Takigakure Ninja

After Tsunade couldn't help but let a little slip.

Oguri Hayashi almost burst out laughing.

Tsunade had known Oguri Hayashi for so long, but this was the first time she'd seen him laugh so heartily. He had always kept a straight face, his expression unreadable, neither warm nor cold, as still as a placid pool.

Now, Oguri Hayashi looked like a child.

Perhaps the laughing Oguri Hayashi was truly showing his true nature.

"The Tailed Beast's Chakra is indeed powerful, but it is not the way for a strong person to establish themselves," Oguri Hayashi said. If he hadn't had a clear understanding before and greatly envied the Tailed Beast's Chakra, then the Invincible Superman Hayato Furinji's [My Style Secret Technique] had made it crystal clear for Oguri Hayashi.

To become strong, one must first have the heart of a strong person.

The heart of a strong person first relies on becoming strong through oneself, and secondly, one should not rely on any external forces. What one cultivates steadily through their own efforts can reach a state of effortless mastery.

And this was a realm that Naruto never reached even in the end.

Naruto's power was overflowing from beginning to end. Naruto, who squandered his power without restraint, was not a controller or master of his power. Perhaps Sage Mode was the only thing Naruto had painstakingly cultivated and could finely control.

Therefore, during the period he used Sage Mode, Naruto's combat power greatly increased, and he could face all six of Pain without being at a disadvantage.

This was power he could truly control. Afterward, Naruto's combat power surged again with the taming of the Nine-Tails, but the energy overflow became even more apparent.

To be honest, if Naruto wasn't constantly given cheat-like abilities by the author, he absolutely wouldn't be comparable to Sasuke.

Of course, in terms of personality, Oguri Hayashi preferred Naruto.

But from the perspective of understanding and controlling power, let alone the Third Hokage, Naruto, the Seventh Hokage, probably couldn't even catch up to the Third Raikage.

"Tailed Beasts are good, but they are not my ninja way," Oguri Hayashi calmly said as he walked into the Land of Waterfalls with Tsunade.

In Chinese, "泷" means rushing water, while in Japanese, it directly means waterfall. This land is full of high mountains and rapid rivers, with waterfalls being one of the country's features. The village hidden within the waterfalls is Takigakure.

The population of the Land of Waterfalls is very small, even merging directly with Takigakure to become part of it.

Because of this, even if Stone Shinobi and Cloud Ninja fought on the land of the Land of Waterfalls, they couldn't fundamentally harm the village. Takigakure has always been indifferent to worldly affairs, truly a rare, laid-back ninja village.

However, their indifference was a waste of the Seven-Tails Chōmei that the First Hokage had given them. The First Hokage's intention was clear: the Seven-Tails Chōmei, along with the Waterfall Kage (it's unknown if he could be considered a Kage), two Kage-level powerhouses, would help Konoha defend the east. Even if both Stone Shinobi and Cloud Ninja attacked Konoha simultaneously, they would only need to deal with one side.

The First Hokage's strategic goal was definitely not wrong, but he would never have imagined that due to the waterfalls and secrecy, Takigakure would decline generation after generation, to the point where by Naruto's time, there were barely any ninja left.

Truly, "born in distress, die in ease." After the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki of Takigakure was captured, there were hardly any ninja left.

By Naruto's era, the village leader was someone even worse than a Genin.

The ancients truly did not deceive me.

However, Takigakure at this time was far from that point.

Just two days after Oguri Hayashi and Tsunade arrived at Takigakure, they encountered a reconnaissance patrol team from Takigakure.

"Halt!" A kunai suddenly struck the ground in front of their feet.

The intent to stop them was very clear.

This kunai-throwing technique didn't escape the dharma eye of Oguri Hayashi and Tsunade. They had already discovered this patrol team. The leader was quite skilled, already a High Ninja, his footsteps perfectly silent. However, the three people he led were not as capable, likely all at the Genin level, practically defenseless.

"This is Takigakure territory, what are you doing here! Ninja from another village!" The three Genin were well-hidden, but their breathing was too loud. To Tsunade and Oguri Hayashi, these breathing sounds were too coarse.

As expected, the talent cultivation in such a small ninja village absolutely couldn't compare to Konoha.

Tsunade disdainfully looked up at the High Ninja from Takigakure. His blue hair made him look like someone with a special ability.

Perhaps it was a Kekkei Genkai or a special bloodline; it was too common in the ninja world. For example, people of the Uzumaki Clan had wine-red hair, and people of the Kaguya Clan had white hair and white skin, and so on, with such special abilities.

It was likely that this blue-haired Takigakure ninja was the same.

However, even with those special bloodlines, they were still far too inferior compared to a monster like Oguri Hayashi.

Tsunade couldn't help but glance back at Oguri Hayashi.

The other party clearly saw Tsunade as the leader between the two. The lean High Ninja held a kunai and asked loudly, "Ninja from another village, you are..."

"Konoha's Three Legendary Sannin?!" Tsunade's large breasts and golden hair, along with the headband on her forehead, were too conspicuous. He recognized her almost immediately, stammering slightly.

Konoha ninja were different from those in small villages like Takigakure. Tsunade, with her deep background, was even more different from ordinary ninja.

Her grandfather was the Hokage, her grand-uncle was the Second Hokage, her teacher was the Third Hokage, and she would be the Fourth Hokage in the future. Such a person was clearly on a completely different level from Takigakure.

Before Tsunade could even make a move, facing her background, the other side already softened.

"You are from Takigakure, right? We've come to visit Takigakure. Can you take us to your village?"

Tsunade crossed her arms and remained silent. She couldn't bring herself to say the embarrassing fact that she was a captive, so remaining silent was the best option.

Facing Oguri Hayashi's words, the High Ninja glanced suspiciously at the silent Tsunade and nodded, "I understand. Since you are guests, please follow me."

He jumped down from the tree, picked up his kunai, and put it in his pouch. The action clearly showed the financial straits of the small ninja village.

The three Genin beside him jumped out, looking at the two with some curiosity.

These three were not much younger than Oguri Hayashi, but Oguri Hayashi was clearly on a different level from them.

Oguri Hayashi couldn't be bothered with them and, with Tsunade, walked towards Takigakure under the escort of the four.