Konoha Notes

Chapter 311 Pause
It's safe to say that Sunagakure probably doesn't have any members from Kumogakure, as both Konoha and Kumogakure can see from Maki's statements.

Whether Sunagakure killed any of Kumogakure's people is unknown and unimportant; there is no situation where Kumogakure is allowed to steal technology but cannot lose people.

However, since Kumogakure is a close ally of Konoha, they can only use the pretext of investigation to create a space for resolving the issue. Once an agreement is reached, they can eventually find a third party even if there is none, and the ninja world will have one ready-made.

Consider it a rehearsal for future actions.

When the simplest mediation methods fail, this complex approach becomes the only option available.

It's not an option to put in this effort.

The conflict between Kumogakure and Sunagakure is just one link in the chain of troubles Konoha will face in the future. If the entire alliance system can truly function, many of the most pressing and difficult problems in the future will likely come from outside Konoha.

After the meeting, Shuji first had a private chat with Maki, and then he prepared to go and appease Kumogakure.

After all, no matter how unreasonable the Cloud Village is in this matter, it is ultimately the side that is closer to the Leaf Village now.

Shuji calculated in his mind for a while, and pondered what cards the Hidden Cloud Village might play in this opportunity, but the person who came in was not Tsuchida.

Good evening, Mr. Shuji.

Shuji chuckled and said, "Good evening, Miss Samui. Just to clarify, you have already cancelled your request for leniency."

“I’m operating normally right now.” Samui walked into the room and closed the door behind him. “Otherwise, Mr. Tsuchidai wouldn’t have allowed me to come and discuss the next steps. It was Mr. Shuji who brought it up, which shows he cares a lot about it.”

After she sat down opposite me, she said, "Judging from the meeting, the probability of the missing persons surviving is extremely low."

"If the first objective cannot be achieved."

"It's unrealistic for Kumogakure to want to acquire the Sky Ninja's technology from Sunagakure as a price, since it's one of the few assets they have that allows them to maintain their presence."

"However, the problems facing the village still exist, so Kumogakure hopes to further expand the ninjutsu exchange that Konoha had previously proposed."

"Konoha should have seized some of the equipment used by the Sky Ninja last year."

Shuji replied, "There are always fragments."

"Judging from the scale of the reception Konoha received when the Tsuchikage arrived, Konoha has already made contingency plans for dealing with aerial units."

"Kumikage also has similar preparations, but the progress is not ideal."

"Therefore, Kumogakure hopes to conduct technical exchanges with Konoha in this regard," she said. "For both sides, the threat of flying units must be taken seriously, and related defense technologies are necessary but not core areas. That is why there is room for exchange."

"Yunyin's proposal is to share the results of both sides' research on air defense reconnaissance and interception methods, as well as basic research on air vehicles."

"The specific content and depth can be determined in subsequent negotiations."

After thinking for a moment, Shuji nodded: "Konoha agrees in principle to conduct negotiations in this regard."

The Cloud Village is quite skilled in technology; at least when faced with falling meteorites, they can unleash chakra cannons with an extremely large attack range.

More importantly, the fact that the Cloud Village took the initiative to propose this exchange means that their obsession with the "investigation results" will decrease.

This means that most of the current issue has been resolved. The rest depends on whether Sunagakure will pull any tricks. If not, we can simply push this matter towards the first mission of the Martial Arts Affairs Bureau.

For a moment, Shuji relaxed a bit. Before he knew it, he felt like he had been working for almost half the year. Shouldn't it be time to let someone properly be his Hokage?

“Mr. Shuji,” Samui’s voice pulled him back to reality, “you look very tired.”

“After all, I’m a lazy person. As soon as I finish work, I think about resting,” Shuji said. “I’m already thinking about taking a vacation.”

Samui gently rubbed her shoulder, then suddenly asked, "Mr. Shuji, do you have any money on you?" "Yes..." Shuji began, then stopped abruptly. He vaguely remembered this conversation happening once before. "Miss Samui, would you like to borrow some money?"

She frowned slightly, feeling that asking this question out of the blue was indeed a bit presumptuous, so she took out her wallet and placed five thousand yuan on the table.

"This is what I decided to lend to Mr. Shuji."

"……what?"

She had already stood up and walked around the corner of the table. Xiu Si subconsciously tried to stand up, but her fingers were already on his shoulder.

The pressure is light and non-aggressive; it's just a gentle press.

"Mr. Shuji is a cold and rational person who resists any contact that crosses the line. He is a difficult target to approach, at least until there is a possibility of going further."

Her voice was very close, and its usual inorganic calmness was now tinged with a gentle tone.

"So, if we temporarily limit it to a 'employer and hired ninja' relationship..."

Her fingertips traced his cheek and stopped at his temple. Shuji's body tensed abruptly.

Her fingers, calloused from years of wielding kunai and sword hilts, applied gentle pressure. She didn't rush to press, but instead slowly pressed her fingertips against her skin, waiting for the coolness to be warmed by her body heat before gently rubbing away the first layer of tension.

A soft breath brushed past his ear, the sound as light as a sigh:

"Please take a rest."

Shuji closed his eyes.

The sound of the wind outside the window faded into the distance. The air in the conference room quieted down, leaving only the subtle sensation of fingertips moving across the skin and the sound of blood slowly flowing through the tired body.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Shuji."
-
The work is not over yet.

On the second day, Shuji still had to go to work.

There is someone who wants to see him.

Yakushi Kabuto stood respectfully before him.

“I have completed all the advanced courses in the medical department during this time. I think I can be of some use to you now.”

"Please do as you please."

Shuji looked at him, took a document from the drawer, and pushed it onto the table.

The cover is marked "Top Secret".

The two black characters were reflected in Yakushi Kabuto's glasses, and his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

"These are some research materials left behind by Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, before he left the village, as well as related research records conducted by the village based on his findings." Shuji's voice was calm. "Your next task is to digest them and submit a detailed evaluation and analysis report to me."

"If you need assistance or access to other information, you can apply to the village according to the procedure."

He raised his eyes and looked at Yakushi Kabuto's slightly widened eyes.

"Is there a problem?"

“…No.” Kabuto Yakushi quickly composed himself, took the documents with both hands, and said, “I will do my best to complete it.”

(End of this chapter)