He then spoke in a serene and serious tone:

"Kurenai, it's best to avoid making jokes like this. The appointment of the medical department should be based on the Fifth Hokage's decision. Otherwise, if this gets out, Lady Tsunade will feel very bad, as it might seem like she was coerced."

Kurenai clasped her hands together, begging Shizune for forgiveness.

What can you do if she's silent? Forgive her, of course!

After all, it was just a joke between friends, and Jingyin knew that Hong didn't mean it that way.

Just to be on the safe side, Shizune felt that this kind of joke shouldn't be made.

Although there is no one more suitable than Lady Tsunade for the position of head of the medical department, not to mention Konoha, but in the entire ninja world.

However, the final personnel appointments will depend on the attitude of the Five Dynasties.

Everyone chatted happily, and Kai ate the barbecue the fastest, while the others couldn't even keep up with the grilling. This caused dissatisfaction among everyone, so Kai had to drink alone on the side for a while.

No one mentioned the decisions made during the Five Dynasties period, even though many of these individuals were promoted after the Five Dynasties came to power.

For example, Kakashi is the head of the Ninjutsu Club, Guy is the vice-head of the Taijutsu Club, and Kurenai is the head of the Genjutsu Club.

Mitarashi Anko returned to Orochimaru's service as an assistant in the research and development department.

"Life has improved now," Hongdou sighed. She used to hate Orochimaru, both for his experiments that kept her, his disciple, completely in the dark, and for why he abandoned her when he defected.

But Orochimaru returned and took charge of the research and development department. She was also assigned to the research and development department by the Fifth Hokage to be Orochimaru's assistant.

Even though she's not very competent, Anko is studying hard and thinks she can't compare to Kabuto, but she's definitely better than Karin and Jugo.

Although Orochimaru and Kabuto handled the research tasks, and the Fifth Hokage occasionally did it himself, these assistants basically just did sanitation and security, and didn't have any research tasks.

This was exactly what Hongdou and Xianglin wanted; if they were really assigned to do research, they would be completely lost.

Hearing Hongdou's sentiments, everyone's expressions changed slightly, and they seemed to have their own opinions.

******

******

A group of young people were having dinner at a newly opened branch of Akimichiya barbecue restaurant.

Because there were too many people, they chose to share a table.

Naruto's noisy voice could be heard all over the street.

There were the Konoha Twelve, as well as the young people who followed Orochimaru, such as Kimimaro, Karin, and Jugo. Kabuto was too old and mature, and didn't have much in common with these young people.

Naruto has been away for a long time and is returning to Konoha for the first time. He is very excited and misses the taste of Konoha barbecue and Ichiraku Ramen. He has decided to go eat ten bowls of ramen tomorrow!

Sasuke remained aloof, and upon seeing the noisy Naruto beside him, he snorted.

Sakura, Ino, and Karin cupped their faces in their hands, their pretty cheeks flushed.

Shikamaru chuckled. Women are such a hassle.

He deftly picked up a piece of grilled meat; with Choji around, if you weren't quick, you wouldn't get any.

There's also Naruto, Rock Lee, Jugo, and Kiba; they all move incredibly fast, like they're in a fight.

I'm so speechless, I just want to facepalm. How many days have these guys gone without food?

Neji remained calm and paid no further attention to Hinata.

He had also heard about the Five Dynasties' attitude; if the caged bird could truly be broken...

Thinking about it, Neji felt a surge of excitement.

Although he still takes care of his two younger sisters, Hinata and Hanabi, it is out of brotherly concern, not out of a servant's forced devotion.

Hinata, of course, didn't miss Neji either. She would occasionally steal glances at Naruto, then shyly lower her head.

Shino and Kimimaro were the least noticeable, but their bowls were piled high with grilled meat. Although they didn't seem to be doing much, they actually ate just as much as Choji.

Of course, in the end, he still had to admit defeat in terms of appetite compared to Choji and Naruto.

The only one left to compete with those two is Hinata.

Everyone else cheered her on from the sidelines. Hinata's face was flushed, but she didn't slow down. Choji and Naruto's eyes twitched as they watched.

In the end, Hinata prevailed and won the title of "Big Eater".

Choji and Naruto lay on the table looking disgusted, feeling like they were about to vomit.

Hinata fiddled with her fingers and said shyly:

"Can...can I eat a little more?"

"What?!" The group of people were shocked.

This is a gathering of young people; there is no discrimination or worry. The decisions made by higher-ups are currently irrelevant to them.

The new generation of Konoha is also growing up, and they get along well and have a harmonious relationship. Cao Ya is very happy to see this.

******

******

Outside Konoha Village, in a deserted grove of trees.

Whoosh!

With a flash, the golden light flickered, and Cao Ya arrived at the agreed location.

The Five Dynasties period.

There was a voice behind the big tree, followed by a figure who emerged wearing a black robe with red cloud patterns, shoulder-length black hair, tear troughs on his face, and a melancholy and serene expression.

Cao Ya turned around and smiled slightly:

"Itachi, the medical department has made some progress in their research on your condition. Now that Tsunade is back, they should be able to speed things up."

Itachi was silent for a few seconds, then said:

"Thank you, but no need."

He suffers from an incurable disease, and after joining the Akatsuki organization, he overused his Mangekyou Sharingan due to frequent missions, resulting in excessive consumption of his eye power. Now he can no longer see things in the distance, and even his close-up vision is somewhat blurry.

Itachi didn't have any special feelings. He was alive for two reasons: first, to gather intelligence on the Akatsuki in Konoha, and second, for Sasuke.

When he was about to go blind, he gouged out his own eyes to help Sasuke advance to the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

Then he could face death with equanimity.

Living in this world is actually torture for the weasel.

A triple torment of mind, thought, and body.

Cao Ya was familiar with the Akatsuki organization, so in fact, Itachi didn't need to gather intelligence at all.

However, this was Itachi's mission after all. If he abolished it, where would Itachi go?

Return to Konoha?

The Itachi of today can never go back.

This mission is one of the main driving forces behind Itachi's existence.

Moreover, he has taken the lead in Konoha and will begin a transformation of the ninja world. At that time, he will still need Itachi's information regarding the Akatsuki's movements.

Furthermore, Itachi was unwilling to return to Konoha.

Even though Itachi deeply loved Konoha.

Itachi's original mission was to contact the Third Hokage directly. With the Third Hokage gone, Itachi was at a loss for a while and could only try to contact the newly appointed Fifth Hokage in secret. Unexpectedly, the Fifth Hokage was very friendly and valued Sasuke highly, nurturing him and even offering to help him solve his physical problems.

Itachi was undoubtedly deeply moved.

The previous three generations couldn't achieve this.

Itachi has witnessed Konoha's prosperity in recent years and is genuinely happy for it; he has boundless love for Konoha.

Itachi communicated with the Hokage directly; his identity was unknown to anyone except the Hokage.

"Rumors of the next Konoha meeting have spread throughout the ninja world, and Akatsuki is also making moves," Itachi said succinctly. "Konoha has attracted the attention of the ninja world, and Pain has decided to take this opportunity to begin collecting the Tailed Beasts."

Cao Ya found Nagato's decision both unexpected and perfectly reasonable.

This is indeed a good opportunity for Xiao.

Itachi hesitated for a moment.

Cao Ya laughed:

"Just say what you want to say, it's okay."

Itachi, without any hesitation, said:

"Fifth Hokage, I think your decision was too risky, making Konoha a target of everyone's hatred."

At the same time, Itachi was quite puzzled:

"Furthermore, why did you deliberately spread rumors and provoke the hostility of the ninja world?"