Chapter 207 Return Konoha (Part 2)
Land of Fire's East Harbor looked particularly open under the clear sky in late autumn, and the wooden trestle on the pier was slightly swayed by the sea breeze.
The end of the trestle is paved with Konoha's iconic vermilion welcome flag, with Konoha Spiral Emblem on the flag flapping in the wind.
Three Hidden Mist clippers docked one after another. The Hidden Mist ripple flag on the bow and the Konoha flag on the dock greeted each other in the sea breeze, keeping just the right distance from each other.
The first to disembark were the accompanying ANBU civilian staff. They wore Hidden Mist standard dark gray uniforms and lined up on both sides of the pier with neat movements.
Then, Sōji stepped onto the trestle.
Divine Robe is dazzlingly white in the sunshine at the pier, and the Ukiyoe-style wave pattern on the hem of the dress gently rolls with the steps.
Behind him, the six people Shadow Guard followed each other in a loose wedge-shaped formation.
Karin pushed up his round glasses, his crimson eyes quickly scanning everyone on the pier behind the lenses.
Ye Tong's ponytail fluttered in the wind, and her eyes narrowed slightly when she touched the greeting staff in Konoha ANBU's attire.
Mangetsu had an expressionless face. Earth Flow was next to Utakata, his fingers unconsciously rubbing Ninja Tool Pouch around his waist.
Utakata turned Bamboo Pipe, Amber Eyes curiously looked at the architectural style of Konoha's port; Yingying walked at the end, tugging at Muku's cuffs.
The latter's pale face showed a little tiredness after a long voyage, but he still tried to straighten his back.
On the other side, Konoha's welcoming lineup has obviously been carefully arranged.
Standing at the front are Shikaku Nara, Konoha Jonin Commander squad leader and Hokage's Chief Advisor.
A middle-aged man with hair combed into a pineapple-shaped high ponytail, with a thin face and a goatee on his chin. His eyes are shrewd and calm from years of strategizing.
Behind him stood Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi and Might Guy.
The four Jonin, who are famous among the new generation of Konoha, happen to be the same members of the original team who played against or met Hidden Mist when Land of Water went on mission in the first half of the year.
"Sōji-sama, I have admired you for a long time!"
Shikaku took the lead to take a step forward, his voice was neither fast nor slow, with a typical Nara style lazy tone, but every detail of his stance revealed a sense of vigilance.
"After seeing you in the first half of the year, everyone at Konoha was deeply impressed by your department. This time, Mr. Third Hokage specially asked me to come to the port to greet you as a token of your respect."
"Nara-senpai!"
In response, Sōji nodded slightly. There were no emotional fluctuations on his face covered with black cloth, but the respect in his tone was genuine.
"Konoha's military advisor actually came to the dock to pick up the ship in person. Hidden Mist took note of this importance."
"No matter where you are, it's all your duty."
Shikaku smiled and waved his hand, his eyes naturally swept over the six people behind Sōji, and paused for a moment each on Karin and Utakata.
Then he took it back as if nothing had happened.
"These guys..."
"It must be Zero Squad Shadow Guard from your village? He is younger than described in the intelligence!"
His tone was understatement, but this in itself was a test. He was hinting that Konoha was not ignorant of Hidden Mist Shadow Guard's organization.
Sōji heard it, but did not answer the question. Instead, he turned sideways and introduced them one by one.
Every time a name and title is read out, the expressions of the four Jonin behind Shikaku become more subtle.
Kakashi's exposed eye curved into a crescent moon, and it was hard to tell whether it was smiling or calculating.
The corners of Kurenai Yuhi's lips tightened slightly, and her eyes stayed on Ye Tong for a moment. In the competition in the first half of the year, Ye Tong defeated her teammate Asuma. She obviously hasn't forgotten this.
Asuma himself was holding a cigarette in his mouth, with his hands in his pockets, and there was a trace of inexplicable complexity in his eyes.
Kai's eyes shone unabashedly, and he leaned half an inch forward, but Kakashi calmly hooked his calf with his toes.
"It's really an all-star lineup!"
In response, Shikaku smiled and shook his head, with some sincere admiration in his tone, "Jinchūriki and Three-Tails and Six-Tails traveled with the team at the same time, and the successor of Box of Ultimate Bliss and the successor of Rage Hair Heaven are also on the list."
"Captain Sōji, with the combat power of your mission, even if you say that you are here to attack Konoha, I'm afraid some people will believe it."
"The senior officials in the village are a little frightened!"
Shikaku had a smile on his face when he said this, but the sentence itself was a subtle test.
He used a half-joking way to point out the unusual configuration of Hidden Mist's mission, which was not rude and put the problem at the feet of Sōji.
"Shikaku-senpai is joking."
The corners of Sōji's mouth raised slightly, and his tone was as calm as chatting, "Shadow Guard is dispatched, firstly, because the alliance with Chunin Ninja Exams is of great importance, and Hidden Mist needs to send out a decision-making team that can make decisions on the spot."
"The second reason is that after Konoha's trip, we have to stop by Land of Lightning, Karin and Utakata's Jinchūriki practice requires Hidden Cloud's assistance."
"Instead of going back and forth, it's better to get it right once."
"If this scares the adults at Konoha, Sōji will be a little scared!"
This answer not only explains the rationality of all Shadow Guard personnel dispatching, but also reveals an additional piece of information.
The alliance cooperation between Hidden Mist and Hidden Cloud has gone so far that they can share the training of Jinchūriki.
Hearing this, Shikaku's pupils shrank slightly, but the smile on his face remained unchanged.
"I see, Hidden Cloud's Tailed Beasts practice method is indeed Shinobi World's second to none."
Shikaku nodded, and then the conversation changed, "Then we will send you all to the post house to settle down first?"
"Master Third Hokage has prepared tea in the Hokage building. The reception banquet is scheduled for the evening, but before that.
As he spoke, he raised his hand to signal to the four Jonin behind him, "These guys are old acquaintances. I'll chat with you along the way, so it won't be too boring."
Next, it's Konoha's arrangement.
Shikaku was personally in charge, accompanied by four Jonin. It was a warm reception in name, but in fact it was a full surveillance.
But Sōji didn't mind this. He had no intention of making any small moves at Konoha. The time hadn't come yet.
On both sides of the post road from East Harbor to Konoha, the ginkgo trees in autumn are turning brilliant yellow, and their fallen leaves cover the gravel road, making a tiny clicking sound when they are run over by wheels.
The team was spread out widely, with civilian officials Konoha at the front leading the way, and Sōji and Shikaku walking side by side in the middle.
Six people Shadow Guard were scattered behind the two, and four Konoha Jonin naturally interspersed between Shadow Guard, forming some kind of subtle cross-accompaniment.
"Sōji Captain!"
At this time, Shikaku was the first to speak, walking on the right side of Sōji, with his hands in his sleeves, and his tone was casual, as if he was walking with an old friend.
"Master Third Hokage mentioned the general idea in the letter about joining forces with Chunin Ninja Exams, but the specific details still require both parties to sit down and discuss them one by one."
"For example, regarding the allocation of examination rooms, Konoha's preliminary plan is that the first round of written examinations and the second round of qualifiers will be held in Konoha's own village.
OK, the knockout competition of Miwa will be held publicly in Arena of Konoha."
Hearing this, Sōji raised his eyebrows, "Oh? From the three examination rooms, Hidden Mist and Sunagakure didn't get any of them?"
"The venue for the third knockout round is Konoha, and Hidden Mist has no objection to this."
"But for the first round of written examinations and the second round of qualifiers, Hidden Mist also hopes to have the opportunity to participate in hosting them."
"Since it's called Three-Nation Joint Chunin Ninja Exams, at least one round of the Miwa exam should be in a village other than Konoha, right?"
Shikaku flashed a hint of appreciation in his eyes. This young man cut in and clicked very accurately, and he hit the core point of interest as soon as he came up.
The right to host means the right to speak, and the right to speak means international reputation. However, he did not respond directly, but cleverly avoided the topic.
"This is just a preliminary plan. The specific arrangements need to be negotiated simultaneously with Sunagakure. Baki Jonin will be at Konoha next week. Then the three parties will sit down and discuss it together. What does Captain Sōji think?"
"Okay!"
Hearing this, Sōji did not pursue him fiercely, but his next words made Shikaku pause slightly.
"In addition, regarding the ratio of candidates, Hidden Mist hopes to increase the number of candidates for Genin from the original two teams to five."
"Five teams?"
Shikaku raised his eyebrows, still smiling, but his brain was already running rapidly.
"Konoha, as the organizer, has only allocated twenty-one places. Sunagakure has been talking for two months and only talked about nine."
"Captain Sōji asked for fifteen. I'm afraid Konoha won't be able to agree to this number!"
"Hidden Mist's new generation is worthy of this number."
Sōji's tone was calm, but with an unquestionable certainty, "What's more, the essence of joining forces Chunin Ninja Exams is to provide a stage for the three countries to display the next generation's combat power."
"With more Hidden Mist Genin playing, it's not just Hidden Mist who will benefit. What the audience wants to see is not a bad game, but a wonderful high-level confrontation.
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"How many people can Konoha's Arena seat, how much ticket revenue can be generated, and how much broadcast rights can be sold in various countries are directly linked to the quality of the game, right?"
Hearing this, Shikaku was silent for a moment, then smiled softly, "Captain Sōji, are you settling the financial accounts for Konoha?"
"Now that the United Chunin Ninja Exams has been established, it will not only be a political account, but also an economic account."
In response, Sōji tilted his head slightly, and Six Eyes looked at Shikaku through the black cloth, "Senior Shikaku should know better than me how much the financial expenditure of Konoha and Hokage Building has increased this year compared to last year."
"Post-war reconstruction, ninja pensions, research and development... which one doesn't require a lot of money?"
As for this question, Shikaku did not respond directly, but his steps were half a beat slower than before.
Sōji's understanding of Konoha's internal financial situation obviously exceeded his previous judgment.
Kakashi came very close at some point. The exposed eye was bent, and there was just enough curiosity in his voice.
"Captain Sōji, I heard that after you left with us last time, you went to Shikkotsu Forest to learn from Senjutsu?"
"Kakashi!" Shikaku reminded him without looking back.
"Just a casual chat!" Kakashi took his hand out of his pocket and made a harmless surrender gesture.
Sōji took over the conversation with a smile, without any intention of hiding anything, "Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu practice has indeed been completed."
"Tsunade also knows about this!"
As soon as these words came out, even Kurenai Yuhi, who had been silent all this time, couldn't help but look at Sōji one more time.
Tsunade's name is a subtle existence in Konoha. One of Sannin, Granddaughter of the First, Konoha's founder of Medical Ninjutsu, has been wandering away all year round and refused to return to the village.
Sōji took the initiative to mention Tsunade, not only to show his origins with Konoha, but also to imply that the relationship between Hidden Mist and Konoha goes beyond official diplomacy.
This hidden way of speaking made Hong couldn't help but re-examine the Anbu Captain in front of her, who was several years younger than her.
At this time, Asuma exhaled a puff of smoke and finally said his first words since meeting, "Lady Tsunade How is she lately?"
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"Very good. I gambled at Tanzaku Town and probably borrowed a lot of royalties from senior Jiraiya."
Shikaku on the side couldn't help but shook his head slightly. Dealing with this little fox was more troublesome than negotiating with Ōnoki.
Especially the relationship between the other party and Lady Tsunade is obviously very close. As a result, Konoha has no way to refuse the other party's request.