Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

Chapter 170: Tsuchi Hanzo Enters Konoha, an Old Brother Who Has Been Friends for a Long Time (1.1 Words Long Chapter!)

Leaf.

Hokage Building.

"Hiruzen, what does Hanzo mean by this?"

"He came alone?"

Danzo frowned, holding his special intelligence-receiving ninja tool, and said in a deep voice, "I suspect something's amiss!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his cigarette and asked, "When did the village discover Hanzo's whereabouts? Are you sure he was alone?"

Danzo was taken aback. Why was Hiruzen concerned about this?

But since Hiruzen had asked, he answered honestly and professionally: "Seventeen kilometers into the Land of Fire, we received a report from the Ibri tribe that their mist-transformation technique is very effective in hiding in the forest, and they have recently achieved many successes—"

"After the report was submitted, the patrol team quickly verified the information and confirmed that it was indeed Hanzo."

"After the Anbu's mobile squad and Root flanked him, they found no ninjas supporting him behind Hanzo, on his flanks, or in the direction of Amegakure—"

Konoha's defensive perimeter is now steadily expanding step by step.

First were the Konoha reserve forces stationed on the outskirts, namely the Ibri clan and the Tsuchigumo clan.

These two ninja clans, which later joined Konoha, are now under the management of Kakuzu and have been replaced by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Under the guidance of the veteran Kakuzu, these two clans, which were originally considered "disorganized and undisciplined," became increasingly organized.

The discovery was extremely timely for some bounty hunters and wandering ninjas who had infiltrated Konoha.

This is also the result of Kakuzu's "reverse training experience"—

After all, who could understand the ins and outs of this better than him?

As Konoha's economy developed, positions like the Anbu and Root, which were "fully funded by the village," became more common, requiring them to work full-time for the village.

I no longer take on orders frequently, but I might take on one or two low-level tasks during my vacation, just to relax.

This is naturally beneficial to combat effectiveness and professional competence.

This wasn't done in the past simply because the cost of ninjas was too high; Konoha couldn't afford to support so many people.

However, this also led to a small problem.

With Hiruzen Sarutobi appointed as the "Shogun," a rare honeymoon period has arrived between the nobles and ninjas of the Land of Fire, resulting in a significant increase in both the number of missions and rewards.

However, the task was too much to handle because although the birth subsidy had been implemented, it would take time for the effective increase in the population to materialize.

After listening to Danzo's explanation, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

He was fairly satisfied.

The village has spent so much money on construction and expenditures; there should be some improvement to be seen.

As a military and violent group, having guarantees isn't about supporting lazy people; otherwise, all that effort would be wasted.

"Is this new ninja tool any good?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to Danzo's waist, where there was something that looked like a walkie-talkie.

These are ninja tools developed by Orochimaru, Hiruko, and others for the Yamanaka clan in response to the village's increasing need for communication.

It uses chakra metal as its core component, supplemented by sealing techniques.

It can transmit information accurately even in extremely harsh environments and under chakra interference, and its range is significantly enhanced compared to the traditional formations of the Yamanaka clan.

"Hmph," Danzo snorted coldly, knowing that this was one of Orochimaru's projects.

"It's not bad, I guess. With so much money invested, even a mediocre person could produce some results!" Danzo scoffed first, then reluctantly said, "With this, once the corresponding Jonin and squad leaders are equipped with it, intelligence transmission is indeed much faster."

"However, Hiruzen, you should still be careful! I'm not targeting Orochimaru specifically."

"Although he's your apprentice, he's always been dishonest when it comes to money. He was like that back in the old headquarters. You can't trust him too much!"

Danzo couldn't resist adding insult to injury.

Hiruzen Sarutobi responded with an "Oh," and said, "Okay, I'll be careful—"

There's no need to refute Danzo; just take this as a joke.

Compared to research funding, Orochimaru's willingness to proactively inform me of the highly sensitive forbidden technique "Reanimation Jutsu" already demonstrates the sublimation and strength of the master-disciple bond.

Even setting aside any ties, the personnel arrangements in the research department alone are enough to put Hiruzen Sarutobi at ease.

There is a balance of power between Tsunade, Hiruko, and Orochimaru.

Recently, Hiruzen Sarutobi learned of this again.

His teacher, Tobirama, went to join Hashirama's cell research group, and a young man joined the research department—

Then there's even less to worry about.

The First Ninja of Darkness was no joke!

"By the way, how's Aozumi doing lately—" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a smile, "Are you two getting along well?"

The mere mention of Qingshui brought a genuine smile to Danzo's face.

The purity of that smile startled even Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Danzo, how come he can smile in a way that makes people feel sunny?

"Hiruzen, I'm not exaggerating."

Danzo said with a hint of smugness, "My disciple, Qingshui, has the potential to become Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in agreement.

That's absolutely right.

I can't argue with that, he truly has the makings of a Naruto!

"You think so too, Hiruzen?" Danzo laughed.

His old friend's recognition of his disciple made Danzo even happier than if Danzo himself had been recognized.

After all, this is a direct descendant of Tobirama-sensei—

Danzo himself was quite surprised when he realized this.

As Danzo gazed at the photograph of the First Shinobi every day, he unconsciously thought about it.

Why is he pursuing the Hokage position?

"Of course, Qingshui is excellent in every way, as you and I both know."

"But don't put too much pressure on Aozumi; he's still just a boy," Hiruzen Sarutobi emphasized.

No matter what, Tobirama had been kind to him, otherwise he wouldn't be alive today.

They've been summoned back from the Pure Land to work for the teacher, so we can't exploit them too much.

We still need to have a human touch.

Of course, if Tobirama couldn't stay idle and wanted to take the initiative to do things for the village, that would be a different story—

"Also, regarding Qingshui's private affairs, even though you are his master, you shouldn't interfere too much—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said tactfully, "I know you want to get closer to Isshin and the Uchiha, but there's no need to rush into anything premature."

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was extremely busy, he still paid relatively close attention to Tobirama's affairs.

Through channels such as Hiyori, he learned about Danzo and Isshin arranging a marriage for Tobirama.

Upon hearing that they were to find a woman from the Uchiha clan for Tobirama, Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly lost his composure.

Is that right?

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't mean that Tobirama wouldn't have a new experience living a second life.

However, the Hokage knew that his mentor had some personality issues.

While chatting with Mito, Hiruzen Sarutobi heard many jokes about Tobirama's arranged marriages, which made him laugh quite a bit.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's opinion, Tobirama should just find someone who's a homebody and easygoing.

As for who to choose in the end, that's the teacher's private matter. As long as it doesn't violate village rules, he won't interfere.

Others may not know the true identity of "Seisui," but Hiruzen Sarutobi does.

After all, he was the mastermind behind Tobirama's transformation into an Uchiha.

"You're too weak, Hiruzen!" Danzo said, unusually adopting his old tone: "Although Aozumi is an Uchiha, he—" Danzo paused.

Even if it's just the two of them, they must get used to keeping it a secret and not reveal the "Qingshui" bloodline.

Then Danzo changed the subject: "Bone with the will of fire!"

"Such a promising talent, it would be a shame not to use him for a marriage alliance!" Danzo said seriously. "Hiruzen, you are the Hokage! But you are also the Shogun of the Land of Fire. There are some things you can learn from the thinking of those nobles."

"Qingshui was rescued by the village, so he should do something for the village. There are some things he didn't have a choice to do!"

"From an aristocratic perspective, Qing Shui is the perfect tool for us to form an alliance with the Uchiha clan through marriage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood what Danzo meant.

Noble marriages were never driven by emotion; their core purpose was power consolidation and risk mitigation.

By linking blood ties, two independent forces are transformed into a "community of shared interests," avoiding conflict and consolidating their relationship at the lowest cost.

The key prerequisite for a successful marriage alliance is finding a middleman.

There must be an individual who can be accepted by both parties, who can both bear the interests of one party and be trusted by the other party.

The dual attributes of "Qingshui" perfectly match this requirement.

The problem is, if "Seisui" is truly just a descendant of Tobirama, then this approach wouldn't be a problem—

After all, even though he is the grandson of the Hokage, he still enjoys abundant resources, so he should be the one to step up when something really happens.

The same was true for Hiruzen Sarutobi in the past—

If, during the First Shinobi World War, the Second Kage of either Kumogakure or Iwagakure had proposed a marriage alliance between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hiruzen Sarutobi to end the war—

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't refuse.

Politics is not child's play; there isn't that much freedom involved.

But the problem is-

"Seisui" is actually Tobirama Senju himself!

Even among the nobility, a group with very low standards, it was common for members of the royal family to marry into other families, but I have never seen anyone ask the "retired emperor" to do such a thing!

This seems a bit too flexible—

"Um--"

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered, "No matter what, we can't violate the village's rules, and we must respect Aomizu's and the other party's wishes."

"Let's set the tone here. Don't interfere with what happens after that; just let things take their natural course."

Hiruzen Sarutobi made the decisive choice to stay out of it!

I will not participate or ask questions.

The monkey has nothing to do with the accident.

As the Hokage, he shouldn't be concerned with these things.

It's nothing more than petty squabbles between teenagers.

Regarding arranged marriages, Hiruzen Sarutobi would only seriously consider and try to get to know a female ninja from another village who was close to the level of Hashirama and Madara.

Unfortunately, there is none in the ninja world.

This also made Hiruzen Sarutobi somewhat regretful, since Biwako had proactively told him she didn't mind—

Danzo shook his head in dissatisfaction, clearly not taking his old comrade's words to heart.

"Hiruzen, you probably don't know this—"

"I asked Tobirama-sensei, and he supports sending Aoi-sui for a political marriage! This is a necessary sacrifice—" Danzo thought to himself. The Second Hokage has already agreed!

As for how he asked the question, Danzo would look at Tobirama's photo album and talk to himself every night.

Deep down, he felt that Tobirama accepted his logic, just as he felt he would be the Fourth Hokage and Aokiji the Fifth Hokage.

If you want to become Hokage, you should first sacrifice some of your freedom for the village!

"Hiruzen, let's not talk about this anymore. What should we do about Hanzo?"

Danzo changed the subject.

He had his own thoughts about Qingshui—

After all, he was Qingshui's master!

Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly, "Hanzo's solo entry into Konoha shows his sincerity, which represents his trust in us—"

"But on the other hand, it's also a way of showing his power to Konoha."

"After all, he was once called a man who 'close to standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world' by the ninjas, and he also defeated Jiraiya and his team in the Second Shinobi World War. The ninjas in the village have a deep impression of him."

Hanzo's actions reminded him of Liu Biao, Liu Jingsheng.

So you've turned Konoha into a vassal state, haven't you?

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also somewhat surprised.

Since the Second Shinobi World War, Hanzo, who was once active in the shinobi world, has largely disappeared from the scene.

As a result, Amegakure remained silent for a long time, as if the entire village had fallen into a state of silence.

Even the much weaker Kusagakure was more influential in the ninja world during that period than Amegakure.

On the contrary, Hanzo began to take action again after Konoha started to rise.

They unified their propaganda message, genuinely promoting the last Shinobi World War in Amegakure and the Land of Rain, blaming Iwagakure and Sunagakure as the culprits, and positioning themselves and Konoha as "victims."

However, Hanzo's statement is not entirely wrong.

Although he exacerbated the conflict and wanted to demonstrate his power on a larger stage, it was indeed Sunagakure and Iwagakure that subsequently attempted to escalate the war.

Therefore, this statement has gained widespread acceptance in Amegakure.

Recently, Hanzo has been frequently exchanging and communicating with the administrative department of Konoha.

At least in terms of attitude, they have shown considerable sincerity and demonstrated a willingness to cooperate deeply with Konoha.

Today, he came to Konoha all by himself—

"I must say, Hanzo's actions were quite heroic—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and said, "I'd really like to befriend someone like that!"

"Well then, since he came alone, I'll greet him alone too."

"Whatever moves you have, I, the Hokage, will take them on."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke calmly, his relaxed demeanor revealing immense confidence.

Just a Hanzo—

They're not like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha—

Can it turn the world upside down?

Danzo was taken aback, his eyes fixed on Hiruzen.

You say Hanzo has the air of a hero—but aren't you, the Hokage, just as heroic?

Damn it, I really want to learn this!

"Shall I go get you the materials on Hanzo? The village made a backup of the information about his Salamander Poison Mist and Body Flicker Technique after the last war, and I also had Root do a thorough investigation."

"Take another look at Hiruzen. Although there's basically no chance he'll make a move, it's always good to be prepared," Danzo said softly.

"Thank you for your hard work, Danzo." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a smile: "Your intelligence work is always so thorough."

Danzo frowned: "Hard work? I get the feeling you're being sarcastic—"

But despite saying it, Danzo was still quite pleased with himself.

A moment later, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced through the materials Danzo had brought in such a flurry and nodded.

It is indeed very complete.

Interestingly, based on some of the details, Hiruzen Sarutobi was able to deduce that Danzo and Hanzo had reached some kind of cooperation in the past.

He didn't know this before—

However, since Danzo was willing to give it to him, the matter can be considered over.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his divine robe and picked up his pipe: "Give instructions to all the Konoha committee members and the Jonin in charge. Hanzo and I will most likely be taking a walk around the village."

"Please tell everyone not to panic or be overly curious, and to maintain a stable order."

Danzo nodded: "Leave it to me, Hiruzen!"

At that moment, Danzo suddenly remembered Orochimaru in the research department, and a smile crept onto his face.

Even if you are the Hokage's disciple, what good is it?

"The person Hiruzen trusts and relies on the most has always been me!" Danzo thought to himself with satisfaction.

#

Outside Konoha Village.

Hanzo slowly walked towards the entrance of the village.

Along the way, he had already noticed something was amiss.

As a strongman who has fought on the front lines of the battlefield.

Although the Aburame, Inuzuka, and Iburi clans' investigative methods are covert, it is impossible for them to remain completely undetected if they are well-prepared.

Even so, Hanzo was secretly alarmed.

Even if he doesn't reveal his whereabouts, he knows deep down that he will most likely still be discovered.

The system of overt and covert sentries, reconnaissance ninjas, and patrol squads forms a tightly integrated network.

It's almost impossible to avoid.

"I'm afraid only someone with the invisibility technique of the Second Tsuchikage, 'Mu,' could infiltrate silently."

"But it's hard to say. Mito Uzumaki is still here. Even if her perception is 'nothing,' she should still be able to detect it—" Hanzo continued to gather information.

Since his willpower was restored, Hanzo felt as if he had become ten years younger, and had once again become the hero who could fight on the battlefield for five days and five nights with full energy.

Willpower and mindset can sometimes be quite wondrous.

"But now that they've discovered me, why haven't they made a move?"

Hanzo's arrival was made after prior communication between Konoha and Amegakure, so it cannot be considered an unannounced visit.

They simply didn't bring any guards or a delegation as is customary.

"Are you shocked by what I've done?" Hanzo smiled slightly, as if he could already see Hiruzen Sarutobi holding an emergency meeting and studying him.

"Although the goal is cooperation, negotiation itself is a form of strategic maneuvering."

"I can't go at your pace!" Hanzo thought to himself, and quickened his pace.

They arrived at a few kilometers away from the entrance to Konoha.

Hanzo, who was on a forced march, suddenly stopped.

Because in the distance he was gazing, Hiruzen Sarutobi was smoking a pipe, watching him with a smile.

Hanzo felt a chill run down his spine.

Why is the other person also alone?

But he quickly calmed down, slowed his pace, and walked slowly toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As Hanzo walked, he glanced at the Hokage and couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

After figuring things out and deciding to give it another shot, Hanzo felt much younger.

Before coming to Konoha, he specially changed into a brand new set of clothes and cloak, even his breathing mask was brand new, and his chains were polished to a shine.

A leader with a strong and neat appearance always inspires respect in others.

But compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hanzo's rallied spirit is nothing.

"When did he become so robust and powerful? And his face—it's clearly like he looked more than a decade ago—this isn't just a display of energy; it's like time has reversed!"

"This intense chakra, and this feeling of power overflowing—" Hanzo quietly activated his sensory technique, which he was somewhat skilled in.

In his perception, Hiruzen Sarutobi was like a furnace, radiating vigorous life force and chakra energy just by standing there.

"You're here?"

Upon seeing Hanzo arrive, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke and said casually, as if having a casual chat, "I didn't expect Lord Hanzo to come alone."

In this first round of negotiations, even if Hanzo didn't want to admit it, he understood that he was at a disadvantage.

One-on-one —

In this first round, Hanzo intended to seize the initiative in the negotiations by demonstrating the same spirit as before.

But the result is obvious.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's current state greatly exceeded Hanzo's expectations!

What exactly happened in the past few years?

Hanzo couldn't help but question the meaning of life.

He had met Hiruzen Sarutobi right after the last Shinobi World War ended.

At that time, Hiruzen Sarutobi, while still appearing quite robust, exuded an inner and outer weariness, giving off the air of a middle-aged or elderly person.

And now, he is in his prime, in the full bloom of his youth!

Before coming, Hanzo was thinking to himself, "I hope Hiruzen Sarutobi won't disappoint him."

But this was a bit too much of a disappointment for him!

"Your condition is truly astonishing—" Hanzo walked to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and said softly, "I never expected that you would personally come out of the village to greet me."

"Lord Hanzo is still in great shape, his charm undiminished—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and extended his hand: "Welcome to Amegakure. Since Lord Hanzo trusts Konoha so much, I, as the Hokage, should not be impolite."

"My job today is to accompany you for a walk around the village, without being disturbed by anyone else, so that the two of us can stroll around and chat at our leisure."

Hanzo shook hands with Hiruzen Sarutobi with a solemn expression: "Thank you for your attention, Hokage-sama."

The two walked side by side.

"I have carefully reviewed the report from the administration department regarding the in-depth cooperation between the two villages."

"The main problems of Amegakure are the lack of mission quotas and the reduction of fiscal revenue, which are closely related to the conflicts between you and the local nobles after you launched the Shinobi World War."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly.

Hanzo nodded: "That's true—"

As a small, hidden village, it faced immense pressure and criticism for placing the main battlefield of the Ninja World War within its own country.

It was only because Hanzo's reputation and strength were indeed among the best in the ninja world back then that he was spared too much criticism.

Even so, the daimyo and nobles of the Land of Rain felt offended by Hanzo's disregard for advice and deeply distrusted this "monster ninja" who impulsively decided to wage war against the two great hidden villages.

If we win, everything will be fine, and the nobles will change their attitude accordingly.

But the problem is, they didn't win.

As the main battlefield, the Rain Kingdom suffered heavy losses in various facilities and among its personnel.

Located at the intersection of the three major hidden villages, Amegakure offers its nobles a wide range of choices.

They can place orders in Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Konoha, and even Kusagakure to fulfill their mission requirements and express their dissatisfaction with Hanzo and Amegakure.

This silent resistance left Hanzo helpless.

After all, given Amegakure's sensitive location, if he were to attack nobles and daimyo, he would be giving other hidden villages a legal basis to unite and attack him.

When the nobles of the Land of Rain found Hanzo after many years in search of Konoha's "Sacred Pill," he was deeply shocked.

How could a product from Konoha make these nobles, who have been in a cold war with him for so many years, lower their stance and take the initiative to come to his door?

"Does the Hokage have a way to help Amegakure?" Hanzo asked softly.

"Yes." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "To be honest, the needs of Amegakure and Konoha happen to match. We have a surplus of missions on our side, and we lack the manpower to handle them."

"The production of 'Holy Landan' has recently seen a breakthrough, and we want to expand our sales channels."

Hanzo's eyes lit up.

Is this a move to allocate a portion of Konoha's mission quota to Amegakure?

But Hiruzen Sarutobi's words also made Hanzo feel heartbroken.

Redundant task allocation?

What are you saying!

Konoha has a large population, but even so, are there still too many missions to handle?

Think of Amegakure; the ninjas there have to compete fiercely with other great hidden villages for a single mission.

One is a picky eater, and the other is so hungry they can't take it anymore.

Comparing yourself to others will only make you miserable!

"Amegakure desperately needs these—"

Hanzo immediately said, "I understand. These things can't be obtained for free. Please, Hokage, tell me what Konoha needs Amegakure to do!"

"Lord Hanzo, there's no need to rush." ​​Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand with a smile: "In the ninja world, all previous alliances and peace agreements have always been just pieces of paper, utterly devoid of credibility—"

"This is because the conflicts between them have not been resolved. Both sides just want to rest and recuperate for the time being so that they can prepare for another battle in the future."

"Sunagakure needs fertile land, Iwagakure harbors inherent hostility towards Konoha, and Kirigakure's internal conflicts require suppressing external forces as an outlet for their internal strife—"

"As for the situation in Kumogakure, everyone knows that they are bandits in the ninja world."

Hanzo nodded in agreement, listening intently to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

This is why he chose to give up pursuing peace after the Second Shinobi World War.

The five hidden villages each have their own ideas and demands, and none of them are willing to submit to the others.

Just like the Senju and Uchiha in the past, it's impossible to sit down and talk until they're completely exhausted and a clear winner is determined.

Even though Konoha has always stated that it only wants peace and tranquility, it's useless.

Despite Hashirama's reputation, other hidden villages fear that Konoha might produce another Madara Uchiha.

If we fail to achieve any results during Konoha's lull, the consequences will be very troublesome once they develop.

No one can guarantee that the Senju and Uchiha clans, both with a history spanning thousands of years, won't produce some extraordinary individuals.

No one wants to be ruled by force.

Furthermore, the Kage all believed that as long as their own hidden villages united, they had the potential to reach the top. Not to mention Uchiha Madara, even if another Tobirama emerged, it would be something that the other great hidden villages would never want to see.

It can only be said that having wealthy ancestors is a double-edged sword.

Inheriting a rich legacy means bearing the fear and covetousness of external wolves.

"The conflict between Konoha and them is irreconcilable—"

"Or rather, the price of reconciliation is that Konoha has to bear unfair demands, which naturally defeats the purpose."

"But Amegakure is different. It can work together with Konoha to achieve mutual benefit and complement each other. Lord Hanzo has repeatedly promoted the friendship that should exist between your village and Konoha, which has shown me the foundation for true cooperation between the two villages."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly said, "Therefore, I hope that after Lord Hanzo gains a deeper understanding of Konoha, the two sides can reach an alliance that is different from any other form of alliance in the ninja world, forming a truly close community of interests."

"Betrayal and betrayal are commonplace in the ninja world, and I'm tired of seeing them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hanzo: "Just like the Senju and Uchiha clans in the past, there have been unpleasant incidents between Konoha and Amegakure, but as long as we all try our best to show sincerity, we may be able to become one family."

Hanzo's expression showed some emotion.

Should we take the Senju and Uchiha clans as examples?

This is actually giving Amegakure a lot of credit—

Because no matter how you look at it, Amegakure is just a small, hidden village.

Compared to Konoha, it's inappropriate to use the Senju vs. Uchiha example, where the two were evenly matched.

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally knew this, but he didn't care.

What's the value of words? They're just a pretty sedan chair carried by people.

When chatting casually, you can address him as "Lord Hanzo".

However, when the agreement involves Konoha's core interests, we must listen to him, the Hokage!

"I understand the Hokage's sincerity—"

"In that case, please show me Konoha as it is today, Hokage. I will try my best to understand it and then talk to you with the utmost sincerity."

"It was rather impolite of me to bring up the agreement so abruptly; please forgive me."

Hanzo said softly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly.

If outsiders overheard the tone of this conversation, they would hardly guess that it was between the leaders of Konoha and Amegakure.

They were both very polite.

And that is the power of sincerity.

Hanzo was eager to cooperate, but Hiruzen Sarutobi refused first, telling him to inspect the goods and then think about it.

"Please go ahead—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo entered the gates of Konoha.

Under the respectful gaze of the gatekeeper, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo walked side by side through the streets and alleys of Konoha.

The commercial district surrounding Konoha alone dazzled Hanzo.

"I've only heard from caravans that Konoha is now more prosperous than any other village, even more bustling than the capital of the Land of Fire—"

"Seeing it with my own eyes confirms that what was said was true!"

"Compared to Konoha, calling the capital of the Land of Rain a rural area would be an understatement!"

It encompasses stores from almost every industry, and they are all top-of-the-line and trendy.

Hanzo also discovered something.

He observed that the police officers maintaining discipline worked together seamlessly and appeared friendly.

"Those are the Aburame clan—"

"Is the Konoha Police Department no longer solely controlled by the Uchiha? No wonder there's been a lot of new information about the Uchiha lately in the ninja world—"

"And the Hyuga clan—the conservative Hyuga clan, how could they allow their branch family to join the Anbu?"

A knowledgeable leader like Hanzo could immediately see that this was a sign of increased cohesion in Konoha.

The various ninja clans have been united into one by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hanzo also noticed that wherever Hiruzen Sarutobi went, even where they weren't looking, the ninjas gazed at him with immense reverence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi kept waving to the ninjas with a kind smile, clearly indicating that he was very popular in Konoha.

If the Third Mizukage could see this scene, he could also analyze these things.

He may enjoy playing Bloody Mist mini-games, but that doesn't mean he lacks basic logical reasoning skills.

Unfortunately, he and Kirigakure were targeted by Madara Uchiha.

The Water Kingdom was already in a state of isolation, with limited access to information.

Madara Uchiha also mobilized a large number of White Zetsu and personally took action, creating a "Madara's World" for Kirigakure!

They made some minor adjustments and fabricated some false information.

The higher-ups in Kirigakure believed that the current state of the Konoha ninja clans was not due to cohesion, but rather because Hiruzen Sarutobi had lost control, forcing him to relinquish control of many key positions.

It was an incredibly large-scale illusion!

But at that very moment, an accident occurred.

A merchant from another village, who was being questioned by Uchiha En, suddenly threw a smoke bomb on the ground.

His entire body moved like lightning, a faint layer of lightning crackling around him, clearly using the technique of activating his physical body with Lightning Release chakra, as he desperately ran in the opposite direction—

He was a spy for Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village).

His expression was clearly off when he saw Hanzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi walking side by side.

This scene was captured by Uchiha En.

In addition, the lingering scent of Kumogakure on him had already aroused suspicion among the Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs, and he had been under surveillance ever since he entered Konoha.

Uchiha En had barely asked two questions when the Cloud Village spies couldn't take it anymore—

"Good lad, quick reaction!" Uchiha En roared, his three tomoe eyes opening.

He hadn't seen anyone running rampant in Konoha for a long time.

Today is still the day Hanzo visits Konoha.

That damned Cloud Village, aren't they trying to ruin him and the Uchiha clan?

This actually has nothing to do with whether the police department is competent or not, because that's just how the ninja world works.

Infiltration and counter-infiltration will never stop, but the Uchiha clan is just that concerned with saving face—

"Hokage-sama?" Hanzo frowned.

This Cloud Village scout is clearly extremely skilled in speed. Although his other talents are not apparent, his movement speed alone surpasses that of most Jonin.

They are clearly the elite of the Hidden Cloud Village.

"It's alright—" Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly.

He didn't move.

He believed that Konoha's defense system would prevent the enemy from escaping.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking.

A lightning bolt, compressed to its limit, shot out from high above like a divine punishment, piercing the throat of the Cloud Village spy with remarkable precision!

It was Hyuga Hizashi.

Even when the opponent is moving at high speed, Hiyori's accuracy and predictive ability are clearly superior.

Uchiha En glared at the three-tomoe jade pendant and said, "Tch—"

"Well, he's dead anyway! Guys from Aburame, lend a hand and get this disgusting beast to the analysis class. I bet he's from Kumogakure—"

Uchiha En was slightly annoyed, but he was more surprised than anything else.

He saw that it was Hizashi who made the move.

But isn't this distance too far?

The Hyuga Gentle Fist style has been practiced for almost a thousand years. When did they come up with this technique?

Hanzo was also stunned.

What kind of technique is this?

He couldn't help but think that if war broke out with Konoha, few in Amegakure could withstand such long-range, single-target attacks alone.

Not to mention the mid-level ninjas below!

If they met in the forest terrain of the Land of Fire and flew kites, wouldn't they be picked off one by one?

Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, looked quite pleased.

Who doesn't like a good student?

Clearly, Hizashi had diligently studied his techniques for controlling, gathering, and releasing chakra—

Furthermore, by combining the essence of cursed seals and Byakugan, it has developed its own unique characteristics.

"An astonishing technique—" Hanzo muttered to himself, "Who is this person?"

"They are my eyes and my right and left arms," ​​Hiruzen Sarutobi replied with a smile.

Hanzo sighed.

He did have capable assistants, but compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, they seemed to fall short.

This little incident passed quickly.

After all, cleaning up the mess won't take long.

The two then entered the inner ring of Konoha.

Here, Hiruzen Sarutobi led Hanzo on a tour of Konoha's Ninja Academy.

After seeing the basic stats of the ninja academy students, Hanzo's expression gradually became numb.

Is this still a student at the Ninja Academy?

Many students, even if you sent Chunin from Amegakure, would only be at this level.

Hanzo also keenly noticed the densely packed schedules of public classes for the parents of the Konoha ninja.

Let's take a look at today's dishes—

Hiruzen Sarutobi led Hanzo to the kitchen of Konoha, where a dazzling array of dishes were being prepared in an orderly manner, filling the air with their aroma.

"Is this all for the ninja academy students?" Hanzo couldn't help but ask.

"We can have some too—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi joked, "The children are growing, so naturally they need to eat well. The village provides it for free."

Hanzo's expression became somewhat unnatural.

Amegakure is very poor. Let alone food, many children can barely fill their stomachs.

This is inseparable from their terrible geographical environment and the destruction caused by the Second Shinobi World War.

Next.

Hanzo visited various areas of Konoha, except for the strictly confidential Research Department.

He stood on the Uchiha clan's model bulletin board for a long time.

Like Kisame and the others, they meticulously read every policy and guarantee of Konoha, their expressions shifting from disbelief to numbness, and then to a slightly fanatical reading as they looked at it again and again.

Is this still the life of a ninja?

Hanzo would never have believed it if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes!

Konoha Hospital.

Hanzo then saw the prosthetic bodies and medical chakra scrolls that Konoha was promoting.

"Teacher! I was just about to tell you—"

Tsunade rushed over and, upon seeing Hanzo, her brow furrowed subconsciously.

There's no way around it; any of the Legendary Sannin would probably react the same way upon seeing Hanzo.

Hanzo was slightly embarrassed.

Things are different now.

In the past, he could stand atop the head of the salamander, looking down at Tsunade and the others, bestowing upon them the title of "Sannin," maintaining a high-handed attitude.

But after witnessing Konoha's strength, Hanzo understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi had told him to take a look before making a decision—

I dare not hope to be like Konoha—

Even if Amegakure had half the prosperity of Konoha, it would be like celebrating New Year's Day every day!

"I never expected to see you in the village—"

Tsunade looked Hanzo over with a complicated expression: "Sensei, what's going on here?"

"Actually, Hanzo is a friend of mine for many years. We were both misled by Sunagakure and Iwagakure before, and unfortunately, we brothers turned against each other—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi used Hanzo's story from Amegakure without changing his expression.

Hanzo's eyes lit up.

He knew it—

He had been keeping an eye on Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Hiruzen must have been keeping an eye on him too!

The two of them had known each other for a long time!

"I really don't understand you Kage. When I become Hokage, I'll definitely speak my mind—"

Tsunade's lips twitched, and after thinking for a moment, she said, "No, Hanzo can only be called the leader, he's not a Kage—"

Hanzo's face darkened: "Thank you for pointing this out, Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin."

Tsunade couldn't hold back any longer and was about to say something.

"Alright, alright—" Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to smooth things over: "Let's not talk about the past!"

These two have also reopened old wounds with each other.

"Teacher, the first draft of the Medical Chakra Scroll has been completed."

"I need some ninja academy students or skilled ninjas from the village to test it out during sparring sessions, so I can get some data and experience on how to use it in actual combat."

Tsunade said slowly.

Feedback on using corpses can only be obtained after a large amount of actual use.

Medical chakra scrolls are essential for saving lives on the battlefield; even the smallest detail could determine the fate of a Konoha ninja.

Of course, this is also related to Konoha's ample finances, which gave Tsunade the leeway to do so.

"Rest assured, each of these scrolls contains ample medical chakra. Unless the patient has suffered a fatal blow to the head or heart, they can be saved—"

Tsunade said with a grin, "I've also prepared an extra portion for you. I know you like to spar with the village ninjas, but you're always hesitant and afraid of accidentally hurting your own people. Now you don't have to worry about that—"

"When Jiraiya returns, you must give him a good beating, teacher!"

Tsunade gritted her teeth: "He's just constantly hyping himself up. One minute he's saying he's invincible, the next he's calling himself a great writer who'll 'break through the heavens with his endurance!'"

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but laugh.

Jiraiya's personality is like that of a lively, lovable character—

Clearly, Mount Myōboku effectively cured Jiraiya's mental exhaustion by bestowing upon Hiruzen Sarutobi the title of "Master of Prophecy."

Because Mount Myōboku and Konoha were united.

Jiraiya no longer needed to dwell on ambiguous things, and his personality became more cheerful, even a bit lively.

Meanwhile, Hanzo, standing to the side, fell into deep thought.

Medical chakra scroll?

If it could be used in large numbers on the battlefield, the strategic significance would be unimaginable!

At this point, Hanzo understood.

The reason Hiruzen Sarutobi was willing to cooperate with Amegakure was most likely because the two had long admired each other and understood each other's difficulties, which is why he was given a helping hand.

Otherwise, wouldn't there be plenty of partners to cooperate with?

Of course, that's not the case. Amegakure, as the "sixth" Great Hidden Village, is irreplaceable.

But Hanzo was so shocked by the series of advanced moves by Konoha that he thought to himself—

"Naruto"

"I have seen Konoha's sincerity and prosperity."

"Now that things have come to this, I believe you understand that Amegakure's greatest resource is actually myself."

Hanzo stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said softly, "As you know, in order to achieve deep cooperation, military strength is always the most important bargaining chip and the foundation of trust in the ninja world."

"Since we've run into the medical chakra scroll developed by Tsunade."

"Why don't we have a duel, and I'll be the first test subject?"

Tsunade frowned deeply.

She knew how powerful Hanzo was.

But what she didn't expect was...

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately agreed, as if afraid Hanzo might change his mind: "Alright!"

PS:

Here comes a 10,000-word chapter!

I overslept this morning (orz) - it's a little late.