Konoha Notes

Chapter 362 The Observer

Kurotsuchi only learned that she had been included in the Konoha Ninja Academy's special training list after she entered Konoha Village.

Moreover, among the Iwagakure team, only he and Deidara were specially selected.

"One person from Kumogakure, four from Konoha, three from Sunagakure, and two of us."

In other words, if this list does not solely represent political intentions, it more or less indicates that those included on the list will have a certain presence in their respective villages in the future.

The reason for this view is that both Kumogakure and Sunagakure had already had some learning experience in Konoha, and Deidara had also participated in the Five Kage Summit.

So, aside from being Onoki's granddaughter, she has never revealed any strength. It's unlikely that information would be leaked to such an extent within Iwagakure; her grandfather isn't the type to do that.

Are you planning to collect information on important figures in each village in this way?

However, in return, the people of Konoha will also reveal their information.

Therefore, this is a competition. As a ninja from Iwagakure, I need to preserve my own intelligence as much as possible while gathering information on potential ninjas from other villages.

"A lot of information about Deidara has already been leaked, so we can use him to test the waters."

"He would probably be happy to do so, after all, there is an Uchiha among those people."
-
Shuji placed the last report on the recent fluctuations in border trade in Takigakure Village into the processed document basket, then capped the pen and gently placed it back on the pen holder.

"Ready to leave?" Tsunade's voice came from behind the desk.

"Yes." Shuuji stood up. "The exchange student team from Kirigakure has arrived."

"Why don't we just have Hiashi arrange someone for that? Kakashi's here too." Tsunade peeked half her face out from behind the documents. "Our special hospitality program can't be enjoyed by just anyone, can it?"

Shuji walked towards the door, his hand already on the doorknob.

"Ah~" Tsunade suddenly drew out her words, feigning sudden realization, "I remember now, the one leading the team this time... is that Jonin Terumi Mei again, right? No wonder. You were treated very well in the Land of Water last time, weren't you?"

"So, where was Lord Shuji placed?"

"Moon Viewing Pavilion".

"...Seriously?" Tsunade's eyes widened. "The price of one meal there is enough for me to drink at an izakaya for a month! I'm not approving that kind of bill!"

"Cultivating the persona of 'absurd and enjoyable' is my personal image management for the village in diplomatic settings, Lady Tsunade," Shuji said. "This falls under the scope of official business and should be reimbursed."

"what?!"

Tsunade slammed her hand on the table and stood up, placing her hands on the tabletop and leaning forward, her golden ponytail swinging down to her shoulders with the movement.

"Why can't my drinking expenses, gambling expenses, and personal hobby expenses be reimbursed?!"

"I'm also maintaining the image of the 'Naruto as approachable and generous'! Drinking with the villagers and playing a game with them occasionally are very important aspects of his approachable nature!"

Shuji had already gripped the doorknob again.

“Your attributes don’t need to be maintained; they’re already part of your personal image.” He turned around and said with a smile, “The legendary ‘fat sheep’ is already famous throughout the ninja world, Lady Tsunade.”

"and."

"I'm the top star. Isn't it only right that I receive this treatment?"
-
Tsukimi-tei is indeed a nice place.

It's not on the busiest main street in the venue area, but hidden at the end of a slope lined with bamboo.

The three-story detached building is constructed entirely of dark wood, with bronze wind chimes hanging from the eaves.

When Shuji arrived, Mei Terumi was already there. After he sat down, the female ninja from Kirigakure looked around at the shop's decor—dim yellow paper lanterns, ink paintings on the walls, and vases in the corner.

Each item is placed just right, neither making the space feel crowded nor empty.

“Choosing a place like this... makes it seem like Kirigakure’s previous hospitality was rather stingy, Shuji-kun.”

"Are you planning to settle all the tea debts you owe in one go?" she asked.

“Once you start building a persona, you can’t just stop.” Xiu Si took the teapot from the waiter and poured tea for her himself. “You always have to go all the way.”

The tea is poured into the cup, and wisps of white steam rise, carrying a faint aroma of tea.

Mei Terumi watched his movements and suddenly sighed softly.

"I've been preparing carefully for what I promised Shuji-kun," she said softly. "I had already written an invitation, hoping to invite you to the Land of Water again."

"This time, the route has even been planned out—first, we'll go to the port of the Land of Tea, then take a boat north along the east coast, stopping at several small islands along the way. There are hot springs there that even the locals of Kirigakure rarely know about, and the fattest tuna of the season..."

Her voice gradually faded.

"I just didn't expect Konoha to suddenly make so many big moves."

"When news of the proposal to ban illegal arenas and the convening of a joint meeting of ninja villages outside the five great ninja villages reached Kirigakure, I could roughly guess how busy Shuuji-kun would be." She smiled. "So the invitations that were prepared were ultimately not sent out."

"Instead of making things difficult for you, I'd rather do it myself."

Mei Terumi looked at him.

"After all, at this time, Kirigakure also needs to know in what direction Konoha wants to take the alliance."

Shuji put down the teapot.

"The place we talked about before," he said. "The direction you and I are both working towards."

"Is it necessary to go to this extent for that goal?" Mei Terumi asked. "Even the flow of funds for the various daimyo has to be re-planned."

Shuji nodded.

"It has to be done to this extent."

"Because if they can't do this, ninjas in order to survive will take on a lot of jobs that involve operating in the black market, including jobs that cause damage to production activities. They will give up their past principles because they can't survive if they don't give them up."

"And the order we try to build will begin to collapse from the very edge."

Mei Terumi listened in silence.

“More importantly,” Shuji continued, “the ninja world needs integration. Not a loose alliance of interests, but one that can face the world outside the ninja world as a unified whole.”

"Whether it's facing powerful figures from various countries or other threats."

"This opportunity only exists now."

"We can only do this when the conflict between ninjas is still regarded by everyone as the most important conflict in the world, and many people are willing to make efforts to resolve this conflict."

"If we postpone it to the future..."

"Once new contradictions take shape and new opposing patterns solidify, the cost of promoting this level of integration will be much higher than what we are seeing now."

(End of this chapter)