Konoha Drunkard

Danzo was thrilled! After searching for over a decade, he had finally found his biological brother. By this time, he had completely forgotten about his godson. How could a godson compare to his brother who had been missing for decades? The kaleidoscope he was holding outside was enough for him to value.

"...My name is Uchiha Madara. I think you've heard of me, right?" Hanzo, Hanzo my ass! This is the third time someone has mistaken him for that Hanzo they've never heard of. When Orochimaru called him Hanzo first, he didn't take it seriously, thinking Orochimaru had mistaken him for someone else. After all, Orochimaru was a seasoned veteran of the ninja world, knowing too many people to be mistaken. But when he went to steal from the vice-principal's house, the vice-principal also mistook him for the legendary Hanzo, and that's when he remembered it. After giving the vice-principal a sound beating, he deliberately asked White Zetsu to help him investigate Shimura Hanzo's background and why everyone in Konoha mistook him for Shimura Hanzo. The information he found was fragmented, only revealing that Shimura Hanzo was the product of Shimura Danzo's father's womanizing ways. However, the reason he was mistaken for Hanzo was because White Zetsu was inexplicably knocked unconscious whenever he approached the center of Konoha, so he had no idea what was going on. And this time, Danzo mistook him for his own brother, messing up all the lines he had prepared.

"Haha!! Uchiha Madara? The First Hokage has been dead for decades, do you think Uchiha Madara would come back?" Danzo looked at his brother affectionately, as if he could see a perfect face that looked very much like his own under that mask, with a pair of kaleidoscopes, and he almost drooled.

"I've always heard that Danzo of Konoha is a rare and formidable figure in the ninja world. It's such a pity that Tobirama Senju passed the Hokage position to Hiruzen Sarutobi instead of you. And now that Hiruzen has retired, he hasn't given the position to you, who has dedicated decades to Konoha, but instead to some greenhorn. I truly feel sorry for you. Besides, now the Hokage positions are all in Hiruzen Sarutobi's camp; I think it'll be very difficult for you to become Hokage again." Obito was furious at Danzo's affectionate gaze. He had never encountered such high-ranking officials in Konoha before, and he never expected Danzo to be such a monster.

"Hmph! You haven't been back for decades, and this is all you've come to say to me?" Danzo was stung by Obito, whom he thought was his brother. Those few seconds when he almost became Hokage had always been a sore point for him. No one dared to say that to him, not even his own brother.

"I'm here to create an opportunity for you. I heard that Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is about to give birth. Do you think the seal on the Nine-Tails might break down when the Jinchuriki is born? If you tell me the location of the Jinchuriki's birth, I'll summon the Nine-Tails. If we cause a ruckus in Konoha, don't you think Minato Namikaze, as the Hokage, should bear all the consequences? Of course, it would be even better if something happened to Minato Namikaze in this matter. Hiruzen Sarutobi's faction doesn't have that many people who can become Hokage, and among the Konoha leadership, it should be your turn, Root of Konoha!" And it's true, since his evolution, Obito's intelligence and eloquence have improved rapidly; he's even learned the art of seduction.

Danzo was swayed by Obito's seductive technique. Yes! As long as the Nine-Tails breaks free, Minato Namikaze, as the husband of the Jinchuriki, will definitely be held responsible. Even if his own brother causes an accident to happen to Minato, at least he will have a reason to bring Minato down.

"...What good would it do you to do this?" There's no such thing as a free lunch. Although the other party was his own brother, he didn't believe that this brother who had betrayed the village decades ago would be so kind as to help him.

"Of course not, even if I said it was you, you wouldn't believe me. I just want to make a deal with you. I helped you this time, so you do me a favor. I've heard the Uchiha clan and Konoha don't have a very friendly relationship. Advisor Danzo could use this to exacerbate the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha. What does Advisor Danzo think?" Obito said ramblingly. What benefit could he possibly gain? The greater the loss to Konoha, the better for him. However, he wasn't going to be foolish enough to tell the truth to that idiot Danzo. Who knew if this fool, who had been tricked by Hiruzen Sarutobi for so many years, would stupidly run to Hiruzen Sarutobi and betray him? There were plenty of fools in history who had the heart of an emperor but not the fate of one, and were eventually forcibly whitewashed. Did he think he hadn't studied history? For his ultimate world-destroying plan, he had Black Zetsu find the entire history of the ninja world and cram in the information.

Danzo actually believed it, thinking that when his own brother was born, the Uchiha clan discovered he was an illegitimate child, so they drove him and his mother out of the clan's territory. This orphan and widow had been wandering the ninja world for decades without any support, and finally his mother died. Meanwhile, he unexpectedly awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, and this time he planned to take revenge on the Uchiha clan.

Danzo thought it was increasingly likely; this kind of scenario had happened far too many times in the ninja world. So, after watching Obito disappear in such a flamboyant manner with envy, he immediately sent men to find his adopted son, who was unconscious under a genjutsu, in the Red Bronze Ward. For the next month, the two devised a comprehensive plan, analyzing the personalities of every Konoha ninja they could name, anticipating their reactions and potential actions after the plan was implemented, and figuring out how to respond. In short, the two worked tirelessly for a month. If they had studied ninjutsu this diligently back then, they would at least be veteran ninjas, if not top-tier ones...

But despite all their calculations, they forgot to consider that Danzo's dream girl had Uchiha Shisui, her adopted grandson. This gave Danzo a real headache. Shisui was the last bastion of warmth in his cold heart. Since his dream girl didn't support him, he couldn't very well confront her directly. After all, as long as she wasn't married, he still had a chance...

410. Shanks doesn't have that many nieces.

"Sister Koharu is absolutely right! This is what it means for women to be just as capable as men. How could our great village, the number one ninja village, be afraid of a cowardly coward like Danzo? Brother Danzo, this has nothing to do with me. You saw what Sister Koharu said. Konoha is a free and democratic place. I was just expressing my personal opinion." Shanks casually flattered Koharu before turning to Danzo, who was glaring at him angrily.

"........."

Danzo, the elder brother, clenched his fists tightly in his sleeves. If he weren't outmatched by this bastard, he would have already started a fight in the meeting room. He and his godson had painstakingly planned for a month, only to have it all ruined by this bastard. What did he mean by expressing his opinion? Did he not see Fugaku Uchiha's ten fingers? He really couldn't understand how this bastard, who was so strong and could even beat the Nine-Tails, would degenerate for something as vulgar as money.

This is the biggest difference between him and Shanks, or rather, the impression most people have of Shanks. If someone is incredibly powerful but lacks self-discipline, what's the difference between them and an animal? Shanks would rather cheat and swindle than openly rob someone just because he's powerful. It's a matter of principle. Like Kakuzu, although he likes money, he wouldn't rob small ninja villages for no reason; he openly collects bounties by killing people. Ultimately, they are all respected figures in the ninja world; they wouldn't stoop to doing things that would lower their status—it's utterly pointless...

"I wonder if advisors Danzo and Menyan have any different opinions on Koharu's suggestion?" When Minato saw Koharu supporting the Uchiha clan, he knew that the matter was basically settled. However, since she was an elder and an advisor to Konoha, he had to give her face and consult her.

"...I have no objection, let's do it the way Koharu says." Danzo reverted to his usual sinister demeanor. What opinion could he possibly have? His dream girl had spoken; if he were to argue back, wouldn't he just be asking for trouble? After speaking, Danzo once again turned and slammed the door shut, showing no respect whatsoever.

Shanks watched Danzo's dejected figure and sighed inwardly. In the anime, Danzo was always portrayed as sinister, but who knew that he was actually driven to this by life's hardships? Putting aside everything else, Danzo's unwavering devotion to Koharu Utatane, even after decades of her growing old and spinsterly, was something every young person in Konoha should learn from. In this respect, he was far superior to that frivolous Uchiha Kagami! Look at Shisui and Itachi now, their talents are indistinguishable...

"I have no objection either," said Mitokado Yan, adjusting his glasses nonchalantly. Since none of his friends who asked for his help had any objections, his cameo role could be wrapped up. Putting everything else aside, this cameo was really tiring. He spent the whole night thinking about these lines, and even this morning, he only took two sips of the chicken soup his wife made for him. It was a fair reward for all the tonics his friends had given him.

“Since everyone agrees, the Uchiha clan will rebuild in its original location. However, because the village is being rebuilt, the villagers’ living arrangements will also need to be readjusted. So, just like the Senju and Hyuga clans, the Uchiha clan will allocate some land to the villagers.” Minato said with a smile to the second male lead’s father.

...........

"Build me a two-story house here, yes, like the kind of small house in the Land of Birds. I remember there's a small garden on the second floor so that Lady Haruko can plant flowers when she has nothing to do. You know how damn expensive Yamanaka Inoichi's flowers are; I've only dared to buy them once in decades." Ever since Minato convened the Konoha reconstruction meeting and Nawaki and Skyrocket brought back the daimyo's sponsorship money, Konoha began a massive reconstruction project.

Shanks, acting as the chief engineer or designer of the reconstruction work, led a dozen or so earth-style ninjas around the Senju territory, pointing and directing. He couldn't interfere with other places, but he was determined to make the construction of the Senju territory perfect. This was the place where he would live for decades to come. Although he didn't know how many more years he could live, even Onoki Red Nose managed to survive until the end of the first part. Shanks was more than ten years younger than that old man, so he had to outlive Onoki.

"...Lord Shanks, forgive my ignorance, but...I've never seen a small garden built on the second floor before. I really have no idea how to do it." The Earth Release ninja leading the team was almost in tears. The reconstruction work in Konoha had been going on for two months, and other places were almost finished. He no longer had the excitement he had when he was assigned to help rebuild the Senju clan. Seeing that his comrades who were assigned to other places could rest, he still had to lead more than a dozen Earth Release Madaras to work in the Senju clan's territory from dawn to dusk every day.

It was because Shanks, the chief engineer in charge of rebuilding the Thousand Hands territory, had so many bizarre and demanding requests. He wanted to build swimming pools on the rooftops and basements under the buildings. All sorts of strange requests kept coming up, and if they weren't done right, he would just punch them and blast their hard-earned day's work to smithereens.

Another second-floor garden appeared today. Damn it, this ninja has been hiding in Konoha for almost ten years. How would he know what a second-floor garden in the Land of Birds looks like...?

"I see you've got stubble on your beard, which means you've been a ninja for quite a while, right? You haven't even seen the most famous building in the Land of Birds, the two-story garden? Young man, you can't get stronger by just staying indoors. You need to develop your skills quietly, go out and explore, rack up kills and resources, that's how you get stronger! Sigh! The young people in Konoha these days really lack ambition. I was out there making my way in the world when I was eight." Being out there making my way in the world at eight, and beating the Kazekage at nine, was enough for him to brag about for a lifetime.

"...It's Lord Shanks!" The team leader, with tears streaming down his face, bowed deeply to Shanks at a ninety-degree angle. What had he been working so hard for all this time? Wasn't it all for the guidance of the Red-Haired Shanks of Konoha? Look at his classmates, just because they helped rebuild the Hatake clan and were appreciated by Lord Sakumo for their skillful use of Earth Release, they've already been taken into the Anbu. In two or three years, they might even become a squad leader!

For ordinary ninjas like them, making it in Konoha, a place teeming with geniuses and ordinary people, is incredibly difficult. The Fourth Hokage's story is legendary; replicating it is simply too difficult. Besides, Shanks doesn't have that many nieces; he only has one unmarried princess, Tsunade...

411. Red-haired Best Friend

If you're not afraid of getting hammered and dare to fight Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin alongside Tsunade, then perhaps you could give it a try...

"Lord Shanks, a member of the Mizuki clan from Kirigakure has arrived at the village entrance. He says he wants to see you, and the Hokage requests your presence at the Hokage Tower." Just as Shanks finished boasting, an Anbu member appeared behind him.

"Hey Genma Shiranui, do you think wearing a mask will hide the toothpick in your mouth? That's burying your head in the sand! Do you even know what that means? Come find me in a couple of days, and I'll explain." Shanks said speechlessly to Genma Shiranui, who was wearing a mask and still had a toothpick in his mouth. What kind of weird habit is this? Is it cool to have a toothpick in your mouth all the time? It's disgusting! If you want to be cool, learn from Hiruzen Sarutobi's youngest son, who always has a cigarette that never seems to finish smoking.

"...It's Lord Shanks. I'll definitely ask for your guidance when I have time. Hokage, please..." He dared not offend this vice principal. He was right behind Hiruzen Sarutobi on the night the Nine-Tails attacked the village and witnessed the vice principal blasting the Nine-Tails away. It was incredibly exaggerated. With the Nine-Tails' size, anyone else, let alone fighting it hand-to-hand, would have been able to brag for decades if they could just remain undefeated and not be blasted away.

So it turns out textbooks aren't all just empty boasts after all; the vice principal really can take down a tailed beast...

"Minato, what's going on?"

Shanks arrived at the newly built Hokage office building. Good heavens, three of the four great leaders of Konoha were there. Danzo, as usual, was absent. Both the head and deputy head of the Anbu were present. Mitarashi Shishou still had bandages on his head. The fact that he survived being hit by Kurama was a result of his years of taijutsu training. Look at Kurenai Yuhi, because she didn't pay attention to taijutsu training, she immediately stopped to rest after being hit by Kurama. Not only did it harm her, but it also meant that Kakashi would have to wait another two years to marry the girl with the colored contacts.

The current Grand Marshal of Konoha, along with his son-in-law, "Sky-Piercing Cannon," was propping his head up with one hand, trying to stay awake. In the middle was an incredibly handsome man with injuries. Why a man? Just look at his... Adam's apple.

"Teacher, a major event has occurred in the Land of Water. The Fourth Mizukage's coup d'état has implicated all the ninjas in Kirigakure who possess bloodline limits. This member of the Mizuki clan, on the orders of their clan leader, brought you a letter." When Shanks arrived, the Sky Cannon had already tricked this member of the Mizuki clan into learning about the events in the Land of Water. After realizing the gravity of the situation, he immediately sent someone to inform the four leaders of Konoha and the two heads of the Anbu.

"Red-Haired Lord, our clan chief instructed me to personally deliver this letter to you." The impossibly beautiful Minazuki clanswoman handed Shanks a tattered letter; the envelope bore the inscription "To be read by my dearest friend, Red-Haired."

Shanks picked up the envelope, a wave of emotion washing over him. He hadn't expected that just one night of drinking would turn them into such close friends. The ninja world really valued friendship so much! It was the same with Kakuzu before; they weren't even drunk yet, just two drinks, and he already considered him a lifelong confidant.

"Ahem! My dear red-haired friend, it's been a year since we last met, and I've missed you terribly... I must say, this sperm brother is quite the sentimental person. There aren't many like him in the ninja world. He's missed me so much after only a year." Shanks said, raising his eyebrows proudly at everyone. See? My friends are all over the ninja world.

"...Father-in-law, hurry up and read it." Everyone was speechless. Even the Sky Cannon couldn't help but urge him on. Even at a time like this, he still couldn't resist showing off. Didn't he know that because of the Land of Water, another major earthquake was about to occur in the ninja world?

"...By the time you read this letter, a great upheaval may have already occurred in the Land of Water. The Fourth Mizukage's coup d'état has implicated the entire village's bloodline clans. As I write to you, many of the village's bloodline clans have already perished. I don't know when it will be our turn. I don't expect you to come to Kirigakure to rescue Mizuki, I only hope that you will consider our friendship and find my daughter, Kawaka. Last month, I had a premonition that our Mizuki clan was doomed. I have arranged for her to secretly leave Kirigakure. I hope you can bring her back to Konoha and give her a normal life. Don't worry! Your friend, Mizuki's last words! Kirigakure, Year 48." To be honest, this was the first letter Shanks had truly received in all these years, and he wasn't used to such formal writing.

However, everyone in the office was stunned by the contents of the letter. Just from the words, they could tell that the situation in the Land of Water had developed to be more dangerous than they had guessed. Many families with bloodlines had been wiped out, and only two or three major families were still holding on.

"Wait, Kirigakure 48... Son-in-law, what year is Kirigakure 48 in Konoha?" Shanks looked at the last date with a puzzled expression. He liked Konoha's year system, but this was the first time he had seen another village's year system and was a little confused. Moreover, when he was a child, he only learned how to fight alongside Hashirama Senju. Books... Hashirama Senju didn't even have a study... what kind of books could he read?

"...The Hidden Mist Village was established a year later than the Hidden Leaf Village, so the 48th year of the Hidden Mist Village is the 49th year of the Hidden Leaf Village." Skyrocket said speechlessly. How did his father-in-law become a homeroom teacher back then? He didn't even know such common sense that should be taught when you first start school.

"So, in terms of time comparison, this letter was written two years ago? I say, my sperm brother, did you travel around the ninja world before delivering this letter? Even my grandmother wouldn't take two years to deliver a letter from the Land of Water to Konoha! The situation was already dangerous two years ago, and now it's two years later!" Shanks covered his head and looked up at the sky. He wondered what his sperm brother in the underworld would think if he knew that he had delivered a letter to such an unreliable clansman.

The people in the office also realized, "Oh right!" They had been so shocked by the contents of the letter that they hadn't noticed the timeline at all. They all turned to look at the Minazuki clan member, feeling extremely ashamed. They hadn't noticed such an important detail, and this unreliable person had actually discovered it.

"Because... when I escaped from my clan, I was discovered by the Anbu and severely wounded and beaten to death by the most ruthless assassins. Plus, the Land of Water's defenses are so tight that I couldn't escape. By the time I recovered, it was already three months ago." This Minazuki clan member said heartbrokenly. If he had come to Konoha a year earlier to seek help, his clan might have been saved. The river in the village was there for all to see. Shanks' strength was undeniable, and it wasn't just his strength; ever since Suigetsu Fuguki escaped from Konoha and returned to Kirigakure, his strength had increased dramatically. It was unclear what had happened to him in Konoha, but the fat woman on his body had disappeared, replaced by a muscular physique and incredible stamina. He had initially tried to use his agility to evade Suigetsu Fuguki's pursuit, but he ran until he vomited, while Suigetsu Fuguki still seemed unsatisfied, only slightly sweaty. In the end, he had to use Minazuki's forbidden technique to escape.

412. Old ginger is spicier.

"...But it's been over two years. Where am I supposed to find this impoverished Mizuki Princess? If she's lucky enough to have met her true love, she'd be a mother by now. The ninja world is so vast; finding someone is incredibly difficult." Shanks was at his wits' end. In the past two years, she'd been living among the common people. If she'd been unlucky, she might have been killed. Even if she hadn't died, two years was enough time for a person to change drastically. The Mizuki clan was usually very recognizable in the ninja world; anyone with an exceptionally beautiful face, regardless of gender, was likely one of them. But two years of wandering and hardship would naturally cause a person's appearance to change drastically... This was too difficult to handle.

"Red-haired lord, I beg you to find Miss Kawaka, even if it's just for the sake of the clan leader's friendship with you!" The Minazuki clansman cried and knelt before Shanks, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Damn it! Stand up! I'm not dead yet! I only said it was difficult, not that I wouldn't look for help. It's just that the sperm remembers our friendship and can find me in times of trouble, so I'll help them too." Shanks quickly pulled the Minazuki clansman up. He couldn't stand this guy bowing and kneeling all the time.

"Hehe, this Minazuki clansman, you must be tired. Let me have someone take you to rest. Don't worry, Konoha will definitely help you find the Minazuki clan leader's daughter." After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have thought of something and said with a smile to the Minazuki clansman. This smile reminded Shanks of the Uzumaki clan when they came years ago; they seemed to have the same smile...

Believe it or not, Shanks actually guessed Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts correctly. Hiruzen Sarutobi was still surprised by what happened in the Land of Water. He had been the Kage of a village and knew the importance of ninja clans to a village. He really couldn't understand why the Fourth Mizukage would do this. Just because of the Kaguya clan's coup, he was so suspicious of clans with bloodline boundaries? He didn't believe it.

But let's not dwell on things we can't understand for now. The Mizuki clan is extinct now, and the loss of the Land of Water's strength has nothing to do with Konoha. But! Isn't there a survivor of the Ice Release bloodline here? That's an Ice Shield! If we keep him in Konoha, won't we be able to add another Ice Release clan to the village, just like the Uzumaki clan? Besides, the Mizuki clan has always been a kind and gentle clan, and they're not as arrogant as the Uchiha clan. They're perfect for Konoha.

"Third Hokage, your smile just now was really weird. Are you holding back some weird fart again?" As the Anbu led the Minazuki clan members away, Shanks also looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a strange smile.

"Hehe! It seems we've thought of the same thing. I think you'd better find Princess Mizuki and bring her back to Konoha. That way, Konoha might have another Ice Release clan in the future." Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly in the face of everyone's questioning gazes.

"Four countries! The Third Hokage really thought it through. How come I didn't think of that? If Master could find the daughter of the Minazuki clan leader, and together with this Minazuki clan member, they could live in Konoha in the future. Then maybe our Konoha villagers and their descendants would have records of awakening Ice Release!" Minato suddenly realized. As expected, the old fox is shrewd. He still had shortcomings when it came to considering problems.

"Even if you can't awaken Ice Release, it's alright. The Minazuki clan is a famous clan of geniuses. Their natural affinity for Water Release is the highest in the ninja world. Even if they can't awaken Ice Release, their Water Release is still quite good. Shanks, set off now and find the Minazuki princess as soon as possible." In the entire Konoha, the only people who would dare to order Shanks around are probably Koharu Utatane and Haruko-sama. One is his wife's teacher, and the other is his wife. Shanks doesn't dare to offend either of them.

"I know, but to be honest, it's really difficult to find someone from two years ago in this vast sea of ​​people." Shanks pouted. His Observation Haki isn't omnipotent. Knowing only the name of someone he's never met is a real headache unless she awakened Ice Release and used it. She just changed her name, and he can't do anything about it.

"Let's give it a try. As that Minazuki clansman just said, the Land of Water is still closed off. Even with protection, it's difficult for a woman to escape. Go and search around Kirigakure first," Mitokado Homura said, pushing up his glasses.

"Alright, I'm leaving now." Shanks waved his hand and disappeared from the Hokage's office.

"Hey! Lord Shanks isn't designing your mansion on the clan's territory, is he heading out of the village?" The villagers around Shanks said to him as he arrived at the village entrance.

"Well, I'm tired of the sake in Konoha lately, so I'm going out for a change of pace. Hmm, these two handsome young men look familiar. When did the village start paying attention to its image, sending two good-looking guys to stand guard?" Shanks said casually, looking at the two "gatekeepers" who seemed familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before.

"...Teacher, I'm Inoue, and this is Kinoshita. You're our homeroom teacher." A doorman said dejectedly. The most tragic thing in life is that he brags all day about being a student of Shanks, only for this teacher to think he looked familiar...

"Haha! Of course I know you're Inoue and he's Kinoshita, right? Back in the day, he always had a green hat on his head. By the way, what's wrong with you guys? Didn't you tell Minato you were classmates? You actually got sent to stand guard." Shanks laughed heartily. He had no recollection of such minor characters. They'd been standing guard for over a decade. He really didn't want to acknowledge this kind of student.

"Teacher, you always talk about being cuckolded, Kawakami. You even went to his wedding last year! We're already Jonin, but because of the appearance of people from Kirigakure, Minato temporarily sent us to keep watch..." The man under the tree looked up at the sky speechlessly. This guy not only misremembered, but he also looked down on them like that, which hurt him deeply.

"Is that so! Sigh! Looks like I'm getting old, my memory's failing me. I knew it! How could the students I, Shanks, trained be doing so poorly? I, Shanks, am the kingpin of the education world! Alright, you guys stand guard properly. I'll bring you some local specialties when I come back." Shanks didn't feel ashamed at all, but thinking about it, time really flies. Minato and his classmates were his second and last batch of students. In the blink of an eye, even those insignificant extras have become Jonin. This fully demonstrates the high quality of his teaching!

"Hi! Take care, teacher!"

Inoue and Kishiro bowed ninety degrees to bid farewell to their teacher... As for the usual procedures for leaving the village... Everyone in Konoha knows that Lord Shanks and his family have never even known how to write the word "leave of absence".

"Sigh! The teacher's habit of bragging hasn't changed after all these years. Otherwise, with Takenaka-sensei's guidance at school, we'd probably be standing guard right now," Inoue said to the tree, watching Shanks' retreating figure.

413. The sound of blacksmithing coming from the secret service.

Back then, when they were young and naive, they loved listening to Shanks boast and tell stories, while they hated Kame Saburo, who always made them highlight the important points. It wasn't until they graduated and spent a few years in the ninja world that they realized the stories were all lies, and that Kame Saburo, whom they used to hate, was their true love.

...........

"Boss! Pack up all the good wine in the shop for me!" A month later, Shanks, who had transformed into a blond middle-aged man using the Transformation Jutsu, arrived in Kirigakure. Kirigakure was in complete chaos because of Obito's actions. Everyone in the village was living in fear, and even the once-thriving tavern was now nearly deserted.

"Boss, what's going on? The village wasn't like this when I opened my bathhouse in Kirigakure. It's only been a little over ten years since I left, and it's already changed so much," Shanks said as the owner brought over the sake.

"Sigh! It's still those same clan ninjas. Why did they have to stage a coup? They've killed so many people in the last two years. I wonder when this will end. By the way, you've been gone for so many years. Why did you come back? The village is in a bad situation now." This shopkeeper had clearly not done such a big business in a long time, and he kept talking nonstop.

"Hey! You have no idea, it's not easy to make a living out there either. Back then, I came to Kirigakure with 500 million yen that my dad gave me to start a business. After making a small fortune, I wanted to go out and do something big. But after more than ten years, I've been battered and bruised. I had no choice but to come back to Kirigakure to start all over again. By the way, I used to get along well with a girl named Minazuki Sperm. I wonder how the Minazuki clan is doing now?" Shanks asked casually.

"Shh! Let me tell you, it's best not to mention those clan ninjas in the village right now, not even their surnames. If the Anbu finds out, you'll be taken away. The Mizuki clan was wiped out two years ago along with the Hozuki clan," the shopkeeper said nervously.

"Really? These families are really something. Why didn't they have a good life? Why did they have to stage a coup? Now look what's happened, they've been wiped out. It's hard for us merchants to do business anymore. It seems my plan to start from scratch in Kirigakure is hopeless." Shanks suddenly sensed a familiar person approaching him and deliberately sighed.

"Who says otherwise? Alright, since you managed to get into the village, I advise you to leave as soon as possible to avoid getting into trouble," the innkeeper said kindly.

“I think he has no way to leave. I didn’t expect that even with such strict guards in Kirigakure, a merchant could still sneak in. I’d like to see who’s got the guts to let someone out at a time like this.” Just as the shopkeeper finished speaking, a strong and powerful voice came from behind him.

"Lord Fuguki, this is none of my business. You know I'm just a businessman." The shopkeeper turned around and saw a man with a naked body revealing a muscular physique, carrying a huge weapon wrapped in a white cloth on his shoulder. In Kirigakure, no one except Suigetsu Fuguki had such a physique.

"Alright, I know it's none of your business. This guest, you've sneaked into Kirigakure without permission, so come with us." Suigetsu Hozuki didn't even glance at the shopkeeper, and said to Shanks, who had transformed into a blond-haired middle-aged man. For some reason, this blond-haired middle-aged man gave him a familiar feeling, and his Samehada skin was also trembling slightly.

"I am the nephew of the Lady of the Daimyo of the Land of Water. What right do you have to arrest me, especially you, fatso? Be careful, I'll report you to the Daimyo and have your wages docked." Shanks said, pointing at Suikyuuboshi with the face of a spoiled rich kid.

"Oh ho! You've got connections, huh? But don't you know my salary comes from the Mizukage? Take him away!" Suigetsu Hozuki hated being called "fatty" more than anything else in his life. Why did he go shirtless and show off his muscles in the freezing cold after escaping from Konoha? It was to prove to others that he wasn't fat, that he was muscular! Now, being called "fatty" by a rich kid was something he couldn't stand. He didn't care if the guy was the Daimyo's brother or not; he was going to take him back and let him experience the joys of blacksmithing.

Shanks did not resist and let the two ANBU members lift him up and take him away. He was still thinking about how to find his sperm brother's daughter. If they were in the Land of Water, the ANBU would be the most well-informed department. The ordinary ANBU members would definitely not know much. He didn't even know the captains of the ANBU. He didn't expect that God still loved him and actually sent her to him.

Isn't that Suigetsu Fuguki a high-ranking member of the Anbu? Even if he's not a department head, he's at least a leader!

"Jingle bells!"

Suigetsu Hozuki and a dozen or so Anbu members escorted Shanks to the entrance of the Anbu. Inside, a sound that left Shanks bewildered came from within—wasn't that the sound of blacksmithing in Los Angeles? Had all the Anbu in Kirigakure switched to blacksmithing?

"Heh, how about it? Never heard such a beautiful sound before, have you? You'll see how good it is in a moment." Suigetsu Hozuki sneered as he looked at the bewildered Shanks.

Ever since he was tormented by the red-haired demon of Konoha, he has inexplicably fallen in love with that kind of sound, especially when he sees others hoarsely hammering away, he feels a strange and exhilarating sensation.