Chapter 242: The First Hokage's Cells and Transition of Power

"Since you already have a plan, I won't say much more," Tsunade said with a nod, indicating her approval of Natsuro's intentions.

"Lady Tsunade, there's something I'd like to ask for your consent on," Natsuro said suddenly.

"Hmm? What is it?" Tsunade looked at him with a hint of confusion.

"It concerns the First Hokage's cells. I'd like to use a portion for research," Natsuro explained.

Technically, he didn't need permission, as he was now the Hokage. However, considering that the First Hokage was Tsunade's grandfather and given their close relationship, he felt it was only right to seek her approval.

"Oh? I don't mind you using them, but with your strength, do you really need that stuff?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. "Besides, is it really that remarkable?"

"I'm not planning on implanting the First Hokage's cells," Natsuro clarified. "I want to study them in relation to the Sage Mode of the Shikkotsu Forest. As far as I know, the First Hokage was probably the only person who ever mastered that Sage Mode."

He paused, glancing at Tsunade thoughtfully. "As for its significance, from my perspective, it's undeniably extraordinary."

In truth, he had always found Tsunade's strength an anomaly. Despite being a direct descendant of the Senju clan and the First Hokage's granddaughter, her abilities didn't seem to reflect any remarkable inherent advantages. While she was undoubtedly powerful compared to most, her abilities paled in comparison to other notable bloodlines, such as the Uchiha or even the Uzumaki branch.

"So that's what it's for. Alright, you have my blessing to use it," Tsunade nodded. Then, she added, "But are you sure you can find the cells?"

"Don't worry," Natsuro said with a confident smile. "Right after the ceremony, Sasuke and the ANBU began raiding the Root base to confiscate everything."

"Good," Tsunade replied approvingly.

"Now, Jiraiya-sensei," Natsuro said, turning to him. "Can we go over the intel you gathered on those two members of the Akatsuki?"

"Of course." Jiraiya's expression grew serious as he began sharing his findings.

Though Jiraiya hadn't uncovered specific details about Hidan's techniques, he did learn about the mysterious Jashin cult. According to the Hot Spring Village's accounts, the cult's rituals involved obtaining their victim's blood to establish a life-link. Once the blood was acquired, any damage inflicted upon the cultist would also affect the victim, leading to a horrifyingly effective "shared death."

Based on what he had learned, Jiraiya connected this with Natsuro's description of Hidan's supposed immortality. If Hidan's unkillable nature was paired with this technique, it would indeed be terrifying.

Jiraiya also revealed details about Kakuzu, describing how he had lived an unusually long life and often operated alone because his teammates frequently ended up dead, many suspected at his own hands.

Natsuro listened attentively. Some of the information aligned with what he already knew from his previous life, but other details were new, underscoring Jiraiya's unparalleled intelligence-gathering abilities.

"There are jutsu like that in this world?" Tsunade was visibly surprised by the revelations.

"The world is vast and full of strange things," Natsuro remarked with a sigh. He then turned to Shizune.

"Shizune, my chosen secretary isn't in position yet, so I'll have to trouble you for now. Please distribute this intelligence to the other villages with tailed beasts."

"Understood," Shizune replied promptly, getting to work without hesitation.

"There's one more thing," Jiraiya added. "I can't confirm it, but on my way back, I heard that the Two-Tails from the Hidden Cloud Village has gone missing. It's likely already been captured by the Akatsuki."

A heavy silence filled the office.

Even though it was just a rumor, the likelihood was high given the Akatsuki's strength.

"I can't imagine how such a group even came together," Tsunade muttered, massaging her temples. Each known member of the Akatsuki was a formidable opponent.

"Who knows?" Natsuro replied, his eyes flickering briefly.

The conversation concluded shortly after. Jiraiya left to visit Naruto at the training grounds, while Tsunade stayed to guide Natsuro through the responsibilities of being Hokage.

These matters should have been addressed before the ceremony, but due to his unique plans, the handover had been rushed. Now, it was time to catch up.

As Tsunade listed off tasks one by one, Natsuro felt a headache forming. Not only were there many tasks, but they were also tedious and trivial.

What frustrated him most was that many of the issues were minor but lacked dedicated personnel to address them, leaving them to pile up on the Hokage's desk.

It was clear to him: reforms were desperately needed.

This deepened his resolve, once Nara Shikaku arrived he planned to discuss systemic reforms with him.

Small, trivial matters shouldn't need to be escalated to the Hokage's office. Natsuro finally understood why Naruto later struggled to handle everything, even with the help of shadow clones.

On the one hand, Naruto wasn't particularly skilled at administrative tasks, relying on diligence to make up for shortcomings. On the other hand, there truly were an overwhelming number of issues to manage.

Looking at Tsunade, who was still outlining responsibilities, Natsuro couldn't help but sigh. The position of Hokage was even busier than he had imagined!

.....

The news of the Hokage transition in Konoha quickly spread.

The events surrounding the Sixth Hokage's inauguration ceremony were widely discussed.

Within Konoha, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Many villagers were unaware of the extent of the darkness lurking within their village, and the realization that it had severely impacted their well-being only fueled their satisfaction.

The fact that the Sixth Hokage immediately rooted out such a major threat upon assuming office was cause for celebration.

In the Sand Village, where Natsuro was well-known, the reaction was less one of surprise and more of recognition.

Natsuro's reputation wasn't confined to Konoha, it was also highly regarded in the Sand Village.

If his fame in Konoha was built on his time in the ANBU and his role in the Leaf Destruction Plan, then his reputation in the Sand Village was earned on the battlefield.

This included eliminating threats that even targeted the Sand, though most of his victories involved defeating Sound ninja. The defining moment, however, was Deidara's self-detonation, which left a massive crater that still awed the Sand's populace to this day.

Even now, many Sand ninja felt uneasy when they gazed at the crater, a stark reminder of the raw power involved. It would take a long time for natural forces to erase such a scar from the landscape.

As for the other three major villages, their reactions were relatively muted. It was akin to receiving a message and marking it as read without replying.

This wasn't surprising. The Mist Village had only recently emerged from the shadow of the Bloody Mist era and was still in the early stages of rebuilding. They had little interest in external affairs.

The Stone Village was in a similar situation. A lack of talented successors had left them struggling for years. On top of that, Orochimaru's recent schemes had dealt them a significant blow, further delaying their recovery.

Among the Five Great Nations, only the Cloud Village had the capacity to react strongly. However, they were preoccupied with the recent disappearance of the Two-Tails and the mounting troubles it brought. They had no time to concern themselves with changes in Konoha.

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