When Minato Namikaze announced at the Land of Bears frontline camp that Zenshu, Toji Fushiguro, and Tengen had been granted Konoha Jonin status...
Zenshu and his people had essentially placed one foot inside the village already. Afterward, they followed Minato, Orochimaru, and the others on the journey to Konoha.
As one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, Konoha was no small organization. Its appointments had to possess both fairness and sanctity.
If such things could be arbitrarily rescinded or modified, it would trigger a cascading collapse of trust.
And losing trust carried severe consequences for any hidden village.
A major source of income came from missions, after all. If even the village's own appointments could be revoked at will, then the entire commission system would become worthless.
Minato slowed to a halt and raised his hand. "Everyone, take a break. We resume in half an hour."
The surrounding elite ninjas dispersed immediately. Some leaped into the trees, resting while maintaining vigilant watch.
"Senior Zenshu, we've now entered the Land of Fire." Minato approached. "Less than a third of the journey remains before we reach Konoha."
Zenshu sat on a large boulder nearby, waving dismissively. "Don't concern yourself with me. It's just travel—it won't kill me."
Minato smiled at that, his gaze drifting toward the others.
Zenji—Zenshu's younger brother and the next Clan Head. That had been genuinely unexpected.
But most observers' attention had fixed on another figure entirely.
A tall, robust youth standing one and a half meters. Powerful physique. And most strikingly—four arms beneath a loose yukata, along with two pairs of eyes on his face.
Orochimaru licked his lips, studying Ryomen Sukuna with obvious interest.
Four eyes and four arms? Acquired modification, or congenital variation?
Before his thoughts could progress, Tsunade suddenly rose nearby.
She stared at Sukuna with an increasingly grim expression, then turned her glare toward Zenshu. Finally unable to contain herself, she strode over aggressively.
Zenshu looked up as she approached, expression unchanging.
"Is this the secret technique your clan researched?" Tsunade's voice carried sharp accusation. "Not even sparing children. Just how deranged are you people?"
She finally couldn't hold back? Orochimaru observed the scene with detached interest.
Ever since the village had begun Wood Release experiments—resulting in numerous Senju clan deaths—Tsunade had been vehemently opposed to such human experimentation.
Zenshu regarded her calmly before speaking. "Sukuna, do you resent the experiments your mother performed on you?"
Ryomen Sukuna grinned, sizing up the Sannin with casual interest. His tone remained utterly flat.
"Couldn't be better. It would be even better if I were a bit stronger."
Tsunade's expression froze. She clearly hadn't expected such a response.
"You... don't care about your appearance? Don't care what others say?"
"Hmph." Sukuna sneered with contempt.
"The voices of the weak are inaudible—how could they reach the ears of the strong? As for the strong themselves?"
His gaze shifted to Orochimaru. "What do you think?"
"Hehehe." Orochimaru's laughter was as eerie and cold as ever.
"No one cares about the gossip of losers. I'm far more curious about what powers your body possesses."
Their words made Tsunade's expression darken further.
She walked away without another word, settling down to brood in silence.
Through that exchange, Sukuna and Orochimaru found common ground.
Sukuna wanted to understand more about chakra—specifically Wind and Fire Release techniques.
Orochimaru was curious about what secrets that unusual body contained.
The two hit it off instantly, conversing with enthusiasm. Even when departure time arrived, they seemed reluctant to stop.
By the time they approached Konoha, they'd become thoroughly familiar with one another—and had apparently made several private agreements.
"Konoha lies just ahead." Minato slowed his pace.
At the road's end, a massive gate came into view.
Two great green doors bore the characters for "A" and "N" respectively. Above them hung the Hidden Leaf Village symbol. Earth-yellow walls extended on either side.
The gates stood open. A welcoming party waited before them.
At the center stood the Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His gaze fell on the returning Minato Namikaze with evident satisfaction.
However, welcoming Zenshu's arrival alone wouldn't warrant the Hokage's personal presence. Sending the two advisors would already represent the highest courtesy.
But Minato was different. He was Konoha's hero of this great war.
Moreover, to ensure his smooth ascension to Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen needed to build momentum for him publicly.
His gaze flickered briefly to Orochimaru. Inwardly, he could only offer silent apology.
Addicted to human experimentation. Possessed of that eerie aura. Orochimaru was truly unsuitable for the position.
Furthermore, signs suggested he was descending into darkness. He was probably no longer that kindhearted disciple from years past.
"Lord Hokage." Minato spoke respectfully. "This subordinate has completed the mission."
Hiruzen stepped forward, clapping Minato's shoulder with a broad smile.
"Well done! You've worked hard, Minato. The Land of Water has already surrendered. The Hidden Mist Village has even dispatched envoys to negotiate war reparations and ransom the seven ninja swords."
"This is all thanks to you and Jonin Zenshu."
His attention shifted to the aged figure.
"Lord Hokage." Zenshu inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi in his prime possessed strength that couldn't be underestimated.
He might not reach super Kage-level combat power, but he ranked among the strongest at Kage-level—and exceptionally well-rounded. Truly deserving of the title "Professor."
When a powerhouse achieved such versatility, the pressure they exerted on those beneath them was terrifying. Their capacity to withstand those above them was equally formidable.
He'd knocked the Nine-Tails clear out of the village with a single staff strike. As anyone knew, forces were mutual.
Maintaining steady footing while delivering such impact demonstrated just how formidable Hiruzen's physical strength and taijutsu truly were.
Excluding the Eight Inner Gates Formation, he was probably Konoha's premier taijutsu expert.
Combined with mastery of all five basic nature transformations and a repertoire of ninjutsu worthy of the "God of Shinobi" title...
He was even among the rare few ninjas capable of learning high-level sealing techniques like the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
Incredibly dense chakra. That was Zenshu's first impression.
In this world, the chakra quality of powerhouses differed completely from ordinary ninjas. Sometimes, merely sensing their presence revealed whether someone was truly formidable.
Of course, this applied to only a minority of exceptional individuals.
But Zenshu—who had infused consciousness into his chakra and converted it to Yin Release Cursed Energy—possessed perception far exceeding ordinary shinobi.
He could discern chakra quality and the will contained within it with extraordinary precision.
"Come." Hiruzen chuckled lightly. "Let's enter the village first. There are still details to discuss regarding your positions."
"We'll finalize everything today. The Academy term begins in a few days—they can enroll just in time."
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