Journey to Konoha

At the end of December, ten days remained until the inauguration ceremony for Konoha's First.

Snow blanketed the Land of Night.

Especially in the eastern reaches of the country, where the entire region had fallen into an intensely frigid climate.

Before the towering stone gates at the main entrance of the General's Residence, a group had already finished preparing for departure.

Yayoi was fully armed, wearing a black ninja bodysuit beneath a full suit of iron armor.

Even his footwear was made of highly defensive leather covered in armor plates.

The entire suit was forged from exceptionally durable Chakra Metal. It possessed tremendous toughness and defensive power while effectively conducting the wearer's chakra.

The armor's creation had not only involved Yayoi's chakra treatment, but had also incorporated the craftsmanship of the finest artisans from the former Land of Iron.

It was an armor-type ninja tool designed specifically to support ninja combat.

It was also remarkably comfortable and lightweight to wear, lacking the bulk and restrictive feel of ordinary armor.

"My, you look so imposing today, my husband."

Seeing Yayoi in this unusually majestic attire, as though he had instantly switched styles, Kicho found his entire presence filled with sharp, commanding dignity.

For Kicho, who had never seen Yayoi dressed like this before, it was undoubtedly a brand-new experience.

Yayoi merely nodded in response.

After all, it was an important ceremony, and they would be meeting many daimyo from other countries. He had to look formal and dignified.

Yayoi was not the only one dressed carefully. As the general's wife, Kicho had naturally been meticulously adorned as well.

She wore a purple-and-white kimono made from precious silk, with a brightly colored pink over-robe draped over it.

She also wore far more exquisite gold and jade ornaments than usual.

White tabi socks and low-heeled black wooden sandals complemented her lavish attire perfectly.

However, Yayoi knew that beneath those gorgeous clothes, Kicho wore a ninja bodysuit as well.

Although she was attending as the general's wife, she had not forgotten her original identity as a ninja.

In Yayoi's estimation, before acquiring Earth Grudge Fear, Kakuzu would likely have had a difficult time defeating Kicho. It would probably have been a six-to-four matchup.

According to Kicho, there were at least several people in the Hyuga Clan of her generation at her level.

However, in terms of Byakugan purity, she was likely the one with the strongest ocular power.

Standing together at that moment, one imposing and one beautiful, they looked like a perfect golden couple.

And as the general, Yayoi naturally could not travel on foot during such an official journey.

It was a mobile carriage crafted from wood with exceptional toughness and hardness.

The wood used to build it had been selected from special Chakra Trees and blended with other chakra materials.

These Chakra Trees could absorb the chakra around them extremely well, so wood selected from them could effectively withstand the impact of Ninjutsu.

Jingling gold and jade ornaments hung from the outside of the carriage, adding to its splendor and nobility.

The interior was ten times the size of an ordinary carriage cabin. Four or five people could rest inside without feeling cramped.

Its overall design also emphasized defense and concealment.

Protective chakra steel plates had been installed beneath the carriage, capable of withstanding explosions on the level of Explosive Tags.

Most astonishingly, the mobile carriage was not pulled by horses. At the front, outside the carriage, was an operating platform fitted with something like a control console. It was wrapped in steel, and internal mechanisms connected it to the eight wooden rollers beneath the frame, propelling it forward.

Those operating the mechanisms were naturally neither ninjas nor samurai, but a group of burly humanoid Puppet Samurai clad in pitch-black heavy armor.

Compared with the Ghost Puppets in the underground space beneath the Tenshu Tower, they had more distinct facial expressions, greater visual appeal, and an extremely oppressive presence.

Each Puppet Samurai was the size of two Ghost Puppets, standing over two meters tall.

Their katana had also been adjusted in both length and width. Even several-meter-tall boulders could surely be cleaved apart with a single effortless strike.

Because of their massive size, they could be used not only for offense but also for protection.

They stood beside the carriage with stiff, hollow, unsettling expressions.

Yayoi merely raised his hand and gave it a light wave.

His materialized chakra surged toward the Puppet Samurai like soft lumps of dough, flowing with precise control into the mechanism ports on their bodies and merging into them.

Immediately afterward, a crimson ghostly glow lit up in the Puppet Samurai's eyes. Their huge, burly bodies slowly straightened, coming to life.

"They don't need Chakra Threads to be controlled?"

Kicho was surprised.

She had only seen Yayoi fling out his materialized chakra and activate the Puppet Samurai, leaving her somewhat astonished.

Normally, materialized chakra separated from a ninja's body would dissipate quickly. It was effectively consumed and could not be preserved for long.

"Activated chakra can retain its state of 'existence' for a long time, so even after leaving the body, it can still control puppets. The downside is that its precision drops a little. It can't fully bring out a puppet's abilities, and it can't operate from too far away. Beyond thirty meters, it becomes ineffective. But for traveling, this is already enough."

Under normal circumstances, using this method to operate puppets was undoubtedly much more convenient.

However, if they encountered a powerful enemy, controlling them with Chakra Threads would produce better results.

Irori, a puppet that could operate completely autonomously and refine her own chakra, was naturally an exception.

"I see."

Kicho nodded, though she was still curious about Yayoi's abilities.

Pressed for time, she did not ask him on the spot. Besides, slowly unraveling a secret bit by bit was more enjoyable.

There were sixteen activated Puppet Samurai. Eight were responsible for operating the mechanisms and driving the carriage forward, while the other eight handled scouting and guard duties.

In addition, one hundred fully armed ninjas and two hundred samurai proficient in chakra swordsmanship accompanied them, all under Irori's command.

As for senior officials such as Kakuzu, Kurobei, and Yuroketsu, they remained behind to oversee the operations of the General's Residence.

With the strengthened Kakuzu holding down the fort, combined with the various defensive measures Yayoi had left within the General's Residence, he was not worried that anything would happen there.

Furthermore, the eyes of every country were now fixed on Konoha in the Land of Fire. Many conflicts had subconsciously died down as nations began deliberately strengthening their defenses to prevent disputes from arising.

The group soon left Nightview City and traveled south along the main road toward the Land of Fire.

On the road, the carriage moved as steadily as if it were on level ground. There was not the slightest sensation of vibration or tilting inside, making Yayoi and Kicho feel as though they were walking on solid earth.

If they encountered obstacles along the way, the other eight Puppet Samurai would directly draw their long blades and slash through boulders and enormous trees, violently clearing the road with speed.

Because the materials used to make the Puppet Samurai were incredibly strong, they inherently possessed formidable Taijutsu capabilities and could suppress ordinary ninjas. Combined with swordsmanship, their combat power became even more formidable.

The accompanying ninjas and samurai did not need to act. These Puppet Samurai could resolve most problems along the road.

"They're amazing. They can move so quickly while staying this steady."

Inside the carriage, Kicho picked up a teacup and began drinking tea.

Feeling the mobile carriage racing along without the slightest bump, she found it no different from a ninja traveling at high speed.

"Because it was specially built. This carriage could actually be modified to operate automatically as well. But having Puppet Samurai drive it makes it look more imposing." (The inspiration came from Sasori's Hiruko, only this was a massively enlarged version of Hiruko.)

Yayoi drank his tea as well, then set down his cup.

As one of the foremost puppet masters of the era, many of his puppet creations could actually operate automatically. They simply could not be controlled as freely as he wished, nor could they unleash their full potential.

To him, that was a deeply imperfect aspect.

Moreover, automation did not necessarily mean excellence. Aside from special puppets like Irori, the automatic technology of ordinary puppets was actually inadequate.

Irori's autonomous technology was unique and could not be widely replicated.

"True. If someone saw these samurai puppets at night, they'd probably be scared out of their wits."

Kicho smiled as well, deeply impressed by the appearance of the Puppet Samurai.

With their burly two-meter-tall bodies, glowing red eyes, and full suits of black heavy armor, they resembled Ghost Samurai that often appeared as villains in horror plays.

Anyone without sufficient nerve would surely be frightened by such terrifying puppets.

Moreover, with Kicho's sharp perception, she could tell that this carriage was no ordinary vehicle. Rather than a tool for travel, it was more like a mobile military fortress.

That was not very obvious from the outside, but many places within had clearly been modified with mechanisms. The carriage itself was also an extremely dangerous puppet—a weapon capable of fighting.

The journey to Konoha was almost entirely uneventful.

Upon seeing such powerful guards and the massive carriage moving like a land-bound beast, nearby bandits instinctively kept far away and did not dare entertain any thoughts of blocking their path.

After five days of long travel, the Land of Night's delegation finally arrived at Konoha.

The main reason was that the group needed to rest along the way; otherwise, they could have arrived faster. Since there was still plenty of time, Yayoi had not rushed. Instead, the trip had taken on something of a sightseeing nature.

Whenever they passed through certain towns, he would sometimes deliberately stay for a while, accompanying his wife Kicho as she explored the town and bought interesting trinkets to add to their collection.

"So this is Konoha? I never expected it to be so big."

The tall walls that had still been under construction before had now been fully completed.

Entering through the village's main gate, Kicho slightly lifted a corner of the curtain inside the carriage and immediately saw the endless rows of buildings within the walls.

The major roads had also been paved quite evenly, allowing carriages to travel steadily over them.

Many basic facilities had likewise reached a high degree of completion, giving the place the beginnings of a prosperous town.

Its residential area was naturally smaller than Nightview City, but for a village, it was extraordinarily vast. Especially since some areas were still being expanded and it had not yet reached its final form as a ninja village.

Yayoi shifted slightly as well and glanced at the scenery outside.

It gave him a strangely familiar feeling, similar to yet different from the village in his memories.

In several more years, it would become the Konoha he knew.

Upon entering Konoha, they were received by personnel specifically assigned to welcome them.

Several delegations from other countries had arrived around the same time as Yayoi's group. Some were led by high-ranking officials, while others were personally headed by their daimyo.

The person responsible for receiving the Land of Night's delegation was a ninja from the Senju Clan.

He was a man in his thirties, with scars on his face left behind by battle.

His chakra concealment was extremely strong, making it difficult to directly judge his strength. However, from his calm and measured bearing, he was likely an elite among the Senju Clan.

"My husband, this man is called Senju Haima. I've heard that the scar on his face was left during a battle with the Uchiha Clan. He's one of the Senju's foremost combat representatives. His Genjutsu and Ninjutsu are ordinary, but he's exceptionally proficient in Taijutsu and has mastered the forbidden technique known as the Eight Gates."

Inside the carriage, Kicho softly explained the basic information about the Senju ninja to Yayoi.

Kicho knew these details thanks to the Hyuga Clan's intelligence network. Powerful clans such as the Senju Clan were naturally key subjects of the Hyuga Clan's attention.

As one of the Senju Clan's powerful ninjas, Senju Haima's information was naturally recorded in the Hyuga Clan's intelligence files.

Especially since this powerful Senju ninja had learned a forbidden technique of tremendous might, he was impossible to overlook.

"The Eight Gates? That technique isn't ordinary at all, and it suits the Senju's Sage Physique exceptionally well."

Yayoi nodded slightly, raising his assessment of Senju Haima another level.

Yayoi was no stranger to the Eight Gates.

It was a forbidden technique that had appeared in the original work, and during this Warring States Era, Yayoi had coincidentally encountered a ninja who could use the Eight Gates.

The first three gates of the Eight Gates were a safe zone. The risks of amplifying chakra remained within what a ninja's body could endure.

Starting from the Fourth Gate, every gate opened increased the body's burden geometrically. Correspondingly, the power unleashed also rose to unreasonable heights, making it a supreme technique for turning the tide in desperate situations.

However, the forbidden technique could not be sustained for long. Excessive use would damage the user's health, affect their lifespan, and could even leave them crippled and unable to continue as a ninja.

The ninja Yayoi had encountered could open the Eight Gates up to the Sixth Gate. Though Yayoi had ultimately won, it had still taken some effort.

He had also obtained the forbidden technique of the Eight Gates from that person, but it was incomplete and recorded only the methods for opening the first six gates.

Led by Senju Haima, the Land of Night's group arrived at a residential district filled with courtyard-style homes. Each residence had a vast interior space capable of accommodating delegations from various countries.

Every residence was separated by more than twenty meters, providing excellent privacy for the different delegations.

By the time Yayoi and the others arrived, some courtyards were already occupied.

It was clear that certain delegations had already begun making moves, frequently interacting and communicating with other countries.

With officials from all countries carrying the will of their daimyo, or the daimyo themselves attending in person, this was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for direct negotiations between nations.

Even the Land of Night needed to communicate with other countries and could not remain closed off. Realizing this, Yayoi knew he would be busy over the next few days.

Opportunities for the upper echelons of various nations to gather peacefully like this were rare. If he missed this one, he had no idea when the next would come.

After getting down from the carriage with Kicho, Yayoi let out a soft breath. Sitting inside the carriage during the journey had been a little too tiring; his body felt as though it had rusted.

Sure enough, he was not accustomed to traveling this way.

But to maintain appearances, he could only endure it for now.

After all, if he, the general, had walked here on foot and been seen by people from other countries, he would have been laughed at. It would also damage the nation's prestige; others might think the Land of Night was too poor to even prepare a carriage.

The carriage they were using now had undoubtedly become a striking sight in the eyes of the various delegations. It drew attention everywhere it went.

Its enormous body resembled a land beast, and its magnificent, exquisite exterior combined protective functionality with beauty.

It was also accompanied by sixteen burly and powerful Puppet Samurai, along with an elite guard force composed of ninjas and samurai, all marching in neat formation with steady, imposing momentum.

Such an extravagant display undoubtedly showed off the Land of Night's formidable national strength. Aside from major countries, probably no nation could put on such a grand spectacle.

After all, extravagance was practically equivalent to national strength.

That was an unspoken fact understood by every country.

Since they had only just arrived, Yayoi did not need to communicate with people from other countries immediately. Before he and Kicho entered the courtyard, some of the ninjas and samurai went in first to conduct the necessary inspection.

Upon entering the courtyard, they could tell that it had been built less than a month ago. The signs of construction were still fresh. Although Konoha had tried its best to improve the living conditions, the overall result was still fairly ordinary. It was not that there were problems with quality or comfort, but the courtyard's scenery and layout were somewhat plain and had not been carefully refined.

Thinking about it, that was perfectly normal. Konoha was a newly built village, so a lack of accumulated character was inevitable.

Fortunately, the people from various countries had not come here for pleasure. They had arrived with important missions. Konoha's attitude was sincere, and its service was as thorough as possible rather than perfunctory. That was enough to leave the delegations satisfied.

"Leave half the men to stand guard. The other half may move about freely. Over the next few days, rotate shifts. Also, do not cause trouble."

After the courtyard had been properly arranged, Yayoi gave instructions to the accompanying ninjas and samurai.

"Yes."

The ninjas and samurai responded.

"Irori, do you want to go out and move around freely as well?"

Yayoi asked what Irori wanted.

"No, there's no need. My duty is to protect Lord Yayoi. Moving around within this courtyard will be enough."

Irori smiled and shook her head in refusal.

"All right. You can relax a little here. You don't need to keep yourself so tense."

Yayoi nodded, then turned and returned to the master bedroom to rest.

It was still only afternoon, and the sky had not yet darkened, but the journey had left him rather tired. Tomorrow, he still needed to speak with people from other countries, so he needed to rest properly in advance to avoid becoming drowsy and making a poor impression.