Konoha: Offer your heart to the Hokage!

Tobirama spoke slowly: "I understand everyone's good intentions. But this time I must go to Kumogakure; it is my duty as Hokage. Every day the war continues, the village's development will be delayed. Even if there are risks, I must go."

"Although the Raikage's attitude is tough, this matter is indeed due to my extensive use of the Impure World Reincarnation. I believe that Kumogakure genuinely wants a ceasefire. They know I can use the Flying Thunder God Technique and wouldn't be foolish enough to attack me."

Instead of publicly humiliating Tobirama, he returned to the Hokage's office and held a small meeting.

"The door..."

Tobirama guessed what he wanted to say and waved his hand: "No need to worry. I am the Hokage, and Kumogakure cannot stop me."

You'll regret it! You really will!

Shen Er suppressed a laugh, but sighed and said, "Alright. While you're away negotiating, I'll guard the village."

"Then please."

"Okay, I'll go take care of my work first."

At this moment, just as at that moment.

The second-in-commands of both Kumogakure and Konoha were plotting how to kill their respective leaders.

As Tobirama watched his departing figure, he did not leave immediately, but a few different thoughts arose in his mind.

The talks between the two film studios were of great significance.

It was not just about determining the status of the victorious and defeated nations and war reparations, but also about training successors.

Looking back at the Five Kage Summit, all the bodyguards who accompanied the Kage back then, except for Shen, have now succeeded to the position of the second Kage.

Ultimately, the bodyguards of a Shadow are generally regarded as the next Shadow.

Carrying it with you is both a form of training and a way to make a public appearance to the entire ninja world.

From the very beginning, Tobirama Senju had no intention of bringing Jin along to these negotiations. Firstly, Jin, as a village elder, had many responsibilities. During Tobirama's absence from Konoha, it was essential to leave behind someone with full authority to oversee the village.

On the other hand...

He had never even considered his bodyguards, or his successors.

His eldest disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was the most suitable candidate he initially thought to be.

However, unlike Hiruzen who can use the Thunder God Technique, it would be very dangerous if the Cloud Village suddenly turned against him.

But that's the most extreme scenario. Is this round of talks really going to be dangerous?

Tobirama Senju disagreed.

He still firmly believed in his previous judgment. The Hidden Cloud Village had been terrified by his Impure World Reincarnation tactics, and with the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Sand Village having already effectively ceased hostilities, the situation on all sides was settled, and this peace talk was absolutely sincere.

Therefore, he could rest assured to keep Hiruzen by his side.

"Send the order..." Tobirama summoned an Anbu member and announced to the crowd, "The Shadow Guard is to assemble, with Hiruzen Sarutobi as the captain, and Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado as members. They are to accompany me to Kumogakure to participate in the meeting between the two Kage."

The Shadow Guard members weren't there to protect him.

They're here to protect the future Third Hokage!

Chapter 159 A Shocking Turn of Events at the Meeting! The Raikage Dies, the Hokage Flees!

In Tobirama Senju's eyes, the Shadow Guard is a blazing fire when they gather, and a sky full of stars when they scatter.

During the three years of war, the four members of the Shadow Guard were assigned to different positions, gaining ample experience and training. Now is the perfect time to test their abilities and lead them onto the ninja stage...

Unknowns need a stage to shine.

Just like Zenji was once taken by the First Hokage to participate in the Five Kage Summit, he became famous overnight.

Although Konoha was the victor in this war, someone still had to stand up and take responsibility for the villagers who died in battle, and Tobirama felt he couldn't escape blame. It was because they lacked the power of the First Hokage that this series of tragedies occurred.

He might voluntarily resign from his position as the second-generation heir.

Hiruzen, as the captain of the Shadow Guard, will become the Third Hokage under his arrangement; Danzo, Koharu, and Enma are the core members that Tobirama left for Hiruzen.

As for Shen'er, he will continue to play an irreplaceable role in the Hokage Building as the "Supreme Elder".

Once everything was over, Tobirama, having completed his mission, planned to lay down his arms and return to the Senju clan to continue his unfinished work of developing ninjutsu.

...

Tobirama Senju was a secretive and suspicious man who was used to keeping his plans to himself. He did not even reveal any relevant information to his closest wife and children, intending to explain everything after returning to the village.

As everyone knows...

Absolute arrogance leads to absolute tragedy.

It was precisely because he did not choose to leave a "last will and testament" that the despair that followed led to his downfall.

Two days later.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was urgently recalled from the Iwagakure battlefield to Konoha.

Having endured two years of war, Hiruzen had long since shed his boyish naiveté. Gradually entering his thirties, his demeanor had become increasingly composed and resolute, bearing numerous unhealed scars. Among them, the most menacing scar ran across his heart, a shocking sight.

He once publicly vowed at the Ninja Academy to give his heart to Konoha, and now he has fulfilled that vow with his own blood and flesh.

The unity of knowledge and action is a requirement.

Hiruzen was completely unaware of Tobirama's arrangements. He only rested for half a day before changing into brand-new ninja armor and heading to the Hokage Building with Danzo and his group to report for duty.

The Hokage Building was exceptionally lively that day.

The ceasefire, peace talks, and the conclusion of a new peace treaty were undoubtedly a momentous occasion for Konoha, which had endured three years of war.

Representatives from various ninja clans came to see him off, including Mito Uzumaki, who had not appeared for a long time.

She knew what had happened and had naturally heard about Shinji's attempts to dissuade Tobirama at the Hokage Building.

Past grievances are insignificant compared to matters of principle. Before his death, Hashirama entrusted her with the task of looking after Tobirama. This meant not only keeping an eye on him to prevent him from breaking taboos, but also ensuring his safety.

But Tobirama is now the Hokage, and he must and can only shoulder many responsibilities.

Mito Uzumaki looked at Tobirama Senju and only said one thing: "Be careful, Hashirama is waiting for you to return to the village."

Shen, who usually enjoys giving speeches on important occasions, chose to remain silent this time, simply patting Tobirama on the shoulder and saying, "Farewell."

If someone else said this, it would inevitably seem strange, since this phrase is usually not an auspicious blessing, but more like a taunt from an enemy when they are about to deliver a fatal blow.

But coming from Shen Er's mouth, everything seemed to make perfect sense. Shen Er's unusual behavior only made others think that he was loyal and righteous.

After saying that, he turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and gave him an order: "Hiruzen, you must protect the Second Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned solemn as he assured him, "Yes, Elder Shen!"

"We're waiting for you to come back!" - Pig, Deer, Butterfly.

"Will he come back? I'm afraid he won't. Tobirama will journey all the way to the Pure Land..."

Shen Er thought to himself.

The Raikage's peace talks were not problematic; they were genuinely heartfelt, and Tobirama's judgment was correct.

However, those involved are often blinded by their own perspective.

Tobirama's perspective was limited; he hadn't expected that the interest group within Kumogakure opposing the ceasefire would be so large, large enough to make them commit the act of killing a Kage.

Of course, Tobirama can't be blamed for this.

This kind of atrocities of "subordinates overthrowing superiors" is still too advanced and horrifying for the current ninja world.

To ensure things would go as planned, Shen had already ordered Uchiha Yan to wear portable flying ninja tools and, under the cover of night, gather intelligence within the Hidden Cloud Village.

Intelligence indicates

The Hagoromo clan, to which Kinkaku and Ginkaku belong, is indeed secretly plotting something, with frequent ninja movements. Uchiha Yan doesn't know what this means, but he is very clear that Kinkaku and Ginkaku are offering their hearts for his plan.

And he, of course, could not let down the selfless dedication of the Gold and Silver Horn brothers!

Shen immediately ordered Uchiha Yan to make preparations along the route that Kumogakure and Konoha would inevitably take. As for what preparations to make, Shen did not specify, only instructing Uchiha Yan to await further instructions.

She was the last line of defense that Shen Er had set up.

Originally, the Shadow Guard consisted of six members: Sarutobi and his three companions, plus Akimichi Torifu and Uchiha Kagami. Now, with two members missing, the overall strength of the Shadow Guard appears to have been weakened.

However, since Uchiha Kagami is not in the team, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, who are no longer bound by certain bonds, may develop a strange bond and unleash extraordinary power, which must be guarded against.

Even though they had done everything perfectly, they had woven a deadly trap that was as inescapable as a net.

Tobirama publicly emphasized, "During my absence from the village, Zenin Jinji will temporarily assume the position of Hokage and handle all village affairs."

"Yes! Hokage!"

"We will live up to your expectations."

Shen Er responded solemnly.

No one knew that Tobirama's entrustment was his final instruction to send himself to the Pure Land.

The feeling of being a proxy for Naruto... is really great.

He was just waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi to return so that he would have a legitimate reason to settle accounts with everyone.

Watching Tobirama's departing figure, Shen'er's mind flashed back to all the moments they had shared over the past ten years. If this weren't the cruel ninja world, they might have truly become friends.

However, their differing ideologies destined them to eventually clash.

In his heart, he offered Tobirama a final, sincere blessing for his journey.

A moment later, Shen Er, assuming the role of Acting Hokage, solemnly addressed the crowd:

"Everyone, return to your posts and perform your duties."

"A peaceful era is coming, and everyone should be prepared to embrace the new situation after the war."

However, Jin, who was acting as Hokage, did not return to the Hokage Building.

He went to the meditation room of the Zen temple.

Clap your hands

...

Tobirama Senju acts with swift and decisive action.

Less than three days after receiving the Raikage's invitation for peace talks, he personally led a four-man Shadow Guard to the Land of Lightning.

The location for this peace talks was not the main village of Kumogakure, but a town called Fallingfire Castle, which is near the mainland.