hokage failed to seize them.

In that case, the life or death of the Third Hokage would be irrelevant to him; the two would simply be somewhat familiar strangers.

Seeing the Third Hokage die in front of them, Minato Namikaze and Kushina had mixed feelings.

No matter how incompetent the Third Hokage was, he was still a great figure in Konoha whom they had known since childhood. Almost all the ninjas they knew were born and grew up under the Third Hokage's watchful eye, their names engraved on the cold memorial stone.

Sensing the emotional fluctuations of Minato and Kushina, Naruto released some of the restrictions and slowly said:

"The drama of master and disciple fighting each other is over. Next, it's time for the heroes of Konoha to take the stage. However, I won't be involved for now. If you want to do anything, please do so."

Chapter 245 Konoha Cannot Stand Still

After receiving Naruto's permission, Minato Namikaze and Kushina exchanged a glance, picked up their weapons, and went to support Tsunade, who was at a disadvantage in the fight.

They were all ninjas who grew up in Konoha, and no matter what they went through, the village was an inseparable part of them.

They couldn't stand by and watch Orochimaru attack Konoha and destroy their home.

Naruto understood this, which is why he relaxed the restrictions on the Impure World Reincarnation, allowing Minato Namikaze and Kushina to stop Orochimaru and let him finish his mission and leave Konoha as soon as possible.

It's true that he disliked the Third Hokage and other high-ranking officials in Konoha, but he didn't dislike Kushina, who loved him.

Without compromising our own interests, we should respect their choices and demonstrate greater strength, which will make future negotiations with Konoha smoother.

Arriving at the edge of the Four Purple Sun Formation, Naruto rested his chin on his hand, ignoring the tense expressions of the Anbu around him, and his spirit entered the sealed space.

Inside the sealed space, Shukaku and Kurama's chakra were arguing fiercely.

"Isn't this the famous One-Tailed Beast? How come you lost so badly just now? Looks like your Jinchūriki isn't all that great."

"You stinky fox, what does a Jinchuriki have to do with you? Do you want another fight? Besides, being sealed inside a Jinchuriki isn't something to be happy about!"

Kurama snorted coldly and said, "You rotten tanuki, what do you know? I am staying here voluntarily. I only need to pay a negligible amount of chakra to travel all over the ninja world with Naruto and eat all kinds of delicacies. Can your Jinchuriki do that?"

Faced with Kurama's boasting, Shukaku frowned, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

Compared to being sealed inside a Jinchuriki by a ninja, it found Kurama's boasting even more unbearable. In the past few decades, it hadn't really eaten anything good. Jinchuriki were either ascetics or clueless little kids.

Thinking of this, Shukaku looked at Naruto not far away, and a bold idea popped into his mind.

"You brat over there, you sealed some of my chakra into your body, hoping to gain my power, right? If you're willing to give up Kurama, I might consider making you Shukaku's Jinchūriki."

Upon hearing this, Naruto frowned and looked suspiciously at Kurama beside him.

Did Shukaku's brain become dehydrated from living in the desert for so long? The Nine-Tails is the strongest tailed beast, so who would give up their status as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki to become the One-Tail's jinchūriki?

Kurama revealed a compassionate look in its eyes, then said to Naruto, "Ignore Shukaku's words. When you want to use One-Tail Chakra, just use it. I'll take care of the rest for you."

Naruto nodded. With Kurama, the eldest of the tailed beasts, around, he didn't need to worry about the harmonious coexistence of the tailed beasts within him.

However, to some extent, this silly tanuki's personality is exactly the same as Kurama's, and his body will probably be much more lively in the future.

After Naruto left the sealed space, Shukaku glanced at Isobu in the distance and said meaningfully, "Isobu is here too. This kid actually has three kinds of tailed beast chakra in his body. Kurama, you'd better explain yourself."

Kurama said expressionlessly, "It was my idea to send Naruto to collect the tailed beast chakra, and it was also my idea to have him beat you up."

"Was this your idea?"

Shukaku narrowed its eyes, its little claws twitching slightly.

Kurama frowned and continued, "Shukaku, don't be hasty. Let me explain slowly. The cause of this matter goes back to a few years ago. A few years ago, Naruto and I discovered the White Zetsu, the White Zetsu we all know."

"And soon after, Naruto and I will face off against ninjas with the Rinnegan. You should know what I mean."

Shukaku nodded slightly, his little paws supporting his chin as he fell into deep thought: "Kurama, do you mean someone is planning to revive the Ten-Tails and turn us back into chakra?"

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have had Naruto seal you in here. I don't have a penchant for sharing Jinchuriki with other Tailed Beasts, especially not with a presumptuous tanuki like you."

Despite their bickering, the nine tailed beasts will unite when their own interests are at stake.

……

While Kurama and Shukaku were exchanging words, the battle between Tsunade and Orochimaru also reached a stalemate.

Although Orochimaru controlled two powerful figures, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, Minato Namikaze and Kushina were also quite strong. The combination of the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Uzumaki Sealing Technique posed a significant threat to the Edo Tensei body.

However, Orochimaru was truly concerned about Naruto, who was not far away, and the latter's attitude determined the course of the situation.

After Naruto jumped down from the roof, Orochimaru took a few steps back, leaving Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to cover their retreat, and decisively chose to withdraw.

Having achieved all his planned objectives, he saw no need to risk war with Naruto by remaining in Konoha.

"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"

"Ninja Art: Dark Stealth Technique!"

Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, who remained in place, each used ninjutsu to disrupt the opponent's vision and began to launch indiscriminate attacks, recklessly pouring out their chakra.

Under the influence of the Tree World Descent and Dark Stealth, the surrounding area within several hundred meters was pitch black.

Upon witnessing this scene, Naruto, who had arrived at the center of the battle, frowned and formed hand seals to dispel the darkness.

Just as they were about to attack Hashirama and Tobirama, their figures vanished as if bubbles had shattered, leaving only ripples in spacetime behind.

Did Minato leave the Flying Thunder God mark so that he could chase after Orochimaru?

Naruto hesitated for a moment, then abandoned the plan. Orochimaru was still a partner to him, so there was no need to cut his losses immediately. Sustainable development was the key.

Naruto had no intention of pursuing them, and even if Tsunade had the idea, she didn't dare to.

After this battle, she became acutely aware of her own shortcomings. She lacked experience in fighting against opponents of the same level. She could easily crush Jonin and Chunin, but she would fall into a disadvantageous position when facing a Kage-level opponent.

If it weren't for the assistance of the two mysterious powerful figures, she would have been defeated by Orochimaru long ago.

Thinking of this, Tsunade looked at Minato Namikaze and Kushina. She felt that the two of them were somewhat familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before, but she couldn't quite put her finger on who they were.

"Tsunade-senpai, we are Minato and Kushina."

Seemingly sensing Tsunade's thoughts, Minato Namikaze and Kushina took the initiative to introduce themselves.

"Minato and Kushina? Didn't you already..."

Tsunade's expression changed slightly, and she realized that the two of them were probably in the state of Edo Tensei at the moment. She did not expect that in order to fight against the Edo Tensei bodies of her great-grandfather and great-grandfather, she would have to rely on other Edo Tensei ninjas in the end.

At that moment, Tsunade seemed to remember something and stared intently at Naruto not far away.

Judging from Naruto's actions, he probably already knew that Orochimaru and the others would launch the Konoha Collapse Plan, but he took a bystander's attitude and did not stop it from happening.

She wanted to question Naruto about why he didn't share information, but Naruto wasn't her subordinate, or even a Konoha ninja.

The ninja who devised the plan to destroy Konoha and killed the Third Hokage was Orochimaru, a teammate of Jiraiya and also a disciple of the Third Hokage. Naruto had no reason to stop this battle between master and disciple.

Thinking about what the Third Hokage had done over the years, Tsunade sighed softly and looked at the Third Hokage's corpse.

Since the Nine-Tails' rampage, the teacher's heroic spirit has gradually faded, and he has become nothing more than a stamping machine in the Hokage Building.

Orochimaru's actions against the Third Hokage were actually forcing the Third Hokage to return to his former self, compelling him to fight as a ninja and ultimately become a warrior like a ninja, rather than dying a humiliating death on his sickbed.

In a way, Orochimaru actually gave his teacher a dignified situation.

Pulling her wandering thoughts back, Tsunade's gaze gradually hardened.

She was already used to death. Her immediate priority was to deal with the other raiding forces besides Orochimaru and save the village from the flames of war, rather than stagnate and be immersed in the shadow of the dead.

Chapter 246 Orochimaru's Gift

After traveling more than ten kilometers away from the arena, Orochimaru stopped his escape.

Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage, sending them back to the coffin. Standing on a treetop, he gazed at the chaotic Konoha in the distance, a thoughtful expression on his face.

He came to Konoha to participate in the Chunin Exams with few goals, and he has basically achieved them all.

One reason was to plant the cursed seal on Sasuke, and also to visit Anko, who had had the Heavenly Curse Seal planted on her for many years. In addition, he planned the Konoha Collapse Project so that the old man could have a dignified end.

Even as a rogue ninja of Konoha, he hoped that Konoha could become better and provide more excellent experimental subjects.

Furthermore, the current Hokage is that idiot Jiraiya. To solidify the Hokage position, we need the assistance of a genius like him, such as eliminating all competitors who could threaten the Hokage's position.

After his reflection, Orochimaru suddenly narrowed his eyes, looked at a figure several kilometers away, a playful smile on his face, and waited in place for the black dot to arrive.

A few dozen seconds later, Jiraiya, dressed in the Hokage's robes, appeared in front of Orochimaru, carrying the Fourth Kazekage in his hand—or more accurately, the Fourth Kazekage's reanimated form.

The Fourth Kazekage was one of the lower two of the Five Kage, and his strength was not considered strong; he was no match for Jiraiya at all.

However, Jiraiya was also very troubled by the fact that the Fourth Kazekage, who was invincible and had mastered Magnet Release and could fly.

After summoning Gamabunta, Gamahiro, and Gamaken in succession, none of them could defeat the Fourth Kazekage. In the end, it was only with the help of the two sages, Fukasaku and Shima, who entered Sage Mode that the reanimated Fourth Kazekage was finally defeated.

Defeating the Fourth Kazekage was a good thing, but Jiraiya still understood that a living Kazekage was more useful than a dead one.

Orochimaru, you actually killed the Kazekage Rasa ahead of time!

Jiraiya released the sealed Fourth Kazekage and stared at Orochimaru, asking a question.

Sensing the remaining Sage Chakra in Jiraiya's body, Orochimaru felt somewhat envious of Jiraiya's talent in Sage Mode. Despite being the worst student in the Ninja Academy, Jiraiya's strength had always kept up with his own, and he had even become Hokage.

After hearing Jiraiya's question, Orochimaru chuckled and said:

"Isn't it a good thing for Konoha that I've eliminated the Fourth Kazekage? Without the Kazekage's leadership, Sunagakure will lose its ability to be an independent great power and, along with the surrounding smaller countries, become Konoha's largest vassal state."

"This is Danzo's plan, not mine, but I owe you a favor this time."

Jiraiya shook his head slightly. His idea was to capture the Kazekage alive and make Sunagakure the most important ally of Konoha, rather than breaking Sunagakure into pieces and leaving Konoha to face the pressure from Iwagakure and Kumogakure alone.

However, Orochimaru's suggestion also piqued his interest.

If Sunagakure could truly become a de facto vassal state, Konoha would benefit immensely in the long run.