Capital of the Land of Fire

Inside the Capital of the Land of Fire.

After a day of travel, Masahiko arrived at the Capital of the Land of Fire. The Daimyo's Mansion stood right at the center of the city.

As a great city that controlled the economic lifeline of the Land of Fire, it was immensely prosperous. Low buildings and rows of pavilions stood densely clustered together.

Although he had been in the Naruto World for nearly fifty-eight years, Masahiko had never visited this place before, so he decided to take a look around first.

There were no skyscrapers like those of the twenty-first century, but it had a distinctive rustic charm.

As Masahiko walked through the bustling streets, merchants' cries filled his ears.

Handcrafted pottery from the Land of Wind, fabrics from the Land of Water, stone carvings from the Land of Earth... all sorts of rare goods brought over by traveling merchants and sold in the Land of Fire.

"Truly impressive. In the midst of war, they traveled thousands of miles to the Land of Fire for a bit of profit. Merchants pursuing profit really is a universal truth in every world."

Suddenly, Masahiko heard a vendor shouting, "Don't miss out as you pass by! Our shop's newest product, making its first debut in all of the Land of Fire..."

Masahiko's mouth twitched slightly. "That sales pitch sounds awfully familiar."

The shouting caught Masahiko's attention, and he could not help walking over to see what it was.

The moment he got a closer look, he immediately felt a subtle sense of incongruity.

It was a Wireless Radio Earphone. Masahiko had no idea why something like this had appeared in the Naruto World, but judging from the crowd gathered around it, they seemed perfectly accustomed to it.

"After all, the Naruto World was drawn by modern people. It's normal for it to have a few modern elements..." Masahiko could only console himself that way.

At that moment, the vendor's endless explanation reached his ears. "This is our shop's latest Wireless Radio Earphone! As long as you wear it, two people can speak to each other no matter how far apart they are. A great many ninja have arrived recently, and this thing is unbeatable for battlefield command! Only 100 Million Ryo! Limited stock, first come, first served!"

Masahiko shook his head slightly. This thing... how should he put it? Being able to communicate regardless of distance was rather high-tech, but selling it for 100 Million Ryo was a little too expensive.

One had to know that in the Naruto storyline, the head of Elite Jonin Asuma Sarutobi had only been worth 30 million. The purchasing power of 30 million back then might not even have matched 3 million now.

As for 100 Million Ryo, that was probably the entire savings of an ordinary Small Clan...

Sure enough, more and more people gathered around, yet no one was willing to pay for a pair.

"Only an idiot would buy it..." Masahiko had barely thought that when he heard a somewhat familiar voice.

"I'll take it!"

Masahiko looked up and saw that the one buying the Wireless Radio Earphone was none other than the Nara Clan Head.

Seeing an acquaintance, Masahiko beamed. "Nara Clan Head, haha, we meet again!"

Only then did the Nara Clan Head notice Masahiko. He recalled a battle with the Senju Clan several years ago, where they had been utterly defeated because of Masahiko's Summoning Jutsu.

His face immediately darkened, and he turned to leave.

But Masahiko grinned and stopped him.

"Don't be in such a hurry to leave, Nara Clan Head. It isn't easy to run into an acquaintance in such a huge city as the Capital of the Land of Fire."

"I was just thinking that only an idiot would buy a Wireless Radio Earphone at such a high price... Uh, I mean, the Nara Clan is really rich!"

The Nara Clan Head looked helpless. If he had understood correctly, Masahiko was calling him a fool with more money than sense.

Helplessly, he replied, "Ah, I suppose so." His tone was completely perfunctory.

"Did the Daimyo summon you here as well, Nara Clan Head?" Masahiko knowingly asked.

"Summoned by the Daimyo? No, I came to buy a few things." The Nara Clan Head lied through his teeth as well.

"Oh, I see." Masahiko did not expose him. "Just for this? To use together with the secret techniques of the Yamanaka Clan?"

The Nara Clan Head's expression changed drastically. He had not expected Masahiko to know even that.

"Don't be nervous. I've lived for fifty-eight years. I must have heard about these things at some point." Masahiko explained blandly.

The Nara Clan Head nodded, reluctantly accepting Masahiko's explanation before turning and leaving.

"Pfft..." This time, Masahiko did not stop the Nara Clan Head. Instead, he laughed after the man had gone far away. Teasing a smart person was far more interesting than teasing that fool Hashirama...

With that little interruption, Masahiko no longer had much interest in sightseeing.

After asking several residents for directions, Masahiko found his way to the Daimyo's Mansion.

After explaining his purpose to the two guards at the gate, he was led to the Senju Clan's guest quarters.

"Second Grandfather, you came so quickly. Was your journey smooth?" Tobirama took the initiative to come out and greet him.

"Yes, it was smooth. Wasn't I worried that you'd be anxious? So I hurried over to give you a few bad ideas." Masahiko glanced at Tobirama.

Tobirama's expression stiffened as he silently cursed his unreliable older brother.

"How could they be bad ideas? You've helped us tremendously over the years." Tobirama hurriedly explained.

"At least you have some conscience. Tell me, what is it this time?" Masahiko asked.

"The specifics are still unclear since not everyone has arrived yet. But too many clans have come this time. Nearly every clan, large and small, in the Land of Fire is here. I have a feeling something major is about to happen," Tobirama explained.

"They all came?" Masahiko's expression stiffened. "Then..."

Tobirama revealed a gleeful smile. "You guessed right. The Uzumaki Clan Head came too, and since we're related by marriage, he's staying next door."

"What are you laughing at? Since my dear nephew is here, I'll go pay him a visit." Masahiko spoke with a hint of guilt.

Masahiko walked next door and knocked on the door.

When it opened, the one who came out was indeed the Uzumaki Clan Head.

The Uzumaki Clan Head froze for a moment upon seeing Masahiko, then smiled. "Second Uncle, it's been a long time. You haven't changed at all."

"You've gotten much older..." Masahiko had always maintained the appearance of a forty-eight-year-old, untouched by the passage of time. Meanwhile, the Uzumaki Clan Head was already over forty this year. Burdened by clan affairs every day, he looked even older than Masahiko.

Seeing this, Masahiko felt somewhat guilty. Over the years, in order to earn some Witness Points, he had remained with the Senju Clan despite being the First Elder of the Uzumaki Clan. He took the initiative to say, "After things in the Land of Fire are settled this time, I'll return to the Uzumaki Clan with you."

The Uzumaki Clan Head was overjoyed. "With your help, things will be much easier for me! Over the years, the Second Elder and Third Elder of the clan have also retired, and you haven't been in the clan either. I had no choice but to let Second Brother and Third Brother help me. Some clansmen have become quite dissatisfied, believing that the Uzumaki Clan has become my personal domain."

Masahiko rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't it be the same if I returned? I'm only going back this time because I want to teach a few children. Over the years, there's been a gap in the clan's next generation of ninja. As for everything else, that still falls to you."

"Fine, as long as you come back..." The Uzumaki Clan Head nodded repeatedly.

"Alright, I'm going next door. I came to the Land of Fire to help Tobirama this time, so don't come looking for me unless it's important!"

The Uzumaki Clan Head's face darkened.

"This Second Uncle is still just as unreliable..."