Click click click.
The tall and wide main gate slowly opened, the hinges making a soft sound.
The delegation, led by three Cloud Village ninjas, stepped into the gates of Konoha. The moment they entered, they were greeted by a burst of bright sunshine.
The rising sun pierced through the clouds and shone on their faces. The three squinted slightly, gazing at the Konoha team and the scenery that awaited them in the distance.
The dense canopy of trees, layer upon layer, resembles flowing emerald waves, rippling with golden and green hues in the early autumn breeze.
Four stone-carved faces on Shadow Rock cast shadows looking down, and a giant wall tens of meters high embraced the entire Leaf Village. The banners of shops on both sides of the road swayed in the wind.
The whole world was high-spirited and bright, and the clamor of voices carried flower petals and a gentle breeze of clean air, warming me from head to toe.
The same thought simultaneously popped into the minds of the three Cloud Village ninjas.
Konoha was indeed as prosperous and wealthy as the rumors had said.
Prosperity and wealth can breed greed and envy.
The Land of Lightning, where their Hidden Cloud Village is located, is built on towering mountains. It is sparsely populated and, apart from having some decent electricity resources, is very poor in resources, just like the countries where the other three ninja villages are located.
Only the Land of Fire, where Konoha is located, can be said to occupy the most resource-rich region in the entire ninja world. It is situated in a hilly area with a mild climate, abundant sunshine, plentiful arable land, a developed economy, and a large population. It is also located in the central transportation hub of the ninja world continent.
Konoha Village is only named "village" and is more like an administrative division. Its actual land area should be called a "city-state". The villagers live in Konoha their whole lives and never step outside the border. They are self-sufficient and live a good life solely based on Konoha's resources.
Hundreds of people die every year in Kumogakure due to lightning strikes, and all resources, including ninjutsu, must be seized and taken with lives...
Jealousy burned like a flame in their hearts, searing the chests of the three Cloud Village ninjas.
"If Azaburo and Lord Raikage's plan succeeds, could Kumogakure also share in this prosperous Konoha...?"
The three Cloud Village ninjas exchanged glances, all seeing the greed in each other's eyes.
The Hyuga main family generally does not leave the village casually, and even if they do, they are always accompanied and protected by Jonin from the branch family.
This makes it very difficult for other villages to capture any living members of the Hyuga clan. Even if they do capture a branch family member, the main family's Byakugan can be remotely destroyed by the [Caged Bird] curse seal.
However, during the Third Shinobi World War, the situation changed.
A Kirigakure Jonin named Ao suddenly obtained a Byakugan and easily completed the Byakugan transplant surgery, greatly enhancing his reconnaissance and support abilities and overall strength.
From then on, all the major ninja villages also learned the difference between the Byakugan and the Sharingan.
Just like the styles of the Uchiha and Hyuga, the Sharingan is relatively domineering, while the Byakugan is gentler and more adaptable to the body.
In the underground black market, the bounty for a single white eye has reached 35 million taels.
What the Hidden Cloud Village lacks most right now is not ninjutsu, but powerful bloodline limits like the Byakugan and Sharingan.
They couldn't get the Sharingan; even the Cloud Village didn't want to mess with those mad dogs from the Uchiha clan.
But if it's Hinata...
There are only three possible outcomes for this plan.
The best outcome would be a successful plan, a safe escape, and Kumogakure obtaining the Hyuga clan's bloodline.
However, it is almost impossible to kidnap hostages from the Hyuga clan's territory.
But it doesn't matter. If the plan fails, they will deliberately die at the hands of the Hyuga clan members, and then use this as an excuse to force Konoha to hand over the "culprit," or else they will start a war.
If Konoha were to hand over the murderer from the Hyuga clan, it would not only cause conflict between Konoha's conservatives and radicals, but also sow discord between the Hyuga clan and the Hokage faction, while simultaneously depleting Konoha's manpower.
Even if the Third Hokage agrees to go to war, according to their intelligence, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki died in the Nine-Tails' rampage, Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, defected, and Jiraiya and Tsunade were missing.
With Konoha's power weakened to this extent, Kumogakure naturally has no reason to fear the current state of Konoha.
Success means obtaining the Hyuga clan's bloodline; failure means having a legitimate reason to wage war.
Either way, it would be advantageous for the Hidden Cloud Village.
The price they pay won't be too high; at most, it'll be their three lives.
While the three were observing Konoha, the people of Konoha were also observing them.
"Three Jonin?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his slightly narrowed eyes, knowing this was the standard configuration for an envoy delegation. The last trace of caution he had shown quietly dissipated, and he nodded slightly, saying, "Go, Rena."
"Yes, Lord Sandai."
The girl Reina, holding a bouquet of fresh, dewy flowers in her arms, ran towards the Cloud Village envoys in the distance, her long, golden ponytail rising and falling with her steps in the sunlight.
Welcome to Konoha.
She handed the flowers in her arms to the leading Cloud Village ninja. After a polite handshake, she smiled and said, "Please call me Rena. I will accompany you throughout your itinerary for the next few days."
The girl didn't have any distinctive clan insignia on her body, and she looked like just a young female ninja, or even a ninja at all.
"Thank you." The leader, a Jonin from Kumogakure named "Yurui," returned a smile and said in a gentle tone, "Then please take good care of me, Miss Reina."
Wearing high heels and running at a fast pace indicates excellent balance.
The calluses on his hands have clearly been trimmed, indicating he is likely skilled with swords and similar weapons.
besides...
"An ANBU ninja?" Yurui thought calmly, "It seems that getting rid of surveillance won't be easy."
While they were thinking, they had already walked to the front of the group in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen Sarutobi took the initiative to extend his hand and shake hands firmly with Yurui.
Yurui's first impression was that he was strong and powerful, not at all like an old man who was leading a large group of people in his twilight years.
It's as if a fire is burning within that decaying shell, still radiating a terrifying power that commands respect.
Is this the Third Hokage of Konoha?
Yurui's mood darkened further, but he had no hesitation about what he was about to do.
"May this alliance agreement comfort all the lives lost in the war."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took out the pre-arranged alliance agreement, smiled gently, and unfurled a meter-long scroll on the table in front of him.
"Lord Raikage also hopes that the two countries can usher in a long period of peace and tranquility."
Yurui also took out the seal of the Fourth Raikage from his pocket and stamped it on the scrolls of the two countries placed side by side.
Click.
Seeing the seal firmly imprinted, Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The crowd erupted in even louder cheers, and more flower petals were suddenly scattered from both sides of the street, landing on the shoulders of the people below.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yurui locked eyes, simultaneously extending their hands to clasp each other, both wearing the same formulaic smiles.
"Please follow me." Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the scroll, turned slightly to the side to lead the way, and smiled, "I hope you all have a good time in Konoha."
What followed was some private discussion.
Seeing that the teams from Konoha and Kumogakure had already left, Hyuga Kumokawa's eyes flickered slightly in the crowd.
After glancing at Might Guy, who had long since been dispersed by the crowd and was now enthusiastically discussing something with others, Hinata Kumokawa's figure quietly disappeared into the crowd.
After watching this farcical scene of the weasel paying New Year's greetings to the chicken, it's time to go back and prepare for tonight's operation.
At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi and several clan leaders walked toward the Hokage Building, introducing the clan leaders to the three Cloud Village ninja along the way.
However, not hearing the Hyuga clan's name, Yurui's face showed a hint of doubt, and he asked, "I have long heard of the Hyuga clan's reputation, but where is their clan leader?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat surprised that he would ask so directly. He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Excuse me, the Hyuga clan head wanted to come, but today is his daughter's third birthday, the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family. It's very important to the Hyuga clan, so..."
"I understand." Yurui smiled, seemingly unconcerned. "It seems today is indeed a good day."
However, the two Cloud Village ninjas behind him clearly did not have his composure. Upon hearing this, they subconsciously exchanged a glance, their eyes burning with fervor.
It really happened today!
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