Naruto: Starting from Eating the Gold Fruit

Chapter 235 Forty-Five Years in Konoha and Studying Abroad

As Konoha continues to improve, it has undoubtedly become a beacon for the entire ninja world.

The saying goes that when you become powerful, people will naturally defend all your evil deeds and praise all your good deeds.

That's how Konoha is now.

When some Konoha merchants tarnish their reputation while traveling, people will say that this is an isolated incident.

When some people from Konoha do good deeds, people will say, "As expected of people from Konoha, that's how they are."

As for Konoha, it can only be described in one sentence: even the air in Konoha smells wonderful.

Ok……

However, considering that Yuya vigorously developed industry in the early days of his rule, which led to severe heavy metal pollution in the air of Konoha Village at that time, this idea seems to be correct.

However, with various heavily polluting enterprises relocating to countries like the Land of Whirlpools, the Land of Bears, and the Land of Hot Springs—countries bordering Konoha and strategically important—Konoha's environment has gradually improved considerably, and the air does indeed smell much sweeter.

It's not exactly nonsense.

This has led to a consequence: many countries now consider Konoha as the only option for studying abroad.

In recent years, it has become commonplace for people from Sunagakure and Iwagakure to come to Konoha to study, which is no longer something that requires careful handling.

It's no longer news that people from other villages come to Konoha to study; the news is that some villages don't.

Oh, this only refers to the five great nations, such as the Land of Fire and Konoha Village.

As for the other small villages... nobody cares about them at all.

Weakness is the original sin.

As for the ninja villages of the two countries, the Land of Bears and the Land of Hot Springs...

Yuya has taken control of the village's economic lifeline. He could bankrupt them in a matter of minutes. What's the point of worrying about whether a village like that comes to Konoha to study?

Well, you can't say that. I definitely didn't want to control other ninja villages. I just kindly went there to build a factory so that the people there could live a better life.

In short, for Konoha today, saying that all nations pay tribute to it would be an exaggeration, but calling it a beacon of the ninja world is absolutely no problem.

Therefore, many things simply fall into place naturally...

The 44th year of Konoha ended so peacefully, which is quite rare.

Of course, the so-called calm was only relative to before. There weren't as many twists and turns or as many unexpected events. The only thing that could be considered news throughout the year was probably that Yuki scored 21 points on her math test, barely passing the graduation requirement, which made Tsunade and Yua stay at home for three days because they felt too embarrassed to go out.

That's all.

In the 45th year of Konoha, the village was unusually lively at the beginning of the year.

……

Sunagakure Village:

"Father, I'm here." Sasori, who just graduated from the Ninja Academy in Sunagakure last year, returned home to find that there was an extra guest in the house.

"Lord Kazekage?" Sasori was somewhat surprised to see the kind-faced old woman, Chiyo, whose face was gradually becoming wrinkled. He then bowed respectfully to her.

Although Chiyo is technically Sasori's grandmother, and they are actually family, that's the problem...

Granny Chiyo has become the Kazekage, and she no longer has much time to spend with her family.

Without a doubt, the Fourth Kazekage, Chiyo, did an excellent job.

Although she lacked concern for her family, under Granny Chiyo's rule, Sunagakure focused on its development and didn't send its ninjas to other countries under the guise of reconnaissance, when in reality they were just looking for opportunities to make money.

Under these circumstances, almost everyone in Sunagakure has spare money. Meanwhile, thanks to the cheap food and fruit in Iwagakure, the low prices of various goods in Konoha, the large quantity of textiles, and the availability of high-end equipment, the standard of living in Sunagakure, while not as high as in Konoha, is already significantly different from what it was five years ago.

To put it bluntly, a ninja village only needs to be responsible for one village, while the "Kage" of the five great nations only need to coordinate and manage one village, concentrating all their efforts. At the same time, even if the support from the five great nations is not large, there is still support. And without a doubt, the Kazekage of Sunagakure has a great deal of control over the village, which is a consensus among successive Kazekage.

After all, the First Kazekage was unwilling to lose control of the village even without the aid funds from the Land of Wind, something the other Kazekage had all witnessed.

Do you really think the Land of Wind is broke?

At the First Five Kage Summit, the First Kazekage stubbornly declared that he didn't need any Tailed Beasts and would catch the One-Tail himself. How contradictory is that?

You don't want the tailed beasts, but you want to capture Shukaku who is sunbathing in the desert. Aren't you contradicting yourself?

Therefore, the only explanation is that the First Kazekage was broke.

But what does the fact that Sunagakure has no money have to do with the Land of Wind?

Unless you hand over control of Sunagakure.

The First Kazekage was naturally unwilling.

And so, this famous scene unfolded.

Now, life in Sunagakure has finally improved, and Granny Chiyo deserves much of the credit.

Moreover, putting aside her governance achievements, the director of the largest hospital in Sunagakure is Granny Chiyo.

He saves countless lives every year, and everyone in Sunagakure holds this doctor in high esteem.

Sasori didn't have any particular feelings about this. Although people often referred to him as the Kazekage's grandson, Sasori had never claimed that identity.

"Scorpion, you're here? Please have a seat." Granny Chiyo didn't show any negative attitude towards her grandson, who had become somewhat distant from her. She smiled and pulled Scorpion to her side, then asked him if it was hard for him to do missions with the Jonin in Sunagakure.

Because of Konoha's strength, people from other villages simply copied many of Konoha's systems without question.

The system in Sunagakure where genin train under jonin for one or two years is naturally something they learned from Konoha.

Scorpion gave an honest answer, and Granny Chiyo listened attentively.

After that, Granny Chiyo asked some other questions.

Then, changing the subject, Granny Chiyo looked at Sasori and asked, "You visited Konoha a few years ago. Would you be interested in going back again?"

Scorpion looked at his grandmother with some doubt, thought for a moment, and said, "Okay."

Grandma Chiyo was very happy, so she continued to chat with Sasori about the issues that needed to be considered when studying abroad in Konoha.

……

Meanwhile:

Rain Country:

"Lord Hanzo, you were looking for me?" The orange-haired boy arrived at the top of the highest tower in the Land of Rain.

"Cough cough cough cough, Yahiko, come here..." Hanzo's slightly weak voice came.

"Are you alright, Lord Hanzo...?" Yahiko walked to Hanzo's side as he lay on the sickbed and asked with concern.

Hanzo the Salamander looked at Yahiko in front of him with a complex expression. Wearing a gas mask, Yahiko, who was so close to him, could only see endless sadness and helplessness in his eyes.

"It's nothing, just a little bit of the salamander's toxin affecting my body," Hanzo the Salamander casually explained, then looked at Yahiko in front of him and asked:

What are your thoughts on Konoha Village?

Yahiko was taken aback, then looked at Hanzo with a puzzled expression: "Why would you ask that, Lord Hanzo?"

Hanzo propped himself up on his arms, staring intently at Yahiko before him. "Never mind that for now. Tell me, what are your thoughts on Konoha Village and the current Third Hokage?"

Yahiko thought for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "Before Konoha came, everyone in my village was starving and cold. It was only after Konoha built a hydroelectric power station in our village that our lives improved..."

Hanzo was somewhat disappointed: "So? You think Konoha is the hero of the Land of Rain?"

Yahiko thought for a moment and shook his head: "I don't know."

Hanzo paused slightly, then looked at Yahiko: "What do you mean?"

Yahiko hesitated for a moment before speaking to Hanzo, "I shouldn't hide anything from Lord Hanzo, but I don't want to lie... telling the truth would seem too heartless..."

Hanzo looked at the other person seriously: "Speak freely, I will forgive you, no matter what you say."

Yahiko thought for a moment and said to Hanzo, "I always feel that Konoha wants more from our Land of Rain, and I always feel that they have some ill intentions..."

But it's a fact that they've built power plants and reservoirs for us, making our lives better, so I don't think I should think of them that way...

After listening, Hanzo looked at Yahiko, staring intently at him for a long time. Hanzo, who made Yahiko feel somewhat uneasy, burst into laughter.

Then Hanzo patted Yahiko on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Go back and prepare. I'll send you to study in Konoha for a year or two."

Yahiko stared wide-eyed at Hanzo in disbelief: "Me?! Are you really okay, Lord Hanzo?! A spot to study abroad in Konoha must be incredibly valuable!"

Hanzo chuckled: "Those people think that if they go to Konoha, they won't come back, so of course it's precious."

But... I don't think you'll let me down, will you?

Yahiko immediately straightened his head and puffed out his chest: "I promise I won't let you down!"

"After I learn the true skills in Konoha, I will definitely come back and change our country!"

Hanzo smiled gently and then let Yahiko leave.

After Yahiko left, Hanzo pulled a short sword from the bedding behind him, sighed, and put it in his ninja tool backpack.

In terms of his life, Hanzo's first half was undoubtedly glorious.

At a young age, he fought a great battle against Mifune of the Land of Iron, and became famous overnight.

He thought this was the beginning of his glorious life...

However, everything changed after that guy named Yuya became famous...

The Sand Village began constructing a canal, the source of which was located within the Land of Rain. In the struggle for the water source, the Sand Village and the Land of Rain's ninja army fought a great battle, with both sides experiencing victories and defeats.

This war should have been his chance to make a name for himself...

He led the Land of Rain to resist the attack of the Hidden Sand Village, one of the Five Great Nations, and even won a great victory! (Although it was because the Third Kazekage deliberately caused heavy casualties among the Sandstorm Clan.)

However, the final result was that Konoha's Third Hokage intervened, forcing both sides to cease hostilities and forcing Hanzo to sign a humiliating treaty that transferred the right to use the reservoir at its source to Konoha for 99 years...

But I have no choice but to sign...

The Land of Rain is already under enough pressure from the Sand Village; if Konoha were to join them now...

Hanzo closed his eyes in anguish as he thought of this.

Everything started to change after the Third Hokage took office.

Originally, the three villages of Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha had conflicts with each other, but the village of Rain, which was in the middle, was able to play both sides and live a comfortable life.

Until this guy appeared, the three parties stopped fighting and focused on development, which made things difficult for him.

Not long ago, Iwagakure even used a pretext to attack him, forcing Hanzo to spend the little money he already earned to buy weapons from Konoha for self-defense...

This can't go on...

Hanzo knew that if things continued this way, the Land of Rain would eventually be completely divided up by these forces.

But what he understood even more clearly was...

The allure of Konoha Village to the Land of Rain is no longer something he can resolve simply by raising his voice.

To put it bluntly, if it were a matter of betraying one's country and joining Konoha, many people from the Land of Rain might actually do it.

The only way to change the status quo is to completely reform the Land of Rain.

But here's the problem...

He, Hanzo, is the one who established the current system of the Land of Rain.

Does his reform mean he has to reform himself?

Helpless, Hanzo could only focus on change.

He had a high opinion of this kid named Yahiko.

He is thirteen years old this year and graduated from the Ninja Academy in the Land of Rain last year. The key question is what Yahiko thinks of Konoha Village, and whether he will go to Konoha and never come back.

Fortunately, he was satisfied with the test results.

future……

It's ultimately for the young people...

Hanzo sighed helplessly. He could sense that his life would probably come to an end in about five or six years.

The claim that the toxins in salamander corrode the body is not entirely a lie.

……

Konoha, Hokage's Office:

Looking at the three people kneeling on the ground in front of him—one adult, one child, one old man, and one young man—You Ya scratched his cheek.

He never imagined that a character from a comic book would appear before him so soon, and...

"I beg the Hokage to look after Konan for a moment..."

This is the scene where the old man in front of me just knelt on the ground and begged for help from Yuya.

The "Konan" he mentioned is actually named Kohaku Konan, a child of the Kohaku clan from the Land of Fire.

Not long ago, the Kohaku clan offended the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. For reasons unknown, perhaps as a warning to others, or something else entirely, the Twelve Guardian Ninja fought for the Daimyo's honor, attacked the Kohaku clan, and captured them, presumably to be enslaved as a criminal clan.

And this Konan is naturally the Konan from the Akatsuki organization.

Youya stroked his chin, looking at Xiaonan in front of him who was biting her lip with a stubborn expression, wondering if this was a script where an enemy wiped out his entire family and he would return to take revenge.

Are you the protagonist and am I the protagonist?

Your script is wrong.

Yuya sighed, then nodded: "You can stay in Konoha for now. As for what happens next... we'll talk about it later."

The old man was overjoyed and pulled Xiao Nan to bow to You Ya.

After the old man left, Yuya stroked his chin and began to ponder. Konan had actually come to Konoha, although the way she came...

It's a bit unusual, but at least people came.

So here's the question...

If Konan is here, how far away are Yahiko and Nagato?

To be honest, when Yuya had this idea, she was definitely joking about it.

It's impossible for him to come just because I mention it, right?

However, the next day, when Yuya saw the familiar, glaring names on the study abroad applications sent by the Land of Rain and the Land of Whirlpools...

Youya fell silent...

Is my mouth blessed?

(End of this chapter)