Back to the Past (2)

Had the Third Great Ninja War ended?

Sāya froze for a moment. Was this some new greeting that had become popular outside?

Had the times changed so much that they had become unfamiliar to her?

"You mean the Second Great Ninja War. It ended ten years ago." Years of etiquette training allowed her to quickly compose herself and answer.

Although he had already suspected it, Naruto still froze when he heard the news with his own ears.

"Excuse me, what year is it in Konoha?"

Because of the environment he had grown up in, his understanding of the ninja world's history had always been based on Konoha's calendar.

"It's Konoha Year 47 now. Big brother, don't tell me you have amnesia?" Sara could not help but interject.

Although Rōran was located in the Land of Wind, Konoha had achieved brilliant victories in both the First Great Ninja War and the Second Great Ninja War. So even though they were not ninjas, they still knew something about Konoha's calendar.

"Thank you." Naruto thanked her. "Also, I don't have amnesia. I'm just a little dazed."

Sara clicked her tongue. She was clearly still somewhat suspicious.

Konoha Years 48 to 50—the Third Great Ninja War erupted in full force.

During that time, Konoha's Yellow Flash officially stepped onto the stage of the strong;

Konoha genin Might Duy single-handedly fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, turning the tide on the Land of Water front through his own strength;

A thousand Stone Ninja invaded the Land of Fire, triggering the Kannabi Bridge Battle;

There was also the huge gamble between Iwagakure and the Hidden Cloud Village. Ten thousand Iwagakure ninja surrounded the Third Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village and, relying on their numerical advantage, wore him to death;

And the event that had affected him most deeply—Konoha Year 50, the Kikyo Pass Battle. Konoha was attacked at its very doorstep for the first time. The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi resigned to take responsibility, and the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, succeeded him as Hokage...

Konoha Year 51, Minato and his wife died in battle...

He was born...

The history his teacher had recounted in class flashed through his mind, one event after another.

He was very glad that he had not zoned out during class back then.

"Oh, right. Did anyone else appear out of thin air like I did?" Naruto hurriedly asked. He had nearly forgotten about that Sand ninja.

Since he could appear in this era, that guy should have appeared as well.

"So you know you appeared out of thin air too." Sara leaned closer and curiously examined him from every angle.

She seemed to be wondering what exactly was different between herself and him, and why she could not appear out of thin air too.

"Sara, that is far too rude!" Sāya's face darkened as she spoke sternly.

"I'm sorry, Mother." Sara instantly regained the dignified elegance she had displayed at the beginning.

"Not to me." Sara's tense little face relaxed slightly. After all these years of teaching by word and example, if she had still failed to have a positive influence on her daughter, then she would have been somewhat of a failure as a mother.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive Sara's rudeness, guest from afar."

Watching the little girl bow and apologize to him, Naruto could not help but feel warmly toward her.

Bratty kids might be cute, but polite children were obviously more likable.

"It's all right." Naruto smiled.

He looked at the expanse of yellow sand before him, then at the lush green vegetation and cloud-piercing towers behind him.

Naruto could not help but sigh. Perhaps this was the best use of chakra.

Though he had lived in Rōran for less than two days, Naruto had been deeply drawn to this land.

Whether it was the Rōran people's hardworking spirit of struggling against the heavens, their use of resources, or the design of their towers, all of it deeply attracted him.

A people willing to strive were worthy of praise.

Especially the Queen of Roran. Though she commanded the power of the Ryūmyaku, she had not shut herself away in lofty seclusion, living off the people's sweat and wearing what they wore.

Instead, she had chosen to use her control over Ryūmyaku Chakra to bring prosperity to the land.

The lush greenery behind him was one of the blessings brought by Ryūmyaku Chakra.

Thinking of Rōran's later ruins and the hardship endured by the Roran Residents, he began to question his father's decision to seal away the Ryūmyaku Chakra, even though he had never met him.

He did not know what kind of predicament had led to the decision to seal the Ryūmyaku, but such a crude method of cutting off the lifeblood of an entire region had been misguided from the start.

Had it been for Konoha too?

Perhaps he would only know what was right and fair after seeing it with his own eyes and asking with his own mouth...

Naruto gazed toward the Land of Fire—or rather, in the direction of the Hidden Leaf Village.

When he had an idea, he had to act on it.

He went straight to Sāya, the Queen of Roran, who was handling government affairs, and informed her that he intended to leave.

Sāya set aside what she was holding. Calling it government affairs was somewhat of an exaggeration; she was merely handling trivial domestic disputes among the people of Rōran.

Limited by its land and resources, Rōran's population had always remained at a middling level.

Rather than an ancient city, Rōran was more like an ancient town.

"Guest from afar, thank you for taking care of Sara." Sāya bowed.

"I only taught her how to refine chakra." Naruto handed her a wooden kunai. "If you face any difficulties, you can burn this kunai. I might be able to offer you some help."

He had made it based on the principle of the Shadow Clone. It contained his chakra, and if it was destroyed, he would sense it.

As for why he had used wood, it was simply because wood could store a greater amount of chakra. He had chosen fire because it would create a sufficiently noticeable reaction.

"You have taken good care of me. I can't exactly do nothing in return, can I?" Naruto asked with a smile when he saw that she was about to refuse.

At that, Sāya accepted the wooden kunai with both hands.

Though they had spent only a short time together, Naruto's conduct, manner of speech, and unique insights into the ninja world were not things an ordinary person could possess. He had left a deep impression on her.

Perhaps one day, she—or Rōran—might truly need Naruto's help.

"Oh, right. If a ninja who appears out of thin air like me really shows up, please treat him carefully," Naruto warned.

He had interacted little with that Sand ninja and did not understand his temperament, so he could not make any overly absolute judgment.

That Sand ninja had not given him the impression of being a good person, but neither had he seemed like a bloodthirsty villain capable of every evil.

That was why he offered the warning.

"I understand." Sāya nodded solemnly.

"You don't need to be overly cautious, either. If he really tries to cause trouble, just call me back." Naruto pointed at the kunai in her hand and smiled.

Perhaps compared to someone on the Sage of Six Paths' level, he was not even worthy of carrying their shoes.

But dealing with an unknown Sand ninja would not be a problem.

"Goodbye!"

Twenty years was a long stretch of time for anyone.

But for the terrain and landscape, twenty years was very short—so short that without outside interference, almost no changes would occur.

Naruto was already familiar with the route from Rōran to the Land of Fire.

In the current ninja world, although the Third Great Ninja War had yet to erupt in full force, all kinds of small-scale battles had already become commonplace for ninja stationed at the borders.

For merchants, this was both a challenge and an opportunity.

For ninja, it might merely be an ordinary mission.

But for ordinary civilians, it was a disaster.

Although the higher-ups had once agreed that ninja wars would not involve civilians, once fighting truly began, verbal agreements were less valuable than toilet paper.

Besides, ninja themselves varied greatly in character...

Thanks to Why Does Someone Also Take Pinru's Wardrobe for the reward.

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