Shelter * Change

The Major Counselor departed. He signed the First Stage of the memorandum of understanding, signifying that both sides had reached a preliminary consensus. Further details would require him to travel to the Land of Whirlpools to discuss the matter in person with the lord.

As for why it was Konoha that sent people, and not the Land of Whirlpools?

Firstly, the Envoys from the Four Nations have been in Konoha long enough. If they don't leave soon, their countries might think they've been kidnapped. This is a good opportunity to send them back.

Secondly, the route from Konoha to the Land of Whirlpools passes right through the Land of Hot Water, Tobirama had booked Hot Springs Inn in advance, thus fulfilling his previous promise.

Thirdly, the other party is, after all, the Land of Whirlpools' Ruler. For Konoha to take the initiative to visit during their first formal meeting is both a gesture of respect and a demonstration of sincerity.

Izuna said, "The second point is the most important! Okay! Let's go soak in the Hot Springs!"

Hashirama said, "I can't wait either! You have no idea, the Hot Springs in the Land of Hot Water are absolutely amazing! It would be even better with some sake~"

Madara said, "Well, as long as you're happy."

Tobirama was speechless. "I feel like this air is filled with the aura of idiots. Is it just my imagination?"

Before that, Izuna sent four copies of the draft of the Exchange Student Plan to the Envoys of the Four Nations.

Konoha is preparing to open channels for technological exchange with other countries, including but not limited to Ninja training, sharing of Medical Ninjutsu, and partial disclosure of research results on Sealing Jutsu.

After the document was sent out, the reactions of the Envoy the Four Nations were more intriguing than Izuna had anticipated.

They almost simultaneously showed expressions of relief.

They stayed in Konoha in search of a way to coexist with the Ninja.

Now that they've found it, although things are still a bit unclear, they can go back and report.

The only regret was that he couldn't take the Summoning Beast with him. As Ishimi into the sedan chair, he thought to himself that he must ask Ninja to make him a Summoning Beast when he got back.

Ōnoki is also going back to the Land of Earth with Ishimi.

Before leaving, Madara specifically called Ōnoki over and gave him a proper long sword as a gift for becoming his apprentice.

The little guy seemed quite happy.

Speaking of this, Izuna thought it was outrageous that his mother opened the door for him; it was utterly outrageous.

Who would have thought that the two, who were sworn enemies in the original story, could become master and disciple in this world?

Although it was just a chance occurrence in the game, he had still formally become an apprentice under a master.

What's truly bizarre about Izuna is that neither of them objects to this relationship.

Madara looks down on the people of the Land of Earth, so why did he agree to take him on as a disciple? And why is he teaching him so diligently...?

The world had finally become so insane that he no longer recognized it.

Rei and Hinata's engagement ceremony was held in their spare time.

That's right, they took some time out of their busy schedules. Apart from the four of them, the two Clan Head, and the idle Little Bean.

Its simplicity made Izuna, who had read countless Mary Sue and overpowered protagonist novels, feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Hashirama stood at the Hashirama and gave a congratulatory speech. He started wiping away tears halfway through, and was kicked by Tobirama before he could continue.

Izuna watched Hinata awkwardly placed a small wooden pendant, which he had polished himself, into Rei's hand, thus completing their engagement.

It turns out that both of them were orphans without parents.

Hinata had always stayed at Takuma's house. Before joining the Production Crew, Rei relied entirely on her aunt for occasional care. When her aunt was away on missions, she basically cooked and did laundry all by herself.

After learning this information during the background check, Izuna was stunned for a while, then asked Hikaku, "How many other children in the village are in this situation?"

Hikaku thought for a moment and said, "If you're asking how many children aren't in this situation, I can give you a number."

"Forget it, don't say anymore, I don't want to know."

In that instant, Izuna understood why Hashirama Senju such a simpleton, was so revered.

It wasn't because he was powerful, nor because he had lofty ideals, but because in a world where children can't survive and adults can't survive even more, he actually dared to make a boast that he would build a place where children could grow up safely.

And he actually made it.

Izuna didn't know how many homeless children were still in the village, or how many parents had lost their children.

However, during his time living in Konoha, Izuna discovered something.

Adults become unusually easy to talk to when children are around. Even if they were playing battle music just a moment ago, the music will stop as soon as a child appears, as if it had never been there.

As long as he treats the children well, even the most intense murderous intent will vanish without a trace.

Izuna suddenly understood why Madara failed when he tried to persuade his clansmen to leave in the original story.

Those who have experienced war and lost loved ones, once they taste stability, how could they possibly be willing to follow someone who wants to destroy it all with their own hands?

Even if that person was their Clan Head, Madara Uchiha.

This damn world is full of people dying all the time. The person you're eating with today might be a cold corpse tomorrow.

Yet, in this very world, Hashirama, with an almost foolish stubbornness, carved out a small space and told those helpless children and adults: Come here, it's safe here.

So that's how it is... Konoha was originally... a Shelter.

Izuna suddenly realized what was going on.

No wonder Hashirama didn't want to go any further; the Daimyo of the Land of Fire initially had no sense of vigilance whatsoever.

It seems they perceive themselves as refugees who have fled to underground Shelters in the Fallout world!

Although he understood the matter, Izuna didn't take it to heart.

After all, what he wants to do will never change. Whether it's Shelter or a military group, his ultimate goal is peace.

He had already seen that final form, and he knew very well how to reach that state. Now all he had to do was overcome all difficulties and move forward.

Hashirama, Madara, Tobirama weren't entirely clear on what Izuna had seen.

He never gave a complete picture of that future; he simply told them, in a matter-of-fact tone, when decisions needed to be made: this is how it should be done, this is how it must be done.

That sense of entitlement was so certain that it gradually transformed their initial skepticism into a habitual trust.

It wasn't because they fully understood Izuna's ideas, but because every time he said "this is how it should be done," it was ultimately proven to be correct.

The villagers didn't trust Izuna at first. There was a reason why Izuna was wandering around playing with the children: the Hokage Building couldn't mobilize adults, policies couldn't be implemented, and there weren't nearly as many documents as there are now, so they didn't need Izuna to work for the time being.

If Izuna hadn't made a name for himself in Kyoto and shown some young people the benefits of following him, the Amusement Park probably wouldn't have been built.

Without the Hokage's speech, without Izuna's selfless sharing of vision, and without the four of them desperately restraining him, these Ninjas wouldn't have charged so fiercely when Isshiki attacked.

These steps are all about winning people's hearts and minds; everyone can see it, but they do it willingly.

They willingly became followers of these four people.

But the Senju tribesmen who had just returned from their rotation at the border didn't think so.

They had barely stepped through the gates of Konoha when Tetsugaku sensed something was wrong.

A sense of unfamiliarity permeating the air and soil made him instinctively wary.

He guarded this land for half a year, walking its borders, smelling its winds, and protecting the territory they had conquered with familiar people. This was the happiest time for Tetsugaku.

The inexplicable loss of five companions on the road didn't bother him for long. After all, being Ninja was a profession where people could die silently. He figured it was the work of bandits who were Ninjas in the area, so after eliminating the local tyrants, he put the matter out of his mind.

He originally planned to return to Konoha to report on his duties, then go home for a good night's sleep before bringing gifts to apologize and ask for the forgiveness of Lady Mito and Lord Hashirama.

But at this moment, he felt as if he had stepped into a completely unfamiliar place.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians, shops lined the streets one after another, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and people chatting filled the air.

For a moment, he thought he had arrived in some bustling metropolis.

But the family crests on the people's clothes told him that this was the village of Ninjas, the Konoha.

He never imagined Konoha would become like this. The novelty and inexplicable sense of relaxation tugged at his nerves, making him both uneasy and confused.

On his way to report back to the Hokage Building, he tried to figure out the source of his agitation.

The villagers gathered in twos and threes along the street, not talking about what tasks they would receive tomorrow, but about when the Amusement Park would reopen.

Several girls walked past him, chatting about songs and cosmetics.

He didn't recognize those people, but the smiles on their faces made him uncomfortable.

It's too bright, too bright for Ninja's expression. Ninja should be as alert, composed, and aloof as he is, not casually discussing matters that only noble ladies would consider.

In the Tavern, this feeling reached its peak.

He and several other members of his tribe who had returned with him sat in a corner, intending to have a drink to relieve their fatigue, but their ears were filled with the conversation at the next table.

The group of people had clearly just returned; they were wearing the Clan Attire of different families, yet they were huddled together at a table, arms around each other's shoulders.

They initially discussed the details of the mission.

It's a very common assignment: to eliminate bandits, but the location is somewhat tricky.

As far as Tetsugaku knew, the bandit problem in that area had persisted for two generations. The bandits there were all wandering Ninjas with some Strength, and their fighting style was extremely sneaky: traps, ambushes, hit and run, never engaging in direct confrontation. They had always been one of the most troublesome holdouts on the mission list.

The people at the next table had clearly just survived this mission and were drinking heavily while reviewing what had happened.

A young man from the Hyuga Clan gestured to show how many Explosive Tags the bandits had buried on both sides of the canyon. A Chunin from the Sarutobi Clan Chunin that the bandit leader was a missing-nin who was skilled in Water Release and would attack when their Chakra was exhausted.

The discussion gradually shifted from reviewing the events to expressing feelings, then from expressing feelings to feeling fortunate, and then somehow the topic veered towards a name.

"Honestly, if it weren't for Lord Madara sending an additional squad to support us, we would have lost at least half of our men. That missing-nin's Water Release completely blocked the frontal route. If you hadn't helped us flanking from the side, we probably would all be dead."

"As expected of the Asura of the Ninja World, he knew where the enemy would set up an ambush just by glancing at the terrain map. Don't you think his understanding of combat has reached another Barrier?"

"That's Asura of the Ninja World after all. How could someone who can fight our Clan Head to a standstill be brainless?" Surprisingly, it was the Senju Clan member who spoke up. "I used to think that the Uchiha were just good at fighting, but after working with Uchiha a few times, I've found that they really have a knack for judging the battlefield."

"It's not just their Sharingan, they're genuinely experienced. Their Shuriken and wire handling skills are amazing!"

The Sarutobi Clan member leaned back, holding his sake glass, his face slightly flushed with alcohol. "I think it would be quite nice if Lord Madara became the Second."

Tetsugaku's wine glass froze in mid-air.

"That's right!" The Senju Clan nodded vigorously, completely unaware that a group of his clansmen who had just returned from the border were staring at him from the corner. "Lord Hashirama is of course good; without Lord Hashirama, there would be no Konoha."

"But Lord Madara is really good at scheduling missions. Every time he approves S-Rank Mission, the personnel allocation is just right. And he really cares about our safety. If I take on an inappropriate mission, he'll yell at me and kick me out."

The others immediately chimed in, chiming in with their own opinions.

"Yes, yes! And Lord Madara is so handsome! He's incredibly imposing when he's angry. Last time in the Mission Hall, some newbie who didn't know the rules brought a D-rank mission to Lord Madara, but guess what? After reading the application, Lord Madara didn't scold him. He just said, 'Next time, missions below A-rank should be submitted to the front desk for review,' and then approved it on the spot!"

"Hey, have you noticed? Lord Madara will respond to anything we say, he never lets anything slip by. Last time I ran into him in the hallway, I casually said, 'It's really windy today,' and he even nodded and said 'Mmm'! My god, he's Asura of the Ninja World!"

Another person couldn't help but ask, "Have you all chatted with Lord Madara?"

"Of course! Let me tell you, don't let Lord Madara's fierce appearance fool you, he's actually very easy to talk to!"

The man adjusted his posture and began to share. "First, you have to remember that Lord Madara is only responsive to gentle persuasion, not force. Don't talk back to him, just listen to what he says. And then, most importantly, you have to show him that you are genuinely dedicated to your mission."

"And another thing! If you really run into trouble, don't try to tough it out in front of him. Last time my teammate got injured, I still tried to convince him that I could complete the mission, but Lord Madara saw right through me and immediately removed my team from the mission list and replaced it with a substitute."

"I was quite indignant at the time, but when I got back I found out that the mission objective had changed its route at the last minute, doubling the escort workload. If I had actually taken the wounded, we would have been doomed. Lord Madara basically pulled me out of the trap beforehand!"

Tetsugaku sat in the corner, holding a wine glass, his knuckles white from clenching it.

What's going on with these people?! What has become of Konoha?!

He's only been gone for six months, not half a lifetime! Why do they all seem to have been brainwashed?

That's Madara Uchiha! Madara Uchiha who fought the Senju for half his life! How can these people discuss him like that?

It seems he wasn't the Asura of the Ninja World once slaughtered countless people on the battlefield, but rather some new receptionist at the Mission Hall.

It's one thing for the other races to be fair, but Senju Shin'ichirō! You old fox, why are you praising your mortal enemy too!

Are you out of your mind?!