Back to Konoha

Konoha.

Several figures raced over from afar, finally landing steadily at the village entrance.

Uchiha You walked at the front.

Behind him followed Shizune, along with Haku, Kimimaro, and Karin, who had just joined the group.

"So this is Konoha?"

Karin adjusted the glasses on her nose and looked up at the towering village gates before her, curiosity in her eyes.

She had heard of Konoha before.

The number one ninja village in the shinobi world.

Peaceful, powerful, prosperous.

At least, that was what people in Kusagakure had always said.

But when she truly stood before Konoha, Karin realized that this place was completely different from Kusagakure.

The civilians entering and leaving the village wore smiles on their faces. Shops lined both sides of the streets, and although there were plenty of patrolling ninja, they did not have those greedy eyes that looked ready to treat people as prey at any moment.

Haku was also observing his surroundings.

Compared to Karin's caution, he felt more amazement.

"The people here all seem so relaxed."

"Because they know Konoha will protect them," Shizune said.

After saying that, she could not help glancing at Uchiha You.

Konoha truly did feel more like a real village now than it had in the past.

At the very least, under Uchiha You's forceful reforms, no one dared bully the weak so freely anymore, nor did anyone dare treat so-called Kekkei Genkai as tools to exploit at will.

Kimimaro said nothing.

He merely followed quietly behind Uchiha You, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the surrounding crowd.

Everything here was unfamiliar to him.

Yet strangely, he did not feel any rejection toward it.

Because Uchiha You had said so.

This would be the place where they lived from now on.

"First, we'll report to the Hokage Office," Uchiha