NOVEL NEXT Chapter 338: Chapter 338
The night passed quietly.
That night, the ninjas from the four great villages hardly got any sleep.
After all, they had witnessed far too many shocking events during the day and experienced an unforgettable banquet that would remain etched in their memories for years to come.
As a result, nearly all of them found it difficult to sleep.
Fortunately for ninjas, staying awake for an entire night was not a big deal.
The next day, the sun rose as usual, and the weather remained clear and pleasant, filling people with a sense of serenity and comfort.
The Third Mizukage donned his ceremonial robes as he officially visited Konoha.
Thus, after thirteen years, he once again laid eyes on Hui.
Looking at the handsome face before him, one that seemed to belong to someone in their early twenties, the Third Mizukage found himself in a daze.
Thirteen years had passed, and the once young boy was now twenty-nine years old.
However, his appearance remained as youthful as ever, as though time had stood still for him.
What could this mean? The Third Mizukage wasn't sure.
Perhaps it was some kind of mysterious jutsu.
But who could really know? After all, this was a man akin to a miracle, the Third Hokage of Konoha, Mochizuki Hui.
He was too enigmatic. No one could ever fully comprehend his methods, nor did anyone know what kind of trump cards he kept hidden or what new jutsu he had created.
"Welcome to Konoha."
Hui stepped forward and greeted the Third Mizukage with a warm smile.
To be honest, he was somewhat surprised.
In Hui's opinion, the leaders of smaller ninja villages might have dared to come, but he had not expected any of the leaders of the four great ninja villages to visit Konoha.
Yet, here stood the Third Mizukage.
"Thirteen years have passed. The Third Hokage must be twenty-nine now, correct? Yet you look so young. it's truly your style: still as mysterious and miraculous as ever."
The Third Mizukage's tone was calm, but his heart felt heavy.
He couldn't sense the slightest threat from Hui.
No, it wasn't just that simple.
The sensation Hui gave off was as though he were an ordinary person, or, even more surreal. as though there was no one standing before him at all.
It felt as though the figure before him was just a blade of grass, a tree, a rock, or even the invisible, omnipresent air.
The Third Mizukage didn't know what this sensation signified.
But he was certain of one thing, Hui had grown far more powerful than he had been thirteen years ago. Far more powerful.
"Hahaha, is that so?"
Hui chuckled lightly and spoke to the Third Mizukage:
"For the Third Mizukage to have traveled such a long way, it is an honor for this Chūnin Exam and a blessing for Konoha. As the host, allow me to accompany you on a tour around the village to experience the spirit of Konoha firsthand."
Hui's tone was calm.
Although he had used his divine ability, which allowed him to perceive another's thoughts, Hui already knew that this man was the most likely among the leaders of the four great villages to be "persuaded", the one most prone to surrender in the future war.
Not that it mattered.
Whether they surrendered or not, the outcome of the future unification war was already sealed.
Their paths would be limited to two choices:
The first was to surrender after suffering defeat.
The second was to surrender preemptively before suffering any losses.
Perhaps there was a third path, that they would rather perish than surrender, ultimately leading to their complete destruction.
Beyond these options, the ninja villages had no other choices.
It was for this reason that Hui merely offered to show the Third Mizukage around rather than immediately attempt any persuasive tactics.
It wasn't just the Third Mizukage.
Hui also met with the leaders of the other villages.
This, of course, included Hanzō of the Salamander.
Hanzō seemed wary of Hui. However, having already arrived in Konoha, and after witnessing yesterday's overwhelming display, his heart had become numb, making him more composed.
Hui hadn't expected Hanzō to come to Konoha in the first place.
After all, Hanzō was known for being overly cautious. It made no sense for someone like him to place himself in such a dangerous situation.
However, Hui had no particular interest in figuring out why Hanzō had made such a decision.
In Hui's eyes, Hanzō, revered as a "demigod" in the original timeline, was no different from three ordinary ninjas.
What did catch Hui's attention were the two young ninjas accompanying Hanzō.
They appeared to be teenagers around fifteen or sixteen years old, likely participants in this Chūnin Exam.
One had short orange hair, while the other had shoulder-length red hair.
Based on their appearances, the special nature of the red-haired boy's chakra, and his divine ability, Hui quickly deduced their identities.
Just as he expected, these two were named Yahiko and Nagato.
Yes, they were the same Nagato and "Tendo Pain" from the original storyline.
However, in this world, their fates had already changed completely.
Due to the absence of interference from the other great ninja villages, the internal conflicts in the Land of Rain had been swiftly quelled by Hanzō of the Salamander, bringing peace to the Land of Rain.
Moreover, due to Hui's influence, Hanzō of the Salamander managed the village in a manner that was far more open and progressive, unlike the increasingly conservative approach depicted in the original story.
With this healthier, more open policy, Yahiko and Nagato were no longer orphans but had become prodigious ninjas of Amegakure.
Their strength had already reached the level of elite Chūnin.
Within Amegakure, they had long since earned their Chūnin ranks.
However, for the sake of this Joint Chūnin Exam, they were temporarily registered as "Genin" once more.
Although Hui found Yahiko and Nagato slightly interesting, it was merely because they were such prominent figures in the original storyline.
It gave him the odd sensation of meeting characters from a scripted plot.
He didn't particularly pay them much attention, as they no longer possessed anything noteworthy enough to truly catch his eye.
After all, Konoha was overflowing with geniuses. There were far too many with talent far surpassing Yahiko and Nagato.
Hui was already occupied with observing Konoha's exceptional young ninjas, he didn't have the time or interest to focus on Yahiko and Nagato.
The group entered Konoha's administrative zone, also known as the village's elite ninja sector.
As they stepped into the area, they were immediately enveloped by an invisible pressure.
It felt as if their entire beings were laid bare, with every move and gesture observed.
It was as though from the moment they stepped in, their every action was being watched by unseen eyes.
Hui led them through the administrative sector. Ninjas passed by from time to time, pausing to greet them respectfully upon seeing the group.
"This is the headquarters of the Comprehensive Management Division."
Hui led the group to the division's main building, where they encountered Sarutobi Hiruzen.
This sight reminded many of the village leaders that such a powerful figure still existed in Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, once overshadowed by Hui's brilliance, had once been the strongest contender for the position of Third Hokage.
The Third Mizukage and Hanzō of the Salamander felt an even greater weight in their hearts.
They could sense the overwhelming strength emanating from Sarutobi Hiruzen. One glance was enough to confirm that Sarutobi Hiruzen was certainly not weaker than them.
"This is the Administration Department."
After leaving the Comprehensive Division, the group arrived at the Administration Department and met Hatake Sakumo.
Yet another figure who was not the slightest bit inferior to the Kage of the four great villages.
Next was the Legal Affairs Division, headed by Shimura Danzō.
The Medical Division was led by Tsunade.
The Reasearch Development Division's head, Orochimaru, was absent, but even the deputy minister there was a powerful ninja.
Then came the Education Department, led by Uchiha Kagami.
Following that was the Police Department, headed by Uchiha Fugaku and Senju Nawaki.
And finally, the Elite Jōnin Corps...
Konoha displayed its formidable strength through its high-level combat forces.
As they made their way through the village, the entire group remained silent.
None of them could find the words to speak.
Many of them felt utterly lost and filled with despair.
Konoha was overwhelmingly powerful, not just in its infrastructure but in its ninjas.
Only Hui continued to introduce Konoha's features to them as though he hadn't noticed their growing unease.
Of course, he was fully aware of what these people were thinking.
This amused him.
If merely seeing these ninjas had shaken them so deeply, what would happen if they met Uchiha Madara? Would they become so terrified that they couldn't move?
And if they learned about Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the Mother of chakra itself, would they faint from fright on the spot?
And if they discovered Hui's true strength at present...
Someone might actually die from the shock.
With heavy steps, the group followed Hui until they reached the cliff atop the Hokage Rock.
This was an excellent vantage point, offering a breathtaking view of the entirety of Konoha.
Hui had always been fond of this place.
The others gazed down at the vast expanse of Konoha beneath them, its seemingly endless streets, its gleaming buildings, and its futuristic infrastructure.
Utter confusion and awe filled their hearts as they stared at this overwhelming sight.
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