NOVPUB
Chapter 292 - 292: Konoha Loves Peace, But Does Not Fear War!
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Konoha Construction Bureau Number One took the lead, with Konoha Construction Engineering, Konoha Real Estate, and other Village-owned enterprises participating in the construction of field hospitals.
The Konoha Engineering Institute produced design blueprints within an hour. Hydroelectric and power grid companies swiftly intervened, ensuring the field hospitals would be operational.
Patriotic merchants spontaneously donated supplies, providing for the workers and Shinobi involved in constructing the field hospitals.
Kakuzu, personally overseeing the effort, his hundred Earth Grudge Fear tendrils moving tirelessly, led the way in transporting materials.
Yamato, wielding his Wood Release, personally directed over a thousand ordinary workers and a hundred Earth Release Shinobi, vowing to the Hokage Tower that a field hospital with a capacity of one thousand beds would be constructed on the Land of Fire border within two days!
Earth Release and Wood Release intertwined, concrete and steel poured...
In less than a day, the Konoha Field Hospital rose from the ground, a silent guardian of life, standing watch on the border.
Previously, Tsunade had clashed with the Third Hokage over Konoha's medical system. Now, under the Fifth Hokage's command, the already leading medical system of the Shinobi World had reached new heights.
With this field hospital, as long as a Shinobi wasn't killed instantly, Konoha's medical Shinobi could race against death, snatching them back from its grasp!
Until now, Konoha's Villagers had been unaware of what was happening, of what had prompted such large-scale mobilization.
Everyone looked towards the Hokage Tower, eagerly awaiting the Hokage's announcement, the momentous news that would shake the Shinobi World!
That day—finally arrived—
Thanks to Konoha Publishing's relentless promotional efforts, everyone knew the Fifth Hokage had taken office and would deliver his inaugural address, along with a major announcement concerning everyone, in the Hokage Rock plaza.
On that day...
Hokage Rock Park teemed with people. Men, women, old, young—everyone scrambled to enter the park, to witness this historic moment.
Finally, Gojo Kaigetsu, wearing the Fifth Hokage's ceremonial robe, ascended the platform and declared:
"Gentlemen, my name is Gojo Kaigetsu. I hereby formally accept the position of Hokage, assuming the title of Fifth Hokage!"
The crowd erupted.
Thunderous applause echoed through the park.
It wasn't that Minato was unpopular. But compared to Minato, Gojo Kaigetsu's prestige in Konoha was that of a living legend.
"Everything changes from this moment, because this is your moment. This moment belongs to everyone present today. To everyone throughout the Village watching this ceremony! This is your day! This is your celebration! This is Konohagakure, your Village!"
"We are one Village. Your dreams are my dreams. Your success will be my success. We are united as one, sharing a common home, bound by a glorious destiny. Today, I take this oath—an oath to serve every citizen of Konoha!"
"As long as I draw breath, I will defend your interests. I will never let you down!"
Gojo Kaigetsu stood tall, his right fist pressed against his heart, his expression solemn as he delivered his oath.
"FIFTH!"
"FIFTH!"
"FIFTH!"
The chant, "Fifth," deafening and thunderous, shook the earth.
The sound carried far, reaching every corner of Konoha.
Travelers from other Villages were stunned. They couldn't understand how a new Kage's inauguration could generate such immense fervor.
As if...
The Sage of Six Paths himself had descended!
When the crowd's enthusiasm subsided slightly, Gojo Kaigetsu continued his speech:
"Based on Kekkei Genkai and historical performance, I believe the GREATEST Village in the Shinobi World is Konohagakure!"
"At the end of Konoha Year 49, perhaps the most memorable war in Konoha's history concluded. In that war, we defeated an enemy several times our number! Sunagakure collapsed, Kirigakure retreated, the remnants of Kumogakure's expeditionary force were driven from the Land of Fire, fleeing in disarray."
"I trust you all remember those glorious days!"
"I repeatedly urged the Hokage Tower to establish lasting peace. My wishes were unfulfilled, my peace proposals misunderstood by the militarists of other Villages. The enemy mistook my peace for weakness, for cowardice."
"The ambitious warmongers of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure repeatedly deceived their people. They knew they had no chance of victory, no possibility of defeating Konoha, yet they offered their Villagers false hopes, as fragile as soap bubbles."
"Then, public pressure, combined with the instigation of the ambitious, led those warmongers to repeatedly lure their Villages into desperate struggles."
"I warned them that Konoha feared no war, that we would subject their military regions to relentless Fire Release bombardments. The Fourth Raikage dismissed my warning as a sign of Konoha's incompetence. He extended his dark hand towards our neighboring Kusagakure. The result—everyone knows."
"The ambitious of the Shinobi World once again deceived the masses, once again launched a war against Konoha!"
"Sixty thousand Shinobi have amassed on Iwagakure's border, poised to launch an unjust, evil invasion against our Land of Fire, against our Konohagakure!"
"Now, we once again stand at the precipice of history."
"Overnight, the Shinobi World has changed."
"Hidden Villages that signed peace treaties have insulted our ambassadors, threatened Hokage Tower officials. They have damaged Konoha property, razed the homes of Konoha Villagers, and terrorized countless citizens with the threat of war."
"Konohagakure is not a warmongering Village. It is a courageous Village. I mean to say, Konoha does not desire war, but it does not fear war. It loves peace, and it loves its honor and freedom."
"Konohagakure belongs to no class, no group, but to all its citizens. It will aid any hidden Village willing to coexist peacefully. It will encourage them to fulfill their duties."
"But our right to exist, our space, is being squeezed by the four great hidden Villages. Resolving this issue is paramount."
"Today, we stand here! On Konoha land! Before Hokage Rock, this land consecrated by the blood and dignity of our ancestors! Behind me are the visages of the Four Hokage! They are universally recognized as champions of peace! The light of the Shinobi World!"
"But I say to you, there is something more important than life, more important than peace—that is freedom! That is dignity!"
"As long as the flags of those ambitious hidden Villages fly above their towers, our dignity does not exist! As long as those from the Land of Earth and Land of Lightning run rampant on our borders, our dignity does not exist! As long as the ambitious of other hidden Villages sneer contemptuously when they speak the word 'Konoha' while plotting war, our dignity does not exist!"
"I am proud that among Konoha Shinobi, spineless cowards are few! Before me stands a legion forged from fifty years of unyielding blood! This blood once flowed in the veins of our ancestors! They never yielded! Now, it surges within our bodies! Tell me, will you allow it to cool?!"
"They want war? Then let them have war!"
"The Sage of Six Paths and the First Hokage know I am a man of peace. I thank the Sage and the First. They have granted me the means to defend Konoha's desire for peace. The power bestowed upon us by the Sage and the First—is the Will of Fire!"
"The Will of Fire will not allow us to succumb to arrogance or servility; the Will of Fire helps us find Konoha's true path; the Will of Fire gives us the courage to do what must be done; the Will of Fire helps us stand firm against the evil forces of the Shinobi World, against cowardice in the face of danger!"
"Only two things can unite people: a common ideal and a common will."
"We possess a great will, engraved in the soul of every Konoha Shinobi! We will shed our last drop of blood for this Will of Fire!"
"The four great hidden Villages uniting to invade Konoha is a great shame for us! We have the determination and the reason to crush their ambitions! Do what you must! Like the First Hokage, clasp your hands in prayer! Like the First Hokage leading our ancestors, raising the banner of freedom and peace, bravely slaying the enemy! If you desire battle, then go forth and battle!"
"If that day comes, I, Gojo Kaigetsu, the Fifth Hokage, will, like the Second Hokage, raise the banner of our Will of Fire and charge at the forefront! Even in death, I will enter the Pure Land with a smile! I will meet those glorious ancestors of the Will of Fire! I can hold my head high before the great First Hokage! I can proudly tell him: I, your successor, have not shamed you! I have shed my last drop of blood for the great Will of Fire!"
"We unite in the name of peace! We fight for a new, just, peaceful Shinobi World! We fight for jobs for all! We fight to drive those who despise us from the Land of Fire! We fight so we don't have to constantly protest and beg for peace! We fight for our dignity! We fight for our Will of Fire!"
"Fight to liberate this Shinobi World! People of Konoha, we fight for the glory of our ancestors! We fight so our descendants can proudly declare: We are Konoha, and we never yield!"
"My compatriots, long live the Land of Fire and its people! Long live freedom! Long live peace! Long live Konoha!"
"BANZAI!!!"
"BANZAI!!!"
"BANZAI!!!"
Hysterical roars echoed!
A fervent atmosphere, like a virus, spread, infecting every Konoha Shinobi.
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