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"Report-!!"
"The Mist emissaries have arrived! They are currently waiting at the village entrance."
Kakashi, now clad in an ANBU Captain's uniform, abruptly burst into the eting hall, dropping to one knee with a serious expression. He delivered his report swiftly and concisely.
His voice stopped Danzo, who had just stepped out of the room, in his tracks. He turned and walked back inside.
"What?! The Mist ninjas are here already?"
Minato Namikaze shot to his feet, his expression darkening.
He hadn't expected the Mist emissaries to arrive before news of Konoha's increased military spending had even spread.
Truly... revenge is a dish best served cold, or in this case, quickly.
Emotionally, Minato desperately hoped Gojo Kaigetsu would win the bet against Danzo.
But rationally... the chances of victory were slim. Even in the best-case scenario, even if Kirigakure was wary of Konoha's power, the most they would do was temporarily tolerate them.
Gestures of goodwill, lavish gifts... unless the moon was made of cheese, Minato considered these unrealistic.
A pack of bloodthirsty madn feigning tolerance? Accepting their goodwill would be an invitation for a vicious backstab.
"Escort them to the guest reception room in the Hokage Tower."
After regaining his composure, Minato's deanor turned resolute.
He approved of all of Gojo Kaigetsu's actions thus far. If this resulted in retaliation from Kirigakure, he, as Hokage, would bear the primary responsibility.
"Under the leadership of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Konoha experienced the shortest period of peace in its history." Minato was prepared to shoulder such infamy.
During the Third Shinobi World War, it was Might Duy who single-handedly crippled Kirigakure's forces. If today marked the beginning of the Fourth War, then the man to crush Kirigakure once again would be...
A surge of adrenaline coursed through Minato. He adjusted his Hokage robes. "Bearing the title of Hokage, I will not lose."
Minato's fervor seed contagious.
Fugaku, usually taciturn and burdened by the Uchiha na, spoke up, a rare occurrence. "Fourth Hokage... although I cannot speak for the entire Uchiha clan, if Kirigakure dares to wage war against Konoha, I will stand by your side."
"We will win!"
Fugaku's gaze was unwavering, potent chakra brewing beneath his calm exterior.
If Kirigakure wanted war, they would have it!
As a veteran elite Jonin of the Konoha Uchiha clan, since awakening his scaryly powerful eyes, he had yet to engage in a truly serious battle.
He wondered if those madn from Kirigakure could withstand his power.
"...In the end, you still have no faith in ."
Gojo Kaigetsu chuckled wryly.
Kirigakure hadn't even stated their intentions yet, and one was already shouldering the Hokage's burden, while the other declared victory... really, they shouldn't be throwing around such flags so carelessly.
Even if Kirigakure did initiate a localized conflict, so what?
These ninjas, despite their imnse strength, were overly cautious.
Setting aside Jiraiya, the Third Hokage, and Danzo, who were Kage-level or near Kage-level, even Tsunade with her hemophobia... Gojo Kaigetsu believed that if he were truly in mortal danger, she would overco her psychological issues.
Even discounting these remnants of the old era from Konoha's current fighting force, just within this eting room alone, there was the "Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze," the "Mangekyo Sharingan wielder, Fugaku Uchiha," and the "Strongest Ever, Gojo Kaigetsu"!
The three of them together could easily be called the "New Era Sannin." Aside from lacking a legendary ninja to bestow the title upon them, they practically fit the bill.
They might not be able to defeat the Akatsuki at this stage, but taking on any single hidden village without Bijuu unleashed would be a piece of cake!
Tap tap tap-
Danzo returned, his tone sharp. "Fugaku Uchiha, the upcoming eting with Kirigakure is the responsibility of the Konoha Elders. This is not your concern."
"Unrelated personnel, leave imdiately."
Fugaku Uchiha didn't argue.
Regarding crucial decisions between villages, even as the Uchiha Clan Head and the Head of the Konoha Military Police Force, he was not qualified to participate.
The power to decide the fate of the village and its clans rested solely in the hands of the Hokage and the Elders.
Fugaku silently resolved that during Kaigetsu and Minato's era, the Uchiha clan must secure a seat on the Elder Council.
These were the worst of tis, yet also the best, the most hopeful of tis.
Even if he couldn't achieve it, the exceptional new generation of Uchiha would! Itachi, Shisui, and his yet-to-be-born second son...
...
...
The leader of the Kirigakure emissaries was not Ao, the right-hand man of the Mizukage, but another confidant, Gonbee.
Ao's position in Kirigakure was equivalent to Shikaku Nara in Konoha, an absolute pillar of the village, unwavering regardless of political shifts.
Loyal and intelligent...
In theory, Ao would have been the ideal representative for Kirigakure in inter-village diplomatic affairs.
However, at this juncture, his abilities as a ninja presented a delicate issue... His right eye was the Byakugan, taken from the Konoha Hyuga clan. As a gesture of goodwill, they might be asked to return it. The village had just lost two Kekkei Genkai users; they couldn't afford to lose his Byakugan as well.
Gonbee's delegation was quite large.
Knowing Konoha's nature, they deed a sudden attack on the emissaries during the eting unlikely, so they ca prepared.
They had elite ninjas from Kirigakure's, the Terumi clan, and a promising mber of the Seven Ninja Swordsn of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi...
"Don't disgrace the pride of Kirigakure's ninja, but don't be overly arrogant either. After all, this ti, Konoha is soone we need to unite with..."
"...Learn from the barbarians to control the barbarians. Take the younger generation to Konoha to observe. Ideally, they'll learn the secrets of their enduring strength." These were the Mizukage's instructions before their departure.
Essentially, he was sending them on a learning expedition.
"Once we enter Konoha, mind your manners. We represent Kirigakure! Don't embarrass the village."
Gonbee, walking at the front, instructed, "You younger ones, observe carefully. The responsibility of building a new Kirigakure will eventually fall upon your shoulders."
"Discard Konoha's flaws. Etch their strengths into your hearts like a brand!"
"Do you understand?!"
"Yes!"
A young kunoichi from the Terumi clan, i Terumi, responded.
"If you think the village is flawed, don't complain, learn to change it!" This was her motto. She harbored a grand dream: to one day completely eradicate the Bloody Mist, crushing any hint of its resurgence.
Achieving this dream would be difficult, but if she beca Mizukage, anything was possible! And unlike other villages with their complicated political maneuvering, becoming Mizukage in Kirigakure required only one thing: to be the strongest!
Regardless of prior class, the strongest in Kirigakure would beco the next Mizukage. This was the most direct and effective thod of social mobility within Kirigakure.
'...Konoha, since its founding fifty years ago, has always been the most powerful village in the shinobi world.'
'If my goal is to beco the Fifth Mizukage, what can I learn here?'
i's gaze hardened with resolve.
Zabuza Momochi, a prospective mber of the Seven Ninja Swordsn, lacked such lofty ideals.
His hands were clasped behind his head, his gaze brazen and defiant. His headband was askew, and his face was wrapped in bandages, perfectly fitting the Konoha stereotype of a Kirigakure ninja.
Flippant, delinquent, wielding ninjutsu devoid of compassion, and possessing a decidedly uncooperative mindset...
He was a terrible ninja, the antithesis of the Will of Fire.
Unlike i, he felt no sense of belonging to Kirigakure. In fact... if Haku hadn't already done what he intended to do, after maturing and becoming a Jonin, he too would have rebelled and fled the village.
Flaws or advancents, it didn't matter to Zabuza. He simply wanted to leave Kirigakure and breathe the air of the outside world, and incidentally... if he could add a few powerful ninja to his kill count, honing his skills in the process, all the better.
If you think the village is flawed, don't complain, just defect!
As for what constituted strength...
Zabuza crossed his arms, glancing sideways at the two Hyuga Chunin guarding Konoha's gate, poised for battle.
'At least, not like those guys.'
'Below Jonin, I'm invincible. Against a Jonin, it's a one-for-one trade. As for Chunin, they'd need a Sharingan to even stand a chance against .'
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
The Hyuga ninja seed to have received a ssage from the Hokage Tower through so secret technique. Standing at attention, they slowly opened Konoha's gates for the Kirigakure delegation.
"Welco, emissaries of Kirigakure."
Gonbee nodded slightly, reiterating his instructions to his subordinates in a low voice before stepping onto Konoha's soil, leading the way.
After walking for a short distance, the scene before them opened up.
The sight of Konoha's main street unfolded before the Kirigakure delegation.
'So... so big...' This was i's first thought, her brown eyes wide with astonishnt.
i had read "Iki I & II," which depicted a peaceful, civilized, and powerful Konoha. She had ntally prepared herself, but witnessing it firsthand still left her deeply shaken.
It was like a world from a genjutsu.
Konoha's new comrcial street bustled with activity, carriages and donkey carts constantly coming and going.
The architectural style of the entire street was unique and elegant, a blend of various designs, perfectly combining Gojo's aesthetics with the traditional Will of Fire style.
The streets were clean and tidy, practically devoid of litter. Novel shops lined both sides, their shelves brimming with a dazzling array of goods, attracting the attention of Konoha villagers.
Street vendors exuded a warm and inviting atmosphere, the colorful and diverse soldier pills on their stalls emitting enticing aromas.
Laughter echoed through the streets, creating a lively and bustling scene.
Drawn by the charm of the comrcial street, the villagers of Konoha seed to revel in this prosperous and peaceful world, lingering with delight.
i was speechless. Her usually straight posture involuntarily slumped slightly at the sight of such prosperity.
Living in the sa cruel era of ninjas, just one year after the end of the Third Shinobi World War, how could Konoha have developed to such an extent?
Where did their village get the funds to build such an environnt?
Look at the roads, as if reinforced by so strange Earth Style jutsu, the very feel underfoot different from ordinary dirt roads.
Look at the shops lining the streets, so of which were beyond her comprehension, like "Foot Massage Parlor" and "Sauna"...
Look at those conducting business. Why did those who looked like wealthy rchants resemble people from the Land of Water? No, wait, their familiarity suggested they were indeed Konoha villagers. Their accents, though peculiar, were definitely from the Land of Fire. How could this be, after just a few days? Impossible, impossible.
This Konoha... was too advanced.
As they walked, a sense of bewildernt washed over i.
Her dream was to beco Mizukage, end the Bloody Mist, and transform Kirigakure into a truly powerful hidden village.
But... setting aside the strength of their ninjas, just looking at what was before her, what she walked upon, how many years would it take for Kirigakure, even with all its might, to catch up to this Konoha?
Even if they confiscated all the wealth accumulated by the village elders for generations and used it for infrastructure, it probably wouldn't be enough.
Workers, technology, raw materials... just thinking about it gave her a headache. To achieve what Konoha had, they would likely have to hire people from Konoha, further enriching Konoha's coffers.
It was a snowball effect, the gap between Kirigakure and Konoha widening with each passing day.
'Unless one day, a suprely powerful ninja completely razes this Konoha to the ground, the chasm between our villages will remain insurmountable.'
It wasn't just i. The other Kirigakure ninjas, their initially aggressive gazes, had also softened. The once audacious and bloodthirsty ninjas now appeared timid and hesitant.
Their eyes, filled with curiosity and restraint, darted towards the shops lining the streets.
It was as if, with one glance too many, fashionably dressed Konoha villagers would leap out and accuse them of being country bumpkins from Kirigakure, telling them to scurry back to their small-town backwater.
This was probably the typical reaction of outsiders visiting a major city for the first ti.
Fortunately, they were Kirigakure ninja! Not re villagers.
After the initial shock, they quickly adjusted, naturally accepting the grandeur of Konoha.
So what if it was nice? It just had more shops, friendlier villagers, sturdier roads, and a more impressive Hokage Rock...
So what?
Kirigakure survived without all that!
i's heart ached, the invisible burden on her shoulders feeling a little heavier.
...
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