Konoha: Tsunade, I am the Hokage

Chapter 107 Raikage: Body of Iron, Head Not Iron

"What we need to study is the Lightning Release Armor, not why the Raikage and A are so powerful."

Kyohiko said, "Considering only the ninjutsu itself, can this technique be roughly regarded as an extension of the physical activation of Lightning Release chakra?"

He believes that the study of ninjutsu should begin with identifying its core elements and similarities.

Kakashi thought for a moment and nodded slightly.

"That's one way to look at it, if that's the case..."

"Lightning Release chakra stimulates physical activity and strengthens the body's muscles. In this mode, not only can defense be improved, but also speed and physical strength can be enhanced."

After thinking for a moment, Jingyan immediately came to a conclusion.

According to medical and basic martial arts knowledge, a person's speed and strength are related to muscle strength. If the muscles are stimulated by Lightning Release chakra, a similar effect should be achieved.

Kakashi didn't understand medicine, but he had studied physical activation and had done research in this area, so he immediately nodded in agreement.

Minato Namikaze pondered for a moment: "So, it's a ninjutsu technique that requires a combination of ninjutsu and taijutsu to unleash its full power."

"I think so. The real Lightning Release Armor is definitely not as simple as we speculated, but we can simplify the complex problem first and find the end of the ball of yarn first."

Jingyan shared his own insights.

Kakashi nodded: "I understand!"

If we could master...

Do not!

Even if it only achieves 30% or 40% of the defensive effect, it would still be a decent improvement for him, and might even save his life in battle.

"The most important thing in ninjutsu innovation is the idea. For example, I initially got my inspiration for the Rasengan from the Tailed Beast Ball..."

Minato Namikaze recounts his creative process.

Kakashi's eyes were opened.

Then he understood—

Kyohiko and Minato meant that they should first find the starting point, then follow the clues to understand the subsequent changes in the ninjutsu, and finally develop their own "Lightning Release Armor".

Kai couldn't help but feel envious.

However, he knew that ninjutsu was not suitable for him, but Kakashi was very talented in it, and this ninjutsu was suitable for Kakashi, so everyone encouraged him to think about it and figure it out.

Research, crack, learn.

Such incidents occur frequently in the ninja world. As long as it's not about stealing techniques or scrolls, other ninja villages generally cannot condemn Konoha.

He summoned a toad to ensure he could contact Mount Myōboku at any time.

After that, everyone fell asleep peacefully.

……

Outside, the ANBU ninjas of Kumogakure were monitoring the surroundings.

In the distance, Tu Tai dared not rest at all, standing on the rooftop, gazing in this direction in a daze.

"Can't you sleep, senior?"

Sleep? That's difficult!

Tsuchikage sighed, gazing at the Konoha ninja's temporary quarters in the distance. "A single misstep could lead to war, though we're not afraid..."

Ai frowned, then asked with some doubt, "They're really so carefree, able to fall asleep so easily. Aren't they afraid we'll kill them?"

"They may have reconnaissance capabilities that we can't detect. Konoha is very good at this kind of technique, especially that boy named Kyohiko. He's young, but he seems to have a connection with the Senju clan."

Tsuchida thought of the child's ninjutsu.

Their superhuman strength and unique water-style techniques are all related to the Senju clan.

Who would have thought that this child might have other tricks up his sleeve?

After a moment's thought, Ai nodded in agreement.

Indeed, that guy had already given him enough "surprises," and one more wouldn't be impossible. Otherwise, he really couldn't understand why the four from Konoha were so bold.

Tsuchikage remained silent for a few seconds, then sighed softly in the darkness, "What will Konoha be like a few years from now?"

"Strive to train hard, and then defeat them!"

Ai tapped her hand on the railing.

He smiled.

"Just because they're a genius doesn't mean we should assassinate them, right? That would completely eliminate any chance of me winning back!"

After saying that, Ai smiled and turned around, "I'm going to continue my cultivation."

"Okay, remember to get some rest."

Tutai Road.

Ai didn't answer, she just waved her hand gently.

……

The next day, everyone got up very early.

but.

Even though Might Guy is always hardworking and diligent, he didn't go out to train while he was in Kumogakure. Instead, he trained his physique in his temporary residence.

After washing up in the morning, Shuimen pushed open the door and came in—

Their accommodation was a detached room with a small yard. To ensure each other's safety, none of them completely closed their bedroom doors last night.

Seeing Jingyan get up, he asked with concern, "Do you want to dispel the clone and rest a little longer?"

"No need, my recovery ability is quite fast now, this level of fatigue is not a problem."

Jingyan dispelled the shadow clones outside.

A massive amount of information flooded my mind in an instant...

Fortunately, much of it is disparate and repetitive information, and only a few pieces are truly useful.

"Someone was watching us last night."

"As expected, they were also afraid of us causing trouble, especially after we learned that we were the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki."

Minato Namikaze does not object to being monitored.

Appropriate monitoring can put both parties at ease.

"There are no security cameras now, right?"

"Um."

Jingyan nodded.

Only after receiving an accurate answer did Shuimen retrieve the scroll.

"Let's discuss this properly, how to negotiate the cooperation later. I don't have much experience in this area..."

Minato Namikaze was in an awkward position.

He was about ten years older than Kyohiko, and in theory he should have been the team captain and leader. However, in reality, he was unsure about many issues, while Kyohiko was more experienced than him.

Jingyan, on the other hand, was used to it.

After all, Jiraiya, as a teacher, had often done this before. The difference was that teachers are more experienced and only need to give a slight reminder to know what to do.

We're a bit inexperienced in this area, so we need to discuss and brainstorm together.

Tsunade's instructions were simple.

To ascertain the attitude of the Hidden Cloud Village, strengthen cooperation between the two sides, and prevent the alliance from breaking down.

Just one sentence.

However, Minato had no idea what to do at the moment and had no idea how to proceed.

Jingyan said, "We have roughly determined the first item."

Minato Namikaze replied without hesitation: "The Hidden Cloud Village tried to kidnap Kushina in the past, but as things stand, the Raikage doesn't seem to be planning to break off relations. His attitude is somewhat wavering."

"Yes, we need to consider strengthening the bond between our village and Kumogakure, so that both can prosper together, thereby making the Raikage more inclined to continue the alliance with us."

Jingyan explained his thoughts.

Minato Namikaze pondered for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "Like the previous agreement with the Land of Waves?"

He had naturally heard about the events in the Land of Waves.

Intertwined interests...

In his understanding, it's this type of agreement.

"The Land of Waves is a geopolitical consensus among multilateral countries, so even if we become enemies with the Hidden Cloud Village, it won't affect us. It's not really a matter of being bound by interests."

Jingyan paused for a second or two as he spoke.

He was thinking...

In what ways can Konoha and Kumogakure complement each other's interests and achieve a win-win situation?

Medical treatment and medicinal materials.

The Hidden Cloud Village is built on a high mountain, and the Land of Lightning is also mountainous. There are many herbs that Konoha does not have, but there are also many herbs that cannot be found in the Hidden Cloud Village and are unique to Konoha.

For example, the deer antlers of the Nara clan.

As for medical care.

Thanks to Tsunade's contributions, Konoha's medical system is the most comprehensive in the entire ninja world, and its technology is the most advanced among the current five great villages. Kumogakure has no reason to refuse.

"First, there's trade, including medicinal herbs, military rations, and so on..."

Jingyan listed potential areas for cooperation.

"Can."

Minato thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

These two things are Konoha's strengths. After years of research, the cost of the soldier's ration pills has become relatively low, and the effect is also very good. They should be more advantageous than those from other villages.

As for medicinal herbs, he also thought of the special medicinal herbs that the Land of Lightning had, which he could purchase as a supplement.

"Also, I have an idea. Let's see if we can decide to hold regular ninja school exchanges every year."

"Kyohiko said."

Minato Namikaze sat up straight: "What's this ninja academy exchange program?"

"That's right, students and teachers from both sides at the ninja academy are exchanging skills and techniques, with students honing their combat abilities and teachers sharing their teaching experiences."

Actually, what he initially thought of was the exchange student rules from his previous life.

but.

Firstly, Konoha had finally implemented a tiered education system; wouldn't simply give their rivals an advantage by directly implementing exchange programs?

Secondly, the two sides cannot trust each other, making cooperation difficult to achieve.

Why not have a friendly exchange? It would benefit both sides and allow the villagers to see the effects of the Konoha education reform.

Kill two birds with one stone.

After that, they might even come knocking on our door asking for an "exchange".

Who will cherish something that's handed to them on a silver platter?

Minato Namikaze's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Ninja Academy Exchange.

This was unprecedented, but it was indeed beneficial for both sides to get closer and for each other to win.

"Okay, is there anything else?"

"That's enough. We'll have to wait for the teacher's situation. If the teacher's situation is unfavorable, there's no point in us trying anymore. We should just consider running away."

As soon as Jingyan finished speaking, a toad appeared.

It brought news from Jiraiya.

"That's wonderful! The teacher is wise!"

……

Half an hour later, after everyone had finished washing up, they arrived at the Ray Shadow Building.

The buildings in Hidden Cloud Village are built on a high mountain cliff, making it appear as if the houses are embedded in the mountain peak. In the morning, the surrounding area is shrouded in clouds and mist, making it a magnificent and mysterious place.

"The four of you from Konoha, did you rest well yesterday? We're up in the mountains, so there might be thunder often. I hope it won't disturb you."

Tu Tai replied enthusiastically.

"It's fine. As a ninja, I'm used to these sounds."

Minato Namikaze smiled.

He then looked at the earthen platform and said, "Is the Raikage free today? We'd like to discuss a potential collaboration with him."

Real communication, huh?

Tu Tai was secretly surprised.

He had discussed it with the Raikage and felt that Konoha's visit was more about probing their attitude than about having a deeper intention to cooperate.

However, Minato Namikaze's attitude seems to be different.

Without hesitation, he replied, "Of course!"

Upon entering the office, Minato Namikaze explained the purpose of their "communication."

"Last time in Yugakure, we worked with your village to achieve peace around the Land of Waves. The Hokage believes that we should strengthen our relationship, so he sent us here to see if there are any areas where we can cooperate."

Minami Namikaze.

The Third Raikage had a smile on his face.

"Cooperation is certainly welcome in Kumogakure. After all, we don't want our ninjas on the battlefield if we can avoid war. However, what kind of cooperation do you entail?"

"For example, medicinal herbs. You have a lot of high-altitude medicinal herbs, while we have deer antlers from Nara, etc. We can discuss whether we can share them and complement each other."

Minato Namikaze gave an example, and then immediately explained, "Of course, we can't decide that. We just come over to take a look, chat, and discuss which areas we can deepen our cooperation in."

The Third Raikage understood perfectly.

They've come to scout ahead!

However, they do have some needs for medicinal herbs. In previous years, they had to purchase them secretly from the black market and the Land of Fire at high prices. If they could reach an official cooperation with Konoha, they could indeed save a lot of expenses.

This is mutually beneficial.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's a good idea. If we can finalize the mutual sale of medicinal herbs, we can discuss it in more detail."

Minato Namikaze secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As Kyohiko had predicted, the Hidden Cloud Village had a high demand for medicinal herbs and would not refuse the offer.

He felt confident: "Secondly, our two schools have regular annual exchanges between teachers and students."

"Interactions between teachers and students at the Ninja Academy?"

The Third Raikage was completely baffled.

Never heard of it!

What conspiracy is Konoha plotting now?

He remained secretly vigilant, but the Third Raikage was powerful, yet not adept at scheming, so he could only remain unchanged in the face of all changes.

"How should we communicate?"

"It's very simple: teachers exchange educational experiences, and students practice and learn from each other. We'll definitely need to discuss the specifics later."

Minato briefly explained his thoughts.

Anyway, what we're talking about now is just an outline; it's impossible to finalize it immediately.

but.

As long as the other party is willing to cooperate, the relationship between Konoha and Kumogakure will not be bad in the short term. As their interests become more intertwined in the future, Kumogakure will have to weigh the losses before taking any action.

The Third Raikage thought for a moment and said, "We can discuss that."

"Then, may we take a tour of your ninja academy?"

Minato Namikaze asked.

He then smiled and said, "Your school's teachers can lead the tour."

"Can."

That's perfect, he also needs to discuss this with Tu Tai.

After seeing the Konoha group off, the Third Raikage immediately summoned Tsuchida and explained the purpose of Konoha's trip.

Tu Tai was initially surprised upon hearing this.

"Minato Namikaze's suggestion is very constructive and doesn't seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision. It seems that Konoha really wants to deepen its relationship with us."

"Could it be that Konoha is currently weak and worried about being attacked from multiple sides, so they sent people to pretend to cooperate and keep us calm? According to the Anbu, Iwagakure and Sunagakure are about to make their move."

The Third Raikage said.

Tu Tai thought for a moment and nodded: "It's not impossible!"

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside, and soon, an ANBU ninja entered.

"Lord Raikage, information from the Land of Grass."

"The Land of Grass? Onoki has made his move?"

The Third Raikage was overjoyed and immediately got up to retrieve the intelligence. However, his expression quickly changed from joy to shock. Finally, he composed himself and handed it to Tsuchikage.

"Take a look."

The Third Raikage's expression was complex.

The news above is hardly good, and is even somewhat unbelievable.

Tu Tai took it, examined it carefully, and his expression was equally astonished and shocked; he remained silent for a long time.

Two people.

Does Konoha have such strong strength?

He remained stunned for a long time.

"No, these two weren't chosen randomly. They're definitely the only ones in Konoha with such terrifying abilities, and it's not just any random technique!"

"That's for sure, but..."

The Third Raikage retrieved the intelligence scroll, weighed it in his hand, and felt that the scroll was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Every word carries immense weight!

He remained silent for a long time.

"Have the Anbu continue their investigation; they must gather complete information about the battle between Konoha and Kusagakure!"

"yes!"

The ANBU ninja left.

Inside the office, only Raikage and Tsuchikage remained.

The Third Raikage sat down and said, "The key is not that a few people know it, but that Konoha has this ability. Anyone who wants to attack them should think twice about whether they can withstand such a ninjutsu."

He couldn't help but admire it.

"Jiraiya, that was a brilliant move! Onoki is definitely stunned!"

"That……"

Tu Tai thought of their previous collaboration.

If Konoha showed any weakness, they naturally wouldn't agree to cooperate.

Now that the situation has changed drastically, things are naturally different again.

"Cooperation is necessary!"

The Third Raikage slapped his thigh, making a decision in his heart, "We know too little about Konoha. Instead of fighting them, we should join forces to take down Onoki!"

There's development to be found both to the south and to the west; why insist on stubbornly tackling tough challenges?

The Third Raikage was physically strong and believed he could withstand an attack that would destroy half of the Grass Ninja, but the other ninjas of Kumogakure were not so tough.

If we work ourselves to the bone, aren't we just letting others take advantage of us?

The Third Raikage immediately said, "Tsuchidai, go to the Ninja Academy quickly and personally receive them. Let them see the strength of our children!"

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)