Long Live The Hokage - Chapter 256

Chapter 256: The Funeral
Within this day, Kenji’s entire team was wiped out, Jiraiya was seriously injured, and Sakumo lost an arm. This is Konoha’s first defeat since the beginning of the Third Shinobi World War.

More people gathered in Konoha Camp. Minato has also returned with Kakashi, and they gathered around Jiraiya and Sakumo, respectively.

Shikaku commanded a few ninjas to dispatch the Chakra Diffusion Cannon from the warehouse and place it at the camp entrance to prevent the enemy from taking advantage of the situation.

Masahiko reluctantly calmed Nawaki down. He originally thought that Tsunade would be the one in need of comfort. He didn’t expect Tsunade, who was silent for a long time, to cheer up, stand, and devote herself to treat the wounded.

“Kenji, it seems that you, as her father, are not as important as her lover and younger brother. Tsunade has absolutely no signs of phobia… you can rest assured, see you in about 20 years?”

Masahiko whispered to Kenji’s body.

After a long while, Nawaki wiped away the tears on his face and said, “Great Grandpa, let’s send my father back to Konoha so he can have a proper burial.”

Masahiko nodded, then shook his head, “Tomorrow, it’s too late now.”

“Moreover, we need to withdraw the Senju’s clansmen from the battlefield first. They will all participate in Kenji’s funeral. There are also funerals for several other clansmen….”

This time the loss of the Senju was heavy. In addition to Kenji, there were six Jonin in Kenji’s team, and the entire squad was wiped out.

Taking a look at Nawaki, Masahiko sighed, “Mashirama, you go gather the people.”

“Yes, Grandpa,” Mashirama replied immediately.

“Mashirama has matured a lot over the years.” Masahiko nodded.

After that, Masahiko joined the medical ranks to treat the wounded, and along with Tsunade and a group of medical ninjas, they finally handled all the injured.

“Let’s take a break, Tsunade, tomorrow. We will escort Kenji back to Konoha together.”

A sad expression appeared on Tsunade’s face again, “I will accompany father.”

“No… you can’t die, I can’t resurrect all of you people.” Masahiko said with a smile, then he patted her head and said, “Go and rest. You will feel much better tomorrow.”

“Hokage-Sama!”

One after another, shouts emitted outside.

Masahiko didn’t expect Hiruzen to personally rush here when he learned the news.

Hiruzen looked anxious, but the moment he saw Masahiko, then Tsunade next to him, who looked in good condition, he got slightly relieved.

“Elder Masahiko.”

Masahiko nodded, “Go and see Kenji. Tomorrow I will escort his body back to Konoha with the Senju Clansmen… Sakumo is coming too.”

He thought that Danzo might have a way to help to get back Sakumo’s arms. Moreover, his current state wasn’t suitable for war.

“Sakumo?” Hiruzen was taken aback. When he heard about Kenji, he handed over everything to Danzo and rushed here, so he didn’t know what happened to Sakumo.

Masahiko didn’t explain and asked Hiruzen to see for himself. After that, he entrusted the camp to Shikaku and went to rest. He was a little tired.

“The future is changing.”

Lying down, Masahiko sighed slightly, thinking of Roran’s trip.

If it weren’t for Sara and how she told him that boys like puppets, he wouldn’t have visited Sungakura to make Optimus Prime, which means Sungakure wouldn’t have made these two more secret weapons, and Kenji wouldn’t have died.

“It’s all because of me… How can I be this stupid! And Sungakure, Chiyo…” Thinking of Chiyo, Masahiko fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Masahiko and a group of the Senju Clansmen, along with Sakumo and Kakashi, escorted Kenji’s body back to Konoha.

Tsunade was also in the queue.

On the way, Masahiko looked around and frowned, “These are the only Senju Clansmen who participated in the war?”

Nawaki was slightly sad, “There were originally more than 30 people.”

“That’s not much…” Masahiko was taken aback, but then he remembered that the Senju’s station has always been half-empty in recent years.

“The Senju Clansmen aren’t really thinking of the future that much…”

Tsunade took a few quick steps, came to Masahiko’s side, hesitated, then mentioned for Nawaki to stay away.

“Great Grandpa, there has been something wrong in the clan over the years, and the number of newborns has become scarce.”

Masahiko frowned and nodded for Tsunade to continue.

“Since my Grandfather’s generation, the fertility of the Senju Clan seems to be getting weaker and weaker, especially our generation…” Having said that, Tsunade was still a little bit embarrassed, “Only Nawaki managed to have kids, and this is all because of your medicine…”

Masahiko was taken aback and suddenly realized that in these years, he has indeed never heard of a newborn baby from the Senju.

“Impossible.” Masahiko secretly thought.

This isn’t a world of Xianxia where the stronger someone is, the less likely it is to have offspring. With a physique of a Senju, it should be easy to pass down to future generations. Look at the slightly weaker Uzumaki Clan. Since Masahiko encouraged childbirth, the population within the clan has grown extremely well over the years.
(T/N: Xianxia is a Chinese fantasy genre influenced by Chinese mythology, Taoism, Buddhism, Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese folk religion, and other traditional Chinese elements.)

“At the time, I thought that Nawaki was only an anomaly. I didn’t expect everyone to be like this.”

Masahiko looked at Tsunade, “You didn’t find the reason?”

Tsunade shook her head, “No.”

Masahiko thought for a moment, “Do you think the medicine solved the problem?”

“They all tried the medicine when they heard about it, but it only worked on Nawaki,” Tsunade whispered.

Masahiko nodded, “I see. I will carefully study this after the funeral.”

“Was it effective because Nawaki has better physical strength? Then Tsunade… Forget it. Let’s take a look at Machirama.”

Nothing encountered them on the way, and they reached Konoha peacefully.

Danzo greeted them at the main gate. After Masahiko stated the current situation in a few sentences, he asked in a low voice, “Can you do anything about Sakumo’s arm?”

Danzo shook his head, “It’s impossible to regenerate a limb.”

Masahiko frowned, recalling the original anime, “Naruto’s arm… did they used Hashirama’s cell for that?”

Looking at Danzo in front of him, Masahiko wasn’t actually convinced that he hadn’t studied Hashirama’s cells yet. It may be really impossible, and it may be possible, but he doesn’t want to believe him…

“Forget it. I’m really glad that I brought him back. I will just send him to the Uzumaki to see if Yuna can make a prosthesis for him. If she failed, after two years, Orochimaru will naturally come out with something.”

Compared to Danzo, Masahiko would rather put his faith in Orochimaru.

Later, under Masahiko and Danzo’s organization, Kenji was buried in Konoha’s cemetery.

On Konoha’s hero monument, Masahiko personally carved seven names. The funeral was very concise. Only Masahiko, Danzo, and a group from the Senju clan attended.

Watching the tearful Aika that Tsunade and Nawaki supported back home, Masahiko felt a slight pain in his heart.

Looking at the Senju Clan with a total of less than half a hundred, Masahiko squinted and said in his heart, “Old ancestors, I personally took care of your creation! Don’t leave a man or a woman with no offspring, and protect them on the war’s day.”

“By the way, where’s the fat cat?” Masahiko only remembered it now, “It seems that it is still with Orochimaru… rest in peace fat cat…”