Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 292 Turmoil and Unrest

The events that occurred in Konoha had already become the talk of the ninja world. However, Hyuga Kanan, the instigator, had no intention of paying any attention to them. After bringing the Hyuga clan members to the training grounds, he went into seclusion.

The Hyuga clan was extremely satisfied and excited about their living environment and safety here. The large array set up by Hyuga Kanan surrounded an area of ​​dozens of kilometers, ensuring their survival and safety, while the abundant natural energy made the environment incredibly suitable for life. The Hyuga clan felt that this was the most suitable place for the Hyuga clan's legacy to be established.

Without external threats and with an exceptionally superior living environment, the Hyuga clan was in a state of excitement for a long time. All the clans in the ninja world desired a stable and peaceful land as their ancestral home, not a place of constant life-or-death battles. With this place as their clan's ancestral home, all the clan members were incredibly happy. They no longer needed to worry about security issues requiring clan members to sacrifice their lives to protect their living space, nor did they need to fear the various forms of oppression they might face. They only needed to develop peacefully and harmoniously, and they were certain that they could make their clan even greater.

For a ninja clan, such an environment is nothing short of paradise. Here, they can train and hone their skills in peace, without worrying about being ambushed by enemies or disturbed by the outside world. At the same time, this place is also very suitable for living; it can be described as a perfect home.

It is believed that as time went on, the Hyuga clan's strength steadily increased, and they began to expand outwards, establishing their own sphere of influence. At the same time, they actively cooperated and exchanged ideas with other clans, jointly maintaining peace and stability in the ninja world. In this process, the Hyuga clan gradually became an important force in the ninja world, gaining its recognition and respect.

However, the Hyuga clan did not become arrogant or complacent. They remained humble and cautious, constantly striving to improve their strength. They knew that only through continuous progress could they remain invincible in the fiercely competitive ninja world.

In short, the Hyuga clan has found its own place of inheritance, which not only freed them from external threats but also provided them with a favorable environment for development. It is believed that in the future, the Hyuga clan will continue to grow and become a powerful force in the ninja world.

The Konoha ninja clans who accompanied the Hyuga clan also felt this was a rare haven of peace in the ninja world. They had been sent here with the Hyuga clan precisely because they were weary of war and bloodshed. Here, there was no scheming or intrigue, no threats or oppression from other ninja villages; they only needed to train diligently and continue their clan's legacy. This environment brought them immense satisfaction and contentment.

Over time, the Hyuga clan gradually adapted to life here, making the training ground created by Hyuga Kanan even more vibrant and prosperous.

Meanwhile, Konoha Village presented a scene of utter devastation. Hyuga Kanan's operation had severely damaged the village's most prosperous area. While the houses of ordinary villagers were largely unaffected, the towering trees lining the roads lay askew, as if ravaged by a fierce storm, their once bustling streets now unrecognizable. The Hokage Building was reduced to ruins, leaving only piles of broken building materials and rubble. Even more heartbreaking, the statue of the Third Hokage on the Hokage Rock had also perished, completely pulverized and leveled. Furthermore, the deaths of thousands of ninjas dealt a devastating blow to Konoha, plunging the entire village into deep sorrow.

The Konoha leadership had all cowered like turtles, not a single person stepping forward to manage the village. They knew that if they intervened, they would only become the target of public criticism and plunge themselves into an irrecoverable predicament. Therefore, they chose silence and avoidance, hoping that time would calm the storm. However, this approach did not solve the problem; instead, it made the situation worse.

Due to the inaction of the Konoha leadership, most of the power was concentrated in Nara Shikaku's hands. He had to shoulder the heavy responsibility of managing the village, striving to maintain its normal order and stability. Despite facing immense pressure, he persevered, using his wisdom and courage to ensure the village's basic operation.

Meanwhile, the civilian ninjas suffered devastating blows in this upheaval. Their already difficult lives and the little strength they had painstakingly accumulated were completely wiped out in this turmoil. Many civilian ninjas lost their lives, and their families were torn apart. This was undoubtedly a disaster for the entire village. Those civilian ninjas who survived felt immense fear and helplessness. They didn't know how to face the future or how to rebuild their lives.

Konoha now faces far more than just internal problems. The most serious issue is that the recent turmoil within Konoha has emboldened other ninja villages, who are now exerting pressure on the village at its borders to test its ability to protect the Land of Fire. Countries that were once within Konoha's sphere of influence are also starting to have other ambitions, no longer placing their hopes on Konoha and becoming heavily infiltrated by other villages. It can be said that Konoha is currently at its weakest point in history, with even smaller ninja villages vying for Konoha's mission quotas.

These problems have plunged Konoha into an unprecedented predicament. The once bustling village is now somewhat deserted, with ninjas hurrying through the streets as if preparing for an impending battle. Inside the Hokage Building, the higher-ups are urgently discussing countermeasures, but they also know that the current situation is beyond their control.

Meanwhile, ninjas from other villages began frequently appearing near Konoha, attempting to find Konoha's weaknesses. A tense atmosphere permeated the border, with ninjas from both sides facing off, a conflict seemingly imminent. Inside Konoha, the villagers also sensed this tension, beginning to worry about their own safety and that of their families.

Faced with such a dire situation, Konoha Village must find a solution as soon as possible, or the consequences will be unimaginable. However, Konoha Village is currently beset by internal and external troubles, and how to get out of this predicament has become a difficult problem for the village.

However, these matters were temporarily suppressed when news spread from Konoha that Tsunade was about to return and succeed as the Fifth Hokage. This news swept through the entire ninja world like a storm, forcing other ninja villages to reconsider some of their actions and send personnel to Konoha to gather more detailed information. They knew that Tsunade was a figure of immense prestige in the ninja world.

Tsunade is renowned not only for her formidable combat abilities but also for her exceptional medical ninjutsu, earning her the title of "Number One Medical Ninja in the Shinobi World." Her name is legendary, and even villages that have clashed with Konoha dare not underestimate her. This news undoubtedly put immense pressure and deterrence on other ninja villages.

Each ninja village dispatched envoys to Konoha, seeking to learn more about Tsunade's return and the village's future plans. They hoped to avoid potential conflict and ensure their own safety by establishing friendly relations with Konoha. Meanwhile, some were worried about Tsunade's return, fearing she would lead Konoha to a resurgence and become the dominant force in the ninja world. Regardless, Tsunade's return had already altered the landscape of the ninja world, forcing each village to reassess its stance and strategies.

However, this wasn't the primary concern for the other ninja villages. Their real worry lay in the influence of Tsunade as the heir to the Senju clan and a princess appointed by the Land of Fire. During Hiruzen Sarutobi's time, the Senju clan disappeared from Konoha, but most of its members gathered in the capital of the Land of Fire. If Tsunade successfully inherited the Hokage position, the question of whether the Senju clan, vanished from Konoha, would return became the biggest fear for the other villages. After all, the Senju clan had a history of dominating the ninja world, producing powerful figures like Hashirama Senju. Currently, the other ninja villages lacked the strength to confront the Senju clan. No one could be certain whether a new genius had emerged from the Senju clan, or whether they would once again dominate the ninja world. This uncertainty instilled unease and fear in the other villages, forcing them to be wary of the Senju clan's rise and consider how to respond to the potential challenges.

These messages were all spread by Nara Shikaku's men, as he had been under immense pressure lately. Not only were the village's internal problems unresolved, but a significant external threat had also emerged, forcing him to rely on Tsunade's status as the Senju clan's heir to alleviate the pressure. Originally, elite Jonin like Hatake Kakashi could have helped ease the burden, but the reappearance of Uchiha Itachi had severely injured Kakashi, who was now hospitalized. The defeat of several Jonin had further increased his stress. Even the villagers' faith in Konoha was wavering, so Nara Shikaku could only release the news that Tsunade was about to return to Konoha to assume the Hokage position in an attempt to bolster the village's morale. Now, Nara Shikaku could only hope that Tsunade would return to Konoha soon, take over the current leadership, and allow the village time to recover and regain its confidence.

However, what he didn't know was that Tsunade was already on her way back to Konoha, and she was ready to take over the Hokage position, just as everyone had imagined.

Tsunade sensed the atmosphere of the ninja world along the way and began to worry about the current state of Konoha. She knew the village had many problems that needed solving, and she wasn't sure if she could handle them. However, she decided to return to Konoha first and assess the situation.