Konoha Notes

Chapter 416 Gaps (Two Chapters Combined)

The last week of August in the 59th year of Konoha.

The sun was still blazing, and the cicadas' chirping was no longer as continuous as in the height of summer; they would occasionally stop, making the sounds on the training field even clearer.

巳-未-申-亥-辰.

"Wind Escape·Blow!"

Naruto puffed out his cheeks and exhaled forcefully.

A thin layer of dust was blown up from the wooden stake in front of me. That was all.

Naruto's shoulders slumped, and he plopped down on the ground, looking up at the blinding sun.

"Why..." he scratched his blond hair, "It's only an E-rank technique!"

Wind Release: Breath of Breath. It was the same Wind Release: Breath of Breath that Iruka handed to him again after the final grades were announced.

The first time Naruto saw this technique was after testing his chakra attributes. That time, after seeing that the effect was exhaling air from his mouth, he gave up on it.

What power could such a thing have? It's of a low level.

This time, Naruto accepted.

In addition to regular training during the holidays, learning this basic ninjutsu was included in their schedule.

What I thought I could master quickly turned out to be even more difficult than the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique when I actually practiced it.

"The refinement and transformation of chakra, the coordination of hand seals and breathing, cannot be even slightly off."

A female voice came from the edge of the training field.

Naruto looked over and saw Gaara already standing on the sidelines. The red-haired boy was wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt and shorts. Temari and Kankuro were also there beside him.

"Gaara, you guys are up early today!" Naruto stood up and smiled at Gaara and the others.

"Hmm." Gaara nodded. "Gai-sensei has other plans and has ended early."

Temari stepped forward; she was slightly taller than Naruto. "Wind Release isn't a ninjutsu that can be mastered by brute force."

"Gaara said that your chakra is very strong, your chakra is excellent, and you can even use A-rank ninjutsu."

"But such basic techniques do not require any chakra; instead, they require you to perceive the flow and changes of chakra itself."

Naruto blinked: "But the explanation of this technique is very simple."

“Simple and easy are two different things.” Temari held out her hand, palm up. “Watch closely.”

She didn't form complicated mudras; she simply crossed her hands in front of her chest.

The hand seals are formed very slowly.

Zi-mao-chen.

Temari pushes her palms forward horizontally.

"Wind Release: Chaotic Airflow".

There was no howling wind, no exaggerated fanfare.

But Naruto clearly saw that the air about half a foot in front of Temari's palm began to distort. Two visible, transparent streams of air swirled and extended outwards.

The dust on the ground was swirled up, and tiny pebbles, withered leaves, and grass clippings spun around with the airflow.

"This is the simplest Wind Release ninjutsu in Sunagakure. It doesn't have much destructive power, but it is the foundation of other Wind Release ninjutsu."

Naruto stared at the sand that had just settled, his mouth slightly agape. He seemed to understand something, but couldn't quite grasp what it was.

Kankuro stood next to Gaara, looking at Naruto's expression of sudden realization yet still bewilderment, and couldn't help but speak up: "Hey, I'm telling you... are you really planning to try and win over that Uchiha Sasuke with your current level of skill?"

“Although Gaara told me you beat him once before, the Sasuke we know now is not the same person he was when he first entered the special training program. The speed at which that guy has improved is simply frightening.”

His words were straightforward, but without any malice.

In fact, he and Temari came with Gaara today with the intention of helping with the training.

After all, without this friend, Gaara might not have changed so quickly.

He wouldn't be able to accept the fact that his younger brother, whom he once feared, had become a brother again so soon.

"Even if the goal is to win the joint martial arts competition, there's still a long way to go. None of the guys in the special training class will be stopped by an E-rank wind jutsu."

Naruto didn't immediately retort as he usually did. He frowned, re-formed the hand seals, and stared intently at the wooden stake in front of him.

“He can do it,” Gaara said.

Kankuro shrugged.

Even Gaara couldn't claim to be number one in the special training class.

However, since we're here to help, there's no need to pour too much cold water on things.

Just at this time.

"Target spotted! The babies who are Jinchūriki! Future superstars—"

A piercing voice suddenly broke through the focused atmosphere on the training field.

A tall, dark-skinned man appeared at the entrance to the training ground. He wore a Cloud Shadow headband and a white armor in the Cloud Shadow style, his shoulders were bare, and his sunglasses reflected the sunlight.

"It's you guys! I've found you! The rest of the band's puzzle!"

Naruto was taken aback by this sudden commotion: "H-Uncle? Who are you? Are you looking for us?"

"I am Killer Bee! A trendsetter! A music ninja! Hachi's best partner! You idiot! You bastard!"

"And you—the children of Jinchūriki, I need you."

Naruto was completely confused. He blinked and asked, "Jinchūriki? What's that?"

Temari looked at Naruto in disbelief. Was he also a Jinchuriki?

The tailed beast that Konoha possesses is the Nine-Tails, which means that Gaara's friend is the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki?!

Why didn't Gaara mention this?

Kankuro was also taken aback for a moment, then a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

Killer Bee stopped moving, lowered his head, looked at the confusion on Naruto's face, and then looked at Gaara, who was silent but clearly understood the meaning.

Is Konoha really that good at keeping secrets? Even the people involved didn't know?
He touched his chin and suddenly clapped his hands.

"A blond boy, don't know him? Mystery! Suspense! Interesting! But whatever!"

Killer Bee strode forward and squatted down in front of Naruto. Even so, his figure still exuded a strong sense of pressure.

The Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki extended his fist and presented it to Naruto.

"Join the band, unleash your soul! Shock the world with music! It's a promise!"

Naruto was still confused, but the other person's overwhelming and genuine enthusiasm made him subconsciously raise his hand.

Their fists lightly touched together.

"One taken care of!"

Killer Bee immediately turned around and raised his fist towards Gaara.

"Red-haired cool boy! The band already has five members, and with you, it'll be six! We're just missing the last piece of the puzzle!"

Gaara stared at the fist hovering in the air, paused for two seconds, then raised his right hand. A fist bump.
-
At the same time, in the Hokage Building communications room

As the existing Jinchūriki, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, gradually shifted their activity center towards Konoha and the Joint Affairs Bureau under its control, many proposals that had been deadlocked due to suspicion among the parties and unequal conditions suddenly lost their obstacles.

The room was dimly lit, with only a few screens emitting a steady, cool light.

The five Kage are in position.

Tsunade did not take a seat; today was not her occasion.

So the Fifth Hokage casually leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching the other four Kage on the screen.

Shuji was sitting in her assigned seat.

"Therefore, based on the current situation, we can formally begin discussing the detailed steps for advancing the plan to coordinate the Daimyo aid funds and expand the functions of the Joint Affairs Bureau."

"First, for countries and independent regions that do not have permanent ninja villages."

Shuji's voice was steady, his speech was slow, and each word was clear.

“These places vary greatly in size. Some have territories that are no less than those of the five great kingdoms, while others consist of only one city and a few towns, or even just a castle and surrounding villages.”

"For these types of countries and regions, the Joint Affairs Bureau will take the lead in establishing a unified system for the collection, management and allocation of funds."

He paused briefly, giving the person on the other end of the screen time to process the information.

"The amount of funding is not determined by a single criterion, but by the agency sending specialists to conduct on-site investigations—including the local population, economic situation, security needs, and development potential—and then determining the amount in consultation with the local administrators after a comprehensive assessment."

On the screen, Onoki's eyebrows twitched.

"It sounds complicated," he said casually. "Besides, those famous figures might not be willing."

"Therefore, participation is entirely voluntary."

Shuji answered without any hesitation.

"The Joint Affairs Bureau will not engage in any form of political coercion or threat of force."

"Correspondingly, the internal security situation, disputes, and development difficulties faced by regions that choose not to participate will also be automatically excluded from the jurisdiction and assistance of the Bureau."

"They are unrelated to the Secretariat, and do not create any obligations or responsibilities associated with any of the member ninja villages based on this scheme."

Chiyo, who had been keeping her eyes slightly closed, opened them at this moment: "So, you mean if we don't join, we'll just let them fend for themselves?"

"A more accurate statement would be: neither enjoying the services nor assuming the corresponding obligations."

Shuji corrected him in a calm tone.

"The Joint Affairs Bureau provides a complete collaborative solution: security, dispute resolution, hardship assistance, and the highest priority and most favorable high-level mission assignment quotas."

"But the core of this plan is not just about demanding or protecting. The Bureau hopes to be a collaborator in development."

"We are willing to work with participating countries to explore practical development paths—such as agricultural technology improvement, trade route optimization, and infrastructure construction planning."

"The more prosperous a country's economy and the more stable its society, the more abundant the funds it can provide. With more funds, the secretariat can also provide higher quality and more extensive services."

"This is a positive cycle that promotes each other."

On the screen, the Fourth Raikage, A, had his arms crossed, while Mei Terumi nodded slightly, indicating that she was listening attentively.

The black-haired man continued, "Secondly, for countries that have ninja villages, but not among the five great ninja villages."

"The situation will be slightly different. The secret service will be more flexible in its intervention. For example, in places like Otogakure in the Land of Rice Fields, where there is a shortfall in funds for survival, the secret service will proactively assist in coordinating with the daimyo of the country after receiving a formal application."

"For example, Amegakure in the Land of Rain is involved in important cross-border and cross-ninja village cooperation projects, so the secret service will include it in a specific cooperation framework for support."

"Whether other ninja villages and their respective countries participate in this plan is entirely based on voluntary application; the secretariat will not actively promote or pressure them."

Finally, the countries where the five great ninja villages are located will not participate in this plan.

The room was quiet.

This is a tacit consensus among everyone.

At least for now, the five great ninja villages have not reached the point where they should entrust their lifeline to an inter-village organization.

"The initial purpose of pooling funds was to solve the survival problems of the smaller ninja villages and to establish a financial foundation for dealing with public crises," Shuji continued. "But in the face of the threat from Akatsuki, even the five great ninja villages cannot say for sure that they can absolutely protect themselves."

"Konoha is currently focusing its protection on the target that the other side most desires; the four villages of Suna, Iwa, Kumo, and Kirigakure are located on the border, facing all kinds of harassment and probing."

"Due to geographical limitations, we cannot guarantee that every support will be timely, nor can we ensure that the facilities in each village will not be damaged in the attack."

"But at least, when disaster strikes, the villages don't need to be distracted by the possibility of being taken advantage of by their own kind."

His gaze swept across each screen, staring directly at the figures on the other side.

"Destroyed buildings can be rebuilt, and lost supplies can be replenished. As long as people are still alive, the village will continue to exist."

"The significance of the joint system is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their position, prioritizes the protection of personnel safety."

The communications room fell silent for an even longer time.

Then, Onoki was the first to speak: "What about the details?"

"The Joint Affairs Bureau will draft a preliminary version, which will then be sent to each village for review," Shuji replied. "It is expected to be completed within two weeks."

“Sunagakure has no objection,” Chiyo said.

"Kirigakure agrees to proceed." Mei Terumi's voice was gentle yet firm.

Ai pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "Yunyin approves of this direction."

Over the next thirty minutes, the four people raised their questions and offered additional opinions.

Shuji answered each question one by one, occasionally turning his head to look at Tsunade behind him.

After the last question was clarified, the four people on the screen looked at each other and said one after another that there were no other matters.

"That concludes today's communication," Shuji said. "We will convene again once the details are finalized."

The screen went dark in sections. The humming of the electronic devices became even clearer.

Shuji leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath.

"It looks quite professional."

"You don't even do the simple task of reading from a script." Xiu Si opened his eyes, his tone filled with undisguised contempt.

“Since everyone’s reading from a script, of course you should do it,” the Fifth Hokage said matter-of-factly. “Besides, they’re all waiting for Lord Shuji to speak in person.”

"If I were sitting here, the Raikage's first words would probably be: 'Where's Shuji?'"

Shuji didn't respond to that. He stood up, stretched his stiff shoulders, and walked to the window. Outside, the afternoon sun shone brightly on the tranquil streets of Konoha.

"Is it alright to let Naruto and the others participate?" Tsunade asked.

"He'll find out eventually. This method is fine too, since we can't hide the identities of Akatsuki's One-Tail and Nine-Tail anyway."

Tsunade walked to his side and also looked out the window.

"It's almost there."

“Yes,” he replied softly, his gaze distant. “No rush, let’s take it one step at a time.”

“Once everyone gets used to and finds a balance on the most practical and contentious issues like how to spend money together…” Tsunade’s lips curled up slightly, “the resistance will probably be much less when we move towards that final step you envision.”

Shuji did not answer directly, but simply nodded very slightly.

(End of this chapter)