Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

Chapter 183 The Bond Between Nagato and Hiruzen Sarutobi, Several Months of Peaceful Development (A Long Chapter of 12,000 Words!)

Mito watched the mother and son reunite and smiled silently.

Nine-Tails has already told her.

When Nagato saw his mother, the vague and unstable malice in his heart vanished in an instant.

This is the power of the Impure World Reincarnation.

The separation of Yin and Yang is also a form of information gap.

The living encounter all sorts of things, yet remain unaware of the simple, unpretentious expectations their deceased loved ones had for them, which may lead to a kind of biased, unrealistic expectation—

Nagato has this tendency.

Tomie is a prime example; she even forced herself to develop a bloodline disease—

"Son, you've grown so much!"

"Mom never thought she'd see you again. Your eyes—" Fusang lovingly stroked Nagato's red hair, letting out a soft sigh.

After being resurrected by Mito using Edo Tensei, the two women communicated effortlessly.

A person's name is like a tree's shadow; Mito's name resounded throughout the Uzumaki clan. She was once considered by Uzushio Village to be the most likely person to stop Uzumaki Ashina.

Even if Mito married into the Senju clan and settled in Konoha, some members of the Uzumaki clan still fantasized that Mito might still persuade her father to stop researching forbidden techniques and allow the Uzumaki clan to enter Konoha.

Given the isolated location of the Land of Whirlpools, anyone with a modicum of sense would understand that it is extremely vulnerable to surprise attacks should war break out.

Konoha, which is always the first to be besieged, finds it difficult to spare resources to provide support.

Not to mention that the Uzumaki clan has always been coveted by the ninja world.

"We should thank Lady Mito properly, son—"

Fusang grasped Nagato's hand and said earnestly, "If it weren't for Lady Mito's tireless efforts to protect her clan, your maternal grandparents would have died at the hands of the Kaguya clan's madmen. Then there would be no mother, and no you—"

Uzumaki Hana, who is Fusō's mother and Nagato's maternal grandmother, spoke of this incident many times to express her gratitude to Mito for saving her life in the bloody battle against Kaguya's clan.

"Thank you, Lady Mito!"

Nagato quickly turned to Mito and lowered her head deeply.

"You two, mother and daughter, talk to each other—"

Mito said softly, "Fusang, you can also walk around the village and see for yourself. Seeing is believing, and hearing is deceiving. You should also consider my words critically."

"However, you should be careful about the time. With the current limitations of the Impure World Reincarnation, your soul will not feel anything unusual within three days of being separated from the protection of your body, but after that, you will gradually start to feel a burning pain—"

Nagato held Fusō's hand, and only after Mito's reminder did she realize that her mother's hand was cold.

This is not resurrection, but some kind of spell—

"Is this why Xiaonan was misunderstood by others before?"

"Some say that Paper Release is inherently evil, and it seems it was used in conjunction with this technique before—"

Nagato suppressed the strange thought in his mind.

Is this evil?

But he felt this technique was sacred—

To allow relatives and friends to reunite.

Even if it's temporary, it can make up for many regrets.

Especially for those who weren't able to see each other one last time and say a proper goodbye—

Nagato couldn't quite figure it out for a moment, so she kept the question to herself.

"Thank you, Lady Mito—"

"I have always remembered your kindness since I was a child!" The red-haired woman quickly stood up, bowed to Mito, and spoke with utmost sincerity.

Mito sighed, "We're all family, why are we speaking like that?"

After saying that, he turned and left, giving Nagato and her son some space to have a private conversation.

#

Leaf.

Fusang, arm in arm with Nagato, strolled casually through the village on a sunny day.

This is already the second day that Fusang has been visiting Konoha.

But the look of surprise on her face did not fade at all.

Konoha, having surpassed the capital of the Land of Fire to become the most prosperous city-state in the Land of Fire and even the ninja world, had a comprehensive impact on Fusang.

This is far more exaggerated than that of Kakuzu, Nakamaro, and others—

These two people are experienced and worldly-wise.

They were either born into powerful clans in remote villages or had plenty of money while traveling the ninja world, so all I can say is that they felt a sense of disparity.

But Japan is different—

Uzushio Village was already poorly developed by Uzumaki Ashina, and after leaving the village, she went even further, to Amegakure, a place in the ninja world whose natural environment and economy were only slightly better than Sunagakure.

Furthermore, Fusang's memories are mainly from the period between the First and Second Shinobi World Wars.

War, poverty, and ruin were her main impressions of life.

He arrived in the now thriving Konoha without warning—

It's no different from heaven now.

"Son, look at this flower shop!"

"Nagato, what kind of snack would you like to eat? Lady Mito gave my mother some money—"

"What a luxurious ninja tool shop! They even have free hot springs for relaxation!" Fusang exclaimed excitedly.

Although her son cannot see, Fusang is describing Nagato to her with the most accurate language possible.

Nagato listened with a smile, also curious about what Konoha was like now that could have such a profound impact on his mother—

With each new building they passed, Nagato felt his mother's hand unconsciously tighten around him.

As they wandered around, Nagato listened quietly as Fusō described Konoha to him.

His curiosity grew, and his emotions became complex.

Firstly, the fact that such a powerful and prosperous Konoha would stoop to cooperate with Amegakure is remarkable.

It will surely bring a much better life to this weeping country than before.

And Konoha didn't possess the arrogance typical of great powers that he and Yahiko had suspected—

Putting himself in Nagato's shoes, he even wondered if he would help Amegakure if he were a Konoha ninja.

Perhaps not—

Secondly, he lost his eyes.

Even a ninja who has lost his sight, even if he is a member of the Uzumaki clan with extraordinary sensory abilities, cannot be the same as before.

Moreover, he also wanted to see Konoha as it is now and Amegakure as it will be in the future—

The two arrived at the entrance to the Uchiha clan's territory.

A huge model bulletin board stood there, displaying the various measures promulgated by the Hokage in recent years, detailing the specifics.

Of course, there's also the clever little slogan of loyalty that I've been racking my brains to come up with recently.

Phrases like, "The Uchiha's magatama is the most powerful shield on the Hokage's divine robes!"—

Fusang was clearly captivated.

Standing in front of the notice board, I read it carefully.

It all started with the ninja protection policy—

When it came to the prosthetic body, Fusō visibly trembled all over. Wasn't this exactly what Nagato needed?

The son was able to see the light again—

"There's even a Uzumaki clan providing targeted support? A house within the third ring of Konoha, a training allowance—"

Fusang muttered to himself, "And he called on all Konoha ninja to search for the Uzumaki clan members during their missions and do their best to persuade them to return to Konoha—"

Fusang felt a little dizzy.

This Konoha was the same Konoha she knew before, but it was practically a completely different village.

When she fled Uzushio Village, which was under the control of Ashina Uzumaki, Konoha could be said to have not accepted the arrival of the Uzumaki clan before this sealing technique madman died.

Such behavior is somewhat akin to accepting a rogue ninja, leading Ashina Uzumaki to believe that Hiruzen Sarutobi, this junior, is poaching his talent.

Extremely sensitive.

"Son, are you also receiving this subsidy?"

"Let's take Mom to your house for a visit! And don't worry about your eyes anymore, the village has prosthetics—"

Fusang had learned a brief account of Nagato's recent experiences from Mito.

Over the years, Nagato became a member of the Akatsuki organization and even nearly fought Hanzo in a duel.

Fusang said this because, as a mother, she had already made a decision about her son's future.

This might be considered deception to Nagato, but Fusō and her son only had less than a day left together, so she couldn't persuade him little by little.

"Mom, I'm not a Konoha ninja."

Upon hearing this, Nagato smiled wryly and said, "I was very surprised that I was able to receive treatment in Konoha and be saved by the Hokage. I dare not ask for too much—"

"Son, how can you not be a Konoha ninja?"

Fusang gripped Nagato's hand tightly and said hurriedly, "The Hokage is searching the entire world for the Uzumaki clan. He's already said that if we red-haired people come, we're Konoha people!"

"Mom, but I'm a Rain Village ninja—"

Nagato's face showed a hint of bitterness: "My companions are also from Amegakure. Our ideal is to make Amegakure better, to stop the country from crying—"

"If you don't care about Amegakure, I'm fine on my own. I have my clan here in Konoha, and our ideals are very good. Lady Mito is also my direct relative—"

"and--"

Nagato sighed: "Actually, I also have a connection with the Hokage."

Fusang raised an eyebrow, unable to contain her joy.

Her son is so lucky, such a good thing happened?

Nagato slowly recounted the connection between him and Jiraiya.

Jiraiya spent three years stationed in the war-torn Land of Rain as a Konoha ninja, teaching them ninjutsu and experience for survival, which became the cornerstone of their development of the Akatsuki organization.

Fusang listened, completely stunned.

If Nagato hadn't told Fusang these things about Jiraiya himself, she wouldn't have believed it!

Is this still a ninja?

Even a kind-hearted ninja wouldn't act like this!

As a disciple of the Hokage, he must have been a powerful and highly regarded ninja himself. Yet, at the request of a few children, he stayed for three years and taught them so many precious ninjutsu.

Japan, ravaged by war, and having lived in Uzushio Village—

Just by thinking about it, one can imagine the immense pressure Jiraiya had to bear back then.

"Did Jiraiya-sensei come looking for you again? Did he ask you to do anything?"

Fusang couldn't help but ask, if there wasn't some exchange of benefits, she felt like she was dreaming.

There is no such thing as a philanthropist in the ninja world, but in the hearts of the Japanese, this is what it means.

"No--"

Nagato shook his head: "We occasionally hear about Jiraiya-sensei. He travels around the ninja world, but he hasn't come looking for us since."

"Nagato!" Fusō's tone suddenly turned stern.

Nagato instinctively shuddered, as memories deep within his bloodline were instantly awakened.

When he was a child, his mother would scold him like this when he made mistakes.

Do you know how much Jiraiya-sensei has done for you?

"In Amegakure, many ninjas would fight each other, even to the point of death, over a single ninjutsu!"

"He not only taught you the Five Elements Ninjutsu, valuable combat skills and experience, but he even gave you an identity that allowed you to connect with the Hokage—"

"I know what you're thinking, kid."

"You might think that if it weren't for your companions, you might have died alone, and that's true."

Fusang pressed hard on Nagato's shoulder: "But let me tell you, if it weren't for Jiraiya-sensei taking you in and teaching you how to survive, you and your friends would definitely be dead—"

"Even if you don't die, you'll live a life worse than death. Death would be a relief for you."

Nagato's heart skipped a beat.

Fusang's words reminded him of what Orochimaru had said on the day he met Jiraiya—

Orochimaru at the time advocated killing them to prevent them from suffering the hardships of a chaotic world.

Nagato always remembered Orochimaru—

But he never expected that his mother thought the same way!

In other words, Orochimaru was telling the truth, and not making excuses?

But after hearing what Fusang said, Nagato thought about his own struggles at the bottom over the past few years and unconsciously agreed with this view.

The two little boys, and the little girl Xiao Nan—

The village was still in the post-war era of Amegakure, and Hanzo had adopted a policy of contraction, barely acknowledging the infiltrators of bounty hunters and wandering ninjas.

They are the best commodities to be sold for money!

"The hyenas of Kusagakure, attacked by Konoha, were doing this kind of dirty work—"

Nagato recalled that when the Akatsuki was first established, he had fought a battle with the Kusagakure ninja from a neighboring country.

These bastards are involved in human trafficking!

Nagato felt a pang of guilt without realizing it.

Over the years, they've been busy with survival and Akatsuki affairs, and haven't given much thought to how precious Jiraiya's bond is in the ninja world.

"Since you've always been a member of Amegakure, and Amegakure even waged war against Konoha—"

Fusang pondered for a moment and said, "You've become Jiraiya's apprentice again, so the Hokage hasn't sent anyone to look for you?"

Nagato shook his head again: "No, I've only heard in the last two or three years that Konoha has been searching for Uzumaki ninjas—"

Fusang let out a long breath.

"Foolish boy, you, as a ninja from an opposing village, have received the legacy of the opposing village's Kage—"

"In the Uzumaki clan, this would be considered betrayal of your clan and sect, whether it's you or Jiraiya! You'll definitely be targeted for purging—"

"You're still alive, firstly because of the Hokage's benevolence, and secondly because of the Uzumaki bloodline within you—"

"You can't take these things for granted."

Nagato paused, then continued, "But Mom, you and Dad are—"

"Nagato, the ninja world is cruel, and human life is worthless."

"If we knew that sacrificing our lives would grant you an education and status in Konoha, along with so much protection and support, your father and I would be willing to do it."

Fusang may not actually do that.

But she's already dead, so in order to resolve Nagato's inner conflict, some things need to be said without reservation.

"And you should know that your father was a doctor, and he objectively saved the Amegakure ninja, while Konoha and Amegakure were at war at that time."

"I was quite surprised to hear Konoha ninja apologizing to you as I lay dying."

"Whether it's Jiraiya-sensei's compensation, the Hokage's leniency, or the fact that you, your comrades, and even Hanzo were saved this time, isn't that enough?"

Fusang's tone grew increasingly stern: "Son, I've made it clear to you that I've let go, and you must let go too! You need to find a way to become a Konoha ninja—"

"You're still young. You have no idea what it means to join Konoha, a village unlike any other hidden village, one that offers immense protection to ninjas!"

"Furthermore, you have the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan, a connection with Jiraiya, and the protection of Lady Mito—"

In Fusang's view, compared to staying in Amegakure, Nagato's prospects in Konoha were dazzlingly bright!

As a mother, how could she possibly tolerate her son continuing to roam around in Amegakure?

It's a job for graduates from top universities with a starting annual salary of one million, full benefits including six types of insurance and two types of housing funds, and connections with the company's top executives, founders, and management. But I'm just stubborn and don't want to go—

They insisted on going to start a business in a remote mountain village with their friends!

"My dear mother—"

"This, this—" Nagato was also stunned. He thought his mother would ask him to revive Amegakure or something like that.

Unexpectedly, Yu Yin completely forgot about it and didn't even bother to mention it.

What Nagato didn't know was that, as someone who was already dead, Fusang only wanted to find peace of mind after returning to the Pure Land.

It was confirmed that the son had joined a powerful organization.

From Utsushima Village to Amegakure, Fusang had suffered enough from wandering.

Joining an organization isn't always the right thing to do, like the former Uzushiogakure and Kirigakure—

But an organization like Konoha, with its reliable Hokage and advanced system, was something Fusang had never even dreamed of in all her years in the ninja world—she had never seen one, let alone imagined one.

Not to mention the connections here!

"I still have dreams, Mother—"

"I promised to work with Yahiko and Konan to lift Amegakure out of poverty!"

Nagato couldn't help but say.

"What kind of dream are you talking about!" Fusang finally snapped. "Do you know how much hardship and effort your father and mother put in to keep our family of three alive and make our lives as stable as possible?"

"And so, our family's life remained precarious!"

"If your dad and I had talked about dreams back then, would you even be here?"

"Alright, alright, Nagato, you've grown up. You've got your own ideas now, and you don't listen to your mother anymore—"

Even in her impure form, Fusang was still so angered by the Amegakure Great Bond that she cried, sobbing uncontrollably.

Nagato was immediately thrown into a panic.

"Mom, that's not what I meant, I didn't—"

"And Mom, I want to join Konoha, but they might not even want me, right?"

Upon hearing this, Fusang instantly went from tears to laughter, her change of expression shocking Nagato: "Good son, Mom knew you were a sensible person—"

"You don't need to worry about that. Lady Mito said she can take you and me to see the Hokage. Since you can't speak, Mom will speak for you—"

Nagato nodded, feeling dizzy.

The mother and son looked at Konoha's various systems over and over again under the Uchiha's model display board.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that they sat down on a bench, and no one mentioned going to rest.

After all, this is the last day—

Beyond today, the impure earth's physical body can no longer properly contain the soul, causing Fusang to suffer.

The mother and son chatted casually, talking about everything under the sun.

My past life in my small family, my experiences in Wochao Village, listening to Nagato talk about his companions and ideals—

Before I knew it, dawn was breaking.

And at this moment.

Not far away.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hanzo stood shoulder to shoulder, the two village leaders with white towels draped around their necks, jogging around their villages.

Naruto characters have always had a habit of morning exercise.

After his arm was stitched up, Hanzo wanted to see his older brother's usual training routine. He didn't return to Amegakure immediately, as he was still in the post-operative observation period.

Moderate exercise, even for a ninja's physique, can help detect the effectiveness of the stitches.

"Becoming stronger takes time, one step at a time."

"I've picked out a few of Tobirama's Water Release techniques for you. They'll be very helpful in increasing your lethality. Go back and practice them diligently, but also take care of your health."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave his instructions, his tone no different from that of an elder brother entrusting his younger brother.

"I understand, big brother—"

"Brother, I will have someone send my technique over as soon as I return to the village. Although it is not as exquisite as the Second Hokage's Water Release, it still has its merits."

Hanzo said with a smile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and said, "You're too modest. Sakumo has been envious of your swordsmanship for a long time. Your Exploding Flame Formation is also a supplement to Minato's. In terms of Water Release techniques, you and Tobirama-sensei have different focuses."

This is the benefit of cooperation.

Each technique represents the culmination and refinement of a combat strategy.

By exchanging information and resources, both sides can develop more complete combat systems and achieve effective complementarity.

In terms of Water Release techniques, Tobirama was more well-rounded than Hanzo, but the Water Transformation Technique and many of Hanzo's self-created techniques still provided considerable inspiration for Tobirama.

"You're the one being modest, brother—" Hanzo shook his head and said with emotion.

Along the way, he not only learned that Hiruzen Sarutobi had been practicing morning exercises for several years, but also discovered that Hiruzen was using Earth Release: Heavy Rock Technique to enhance his body's weight-bearing training.

Hanzo, unaware at first, accidentally bumped into Hiruzen Sarutobi's body and nearly stumbled due to the force of gravity.

Along the way, the villagers of Konoha saw Hiruzen Sarutobi doing his morning exercises.

Although everyone greeted them warmly, they weren't overly surprised, clearly used to seeing Naruto 0 at this time.

"Is that Nagato?"

After running for a while, Hanzo spotted Nagato ahead and exclaimed in surprise, "Who's that woman next to that kid? Her chakra—"

"That's Nagato's mother."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said softly, "It was created by Lord Mito using the Impure World Reincarnation technique on death row inmates from the Land of Fire. He asked me for approval a few days ago, and it's quite unusual that he wanted me to expedite the process—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi could probably guess some of Mito's thoughts.

It's likely that Nagato harbors some resentment due to past wars.

Mito, however, held Nagato in particularly high regard.

"In the past, Nagato might not have been particularly special—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained to the puzzled Hanzo, "But you know, the Uzumaki clan is facing a crisis of extinction. Right now, the only male Uzumaki clan member left on the surface is Nagato—"

"Lord Mito was, after all, a ninja from the Sengoku period, so he valued this more."

"This kid also has some connection to the Hokage's lineage; he's a direct descendant of Lady Mito's sister—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi never expected that Mito would one day ask him to make an exception and urgently transfer a death row inmate from the Land of Fire to use Tobirama-sensei's forbidden technique.

But after learning its purpose, Hiruzen Sarutobi had to admit that Mito was kind-hearted after all.

This technique can even be used to fulfill dreams!

Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Mito's high regard for Nagato.

The saying "things are valued for their rarity" applies to the ninja clan as well.

To put it bluntly, if one day the Uchiha clan suffers a misfortune and only a few descendants remain—

Even if they were more straightforward than Fugaku was before, Hiruzen Sarutobi would be much more tolerant of them.

The power of the ninja clan largely comes from their bloodline; this is an objective fact that cannot be changed.

"I see!" Hanzo let out a long "oh," a thought suddenly striking him.

He had known about Nagato being a member of the Uzumaki clan not long ago.

While the recruitment of Akatsuki members was due to a change in ideology, it was also largely influenced by Nagato's identity.

Nagato naturally serves as a bridge between the younger generation of Konoha and Amegakure.

"I never expected Lady Mito to take action for Nagato—"

"While I was in the hospital, Isshin and Tenzo, those two old guys, came to see me and told me not to worry about Nagato. They said that if my brother allowed it, they could provide Sharingan and Byakugan to support Amegakure!"

"It seems it's not just to please my elder brother, but also for Lord Mito!"

"Heh, no wonder you're a top student—"

Hanzo smiled smugly to himself: "Too bad, Nagato's from Amegakure. You're offering your eyes? Then I'll offer them to someone else!"

Against the backdrop of Konoha's open search for the Uzumaki clan's orphans, Hanzo entrusted Nagato with communicating with Konoha, essentially feeling that placing this person in Amegakure would be too much of a burden.

The vortex has spread to Amegakure, which is ultimately an imperfection in the elder brother's previous rule—

If it's not handled properly, Hanzo always feels that this is a veiled reference to Hiruzen Sarutobi's dark past.

He didn't care about Nagato—

To put it bluntly, Hanzo had always harbored the intention of wiping out the Akatsuki organization; he himself had even considered taking action to eliminate these overly active young people.

Sending him to Konoha would kill two birds with one stone; it would be perfect for him.

With these thoughts in mind, Hanzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up to Nagato and his mother.

"Lord Hokage! Lord Hanzo!"

Fusang's eyes lit up. After talking all night, he never expected to run into two key figures here.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and responded with a smile.

"Ah—" Hanzo opened his mouth, intending to greet the vendors in a friendly manner, just like Hiruzen Sarutobi did during his morning training.

But he got stuck because he didn't know what Fusang was called—

"Lord Hanzo, my name is Fusang."

Fusang said shrewdly.

"Fusang, huh? I know, I know!" Hanzo chuckled, though everyone present could tell he probably didn't recognize it.

"Lord Hokage, thank you and Lord Mito for allowing Nagato and me to reunite—" Fusang bowed politely, then suddenly bent her knees and was about to kneel down.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback, then instantly canceled the Weighted Rock Technique on his body and supported Fusō's hands.

"Why bother? Since you are a member of Lord Mito's clan, then we are family. Let's talk things out calmly—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi solemnly helped Fusang up.

The Hokage has gained a new understanding of the extremes in the ninja world.

The dead seem to be a bit more extreme—

However, this is because Hiruzen Sarutobi did not fully immerse himself in the psychology of Japan.

It's not shameful for someone about to return to the Pure Land to kneel down and beg for their son's future, especially since Japan is a country that has suffered from war.

He wanted to use a stunning kneeling gesture to dispel any unhappiness the Hokage might be harboring—

"Lord Hokage, my son was ignorant before, and although he received guidance from Lord Jiraiya and your tolerance, he did not appreciate your compassion—"

"Hokage, for the sake of the blood ties between Mito and Nagato, please allow him to join Konoha and serve the Will of Fire!"

Fusang quickly applied the vocabulary she had learned from the Uchiha bulletin board.

Hanzo's face lit up with joy.

Hey!

This woman is really sensible. No wonder she comes from Amegakure.

I guessed what he meant—

"That's great news, brother!" Hanzo quickly chimed in, "The Uzumaki clan's allegiance to Konoha is an established right since the First Hokage founded the village. Konoha's headband is shaped like a whirlpool—"

"I've actually had this idea for a while now!"

Fusang was also pleasantly surprised; with Hanzo's support, the matter would be much easier to handle.

Moreover, she keenly noticed that Hanzo addressed Hiruzen Sarutobi as "Big Brother"?

Nagato was stunned.

What is all this?!

I haven't even said anything yet—

Whether it's his mother or Hanzo who saved him, they both want him to join Konoha.

A slight look of embarrassment crossed Nagato's face.

But he didn't know how to say it—

He definitely doesn't dislike Konoha.

On the contrary, Fusang explained things to him in a simple and easy-to-understand way for three days and three nights, and Nagato also liked Konoha very much.

But the problem is, the bonds of Amegakure are there.

Nagato didn't want to leave his childhood friend and comrade-in-arms.

To him, Yahiko and Konan were already like family.

Hiruzen Sarutobi keenly noticed Nagato's expression.

"Nagato, is there something you want to say?"

Nagato's heart tightened. Would it be inappropriate to say what was on his mind in this situation?

Fusang instinctively wanted to stop Nagato.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand and said gently, "Speak freely, I've already said it, we're family, it's not just for show—"

Nagato hesitated for a moment, but still told her about his relationship with Yahiko and Konan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully.

He wasn't surprised—

Having been in the ninja world for so many years, he has come to understand more and more deeply the importance of the concepts of "bonds" and "comrades" to ninjas.

For ninjas who are spiritually impoverished and under immense pressure, a reliable bond can be seen as their second spiritual life.

"You two, don't look so miserable—"

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed loudly: "Nagato's reluctance to part with his Amegakure companions is proof that he possesses the Will of Fire, making him a promising candidate to join Konoha."

"I think this is fine."

"I'll be a bit capricious and make an exception for this matter, so that Nagato is both a Konoha ninja and an Amegakure ninja. As a special envoy for the deep cooperation between our two villages, it can also reflect the friendship between the two villages that transcends the history of the ninja world."

"What do you think, my dear brother?"

Hanzo breathed a sigh of relief, secretly marveling at his elder brother's truly magnanimous heart.

If he were the Hokage, he probably wouldn't be so easy to talk to.

"My brother only backed down because of me; look what he's done!"

"I heard that my older brother is researching bloodline limits, so I have to work hard to get some presentable materials to send over, otherwise I'll be owing him too much—"

Hanzo steadied himself and said, "That's wonderful! I fully support your decision, brother—"

Fusang looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

At that moment, she truly understood the Hokage's magnanimity that set him apart from other ninjas—

But in reality, this is the situation that Hiruzen Sarutobi most wanted to see.

Making Nagato both a Konoha ninja and an Amegakure ninja is similar in principle to having a Kirigakure ninja study abroad.

A large number of Amegakure members who have already registered have come to Konoha to work. In addition to Hanzo at the upper levels, having another Nagato at the middle level would allow for comprehensive infiltration.

Having undergone Konoha training and received a bloodline transplant, Nagato was not expected to be exceptionally strong by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

All you need to do is become a young leader similar to "Minato" in the small village of Amegakure.

In that case, when Konoha shows signs of being able to absorb Amegakure, Nagato, a "twin villager," will naturally be the best benchmark.

After all, Nagato probably wouldn't want to see his comrades without Konoha identities, right?

"Hokage-sama—"

Fusang stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then grabbed Nagato's arm tightly: "Son, swear an oath in front of your mother, in the name of me and your father!"

"We must remain loyal to the Hokage and to Konoha, and do as much as possible for the village!"

"Oh, and Amegakure too—" Fusang, in his excitement, accidentally forgot about Hanzo and added awkwardly.

But Hanzo just smiled; he didn't care.

Just a nobody.

Nagato solemnly raised his left hand and took an oath in the name of his family.

Naruto

He was arguably the most prestigious ninja in the ninja world, yet he still considered his bond with Yahiko and Konan, offering a compromise that was both innovative and groundbreaking.

Nagato is not an ungrateful person; he will always remember this kindness and be grateful!

"Alright, alright—"

"You brat, you could actually call me Grandmaster—"

"Sharingan and Byakugan, do you want to transplant one of each, or choose one and install a pair?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile, "You crave power, don't you? I see your desire to protect your comrades. In that case, as your grandmaster, I should give you a little something as a gift."

"Hokage-sama!" Nagato's heart trembled. "This—how can this be?"

Even though Nagato was from Amegakure, he fully understood the value of the Byakugan and Sharingan.

This feeling of being deeply trusted was something Nagato had never experienced before, except with Konan and Yahiko, and it was the Hokage of Konoha!

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled.

This is the advantage of being in a high position and having an excellent reputation.

Giving a favor can often have a multiplier effect –

Interestingly, some people in high positions are often unwilling to make such a profitable deal.

"These Byakugan and Sharingan are a source of power for you, but also a burden—"

"Both Konoha and Amegakure need a strong young man to take charge of communication and negotiation and set a good example. I actually want to give you some responsibility."

Are you confident?

Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe, and Hanzo leaned over to light it for him, exhaling a puff of smoke with a smile.

"Lord Hokage, actually—" Nagato was a little confused.

Hanzo and Fusang, one on each side, kicked him in the buttocks and shouted in unison, "Still calling him Hokage-sama? Call him Grandmaster!"

After saying that, Hanzo and Fusang exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh.

What a dullard!

"Grandmaster, I have confidence—" Nagato finally realized what was happening and said earnestly.

A little burden is nothing to him.

Nagato even felt that without his strange eyes, he felt more relaxed every day.

"Are you really confident?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was slightly doubtful.

"Yes, it really exists!"

"Louder!"

"I have!!"

"Very good, very energetic—" Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Nagato on the shoulder: "After the transplant, don't rush back to Amegakure. Train with the Uchiha and Hyuga clans for a while each. Your practical experience needs to be improved—"

"Yes, Grandmaster!" Nagato straightened his chest, feeling the deep love and care that Hiruzen Sarutobi had for him.

A new bond was formed silently—

Two days later, Nagato respectfully saw off the smiling Fusang and underwent surgery.

Meanwhile, Konoha entered a period of relatively peaceful development, exchanging goods and resources with Amegakure, and the two sides cooperated to rapidly develop their economy and technology.

Amegakure got jobs, and the nobles of the Land of Fire got useful and inexpensive ninjas.

Infrastructure construction is also booming.

#

Several months later.

In these rare moments of peace and quiet.

Konoha continues to maintain a steady pace of development.

Many of the results have already been implemented.

First, a new generation of ninjas emerged ahead of schedule.

Due to maternity subsidies, a significant baby boom has occurred.

Neji was born first, and Hizashi became his father.

He looked at his son with undisguised joy, imagining the future when the father and son would work together for the Hokage.

Many of the people from the same generation as the Japanese have also become pregnant.

Kushina and Minato, who had just come of age, already had a child together.

Fugaku, who was comparable to Hiashi in wisdom, believed that the Hokage hadn't immediately performed a bloodline transplant because he only had one son—

So Mikoto became pregnant again, and Fugaku was thinking that if it was a son, he and the Hokage would ask if they could name their son "Sasuke".

In the ninja world, this is considered a tribute to someone you admire.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Inu-kai, the Aburame, and many other commoner ninjas all received the village's birth allowance.

Suddenly, the village of Konoha was filled with the cries of many babies, making it seem exceptionally vibrant with life.

Konoha Martial Arts Arena.

Fugaku and Nagato stood facing each other, their expressions complex.

This Uchiha warrior became increasingly eager to improve his strength.

"Nagato, are you really not feeling unwell?" Even though he had seen this scene many times, Fugaku still couldn't hold back.

How come this kid doesn't seem tired at all?

no--

That's the Sharingan!

Even if outsiders obtain it, they will be extremely exhausted after transplantation, and the Sharingan will be barely usable!

"No, I feel fine—"

Nagato looked bewildered and said, "My master said that my situation is normal. I might have naturally had a little more chakra, so I'm not very sensitive—"

Hyuga Tenzo, standing to the side, was also finding it difficult to remain calm.

Although the Byakugan doesn't consume as much energy as the Sharingan, the few historical records show that when outsiders obtained it, it was usually sealed away and only activated when needed.

Before the transplant, everyone was a little worried: could he handle having two eyes?

However, in the past few months, this concern has proven to be unfounded.

Nagato's eyes, red on the left and white on the right, have been constantly activated since they were opened.

This kid is full of energy and shows no signs of fatigue. He can even spar with Fugaku and others every day to improve his combat skills.

This energy bar is really weird!

"Is everyone in the Hokage lineage truly an outstanding individual?"

Fugaku couldn't help but have some metaphysical thoughts. Was this some kind of blessing from the First Hokage?

Needless to say, the Hokage personally selected them; that shows he has excellent taste.

How come the disciples from other villages that Jiraiya secretly took in all have such terrifying talent!

"No, I have to think of something—"

"We should also send Sasuke to study under a ninja from the Hokage's lineage in the future, so he can share in their good fortune!"

"Itachi is no good. He's already considered Qingshui's apprentice. Danzo's bloodline in the Hokage lineage isn't pure—"

"We need to find a proper one!"

Fugaku was making plans in his mind.

"Members Tenzo and Fugaku, thank you for your help over the past few months—"

"I'm going back to Amegakure today to give instructions. I've already informed my master—" Nagato said with great reluctance.

After living in Konoha for a while, he discovered that he could actually make many friends, whether they were his own age or older.

Because most of the ninjas in Konoha are smiling, good-tempered, and speak pleasantly—

This is due to two main reasons: firstly, the Konoha ninjas were less aggressive after becoming wealthy; and secondly, Nagato's talent was truly astonishing after receiving systematic training.

There is a beauty in numbers—

"Go on, come back in a while and see your new little brother—" Fugaku patted Nagato on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

"Work hard and achieve something great, don't bring shame to the Hokage and the village!" Hyuga Tenzo said with a smile.

"I definitely will!" Nagato patted his chest and promised.

His strength, especially his ability to control it, boosted his confidence considerably.

Nagato arrived at the newly built Flying Thunder God Teleportation Tower in the village.

Here, Minato, who already addressed him as a fellow disciple, made an appointment to wait for him here so they could go to Amegakure together.

Minato wants to buy some river delicacies, a specialty of the Land of Rain, for Kushina, as she needs to nourish her body during her pregnancy.

"You're here?"

Minato smiled like a little sun, looking into Nagato's eyes: "No matter how many times I see your unique eyes, junior brother, I'm always amazed—"

"It can be considered as the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan, and it can also be considered as a triple bloodline limit."

Nagato scratched his head sheepishly: "It's all thanks to my master's kindness. Although my bloodline limit is organic, it's different from chakra—"

"But I still hope that my physical data can help Orochimaru and Commissioner Hiruko."

"Yes, yes—" Minato said with a smile.

Although his junior brother was a bit slow-witted, his heart was truly devoted to the village.

Hiruko and Orochimaru proposed to take some of his cells and blood as experimental material, and Nagato readily agreed.

Furthermore, he wrote down his feelings about the Byakugan and Sharingan every day and submitted a report every week.

During the months I stayed in the village, I was as diligent and eager to learn as a sponge, and I learned a lot of knowledge.

We can already describe different bloodline limits using professional terminology.

"Hey, hey—"

"It was you, Nagato!"

What happened to your eyes?

A white-haired youth stared wide-eyed at Nagato in disbelief, then at Minato: "I've only been gone for a little over a year, how did the village become like this?"

"Minato, you even wrote a letter saying you were going to be a father—"

"And what is this enormous ninja tool?" Jiraiya pointed to the Flying Thunder God teleportation tower in front of him, feeling quite uneasy.

He's come back as an immortal returning home in glory!

Now I'm a stranger in this world, everything is new and exciting, and I can't keep up with the pace at all!

Is it really true that seven days in the mountains and seven years in the village?

Nagato and Minato exchanged a smile. No matter how much time has passed, Jiraiya-sensei still possesses a wonderful sense of humor that always makes people want to laugh.

He's a comedian from Konoha.

After chatting for a while, Jiraiya gradually recovered.

Now I understand what happened in Konoha while he was gone—

"Did the unique industrial technology provided by the collaboration with Amegakure also help Orochimaru's technological development?"

Jiraiya remarked with considerable emotion, "Not only did he create the Flying Thunder God Technique, but he also provided the Yamanaka clan with advanced ninja tools. This guy is truly my lifelong rival; his talent is second only to me, a sage. He's incredibly difficult to deal with—"

"By the way, where is the teacher now?"

Jiraiya asked.

Minato said uncertainly, "If my master isn't in the Hokage Building, he should be at the training grounds near the Uchiha clan's territory, right?"

'

"Uchiha? What are you going there for?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled.

"Our master is currently practicing a technique—" Minato's heart stirred, and he said succinctly, "It requires the help of the Uchiha clan—"

He knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to see Jiraiya's Sage Mode—

In that case, Captain Minato, being fair, cannot leak his master's information in advance!

This is definitely not Minato wanting to see his teacher get beaten up—

"I guess Aokiji hasn't been having an easy time lately—" Minato thought to himself with a smile. "I hope he's not disillusioned with his talent, but that's always a process."

Shuimen knew this well.

Being targeted by Hiruzen Sarutobi for training will definitely speed up my progress.

But at the same time, you also have to accept the fact that you're not that much of a genius.

#

A training ground in Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat cross-legged on the ground with a smile.

Opposite them were the Tobirama family and Yatsushiro, panting heavily, their Sharingan eyes glaring, clearly exhausted!

What happened?

Why is the Hokage completely immune to Sharingan genjutsu?