Chapter 213
"Congratulations, Kushina." In the hospital, Tsunade congratulated Uzumaki Kushina. "You are going to be a mother."
After hearing Tsunade's words, Kushina, who was a little nervous, had a blank mind. She couldn't hear clearly the reminders that Tsunade said next, as if they came from a distant and illusory place.
She now had only one thought in her mind, that is, she was going to become a mother! Then, she was eager to find Minato and share the news with him.
"Come to think of it, Mikoto came for a check-up a while ago and she's also pregnant." Tsunade thought of the relationship between Mikoto and Kushina and added softly.
Soon, the information that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was pregnant was known to Konoha's top leaders.
Neither Kushina nor Tsunade wanted to keep it secret. It was only at Kushina's request that she informed Namikaze Minato first, and then Tsunade passed on the news.
After all, once the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki becomes pregnant, the village will need to consider and prepare for it in advance.
For female Jinchūriki, the moment of pregnancy and childbirth is the most dangerous and weakest time. Fortunately, there is an example of the previous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki Uzumaki Mito, so Konoha is not completely in the dark.
Jiraiya, who had no offspring, was overjoyed to hear this news. He had originally planned to leave the village and continue his journey to gather intelligence, but he postponed his plan again.
Jiraiya, who looked carefree, was touched at this moment. The war was almost over, and a new generation was about to be born, which made him feel a sense of inheritance.
He hoped that after the birth of this child, the ninja world would usher in a peaceful ninja world.
On the other hand, Orochimaru and Kaname, who knew the news, were relatively silent.
"Are you sure you still want Kushina to take this mission?" Orochimaru looked at Luna and suggested. As the Hokage, he now understood why his teacher became more indecisive the longer he was in office.
There are too many things to consider and too many interests to balance, especially the impact of a decision on the village. The responsibility one needs to bear is too heavy.
Orochimaru even understood why Danzo's Root had been able to exist for so long, and why his teacher would grit his teeth and clean up the mess for him even if he got into trouble.
But understanding is one thing, and Orochimaru naturally has his own ideas and style of doing things.
"Let Minato-senpai and Kushina-senpai discuss it." Lu Nie simply handed the decision to Minato and his wife. Although he knew that the two would most likely not refuse.
But we need to take into account that this mission is a long-term and continuous one, a large-scale mission that may have never appeared in the ninja world before. During Kushina's pregnancy, there are always some issues that need to be considered.
……
"Can't you do something serious?"
Tsunade angrily rushed into the Hokage's office and turned on the hair dryer mode for Orochimaru and his apprentice. Fugaku, who was already used to this scene, simply retreated and closed the door considerately.
He has been in a good mood recently.
Orochimaru, who had close ties with the Uchiha clan, became the fourth Hokage. The Uchiha, who had been gradually squeezed out of the center of power since the second generation ascended the throne, finally had a relaxed relationship with the village's top leaders and was able to be accepted.
This immediately lightened the burden on him as the tribe leader. The hawkish tribe members who always made noises and put pressure on him at the tribe meetings gradually became obedient in recent years.
At least he hadn't heard such outrageous remarks as "overthrow the Hokage and launch a coup" from those people for a long time.
Even if there are still some extreme members of the tribe, they are limited to a very small minority.
His eldest son is expected to compete for and inherit the position of the Sixth Hokage in the future, and his wife has a new life. All these good things have made him feel extremely happy recently, and he even smiles more often.
"You promised me that you would revive Dan and Nawaki. But now one of you has become Hokage, and the other has turned around and messed with the dragon veins. I am the only one who is still doing all the research. Can you do it?"
Tsunade clapped her hands, and two handprints suddenly sank into the desk in front of Orochimaru. Seeing this, Orochimaru's eyebrows twitched.
“This is a big project.”
"Of course I know! What I want to ask is why I am the only one in charge of this project and still carrying it out!" Tsunade interrupted Orochimaru with a fierce face.
It was agreed that she would be responsible for the cloning and biological parts, Orochimaru would be responsible for the research of techniques, and Kaname would be responsible for the soul and spirit parts.
But now, she was the only one still carrying out the research she was responsible for. As for the collision of related progress, they had not had such a collision for a long time.
During the war, research could be carried out whenever possible, but after the war, the project progress came to a standstill.
This made Tsunade a little dissatisfied as she felt that the research progress of the other two was lagging behind.
"I have just succeeded to the throne of Hokage, and I am still in the stage of familiarizing myself with and handling the affairs of the village." If there is anyone who can give Orochimaru a headache right now, there is no doubt that Tsunade in front of him is one of them.
When facing her, Orochimaru was indeed a little bit in the wrong.
Although he didn't care about these, he was also afraid that Tsunade would make a scene. With the blessing of the Wet Bone Forest Sage Mode who was practicing the Hogyoku Mode, a punch came down on his body, even if his physique was specially transformed, it would still hurt.
"The village is in a state of disrepair right now. You can't ask me to drop the current affairs and devote myself to research right away, right? Then what's the point of the teacher stepping down?"
Orochimaru soothed.
He also wanted to get into research as soon as possible. But he was so busy now that he had to create a shadow clone to handle matters.
If the Nara clan had not helped to organize and shoulder at least half of the affairs, Orochimaru would not even have time to rest.
After all, the village that fell into his hands was not only in ruins, but also in a bad state. Especially the restlessness of the Cloud Ninjas and the harassment and involvement of the Mist Ninjas, there were a lot of things that needed to be solved by him.
Financial issues are also constrained by the Daimyo of the Fire Nation.
"I'm just reminding you not to forget what you promised me!" Tsunade withdrew her hand that was pressed on the table and patted the wood ash on her palm.
Although her mood was no longer as decadent and depressed as before, she knew Orochimaru very well and still felt the need to warn him from time to time so that he would not fool her.
"Also, this is a list of the Wood Release Ninjas of the Senju clan. They are all willing to take on this mission. However, these clan members tend to be researchers rather than combat ninjas."
After giving the reminder, Tsunade boldly pulled out a folded piece of paper from her high-puffed collar, slapped it on the table, and handed it to Orochimaru.
"Researchers are better." Orochimaru didn't care about this. They weren't going to be sent on combat missions anyway. It was also part of the project to have them create some special trees and plant seeds based on their bloodline characteristics with the cooperation of the Technology Development Department.
If successful, not to mention the Wind Country, at least the Fire Country's food supply might increase significantly. At least the pie that Lu Nie had drawn for him, although no one had ever thought of or done it, from a technical point of view, was not a castle in the air, but was indeed possible to achieve.
At least Lu Nie's plan and those unconventional and bizarre inferences gave him a sense of being broadened-minded and shocked.
Although many things are a bit too idealistic, if Konoha Village can be strong enough, then what the other party has planned may actually become a reality.
He is not one of those conservative and stubborn old antiques, like his teacher and his peers, who are no longer willing and able to accept new things. If they were on the stage, perhaps Lu Nie's plan would have to be shelved.
After all, the medical department that Tsunade had proposed was repeatedly rejected. It was only after the medical team trained by Tsunade performed brilliantly in the Second Ninja World War that it indeed reduced a large number of casualties and ensured the combat effectiveness of Konoha, and it was officially approved with the recognition of the senior ninjas.
……
The residence of the Uchiha clan leader.
By the pond under the moonlight, Itachi looked at the moon in the water in front of him thoughtfully.
Suddenly, clear and familiar footsteps came into Itachi's ears. The person did not hide his tracks and footsteps.
"I heard from your mother that you have been worried lately. Is it related to Kane-kun?" Fugaku came to stand in front of Itachi, lowered his head and looked sideways at Itachi, and asked softly.
His tone was calm, but sensitive people could still hear a hint of concern in it.
Itachi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ended up shaking his head.
"Is this a joint mission with the Sand Village?"
Thinking of what his wife had said, that Itachi seemed a little depressed after completing his mission and returning to the village, Fugaku made his own inference.
It couldn't be because of the unborn child, right? At least Itachi knew the news before leaving the village for the mission, and his whole body could feel his happiness from the bottom of his heart.
Itachi hesitated for a moment, looking at his father's face which was dignified and concerned, he nodded subconsciously.
Fugaku was silent for a moment.
He was now considered a high-ranking official in the village, at least as the assistant to advisor Tsunade, and he had access to a lot of information, especially missions, in the Hokage's office.
At this moment, he was thinking back to the conclusion of the mission to hunt down the rebel ninjas in cooperation with the Sand Village. It seemed that it was indeed a bit vague and unclear.
Is it a confidential mission?
Fugaku already had a possible answer in mind.
“If you feel confused, ask your teacher.”
In the end, Fugaku did not continue to ask questions. Instead, he sighed, reached out his hand and stroked Itachi's hair, and spoke to him softly.
Since it involves confidential information, he certainly cannot continue to ask, but the person who tied the bell must untie it, so he can only let Itachi, who is getting stuck in a dead end, try to find Lu Ni.
So, on the next morning, Lune saw Itachi, who was visiting the Nara clan, led by Fugaku.
After receiving the father and son in the backyard, Nara Shikakichi and his wife quickly made room for Itachi and the others. When Fugaku wanted to leave, he was stopped by Shikagawa.
"Patriarch Fugaku said that you were depressed because of Loulan's mission. Is it because of the future those people revealed to you?"
In a space with only three people, Lu Nie asked Itachi straight to the point.
Fugaku, who was sitting upright on the side, widened his eyes instantly when he heard what Kaname said.
Itachi's eyes moved between Kane and Fugaku, and he nodded stiffly. Then, without waiting for Kane to ask further questions, he took the initiative to tell him everything he knew.
Namikaze Minato inherited the position of Hokage, the Nine-Tails Rebellion broke out, the Fourth Hokage died, Orochimaru rebelled against the village, and the Uchiha clan was exterminated.
The information Itachi told made Fugaku feel heavy-hearted and confused at the same time.
If Itachi was talking about the future, then what are they now?
"That happened in another world. A ninja world that is similar to ours, but taking a different direction." Fugaku's eyes widened at Shikagawa's explanation. As the head of the Uchiha clan, it was the first time he came into contact with information about another ninja world.
While this broadened his horizons, he also felt somewhat sad for the Uchiha clan that was exterminated in another world.
That’s also a kind of future!
Although he felt a little sorry for Minato to think this way, Fugaku still couldn't help but think in his heart that it was fortunate that Lord Orochimaru succeeded to the throne.
“So what makes you feel heavy and depressed is that your hands are stained with the blood of your clan members and blood relatives?” Lu Nie pondered for a moment and then revealed.
"Yes." Itachi nodded.
"You can't do it." Lu Nie could see that what Naruto and the others had told Itachi about the future really had some impact on Itachi's psychology.
"What?" Itachi looked at his teacher in confusion.
"You can't exterminate the Uchiha clan by yourself and escape from the village. This is true even if you in another world have opened the Mangekyō." Lu Nie said calmly.
"It should be the village, or Danzo of the Root who intervened, right? Otherwise, the Uchiha over there wouldn't have been able to hold out without reinforcements from the village.
My understanding is that the estrangement and conflict between the village and the Uchiha had reached a point where fire and water could not tolerate each other, so they watched Itachi slaughter people, and may even have guided or helped him in secret. "
Compared to Itachi, who is so immature that he is easily influenced by others, Fugaku is more mature, and this can be inferred from the information revealed in Itachi's narration.
At least the three generations and advisory elders over there didn't sound too different from the three generations and advisory elders he knew.
After combining the intelligence and making guesses, Fugaku quickly deduced the most likely possibility. At least in the Uchiha clan genocide over there, the village where the third generation came back to power must have played an ignominious role!
Even in the worst case scenario, Itachi, who was sent into the Anbu by him since childhood, could be a knife in the hands of those high-level officials.
(End of this chapter)