Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

Chapter 159 "Strictly abide by Konoha's discipline and be forever loyal to the Hokage!"

Kakuzu and Hizashi slowly walked into Konoha.

Just like when the exchange students from Kirigakure first arrived—

Kakuzu showed a surprised expression at the fact that Konoha had been expanded with a large amount of money invested in it.

As a ninja who is familiar with money and has some knowledge of economics—

Kakuzu understands the true value of this.

"This is not the level a hidden village should have. A single ninja mission cannot support such a large peripheral business district. The economic center of the Land of Fire is no longer the capital, but Konoha—"

"Konoha is a ninja community; it shouldn't become such a large consumer market. This doesn't align with the conservative attitude ninjas should have towards money. Don't they keep any money for their own survival?"

Kakuzu and Hizashi walked side by side, looking around as they analyzed with furrowed brows: "This shows that the Konoha ninjas are very confident in the village's future, and the village has probably provided them with some kind of guarantee, which is why they dare to spend money."

Hizashi glanced at Kakuzu with considerable surprise.

Where's the ruthless bounty hunter we were promised? This guy is clearly a brilliant economist who sees the big picture from small details!

They were able to glean so much information simply by scanning the outer perimeter of Konoha—

Hijiri suppressed his strange thoughts.

He had initially thought that even if a rogue ninja from a small, hidden village had lived for many years and possessed secret techniques, he shouldn't have received such high regard from the Hokage—

Richa suddenly slapped himself hard.

Snapped!

Kakuzu looked at him suspiciously: "Hey, what are you doing?"

"I am repenting."

Hyuga Hizashi bluntly stated, "I initially thought you were just a fame-seeker, but I've discovered you have real talent—"

"I shouldn't have even the slightest doubt about the Hokage's judgment—"

"This is self-punishment."

Kakuzu frowned: "Are you from the main family or a branch family? You should be from the branch family—your thoughts and actions would be considered feudal even in the Warring States period—"

In Kakuzu's view, Hizashi's "almost insane loyalty" was a product of being domesticated by the main family.

He had a negative impression of the village as a collective from the outset, and he was very disgusted by this behavior, which was almost a loss of personal dignity.

"I did separate from the family, but it's different from what you think—"

Hyuga Hizashi's Byakugan seemed to see what Kakuzu was thinking: "I am not blindly loyal, but as a man, I should know how to repay kindness."

"Before following the Hokage, I was a servant and dog of the main family, with no freedom whatsoever."

"After following the Hokage, I became a respected member of the Konoha committee. Even if I said something controversial at a village meeting, the Hokage would protect me with his reputation."

"Nowadays, the branch family of Hyuga is no longer oppressed by the main family. Everyone is under the protection of the village, has access to the outside world, and has their own careers and pursuits."

Hyuga Hizashi coldly stated, "Even with the main family, the Hokage considered their gains and losses, and tried to compensate them by finding them respectable jobs." This is the Will of Fire. It's normal that you don't understand, but don't make wild guesses with your ridiculous thinking.

This time, it was Kakuzu's turn to remain silent.

To repay a debt of gratitude.

He agrees with this viewpoint.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have refused to accept missions related to the Land of Fire and Konoha until now.

Kakuzu was relatively tactful; in his view, Hashirama's debt of gratitude had been repaid in fifty years.

Because a ninja's lifespan of fifty years is considered a long life, it can be regarded as a lifetime.

"Not only did they grant the Hyuga branch family a certain degree of freedom, but they also took care of the main family?" Kakuzu slowly pondered Hizashi's words.

The Hyuga clan's caged bird is widely known throughout the ninja world.

Is this so-called clan rule, passed down for thousands of years, actually broken by Hiruzen Sarutobi?

"The Hokage truly lives up to his reputation as the man who broke the ninja code; I misspoke."

Kakuzu bowed slightly: "I'm sorry."

Hitsuya nodded: "It's alright, you're not a Konoha ninja after all, and I'm reasonable too—"

"The Hokage told me that you would probably be very interested in Konoha's policies, and given your experience, you would also be very concerned about the matter of Uchiha Hachimoku. Hachimoku is on his way."

"The Hokage hopes you'll visit Konoha more often and then go talk to him."

Hizashi activated his Byakugan, staring at Kakuzu's numerous bags and scrolls: "Ahead lies the core area of ​​Konoha—"

"What are you carrying? I sensed an unusual chakra reaction, and my colleagues in the Anbu are also using techniques to warn me to be careful."

Kakuzu was taken aback; Konoha's security was much stricter than he had imagined.

He hasn't been able to analyze what kind of technique this invisible surveillance is yet—

It also has real-time communication capabilities.

In Konoha today, security can be roughly divided into three layers.

The first layer consists of patrol forces on the outskirts of the village, mainly composed of the Aburame and Inu-ke families.

The second layer consists of the commercial district surrounding Konoha, where members of the Hyuga clan's ANBU are monitoring passing merchants, along with some members of the Guard Department.

The third layer is the gathering area for ninjas who have entered Konoha, also known as the inner ring.

It is guarded by personnel from the Security Department, the Dark Department, and the Root Department.

The Yamanaka clan's ninjas share intelligence and perception, while the Nara clan's ninjas take overall control of the village's dynamic defense capabilities.

After Konoha's fiscal revenue increased, some ninjas who were not good at front-line combat found full-time jobs in the Guard Department based on their expertise, such as "operators" and "dispatchers".

Important research institutes and intelligence agencies have relocated next to the Senju family's ancestral home, and Mito Uzumaki occasionally uses her Kagura Mind's Eye and Malicious Sensing abilities to conduct spot checks—

"Some gifts for the Hokage and Mito, including economic information about other hidden villages and some old items from the Warring States period—"

"The scroll on my back contains a corpse, a Storm Release ninja from Kumogakure, whom I killed on the road—" Kakuzu said slowly. "I thought it might be of some value to Konoha, so the Hokage paid me a deposit and allowed me to freely collect materials that would benefit Konoha. This is one of the orders."

"Of course, whether or not to do it depends on the Hokage's decision. I don't engage in forced sales."

Rizashi blinked.

Just a few days ago, the Hokage said that the long-range attack and tracking abilities of Storm Release are a good match for the Byakugan.

He was told not to rush, not to take the risk of creating a bloodline limit that wasn't right for him; good things come to those who wait.

So it was delivered right to my mouth?

For a moment, Hizashi was at a loss for words, recalling a casual remark Hiruzen Sarutobi had made: "Those who follow the Way receive much help; those who stray from the Way receive little help."

"Hizashi, I'm here—"

"This must be Mr. Kakuzu, right? I am Uchiha Yatsushiro—" Yatsushiro walked over with a smile.

After the incident involving the ancient mirror, Hiruzen Sarutobi held a fireside chat with him to discuss the matter, which ironically transformed him from a "sinner" into a household name.

Everyone knows that Yatsushiro is a ninja who, even when facing powerful enemies, still thinks about protecting his comrades. People in the village always greet him with a smile, even if they didn't know him before.

As a result, the reputation of the Uchiha clan has also improved considerably.

From his previous arrogance, aloofness, and haughtiness, he has become, in some people's eyes, simply someone who is not good with words, but surprisingly reliable when things get tough.

"Okay, I'll be going now." Hitachi nodded.

"Mr. Kakuzu, which part of Konoha would you like to see?" Yashiro asked with a smile.

"May I learn about Konoha's various systems and regulations?" Kakuzu asked tentatively.

The village's system is a piece of information, neither too big nor too small, and it is relatively kept secret from ninjas from other villages.

"That's easy, let me think—" Kakuzu Yashiro said unexpectedly, "Then let's go to the Uchiha clan's territory. Clan Chief Isshin and Fugaku have recently put a lot of effort into setting up a model bulletin board. The village's policies and the essence of the Hokage's speeches are all on it—"

"We also invited Xiaochun and Yan, advisors from the administration department, to provide an official interpretation to help everyone understand."

"You know what, it's actually quite effective. A lot of ninjas have come to the Uchiha clan's territory to sit and stroll around because of this bulletin board—"

Kakuzu nodded silently.

He discovered that Konoha's uniqueness compared to other hidden villages was reflected in every aspect.

Even the smallest things are done differently from others.

"Let's go, let's drop off our luggage at the police station first. You're always carrying so much stuff, it's too conspicuous—" Yashiro hummed a little tune as he walked ahead.

The two arrived at the Konoha Police Department.

In the past, although the police department had great power, its office space was only a two-story semi-circular building.

The Uchiha clan crest is inlaid in the center of the second floor, along with the words "Konoha Police Department".

Many ninjas found this appearance somewhat strange.

After all, apart from the Uchiha, no other ninja clan has such complete control over a department—

With funding from the village, the police department has now built a magnificent high-rise building.

The Uchiha clan crest has long since disappeared, replaced by a large Konoha emblem.

Several eye-catching banners were also stretched from top to bottom.

Strictly abide by Konoha's discipline and remain forever loyal to the Hokage.

No police matter is insignificant; peace and tranquility warm people's hearts.

With the force of thunder, chaos is quelled; with the heart of rock, the village is protected.

Shouldering the heavy responsibility of guarding, embodying the will of fire.

Kakuzu's lips twitched slightly as he watched.

Although he hadn't been to Konoha for a long time, the awkward relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha was widely known throughout the ninja world.

The reason is simple: who doesn't know the story of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju?

The Valley of the End is considered one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Land of Fire.

The Uchiha clan, once renowned throughout the ninja world, disappeared from the battlefield for over thirty years, only recently reminding ninjas of the Sharingan's terrifying power.

"How was it? Not bad, right?"

The Eighth Generation, arms crossed, said with great pride, "The measures conceived by the clan leader were proposed by the Hokage himself, and the words 'Konoha Police Department' were even written by the Hokage himself—"

'

"Look at the back of this plaque, it's filled with red and white, which are elements of the Uchiha clan."

"The Hokage believed that although the current Security Forces are not entirely composed of Uchiha clan members, their past contributions should not be forgotten, so he deliberately incorporated elements of the clan into them—"

"Sigh! The Hokage is always so considerate—"

Kakuzu rubbed his temples, feeling as if he were under a genjutsu—

Rumors of a thaw in the underground bounty office had already circulated about the improved relations between Konoha and the Uchiha clan.

Many believe that the two sides have reached a certain level of thaw, but the specific progress is unknown. Some intelligence experts speculate that this may be a sign that the Uchiha clan has gained the upper hand over Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was Tobirama Senju's apprentice.

In the ninja world, if a disciple disobeys his master's will, especially if the master is the former Hokage—

This is something that can easily be blown out of proportion.

Upon seeing this, Kakuzu couldn't help but dispel the myth surrounding the so-called experts on the gold exchange.

The logic of the analysis may be plausible, but the result is utterly wrong!

Is this still the Uchiha clan?

Is this all the Dark Guard units directly under the Shadow of the major Hidden Villages are capable of?

"Hey, little sister, you'd better watch out—"

"At your age, you have to be careful when you walk. If you feel unwell these next few days, just let us know, and I'll have someone bring you some food after get off work."

Not far away, Uchiha En helped an elderly woman who almost slipped while crossing the street and said gently.

"Oh dear, I was afraid of causing you trouble—"

"No problem, no problem! I have a subsidy from the village. I can just ask a few recent graduates to run errands for me. It'll be good for them to earn some pocket money too."

The old woman who was being helped up laughed and said, "But you, at your age, are still working! Your health is much better than mine. Uchiha En, you may have forgotten about me. We fought each other decades ago—"

Uchiha En was stunned for a moment. Who is this?

"I am a member of the Senju clan—"

The old woman raised an eyebrow: "How did you lose your arm before? I saw it firsthand—your fire jutsu burned many of my clansmen to death back then, no wonder the Second Hokage cut you off."

"Hey! Why do you keep bringing up the past, young lady!"

Uchiha En wasn't annoyed at all, and raised his arms with a grin: "Senju Tobirama cut off my arms, but the Hokage-sama reattached them for me—"

"Now I've even adopted a godson, who knows, he might become a member of the Konoha committee someday!"

"The past is all that old bastard Tobirama Senju's fault. If he had died a little earlier and passed the leadership to the Third Hokage, Konoha would have unified the ninja world long ago!"

The old lady Senju rolled her eyes at Uchiha En: "What nonsense! The Second Hokage died young. If he hadn't died on the battlefield helping the Third Hokage stabilize the political situation, Konoha could have developed much faster—"

"Anyway, the timing of his death was wrong!" Uchiha En chuckled.

The old lady with a thousand hands nodded with a sigh: "That's not quite right—"

Two former rivals from the Warring States period have surprisingly reached a kind of reconciliation at this moment because of Tobirama Senju.

Time can heal most scars.

It's just because of the past that they need a dignified way out for each other, which is commonly known as "taking the blame".

Tobirama Senju played this role very well.

Kakuzu watched this scene and felt it was quite magical.

"When Tobirama Senju died, the Uchiha and Konoha were locked in a fierce struggle—"

"So, death might actually reunite the Senju and Uchiha clans?"

"Sometimes the dead are more useful than the living—" Kakuzu thought to himself.

"Yo!" Uchiha En spotted the Eighth Hokage and Kakuzu, greeted them loudly, and whispered to the old lady Senju, "Let's chat again sometime—"

He then strode over: "You must be Kakuzu? Thank you for your cooperation with the village, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to reattach my arm—"

With that, Uchiha En rolled up his sleeves, revealing the black lines of Earth Grudge Fear wrapped around his shoulder: "Eighth Generation brat, treat them well! Here's the money, buy them a meal for me later!"

"I'm on duty today, I'm leaving now!" Uchiha En smiled at Kakuzu, stuffed a stack of banknotes into the Eighth Hokage without saying a word, and waved his hand casually.

Yashiro looked helpless: "That old man Yan, really—"

"That must be worth 100,000 taels, right? Are all the ninjas in Konoha this generous?" Kakuzu couldn't help but ask.

"Not all of them, Old Man Yan is a bit of a special case." Yashiro said speechlessly, "He receives three subsidies! The subsidy for the elderly living alone, the salary of the guard department plus a salary adjustment, the allowance for serving as an instructor in the patrol unit, and Minato even gives him cigarettes and alcohol when he has nothing else to do—"

"Old Man Yan always says he has more money than he can spend, so he's always willing to give money to people he meets, especially the students at the Ninja Academy. He's practically a god of wealth to them."

"Sometimes in the village, when there are disputes over money or something, Old Man Yan sometimes solves the problem out of his own pocket. He has prestige, and no one dares to go too far—" Yashiro muttered to himself.

Kakuzu's face was full of confusion.

no--

Do the old ninjas of Konoha spend money like this?

and also--

Kakuzu originally thought that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted his Earth Grudge Fear to replicate the technique, but it turned out to be a technique for regenerating severed limbs for disabled ninjas.

"How much did it cost him to repair his arm?" Kakuzu asked instinctively.

"It didn't cost any money—Old Man Yan was among the first volunteers, so he didn't have to pay."

"If the disability is due to work-related injury, there is no charge. I really don't know how much it costs for personal reasons."

The Eighth Hokage pondered, "It shouldn't be too expensive. Tsunade and Orochimaru said that the Konoha Mutual Aid Fund is used for medical purposes, and there will be special discounts allocated to it in the future—"

Kakuzu let out a long breath.

He understood—

Konoha is not only incredibly wealthy, but they also spend it extravagantly.

To Kakuzu, this pile of gleaming silver seemed like a torrential downpour showering down on the ninjas—

"What kind of ninja can enjoy this kind of treatment?" Kakuzu's tone carried a hint of anxiety.

He wasn't saying he wanted it too—

He possesses the body of Earth Grudge Fear and has at least several hundred more years to live, so he doesn't need ordinary medical ninjutsu.

But if all Konoha ninjas could enjoy it—

Jiaodu subconsciously feels that his values, which he has held for decades, are about to collapse!

So not all hidden villages are the same? Then he's wasted decades of his life!

"Students from the Ninja Academy should be eligible, right?"

"Wait a moment, I'll help you put your luggage away. Don't worry, no one will touch it." Yashiro took the luggage from Kakuzu and walked into the guard unit.

A moment later.

The Eighth Generation, accompanied by the silent Kakuzu, arrived at the demonstration notice board at the entrance of the Uchiha clan's territory.

Subsidies for the elderly and orphans.

Compensation for fallen ninjas.

Hardship allowance, and recognition for the roots of the sky.

Public disclosure of procurement of public facilities and research funding.

The distribution and system of maternity allowances.

The full text of the Naruto's fireside conversation is included.

Kakuzu seemed to be under a spell, his deep green pupils fixed on the contents of the notice board.

Uchiha Hachimoku stood silently beside him, reading the contents of their fireside conversation.

This is a classic he never tires of watching, to the point that he can recite it from memory.

This is also why he has decided to report to the Hokage and apply to join Root!

People should know how to be grateful.

After a while.

A voice that was familiar to Kakuzu rang out, but the content didn't sound like what the voice's owner should be saying—

"Fugaku, Isshin!"

"I, Danzo, did indeed have reservations about the Uchiha clan before; it was my fault, I was narrow-minded!"

"From now on, let's work hard together in the Anbu and the police department, and give our all for the village and the Hokage! Don't worry about Aoshui with me; I'll give him all my resources. He has the potential to be Hokage!"

Kakuzu and Yashiro turned around together and saw a scene that left them speechless.

Danzo, with his arms around Fugaku and Isshin's shoulders, his flushed face reeking of alcohol, spoke loudly.

The once-powerful Ninja Darkness now resembles a drunkard—

Tobirama followed silently behind them, his expression complex, but inwardly he was quite satisfied.

Danzo's attitude was the only one he could barely accept!