Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 299 Land of Earth's Defeat Treaty

On the platform of Star City Railway Station, the air seemed to freeze.

Onoki stared intently at the face that should have been long gone, his mind blank, decades of experience and composure vanishing in that moment.

Even when facing Uchiha Hikaru's terrifying Susanoo, he had never lost his composure like this.

"Minato Namikaze? How are you still alive?!" The exclamation escaped his lips, filled with incomprehensible horror.

Kurotsuchi, who was standing next to him, was startled by his grandfather's reaction. Curious, she tugged at Onoki's sleeve and whispered, "Grandpa, what's wrong? Who's that blond-haired big brother? He's quite handsome."

Akatsuchi was also in a state of extreme shock. Although he had not participated in the Third Shinobi World War, he had grown up hearing his seniors, especially his senior brother Huangtu, talk about the terror of the 'Yellow Flash'.

He leaned down and whispered to Kurotsuchi in a trembling voice, "Kurotsuchi, that was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, the legendary ninja known as the 'Yellow Flash' during the Third Shinobi World War. But... he should have sacrificed himself to protect the village during the Nine-Tails' attack eight years ago..."

Kurotsuchi blinked her big eyes, seemingly understanding but not quite, and looked even more confused: "The Hokage of Konoha? What are you doing here..."

Minato Namikaze wore his usual gentle smile, but behind that smile lay a profound silence befitting the dead.

He first nodded to Uchiha Hikaru as he stepped off the train: "Hikaru, thank you for your hard work."

Uchiha Hikaru nodded slightly in response, then stood aside, crossed his arms, and resumed his indifferent observation.

Minato then turned to Onoki, who was still petrified, and extended his hand. His palm was an unnatural grayish-white with fine, ceramic-like cracks: "It's been a long time, Third Tsuchikage. However, there is no Fourth Hokage here, only a lingering soul."

Onoki's cloudy old eyes were fixed on Minato's eyes, which had lost their former bright blue luster and turned gray, as well as the clear cracks on his face, neck, and arms.

He could clearly sense the chilling, deathly aura emanating from the other person, a feeling completely different from that of a vibrant, living person.

Onoki took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and reached out his slightly trembling hand to grasp the other person's cold hand.

The touch was like holding a piece of ice.

"The dead... Heh..." Onoki's voice was dry, tinged with self-mockery: "It seems that Shura's ambition and methods are far more astonishing than I imagined. He has even mastered the forbidden technique of resurrecting the dead... no, of bringing the dead back to life and using them for his own purposes?"

A lot came to mind in an instant.

The appearance of Minato Namikaze is not only a powerful force, but also signifies that the Land of Stars has mastered a terrifying power that touches the line between life and death.

This is a disruptive shock to the order and ethics of the entire ninja world.

At this moment, Vanilla Uzumaki, who was standing beside Minato, stepped forward, her expression serious yet polite: "Third Tsuchikage, you must be tired from your journey. The upcoming post-war negotiations will be entirely presided over by Lord Minato. Please come with us; we hope your side has made the necessary preparations."

Her words were polite, but the meaning was anything but tactful.

Onoki nodded gravely; he certainly understood what "being prepared" meant.

In this negotiation where they were at a complete disadvantage, Iwagakure, and indeed the entire Land of Earth, had no bargaining power whatsoever.

He even realized with a sense of sorrow that this negotiation directly excluded the daimyo and noble class of the Land of Earth, and that the goal of the Land of Stars was probably far more than just making Iwagakure submit.

The group silently boarded a black sedan that was already waiting outside the station.

This small vehicle, powered by a chakra core, once again intrigued Onoki and Akatsuchi.

Sitting on the soft back seat, Kurotsuchi looked up and down curiously, and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "So...so comfortable. Does this thing also use chakra?"

Ohnoki, however, was not in the mood to pay attention to the comfort of the seat; his gaze was firmly drawn to the scenery rushing past the car window.

The wide, smooth streets are bustling with traffic, and on both sides are rows of towering buildings that reach into the clouds, their glass curtain walls reflecting dazzling light in the sunlight.

The pedestrians were neatly dressed and hurried, yet they possessed a vitality he had never seen on the faces of ordinary people in the Land of Earth—a vitality focused on their own affairs.

The city was full of vitality and an efficient sense of order, unlike any capital city of any major country he had ever seen.

The more Onoki watched, the more his heart sank.

This is not just military strength, but a comprehensive and deeply rooted superiority in society.

It seems no accident that Iwagakure and even the Land of Earth suffered such a crushing defeat against such an opponent.

The convoy soon arrived at the administrative center of the Star Kingdom, a magnificent and highly modern building.

On the long corridor leading to the conference room, Onoki finally broke the silence and asked Minato Namikaze, who was walking beside him, "Fourth Hokage... no, Lord Minato, please allow me to address you as such for now. I would like to know, how does your country... intend to deal with the Land of Wind and Sunagakure?"

After surrendering, he learned from scattered information that the main force of Sunagakure had also been wiped out, and that the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had been severely injured and captured.

He knew very well that as the party that started the war, Sunagakure's situation would only be worse than Iwagakure's.

Minato didn't answer directly, but instead turned his gaze to Vanilla Uzumaki beside him and nodded to her.

Vanilla understood and stated in a clear and steady tone: "The troops led by Lord Hyuga Hizashi have completely taken control of Sunagakure yesterday, and the major cities and transportation hubs in the Land of Wind are also being taken over by our army. Our administrative personnel have moved in with the army and begun the transition work of local governance."

"As for the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and his core nobles, after news of our victory at the front lines reached us, they fled in panic to the Land of Fire under the protection of Konoha ninjas. From this day forward, the Land of Wind will no longer exist in the ninja world."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it struck Onoki's heart like a heavy hammer.

The Sand Village, one of the five great ninja villages in the Land of Wind, which had existed for hundreds of years, was completely wiped out in just a few days.

This lightning-fast rate of acquisition...

Seemingly sensing Onoki's inner turmoil and fear, Minato spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone still calm: "However, the situation in the Land of Earth is different, so the Third Tsuchikage can rest assured for now. The Land of Stars currently has no intention of completely annexing the Land of Earth."

Onoki suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise and confusion flashing in his eyes.

Minato's words were not empty talk.

This was the result of Menma's final discussion with Minato, Hikaru, Vanilla, and others through the chakra network at the end of the war.

The annexation of the Wind Kingdom, with its tens of millions of people and vast territory, has already used up most of the administrative talent reserves accumulated by the Star Kingdom over the years. Subsequent social transformation, ideological integration, and economic development will require an even greater investment of resources and energy.

In particular, the environment of the Land of Wind is a huge project. The Menma plan will use a lot of afforestation and terrain modification to connect the oases in the desert to form an oasis corridor, and then gradually transform the desert to curb desertification. This project will be very large and will take years or even decades.

The population of the Land of Earth is estimated to exceed 30 million, and its territory is even larger and more complex. For the Land of Stars to forcibly annex two major countries at the same time, given its existing foundation, would be like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. It would easily lead to indigestion and even trigger internal turmoil and the covetous eyes of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.

Therefore, Menma proposed a longer-term strategy: to "gradually assimilate" the Land of Earth.

First, through a treaty, five border counties in the eastern part of the Land of Earth, bordering the Land of Stars, were seized, which is roughly equivalent to a quarter of the Land of Earth's territory and a fifth of its population.

Although this area is not rich in resources, it is strategically important and relatively easy to control.

Secondly, it forced the Land of Earth to become a vassal state of the Land of Stars, while Iwagakure was downgraded to a military vassal of the Land of Stars.

In the coming period, the Star Kingdom will focus its efforts on assimilating the newly acquired territory of the Wind Kingdom and these five border counties. At the same time, it will infiltrate the ideology of the "Will of the Stars" into the Earth Kingdom through various channels, support the grassroots forces, and ultimately promote a bottom-up social revolution within the Earth Kingdom.

The Land of Earth will become the first large-scale testing ground for exporting the ideas of the Land of Stars.

Soon, both sides took their seats in the spacious and solemn conference room.

At the negotiating table, Minato Namikaze, representing the Land of Stars, directly presented a pre-prepared treaty text to Onoki.

Onoki took a deep breath, picked up the document, and after only glancing at the first few entries, a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The treaty consisted of nineteen articles, and its harshness and scope far exceeded his expectations.

First, the Land of Earth ceded five counties in the east—Rinchuan County, Ishikawa County, Hozuki County, Kuroiwa County, and Akatsuka County—to the Land of Stars.

Second, the Land of Earth and its ninja village, Iwagakure, acknowledged the Land of Stars' suzerainty and became its vassal state and vassal village.

Third, the Land of Earth must pay a huge war indemnity to the Land of Stars, to be paid in installments over twenty years.

IV. The Land of Stars shall have priority exploration and mining rights for the major mineral resources (including but not limited to chakra conduction metals and rare minerals) that have been discovered or will be discovered within the Land of Earth, and the Land of Earth shall provide such assistance.

Fifth, the Star Kingdom has the right to construct and operate railways and related facilities throughout the Land of Earth, and the Land of Earth must provide land and guarantee security.

VI. The Land of Earth must fully open its market to the Land of Stars, and goods from the Land of Stars shall enjoy most-favored-nation treatment. Tariffs shall be determined through negotiation between the two parties.

7. The Ministry of Education of the Star Kingdom has the freedom to spread its approved ideas and culture within the territory of the Earth Kingdom, namely the "right to propagate," and the Earth Kingdom shall not interfere.

8. The Land of Stars has the right to send a military advisory group to be stationed in Iwagakure to "guide" and reform the village's organization, training, and combat philosophy, making it more "militarized" and "standardized".

9. Key departments of the central and local governments of the Land of Earth, including those responsible for political affairs, finance, justice, and military affairs, must employ advisors appointed or approved by the Land of Stars, and major decisions must be approved by the advisors.

10. Whenever Iwagakure mobilizes a ninja unit of more than ten people (including ten) to carry out a mission, whether within or outside the country, it must report to and obtain approval from the Star Country's advisory group stationed in Iwagakure in advance.

……

One by one, like heavy shackles, these not only bound the territory and wealth of the Land of Earth, but also its political, economic, military, and even ideological and cultural autonomy.

By signing this treaty, the Land of Earth and Iwagakure would be nothing more than empty shells, nominally independent, but in reality, completely subjugated to the Land of Stars. Even their most basic right to self-defense would be firmly held by the Land of Stars. Onoki's hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and the words on the document blurred in his eyes.

He raised his head, looking at the calm-looking Minato Namikaze opposite him, and the Star Country ninjas behind him, and spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Lord Minato... these... these conditions... aren't they too much..."

Minato Namikaze met his gaze, his lifeless eyes now solemn. He spoke slowly, his voice echoing in the silent conference room:

"Third Tsuchikage, this is not a discussion, but a notification. The loser has no choice."

"I think you should understand."

As Shuimen finished speaking, the atmosphere in the top-floor conference room of the administrative center became so heavy it was almost palpable.

The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, picked up the brush with a slight tremor, the delicate brush now seeming to weigh a ton.

Looking at the densely packed clauses on the paper in front of him, which resembled venomous snakes coiled around the lifeblood of the Land of Earth and the Hidden Stone Village, Onoki's Adam's apple bobbed, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Minato Namikaze calmly watched Onoki, Vanilla Uzumaki remained indifferent, while Hikaru Uchiha activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, his cold and arrogant gaze seemingly warning the other party.

Finally, Onoki sighed deeply, almost in despair, and his pen finally landed on the paper, signing the treaty that would completely change the fate of the Land of Earth.

………………

Meanwhile, in another relatively quiet residential area of ​​Star City, a spacious and bright apartment presents a completely different scene.

“Boss, you see, the war is over, prices are falling, and we’ve already paid six months’ rent in one lump sum. Can we discuss the price again?” Shizune, holding her pink piglet Tun Tun, negotiated with the landlord in a gentle yet firm tone.

The landlord was a kind-looking middle-aged man. He glanced at the thick stack of banknotes that Jingyin had placed on the table, then at the seemingly reliable young woman in front of him who appeared to be a ninja. After hesitating for a moment, he finally nodded: "Alright, considering your sincere intention to rent long-term, we'll go with the amount you mentioned. However, you'll have to pay for your own water and electricity."

"Of course, thank you so much, boss." Shizune breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

It's always good to save some money, after all, their expenses are quite substantial.

After seeing the landlord off, Jingyin returned to the house and began preparing lunch.

The little pig also helped by "humming and whining," nudging some of the lighter food bags with its nose, showing great understanding and intelligence.

Sunlight streamed into the living room through the clean glass windows, making the room warm and inviting.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, a sumptuous lunch was already laid out on the dining table in the living room, its aroma filling the air.

Shizune wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, walked to the master bedroom door, and gently knocked: "Lady Tsunade, it's time to get up. Lunch is ready."

A muffled murmur and the sound of blankets being turned over came from the room.

After a while, the bedroom door was opened, and Tsunade, with her slightly messy blonde hair and sleepy eyes, walked out.

She was still wearing a loose bathrobe, her face showing the languor and irritability of someone still hungover.

She walked into the bathroom in a daze, not caring that her loose bathrobe was revealing too much. She splashed cold water on her cheeks a few times, which finally dispelled some of her sleepiness.

She sat down at the table, picked up her chopsticks, and took a piece of golden-fried pork chop. While chewing, she complained, "Tsk, everything about this Star Country is great, except for the anti-gambling law, which is so annoying! It makes my hands itch so much that even holding chopsticks makes my fingers itch, and I always want to touch them!"

Shizune sighed helplessly, served her a bowl of miso soup, and tentatively asked, "Lady Tsunade, how about... I play cards with you for a while?"

Upon hearing this, Tsunade glanced at her sideways, snorted, and said with a hint of mockery in her tone, "Playing cards? With your meager allowance, how many rounds can you afford? What, are you planning to lose all the savings you've accumulated over the years to me in one go?"

Shizune lowered her head dejectedly, muttering in a voice barely audible to herself, "Anyway... anyway, you're going to lose it all anyway, so you might as well lose it to me..."

"Huh? What did you say?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

"No! It's nothing!" Shizune quickly waved her hand, trying to change the subject: "By the way, Lady Tsunade, since gambling is prohibited in the Land of Stars, why did you make me rent a house for half a year? The house prices in the Star Capital are much more expensive than anywhere else we've been before."

Tsunade put down her bowl, picked up the sake pot on the table, poured herself a small cup, and a complex light flashed in her eyes.

She took a sip of her drink and said slowly, "There's a reason why it's expensive. This country... is very interesting. Don't you think? I always feel that something we've never seen before is happening here. Staying longer might allow us to see even more interesting things."

Thinking of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, who were resurrected through Edo Tensei, as well as the Uzumaki clan, the Hyuga branch family, and even the entire Uchiha clan gathered on the same street, an indescribable feeling welled up in my heart.

What she didn't explicitly say was that the Asura, along with the power gathered around him and the ideology he displayed, subtly touched something long dormant deep within her heart.

As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, she witnessed how her grandfather's grand ideal of pacifying the chaotic world became empty talk, and she also witnessed Konoha gradually deviating from its original intention in the midst of power struggles.

The Star Kingdom, this emerging nation, seemed to be on a completely different path, which aroused her strong curiosity, and even a hint of expectation that she herself was unwilling to admit.

Shizune nodded as if she understood, then said, "By the way, Lady Tsunade, I heard the news when I went out to buy groceries this morning: the war is over. Sunagakure and Iwagakure were defeated."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade paused slightly in the hand holding the wine glass.

She didn't show much surprise.

Having witnessed Shura's ability to easily defeat Rasa's elite Sand Village forces, and having seen the two tailed beasts in the Sea of ​​Death, she never doubted that the Land of Stars could win this war.

but……

"It's over? So fast?" Tsunade put down her wine glass, her brows furrowing slightly. "I remember it's only been seven days since Sunagakure officially declared war, right? Is it over already?"

Shizune nodded firmly, her tone tinged with disbelief: "Yes, the news has spread. I heard that Granny Chiyo, the advisor and elder of Sunagakure, was killed in battle, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa was captured, and the main force of Sunagakure was almost completely wiped out."

"Granny Chiyo...is dead?" Tsunade's orange pupils contracted slightly.

As a nemesis who had experienced the Second Shinobi World War, she knew all too well how troublesome that old woman was.

Its exquisite puppetry and unpredictable use of poison have caused enormous casualties to the Konoha ninja.

How could such a legendary figure, who had been active in the ninja world for decades, also perish in this lightning-fast war?
She was silent for a moment, then suddenly stood up, not caring about her unfinished lunch, and said to Shizune, "Let's go to the Uzumaki family."

"Now?" Shizune looked at the table full of dishes, somewhat hesitant.

"Yes, now!" Tsunade said decisively, already picking up the green jacket with the gambling logo draped over the back of the chair and putting it on. "We'll clean up the dishes when we get back!"

Seeing Tsunade's resolute attitude, Shizune had no choice but to quickly pick up Tonton and jog to catch up with Tsunade, who was already heading towards the door.

The two left the apartment, walked through the increasingly bustling streets, and arrived at a quiet residential area on the east bank of the You River.

This is the core residential area allocated by the Star Kingdom to various ninja clans, and it is relatively heavily guarded.

At the entrance, two Star Ninjas in dark blue uniforms were on duty.

As Tsunade and Shizune approached, one of the Star Ninja stepped forward and politely stopped them: "Gentlemen, please show your pass or identification."

Shizune quickly took out the temporary passes that Kushina Uzumaki had previously processed for them from her small bag and handed them over.

After carefully checking, the Star Ninja stood at attention, gave them a standard Star Ninja salute, and stepped aside, saying, "The paperwork is correct, please come in."

Tsunade, carrying her ever-present sake gourd, took a sip as she walked. Every time she saw the disciplined and obedient style of the Star Ninja, she felt an indescribable sense of unease and curiosity.

This completely overturned her understanding of the profession of "ninja".

How exactly did that kid named Shura train these ninjas, who were used to being free-spirited and focused on missions, to be so disciplined?
Upon entering the tribal area, it appeared more prosperous and vibrant than when they last visited.

The streets were clean, children played in the open spaces, and the clan emblems of the ninja tribe were clearly visible on the houses, creating a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

Soon, they arrived outside the Uzumaki family mansion.

This is a Japanese-style building with a separate courtyard. The entrance is wide open, allowing a clear view of the courtyard.

In the courtyard, a little creature with striking short red hair and the word "love" on its forehead was quietly squatting in front of the veranda, gazing longingly at a black-haired woman sitting on the veranda.

The woman was facing away from the door, her head down, holding a needle and thread, carefully mending a somewhat worn-out teddy bear.

Sunlight shone on her long, smooth, black hair, outlining a gentle and serene profile.

"It's just that the stitches on my arm came undone; it'll be fixed quickly. Gaara, would you like to watch some TV first?" the woman said gently.

Gaara shook his head, his little hands nervously clutching the hem of his clothes, his voice soft but clear: "Thank you, Aunt Mikoto, I'll wait here."

His emerald green eyes were filled with the tenderness he held for the doll, as well as his dependence on and trust in the woman before him.

Outside the door, Tsunade looked at the black-haired woman's back and felt that she looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember where she was.

At that moment, Shizune, who was standing next to her, exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? That... isn't that Misaka-sama?"

"Mikoto?" Tsunade was taken aback at first, then a name flashed through her mind and she blurted out, "Uchiha Mikoto?!"

[Today's image: Uchiha Mikoto, Madam, you didn't want this either...]

(End of this chapter)