Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 340 The Pure Land of Fire

Click, click... click!

With a heavy clanking of machinery, the two doors of the Fire Country's Daimyo's mansion, large enough for five people to walk side by side, were slowly pushed open by two servants.

What was revealed behind the door was not a heavily guarded area, but a spacious and luxurious courtyard that opened up before you.

"Everyone, please follow me."

An elegantly dressed middle-aged man was already waiting inside the door, smiling as he said, "Your Highness has been waiting inside for quite some time."

Kazuma also wore a smile, followed by ten boys and girls including Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin.

They had been in the capital of the Land of Fire for two days, but they had been familiarizing themselves with the surroundings and their accommodations. Today was the first time that Daimyo had received them.

Of course, it was less of a reception and more of an invitation to a private dinner.

Bang!
The muffled sound of the mansion gate slamming shut behind me completely shut out the noise and commotion from the outside world.

Upon entering the front courtyard, one is greeted by a magnificent architectural complex with winding corridors and soaring eaves, adorned with vermilion lacquer and gold powder, carved beams and painted rafters, exuding an air of overwhelming wealth and grandeur.

As you walk deeper along the carefully paved white stone path, you'll find the trees in full bloom, a riot of flowers, and all sorts of exotic plants vying for attention, filling the air with their fragrance.

The group followed the man in silence, trying to remain calm, but their eyes couldn't help but reveal their curiosity and amazement at the scene before them.

It's hard to imagine that, under the shadow of the Void Realm and the Akatsuki organization, the Land of Fire could still have such a seemingly isolated, peaceful, and stable place.

The man leading the way caught a glimpse of their barely concealed surprise out of the corner of his eye, and a barely perceptible hint of contempt flashed in his eyes.

"His Highness has always loved scenes full of life."

As he walked leisurely, he casually introduced, "Over there is the 'Edelweiss' transplanted from the Land of Snow. Its flowers are pure white and can bloom even in the slight chill."

"That clump is the 'Dream Orchid' from the Land of Rain, its fragrance has a calming effect, and that patch of fiery blossoms in the distance is the 'Flame Flower' found in the Land of Wind, its flowers are intensely red..."

After he finished speaking, Naruto suddenly asked, "These plants have different habits and their native environments are completely different from those in the Land of Fire. I'm afraid they won't survive long here, right?"

The man glanced at Naruto, a calm smile still on his face: "Indeed, these delicate flowers can only last for about a month here."

"But it doesn't matter, if it dies, we can just replace it."

After saying that, he said no more and continued to lead the way. Behind him, Naruto's gaze remained calm, but it had become even more profound.

After passing through winding corridors, the group finally entered the main hall, where the floor gleamed, reflecting the light streaming down from the dome.

Standing in this magnificent and vast hall, the charcoal and wood burned quietly, emitting the fragrance of pine, and a warm, spring-like atmosphere wafted over.

In the center of the hall, a low table is arranged in a U-shape, on which are displayed delicate cold dishes and several bottles of clear sake.

On the right side of the table, several elegantly dressed noblemen were already seated, chatting and laughing in hushed tones, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

However, the moment Kazuma led Naruto and his group into the hall, all eyes were focused on these "guests" who seemed out of place in their surroundings.

"Haha, Kazuma, we've been waiting for you for ages!"

The daimyo of the Land of Fire, seated in the main seat, greeted the group with a warm smile as they entered. He glanced at the ten people behind Kazuma and chuckled.

"Your Highness, Daimyo." Kazuma was the first to kneel down and bow, and the Konoha people behind him, including Naruto, followed suit and greeted him in unison.

"I already said it's a private banquet, there's no need to be so formal."

Before they could fully bow down, the daimyo interrupted them, saying in a friendly manner, "We've all been waiting for you, so please sit down and we can eat and chat."

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness." Kazuma stood up and guided the Konoha members to kneel down on the cushions on the left side of the long table.

The banquet hall is still paved with glazed tiles and resplendent with gold, but the heavily made-up and gorgeously dressed maids of the past are nowhere to be seen.

Although the space was still dazzling, it inexplicably lacked a bit of its ostentatious "vitality".

The daimyo wanted to use this deliberately created atmosphere of "elegance" and "tranquility" to get closer to the people of Konoha and show an approachable attitude.

However, although there were no women in sight inside the hall, Naruto's extraordinary sense of smell still allowed him to detect the perfume scent floating in the air.

"A place that should be filled with decadent music and indulging in pleasure is now being deliberately disguised as a pure land devoid of desires. It's truly a case of trying to cover up the truth..."

Naruto thought to himself, "It seems that the rumors about the Fire Country Daimyo's dissolute personality and love of extravagance are indeed true."

He was calmly thinking to himself, but on the surface he remained composed, maintaining basic etiquette.

Just then, two arms, as white as ivory, silently reached out from his sides.

Holding a small red clay teapot in one hand and gently brushing the wide sleeves of his robe with the other, he poured hot water into the teacup, releasing the delicate fragrance of tea leaves.

"Thank you." Naruto said subconsciously, then turned to look.

There sat a young girl, heavily made up but still with an innocent face, sitting timidly with her head bowed, her face showing a flattered expression at his thanks.

He noticed that behind each person present, just like him, knelt a chef responsible for serving dishes and a maid responsible for pouring tea and wine.

"Alright, everyone, let's begin the banquet." The daimyo lightly closed the fan in his hand, making a crisp sound.

The old chef with a weathered face behind him stepped forward in response, first turning around and bowing slightly to the name, and only after receiving approval did he walk to a long table in the hall.

Soon, the first dish was served, but it was less a dish and more an art form combining sight and taste.

Polite, soft applause immediately filled the room. The lord surveyed the room with satisfaction, picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and found the sweet and sour taste very appetizing.

"Hmm! Not bad!" The lord's eyes lit up, and he praised without reservation, "As expected of the Grand Master of Cuisine whom I promoted out of turn, I knew I hadn't misjudged him."

The position of Grand Steward was responsible for all dietary arrangements for the royal family, and was usually held by a trusted person.

The fact that a daimyo would entrust such an important position to a cook of commoner origin is enough to demonstrate his recognition of the cook's skills and loyalty.

"I am humbled and dare not fail Your Highness's trust and kindness." Upon hearing this, the old man lowered his head even further, his tone filled with gratitude and humility.

Daming laughed heartily, then looked away from the chef with satisfaction and towards the people at the table, urging them to start eating.

However, no one noticed that what flashed across the old chef's lowered eyes was not gratitude, but a cold indifference.

Of everyone present, only Naruto noticed something amiss.

However, the malice wasn't directed at him, so he just subconsciously looked in the direction of the old chef.

At this moment, the old man stood respectfully in the shadows of the corner, his back slightly hunched, a humble smile on his face, completely immersed in the role of a servant. He felt Naruto's gaze, and even turned his head slightly to give Naruto a kind smile, his cloudy eyes revealing nothing unusual.

The atmosphere of the banquet gradually warmed up, and delicacies were served one after another. Waiters moved silently among the guests, pouring them sake or juice.

The nobles present were very gentle, and the initial restraint of the Konoha people gradually dissipated under the food and their reassurance, and they began to enjoy this rare feast.

However, amidst this seemingly harmonious atmosphere, Naruto felt an increasingly strong sense of detachment and unreality.

Looking at the people in front of him, enjoying their food with gusto and praising it, he thought of Konoha, which had finally been rebuilt from ruins.

Konoha's reconstruction funds are stretched thin, and the allocation from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire is far from enough. The village has to find its own way to obtain many supplies, and even has to humble itself and beg the Daimyo.

At this moment, standing in this magnificent Daimyo mansion, looking at these well-dressed nobles and listening to them talk about romance and poetry, Naruto felt a strong sense of absurdity welling up in his heart.

The cost of ingredients for any dish served here could probably build several new houses.
Didn't Kazuma say that there are still many Hollows ravaging the Land of Fire that need to be eradicated?

Isn't it said that there are disasters in various places and that people need to be comforted?

Why does it seem like this never happened?

Everything here seems like a carefully crafted illusion.

The disasters outside and the suffering of the people seemed to be completely blocked by the heavy gate, unable to invade this "pure land" in the slightest.

"Mmm..." Chiba Ryosuke, sitting next to him, puffed out his cheeks, tilted his head and looked at him with some confusion, asking, "Naruto, why aren't you eating?"

"Ah, I was daydreaming." Naruto snapped out of his reverie, a smile spreading across his face as he picked up the teacup in front of him.

He lowered his head, looking at the clear tea in his cup. The surface of the water reflected the dazzling crystal chandelier on the ceiling, creating a hazy, dreamlike effect, just like his chaotic thoughts at that moment.

He was now certain of the corruption of the daimyo and these nobles.

but……

Just as Naruto was pondering, a somewhat reserved voice came from not far away from him.

"I wonder if these dishes suit your taste?"

The speaker was a boy sitting next to Sasuke.

He was a little older than Sasuke, around sixteen or seventeen years old. He wore a straight-cut shirt, his hair was neatly combed, and he exuded a natural air of nobility in his speech and manner.

When the young man saw Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto looking over, he calmly nodded slightly and introduced himself, "Excuse me, I am Enichi Kyu."

Both Sasuke and Naruto's eyes lit up upon hearing the name.

Madoka, that's the surname of the daimyo of the Land of Fire. A young boy, able to attend such a grand private banquet and be seated next to Sasuke...

"The eldest son of the daimyo, the future daimyo?" Naruto realized. "This seating arrangement seems to be intended to encourage him to get close to Sasuke and become his friend?"

Therefore, it's highly likely that the daimyo and Kazuma won't attack Sasuke or the others; otherwise, their efforts would be in vain.

The real target should only be himself, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
Naruto's mind raced, but faced with the future daimyo's initiative, Sasuke remained polite, put down his chopsticks, and smiled as he replied, "Uchiha Sasuke."

"Sasuke-kun, I've long heard of Konoha and have always been curious about it."

Yuan Shixiu leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and asked curiously, "What's your daily life like at the Ninja Academy? Do you learn a lot of ninjutsu?"

The agreement reached between Konoha and the Daimyo Prefecture is that the two sides will conduct personnel exchanges, with Konoha sending students to the Daimyo Prefecture to learn about politics and etiquette.

Meanwhile, the Daimyo's family will send the eldest son of the Daimyo to Konoha to experience ninja life and deepen mutual understanding; perhaps there are other motives involved.

Clearly, this eldest prince is gathering intelligence in advance for the upcoming "life exchange".

"Are you His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Sasuke, having guessed his identity as well, said gently, "The main focus is on learning basic ninjutsu, taijutsu, as well as tactical analysis and wilderness survival..."

He didn't think too much about it. His purpose in coming here was to build good relations with the people of Daming Prefecture and to learn about economics and politics.

but……

"Teacher," Naruto asked in his mind, "Do you think that what they're doing can really deepen mutual understanding and communication?"

“Yes,” Yun Shi’s voice replied, her tone indifferent and calm, “but it’s meaningless.”

"Why?" Naruto was taken aback.

"You're so stupid, kid."

Before Yunshi could respond, Nine-Tails sneered, "Do you really believe that the high and mighty Daimyo sent his heir to Konoha to enhance exchanges?"

Naruto wasn't stupid; as soon as he heard this, he immediately realized a deeper possibility.

Yuichi was sent to Konoha not for friendly exchanges, but for...

“An unclaimed object always needs someone familiar with its internal structure and operating rules in order to better control it in the future,” Yun said calmly.

An ownerless thing!

A chill crept up his spine and appeared in Naruto's lowered eyes.

The "ownerless object" the teacher referred to was undoubtedly Konoha.

Do they want to harm Konoha? Do they want to harm Yun Chuan, who is now the Hokage?

"I see." Naruto felt a chill run down his spine. "So, they targeted me and the big fox just to take Konoha?"

He looked up at the daimyo sitting at the head of the table, who always wore a warm smile, and silently clenched his fist on his knee.

This daimyo's ambition was no longer limited to using economic means to maintain a relationship with Konoha and hinder its progress; he wanted to firmly grasp the hilt of Konoha, this sharp blade, in his own hands.

Given the Daimyo's past attitude, even if they coveted Konoha, it would only exist in their hearts and they would never take action.

So, what fueled their ambition?
Moreover, given the daimyo's extravagance and ambition, if he were to control Konoha, this sword...

As he pondered, the coldness in Naruto's eyes grew stronger.

(Oh my god, it's so cold! It's only October, how can it be so cold in Hebei? I'm wearing a down jacket and typing this, and my hands are so frozen. Why isn't the heating on yet? QAQ)

(End of this chapter)