NOVEL NEXT Chapter 337: Chapter 337
For most of the ninja world's villages, nighttime was nothing more than a time for sleep.
What else could they do?
Once the village was plunged into darkness, the streets emptied, and everyone retreated to their homes to sleep. If someone ventured out, the most they could do was visit one or two small inns still open to drink away their frustrations.
This was the typical state of ninja villages at night, quiet, dark, and uneventful.
Even the four great ninja villages were no exception.
Despite their elevated status, when night fell, they became just as lifeless as the smaller villages.
Their geographical environments said it all:
Sunagakure was located in the desert. Although it was scorching during the day, the desert's nighttime chill could make one shiver uncontrollably.
Kirigakure was shrouded in water and fog. At night, the fog thickened, turning everything into a cold, hazy gray.
Kumogakure sat atop high mountains, where the night winds howled fiercely, bringing with them a biting chill.
Iwagakure was surrounded by rocks. The entire settlement was barren and dull, with little to see even in daylight.
With such geographical constraints, how could they develop any sort of nightlife?
And most importantly—
It was only the thirty-ninth year of Konoha calendar. The technological advancement in the ninja world was still far from what it would become decades later.
Many villages were still stuck in an era where oil lamps were their main source of light.
But Konoha was different.
Konoha stood worlds apart from the other villages.
When the ninjas from the four great villages looked out of their guesthouse windows and saw the dazzling array of colorful lights illuminating the streets, they were stunned.
Moments later, they decided to head out and see the sights for themselves.
The bright streetlights lit the way, while crowds bustled about with lively chatter.
During the day, there had been no sign of the numerous street vendors that now lined the roads, selling food, clothes, toys, and trinkets. There were performers showcasing their talents, entertainers drawing crowds. All manner of activity surrounded them.
Passersby wandered leisurely, stopping to enjoy snacks, watch performances, and shop.
"So... lively," one ninja couldn't help but murmur in awe.
The scene before him was something he had never witnessed before, something he couldn't have even imagined.
In that moment, a thought emerged in his mind:
This is what nighttime should be like.
The shinobi from the four great villages split into smaller groups again, as it was impractical for over a hundred people to walk together in one large mass.
The Third Mizukage walked alongside Yagura, Ranzuki, Chiyo, and Rasa.
Compared to the ninjas from Iwagakure and Kumogakure, he was more familiar with Chiyo and Rasa.
"What do you think of Konoha?" Chiyo asked, her tone hesitant and complex.
The Third Mizukage was silent for a few moments before replying, "Envy."
Chiyo blinked, momentarily stunned.
She had expected him to give an analysis of Konoha's overall strength, but she hadn't anticipated that he would use the word "envy."
Then again... who wouldn't envy it?
Looking at the dazzling lights and the vibrant streets, everything they had seen today completely shattered Chiyo's old concept of what a village could be.
This version of Konoha was something beyond her wildest imagination, a place that surpassed even her dreams of what the future could hold.
To Chiyo, this wasn't just a village, it was a city of the future.
"Yes... this kind of Konoha... it's truly enviable," she murmured wistfully, her mind drifting to Sunagakure.
Her village would currently be pitch dark, with silent, empty streets.
The only sound would be the relentless whistling of the desert winds.
Compared to Konoha, Sunagakure couldn't even stand in the same league.
"I thought that by securing fifteen years of peace for the ninja world, we'd be able to close the gap between us and Konoha... between us and Hui. But after thirteen years, Konoha's progress has far surpassed us, not by a mere few years, but by decades," the Third Mizukage said softly, though his words carried a deep bitterness.
The events of the day had shaken him to his core. He now understood that the ninja world could no longer stop Konoha's rise.
Their population was too vast, and their strength too overwhelming.
It was as if they had pressed the other villages' faces into the dirt.
Chiyo fell into silence as well.
She, too, saw that Konoha had left every other village far behind, to the point where they couldn't even glimpse its shadow anymore.
When they had received Konoha's invitation, they had anticipated that the village would flex its strength.
But they had never expected Konoha to have grown to such terrifying proportions.
"Right now, I only have one thought in mind—"
The Third Mizukage spoke softly, "Tomorrow, I'll meet Hui and see what he's like now... see how strong he's become."
Konoha was prosperous, overwhelmingly powerful.
However, if the entire ninja world united, it wasn't entirely impossible to stand against it.
But that came with one critical condition— Hui's strength needed to still be within a resistible range.
"Enough. No need to dwell on it. We'll know everything tomorrow. Since we've come to this dreamlike place that feels like the future itself, we should enjoy tonight."
The Third Mizukage suppressed his concerns and bitter thoughts, shifting his gaze to the surroundings.
This was night in Konoha.
He saw colorful, dazzling lights. He saw crowds of people bustling and laughing.
He saw various street vendors, endless joy, and a peaceful harmony that felt like a dream.
The sounds of laughter and cheer filled the air, carrying a contagious happiness.
At that moment, the Third Mizukage felt only one emotion, envy.
If only the Kirigakure could have such a night... how wonderful it would be.
A village like this was the very place he had dreamed of, a village that embodied his ideals, dreams, and aspirations.
As they wandered, the group arrived at the central plaza.
It was already filled with people, and yet more continued to pour in, adults, children, the elderly, men, women, shinobi, and civilians alike.
The Third Mizukage saw harmony here. He saw equality.
And the villagers showed no malice toward them, only curiosity, sparing a glance or two at the foreign shinobi before returning to their activities.
Of course, they had no idea that one of these shinobi was a Kage of the four great villages.
The Third Mizukage had deliberately avoided wearing his Kage robes, reserving them for his formal visit to the Hokage tomorrow.
By dressing inconspicuously, he had been granted this rare, candid opportunity to experience Konoha firsthand without being treated differently.
Otherwise, if a Kage from one of the four great ninja villages entered Konoha, it would be unthinkable for Hui, as Hokage, not to personally greet him.
"Hey, I heard there's going to be fireworks tonight. Is that true?"
A villager's conversation drifted into the Third Mizukage's ears, making him pause.
"Fireworks? No way. It's not a special day. Why would there be fireworks?" another villager responded, confused.
The fireworks displays in Konoha only occurred on specific occasions, Valentine's Day, the anniversary of the village's founding, and the New Year Festival.
"I don't know. Someone said it's to welcome the visitors who came from afar for the Chūnin Exams."
The first villager seemed unsure.
Welcoming us?
The Third Mizukage looked toward the sky thoughtfully.
He had heard of fireworks from traveling merchants before.
The merchants had described them as the most beautiful sight they had ever seen, flowers that bloomed in the sky.
The thought intrigued him.
What kind of flower blooms in the sky?
Just as he pondered, he suddenly sensed a powerful chakra.
His gaze snapped toward the source, and he saw a familiar figure.
It was Nawaki Senju, the grandson of Hashirama Senju and the inheritor of the Wood Release.
Nawaki seemed to sense the Third Mizukage's gaze and looked back at him, his face devoid of any expression.
Then, Nawaki began forming hand signs.
This sudden action made Ranzuki tense, nearly preparing to strike, but the Third Mizukage raised a hand, stopping him.
In the next moment, a glowing orb appeared above Nawaki's head.
The orb was about the size of a human head and slowly floated upward into the sky.
The Third Mizukage watched as the glowing orb hovered high above and held its position.
Then, he saw it, the flowers blooming in the sky.
Suddenly, countless specks of light began to rise from various points around Konoha, blossoming into radiant flowers in the night sky.
The entire sky above Konoha became a sea of flowers.
The villagers cheered joyously.
Though they had seen countless fireworks displays before, such beauty never failed to fill them with pure happiness and delight.
Meanwhile, the shinobi from the other villages stood with their mouths agape, heads tilted upward as they stared in awe at the breathtaking spectacle above.
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