Konoha Notes

Chapter 133 Yin-Yang Village

Shuji learned that Tsunade's attempt had failed.

Late at night, she carried a pot of sake and, still smelling of alcohol, stepped into the old house in the western suburbs.

Unlike her usual bustling manner, Princess Thousand Hands silently walked into the courtyard, casually placed the empty wine jug on the veranda, and then asked for a cup of water in a hoarse voice.

Xiu Si handed her the water glass and watched her drink it all in one gulp.

"I'm in a bad mood," she said in a muffled voice.

I was busy when I first got back, but things progressed smoothly overall.

Even her teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, held a conservative attitude towards the matter of Naruto Uzumaki, which made her feel somewhat irritated.

"Hmm, indeed, I was too simplistic in my thinking." Shuuji looked at Tsunade and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Lady Tsunade."

That calm "You've worked hard" made Tsunade feel uneasy. She put down her water glass, reached out and touched Shuuji's forehead, looking puzzled: "Are you sick? Or has your training damaged your brain?"

“If it’s not feasible to start from the top, why not start with Naruto’s environment?” Shuuji ignored her and said, “I’ll discuss it with Hayami and the others.”

"Hmm, that is indeed a method." Tsunade pondered, feeling that this approach was much more feasible, and her mood eased slightly.

Those former Senju clan members are scattered throughout the village, each with their own surname. They don't appear to be acting out of the goodwill of a particular ninja clan, and they can indirectly influence the villagers' attitudes.

Although we don't know how effective it will be, it will at least have some effect.

"Speaking of which, Lady Tsunade, when Hayami came last time, she asked me if I was interested in coming to the western suburbs to participate in the gathering."

"This..." Tsunade shook her head and leaned back against a pillar. "Let's forget about it. You handled it very well. I'll leave the dealing with them to you."

"You're still as lazy as ever."

Although it wasn't exactly flattering, it felt right. Tsunade simply relaxed and lay down on the cool wooden floor, gazing up at the bright, full moon in the night sky.

The effects of the alcohol gradually took hold, bringing a slight sense of drowsiness.

Looking at the moon, she said, "Regarding the Uchiha clan, although Shimura Danzo has always been against it, he can generally reach an agreement with the old man and the others."

"This time it's a Jinchūriki, and there will probably be other conflicts with them later."

Shuji replied, "The two advisors are, after all, prudent people, so there's no need to pay too much attention to their objections."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu sought the most stable and foolproof solution. However, as long as the Hokage insisted, even if they objected, they wouldn't actually hinder the operation, unlike Danzo.

"I know, I know, stop lecturing me!" Tsunade closed her eyes, her tone languid. "After this Chunin Exams, the reform of the Uchiha Police Force will continue to move forward."

Whom do you plan to bring into the police force?

“The Hyuga clan,” Tsunade said. “They are strong enough, and as fellow clans with powerful bloodline limits for ocular jutsu, it would be difficult for the Uchiha to humiliate them in terms of strength.”

This is a wise choice, and the Hyuga clan is also more peaceful than the Uchiha clan.

"Where was that Uchiha ANBU squad sent?" Shuji remembered this.

"Them?" Tsunade recalled for a moment, "For now, they were sent to cooperate with Shisui and go to the eastern coast to carry out the mission of monitoring the border of Kirigakure."

"Kirigakure?"

“We don’t know what’s going on in Kirigakure. They’re keeping it all very secretive, and lately they’ve been sending people across the sea to land,” Tsunade said. “We might as well send Shisui with some men to investigate. This is going to be a long-term mission, and they won’t be back anytime soon.”

"At the beginning, it's not good to assign any troublesome tasks, so as not to provoke those Uchiha who are already on edge."

"Let's see how this mission goes...then..."

Tsunade's voice gradually lowered, becoming increasingly indistinct, and was eventually replaced by even, soft breathing.

Shuji turned his head and saw the soft moonlight shining on Tsunade's face. Her eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling slightly; she had fallen asleep. The night breeze grew cool, and Shuji got up, went inside, took a blanket, and covered her with it.
-
As the date of the Chunin Exams approaches, Konoha Village is once again bustling and lively.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire and his entourage arrived first, followed by daimyo, nobles, and wealthy merchants from many surrounding small countries.

For a time, luxurious carriages and well-dressed people could be seen everywhere on Konoha's main streets. Inns were full, and taverns and shops were booming.

Thanks to Konoha's reorganization, it was able to accommodate so many outsiders. Even so, the police force and the Anbu were extremely busy for a time.

Perhaps due to the impression left by the previous incident involving the guardian ninja, shortly after the arrival of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Shuji received a notice to meet at the Hokage Building.

The atmosphere of the meeting was the same as before. Daimyo was still the same, and after exchanging a few words about his recent situation, he was allowed to take his leave.

After leaving the reception room, Shuji did not leave the Hokage Building directly, but instead turned and headed towards Tsunade's office.

Pushing open the door, one sees the blonde princess with a thousand hands staring blankly at a document.

"You're here?" Tsunade didn't look up when she heard the noise. "Have you finished talking with the Daimyo?"

“Just a routine greeting.” Shuuji sat down opposite her.

"Honestly, I don't know what the old man was thinking, actually agreeing to this." Tsunade put down the documents in her hand and slumped onto the table. "These daimyo are really a handful."

"Daimyo?"

"Do you remember what happened in the Land of Tea?"

"Ah."

"Among the daimyo who came to the village this time, one of them proposed to the old man that he hoped to establish a ninja village in his own country."

"The Land of Rivers?" Shuji wondered which daimyo was so blind to have missed such a good opportunity during the Warring States period. Now that there was no village, why was he thinking of creating one himself?

"No."

"We can't still be the land of tea."

"Koreta no Kuni." Tsunade pushed the documents in front of him. "These are their application documents."

"The Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields has promised that the current quota of tasks and financial support entrusted by the Land of Rice Fields to Konoha will not be affected."

"They just want a ninja organization that can respond quickly to their domestic needs and handle internal affairs."

Country of Fields...

Xiu Si found the name strangely familiar. He took the document, his gaze quickly sweeping over the bureaucratic language.

Did they mention the name of the ninja village?

"The submitted name is Otogakure (Sound Village)." Tsunade was a little puzzled. "I'm wondering, where does the Land of Rice Fields get the financial resources to support a ninja village without using the funds allocated to Konoha?"

"What is that guy who's planning to build the Hidden Sound Village thinking now..."

Shuji's fingertips tapped lightly on the document. It really was Otogakure, Orochimaru's village...

"Didn't the Third Hokage say anything about this?" he asked, raising his eyes.

Tsunade said, "The old man said that Root has already gone to investigate and there is no problem with Otogakure."

"They have also signed an alliance with Konoha and promised to send personnel to participate in the Chunin Exams every year."

Is the root department in charge of the investigation?
If Shuji remembers correctly, although Danzo initially pursued Orochimaru after he left the village, he later reconnected with him and resumed their cooperation.

The question now is whether Hiruzen Sarutobi knows that Otogakure is the village of his good disciple Orochimaru.

(End of this chapter)