Creak, creak, creak.
The tall and wide main gate slowly pushed open, the hinges making a faint sound.
The envoy delegation, led by the three Hidden Cloud ninjas, stepped through Konoha’s main gate, and the moment they walked into Konoha, they were splashed in the face by glorious sunlight.
The newly risen sun pierced through the clouds and shone on their faces.
The three of them slightly narrowed their eyes, gazing at the distant welcoming Konoha procession and scenery.
The dense tree canopies overlapped like flowing emerald waves, churning with gold-and-green interwoven ripples in the early autumn breeze.
The four stone carved faces on the Hokage monument looked down and cast shadows, the giant wall tens of meters high held the entire Konoha in its embrace, and the cloth signs of the shops on both sides of the road swayed in the wind.
The entire world was high-spirited and bright.
The clamoring human voices were brought to them by the breeze along with flower petals and clean air, warming them from the top of their heads straight down to their toes.
The exact same thought popped into the minds of all three Hidden Cloud ninjas in unison.
Konoha was indeed exactly as rumors said: prosperous and wealthy.
So prosperous and wealthy that it bred greed and jealousy in people’s hearts.
Their Hidden Cloud Village was located in the Land of Lightning, a country built entirely on towering mountain peaks piercing the clouds, with vast land and sparse population.
In terms of resources, besides electrical energy resources which were commendable, it was very barren in terms of resources, just like the countries where the other three ninja villages were located.
Only the Land of Fire, where Konoha was located, could be said to occupy the most resource-rich region in the entire ninja world.
Situated in a hilly area, it possessed a mild climate, abundant sunshine, plentiful arable land, a developed economy, a large population, and was located at the central transportation hub of the ninja world continent.
Konoha Hidden Village was only named a “village,” but it was more like an administrative division, and its actual land area should be called a “city-state.” Villagers could live their whole lives in Konoha without ever stepping out of its borders, and solely rely on Konoha’s resources to be self-sufficient and live a good life.
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Cloud Village, hundreds of people died from lightning strikes every year.
All resources, including ninjutsu, needed to be snatched and seized at the cost of human lives…
Jealousy, like a flame burning in the heart, made the chests of the three Hidden Cloud ninjas ache with a burning sensation.
“If Mabui and Lord Raikage’s plan can succeed, couldn’t Hidden Cloud also have a share of this wealthy Konoha…”
The three Hidden Cloud ninjas exchanged a glance, all seeing the greed in each other’s eyes.
The Hyuga main branch generally wouldn’t leave the village casually, and even if they did, they would definitely be escorted by branch family Jonin.
This made it very difficult for other villages to capture a live Hyuga main branch member, and even if they captured a branch family member, those Byakugan would be remotely destroyed by the main branch using the [Caged Bird] curse mark.
However, during the Third Great Ninja War, the situation changed.
A Hidden Mist Jonin named Ao actually obtained a Byakugan, and completely easily accomplished the Byakugan transplant surgery, significantly increasing his reconnaissance support abilities and overall strength.
From then on, the major ninja villages also learned the difference between the Byakugan and the Sharingan.
Just like the styles of Uchiha and Hyuga, the Sharingan was relatively domineering, while the Byakugan was much gentler, and possessed a stronger adaptability to the body.
In the underground black market, the bounty price for a single Byakugan had reached 35 million Ryo.
And right now, what the Hidden Cloud Village lacked the most wasn’t ninjutsu, but powerful Kekkei Genkai like the Byakugan and Sharingan.
They couldn’t snatch the Sharingan.
Even they, the Hidden Cloud, didn’t want to provoke those mad dogs of the Uchiha.
But if it was the Hyuga…
There were only three outcomes for this plan.
The best outcome: the plan succeeds, they escape safely, and Hidden Cloud obtains the bloodline of the Hyuga clan.
However, snatching a hostage from inside the Hyuga clan compound was an almost impossible task.
But it didn’t matter.
Once the plan failed, they would voluntarily die at the hands of the Hyuga main branch, and then use this as an excuse to force Konoha to hand over the “murderer,” otherwise they would launch a war.
If Konoha handed over the murderer from the Hyuga clan, it would not only create a conflict between Konoha’s conservative and radical factions, but also sow discord between the Hyuga clan and the Hokage faction, simultaneously depleting Konoha’s vital forces.
Even if the Third Hokage agreed to go to war, according to their intelligence, Konoha’s Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki died in the Nine-Tails chaos, Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, defected, and the whereabouts of Jiraiya and Tsunade were unknown.
With Konoha’s power weakened to this extent, the Hidden Cloud Village naturally wouldn’t fear the current Konoha.
Success means obtaining the Hyuga clan’s bloodline; failure provides a valid reason to start a war.
No matter which one it was, it was beneficial for Hidden Cloud.
And the price they paid wouldn’t be too much, at most just the lives of the three of them.
While the three were observing Konoha, the people of Konoha were also observing them.
“Three Jonin?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s slightly narrowed eyes opened.
Knowing this was the standard configuration for an envoy delegation, his originally lingering trace of caution quietly dissipated.
He nodded slightly and said, “Go ahead, Reina.”
“Yes, Lord Third.”
The girl beside him, Reina, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers with dewdrops, trotted towards the distant Hidden Cloud envoy delegation.
The slender blonde ponytail on her back rose and fell with her steps under the sunlight.
“Welcome to Konoha.”
Handing the flowers in her arms to the leading Hidden Cloud ninja, the two shook hands ceremoniously before she smiled again and said: “Everyone can just call me Reina.
The itinerary for the next few days will be accompanied entirely by me.”
The girl had no signature clan crest on her body.
She looked like just a young female ninja, and from her outward appearance, she didn’t even look like a ninja.
“Thank you.” The leading Hidden Cloud Jonin named “Yurui” returned a smile, his tone gentle as he said, “Then I ask for Miss Reina’s guidance.”
Wearing high-heeled shoes, the running speed was not slow, indicating strong balance.
The webbing between the thumb and index finger on the hand clearly had trimmed calluses, meaning she should be very skilled in sword-type weapons.
And…
“An Anbu ninja?” Yurui’s expression remained calm, thinking to himself, “It seems shaking off the surveillance won’t be simple.”
While pondering, they had already walked to the very front of the procession in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi actively reached out his hand and gripped Yurui’s firmly.
The first impression Yurui felt was robustness and strength, completely unlike an old man in his twilight years leading everyone.
It was as if there was a fire burning inside that decaying shell, still able to burst forth with terrifying, awe-inspiring power.
Is this Konoha’s Third Hokage?
Yurui’s mood grew a bit gloomier, but he had absolutely no hesitation regarding what he had to do next.
“May this alliance treaty soothe all the lives withered in the war.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi brought out the previously negotiated treaty, his tone gentle with a smile, unrolling a meter-long scroll on the table in front of him.
“Lord Raikage also hopes the two countries can welcome lasting peace.”
Yurui also took out the Fourth Raikage’s seal from his robe, and simultaneously stamped it on the parallelly placed scrolls of the two countries.
Click.
Seeing the seal planted firmly, Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The crowd erupted in even more enthusiastic cheers.
More flower petals were suddenly tossed from both sides of the street, scattering on the shoulders of the people below.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yurui locked eyes, simultaneously reached out and shook hands, identical formulaic smiles hanging on their faces.
“Please follow me.” Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the scroll, turned slightly to lead the way, and smiled, “I hope everyone has a good time in Konoha.”
Next would be some private discussions.
Seeing that both the Konoha and Hidden Cloud contingents had departed, Yun Chuan Hyuga’s eyes in the crowd flickered slightly.
Glancing at Might Guy in the distance, who had long been separated by the crowd and was excitedly discussing with others, Yun Chuan Hyuga’s figure quietly vanished into the crowd.
Having finished watching this comical play of the weasel paying respects to the hen, it was also time to go back and prepare for tonight’s operation.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi and several ninja clan heads clustered around and walked towards the Hokage building, also introducing those ninja clan heads to the three Hidden Cloud ninjas along the way.
However, not hearing the surname of the Hyuga clan, an expression of doubt opportunely surfaced on Yurui’s face, and he asked: “I’ve heard of the Hyuga clan’s prestigious name for a long time, why don’t I see their clan head?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi also somewhat didn’t expect him to ask directly.
His gaze paused for a moment, and he smiled: “Pardon the discourtesy, the Hyuga Clan Head wanted to come, but today is his daughter’s, the Hyuga main branch eldest daughter’s, third birthday.
This is very important to the Hyuga clan, so…”
“Understood.” Yurui smiled seemingly without minding, “It seems today is indeed a good day.”
However, the two Hidden Cloud ninjas behind him obviously didn’t have his level of shrewdness.
Upon hearing these words, they subconsciously exchanged a glance, their eyes burning passionately.
It really is today!
(END CHAPTER)