Minato Namikaze

Chiba Shun did not dare travel at a leisurely pace. What if Danzo still refused to give up?

The Konoha shinobi exchanged glances, and in the end, the four squad leaders discussed it.

They were also worried that something might go wrong with the mission, so they finally agreed.

Seeing this, Chiba Shun directly picked up one child.

Most of the Konoha shinobi were stronger than Chiba Shun. Some carried one child, while others carried one and had another on their backs.

Very soon, all twenty-four children had been assigned.

Then, the seventeen of them led the group of children in a forced march toward Konoha through the night.

In truth, what Chiba Shun and the others were doing was extremely dangerous.

During a forced march, their vigilance toward their surroundings would fall to its lowest point, making them easy targets for an ambush.

However, he was banking on the difference in timing.

After those Root shinobi failed in their attack, they would definitely have to return and report to Danzo.

They probably would not expect Chiba Shun and the others to take such a risk.

By the time Danzo sent reinforcements and launched another attack, Chiba Shun and the others would probably be nearly at Konoha.

Of course, Chiba Shun had mainly suggested this because his sensory jutsu had not detected any other enemies nearby.

If there were still Root shinobi watching them, then doing this would be courting death.

Fortunately, Chiba Shun had gambled correctly. When dawn broke, they had not encountered another assassination attempt.

Everyone slowed down slightly, and they finally reached Konoha before the second night fell.

Danzo had indeed dispatched a second group after receiving word that the first had failed, but he reacted a little too slowly. By the time that group found Chiba Shun and the others, they were already close to Konoha.

They could not exactly make a move near Konoha Village.

Thus, Chiba Shun and the others had temporarily escaped the crisis.

Although Danzo had failed to eliminate Chiba Shun and the others on their way to Konoha, he had not given up.

It did not matter if there had been no chance on the road. Once they entered Konoha, he would have plenty of opportunities!

In Danzo's eyes, this Kumogakure exchange delegation was already full of dead men!

Especially Chiba Shun, the person in charge of the delegation!

A mere Chunin had actually caused his Root to suffer setbacks twice in a row!

This was a challenge to his authority!

And Hiruzen Sarutobi was far too weak. How could he compromise with Kumogakure shinobi?

Kill these people, provoke a full-scale war with Kumogakure shinobi, and directly wipe out Kumogakure, which was currently in a weakened state!

That was what a Hokage should do!

Chiba Shun did not know what Danzo was thinking. After entering Konoha, he did not meet any of Konoha's higher-ups. His status was far too low; even if Konoha's leadership wanted to see him, they would not lower themselves so quickly.

Konoha sent someone Chiba Shun had not expected to receive him.

The Yellow Flash!

Of course, Minato Namikaze had not yet earned the Yellow Flash's fame. He was only a twelve-year-old boy.

His strength was probably only at the Chunin level.

Well, Minato Namikaze came from a civilian background, and his early growth had not been particularly fast. His explosive period had not arrived yet; he would grow at an astonishing rate later on.

Still, it was probably not far off before he became a Jonin.

Konoha's higher-ups thought it appropriate to use a Chunin to receive Chiba Shun, who was likewise a Chunin.

Moreover, Minato Namikaze was a steadfast inheritor of the Will of Fire and possessed a powerful ability to inspire others.

It would be even better if Minato Namikaze could influence Chiba Shun.

Seeing the warm smile on the little sun's face, Chiba Shun revealed an equally enthusiastic smile.

The two, close in age and similar in background, quickly struck up a conversation.

Minato Namikaze spoke to Chiba Shun about Konoha's Will of Fire, while Chiba Shun spoke to him about Kumogakure's Will of Lightning. The two got along famously.

Then Chiba Shun suggested that he and Minato Namikaze go sample Konoha's food together.

If there was anything that made Chiba Shun happy about coming to Konoha as part of an exchange delegation,

it was that he did not have to pay for any of his expenses in Konoha.

Konoha, the Shinobi World's largest shinobi village, was footing the bill for every member of the exchange delegation.

Chiba Shun now had enough chakra to cast seventy C-rank Jutsu.

He had already looked into it. In Kumogakure, excluding shinobi from shinobi clans, an ordinary Genin's average chakra reserves were roughly enough to cast ten C-rank Jutsu.

Of course, in an actual battle, there would be no chance to cast C-rank Jutsu ten times, because taijutsu consumed chakra as well, and even throwing a kunai consumed chakra.

An ordinary Chunin's chakra reserves were roughly enough to cast ten B-rank Jutsu.

Although Chiba Shun did not know any B-rank Jutsu, he had a B-rank Lightning Release in his hands.

He had estimated that the chakra required to cast one B-rank Jutsu was roughly ten times that required for one C-rank Jutsu.

Of course, a Chunin's chakra level was above a Genin's. If a Chunin cast a C-rank Jutsu, then with the same amount of chakra expended, its power would still be different.

Therefore, Chiba Shun's chakra reserves were considered low even among ordinary Chunin. That was normal. He had only received sufficient nutritional support for around a year, and his body was still weaker than that of most Chunin.

Chiba Shun was looking forward to seeing how much his chakra reserves would increase after this trip to Konoha.

So, like someone who had never seen the world, Chiba Shun opened his stomach and began eating Konoha's delicacies.

What he had told those twenty-four children was not empty rhetoric. He truly hoped they would eat more and save the Kumogakure Ninja Academy some money.

It just so happened that his strength was in a period of rapid growth, when he needed to replenish massive amounts of food.

In Kumogakure, to meet his training needs, he had eaten through two hundred thousand ryo in half a year.

Now that he did not have to worry about food expenses, Chiba Shun ate to his heart's content.

He ate whatever had the most energy, without even glancing at the price.

If there had been no danger, he truly wished he could freeload in Konoha for several years.

Of course, even while eating and drinking heavily, Chiba Shun was observing Konoha.

He was not looking at Hokage Rock. There was nothing interesting about that. What he was looking at was Konoha Village itself.

Konoha's prosperity far surpassed Kumogakure's. The villagers passing by looked at Chiba Shun with an air of superiority, as though they were looking at a country bumpkin.

Konoha shinobi also possessed confidence that Kumogakure shinobi could not match. This was a nation that had won two Shinobi World Wars.

Moreover, Konoha had once fought four enemies alone without falling into a disadvantage.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's propaganda, Konoha had fought one against four and won decisively!

All of this made Konoha shinobi radiate confidence from head to toe.

Chiba Shun also saw one major shinobi clan heir after another in Konoha. These clan shinobi got along harmoniously with civilian shinobi, presenting an appearance that everyone was an inheritor of the Will of Fire and everyone was equal.

The Sarutobi Clan did not act superior just because it had produced a Hokage, nor did they flaunt their monkey Summoned Beasts.

The Nara Clan did not look down on others because of their superior intelligence.

The Akimichi Clan was extremely hospitable and even gave Chiba Shun and Minato Namikaze a discount on their grilled meat meal.

The Yamanaka Clan's clan head's wife gave the Kumogakure envoy, who had come from afar, a bouquet of flowers.

These shinobi clans, which were very close to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, all expressed goodwill toward the Kumogakure shinobi.

Of course, there were exceptions, such as Konoha's largest shinobi clan, the Uchiha Clan.

Without any attempt at concealment, they harshly dealt with several villagers who had violated Police Force regulations right in front of Chiba Shun, an outsider.

Finally, they swept their scarlet Sharingan around the area, successfully earning the fear of Konoha's villagers.

Chiba Shun did not dare meet the Sharingan's gaze and hurriedly lowered his head.

Another example was Konoha's other largest shinobi clan, the Hyuga Clan.

Chiba Shun did not see the Hyuga Clan's Main House, but he still caught the faint resentment of the branch family.

They were both arrogant, looking down equally on every villager and shinobi; yet they were also insecure, envying every civilian and shinobi in Konoha Village.

With one hand rubbing his overstuffed stomach and the other holding a bouquet of flowers, Chiba Shun smiled and said to Minato Namikaze, "Konoha is so lively. The children of all the major shinobi clans are surprisingly approachable."

Minato Namikaze was a little embarrassed because Chiba Shun had said that just after members of the Uchiha Clan left.

After thinking for a moment, he spoke on behalf of the Uchiha Clan. "The Uchiha Clan handles matters very fairly. They do not just target civilians; they are the same with their own people."

Chiba Shun nodded and smiled. "Oh, I understand. The Uchiha Clan is not only harsh toward 'outsiders.'"

Minato Namikaze felt there was something off about Chiba Shun's tone, but he could not think of what was wrong for the moment. He was young, and his sunny, cheerful nature prevented him from noticing the trap in Chiba Shun's words.

Only after quite some time did he realize that he had misspoken. He should not have used the phrase "their own people."

Chiba Shun had directly followed his words and separated the Uchiha Clan from the rest of Konoha Village.

However, Minato Namikaze did not refute him. Instead, he fell into deep thought. Why had he said that instinctively?

Had a rift truly formed between the Uchiha Clan and the village?

What could he do to mend the rift between the Uchiha Clan and the village?

Perhaps after becoming a Jonin, he could take an Uchiha Clan child as his disciple?

Chiba Shun and Minato Namikaze soon arrived at one of Konoha's training grounds.

There had originally been quite a few shinobi training here, but ANBU had cleared them out before Chiba Shun arrived.

It was not because Chiba Shun carried such weight. Konoha simply did not want him stealing Konoha's jutsu.

Chiba Shun did not care about that. He immediately began training in this training ground.

Because he knew there were surely many eyes watching him in secret, Chiba Shun only did basic physical training.

Moreover, in order to eat more food, Chiba Shun trained with tremendous intensity and expended a great deal.

Chiba Shun invited Minato Namikaze to train with him, but Minato Namikaze politely declined and simply watched Chiba Shun quietly from the side.

Chiba Shun trained alone for half the day. Once his physical strength was exhausted, he had Minato Namikaze take him out for delicious food again.

He specifically chose expensive foods that could quickly restore physical strength and chakra.

After dinner, Chiba Shun returned to his lodgings and began training again.

Only after exhausting both his physical strength and chakra did he wash up and return to the room Konoha had arranged for him to sleep.

At that moment, one ANBU monitoring him suddenly said to his companion, "He's just going to sleep like that? Without taking any precautions at all?"

His companion thought for a moment and said, "He probably thinks that even if he took precautions, they would be useless."

"Do you think he came here to freeload off our food and drinks?"

"At the Akimichi Family's barbecue restaurant just now, he ate as much in one meal as a Jonin with massive energy expenditure."

The first person thought about it and said, "Very possible. He came back to train as soon as he finished eating, like he was afraid of wasting that food."

"Is Kumogakure really that poor?"

The two muttered among themselves for a while. Once they confirmed that Chiba Shun was truly asleep, one of them went to report to the Third Hokage.