novel-bin Chapter 372 Heroic Zhang Village
Chapter 372 Heroic Zhang Village
Chapter 372 Heroes Return to the Village
October of Konoha 48.
On the eastern border, the dampness and tense killing intent that had permeated the area for more than half a year suddenly thinned out on a certain morning without any warning.
Minato Namikaze stood on the watchtower at the edge of the camp, his golden hair fluttering in the breeze.
His brows furrowed slightly, his azure eyes gazing at the distant forest and mudflats that were once shrouded in mist and hidden sentries, but were now unusually peaceful.
For three consecutive days, the scout teams conducted in-depth investigations and brought back remarkably consistent reports: no trace of the Hidden Mist Ninjas was found, the camp was deserted, and not even a trace of any resistance was left behind.
"Just like when they attacked out of nowhere in the first place—"
Beside Minato, a Konoha Jonin with a scar on his face muttered under his breath, his tone filled with a sense of absurdity and a hint of annoyance at being mocked.
"These madmen from Kirigakure, their retreat is so erratic!"
Minato did not respond, but the seriousness in his eyes did not ease with the disappearance of the mist. He understood his subordinate's resentment.
For more than half a year, the stalemate was like a group of mindless vipers, with no tactical purpose, just blindly fighting Konoha.
And now, their retreat was also without any statement, without any ceasefire agreement, and they didn't even bother to leave behind a single polite word.
This is Kirigakure, a group of ninjas who emerged from the "Village of Blood Mist," whose ways of doing things are always unpredictable.
They firmly believed in the sea as a barrier, and came and went without restraint, completely unconcerned that Konoha would be able to easily spread the flames of war to their homeland like the continental countries.
The geographical advantages of island nations have given them this almost pathological willfulness.
"Let's confirm one more time," Minato's voice remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness. "Expand the area to twenty nautical miles beyond the coastline to ensure this is not a trap."
Two days. If we still haven't found any signs of a large-scale Mist Cult force after two days—then we can confirm that they've truly left.
Two days passed in anxious waiting. The final intelligence report reached Minato, completely confirming his suspicions.
Kirigakure, the village that had been locked in a fierce battle with Konoha until now, has finally withdrawn from the war.
The message was transmitted back to Konoha via encrypted channels at top speed.
When this brief but exciting intelligence was delivered to the desk of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the old man, who had weathered countless storms, paused slightly in the hand holding his pipe, then took a long, deep breath and slowly exhaled.
The swirling smoke blurred the complex expression on his face—a mixture of relief, weariness, and the ease of a boulder being lifted from his shoulders.
"It's over—" he murmured to himself, "For our Konoha—the Third Shinobi World War, which lasted for more than two years, has finally come to a general end."
Yes, only "roughly".
Because on this vast map of the ninja world, the smoke of war has not yet dissipated.
At the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning, the war machines of Iwagakure and Kumogakure continue to roar and tear each other apart.
The seeds of hatred, sown by Taiichi's incarnation Ryunosuke, had long since grown into a towering tree.
The losses on both sides far exceeded those recorded in the original work. The number and quality of ninjas who died in this battle can be considered the most tragic of the three wars.
Such a deep-seated hatred cannot be easily resolved unless one side bleeds to the last drop, or both sides are so exhausted that they don't even have the strength to lift a knife.
But those are other people's business. Konoha can finally temporarily put down the heaviest burden on its shoulders.
Shuimen did not return to the village immediately.
As an excellent commander, he remained stationed on the border for a full month.
During this month, he reorganized the defenses, reinforced the strongholds, and arranged rotations to ensure that even if the Hidden Mist Village launched a counterattack, the Leaf Village could react quickly and remain impregnable.
Only after confirming that there was no possibility of war breaking out on the eastern front did he finally issue the order for the main force to withdraw to Konoha.
On the day of their triumphant return, Konoha Village was transformed, as if it were celebrating its grandest festival ahead of schedule.
The road leading to the gates of Konoha was crowded with villagers who were eagerly waiting.
The colorful flags fluttered in the gentle breeze, as vibrant as colorful flowers.
Huge banners hung from the tall building, bearing inspiring slogans such as "Welcome back the heroes" and "The Yellow Flash of Konoha".
The air was filled with a joyful atmosphere and the aroma of food. Children waved their small leaf flags excitedly and cheered.
The crowds surged from the village entrance all the way to the foot of Huoying Rock, truly a scene of "loud drums and gongs, firecrackers, colorful flags waving, and a sea of people."
To build momentum for his grand-disciple who was about to succeed the Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi personally led the Konoha leadership and the heads of various clans, waiting early in front of Konoha's magnificent gates.
He wore the solemn Hokage robes, his expression dignified yet gratified, his gaze fixed intently on the end of the road.
When that dazzling golden hue appeared on the horizon, the entire Hidden Leaf Village seemed to have been hit by a huge stone, instantly boiling over!
"Lord Minato!"
"Yellow flash!"
"Hero! The hero has returned!"
A deafening roar rose into the sky, drowning out all the gongs, drums, and firecrackers.
Minato Namikaze walked at the front of the group, still wearing his standard ninja outfit, with a gentle and slightly shy smile on his face, and his golden hair shimmering warmly in the sunlight.
He kept waving to the excited crowds on both sides of the road, and each wave drew an even more enthusiastic response.
The ninjas behind him, though mostly weathered and worn, all stood tall with pride and glory on their faces.
They are the victors, the warriors who protected their homeland.
At this moment, Minato Namikaze's reputation reached an unprecedented peak amidst the heartfelt and fervent support of the Konoha villagers.
He is not only a hero on the battlefield, but also a symbol of peace and the hope for Konoha's future.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the scene before him, his eyes were filled with complex emotions: pride, satisfaction, and a touch of melancholy at the changing times.
He stepped forward to personally greet this successor who had made outstanding contributions to the village.
Behind the crowd welcoming the high-ranking officials stood several figures with unique charisma, including the three legendary ninjas and the young Matsushita Taichi.
They weren't in the most central positions, but their powerful aura and special status made them the center of attention.
Jiraiya crossed his arms and looked at his beloved disciple, who was surrounded by a huge crowd. He grinned from ear to ear, and his hearty laughter could still be clearly heard amidst the noise.
"Hahahaha! Good lad! Well done! This is the kind of spirit my disciple, Jiraiya the Toad Sage, should have!
His eyes shone with pure pride and satisfaction, as if he were even happier than when he became Hokage.
Tsunade, on the other hand, looked uninterested, her arms crossed, revealing her impressive chest—a scene she had witnessed many times before.
People often only notice the glory that is out in front of others, while the deaths hidden behind it are something only the families of the deceased can truly understand.
Orochimaru stood a little behind, a faint smile playing on his pale face.
His golden snake eyes didn't linger on Minato for long; instead, he observed the surging crowd and Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression with great interest.
When his gaze swept over Taiyi beside him, the smile on his lips seemed to deepen slightly.
"Taiichi-kun," Orochimaru's deep, hoarse voice pierced through the surrounding noise, reaching Taiichi's ears clearly, "looking at this scene, watching Minato about to step into that position—do you regret it?"
His questions seemed casual, but his serpentine eyes sharply captured the most subtle changes on Taiyi's face, as if he were examining an interesting experimental subject.
Upon hearing this, Taiyi's face revealed an extremely calm, even relaxed, expression.
He shook his head slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the Water Gate surrounded by cheers, and landing on the towering Fire Shadow Rock in the distance.
"Regret?" Taiichi's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "Lord Orochimaru, you're joking. This isn't the life I wanted."
He paused, as if he could see again the back of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was reviewing official documents day and night.
"The Hokage position—it's too boring. Responsibilities, trade-offs, countless meetings, and endless paperwork—it's like a gilded cage, not suitable for me. I prefer—"
His gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, recalling the life-and-death struggle between the enemies beneath Loulan and those from beyond the heavens, "a wider world and—a more direct challenge."
"Heh—" Tsunade chuckled from the side, echoing her sentiments, "You're absolutely right. Just thinking about that position makes one's breathless. It's so much more comfortable like this now. I can research medical ninjutsu whenever I want, and drink whenever I want—well, although my drinking time is pretty much squeezed out now—"
The latter half of her sentence carried a hint of resentment, clearly indicating that she was still bothered by the hospital director's workload.
Jiraiya overheard their conversation, turned around, and patted Taichi on the shoulder with a big laugh: "Hahaha! Good lad, you have ambition! I also think that true heroes are those who are free and unrestrained! But for Minato, becoming Hokage is his dream. Seeing him like this, I, as his teacher, feel at ease."
Looking into Taichi's clear and frank eyes, listening to Tsunade's undisguised disgust and Jiraiya's hearty laughter, the playful look in Orochimaru's eyes gradually faded, eventually turning into a low chuckle of unclear meaning.
"Hehe—that's really interesting—but now, it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it."
He muttered to himself, a strange light flashing deep in his eyes.
He recalled Hiruzen Sarutobi's recent support for his research, and the newly established research department that had gathered a large amount of Konoha's resources.
Although there are more rules and regulations, and the constraints are annoying, compared to sneaking around in the shadows before, we can now openly mobilize resources and explore the mysteries of "truth" in a broader field—this kind of exchange doesn't seem unacceptable.
Power? The position of Hokage? What do they amount to in the face of endless truth?
His self-illumination once again shone on the center of the crowd, the golden figure bathed in the light of glory, and then swept over his companions with their various expressions and the clear-eyed boy, the curve of his lips becoming increasingly subtle.
The deafening cheers continued, like an eternal hymn to a hero. Minato entered Konoha, personally greeted by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Everything that followed was so logical; Hiruzen Sarutobi had laid so much groundwork for Minato's succession.
The most dazzling new star of Konoha was transferred back to the village (Taichi was transferred back to the village).
Let Minato experience every battlefield and accumulate his reputation in each battle.
He recalled his three most capable disciples (even though they all intended to give up the competition).
The high-ranking officials of Konoha and the major ninja clans all know this. Now that the Third Hokage is also considering stepping down, it's just a matter of procedure before the Fourth Hokage officially takes over.
Ninja Academy.
Taiyi's lecture ended precisely as the bell rang, with almost no deviation.
He hated teachers keeping students late when he was in school, and now that he's a teacher himself, he certainly won't continue that bad habit.
But the students who were lying down didn't think that way; they were hoping that Taiyi would talk more.
After all, those who remain here are ambitious and suited to the path of medical ninjas.
-
Taiichi put away the scroll explaining the chakra meridian diagram, waved goodbye to the children's eager eyes, and left the classroom.
His courses are all carefully planned, neither too many for the children to handle nor too few to leave them with spare time.
"Taiyi."
A gentle voice sounded from behind, accompanied by his signature warm smile.
Minato Namikaze was already standing at the corner of the corridor, bathed in soft sunlight.
He was dressed in casual clothes, with several unopened files draped over his arm, clearly having just come from the Hokage Building.
"Minato-senpai." Taiichi dusted off his hands and went to greet him. "What brings you to school today?"
"I finished my studies with the Third Hokage and stopped by to take a look." Minato approached, his gaze sweeping over the bustling school, but the smile on his face faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"And—there are some things I want to hear you say for yourself." He lowered his voice, "about—Loulan, about those extraterrestrials."
"6
Taiyi paused, instantly understanding.
It seems that the Third Hokage has begun to gradually hand over Konoha's most core secrets to him.
Information about the Otsutsuki clan is clearly the most explosive of these secrets.
Tai nodded, and the two walked in tacit agreement toward the quiet, tree-lined path behind the school.
"When I first heard the Third Hokage tell his story, I almost thought he was joking." Minato's voice was soft, with a hint of self-deprecation, and his azure eyes stared directly at Taiichi.
"An enemy from outer space? The Otsutsuki clan—all of this is beyond my previous understanding of the ninja world."
Taiichi, you personally experienced that battle, that guy named Urashiki, the power he displayed.
He paused, seemingly searching for the right words, "If that day ever comes, will we really be able to handle it?"
Taiichi recalled the battle that day and the oppressive feeling brought by Urashiki, and his expression became more serious: "The opponent is very strong. Ordinary ninjas have almost no power to fight back in front of him. If he hadn't seemed to be in a strange state at the time, the outcome would probably have been different."
The information the Hokage told you is just the tip of the iceberg. That clan is a sword of Damocles hanging over the ninja world.
Minato took a deep breath, his brows furrowed beneath his blond hair.
He somewhat understood why Konoha had been making frequent internal moves recently, with changes to the functions of various departments that hadn't changed in decades, and even major reforms being carried out on the core of the Ninja Academy.
"So, all these recent changes—are they all in response to this?"
"Yes." Taiichi confirmed Minato's speculation. "I guess this is also one of the last contributions the Third Hokage made before you took over the throne."
"There are many things he can no longer do. As the Hokage, he has too many personal relationships and interests involved. Now, he just wants to do his best to remove some obstacles before he retires."
This is something Taiichi has recently realized: Hiruzen Sarutobi is genuinely paving the way for Minato; otherwise, Taiichi himself wouldn't be so honest.
Minato did not respond immediately. He looked towards the towering Hokage Rock in the distance, where the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the portraits of the three Hokage in a warm orange-red hue.
The burden on his shoulders seemed to be a thousand times heavier than he had imagined.
After a moment of silence, he looked at Taiyi again and asked about another important purpose of his trip: "So what about you, Taiyi? Faced with such a threat, what are your plans? I know you; you will never sit idly by and wait to die."
Taiyi's gaze turned to the horizon, looking up at the deep blue sky. His voice was calm yet firm.
"The position of Hokage carries the weight of the entire village's rise and fall, and what is needed is a helmsman like you who can unite people's hearts and weigh the big picture."
"And I—" He withdrew his gaze, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"We must become stronger, strong enough that when those Otsutsuki come, we can easily send them flying back to heaven."
He didn't say it specifically, but Minato instantly understood Taichi's choice: to use his own power to protect his family.
Taiyi has the strength and confidence to do so; what he lacks now is time.