Naruto: I Roamed the Ninja World as a Woman

Chapter 158 Discussing Heroes and Planning Great Things

The continuous rain obscures the passing of autumn; only when the snow falls do we realize how deep the cold is.

After returning to Amegakure, Ayane Amemiya enjoyed a brief period of blissful time.

The girl, immersed in the gentle embrace of love, felt time fly by. In the blink of an eye, half a week had quietly slipped away.

It was drizzling that morning.

Ayane Amamiya put on her raincoat and straw hat, securely slung her ninja sword at her waist, and set off.

There is no other reason.

The legendary Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, will be visiting Amegakure today.

Because it was a private visit, and also involved a top-secret mission to capture the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.

So Hanzo the Salamander thoughtfully chose not to give a grand welcome, but instead went out alone with Ayane Amamiya.

Among the higher-ups at Rain Fortress, many naturally noticed this detail.

But no one wentssiped or criticized them.

As everyone knows, the leader has recently been paying close attention to this genius ninja who is famous throughout the ninja world.

The fine rain, like needles, fell on the straw hat with a soft, pattering sound.

Although the waiting process was a bit boring, Hanzo the Salamander was in good spirits and took the initiative to tell Ayane Amamiya about his past.

"Among the current Five Kage, Tsuchikage Onoki is the oldest and also the one who took office the earliest."

"If you count the time, he has been the Tsuchikage for almost thirty years now."

Hanzo's tone was somewhat wistful: "When I last went to Konoha, I saw that although Hiruzen Sarutobi still had ambition, his body was already showing signs of aging. I suppose Onoki is about the same."

The five Kage are now all over forty years old, with Onoki being in his fifties.

Compared to the average age of ninjas.

These people are all old men.

Hanzo speculated, "This time he brought his son, Hikari, along, perhaps because he has the idea of ​​stepping down and handing over the position to a more capable person. He probably wants to resign from his position as Tsuchikage."

Ayane Amamiya blinked, thinking to herself, "You've guessed wrong."

She knew that Onoki had worked his way up to Shippuden without ever stepping down from his position as Tsuchikage.

Before the girl could think of what to say, Hanzo sighed, "I am getting old and lately I feel my energy is failing. The ninja world will belong to you young people from now on."

I am an old man with many ailments; you should take care of yourself.

Ayane Amamiya tucked a strand of red hair that clung to her cheek, and this sentence inexplicably flashed through her mind.

"The leader is young and vigorous."

Looking at his retreating figure, she said sincerely, "I see you are in your prime, why are you thinking of retiring?"

.

This isn't exactly flattery.

Look at Hiruzen Sarutobi next door. He had already stepped down, but he was reinstated and continued to contribute to Konoha.

Jiraiya was fifty-four years old when he died, yet he was still able to fight against the Six Paths of Pain.

It is evident that for these top-tier ninjas, the shelf life of their strength is far longer than that of ordinary ninjas.

Hanzo chuckled softly, "I don't ask for much. I just hope to live peacefully to fifty, and not end up like the Second Mizukage and the Second Tsuchikage, dying on the battlefield at the end of their lives."

Upon hearing this, Ayane Amamiya became immediately curious.

The Land of Earth is located at the northernmost point of the entire continent, while the Land of Water is situated on an archipelago in the sea south of the continent.

These two countries are separated by a whole host of other countries, including fire, rain, wind, rivers, and grasslands, making them a vast and distant place.

In our current understanding, no one has ever proven through experimentation that planets are round.

So how exactly did the Second Tsuchikage Mu manage to achieve a mutual destruction with the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu?

Is it a two-way journey?

Hearing her question, Hanzo smiled and said, "Have you ever wondered why it's rare for Kage to personally go to the battlefield in ninja wars these days?"

Without waiting for Ayane Amamiya's reply, he answered his own question: "During the First Shinobi World War, the ninja villages had just been established, and everyone was not yet used to the large-scale battles. Their thinking was still stuck in the Warring States period."

"Back then, there was no difference between a Kage and an elite Jonin, except that they were just sharper blades."

"At that time, it was common for the Kage to personally rush to the battlefield, often risking their lives alongside the ninjas on the front lines."

"That is why the scale and intensity of the first Shinobi War far exceeded that of the present."

"Even the Kage of the five great ninja villages were all killed in action, not one of them survived!"

Ayane Amamiya muttered under her breath, "If they fight like this, wouldn't Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Technique have a huge advantage?"

"Otherwise, why do you think the Kazekage would send guards to assassinate Minato Namikaze?"

Hanzo laughed: "The Second Kazekage was a puppeteer. He died at the hands of Tobirama Senju. Sunagakure has been traumatized by the Flying Thunder God Technique!"

Ayane Amamiya was about to speak.

Suddenly, Hanzo's voice deepened. He looked up at the sky and solemnly said, "They've arrived!"

The words had barely left his mouth when dawn broke.

Ayane Amamiya looked up and saw that the thick, dark clouds overhead were torn open by a beam of white light.

The girl's pupils contracted slightly, her heart filled with a sense of shock.

This is certainly not some kind of lightning or thunder, but the infamous Three-Attribute Bloodline Elimination One Dust Release in the ninja world!

In the brief moment when the sky brightened, two figures suddenly appeared and stood in mid-air.

One was a robust middle-aged man, and the other was a short, elderly man.

The old man had white hair and beard, and his brown cloak fluttered in the wind. He looked down at Hanzo and the other two with an imposing and dignified expression. He was none other than the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki!

Hanzo remained calm, showing no sign of being intimidated by Onoki's entrance.

With a flick of his sleeve, the chain scythe flew through the air with a clanging sound, accompanied by his deep, calling voice: "Lord Tsuchikage, it's windy up there, come down and talk!"

"Haha, great!"

Onoki knew when to quit while he was ahead.

He dodged the scythe, descending from the sky in a cloud of dust, and landed in front of the two of them, feigning apology: "It's been too long since I've been to the Land of Rain, and I can't remember the way. I had no choice but to use Dust Release to tear through the rain clouds and find the location of Amegakure."

Without a doubt, this was a show of force.

But Hanzo of the Salamander remained unmoved, as if the terrifying Dust Release that tore through the rain clouds was just an ordinary ninjutsu.

With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved the chain scythe and said calmly, "It is an honor for Amegakure to receive Your Majesty the Tsuchikage. However, the weather in the Land of Rain is always like this; while Dust Release is powerful, its effectiveness in guiding the way is limited."

Hanzo's words were pointed.

As Onoki landed, the clouds that had parted in the sky closed up again, as if symbolizing something—

Ayane Amamiya stood behind Hanzo, listening to their conversation, and thought to herself that even these important figures could sometimes be as petulant as children.

Compared to the straightforward Third Kazekage.

The white-haired and bearded Onoki before me, perhaps due to his age, seems to prefer subtle, veiled banter.

The girl's gaze quickly swept over the two Iwagakure visitors in front of her.

The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, was short in stature, yet possessed the imposing and dignified air of a master.

His son, Huang Tu, standing beside him, was like a silent mountain, robust in build and with an honest face, clearly not someone to be trifled with.

The world changes.

The last time I caused such a ruckus at Iwagakure, it happened right under their noses.

Now they've actually become partners, tasked with capturing the Four-Tails Jinchuriki together. I wonder what the other party will think if they ever find out the truth.

"Lord Hanzo, it's been many years, but you still retain your charm."

Onoki stroked his beard and smiled, his gaze then falling on Ayane Amamiya. "This is the Ayane Amamiya who made the Hokage suffer a silent defeat, hailed as the strongest Chunin in the ninja world in the last ten years?"

The girl's lips twitched, she bowed slightly, and remained silent.

Ayane Amamiya could feel Onoki's scrutinizing gaze, a gaze filled with curiosity, inquiry, and perhaps a hint of surprise at her age.

She thought to herself, "What the hell is this 'Strongest Chunin' thing?"

Couldn't you have chosen a nicer title?

Hanzo shook his head, defending the girl: "The title of strongest is a bit of an overstatement."

"I think it's suitable!"

The Tsuchikage chuckled: "There are probably only a handful of ninjas in the entire ninja world with such strength at such a young age."

We're closer now.

Using the sensory ninjutsu that his teacher had taught him, Onoki could easily detect the terrifying chakra hidden in the other person's body!

While chakra quantity doesn't tell the whole story, the other person's age is a factor.

"That brat—"

Even within the village, he would easily rank among the top Jonin!

Onoki paused slightly in the hand stroking his beard, his feelings too complex to describe.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the group said no more and, led by Hanzo, headed into the interior of Amegakure.

Hanzo the Salamander placed Onoki and Koto in the highest-standard reception hall in Amegakure.

As was customary during previous missions to the Land of Wind, the two sides did not rush to discuss specific matters, but instead agreed on a welcoming banquet for the evening.

It was evening.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the sound of rain subsided slightly.

A rather private welcome banquet was held on the top floor of the Rain Hidden Tower.

Apart from Hanzo, Ayane Amamiya, and the Onoki father and son, no one else came.

The banquet was halfway through.

Onoki took the initiative to start the conversation: "To my shame, the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth are neighboring countries, but for many years I have been busy with other matters and have paid little attention to this friendly neighbor."

Hanzo put down his chopsticks, a cold smile playing on his lips.

It's not like we're the Iwagakure ninjas who were running rampant in the Land of Rain back then.

But he remained outwardly calm.

His tone was both sarcastic and factual: "The Land of Rain is weak and poor, so naturally it cannot meet Lord Tsuchikage's standards."

Onoki shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this: "That's not true. Now, with the Chunin Exams, who in the ninja world doesn't know how powerful Amegakure is?"

He glanced at Ayane Amamiya, who was standing silently to the side, and said with certainty, "Today's Amegakure is truly the number one ninja village under the Five Great Nations. Even Takigakure, which possesses the Seven-Tails, cannot match it!"

The girl felt puzzled after hearing this.

What exactly is that old man, Onoki, doing?

Since their arrival, every word they uttered has been an effusive praise of Yu Yin, as if he had become a spiritual citizen of the Land of Rain.

But before Hanzo could speak, the old man Onoki changed the subject again: "However, the ninja world today, though seemingly calm, is actually rife with undercurrents."

"Now that I am over fifty years old and halfway to the grave, I am beginning to feel the turbulent waves of the ninja world."

"Even though Iwagakure is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, it is still in danger of collapse if it is not careful. The situation is more perilous than ever before!"

He sighed, "I suppose Lord Hanzo felt the same way when he was in charge of Amegakure?"

Ayane Amamiya, who was silently watching the audience, suddenly heard a barely audible sigh from the earth.

She turned her head to look over.

I noticed a helpless expression on the other person's chubby face—a look that seemed to say, "Dad's about to start again."

Even Hanzo the Salamander, sitting in the main seat, was a little confused.

Is that old man, Ohnoki, drunk?

Why are you talking to an old man like me about your analysis of the current situation in the ninja world?

Not understanding his meaning, he could only choose to remain unchanged and calmly hummed in agreement.

The short-statured Onoki suddenly stood up, put down his wine cup, and asked with a burning gaze, "Lord Hanzo, who do you think can be considered a hero in the ninja world today?"

Hanzo, the salamander, pondered for a moment.

Ultimately, he chose to push the issue back to the others, avoiding offending anyone: "In my opinion, all five villages are heroes!"

"Heh~"

Onoki scoffed, "The Third Kazekage may be hailed as the strongest Kazekage of all time, and his Magnet Release: Iron Sand Technique is quite unique, but he was obsequious to daimyo and nobles, bearing the title of strongest in vain. He couldn't reverse the decline, so how can he be called a hero?"

Having said that, he took another sip of wine and said proudly, "As for the Third Mizukage, he lives deep in Kirigakure and rarely shows himself."

In recent years, the village has closed itself off from the world, and internal strife has been frequent. After taking power, he was busy purging the blood-stained ninja clans like Hozuki. How can such tyrannical behavior be considered heroic?

The more Ayane Amamiya listened, the more familiar she became.

Isn't Onoki's statement just like the old saying about discussing heroes over wine?

The girl glanced at his bright red, bulbous nose and thought to herself, "This old man probably loves to drink, and he's probably prone to acting like a young man when he's drunk."

Hanzo the Salamander was also somewhat helpless.

Since you have so many ideas, why don't you go and talk to the Wind Shadow and Water Shadow face to face?

He coughed and changed the subject: "In that case, what about the Third Raikage? I've heard he could fight the Eight-Tails to a draw, and was known as the strongest spear and the strongest shield all by himself!"

Onoki shook his head and then nodded, his expression complex.

"The Third Raikage was indeed brave, and his personal strength was truly unparalleled in the ninja world, no less than mine."

"However, he excessively reveres force and is domineering in his style. Moreover, his methods are unscrupulous and lack any sense of righteousness, which will inevitably backfire sooner or later! Therefore, he can only be called half a hero!"

Ohnoki really has a good eye for people.

His words hit the nail on the head.

The Third Raikage died in the course of a planned attack on the Land of Earth.

"What about the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?"

Receiving a signal from her leader, Ayane Amamiya asked at the opportune moment, "The current Hokage is a disciple of Tobirama Senju, proficient in all five chakra nature transformations, possessing unparalleled strength, and hailed as a hero among ninjas!"

Onoki shook his head: "Hiruzen Sarutobi ruled Konoha for many years. Although he benefited from the legacy of his predecessors, he was able to maintain Konoha's status as the number one ninja in the world. His contribution to maintaining the status quo is undeniable."

"However, to sit idly by and watch its allies perish in the vortex of war is a testament to its shortsightedness."

Onoki paused, a deeper meaning creeping into his voice: "Therefore, in my opinion, Hiruzen Sarutobi can at most be considered half a hero!"

Ayane Amamiya was speechless.

The atmosphere has reached this point.

She already knew what the other person was going to say next.

As expected, Onoki looked intently at Hanzo of the Salamander, who was sitting in the main seat, and spoke with a firm and resounding tone!

"In my humble opinion, the only heroes of the ninja world today are myself and Lord Hanzo!"

But it wasn't what Onoki had expected.

Despite the build-up over the past half-day, Hanzo the Salamander remained silent and unmoved by his performance.

Tuying felt a sense of helplessness.

I've praised you so much, and you just ignore it? Do you have to be so composed?

Seeing this, Onoki had no choice but to step forward and no longer conceal his intentions.

"A true hero is one who can turn the tide and save a collapsing empire, or one who can expand territory and establish an unparalleled legacy!"

"The reason I've come here today is not only because of the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, but also because I wish to take our relationship with Amegakure to the next level and form an alliance—"

"Furthermore, let's plot together to build a kingdom of grass!"

His voice was strong and resonant, echoing throughout the banquet.

At this moment, Onoki didn't look like a white-haired old man in his fifties; he looked more like an ambitious emperor.

"Lord Hanzo."

"The land of grass is rich in water and soil, with excellent conditions, and it is a land that never rains."

He stared intently at the other man and said in a deep voice, "Konoha is currently engulfed in war and has no time to look west. What do you think of my suggestion?"