Konoha Notes

Chapter 378 The Observer
Shuji's figure disappeared below the steps at the edge of the training field.

Hei Tu withdrew his gaze from the spotlight and continued to complete the number of frog jump sets that Kai had set.

Knees bend, spring up, body traces a brief arc in the air, then falls. The mechanical, repetitive movements make it easier for thoughts to drift.

After spending some time in the special training camp, if there was any intelligence that Heitu had gathered, it was probably that these people in the special training camp would indeed become high-ranking officials in their respective villages in the future.

Then the future of Cloud Village is probably the most worrying. After all, the only one counted as a member, Atsui, is a guy who, apart from being physically strong and having decent swordsmanship, seems to have his mind filled only with hot blood and passion. Now, he has been infected by Guy and has become a big, silly, youthful guy.

From the information he extracted, Kurotsuchi believed that the only reason he could become the representative of Kumogakure was because of his sister, Samui, who seemed to be Kumogakure's permanent representative in Konoha and was currently serving as a special instructor at the Ninja Academy.

As for Konoha...

No upperclassmen from Konoha were selected for the special training program. This suggests that there are no longer any students in the earlier grades who deserve special attention, or... the true core strength has already been absorbed into other systems.

The important seeds are concentrated in the second and third grade batch.

Specifically, aside from Rock Lee, whose physical skills are astounding, the rest are all quite interesting.

Sai's skin was unhealthy pale, and he always had a fake smile on his face, but compared to the other two, he was actually more cheerful.

Neji Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha, the two inheritors of the eye technique's bloodline limit, are both gloomy and clearly have a competitive relationship.

The students of Konoha are undeniably strong. Aside from that, Kurotsuchi hasn't yet shown any qualities beyond those of an excellent ninja.

Finally, there's Sunagakure, a former neighbor of Iwagakure—who was both an enemy and a not-so-harmonious ally.

Gaara, Temari, Kankuro.

Temari and Kankuro are both quite skilled, and their tactical thinking and teamwork are excellent. But Gaara... is ridiculously strong.

Even Neji Hyuga, the strongest on Konoha's side, couldn't gain any advantage in his simulated sparring match against him.

Being strong is not surprising. Deidara is so strong that he gives his grandfather a lot of headaches. His explosive art is so destructive that even Gaara would have to temporarily give way.

Thinking of this, Kurotsuchi glanced again at the blond boy who was being patted on the shoulder and grinning not far away by Kai.

I'm afraid Grandpa will have an even bigger headache after this exchange ends and he goes back—not only did he fail to change Deidara's dangerous ideas, but he also found a kindred spirit.

But Gaara is different.

He was strong, but he lacked Deidara's overt, almost performative arrogance and flamboyance. He spoke directly, sometimes even coldly, but there was no contempt in that coldness, only a kind of...serene calm.

It's a quality that makes people subconsciously feel "he can lead others" and "what he says is worth listening to".

Very intuitive.

He will be the future leader of Sunagakure.

This judgment clearly emerged in Heitu's mind, without any hesitation.

A second-grader who is a year younger than me has already shown such magnanimity.

Kurotsuchi finished her last set of frog jumps, stood up, and dusted off her trousers. As Onoki's granddaughter, she had never lacked confidence.

But at this moment, looking at that short, red-haired figure on the training field, Kurotsuchi felt the pressure so clearly for the first time.

It wasn't an expectation from elders, nor a responsibility from the village.

Instead, it was among their peers that true monsters emerged.
-
The venue area, the settlement of Wuyin Village.

Mei Terumi stood by the window of the reception room, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of brown curly hair that fell over her shoulder.

She should go back, but she can't leave yet.

After Iwagakure initiated the meeting and made the request, Kumogakure proposed to establish a communication system.

As someone who can truly represent the village, it would be unwise to only think about returning at this time. The village's remaining fighting strength is sufficient to handle most situations, and Yagura has already made preparations. Under these circumstances, if something still happens, her return alone would not be of much use.

Suppressing her useless impatience and trying to bring better conditions and promises to the village is what she should really be doing now.

"Ugh……"

A barely audible sigh escaped her lips. Convincing herself was one thing, but completely soothing the lingering unease caused by distance was quite another.

Through the window, she saw the person she was waiting for had arrived.

As Miyako Shiso loosened her hair, almost instantly, her usual smile returned to her face, neatly concealing all her hesitation and worries.

She turned away from the window and walked towards the door.

When Shuji entered the reception room led by the Hidden Mist ninja, Mei Terumi was already sitting quietly at the coffee table.

"It's really kind of you to come all this way, Shuji-kun." Mei Terumi gestured for him to sit down, her smile bright. "It's all for the sake of us exchange students."

"It's my duty." Shuji sat down opposite her and took the teacup she offered. "Are the students all ready?"

"Yes, it's right next door."

Similar to the reason why the exchange students from Iwagakure entered Konoha early—with two important meetings about to be held, it was no longer appropriate for the students from Kirigakure who remained in the venue area to stay in this chaotic village outside the village.

The procedures for entering the village, such as registration and class placement, are handled by the Konoha Ninja Academy.

However, due to the spore technique incident, Shuji made an extra trip to personally conduct a round of investigations.

The process wasn't complicated, but there were a few interesting ones among the twenty-five students from Wuyin.

Besides Chojuro, there are also Haku and Suigetsu.

Having ended the Blood Mist state early, it seems that Mist Concealment has preserved a considerable amount of vitality.

The inspection was completed quickly. The results were unsurprising; no one was found to be infected.

"Thank you for your hard work, Shuuji-kun." Mei Terumi, who had been by his side the whole time, breathed a slight sigh of relief, and her smile became more genuine. "It seems that our Kirigakure is quite lucky."

“It’s always better to be cautious,” Shuuji said. “The aptitude of this batch of children from Kirigakure is very good.”

“It is their honor to receive praise from Shuuji-kun,” she said softly, with a hint of melancholy. “Being able to exchange and learn in Konoha might actually be a better thing for them, one that would protect them.”

Shuji looked at her, but didn't reply, simply waiting quietly for what was to come.

Their gazes lightly touched in the air.

Mei Terumi was the first to look away, gazing back at the bright yet unfamiliar scenery outside the window.

The sunlight in Konoha is so bright that it can sometimes make you feel disoriented and forget the storms that may be brewing elsewhere in the ninja world.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m racing against time.” Her voice was soft. “I want to do more preparations for the village, to pave more roads. But the enemy won’t wait for you to be ready.”

"The merging that Shuji-kun mentioned... is beautiful and something to aspire to."

“But the road to there…” Mei Terumi finally turned around and met Shuji’s gaze again. His figure was clearly reflected in her green eyes, along with a complex glimmer of longing and worry.

"It is probably much more rugged and much longer than we can imagine sitting here right now."

The meeting room fell completely silent.

The noise outside the window was shut out, leaving only the quiet breathing between the two of them, and the white steam rising from the two cups of tea on the coffee table and eventually dissipating into the air.

(End of this chapter)