Konoha Notes.

Chapter 521 6th Generation

Chapter 521 The Sixth Generation

Shuji had already refused once, and this time it would be the same result.

After the ship returned, he stopped at Izuku Port. Jirocho had already returned there with the Third Hokage and others and was working with the survivors of the Land of Tea to handle the aftermath.

As for the candidate for the position of Daimyo of the Land of Tea, no one has been chosen yet. The Daimyo's liaison office has accepted the option of finding a successor, but it's still unclear who will take the position.

The head of the Wasabi family was thus relieved of some of the burden and, under the pretext of needing to reciprocate, hosted a luncheon for the family.

Shuji did not refuse.

He had probably used up most of the time that an Uchiha could use in a lifetime to activate Susanoo, and he felt tired after a long time.

Considering that I had made quite a show of my borrowing ability, which would cause a lot of chain reactions, even though it was part of the plan, I still needed to return to the village as soon as possible.

After lunch, he made arrangements to set off.

There were quite a few people traveling together. The Third Hokage, Shisui, and the original members of the feint unit had no need to remain stationed there, so they naturally returned together.

It wasn't exactly a forced march; the group arrived in Konoha on the afternoon of May 13th.

Xiu Si didn't want to show off too much, and as soon as he got back to the place, he headed towards the West Suburbs Experimental Building.

Shisui did not accompany him. Although he did not insist after Shuji refused, it was clear that he did not intend to go to the western suburbs to retrieve the eyes for quite some time.

Kabuto the Pharmacist is ready to perform the surgery.

When Tsunade walked in carrying two culture jars, Shuuji's gaze immediately fell on the pair of eyeballs inside the jars.

"Be careful, take it easy, don't break it."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade held the jar up to her eyes, her fingers idly tracing patterns on the glass wall, her fingernails scraping the smooth surface and making a soft crunching sound.

"If I really have no choice but to keep my eyes red," Shuuji threatened in a childlike manner, "I'll dedicate myself to studying illusion magic from now on."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," Tsunade said calmly. "It won't break if it falls on the ground. I'll just wash it off if it gets a little dusty."

Xiu Si hardened his face and closed his eyes.

Tsunade walked up to him and placed her fingers directly on his eyelids.

"Don't close your eyes so quickly, how can we perform surgery like this?"

Having finally gotten the chance to play with this guy, the Fifth Generation felt he hadn't had enough fun yet.

Kabuto, wanting to help Shuji out of the predicament, said, "Lady Tsunade, the surgery preparations are complete."

"I could do this kind of minor surgery with my eyes closed."

As Tsunade spoke, she picked up the equipment from the tray with her other hand. Seeing that Shuuji's eyelids had closed again, she said...

"I meant I closed my eyes, not you, Shuji."

A faint green glow emanated from Tsunade's fingertips.

Anesthesia, removal, replacement.

This level of surgery was very simple for her.

Everything in Shuuji's field of vision became clear again, but the frame rate was lower than the super dynamic vision under the Sharingan's perspective.

He blinked, adjusting to this familiar sluggishness.

Dou placed Shisui's eyes into a special container and stored them away.

Tsunade cleaned her hands.

Shuji said, "I'll remember this grudge."

"I must put the research on illusion magic on my agenda."

The fifth generation head said smugly, "The next time someone needs an eye transplant, I'll be the one performing the surgery. I advise you not to speak so soon."

Shuji turned to Kabuto beside him and said, "Don't call her for the next surgery."

Kabuto silently picked up the container, silently retreated towards the door, and silently disappeared.

Tsunade grew even more smug: "You think you can avoid me, the best doctor, when performing surgery on someone as important as Lord Shuji?"

Xiu Si ignored her and got up.

Tsunade smiled and put her arm around his shoulder: "Don't be so stingy."

"I understand, I understand. Lord Shuji has done a great service and deserves a reward and praise."

"I've prepared a gift!"

This time it was Xiu Si's turn to be surprised: "You've paid back the money?"

Tsunade stopped giggling.

It was Xiu Si's turn to smile. He took out his wallet from his pocket, pulled out a few bills, and handed them over.

"Go buy some candy."

The Fifth Hokage snatched the money, dragged him through the remaining tests, and only released him after confirming that the optic nerve and chakra pathways were properly connected.

When Shuji returned to the old house in the western suburbs, it was already dark. Naruto and Fu happened to be at the old house that day.

Seeing this, he knew that Naruto was probably going to put aside his past grievances today, so he didn't ask any more questions. He found some food, took a bath, and changed his clothes.

The warm water washed away many worries and thoughts, and he lingered in it for quite a while. When he came out, seeing that Naruto and Fu were still there, Shuji asked, "Are you staying overnight?"

Fu ran over: "Mr. Shuji, Mr. Shuji, can we be a little later today?"

Upon hearing this, Shuji remembered the date and, looking at Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, and Naruto, knew what the five of them were planning to do.

Although he didn't care about birthdays, since the child was looking forward to it, he didn't want to dampen his spirits. After nodding in agreement, he asked Naruto, "Should the revenge operation continue?"

Naruto chuckled.

Shuji didn't say anything more.

The lingering warmth of the bath enveloped my body, and the moon, which had been hidden behind the clouds for many days, finally revealed itself.

Naruto and Fu's voices came from the courtyard. Temari occasionally offered a word of advice, and Kankuro's puppet joints made rhythmic, soft sounds. Gaara listened silently, occasionally responding with a single word.

The sounds gradually faded and then drifted away.

He didn't know when he closed his eyes.

When he woke up again, he felt a slightly cool touch on his face. Something was gently poking his cheek, again and again.

Shuji opened his eyes. Fu's fingers were suspended in mid-air, not yet retracted. Naruto was raising his other hand, clearly the next runner to take over.

Then he smelled something sweet.

In the dim light of starlight and stone lanterns, Gaara held a cake that wasn't very big in his hands. The cream wasn't smooth, and the piping around the edges was crooked; it was clearly not from a store.

Kankuro lit the candles. Temari struck a match, and flames leaped one by one onto the wicks.

Granny Taohua had gotten up sometime earlier, wearing a plain-colored coat, and sat quietly on the other side of the corridor.

"Would you like to make a wish?" Shuji asked.

Fu and Naruto nodded vigorously.

Shuji looked down at the flickering flame for a moment, then closed his eyes, and opened them again. He bent down and blew out the candle.

Naruto stared at him: "What did Shuji-nii wish for?"

"World peace."

"—How perfunctory!"

After spending some time playing with the kids and celebrating my own birthday—which isn't really that important—adults eventually have to return to their own lives.

The next day, he changed into that white robe. Obito was quite good at picking his days; the incident broke out on the 12th, just when he was supposed to be at the Ninja Academy taking photos with the graduates.

On important occasions, one has no choice but to wear important clothes.

Upon arriving at the Ninja Academy, he noticed an unusually large number of people bringing origami cranes. Ebisu explained, "This is a self-organized decoration by the students. Today is their last day at school."

Shuji nodded.

On days like these, students should always have some privileges.

He also noticed that many villagers had come to the school. Some were wearing vests, and some were dressed casually. They stood in twos and threes by the playground, their eyes fixed on the direction where the graduates were about to enter.

"This year marks the first year of the reform's official implementation, and the ninjas, who are also parents, couldn't resist coming to watch."

Upon hearing this reason, Shuuji's gaze fell upon the four representatives of the ninja villages: Maki, Tsuchida, Bunya, and Hikari.

"We also have students graduating from our respective villages. Since it's the official date for their departure from the Ninja Academy, Sunagakure has decided to witness it together," Maki explained. "This has already been reported in advance, Mr. Shuji."

Shuji looked at him but didn't speak immediately.

That makes sense. The reasoning is sound. During this time, his energy was entirely focused on adapting to the Mangekyou Sharingan and strategizing against Obito, so it's not surprising that he didn't know.

It wasn't until he saw the Third Hokage, Kakashi, and Tsunade together at the Ninja Academy that Shuuji realized something was really wrong.

He looked at Tsunade with droopy eyelids: "If you're planning to come out, I won't bother with all this."

"Stop making that face." Kakashi, with heavy eye bags, slowly walked over. "If you keep this up, tomorrow the scandal of the Fifth Hokage and Lord Shuji publicly falling out will be all over the place."

The Third Hokage said, "This is an important occasion. Everyone who can attend should be here, Shuji."

"The future you bring will make the companions in every village more important than ever before."

This is not some empty rhetoric.

Providing every graduating student with a sufficiently high graduation benefit will indeed give them a stronger sense of confidence to stand firm when facing potential temptations and changes in the future.

This is a cost-effective and efficient endeavor. It makes perfect sense.

But he still scrutinized everyone present several times with his own discerning gaze.

Until Tsunade slapped him on the back.

"Yes, yes, everyone should celebrate Lord Shuji's birthday, but not now. It's just that the old man thought that since we're already here, we should all come together."

"What do you think it is?"

Shuji then said, "Why make birthdays such a complicated thing?"

Tsunade said, "Since Lord Shuji dared to show off like that, some commotion is in order."

Xiu Si then put aside his hesitation and stood in front of the camera with the graduates who had temporarily returned to school.

With more people coming, many procedures that weren't originally required have been added.

The photo session turned into a ceremony. The ceremony then spawned speeches. Students from all grades were called out of their classrooms and lined up in long rows on the playground, becoming part of the graduation spectacle.

Fortunately, since Tsunade was present, the procedure was adjusted.

She spoke first. Then came the representatives from each ninja village. Finally, it was Shuji's turn to conclude.

It's simply repeating what was said before in more solemn terms.

Before he took the stage, Ebisu quickly approached from the side and lowered his voice: "Lord Shuji, the students wish to present you with a thousand paper cranes to express our gratitude for your guidance during your time at the Ninja Academy."

Shuji's expression really changed this time.

"This is not a public matter, Ebisu."

"Yes. I'm very sorry." Ebisu's posture remained respectful, but he showed no sign of backing down. "It's just that there have been some rumors about you lately—so the students organized this on their own."

Kakashi suddenly appeared out of nowhere, his shoulder almost touching Shuuji's: "They've made thorough preparations. Shuuji-sama, can you bear to let these young hearts suffer the blow of rejection?"

'

Shuji turned his head and looked towards the edge of the playground.

The children were standing on tiptoe, peering in this direction. The paper cranes they held in their hands weren't just one or two, but strings strung together with thin thread, forming a colorful ribbon in the May sunshine.

"For students, being ignored would probably be a lifelong shadow."

"----I see."

After he took the stage, two students, one on each side, came over carrying a long chain made of origami cranes of various colors.

They stopped in front of the stage and did not approach it again.

Tsunade stood up, took the paper crane chain from the student, and walked towards Shuji.

Shuji looked at her with disdain.

Is this your gift?

Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

Can't it?

Shuji withdrew his gaze and reached out his hands to receive it.

His movements froze the moment his fingers touched the paper crane chain.

This isn't the weight a paper crane should have. This isn't the tactile feel a paper crane should have.

Tsunade could no longer hide the smile on her face.

The paper crane chain suddenly changed in his hands, and the thousand paper crane necklace transformed into something else entirely.

Straw hat.

Naruto's straw hat.

The Fifth Hokage stepped aside, leaving him to stand alone in front of everyone.

Applause erupted across the playground. It wasn't a uniform, polite clapping, but rather scattered, sporadic bursts, like raindrops suddenly falling on a summer day. Someone whistled, someone shouted something.

Shuji lowered his head, looking at the straw hat in his hand. He recognized the two students who had given him the crane; one had transformed back into Naruto, and the other back into Sasuke.

I see. That's why they didn't dare get close and let Tsunade complete the final step.

Amidst the increasingly loud cheers, Shuji let out a long breath. He closed his eyes and pulled his straw hat over his head. His chin was slightly raised, and the shadow of the hat's brim obscured most of his face, revealing only his pursed lips.

The clamor grew louder and louder.

"Where's the necklace?" His voice cut through the clamor of the crowd, landing steadily in Tsunade's ear. "Was that necklace fake too?"

Tsunade coughed suddenly and quickly gave Naruto and Sasuke a wink.

Naruto snapped out of his daze and frantically waved to the backstage area, shouting, "They're here! The origami cranes! Quick!"

Several students ran up from below the stage carrying a longer chain of paper cranes.

The paper cranes of different colors were strung together densely, longer and more colorful than the previous one, each one bulging, as if stuffed with something.

They hurriedly delivered the paper crane chain to Xiu Si.

The playground fell silent for a moment.

Then, as if by prior arrangement, the previously chaotic shouts suddenly merged into a single voice.

Happy birthday, Sixth Generation!

"The Sixth Generation——"

"Hokage-sama!"

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