NOVEL NEXT Chapter 336: Chapter 336
The next day, Hanzō of the Salamander continued to lead his team through the streets of Konoha, exploring the village.
At the same time, several other ninja squads arrived at the main gate, preparing to enter together.
Among these squads were teams from Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure , the other four great ninja villages.
However, they hadn't all arrived at the same time.
Sunagakure team was the first to arrive.
Leading their group was Chiyo, who had once again survived the last Great Ninja War and had since become one of Sunagakure's elders.
Walking beside Chiyo was a young man with red hair.
He appeared to be in his early twenties.
His name was Rasa of the Gold Dust, destined to become the Fourth Kazekage and the future father of Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage.
Rasa possessed the ability to control gold dust and was a skilled sensor-type ninja.
Among the participants in the squad was a young boy with red hair who was often held by Chiyo's hand, a clear sign of her affection.
The boy's name was Sasori, Chiyo's grandson.
This time, Sunagakure had sent over forty shinobi, including ten ninja squads participating in the Chūnin Exams, led by Chiyo, Rasa, and three other jōnin.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Konoha, they didn't enter right away but instead waited in the surrounding area for the arrival of the other great ninja villages' teams.
Speaking of Konoha's outskirts, something amusing had occurred.
A squad from a small ninja village had mistaken one of the suburban areas for the main Konoha and caused quite a scene.
The second squad to arrive among the four great ninja villages was Iwagakure's team.
Leading this team was Kitsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
Kitsuchi was young, tall, honest-looking man with a simple and reliable demeanor.
In reality, he was exactly that.
Compared to his cunning father, Kitsuchi was a straightforward and earnest individual.
To balance his son's honesty, Ōnoki had assigned a second leader, a clever and strategic ninja named Kurotsuchi.
Iwagakure had sent over thirty shinobi, divided into eight squads participating in the Chūnin Exams, led by five elite ninjas.
None of the members of these squads would become particularly famous in the future.
The third team to arrive was from Kumogakure Village.
Among their ranks was a tall, muscular man who stood out, A, the son of the Third Raikage and future Fourth Raikage.
At this point, A was still a young man, unrefined and far from his peak strength.
Aside from A, there weren't any especially notable figures in Kumogakure's squad this time.
Kumogakure had sent over thirty shinobi, organized into eight squads participating in the exams, with six elite ninjas accompanying them, including A himself.
Finally, the last team to arrive was from the Kirigakure.
Due to the geographic distance, they had to cross mountains and seas to reach the village.
Leading the Kirigakure team was none other than the Third Mizukage, a fact that greatly surprised the other villages.
In addition to the Third Mizukage, there was a young ninja with a childlike appearance named Yagura.
Yagura would one day become the Fourth Mizukage and the jinchūriki of the Three-Tails.
In fact, Yagura was already the jinchūriki of the Three-Tails at this time.
Alongside Yagura, the Kirigakure team also included a top-tier elite ninja with Kage-level strength named Ranzuki.
Ranzuki had participated in the previous Chūnin Exams as a competitor but was now serving as the Third Mizukage's personal guard.
Ranzuki was a product of the Kirigakure's genius cultivation program.
Despite being under twenty years old, he had already risen to prominence as one of the strongest of his generation.
In fact, among his peers, only Nawaki Senju shone brighter.
During the previous Chūnin Exams, Nawaki had stunned the entire ninja world by using Wood Release to defeat all his opponents, save for Konan, who was his only ally.
Because of that victory, Nawaki had been recognized as one of the most talented young ninjas in the world.
Apart from Ranzuki, the Kirigakure team also included shinobi from the Kaguya Clan and the Hōzuki Clan, as well as members of the Yuki Clan known for their Ice Release abilities.
In comparison to the other villages, the Kirigakure's lineup was exceptionally powerful.
"I didn't expect you to come in person, Third Mizukage," Chiyo remarked with genuine surprise.
The Third Mizukage replied calmly, "I came to witness firsthand the place that has suffocated us for thirteen years."
He stared at the towering walls of Konoha, feeling the barrier's presence along its perimeter.
A complex mix of emotions churned within him.
Thirteen years ago, he had personally ventured alone to Konoha's military camp to negotiate peace.
He had fought for fifteen years of respite, not just for the four great ninja villages, but for the entire ninja world.
The fifteen years were almost up, and as the Mizukage of the Kirigakure, he had once again come to Konoha "alone." However, he had no idea what the outcome would be this time.
"At last, we're about to unveil the mystery of Konoha. Everything we've longed to know lies behind these gates," Chiyo remarked, her gaze fixed on the towering entrance of Konoha. Her expression was complex and laden with emotions.
Within those gates was her nightmare—Hui.
As a survivor of Sunagakure's forces during the Land of Rain battlefield, she had witnessed that fateful Heaven's Calamity.
She had also seen that god-like youth slaughter their forces until they were forced to surrender.
She vividly recalled how the Second Kazekage, her mentor and the one who taught her , puppetry, had fallenstruck down personally by Hui.
Countless times, she had entertained thoughts of seeking vengeance against Konoha.
Yet, each time, that face would reappear in her mind, causing her resolve to falter.
In the presence of Hui, Chiyo couldn't even hold onto the idea of revenge.
"Let's go. Let's see how strong Konoha has become," the Third Mizukage said calmly, leading the way.
The other ninja followed closely behind.
Unknowingly, the four great ninja villages had become much more united.
There was little friction between their villages now. In fact, some of the younger ninjas had even formed friendships.
Why? Because they all shared a common enemy, an enemy that left no room for internal strife.
The immense pressure of this formidable enemy had forged an unusual sense of peace and camaraderie among the four great villages.
One couldn't help but feel that this was a strange sort of irony.
And yet, it was an interesting phenomenon, peace achieved through balance.
With a mutual enemy—a single person who forced them to unite—these reluctant allies had stumbled into a relative peace.
At present, the four great ninja villages coexisted in this fragile harmony.
And as the only Kage present, the Third Mizukage had, without realizing it, become the de facto leader of the allied group.
Naturally, the other villages began to look to him for guidance.
After handing over their invitation, the massive group of over a hundred shinobi entered Konoha.
Their journey of emotional upheaval began the moment they passed through the gates.
Just like Hanzō of the Salamander before them, their first shock came from the roads and buildings that greeted them.
Their second shock came from the bustling streets branching out in every direction, teeming with countless people going about their lives, a dazzling display of prosperity.
The third shock came from observing the mental and emotional state of Konoha.
As they walked along, they occasionally saw self-driving vehicles gliding by, children holding handheld gaming consoles, towering billboards displaying advertisements, and massive screens in the plazas broadcasting public announcements.
This was their fourth shock, a technological shock.
Finally, they reached the central plaza, where the Hero Monument stood tall.
After reading the inscription on the smaller stone tablet beside it, they were once again struck by the message carved into the large monument:
"Heroes of Konoha, Immortal in Glory!"
This was their fifth shock, the shock of encountering the spiritual legacy of Konoha.
After that, the large group dispersed to explore different parts of the village, each experiencing their own unique sense of awe.
Sasori, being only eight years old, was utterly captivated by the amusement park and could hardly bear to leave.
Chiyo, under the pretense of studying "puppetry" for inspiration, indulged the boy and let him try every single attraction.
As a result, her entire day was consumed by accompanying Sasori through the amusement park.
Meanwhile, the other ninjas scattered throughout the village.
Some became lost in the bustling food streets, sampling dish after dish.
Others became engrossed in arcade games.
Some wandered aimlessly through the parks, admiring the natural beauty, while others found themselves ensnared by the vibrant pedestrian streets.
By the end of the day, the hearts and minds of every visiting ninja had been completely shaken.
And it wasn't over yet, because now, Konoha's nightlife was about to begin.