Naruto: After Seclusion Becoming Naruto Grandfather

Jiraiya let out a weary sigh, running a hand through his untamed white hair. Despite officially holding the title of the Fifth Hokage, he often felt like little more than a messenger for Sarutobi Hiruzen, who still acted as if he were the true leader of Konoha.

This unspoken dynamic cast a shadow over the Hokage's office, an oppressive weight Jiraiya found difficult to shake.

He leaned back in his chair, his mind spinning as he considered the situation. After careful thought, he couldn't find fault with Sarutobi's decisions, even if they left him feeling sidelined.

"Call Shikaku," Jiraiya finally instructed, his voice steady despite his internal frustration. "Let's hear what he thinks about Shin-Konoha this time."

The Nara clan had long been Konoha's intellectual backbone, known for their unparalleled strategic minds. Shikaku Nara, the clan's current leader, had served as a trusted advisor to Sarutobi during his tenure as Hokage. Jiraiya hoped Shikaku could provide the clarity he desperately needed.

Meanwhile, Naruto was making his way through the dense forests of the Land of Fire. His path was anything but smooth—hidden obstacles and ambushes had been meticulously laid by Konoha's operatives, all aimed at derailing his mission.

Their goal was clear: to discredit Shin-Konoha and prevent its legitimacy from taking root.

Naruto had already encountered several groups of ninja from the ANBU and Root factions. While their individual strength didn't pose much of a threat, their relentless attacks began to take a toll.

Wave after wave, they came at him with little regard for their own lives. Their sheer numbers and persistence were wearing him down.

This was supposed to be simple, Naruto thought, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he sent another ninja flying with a well-placed kick. Yet even as he struck, more appeared, seemingly endless.

He gritted his teeth and summoned a Rasengan, slamming it into the ground where the defeated ninja had vanished, leaving behind a crater.

"Surround him! His chakra reserves are running low!" one of the Konoha ninjas shouted, emboldened by Naruto's visible exhaustion.

But by the time they advanced, Naruto had already vanished, leaving behind only a smoldering log.

"Substitution jutsu," one of the ninjas muttered in frustration as they realized their target had slipped away yet again.

Back at the Hokage's office, two clan leaders had arrived after being summoned for an urgent meeting.

Inazuka Tsume, the leader of the Inuzuka clan, lounged on the sofa, her arms crossed as she waited. She had always been outspoken and brash, traits that often clashed with the reserved and calculating Nara Shikaku, who entered the office moments later.

"Tsume, you're here too?" Shikaku asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"Of course," Tsume replied, her voice booming. "Hokage-sama called me. Looks like we're here for the same reason—Naruto Uzumaki."

At the mention of Naruto's name, Shikaku's expression darkened. "Naruto…" he murmured, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. The regret in his tone was unmistakable.

Both leaders had recently visited Uzumaki Chito's burgeoning village in the Land of Whirlpools. What they saw there had left a lasting impression.

Shin-Konoha was no ordinary settlement. Its infrastructure rivaled, and in some cases surpassed, that of Konoha itself. What was even more unsettling was the number of former Konoha ninjas who had defected to join Shin-Konoha's ranks.

It was a slow but undeniable erosion of Konoha's foundation.

"A thousand miles of embankments can crumble from an ant's nest," Shikaku muttered, his voice low but weighted with meaning.

He had come to this meeting not just to discuss Naruto, but to urge Jiraiya to take decisive action. The longer Konoha hesitated, the stronger Shin-Konoha would become.

As Shikaku's thoughts churned, a cold wind swept through the office, signaling the arrival of Sarutobi Hiruzen's spectral form.

The former Hokage's translucent figure drifted into the room, followed closely by Jiraiya and Danzo.

Neither Shikaku nor Tsume appeared surprised by this spectral appearance. Uzumaki Chito's resurrection of Sarutobi Hiruzen was an open secret in Konoha, one that carried its own set of controversies.

Both leaders quickly stood out of respect as Jiraiya entered. Despite the tension in the room, it was clear that this was a critical moment for Konoha.

==============================================

Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.

==============================================