Kumogakure Delegation

All three came from ninja clans. Even a small ninja clan like the Utsuki Clan, having endured since the Warring States Period, possessed traditions with some substance to them, and naturally required time to cultivate.

Uchiha Gen, meanwhile, devoted most of his time to studying Uchiha Style Swordsmanship and medical knowledge.

Though his daily schedule was extremely packed, his life was exceptionally fulfilling.

A month passed quietly like that.

With a renowned teacher like Orochimaru guiding him, a month of Hell Training had brought Uchiha Gen greater improvement than an entire previous semester.

More importantly, during that month, Orochimaru had led them through fifteen D-rank missions.

Although the missions had been carried out as a team, meaning the experience did not all go to him, the key was their high frequency.

His level-up came naturally.

[Character Name: Uchiha Gen]

[Character Level: 10]

[Currently Loaded Character Card: Haruno Sakura (Ninja Academy Student)]

[Currently Available Item Cards: None]

[Available Gacha Pulls: 1]

[Current Attributes: Ninjutsu 5; Taijutsu 5; Genjutsu 4; Strength 4; Speed 5; Spirit 4; Seals 6; Wisdom 6; Total 39]

"Finally!"

Outside the Hokage's Office, Uchiha Gen held a small booklet as usual, but all his attention was focused on the system.

This time, Sarutobi Enju had gone into the Hokage's Office to submit the mission.

Clearly, the mission had only been completed, which was why the experience had been credited now.

Uchiha Gen had been looking forward to this Gacha Pull for a long time.

Whenever the number of Gacha Pulls reached a multiple of ten, the Pity System would activate, guaranteeing the highest-quality Character Card in the current Gacha Pool.

At his current stage, he was guaranteed to get a Green Quality Character Card.

It was hard to say who would come out in the end, but no matter how he thought about it, it would be stronger than that White Card, Haruno Sakura (Ninja Academy Student).

Should he pull now, or wait until he got home, wash his face, build up some luck, and then pull?

Just as Uchiha Gen was still agonizing over it, Sarutobi Enju came down with the mission reward.

"Gen, catch."

Before the team split up, Orochimaru suddenly spoke and tossed a bell to Uchiha Gen.

"Teacher Orochimaru, this is...?"

"A Small Ninja Tool for improving your Genjutsu Resistance. It can also help offset some of the Shockwave erosion when you contract the Rashomon Gate. I've already taught you all the battlefield experience I can. If you ever go to war in the future, what use you make of it will depend on your own fortunes. From now on, theoretical instruction will be changed to Genjutsu Duel Tests. The team will take turns fighting two teammates in actual combat until you can release yourselves from genjutsu within one second and steadily perform ninjutsu despite the bell's interference with Chakra."

Got it.

The teaching schedule had been updated. A new course had been unlocked.

"Oh, right. How far have you gotten with those Medical Ninjutsu books?"

"I finished the last one yesterday. I was planning to review and consolidate what I'd learned for a while before telling you, and copy down those rare volumes while I was at it."

Of the Medical Ninjutsu books Tsunade had given them, aside from several rare Senju Clan volumes, all the others came in sets of three, one copy for each team member.

Since Uchiha Gen got through books the fastest, those rare volumes were currently with him.

"I've asked Jiraiya to take charge of training for the next three days. Since you've already finished reading those Medical Ninjutsu books, go find Tsunade to learn Medical Live Experiment after completing Jiraiya's special training.

The Kumogakure Peace Delegation will arrive tomorrow. The Third Hokage has assigned Elder Mitokado and me to receive them, so I won't have time to train you for the moment."

Kumogakure's Peace Delegation?

Uchiha Gen's heart immediately stirred.

Had Konoha and Kumogakure ever successfully reached peace terms in the original timeline?

It seemed they really hadn't, right?

During the first peace talks with Kumogakure, Kumogakure's internal unrest had resulted in the Second Hokage's death in battle, forcing them to pick the best of a bad lot and pass the Hokage's position to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As for the later negotiations...

Well, it seemed the other side had never come to negotiate at all. They had merely used the opportunity to abduct people.

Then, at this point in time...

Uchiha Gen recalled the famous Bloody Red Pepper from the year below his at the Ninja Academy, the girl who had beaten up most of the boys in her class, as well as that blond-haired top student of the fifth year.

The timing seemed to line up perfectly. Could it be this time?

"I understand, Teacher Orochimaru. But do you really think Kumogakure will make peace with us at a time like this?"

Uchiha Gen looked into Orochimaru's eyes and asked with feigned curiosity.

"I'm not sure either. While fighting us, they're also at war with Iwagakure, so they're under considerable pressure. Even if the negotiations fail, they'll certainly hope both sides can use the talks to temporarily reduce the intensity of the fighting.

But when it comes to pressure, we're in the worst position. Hanzo of the Land of Rain has declared war on several major nations at once and muddied the situation. On top of that, we must simultaneously resist the main forces of two major nations, Wind and Lightning. Given the Third Hokage's personality, he'll definitely do everything he can to make peace between the two countries happen.

Even if peace cannot be achieved, Teacher Sarutobi won't mind letting the intensity on the front lines drop for a while.

Otherwise, if the war continues like this, Konoha will inevitably run short of manpower. When that happens, not only will freshly graduated ninja like your class be sent to the battlefield, but some elders have even suggested allowing the upper-year Ninja Academy students to graduate early and replenish the ranks."

Orochimaru's meaning was clear.

Given Konoha's current situation and the Third Hokage's personality, regardless of whether Kumogakure's peace talks were sincere, Konoha would treat them seriously and do everything possible to bring peace between the two nations.

This was not something a Konoha jonin in charge of receiving the delegation, like Orochimaru, could decide. Even though he could now serve as the public face of Konoha's younger generation of ninja, the village's decision-making power rested with several Konoha higher-ups in their prime.

"I see. But perhaps because the village suffered such terrible losses during negotiations with Kumogakure in the First Ninja World War, I still have a bad feeling about this."

"Come on, Gen. What are you worried about? They're negotiating in our village. What trouble can those Kumogakure barbarians possibly cause? My old man may be lousy, but he's not completely useless. Let's go. Since Teacher Orochimaru won't be free for the next few days, shouldn't we have a proper get-together tonight? My treat. Yakiniku Q, run by the Akimichi Clan. Order whatever you want tonight!"

Sarutobi Enju threw an arm around Uchiha Gen's neck, thumped his chest with his other hand, and spoke with a bold expression.

Buddy, it's your completely useless old man I'm worried about!

Forget it. He would deal with it when the time came. If he could intervene, he would. If he could not, then it was something those big shots should worry about.

Uchiha Gen only hoped the outcome of this incident would not be changed by the Butterfly Effect brought about by his transmigration.