Konoha Notes

Chapter 199 Casual Talk on Legends
This person is not an arrogant person.

However, he is not a kind person.

Samyi was able to confirm this.

He was not a lazy person, as evidenced by the fact that he handled the diplomacy of multiple ninja villages simultaneously during this period.

He's not a diligent person; once he achieves a certain stage in his work, he stops investing in unnecessary tasks.

Today, she is even more certain of this.

After the negotiations between Konoha and Kumogakure were basically finalized, he stopped actively taking me around and stopped trying any other tricks to put pressure on me or test me.

“Miss Samui, is there anywhere else you would like to go?” he asked.

“Mr. Shuji, as a ninja of Konoha, this is not something you should be asking me.”

"I'm sorry, but I've already been to all the places I know I can go. Konoha doesn't have that many unique features."

"That's settled then." Samui didn't specify a location, but silently walked ahead, randomly choosing a direction. Shuji followed quietly behind, keeping a distance of about one step.

When his shoulders started to ache, Samui stopped at a small park near the river and sat down on a clean bench to rest.

Xiu Si didn't sit down; he just stood to the side, looking at the scenery by the river, his eyes devoid of any expression.

Human brainpower has its limits, especially daily brainpower; once it is overused, it will fall into a state of emptiness.

Sunagakure has already dealt with the situation. When they talked with Chiyo last year, they had already foreseen what would happen this year. The only thing they didn't completely predict was that the cause of the incident was the commercialization of the Chunin Exams, but the outcome was pretty much the same.

It's simply a matter of changing the original plan to continue providing some aid to Sunagakure from the nominal "exchanging Sunagakure luxury goods for Konoha bulk commodities" to allocating a portion of the proceeds from the Joint Chunin Exams and then purchasing the necessary supplies for them at market prices.

The situation has changed, but what remains unchanged is the continued use of this process to maintain control over Sunagakure.

If Gaara were still in power, that would be great. This Jinchuriki of the One-Tailed Beast, who was abandoned at a young age, is actually the one who understands Sunagakure's place in the ninja world the most, and doesn't have so many messy thoughts.

Neither the negotiations with Sunagakure nor the informal contact with Kumogakure should have caused him to be so dejected.

The real drain is that while dealing with these external matters, there's a shadow clone at home constantly conducting tree-planting experiments. Every day after work, when I get home, "bang!" a lot more experimental data pops up in my head.

It feels like my life has been filled to an excessive degree all at once.

“Mr. Shuji, if you are not feeling well and need to go back to rest, you don’t have to force yourself to stay here with me.”

"Ah, no need." Shuuji's tone was detached. "It feels nice just standing here and enjoying the breeze."

“A perfunctory attitude is not cool at all, Mr. Shuji,” Samui bluntly pointed out.

"I'm sorry, Miss Samui." Without a hint of apology, Shuuji's gaze remained unfocused, as if looking at the river or something far away.

"Speaking of which, Miss Samui, I would like to ask some questions that may be a bit presumptuous. I wonder if it would be convenient for me?"

"Since you know it might be presumptuous, I don't recommend you speak, Mr. Shuji."

"No, what I want to ask may not directly involve village secrets or sensitive matters."

The female ninja from Kumogakure pondered for a few seconds, and based on the relatively relaxed relationship between the two sides, she gave a cautious permission: "If it doesn't involve private information that the village explicitly forbids from being circulated, you can talk about it."

"Is there a legend... about the Sage of Six Paths in the Land of Lightning?"

Samui lowered his eyelids slightly: "This involves a question that cannot be answered, Mr. Shuji. However, since you have brought it up, whether you say it exists or not, people will guess at the possibility. So, I can tell you clearly that it does exist."

"Therefore, Mr. Shuji, it is not cool at all to ask such a presumptuous question."

“Then, let’s change to a question that might be less relevant.” Shuuji readily changed the subject. “Regarding the story of the tree, in the legends of the Land of Lightning, is there anything that can be told to outsiders?” The tree? This doesn’t involve the Six Paths Treasures, nor does it have anything to do with the secrets of Kumogakure.

Considering the visible relationship between the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Leaf Village, this is not something that cannot be discussed.

"Legend has it that in the distant past of the Land of Lightning, there once existed a unique tree," Samui recounted in her usual simple and calm tone. "It is said that the tree could produce a special sap that, when used to irrigate the land, could bring a harvest far beyond what was expected."

"However, it is also a cursed tree. Legend has it that those who eat crops grown with the sap of that tree will be corrupted by an unseen force, gradually contract strange diseases, and eventually die prematurely."

"In the end, the ominous tree was destroyed by a fairy, thus eliminating the root of the disaster."

Did the Land of Lightning ever have a branch of the Divine Tree? Our previous actions were too limited to the vicinity of Kumogakure. Next time, let's go into the Land of Lightning and see if we can find something different.

"Speaking of trees, the one most associated with trees is Konoha, right, Mr. Shuji?"

“Listening to stories from other countries can be quite rewarding, Miss Samui.”

"In exchange, Mr. Shuji, what stories do you have to share about the Land of Fire?"

Shuji frowned. The stories he could tell were famous in the Land of Fire…

"Intimacy Paradise?"

Samui's expression instantly turned cold: "It sounds like some kind of vulgar, harassing literature. That's not cool at all, Mr. Shuji."
-
The author of the harassing work has returned to Konoha.

"That outfit of Jue's is definitely Akatsuki's standard uniform."

"The Akatsuki organization is active throughout the ninja world, recruiting powerful rogue ninja on a large scale. Kakuzu, who appeared on the eastern border earlier, has also been confirmed to be a member of Akatsuki."

Jiraiya crossed his arms and reported to everyone in the office with a serious expression.

"Since Zetsu belongs to the Akatsuki organization, it means that Madara behind him is the same."

Inside the office, the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, sat in the main seat, flanked by advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, as well as the former Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses and looked at Jiraiya: "Jiraiya, besides Kakuzu, Zetsu, and that 'Madara,' do you have any information about other members of the Akatsuki organization?"

Jiraiya shook his head.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "September will be the time when Konoha's defenses are most strained. If Madara still wants to make a move, it should be at that time."

Koharu Utatane said, "Then, Naruto Uzumaki must be protected closely during this period."

This is the fastest way to inflict massive damage on Konoha. Even now, with the advent of Wood Release ninjas, it remains so.

Jiraiya looked at the Third Hokage: "Has that Uchiha Enjin been completely abandoned?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, "Himichi Hyuga and Tsukimi Hyuga are taking turns monitoring his condition, and so far there has been no further movement."

"That 'Ban' must have completely given up on him."
-
Obito wanted to do something, even if he couldn't absorb the radical Uchiha into the Akatsuki organization to increase his control over Akatsuki, he could at least take out his eyes.

However, no opportunity could be found.

When Konoha became aware of his presence and the internal situation was relatively stable, it became extremely difficult to do anything.

The updated barrier system couldn't stop Kamui, but it was a different story for Uchiha Shisui, who was staying in Konoha Village, and the Byakugan, which was constantly monitoring him.

Neither of them alone would hinder his actions, but the combination of the two creates a situation that can only be overcome through violence.

We need to find a force that is even more hostile to Konoha and willing to do anything to achieve it.

(End of this chapter)