Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 315: Konoha’s Resolution

Ascension Island, underground laboratory.

Nonō was bowing her head, recording a set of data. Kabuto was concentrating fully on adjusting the parameters of the cultivation pod nearby.

Yumi and Ayumi were also on the side, carefully examining the clone that resembled Sora inside the cultivation pod.

Miyamoto Ichirō was leaning against the wall holding a book, watching silently.

Everything seemed calm and orderly.

Chii.

The sealing array in a corner of the laboratory suddenly lit up with light. Space twisted slightly, and several figures appeared.

It was Sora, Kurenai, Tagitsuhime, and Shanjun in a shrunken size.

Nonō and the others were startled at first. After recognizing it was Sora, expressions of joy appeared on their faces.

But soon, their gazes were drawn to the lifeless small body held in Sora’s arms.

A familiar figure, a pale face, that hideous wound on the neck.

"Min... sister?"

Yumi’s small face turned deathly pale, her voice trembling.

Ayumi directly covered her mouth, her large eyes instantly filling with tears.

"Sora... this... what happened?"

Nonō hurriedly asked.

Kabuto and Miyamoto Ichirō also gathered around. Looking at the lifeless Uesugi Min, their faces became extremely grim.

Sora did not speak. He silently walked to an empty experimental container and gently placed Uesugi Min’s body inside.

He gazed at the face inside the container that seemed merely asleep, took a deep breath, then turned around and gave a simple narration of the events that happened at the Valley of the End.

From Danzo joining forces with Kakuzu and Orochimaru to set an ambush, to Uesugi Min resolutely committing suicide to avoid burdening him, to his furious transformation into the Azure Dragon, crushing and slaying the powerful enemies, and finally defecting from Konoha.

Although Sora’s tone was as calm as possible, the information contained within his words shocked everyone present.

"Waaa. Min sister."

Ayumi and Yumi could no longer hold back. They threw themselves onto the experimental container and cried loudly.

Miyamoto Ichirō clenched his fists tightly, lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Kabuto’s eyes reddened. Although he hadn’t spent much time with Uesugi Min, he still remembered the care this sister-like figure had given him.

Nonō closed her eyes, took several deep breaths to suppress the sourness at the tip of her nose.

She walked up to Sora and said, trembling,

"I understand. We will use the best preservation technology to ensure the vitality of Min’s body tissues. We will wait for you to find a way to revive her."

Sora nodded. His gaze swept over the grieving crowd, and he said solemnly,

"I will definitely bring her back, no matter the cost."

After comforting the crying Yumi and Ayumi, Sora looked at Kurenai, who was also in tears.

"Kurenai, this will be our home from now on, the Land of Whirlpools, Ascension Island."

Kurenai tried hard to calm the sorrow in her heart and nodded.

Sora then looked at Shanjun. "Shanjun, return to Konoha, go back to Night Owl. She might need you now."

Shanjun let out a low roar. Its huge tiger head rubbed against Sora’s hand. It took another look at the container holding Uesugi Min, a flash of human-like sorrow in its eyes, then released the summoning jutsu.

After arranging these matters, Sora’s gaze returned to the container preserving Uesugi Min. His eyes became deep and cold.

...

At the same time.

Konoha Village, Hokage Building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the main seat, fiercely smoking his pipe, his brows tightly furrowed.

On either side sat the two advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, as well as the current generation’s "Ino-Shika-Cho" combination of Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi. Also present were Namikaze Minato and others, their expressions equally heavy.

Night Owl, who had just returned to the village after completing a mission, was also seated in a position. When she heard Sarutobi Hiruzen’s brief explanation of the Valley of the End incident, her face was filled with shock and disbelief.

"Hiruzen... you, you aren’t joking, are you?"

Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses. "Danzo is dead? And Orochimaru? Sora... he defected?"

Each piece of news in this series was enough to cause an earthquake in Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said hoarsely,

"It has happened. Danzo... brought it upon himself."

Koharu Utatane sighed.

"What’s done is done. Saying more is useless. The urgent task now is to stabilize the village, and... decide the candidate for the Fourth Hokage."

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and said gravely,

"Danzo is dead. The only candidate left is Minato. I propose that Namikaze Minato succeed as the Fourth Hokage. What are your opinions?"

Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane looked at each other and nodded.

Nara Shikaku also spoke up. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Minato’s ability and reputation are sufficient for the role. I have no objection."

"The Hyūga clan has no objection."

"The Uchiha clan agrees."

"..."

For a moment, the powerful ninja clans of Konoha voiced their approval one after another.

As for those small and medium-sized clans that originally supported Danzo, they didn’t even have the qualification to participate in the meeting now. Their opinions were already insignificant.

Namikaze Minato stood up and said solemnly,

"Thanks to the Third Hokage and everyone’s trust, I, Namikaze Minato, will spare no effort to protect Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, then looked at Nara Shikaku.

"Shikaku, regarding Sora... what do you think?"

Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Sora’s strength has already surpassed the conventional Kage level. Forcibly defining him as a rogue ninja and issuing a capture order, I’m afraid... the gain would not be worth the loss. It might even trigger unnecessary conflicts and losses."

His words were tactful, but everyone present understood the meaning.

Current Sora, Konoha could not afford to provoke.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a long time, the pipe glowing and dimming.

Finally, he said dejectedly,

"For now... no public handling. What happened today at the Valley of the End is classified as top secret. Strictly prohibit disclosure."

"To the outside... just say it was an attack by an unknown force. Elder Danzo... died in the line of duty."

He paused, then added.

"Although Sora’s strength is great, it still doesn’t deserve the title of ’God of Shinobi’. For now... consider him as possessing ’Demi-God’ power. This matter ends here."

The meeting room fell silent.

Demi-God?

Those who had witnessed the thousand-meter Azure Dragon with their own eyes and felt its world-destroying might felt a sense of absurdity rise in their hearts.

That overwhelming power, that defense that withstood composite ninjutsu unscathed, that fifty-meter flame pillar.

Which aspect was inferior to the Wood Release of the First Hokage Senju Hashirama as recorded?

Clearly another living "God of Shinobi".

But no one voiced any rebuttal to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Everyone understood that this old man who had presided over Konoha for many years needed such a step to maintain his inner balance, to face the reality of Konoha losing such a powerful fighting force.

If he said Demi-God, then it was Demi-God.

"Since no one has objections, it’s settled then."

Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to have exhausted his energy. He waved his hand.

"Minato, prepare. In a few days, accompany me to see the Daimyō of the Land of Fire to formally confirm your status as Fourth Hokage."

"Yes, Third Hokage-sama." Namikaze Minato bowed in response.

The meeting thus concluded.

Everyone left with complex emotions.

Night Owl walked last. As she stepped out of the Hokage Building, the image of the companion she had fought alongside for six years involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

"Sora, you have finally left after all."

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