This puppeteer is a bit... well...

Chapter 67 Arrival in Konoha

"I am Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage of Konoha. Welcome, everyone from Sunagakure."

At the gates of Konoha, Konoha's high-ranking officials, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, were welcoming the Sunagakure delegation.

However, all the Konoha high-ranking officials, including Sarutobi, couldn't help but show surprise when they saw this delegation.

Because they are too young.

Gray vests, headbands, headscarves... the Sand Village delegation's attire, so different from that of Konoha, was not much different from usual.

However, the members are very young, mostly young people around fifteen or sixteen years old.

Diplomacy between countries is of paramount importance, and the initial personnel are usually senior and experienced individuals.

Even if this delegation is here to learn, shouldn't the leader and the person in charge be an experienced senior member?

This delegation... although it included a dozen or so older members, they were all only in their twenties or thirties.

Judging from their positions within the mission, they don't seem to be in charge or leading the group.

"I am Ryuji Ayaki, a Jonin from Sunagakure. I currently serve as the leader of the puppet army and am the leader of this delegation..." A young man with reddish-brown hair stepped forward, bowed slightly to Sarutobi, and said, "On behalf of Sunagakure, I thank the Hokage for coming to greet me."

"Wait, what did this guy say?"

"Did I hear that right?"

"The leader of the Sand Village Puppet Squad is such a young brat?"

On the street behind the Konoha high command, residents and ninjas who had stopped to watch began to discuss the scene.

A brief commotion broke out among the high-ranking officials of Konoha, but it quickly subsided.

Although they were surprised that a teenager was the leader of the puppet army, they had already learned from Shikaku that the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure were generally replaced by young people.

Having already prepared myself, I naturally wasn't as shocked as the others.

Looking at the boy in front of him, who was completely wrapped in a dustproof cloak, a glint of light flashed in Sarutobi's eyes.

He then lowered his eyelids, a kind smile appearing on his face, and exclaimed, "To be appointed leader of the Sand Village's elite force at such a young age, truly a formidable young talent!"

"Not at all, it's all thanks to the Kazekage's promotion. I'm still far from being as good as the Hokage and other senior figures."

"You're too modest."

After exchanging compliments and joking around for a while, they got down to business.

"I have already made arrangements for this academic exchange between the two villages."

As he spoke, Sarutobi stepped aside, and a man wearing a green vest, with long, straight black hair and a handsome, effeminate face, stepped forward.

"My name is Orochimaru, and I'm in charge of this academic exchange. Your accommodations have been arranged. Please follow me." After introducing himself, the man gestured for people to enter.

The Konoha high-ranking officials blocking the entrance automatically moved aside.

Ryuji gave Orochimaru a deep look before leading the Sand Village members into Konoha.

Konoha and Sunagakure are clearly different.

It has a larger area and is more prosperous.

A few steps from the gate, you can see sparse buildings and pedestrians coming and going on the street.

The further you go in, the more people there are, the more lively it becomes, and the denser the buildings are.

The shouts of various shopkeepers, the greetings and chats of acquaintances on the street, and the occasional ninja passing by on the rooftops...

This was the first time the young members of the Sunagakure delegation had ever seen such a bustling village, and they all stared wide-eyed, like country bumpkins visiting the Grand View Garden.

It's not their fault.

During times of war, travel between countries was very inconvenient, and the ninja villages almost never went to other countries to carry out missions.

Most of these young people have never left the desert and have never seen the outside world.

And the towns in the desert... even those built near oases, are almost deserted day and night due to the sandstorms.

They are the complete opposite of Konoha.

"It seems that Ayaki-kun is a worldly person!"

Orochimaru caught up from behind, his vertical pupils gleaming with curiosity as he sized up the boy.

"?"

Long Er turned his head slightly, looking at him with some confusion.

"The young people in this delegation are all curious about everything in Konoha, but Ayaki-kun is not."

Can I take this as you looking down on me?

"If you think so, then so be it!"

Orochimaru still wore a faint smile on his face, and his snake-like eyes, which seemed to be staring at his prey, gave people an extremely dangerous feeling.

"Snapped!"

Long Er stopped and stared at him expressionlessly, his eyes flashing with endless killing intent.

The people around seemed to sense something, and one by one they stopped what they were doing and looked over quietly.

The members of the delegation became tense and prepared for battle.

"call……"

A gentle breeze blows, lifting a green leaf.

But as soon as the leaf got close to the two of them, it automatically split in two, as if an invisible blade was causing it to separate in the middle.

"team leader!"

Orochimaru.

Two voices, one male and one female, rang out simultaneously from both sides of the street.

The moment the sound rang out, the murderous aura emanating from the two men vanished so quickly that it seemed like an illusion.

Long Er looked behind him and saw a girl with a gentle face, a delicate figure, and short, sandy-brown hair rushing over from the back of the group, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Long Er shook his head slightly to indicate that he was alright, then looked ahead.

The shouting man had already arrived in front of them. He had long white hair, was tall, had red paint under his eyes, and was wearing Konoha-style armor.

Orochimaru turned his gaze to his companion who had rushed over and asked, "Jiraiya, is something the matter?"

"It's nothing."

Jiraiya seemed to have arrived in a hurry, catching his breath for a moment before continuing, "I heard that the Sunagakure delegation arrived today, so I came to see them."

Orochimaru gave him a meaningful look, a slight smile playing on his lips.

But this time, it didn't give people a sense of danger.

"Here he is."

Jiraiya followed Orochimaru's gaze and exclaimed in surprise, "How come they're all so young?"

"Because it's an academic exchange."

"Shouldn't academic exchanges be mostly attended by older men?"

Seeing Jiraiya's bewildered expression, Orochimaru fell silent.

The so-called academic exchange is just a pretext to protect the reputation of Sunagakure; in reality, it is just one-sided teaching.

After all, they are both from the Five Great Ninja Villages, but they have to learn from the other side. Doesn't that mean they are admitting that they are not as good as others?

If this gets out, it will damage his image and lower his standing in the eyes of employers. In certain missions where employers don't care whether they hire from Sunagakure or Konoha, they will favor the other side.

"Is there a problem with this question?"

"...Jiraiya, once you've seen it all, don't keep me from getting down to business. I still need to take my friends from Sunagakure to their lodgings." Orochimaru put his hand on Jiraiya's shoulder, pushing him from the middle of the road to the side, and then said to Ryuji, "Ayaki-kun, please come with me."

"Um!"

I recommend a friend's new book, "Why Are Your Favorability Levels Always Full?", a new book by the village chief. Those interested can check it out.

(End of this chapter)