Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 355 Shadows of the Past

It's hard to refuse the children's expectations, but becoming a mentor isn't something that can be agreed upon by both parties alone. Naruto couldn't guarantee anything, so he had to accompany the children to the training grounds and cause a scene before finally calming them down. However, if the one who strongly insisted had been Konohamaru, then it's really hard to say.

Naruto never mentioned this matter, intending to let everything take its course. He knew that the ninja world would soon be in chaos, and the newly graduated Konohamaru and his comrades would only be the group of ninjas who stayed in the village to defend it. There was absolutely no way they would follow him to run to one dangerous battlefield after another. It would probably be no different for him to be a teacher than for him to be a teacher at all.

With less than two months until graduation, it might be too late to make any moves now. The Sarutobi clan still wields considerable influence in the village, and Naruto isn't planning on strategizing with them; wouldn't it be better to focus on official business?

“During our cooperation, we revealed some of Dongfeng’s current predicament and the approximate number of our ninja members. The ninjas active in the Land of Fire are all on record and have applied for special passes. The Land of Fire officials in charge of liaison have repeatedly probed the number of our ninjas, but I have been vague about it. Of course, I am not talking about the total number this time, and I certainly will not say the total.”

Hui has many important matters at hand, and the plan to feign joining the Land of Fire cannot be completed in the short term; even contact can only be made gradually. The Land of Fire has not proactively accepted foreign ninjas for a long time. Konoha has been fighting for so many years, constantly burning through its own resources; suddenly accepting fresh blood would certainly be extremely difficult. Therefore, from the beginning, they did not intend to negotiate with Konoha, but instead bypassed the village and negotiated directly with the Daimyo.

Given the backdrop of Konoha's influence waning year by year, this is the most likely path to success.

"Konoha is, after all, our hometown, and we will always leave some traces of ourselves here. We also need to carefully consider the candidates who will be incorporated into the Land of Fire this time. At least until we achieve our goal, we must not reveal our identities."

"The ninja clan doesn't need to pretend anymore. They can just temporarily remove their surnames. Being a gathering place for wandering ninjas will give them an advantage in negotiations. The daimyo has been having trouble with the ninja clan for a long time."

"Fugaku is definitely on the list. Your appearance won't give you away, will it?"

"I'm afraid only the older generation remembers what I looked like when I was young, but they just won't admit it."

"Next time you want to curse, just curse. A bunch of old fogies, they should have been dealt with a long time ago."

"...How far have you prepared your bargaining chips?"

"Fifty percent of Dongfeng's net profit, plus important geographical intelligence from the four countries. That's the maximum we can offer. Anything more... we'll have Shisui negotiate with them."

"I think it's fine; this already shows enough 'sincerity'~"

"After joining, our business in the other four countries will definitely be affected, and this point must be emphasized again and again."

"New caravans that can take over from the other four countries are also being planned. If the five major powers go to war, we can quickly switch over and it will not affect the stations on the Dongfeng line."

"Is there anything else we've overlooked? The daimyo of the Land of Fire is not someone to be fooled."

"How about planting some hidden dangers in the contract?"

"The other side will also conduct an interrogation..."

"Who said we had to plant those descriptive landmines? We have to make use of our unique characteristics, right?"

"for example."

"For example, let's add one more thing: our primary task is to ensure the stability of the regional supply chain. After all, this is what we started in, and no one knows more about transportation than me."

"This can indeed keep the main force from the front lines... but it can only be effective temporarily."

"That's fine for now. When we are resurrected, we should take back everything that was stolen from us."

As for how to deal with the Daimyo, his seniors were full of cunning schemes, and Naruto couldn't even get a word in edgewise. Negotiation was never his forte; he could persuade a group of people to follow his ideals, but he couldn't gain the upper hand in negotiations where both sides had their own interests to consider. After all, he knew his own personality; he probably wouldn't be able to secure more benefits for his own people, so he simply let someone who knew the ropes do it.

While everyone was discussing the matter, he was lost in thought, constantly replaying the last scene of the past.

After countless hardships, Konoha finally resolved the crisis of the Little Divine Tree, and the ninja world, which had been in chaos for a long time, was temporarily brought to peace. However, the danger had not disappeared, because Kashin Koji saw the future through the Ten Directions. The destruction of Earth had not been reversed, and everything was still heading towards the worst abyss.

Just then, he received an invitation from the Daimyo. The Seventh Hokage, who had disappeared for three years, should report to his nominal superior.

“You shouldn’t be running around like this.” He remembered that Sasuke’s brows furrowed when he heard the news.

What did he say back then? Three years felt like a fleeting dream, but when he woke up, the outside world was in chaos. Even Sasuke was trapped inside a tree and it took a lot of effort to rescue him. He was actually quite annoyed by the Daimyo's orders and didn't really want to go, so he planned to use a clone to fool them.

"You must go this time." Kashin Koji, who had been trying to observe the future, suddenly burst into the Hokage's room. He looked much older and his face was haggard, but his eyes were incredibly bright. In a flash, he saw a long-gone friend.

"Accepting the Daimyo's invitation can change the fate of the world?" Sasuke had only recently woken up and didn't believe Kashin Koji's one-sided story at all. However, he had witnessed this man lead everyone to the best future by changing some seemingly insignificant little things.

“You must go.” Guoxin Jushi simply continued to emphasize, unable to describe any further.

He once again became the mediator, standing in the middle, mainly trying to soothe Sasuke's emotions. He didn't want to part ways with Sasuke so soon either; they hadn't even had a chance to catch up properly.

But there was no way around it; it was their duty, and they were no longer the willful teenagers they once were.

"I've already learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, so it's very convenient for me to come and go. I'll definitely be back in three days at most... no, a day and a half."

He was smiling, forcing a smile, only in this way could he dispel Sasuke's worries. In the end, Sasuke succumbed and agreed to the request to stay and guard Konoha.

Then again?

He left in a hurry, even needing to keep the news a secret, because that uncertain future seemed to demand it. He soon met the daimyo, who was no longer the one he knew, but his son, an ambitious and difficult fellow who had repeatedly threatened Shikamaru, the acting Hokage. However, when facing him, the man became calm, concealing his true intentions with a fake smile.

They talked only about what was written in the intelligence reports, repeatedly confirming that the Tree People who stirred up the ninja world would ultimately meet their end in death. Then the man raised his glass and said he wanted to toast the meritorious Seventh Hokage. He couldn't refuse, so without warning, he picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp.