They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 197 The Elite Generation of Kirigakure

While Ao and the others were diligently mining with the strength of ninjas, trying to use the aerial fortress as a transit point to transport goods to Kirigakure, Hozuki Shingetsu was naturally not idle either.

As the de facto ruler of Kirigakure, he was currently in the Devil's Desert, heading towards the ancient kingdom of Loulan.

"Lord Crescent Moon, if you ask me, you can completely leave this trip to the ancient Loulan Kingdom to us. You don't need to come here yourself."

A clear, crisp voice rang out as a girl with chestnut hair and a blue dress addressed Hozuki Shingetsu.

She looked no more than five or six years old, accompanied by two children of the same age, one with white hair and the other with blue hair.

"Under normal circumstances, sending you here wouldn't be a problem. But this time it concerns the next step of our Hidden Mist Village's development, involves a huge amount of chakra, and we're currently in a foreign country, so I had to come no matter what."

Hozuki Shingetsu turned to look at the little girl beside him who had asked the question and smiled.

"However, if nothing unexpected happens when we get there, it's perfectly fine to leave it to you to handle; it'll be your graduation assignment."

"Really? Then you'll have to wait and see our performance!"

Mei Terumi clenched her fist excitedly and made a promise to Shingetsu Hozuki.

Not only that, she emphasized to her companions, "Did you hear that? This time you have to give it your all. If this mission fails because of you, don't blame me for getting angry afterwards!"

"Mei Terumi, the importance of Lady Shingetsu's mission is self-evident and needs no further emphasis from you."

Beside Mei Terumi, the white-haired boy glanced at her, his tone unchanged by her sweet appearance, and responded coldly.

"Hozuki Mangetsu, don't think that just because you're related to Lord Shingetsu, I won't dare to hit you."

Mei Terumi squinted at this genius of the Hozuki clan who had become famous again after Hozuki Shingetsu, her tone equally assertive.

Looking at these two geniuses from his own village, who were locked in a fierce battle of wits, Hozuki Shingetsu smiled somewhat helplessly.

Thanks to Hozuki Shingetsu's years of intervention, the new generation of geniuses from Kirigakure, as depicted in the original work, has finally begun to emerge.

First is the future Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, who has already met the graduation requirements at the age of five. Not only has she awakened the family's secret technique, "Boil Release," but she has also broken the record by becoming the number one on the Heavenly Ranking within a year of entering the academy.

If he hadn't been born into a ninja clan, with this achievement he could probably have directly asked Hozuki Shingetsu to become his first disciple, according to the rules that were set up at the time.

On the other side, Hozuki Mangetsu was equally impressive, also achieving graduation at the age of five. However, due to the fact that girls' physical development is stronger than boys' in childhood, as well as her bloodline limit, she failed to defeat Terumi Mei in the ladder battle and came in second.

In addition, due to the influence of time and Hozuki Shingetsu's reforms to the Ninja Academy, a large number of names familiar from the previous life have emerged among the recent graduating classes.

For example, Ringo Ameyuri, Momochi Zabuza, and Hobo finally stepped onto the historical stage of Kirigakure.

In addition, there was Kisame Hoshigaki, who always stayed by the group in silence.

As some of the most outstanding students in recent years of the Ninja Academy, and the "face" of Kirigakure that Hozuki Shingetsu plans to focus on developing next, he specially brought Terumi Mei, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Hoshigaki Kisame along this time, wanting to use this mission to hone them.

Before coming, Hozuki Shingetsu had already sent people to investigate. The rogue ninja from Sunagakure, Hyakujutsu, who came from the future and used the dragon vein to travel through time, had now arrived in the ancient kingdom of Loulan.

For these three, Centipede and his potential puppet army were a good test subject.

In addition to Uzumaki Muneto, who came to retrieve the dragon vein using a sealing technique, the team that went to the ancient kingdom of Loulan to retrieve the dragon vein consisted of only five people: Hozuki Shingetsu, the three little ones, and Uzumaki Muneto.

The envoy from Kirigakure went to Sunagakure at this time to sign an alliance, precisely to provide cover for Hozuki Shingetsu and Ao's actions.

"Kisame, why don't you say something?"

Hozuki Shingetsu looked at the silent Kisame Hoshigaki and asked with great interest.

This Akatsuki elite, whose chakra reserves were comparable to those of a tailed beast after reaching adulthood and who was known as the "Tailless Tailed Beast," was walking silently behind the group, seemingly unaffected by the argument between Mei Terumi and Mangetsu Hozuki.

Kisame Hoshigaki looked up at Shingetsu Hozuki, then grinned, revealing his signature shark-like mouth, and said:

"As a tool, I will of course obey Lord Crescent's orders unconditionally. This has nothing to do with whether it is a graduation mission or not, so there is nothing to say about this kind of argument to me."

"This guy still seems confused about the ninja profession... Looks like I'll have to find some time to properly train him in the future."

Hozuki Shingetsu thought to himself as he listened to Kisame Hoshigaki's reply.

In his past life, Kisame Hoshigaki was taken advantage of by Obito Uchiha because of his inner confusion. He must never repeat the same mistake in this life.

Regardless of the fact that Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu have now abandoned Kirigakure as a backup base, when it comes to ideological education and brainwashing, Shingetsu Hozuki is naturally a professional and would not allow such a thing to happen again.

While Hozuki Shingetsu was pondering his questions, Mei Terumi and Hozuki Mangetsu, upon hearing Kisame Hoshigaki's "politically correct" words, immediately stopped arguing and tactfully followed closely behind the group, hurrying on their way.

"Mōjin, if a battle breaks out after we reach our destination, remember to first set up a seal around us to stabilize the space."

After a while, Hozuki Shingetsu, having regained his senses, turned to Uzumaki Munen beside him and gave him a word of advice.

Now that we've come to the ancient kingdom of Loulan, especially with the fact that the centipede has already traveled back from the future using the dragon vein chakra, we have no choice but to be wary of one person—Minato Namikaze!

More than a year has passed since the Second Shinobi World War, and it's about time for Minato Namikaze to make his mark.

Whether due to the convergence of world lines or the need for foresight, Hozuki Shingetsu had no choice but to prepare to deal with Minato Namikaze here.

Especially for him now, there is no particularly good countermeasure against space-time ninjutsu.

Despite his powerful physique and keen senses, Minato Namikaze was unable to inflict any real harm on him.

However, with the Flying Thunder God Technique at his disposal, Minato Namikaze was able to both fight and escape.

If he were to interfere at a crucial moment, such as when the Uzumaki clan members are sealing the dragon vein, it would be a very troublesome matter for Hozuki Shingetsu.

(End of this chapter)