Minato and Shikaku came back, bringing with them hundreds of ninjas who had gone out to fight.
The villagers came to the main street to welcome them on their triumphant return. Everyone was present on this occasion. Orochimaru was also wearing a Hokage robe and a fire hat, standing in front of everyone.
The scene was grand and festive. The streets were decorated with lights and colorful banners, and people on both sides were cheering vigorously.
"Hokage-sama." Minato stood beside Shikaku and Haiichi, and took the initiative to salute Orochimaru.
With a smile on his face, Orochimaru personally stepped forward to help Minato up and said some words of condolences.
Shikaku's eyes quickly scanned the people behind Orochimaru. The two Hokage advisors were there, as was Jiraiya, but the Sandaime was nowhere to be seen.
Minato also brought the war money paid by Kirigakure Village in the Land of Water, which was extremely generous and was considered the price for buying the Seven Ninja Sword.
After Orochimaru saw it, he was very satisfied and his research institute could be expanded.
The celebration lasted for a long time, and finally a group of high-level officials came to the Hokage Building. Orochimaru praised Minato, Shikaku and others in public and gave them generous rewards.
After that, we talked a lot about the scene, and Zhenya was present throughout the whole process.
Shikaku glanced at this young man who looked too young among the crowd from time to time. He had heard many things. This man was Hinata's new clan leader, and he was currently in charge of the village.
Orochimaru then asked everyone to go home first after a tiring journey, and a celebration banquet had been prepared for everyone in the evening.
Minato came out of the Hokage Building and said goodbye to everyone. When he returned to the village, his mood was inevitably a little complicated.
He thought he was only one step away from becoming the Hokage, but he didn't expect someone else to take the position before him.
Lin, Obito and Kushina, who had been waiting outside, immediately came over.
After chatting for a while, Minato was surprised when he looked at Obito's right arm. Obito said that the Hokage helped him connect it, and he also talked about Hashirama Cells and Wood Release.
Minato pondered for a while, he didn't know much about this kind of thing, he just said: "Since Hokage-sama said so, you have to work hard and don't bury the reputation of Mu Dun."
Obito smiled when he heard this and said: "That's for sure, I will become Hokage in the future!"
"..."
Minato just smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Where's Kakashi?" he asked instead.
"Kakashi..." Lin and Obito looked at each other and hesitated.
"What's wrong Kakashi?"
"Kakashi has joined the ANBU and should be on duty now." Lin said.
Minato was very surprised. He glanced at Kushina, and Kushina said: "Kakashi said this was what he meant, saying that he could get better training in ANBU."
Minato was just silent about this, and then smiled at Obito and Lin, "Let's go, go to my place first."
On the way back, Minato also hesitated whether to go to the Sandaime's place to have a look, but after thinking about it carefully, the Sandaime's absence today should have shown a lot of attitude.
The banquet in the evening was not only for the Hokage and some senior officials, but also for the entire village of ninjas. It was held in the open space above Shadow Rock. The venue had been arranged before everyone from the front line returned.
I arrived a little late, and every table was already full. Minors sat together, and adults sat together. During the dinner, they exchanged glasses and chatted. The older ones were bragging to the younger generations that they were there.
Their heroic performance on the battlefield made both the Mist Ninja and the Rock Ninja look like lost dogs. Some people danced when they were drunk, and some cried and laughed when their love became more intense.
The continuous wars have brought nothing but sadness and suffering to Konoha. Everyone needs an occasion like this to vent their inner feelings.
"real!"
Zhen suddenly heard someone calling her, turned around and saw that it was Anko. She was sitting with Lin, Obito and other peers, and Kakashi was also there.
At a glance, he also recognized Metkai, Shiranui Genma, Asuma, Shizune, Kurenai and others.
These young people are not allowed to drink, they just eat and chat together.
"Really, do you want to sit here?" Obito also smiled and actively invited.
"No, you can play." Zhendan laughed and refused.
After Zhen left, someone asked who he was, and he seemed familiar.
Kakashi said at this time: "His name is Hinata Shin, the new head of the Hyuga clan and the Hokage's assistant."
Several teenagers felt a little incredible when they heard this. This man seemed to be about the same age as themselves.
"Lin, is he the man you saved on the battlefield?" Hong suddenly asked Lin.
Lin nodded in agreement, and also said that she really helped to lift the spell on her body.
I actually went to the table where Orochimaru was at the very back of the venue. Here were the heads of major families and some famous ninjas, such as Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Minato.
"Really, why are you here so late?" Orochimaru said with a smile as he took the lead.
When Zhen heard this, he couldn't help but roll his eyes, thinking that you had left all the affairs to me and you still had the nerve to accuse me of being late.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, something has delayed me."
"This must be Zhenjun." Lu Jiu said with a smile.
"Shikaku-senpai." Zhen greeted.
"Makun is Hokage-sama's right-hand man," Fugaku said with a smile.
"Senior Fugaku is overly praised."
All of the people present here are adults and have high status in the village. They really seem a bit out of place and attract a lot of attention.
I really greeted everyone, was very polite, and maintained the attitude that a junior should have.
Unlike other places, there were not so many true feelings revealed at this table, but there was no official talk, just some casual chatting about past events.
These people may have slightly different political opinions in the village, but they are all companions in life and death on the battlefield. Except for Zhen, they are mostly the same age, and the atmosphere at the table is also very harmonious.
Jiraiya was a little drunk, and suddenly started talking about some of the affairs of his youth, which made the only woman present, Tsunade, furious. She grabbed him by the collar and wanted to beat him. Minato saw this and hurriedly went
He persuaded the two of them.
The rest of the people couldn't help laughing. This kind of behavior would never be done by them. Only people like Tsunade and Jiraiya could be so out of tune, or rather free and easy.
He really couldn't get a word in everyone's conversation, so he listened carefully while eating. After dealing with official duties for a day, he was really hungry.
Watching others changing cups while he could only hold the drink made him a little greedy, but he was still a minor.
In the world of Japanese comics, minors can destroy the world and kill people like crazy, but they can't drink.
Halfway through the meal, Jiraiya left the table. He made several attempts to vomit, and upon seeing this, Minato quickly took him to the edge of the mountain wall to vomit.
Tsunade despised Jiraiya and didn't look like a master at all, and said that having Minato as his disciple was a blessing he had gained in his previous life.
The banquet lasted very late, until some villagers came over and called the family to go back and rest.
There was a strong smell of alcohol in this area, some people had fallen asleep on the tables, and others were talking nonsense.
The excitement gradually subsided, and the top of Shadow Rock began to become deserted, leaving only a mess.
He really didn't leave, but sat alone on the rock statue of Orochimaru and blew the evening breeze.
People were walking away in small groups under the street lights, swaying as they walked, humming rhythmic tunes together, laughing and cursing as they disappeared into the dark night.
The waning moon hangs alone, kissing the peaceful village below, and you can hear a few dog barks from time to time, as if it is a distant and hazy dream.