Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 501 Konoha's Dream Team

"Now, we can talk about the future of the living."

These words, though seemingly simple, carried immense weight, pulling Ai and Hanzo of the Salamander back from their complex emotions to the cold reality.

Some games are only just beginning.

The Fourth Raikage Ai took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently as if trying to force all the emotions brought by the flute music into his lungs.

He tensed up and followed Hiruzen Sarutobi step by step into the makeshift command tent.

Hanzo the Salamander remained silent, his figure moving like a ghost, silently following behind.

Beneath his breathing mask, his suspicious eyes gleamed with an unprecedented light—an extreme vigilance mixed with a hint of awe that even he himself was unaware of.

Inside the tent, the lights were on.

Minato Namikaze, Shikaku Nara, and others were already waiting there. The weariness and sorrow on their faces had not yet faded, but they stood upright, their spirits were high, and they were ready to face a new war at any time.

When they saw Raikage A and Hanzo of the Salamander follow the Hokage in, the Konoha ninjas instinctively straightened their backs, and an invisible aura emanated from them.

The accompanying Jonin from Kumogakure and Amegakure appeared uneasy. Inside the small tent, they felt like sheep being watched by several tigers, every nerve of theirs sending out a danger alarm.

Ai and Hanzo also sat down in their respective seats.

The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed like it could drip water.

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Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the main seat, not in a hurry to speak.

He simply poured himself a cup of hot tea, the rising steam blurring his serene face.

Silence itself is the heaviest form of pressure.

After a long while, he finally put down his teacup, the crisp clinking sound making everyone present jump.

"The combined forces of Iwagakure and Sunagakure have been utterly defeated."

Hiruzen Sarutobi broke the silence first, his voice as steady as ever, stating a fait accompli.

"But the war is not truly over."

"The chain of hatred has only just begun to turn."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears: "A child from Iwagakure who has lost his father will hate Konoha; a wife from Sunagakure who has lost her husband will hate Kumogakure. These hatreds will sprout, grow, and eventually bear the fruit of the next war."

Ai's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't refute. Because what Hiruzen Sarutobi said was the reality of the ninja world for thousands of years.

"Therefore, I intend to invite representatives from Iwagakure and Sunagakure to come here to discuss the post-war order."

Hanzo the Salamander squinted slightly beneath his mask.

He sensed an opportunity, but also a deeper danger; Hiruzen Sarutobi's ambition was far greater than he had imagined.

As soon as he finished speaking, Minato Namikaze stepped forward, his golden hair gleaming in the lamplight, his expression unwavering.

"Lord Hokage! Then let me..."

He wanted to say, "Please let me go."

As the commander-in-chief of this peacekeeping operation, it is only natural for him to convey the Hokage's will.

However, before he could finish speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand to interrupt him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, walked to Minato, and gently patted his young and strong shoulder with his broad hand.

"Minato, you've done enough."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was gentle yet powerful as he looked at one of the village's most promising juniors, at this rising sun. "From this moment on, the mission of the Konoha Peacekeeping Force is officially over. Your next task is to rest well, treat the wounded, and then... go home."

Minato opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say "I can".

He understood a deeper meaning from the Hokage's eyes.

This is not distrust, but a form of protection and a way of passing on traditions.

The future of Konoha requires him to be in his best condition, not to be consumed by endless running around.

He nodded emphatically: "Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Seeing this, Nara Shikaku, who was standing to the side, scratched his head as usual, looking extremely annoyed, but still stepped forward. He couldn't let the Hokage take the risk himself.

"Lord Hokage, we can't possibly let you..."

Shikaku was also unable to finish his sentence.

A burst of excessively cheerful laughter suddenly pierced the heavy atmosphere inside the tent, shattering the tense silence.

"Haha, hahahaha! Xiao Gang! You didn't get away with it this time! Don't forget you promised to treat us!"

The voice was incredibly loud and powerful, brimming with vitality, as if it could lift the top of the tent.

Then, the voice seemed to lower slightly, as if the person was talking to someone.

"Nagato, thank you for your hard work! I'll treat you to barbecue when we get back to the village! ...Uh, where's the teacher?"

"Oh, oh! Okay, okay!"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's forehead twitched almost imperceptibly.

That stupid disciple...

Can't he see what kind of occasion this is? There are two village chiefs sitting next to him. In such a serious diplomatic negotiation, can't he at least lower his voice? What kind of behavior is this!

Everyone else inside the tent, whether from Konoha or Kumogakure, was stunned and stared in unison at the tent entrance.

Under everyone's gaze, the tent flap was casually lifted by a hand.

The first person to walk in was a tall, white-haired man. The leaves on his headband had somehow been stained red, making them stand out. He had a sly smile on his face.

It was Jiraiya.

Following closely behind was Tsunade, whose face clearly said "Don't bother with this idiot." Her long golden hair was tied in a ponytail, making her look dashing and heroic.

Finally, there was Orochimaru, the research fanatic whose expression remained as calm as ever, seemingly indifferent to everything around him.

The three legendary Konoha ninjas have all appeared!

The ninjas from Kumogakure and Amegakure caught their breath for a moment.

The names of these three had already spread throughout the entire ninja world during the two Shinobi World Wars; any one of them was a Kage-level fighter.

However, this is just the beginning.

Following the three Sannin, three more figures walked in unhurriedly.

The leader was Shimura Danzo.