Reborn as Danzō’s Grandson, Must I Offend the Entire Ninja World?

The reason Orochimaru didn't leave even after seeing Jiraiya appear was because of Manda.

Snakes are the natural enemies of toads. Although Katsuyu also eats snakes, due to Tsunade's hemophobia, she couldn't summon it.

Even if summoned, Katsuyu's role is more auxiliary than offensive. In actual combat, Manda had the strength to take on both of them alone. Orochimaru believed he could still handle Jiraiya without using his hands.

But now that Manda had been roasted by Shimura Yami, and Yakushi Kabuto had only summoned the green snake, the situation had drastically changed.

Gamabunta's strength was more than enough to suppress the green snake and support Jiraiya, turning the situation against them.

"Retreat!"

Seeing no hope of taking Tsunade away, Orochimaru decisively issued the order. Taking advantage of the moment when the green snake sprayed venom, he had Kabuto carry him away.

Even Jiraiya was caught off guard. He hadn't expected the battle to end so dramatically and so quickly.

"Thanks for your hard work, Bunta."

After canceling the summoning contract, Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, who had recovered somewhat, and without pursuing Orochimaru further, led the group back to Tansho Street.

"Can your hemophobia be cured?"

Back at the inn, as Tsunade returned to normal, Jiraiya asked softly.

"I… I'll try to overcome it." Tsunade took a deep breath and promised.

Since she had decided to become Hokage, this problem had to be solved.

"Walk slowly on the way back. I'll do my best to overcome it completely before returning to the village."

"I understand." Jiraiya finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After resting for a day, the group set off on their journey home.

But none of them noticed the crow perched on the telephone pole, watching them leave Tansho Street, before flying toward Konoha.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiraiya watched how Tsunade dealt with her hemophobia and finally understood why she had never treated it before.

Because for Tsunade, the method was too brutal.

Her hemophobia was a psychological condition. To overcome it, her mindset had to change.

She chose the most direct method: repeatedly exposing herself to blood, forcing herself to adapt.

On the first day, she nearly fainted. On the second day, she trembled constantly.

By the third day, she began to show signs of improvement.

On the fourth day, she could endure the sight of blood and exert about 80% of her strength.

By the fifth day, she was able to use 90%. The rest was just a matter of time.

With that, Jiraiya was finally reassured. Now the only variable was how Shimura Yami would react when they returned.

What he didn't expect, however, was that Yami had already acted before they even reached Konoha.

As the tall walls of Konoha came into view, the group unconsciously sped up.

After climbing the final slope, the main gate of Konoha appeared before them.

And they were stunned.

People.

A massive crowd.

Jiraiya suspected that nearly the entire village had gathered. And standing at the front of the crowd…

Was Shimura Yami!

Today, Yami wore a dark suit beneath a white robe embroidered with flame patterns along the hem. It fluttered lightly in the wind, making the boy look elegant and extraordinary.

Behind him stood a formation of masked shinobi from the Anbu and Root divisions, clearly separated from the ordinary shinobi and villagers.

"Eh?! Yami-nii!"

Naruto lit up with excitement upon seeing Yami, waving vigorously. "Pervy Sage, is Yami-nii here to welcome me?"

Shizune, holding Tonton, couldn't help but complain, "Don't flatter yourself, Naruto. If anyone's getting welcomed, it should be Tsunade-sama, the next Hokage."

"No… this isn't a welcoming ceremony..."

Jiraiya and Tsunade's expressions gradually turned serious. Jiraiya looked at Yami's slowly raised right hand, eyes widening.

"Seal of Confrontation!" Tsunade gave the answer directly.

"He's here with bad intentions."

Jiraiya had anticipated that Yami might react strongly, but not this boldly—not to the point of standing at the gate and preparing for battle.

He turned to look at Tsunade.

Tsunade paused for a second, then took a deep breath. "If I get scared off here, where would I have the dignity to call myself his sister?"

Naruto, still confused, approached the village gate. Looking at Yami who was smiling while pointing his blade toward them, Tsunade suddenly smiled too.

"Brat, is this your idea of welcoming me back to the village?"

Yami chuckled. "As my future Director of Medical Affairs, you're worthy of this much."

Tsunade didn't hold back either. "Well said, my future Anbu Director really has a good eye."

She then glanced behind Yami and frowned. "Where's Danzō? Why isn't he here?" Tsunade assumed Yami's obsession with power came from Danzō's influence and was prepared to settle things with the old man—but he wasn't even present?

"The old man isn't in good health. He's resting at home."

Yami stretched his arm and said calmly, "Come on, make your seal already. I'm being very kind by letting you keep your arms raised this long."

"What exactly are you trying to do, Yami?" Jiraiya asked.

"Today was supposed to be the day I succeeded as Hokage."

Ignoring their shifting expressions, Yami looked toward Konoha behind him and continued, "The Jōnin Council and advisors believe that, with Tsunade returning, she is my competitor."

"So let's have a duel right here. The outcome will decide who becomes the Fifth Hokage."

"But I find that boring. So how about both of you come at me? It's a shame Orochimaru isn't here. Otherwise, I would've loved to recreate the fight against Hanzō and face the Sannin together."

Jiraiya was about to speak, but Yami stopped him with a look.

"Don't even think about refusing. Refusal means fear. And anyone afraid of a simple duel isn't qualified to be Hokage!" Yami's voice rang out powerfully, and the crowd of villagers and shinobi behind him erupted. Many cheered for their side, but no one objected to the duel.

This was blatant pressure.

No matter what the higher-ups said about experience or qualifications, the people had already chosen who they believed should be Hokage.

Ordinary villagers cared only about strength.

To them, only the strongest could be worthy of the title of Kage. This was an undeniable truth.

If Tsunade refused, her credibility would take a major hit, and she would lose the right to compete.

Jiraiya and Tsunade understood this well. They exchanged glances, recognizing that this battle was now unavoidable.

"Are we really fighting here?"

Tsunade stretched her wrist and asked, "With our level of power, the destruction will be massive. It would be a shame to ruin the newly repaired wall."

She never suggested fighting Yami alone.

She hadn't trained much in recent years. Her techniques had dulled, and her hemophobia hadn't fully healed. She couldn't go up against Yami by herself.

That's why Jiraiya had to join.

Only together could they stand a chance.

"Don't worry, I've prepared the battlefield."

Yami waved his hand, and a group of Anbu and Root operatives moved, guiding the villagers back into the village so they could observe from the walls.

"Idiot Naruto, hurry up already!"

Seeing Naruto still standing dazed at the entrance, Sasuke shouted from the crowd.

Naruto finally came to his senses and followed Shizune inside the village.

Once the area was fully cleared, four Anbu closest to Yami instantly vanished to the four corners, simultaneously forming hand seals and muttering:

"Ninjutsu: Four Red Yang Formation!"

Under Tsunade and Jiraiya's stunned gazes, a massive red barrier rose from the ground, creating a perfect arena.

"This really is the Four Red Yang Formation?!"

Jiraiya was visibly shaken. "They say its defense far surpasses that of the Four Violet Flames Formation, and it takes four shinobi with Kage-level chakra to cast..."

"Yami has four Kage-level Anbu under his command?"

That detail was truly shocking.

In its golden age, Konoha did have that many Kage-level shinobi, including its core forces.

But after Hatake Sakumo's death and the Sannin's departure, Konoha had declined. They had even needed to summon Jiraiya just to fend off the Kumo invasion.

So who were these four Kage-level Anbu that had suddenly appeared?

But for Yami, this wasn't a problem.

Even without others, he could cast it by splitting four clones. Not to mention, he already had the manpower.

Hikari, Shisui... they had both awakened their Mangekyō Sharingan.

When you look at it that way, the Uchiha clan really is terrifying. Their chances of producing Kage-level shinobi are much higher than other clans. It truly is a world where bloodline matters most.

"How's this for a stage?"

Tsunade quietly tied up her hair, then raised the Seal of Opposition with Jiraiya, showing her readiness.

"Brat, don't cry after we beat you up." Tsunade said coldly.

She didn't hate Yami. She simply believed the boy had been misled by Danzō.

And if a little brother goes astray, isn't it a sister's job to bring him back?

"Let's start with close combat first."

Jiraiya began strategizing. "Yami has insane chakra reserves. Aside from Wood Release, he's also mastered many other kekkei genkai. If we get separated, we'll be crushed one by one."

"This is the pride of our Senju bloodline." Tsunade said as if it were only natural.

Jiraiya couldn't help but complain, "Now's not the time to be proud. We're opponents, remember."

The moment the words left his mouth, both Jiraiya and Tsunade vanished, reappearing on either side of Yami with fists swinging.

Yami raised both hands, palms open, and caught their punches.

Boom~!

At the moment of impact, tremendous force exploded.

Winds turned tangible, sweeping in all directions. The ground beneath Yami's feet remained untouched, but the ground beneath Jiraiya and Tsunade cracked apart, the fragments blasted skyward by the shockwave.

Even that first clash made the watching villagers widen their eyes.

"Incredible!"

Naruto clenched his fists. "Any one of those punches would knock me out cold... maybe even kill me."

Sasuke also watched with a serious expression as the three exchanged rapid blows.

Sharp. Swift. Decisive.

Basic taijutsu in their hands carried explosive power. Even from this distance, the intensity made it hard to breathe.

If he stepped in now, even if Sharingan could follow their moves, his body wouldn't be able to keep up.

"Hey, Naruto."

Sasuke suddenly asked, "Who do you want to win?"

Naruto was taken aback, then after a moment of silence, answered firmly, "Tsunade-baa-chan is really kind, and even Pervy Sage hopes she'll become Hokage."

"But I still hope Yami-nii wins."

A faint smile appeared on Sasuke's usually cold face, but it quickly faded.

(To be continued.)

***

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