Konoha: Who says that hunters can't play in the ninja world?

"Shizune, notify Jiraiya to return to the village." Tsunade said to her deputy.

"Yes, but what is the reason? There is nothing happening in the village right now. Given Lord Jiraiya's personality, I don't think he will come back without a legitimate reason." Shizune may not have much talent, but she is very suitable for handling these government affairs and is an excellent secretary.

"Just tell him in the name of the Hokage that the village needs his assistance. We can discuss the details after he comes back. He will understand." Tsunade returned to her desk and sat down again, crossing her hands, supporting her chin, and fell into deep thought.

Jiraiya, who was writing novels in an unknown small inn, suddenly received a call from the village, especially since it was an order from Tsunade as the Hokage. No matter which identity it was, he could not refuse. Although it was fun to travel around the ninja world, it would be nice to go back and see Tsunade first. Thinking of Tsunade's appearance, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel excited.

"Shikaku, if I want to change the current situation of the village, where should I start?" In the Hokage's office, Tsunade was sitting carelessly on the sofa, and opposite her was Nara Shikaku who was sitting upright.

"Hokage, what do you mean by change?" Shikaku was confused, or rather, the word change was never easy. Without knowing Tsunade's exact meaning, he would not have any constructive opinions. This was Shikaku's approach as the head of the Ino, Shika, and Chou families. After three generations of ruling for decades, Shikaku had seen too many things that started well but ended badly. They were loyal to Konoha and the Hokage, but each Hokage had a different personality and way of doing things. What the third generation was like was different from what Tsunade was like.

The third generation can only maintain stability, so Shikaku will make suggestions in this direction. Now it is Tsunade, change, these two words represent too much.

"A few days ago, Shikamaru led the team to carry out a mission, you know." Tsunade knew that she had to say something concrete. Shikaku in front of her was an old fox. If she spoke vaguely, she would definitely be led by the nose. She might as well get straight to the point. Tsunade was not a person who would take many detours.

"I know. Come to think of it, this is his first time to serve as a Chunin and carry out a mission." Shikaku was very satisfied with his son's growth. He became a Chunin just one year after graduation and completed an A-level mission the first time he led a team. What else was there to complain about?

"Then do you know what mission they are carrying out?"

"This, the content of a ninja's mission is usually confidential. If you don't mention it proactively, I won't ask, even if Shikamaru is my son."

"Tracking Orochimaru's trail and bringing back Sasuke, they encountered five of Orochimaru's men, five elite Jonin-level ninjas. They also faced Orochimaru head-on."

"What?" Lu Jiu was shocked. He didn't expect that this mission would be so dangerous.

"This is only their first enemy. The second enemy is from the Anbu of the Hokage. They said that they followed my orders to take Naruto and Sasuke away and kill everyone else without mercy." Tsunade spoke slowly, as if she was telling a story, but the calmer she was, the quieter the atmosphere became, and you could hear a pin drop in the entire office.

"How is it possible? How could the Anbu in the village deal with them..." At this point, Shikaku suddenly stopped talking. He thought of a possibility. At the same time, he also roughly understood what the Hokage meant by the change.

"Orochimaru's plan to collapse Konoha has exposed Konoha's weakness to the world. Even the task of tracking down Orochimaru can only be done by Shikamaru, a new Chunin, leading a group of Genin. Konoha has fallen to the point where it can't even mobilize Jonin to do A-level tasks. But even so, there are still villagers who want to kill them along the way. Shikaku, tell me, is this still the number one Konoha Village in the ninja world?" Tsunade's words left Shikaku speechless. He knew about Konoha's decline, but it seemed even more unbearable in the words of Lady Tsunade.

"Your Nara family has the highest IQ in the ninja world and has always been the best think tank for the Hokage. I never doubt your loyalty. Similarly, I also need you to give me enough support. Now, don't you understand what I mean by change? Do you still want Shikamaru to lead a group of Genin to perform tasks that are beyond their ability? Do you still want to watch Konoha decline step by step until it is cannibalized by other ninja villages? Answer me, Shikaku." Tsunade became more and more excited as she spoke, and she slammed the table and looked directly into Shikaku's eyes.

Tsunade's voice was like a demonic sound that pierced through Shikaku's mind. Didn't he know that Konoha was decaying and declining? He knew. A snake cannot survive without a head. When the leading Hokage no longer wears armor and is armed, how can the soldiers under his command fight bravely against the enemy?

The old Third Generation has long lost the vigor of his youth and only wants to maintain the superficial peace of Konoha. But this is only a temporary appearance brought about by sacrificing the vitality of Konoha. When the enemy digests the benefits they have gained, they will open their bloody mouths again.

No matter how smart he is, he can't wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep. The indifference of three generations and the compromise of the elders are not something he can control.

Now, it seemed different. Shikaku raised his head and looked at Tsunade.

"Five-Daime Hokage, change is not an easy thing. It involves too many changes in power and exchanges of interests. It is not wise to break this balance rashly."

"Are you not going to do anything? I didn't ask you to persuade me. I want to change. I asked you to tell me how to change." Tsunade's domineering aura as a superior was clearly revealed. The aura of a Hokage was strange and familiar to Shikaku.

It's this familiar feeling, the domineering attitude of the Third Hokage when he was young, facing other ninja villages. Now this person has been replaced by Tsunade-sama, and it seems pretty good.

"We need to wait, wait for an opportunity to break the impasse. A conflict of interests or rights will break this balance. Once the balance is broken, we will have the opportunity to fish in troubled waters. After all, Lord Hokage is the highest leader in public, and they dare not oppose you openly." Shikaku finally began to use the means that a strategist should have.

What he meant was to create conflicts among the elders, and then use the opportunity to divide, suppress, win over and other means to gradually strengthen Tsunade's power and marginalize the elders and Danzo.

It was very much like a strategist planning a strategy. It was obvious that Shikaku's suggestion was very mature and prudent, and was the most suitable idea for Tsunade's current situation.

Tsunade walked back and forth with her hands behind her back. It's not that she didn't understand what Shikaku said, but she really didn't like his style of doing things. It seemed to be subtle and silent, but in fact it was all conspiracies and various political means. She didn't want to be like the third generation and end up as a dark political creature.

"Only in this way?"

"Tsunade-sama, the Elders have been powerful for a long time, especially the Root, which is almost another Anbu. Although they are not Hokage, they almost have the power of Hokage. There are also the Mission Office, the hospital, etc. controlled by the other two. To be honest, we don't have the strength to face them head-on." Shikaku's meaning is very clear. Without the strength, he can only do things secretly. He doesn't have enough strength to turn the table over.