Konoha: Start from untying the caged bird

Page 209

I need an explanation.

Chapter 157 The Eve of the Talks

"Fifth Raikage, does this mean that when my Land of Lightning deals with internal matters, I have to call Konoha to ask for your permission first?" The Fourth Raikage's face showed a hint of anger.

Hyuga Yuzuru simply looked at him calmly, his voice unwavering: "You and I both know that the affairs of the Land of the Moon have absolutely nothing to do with the internal affairs of your Land of Lightning. If there is anything, it is probably that his existence has hindered your continued expansion outwards, nothing more."

You can impose economic sanctions on him, and of course, Konoha has the ability to support him, but if this is the method you want to use...

As things stand, Konoha has already signed a corresponding defense agreement with the Land of the Moon. If the Land of Lightning wants to wage war against Konoha, or against Konoha's allies... I am not afraid.

Hyuga Yuzuru's words were incredibly calm, yet they revealed a powerful confidence. The Fourth Raikage, his face dark, merely let out a soft snort, suppressing his usual temper, and simply said, "The evidence is conclusive. Either the Land of the Moon compensates for this theft, or we will make them pay the price in our own way."

If Konoha intends to act unreasonably simply because of its superior strength, then the 100,000 ninja of the Land of Lightning are not cowards!

They say 100,000, but at times like these, you should only take what they say with a grain of salt. If even one-tenth of them are actually able to go to the battlefield, then the Land of Lightning has developed quite well in recent years.

Hyuga Yuzuru stared intently at the Raikage on the monitor, gently removing the straw hat from his head. His blue eyes held a somewhat indifferent gaze: "Then let's speak the facts and reason. The people of Konoha will also investigate the whole story."

I still remember it clearly—when the Hidden Cloud Village came to Konoha to negotiate a contract, someone almost kidnapped my sister Hinata... Has the Hidden Cloud Village figured out which spy that unfortunate fellow was?

The sarcasm in his words made Lei Ying's face darken, but he just chuckled and said, "Then so be it. But what if the evidence is conclusive?"

"Then we can sit down and have a proper talk."

The Fourth Raikage, the times have changed.

Hyuga Yuzuru glanced at the displeased Fourth Raikage on the LCD screen and said calmly, "Let's leave this matter here until the Five Kage Summit. If it is true, I will urge the Land of the Moon to compensate the Land of Lightning. However, assassination by violent means and recklessly disrupting the stable environment are absolutely unacceptable in today's world."

I have also seen the situation in the Land of Lightning. The people live in peace and prosperity, and the economy is growing rapidly, far better than before—but if greed continues...

A snake swallows an elephant; the snake dies and the elephant lives.

Faced with his warning, the Fourth Raikage finally couldn't contain his anger and let out a cold laugh: "The Fifth Raikage is becoming more and more sharp. In my opinion, it is still unknown who is the giant python between us."

"Very well, on the eve of the Five Kage Summit, I don't want to get entangled with you any further. Let's discuss this when we meet."

"My thoughts have always been the same, Fourth Hokage, and you're the same." Hyuga Yuzuru chuckled twice and then ended the video call.

The conversation between the two ended unhappily. The two Kage spoke directly and frankly, but the Fourth Raikage seemed more wary. This was understandable, as even though he hadn't participated in the Chunin Exams that day, he could still feel the incredible aftershocks of Pain's Planetary Devastation and Hyuga Yuzuru's Gentle Fist from afar.

This power forced him to be cautious—even though he felt that with his two Jinchūriki, plus himself, and the Iwagakure village allied with Onoki, they might be able to fight Konoha, he had to consider that even if they could win, the Land of Lightning would probably suffer heavy losses.

By then, it's likely that the Land of Lightning's dominance in the north will be difficult to maintain. Rather than that, it would be better to occupy half the country as it is now, slowly eroding the surrounding smaller nations—a gradual, incremental expansion.

only...

After turning off the video, Raikage A's expression grew even colder: Konoha was determined to hinder the development of his Land of Lightning.

In the commercial and technological competition, the Lei Yan Alliance can only maintain a posture of striving to catch up. In a very small field, it maintains a slight lead by relying on its previous technological accumulation. However, overall, it lags behind in many new fields, especially in high-precision modern information technology, where it almost entirely relies on imitation and import of Konoha technology.

Even though Konoha can still use its technological advantages to capture markets in smaller countries and protect its domestic market through taxes, there are some things it can't escape, such as the construction of communication base stations and the current network infrastructure. These core technologies are all under Konoha's control.

High-end production materials such as chips all require spending huge sums of money to supply Konoha. Only by purchasing them from Konoha and then assembling them in factories can Konoha earn a small processing fee, with the lion's share still going to Konoha.

Over time, Ai dared not even imagine how strong Konoha would become—he was truly afraid that if they waited another ten or twenty years, Konoha would become the sole superpower, preventing the Land of Lightning from ever recovering.

This Five Shadows Summit... is probably the most crucial moment yet.

Raikage let out a long sigh of relief, remained silent for a moment, and then summoned his secretary, Mabui.

"Mabui, what's the situation in Sunagakure?"

The Raikage gently rubbed his temples. Unlike Hyuga Yuzuru, the Raikage had to do far more work than Yuzuru, who had already put Konoha on the right track. The team he had built was also far less capable than Konoha's. He had to do many things personally, and lately, he often felt exhausted.

To be honest, the increasing number of new things and changes in the ninja world sometimes make A feel a little tired and even difficult to adapt to. Although he has a team of advisors to help with planning and analysis, he still feels that Konoha probably has many more killer moves hidden in the dark, and he is still completely unaware of them.

He couldn't pinpoint the source of this unease, but as a powerful ninja, he trusted his intuition in this matter.

Mabui said respectfully, "Lord Raikage, the Fourth Kazekage still says he needs to consider this carefully, but in my opinion... given Rasa's ambition and ambition, the success or failure of this matter depends solely on whether we can reach some results during the Five Kage Summit."

"I hope so." Ai's expression was inscrutable—in fact, although he also thought it was time for everyone to sit down and talk about the rules of the new era, he felt inexplicably resistant to Hyuga Yuzuru's initiative. In fact, most of the other Kage felt the same way.

No one knew what Konoha's expectation for the Five Kage Summit really meant. Was it the beginning of a power struggle, a formal declaration of war, or something else entirely?

Ai sighed and said, "Send a message to Iwakage and tell him about your conversation with Hinata Yuzuru today."

The climate in Konoha has now become established, and Hyuga Yuzuru's prowess has been fully revealed. We must not harbor any illusions on this trip.

If things truly cannot be saved... even a bloody battle is necessary, but Konoha must never be allowed to return to the state it was in under the First Hokage.

It seems we're almost there... Mabui sighed inwardly, but her expression remained serious as she nodded emphatically: "Yes, Lord Raikage!"

...

As the Five Shadows Summit approaches, the level of discussion surrounding the event is increasing.

Almost all the media outlets were talking about this, and the smaller countries were either happy or worried. Some small countries chose to use the media to appeal, while others spoke privately with the Ninja Kingdom. What they discussed was nothing more than the hope that the Five Kage Summit could reach a conclusion and establish some rules.

A new order has emerged, but the new rules of the game are still somewhat unclear. Major powers are wary of each other, fearing to ignite a fuse, while smaller countries are walking on thin ice, feeling uneasy day and night.

Among them, the smaller countries, led by Konoha, reacted the most strongly—they were eager for Konoha to take the lead in establishing a new set of rules to restrain the current chaotic ninja world. The peace and freedom that Hyuga Yuzuru called for was both an attractive beacon and a huge responsibility and pressure from public opinion.

Newspapers, television, and radio—it seems like you can hear discussions about this Five Kage Summit everywhere. Every now and then, so-called experts jump out to discuss the matter, among whom the most famous experts are none other than the original daimyo of the ninja country.

These people are now forced to retreat to the second or even fourth or fifth tier, and can only participate in some symbolic work. They have lost their original ability to control everything, and now they seem to be eager to find some other ways to realize their influence.

The daimyo, each from their own ninja country's perspective, engaged in a heated verbal and written battle, their words flowing freely.

However, the Five Kage showed extreme restraint. Before the meeting began, no one expressed a clear attitude, but only vaguely indicated their respective inclinations, which could be regarded as sending a signal before the meeting started.

For example, Kirigakure firmly stated that Konoha, as the strongest ninja nation today, should be the leader of the new era, and Kirigakure will work with Konoha to contribute to a peaceful ninja world while ensuring its own interests.

Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) also stated that they cherish the dream of peace in the ninja world, and as a long-established ninja village, they too have their own dream and path to peace...

However, a palpable tension still lingers, with journalists frequently raising issues such as patent law, cross-border enforcement, and whether ninja killings during peacetime should be restricted...

Hyuga Yuzuru gradually became extremely busy. The proposals put forward by Konoha and his own contingency plans were reviewed and sorted out again and again. His staff began to offer advice and conduct rehearsals for different situations. Finally, on the eve of leaving Konoha to attend the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, Hyuga Yuzuru was finally able to have a proper rest after get off work.

Even so, he could not rest after leaving the office, because a major event closely related to Izumi had finally been settled.

In the research lab, after a series of tedious and complex experiments on Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan, the researchers finally confirmed the synthesis method for the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

Among the Uchiha who have already awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, Izumi is the most fortunate to be a perfect match for Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan. However, even so, based on experimental analysis, it is uncertain whether Izumi will be able to successfully fuse with and digest Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan and advance to the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.

If successful, Izumi will become the first member of the Uchiha clan to possess the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan since Madara Uchiha, after many years. If it fails, Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan may also be difficult to preserve, and it may even affect Izumi's own Mangekyou Sharingan.

In fact, the person closest to the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan was Itachi—he still possessed his father, Fugaku Uchiha's, Mangekyou Sharingan, though he had begged Yuzuru Hyuga to keep it for him, seemingly for another purpose.

Hyuga Yuzuru knew without a doubt that Itachi intended to save it for Sasuke, but Sasuke was still a long way from awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan, so it was unclear whether Itachi had his own plans.

On the eve of their departure, Hinata Yuzuru took Izumi to the research lab alone.

"Izumi, you make the decision yourself." In the research lab, Hinata Yuzuru explained the risks of this kaleidoscope transplant to Izumi and calmly asked for her opinion.

As expected, Izumi remained silent for a moment. This was a gamble; if she won, everyone would be happy, and she would probably use this opportunity to become one of Konoha's top combatants.

If it fails... it's highly likely that it will affect your current kaleidoscope.

But she quickly made a decision, which did not surprise Hinata Yuzuru.

"I'll give it a try." Izumi's expression was serious and earnest.

Hyuga Yuzuru reached out and gently stroked her shoulder-length hair: "You know, Konoha right now doesn't need you to risk your lives..."

“I know…” Izumi smiled calmly, letting him stroke her black hair, her voice gentle: “Even if I don’t want to admit it… I don’t want to give up this opportunity to become stronger… even if it might not mean much to you, or to either of us…”

She gently leaned her head forward, resting it against his chest: "Even if we fail, it's okay, right?"

Hyuga Yuzuru gazed at her silently for a long time, then smiled slightly: "I won't let you fail."

Quan didn't know why he was so certain and confident, but upon hearing this, he simply smiled and said, "Then there's even less of a problem, isn't there?"

Hyuga Yuzuru nodded, and Yakushi Kabuto, who was beside him, immediately understood and set off, saying, "I'll contact Lady Tsunade. We'll do the surgery together this time."

"I'll do it myself."

Hyuga Yuzuru spoke up, saying, "Prepare the operating room and isolation wards."

Without the slightest hesitation, Kabuto asked, "Tonight?"

“Hmm.” After saying this, Hyuga Yuzuru paused for a moment, then glanced at Izumi: “After the Five Kage Summit, I believe that the Fourth Shinobi World War is imminent.”

Upon hearing this, both Izumi and Kabuto Yakushi's expressions turned serious.

Hyuga Yuzuru then surprisingly added, "Even if they can hold back, I don't intend to wait any longer."

"Why... given Lord Yuzuru's condition, the longer we delay, the greater our chances of winning should be. The analysis of the Gedo Mazo is almost complete, and with the experience of creating the Tailed Beasts, we..."

Before Kabuto could finish speaking, Yuzuru Hyuga shook his head and, without avoiding Izumi, said directly, "My condition is not very good."

Upon hearing this, Izumi subconsciously stared intently at his face, while Hyuga Yuzuru calmly replied, "My body will soon reach a new threshold. In this new phase of change, I'm not sure if I'll still possess the fighting power I have at this stage."

Moreover, it's uncertain how long I'll be in this process... If I want to overcome this hurdle steadily and safely, the battle of endurance must begin.

If everything goes smoothly, the end of the Fourth Battle might coincide with the end of my transformation.

However, where my evolutionary path will lead, what changes will occur in my body, and how long it will take... are all unknowns.

I must pacify this ninja world while I am still able to fight!

"The fighting will not cease until the rules I have set become the rules of this ninja world."

Hyuga Yuzuru's words made Yakushi Kabuto stare at him blankly for a moment, and then a smile of increasing respect and admiration appeared on his face: "Since Lord Yuzuru has made a decision, I believe it must be the best decision."

Izumi remained silent, but suddenly understood why Hinata Yuzuru was so eager to perform surgery on her the night before her departure.

On one hand, it was to ensure her safety during the subsequent Fourth Shinobi World War; on the other hand, it's likely that Hyuga Yuzuru also intended to prepare for what would happen after the Fourth Shinobi World War.

“Yuzuru…” She looked worried and downcast, biting her lower lip without saying a word.

Even he treats this so-called 'evolution' with such caution, which can only mean that this matter is absolutely extremely important, while she, as always, can only observe from the sidelines...

Hinata Yuzuru smiled at her and said, "There's no danger to your life... it's just for safety's sake."

"Don't overthink it." He gently patted Izumi's head, then turned to look at Kabuto Yakushi: "Let's get started. The sooner we finish the surgery, the sooner we can see the post-operative reaction."

"Yes, I'll go prepare now." Kabuto tactfully left to prepare the operating room for the kaleidoscope transplant.

After a brief silence, Izumi asked in a low voice, "Will you... leave me?"

"For safety's sake... my initial plan is to stay as far away from Konoha as possible, and undergo physical evolution in a safe and remote place." After saying this, Hyuga Yuzuru reassured him, "It's still early, at least another half a year."

"Only half a year?" Quan was taken aback.

What this means...

He actually intends to start the Fourth Shinobi World War and end this war within the next six months!

Don't worry...

"Wait until the battle begins."

"Then I will personally end this war."

"All it takes is one battle."

"That's enough."

Chapter 158

Itachi looked at Hinata Yuzuru with a rather complicated expression, smiling gently, and quietly closed the door.

Inside the ward, Quan lay peacefully asleep on the hospital bed, his eyes wrapped in bandages.

He found it hard to imagine that Hinata Yuzuru would treat a girl with such an expression, but this was exactly what happened before his eyes—this guy... hey.

Itachi couldn't help but smirk, but Hyuga Yuzuru glanced back at him and said, "When are you going to find a girlfriend? Are you planning to spend your days reading romance novels like Kakashi, waiting another ten years or so?"

Itachi simply smiled faintly upon hearing this: "Let's talk about it when we meet the right person... I haven't met the right person yet."

"With you spending all your time either in the office or at home, where are you going to find a suitable person?" Hinata Yuzuru left the hospital with him, and when they arrived at the parking lot, Itachi opened the back door, and he took off his Hokage hat and got in.

The black sedan drove out of the underground parking lot, and the convoy outside the hospital was already ready.

Dozens of elite ANBU and Root ninjas had been waiting for a long time. When his car drove out, five black cars led the way, and seven or eight more followed behind.

As the convoy drove away from Konoha, people who already knew that the Hokage was going to the Land of Iron for the Five Kage Summit lined both sides of the street, cheering for the convoy. Through the car window, Hyuga Yuzuru could see that people were holding up many signs that read "Looking forward to the Hokage's triumphant return." Hyuga Yuzuru's car window was half open as he smiled and waved to the people.

The cheers rose and fell, and people everywhere shouted the Fifth Hokage's name. It wasn't until the car drove away from Konoha that Hyuga Yuzuru rolled up the car window.

"If this Five Kage Summit doesn't yield any results, I wonder if there will be this many people left when we come back." Hinata Yuzuru leaned back comfortably in his chair.

As Itachi drove the car smoothly, he said, "Even if the negotiations fail, Lord Yuzuru will still be the most respected person in Konoha."