Chapter 468: Just Wait For Him To Die; There’s No Saving Him

Meanwhile, the enthusiastic conversation between Genjo and the group from Konoha continued on the field. No one noticed that, in Shinichi’s eyes, the world had quietly taken on an entirely different appearance.

A short while later, the discussion concluded successfully.

At the third Hokage’s warm invitation, Monk Genjo would stay temporarily in Konoha until the international conference in the Land of Iron convened.

As an honorary member and special advisor of the Ninja Way Origins Research Society, he would participate in the subsequent research on hybrid rice.

Although every one of Konoha’s senior officials present coveted Genjo’s Wood Style, and even the third Hokage had briefly considered inviting him to participate in research involving the first Hokage’s Wood Style cells, he ultimately did not mention a single word about it.

He knew the time was far from ripe. The first Hokage’s cell experiments were among Konoha’s highest-level secrets, and the two sides had only just established initial contact. They had barely formed a connection and were still a long way from trusting one another.

After the meeting ended, the third Hokage departed first. As the leader of Konoha, he still had to receive the representatives from each of the other villages one by one.

After escorting Genjo to a temple in western Konoha where he would be staying, Shinichi did not return home. Instead, he headed directly toward the headquarters building of the Shinichi Society.

The external conference had ended, but the society’s internal conference was only just beginning.

...

That afternoon, the representatives from the various villages, having each been received by the third Hokage, gradually emerged from the Hokage’s office, passed through the streets of Konoha, and prepared to begin their journey home.

The group from Takigakure walked through the streets as several accompanying guard ninja quietly discussed everything they had witnessed at the society’s founding ceremony: hybrid rice, the Growth Acceleration Technique, the Rinkai City Convention, the mysterious young monk who had mastered Wood Style and could walk through the air, and more. Every single topic was enough to keep people talking for quite some time.

However, Takigakure’s leader, Shibito, did not join the conversation. He wore a deeply troubled expression the entire time.

During his private meeting with the third Hokage earlier, he had received one piece of good news and one piece of bad news.

The good news was that, after he had truthfully informed the third Hokage that Takigakure’s Seven-Tails Jinchūriki had grown old and frail and could no longer continue holding out, the third Hokage pondered for a long time before finally agreeing to help Takigakure transfer and reseal the Seven-Tails.

The bad news, however, was that it would not happen now.

The third Hokage frankly admitted that the war had not yet ended, and Konoha was also busy preparing for the upcoming international conference in the Land of Iron. It was simply impossible to spare the necessary personnel immediately.

Konoha was willing to help, but they would have to wait until after the conference had concluded.

It was now September, and Konoha intended to hold the conference before the end of the year, meaning they would have to wait at least another three months.

Fortunately, judging from the physical condition of Takigakure’s Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, he should be able to hold on for another year or even two.

What reassured Shibito somewhat more was that the third Hokage had also proactively offered to dispatch a team of highly skilled Medical Ninjas to Takigakure in advance to treat and nurse the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki, doing everything possible to stabilize his condition and prolong his life.

However, a new question soon surfaced in Shibito’s mind. Since Konoha could already send Medical Ninjas to the village ahead of time, why not simply send the ninja responsible for transferring and resealing the Seven-Tails as well?

Naturally, Shibito had no idea that the person the Third Hokage had chosen for the transfer and resealing was none other than Kushina Uzumaki.

A tailed beast was no trivial matter, and it had to be handled with the utmost caution.

Moreover, helping Takigakure transfer and reseal its tailed beast would both strengthen ties with this small ninja village bordering the Land of Fire and demonstrate Konoha’s strength and magnanimity to the entire Shinobi World; the matter had to be carried out flawlessly.

For that reason, the third Hokage’s chosen candidate was Kushina, whose mastery of Sealing Jutsu was unrivaled not only within Konoha but throughout the entire Shinobi World.

However, Kushina Uzumaki’s identity was simply too special and too sensitive. She could leave the village, but only if she was accompanied by someone the Third Hokage trusted absolutely and who possessed sufficient strength to protect her.

At present, every powerful ninja in the village had their own responsibilities. They were either occupied with military affairs at the front lines or needed to remain behind to safeguard the village.

Shinichi, in particular, was so busy that he barely had time to catch his breath, with the society’s numerous internal projects, the initial stages of the first Hokage’s cell experiments, and the many preparations for the upcoming international conference all demanding his attention.

Minato, on the other hand, did have time, but the third Hokage still did not feel entirely at ease with Minato alone. In his opinion, at least two, if not more, people would be needed to ensure Kushina’s safety.

Thus, after deliberating for a long time, the third Hokage ultimately chose to postpone the matter for the time being.

Naturally, Shibito knew nothing of the third Hokage’s calculations. As he walked beneath Konoha’s evening sun, his mood remained heavy.

Fortunately, they only needed to wait a few more months.

Compared to the troubled Shibito, however, another man who had also just left the Hokage’s office wore an even gloomier expression.

Mui, an elite Jonin of the Village Hidden in the Grass who enjoyed the complete trust of the village chief and the council of elders, had been sent to Konoha as Kusagakure’s representative.

Like Takigakure’s leader, Shibito, he had come not only to witness the society’s founding ceremony but also to accomplish a far more urgent mission: to ask either Princess Tsunade or Shinichi Higashino to treat Kusagakure’s leader, Morihara Hayato.

Years earlier, Morihara Hayato had suffered a grievous injury during a mission. Although he had narrowly survived at the time, the wound had left behind serious, incurable internal damage.

When he was younger, he had been able to endure it through sheer physical resilience, but as he grew older, the long-dormant injury began to worsen rapidly. Over the past two years, his condition had steadily deteriorated, and now he could barely manage even his daily administrative duties. The village’s physicians had long since exhausted every option.

Mui had come this time with his last remaining hope, seeking the help of Tsunade, the greatest Medical Ninja in the Shinobi World, or Shinichi Higashino, whose fame had recently risen meteorically and whose medical skills were said to rival Tsunade’s, to examine his teacher.

Yet the third Hokage had still refused his request. Only after Mui repeatedly pleaded did the third Hokage finally invite Tsunade into the office.

After listening to his description of Morihara Hayato’s condition, she remained silent for a moment before bluntly saying, "Just wait for him to die; there’s no saving him."