Chapter 484: Attacking Konoha's Strongest Taijutsu
"Before we decide whether to cooperate, I hope everyone will consider one question," Mugetsu said.
"What is the Shinobi Sect's most important mission at this stage?"
The atmosphere fell into a deep hush. Every shinobi present lowered their gaze, thinking hard about the question Mugetsu had thrown to them.
The most important mission… to do better than the ancient Shinobi Sect and bring eternal peace to the ninja world? Yahiko's mind went straight to the sect's ultimate dream.
It was the greatest dream Yahiko had ever heard.
A world of peace, where everyone lived as equals, understood one another, and no longer carried hatred.
Yahiko shook his head. That dream was grand, inspiring, and beautiful, but it was also too far away right now. There were too many problems to solve, and it was not something that could be achieved quickly.
As the silence stretched on, low whispers began to spread.
"The current mission cannot possibly be overthrowing the daimyo, right? That would just make the Land of Rain even more chaotic."
More voices joined in, and the murmurs gradually grew louder.
"Nagato," Mugetsu spoke again, calling him out. "Why don't you share your thoughts?"
Nagato slowly stood. His expression carried hesitation.
He felt Mugetsu should have asked Yahiko instead. Yahiko was far better at speaking in front of people than he was.
But when Nagato met Mugetsu's encouraging gaze, he drew a deep breath. The uncertainty on his face eased. He could not disappoint Mugetsu.
"I believe the Shinobi Sect's most important mission at this stage is to restore peace to the Land of Rain," Nagato said first, stating his conclusion.
"The Land of Rain is unbelievably chaotic right now for many reasons, and that chaos has become fertile ground for ninja organizations of all sizes.
"Those organizations make the situation even messier, turning the Land of Rain into a mixed bag of forces. On top of that, shinobi from the Great Villages keep operating here. The people of the Land of Rain live in constant fear every day. For a country, that is tragedy."
Nagato continued, speaking from the heart.
"We need to handle the domestic ninja organizations in an orderly way, drive out every foreign shinobi carrying out ninja activities in the Land of Rain, and eliminate the rogue ninja who are running wild.
"Only by clearing out the elements that create chaos can the Land of Rain return to true peace. And only after that can the Shinobi Sect keep moving forward."
After saying so much in one breath, Nagato carefully looked around, paying special attention to Mugetsu and Yahiko's expressions.
This was what Nagato truly believed. His parents had died in war. He understood better than anyone how precious peace was, and how rare it was for the Land of Rain.
Yahiko immediately clapped, loud and enthusiastic. "Nagato, that was amazing! Restoring peace is the urgent task. Everything else can be put aside for now!"
Yahiko had been thinking the same thing, even if the details in his head were a little different from Nagato's.
The rest of the shinobi followed Yahiko's lead and began clapping as well, clearly agreeing.
"The Land of Rain has been chaotic for too long. Everyone wants peace. If we can bring peace back, our Shinobi Sect will definitely gain huge support."
Mugetsu nodded. "We have to take things one step at a time. We cannot forget our ultimate goal, but we must face reality. Restoring peace to the Land of Rain is what we should be doing most right now."
Mugetsu did not know how the ultimate dream would ever truly be achieved, so he did not let himself chase something too distant. For now, he would do what was within his power.
Hearing Mugetsu approve, Nagato could not help showing a faint smile before sitting down again.
With the goal made clear, whether to cooperate with Amegakure became a simpler question.
Could the Shinobi Sect cooperate with Amegakure to restore peace to the Land of Rain?
Most of the Shinobi Sect's members were people born and raised in the Land of Rain. Even if they sometimes complained about Hanzo's inaction, none of them could deny Amegakure's role here.
Without Amegakure, the Land of Rain would be several times more chaotic than it already was.
There were countries in the ninja world that could maintain peace without relying on ninja power, but the Land of Rain could never become that kind of place. It bordered three major nations and sat in a rare strategic position.
"Amegakure has a large number of Rain shinobi, and we have strong individuals like Sōsuke. If the Shinobi Sect truly cooperates with Amegakure, we might form a force even the Great Nations would not dare underestimate," one Sect shinobi said, realizing the possibility.
If that happened, the warring Great Nations would grow wary of the Land of Rain's strength and would not provoke it easily. The Land of Rain could seize that breathing room to resolve its internal problems.
"If Amegakure genuinely cooperates with us, the Land of Rain's power will reach an unprecedented peak." Yahiko gradually leaned toward cooperation.
Even though he had nearly died at Hanzo's hands, Yahiko believed he could set aside personal grudges for a greater dream and cooperate with Hanzo.
Most of the Shinobi Sect shinobi slowly tilted toward the same conclusion.
They did not like Hanzo, but they wanted the Land of Rain to return to peace.
Kakuzu's expression did not change. To him, the focus of this matter was not Rain shinobi, but Iwagakure as the persuader.
Still, Kakuzu believed that old fox Sōsuke would not miss that point. He was not in a hurry to speak.
"Personally, I think cooperation with Amegakure is possible," Mugetsu said, finally giving his view. "But there is one prerequisite and one key point.
"The prerequisite is equal cooperation. We need equal status with Amegakure. Amegakure must recognize the Shinobi Sect's legitimacy."
Mugetsu had already seen through Iwagakure's intentions. If they wanted the Land of Rain to become a weapon aimed at Konoha, Iwagakure would pay a price to make it happen.
Hanzo, trapped in a difficult position, also needed to ease relations with the Shinobi Sect. He would pay a price too.
As long as the Shinobi Sect agreed to cooperate, and as long as the demands were not outrageously excessive, Iwagakure and Amegakure would do everything they could to fulfill them.
This was a rare opportunity for the Shinobi Sect. If they could secure semi official standing, their future actions would become far more convenient.
"The key point is that this must be phased cooperation, and it can only be phased cooperation," Mugetsu continued. "A truly peaceful Land of Rain does not need Amegakure and the Shinobi Sect to coexist."
For the Shinobi Sect, Rain shinobi were potential recruits, but Amegakure itself had to perish.
The Shinobi Sect needed Amegakure now because the current Amegakure was useful for maintaining peace. But once the Shinobi Sect developed enough power, the coexistence of two major ninja forces would become a hidden danger to peace.
"Tsk. As expected, there's a catch," Kakuzu muttered with a look that said, I knew it.
He never believed Mugetsu would simply let go of an Amegakure that had nearly destroyed the Shinobi Sect.
Mugetsu called it cooperation, but in reality it was a delaying tactic. Before their strength was sufficient, they would coexist. Once their strength was enough, they would crush Amegakure outright.
"If that's the case, cooperation has real potential." Ikechou felt Mugetsu's idea was perfect.
The Shinobi Sect had strong top tier fighters, but in other aspects it was still just a medium sized organization. A Shinobi Sect like that could not replace Amegakure's role in maintaining stability across the Land of Rain.
No matter how strong Mugetsu and the others were, they could not act as a thousand shinobi on their own. A sufficient number of low and mid level ninja were essential for national stability.
When the final vote was taken, most supported cooperation.
After confirming the decision, Mugetsu relayed the Shinobi Sect's demands to Kitsuchi.
Cooperation was possible, but the relationship had to be equal. Neither side could order the other, and everything would be settled through discussion. At the same time, Amegakure had to recognize the Shinobi Sect's legitimacy in the Land of Rain, rather than treating them like just another minor ninja organization.
These are very reasonable demands, Kitsuchi thought, delight rising in his chest.
He was not afraid of demands. The only outcome he feared was the Shinobi Sect refusing cooperation entirely. That would make everything impossible.
Once the Shinobi Sect and Amegakure reached peace, Iwagakure could use a small trick to create the illusion that Konoha shinobi were targeting the Land of Rain.
At that point, with new and old grudges stacking together, the Rain shinobi would have no doubt about who they needed to fight.
Kitsuchi quickly rushed back to the leader's office in Amegakure and delivered the good news.
"Sōsuke understands your difficulties, Lord Hanzo," Kitsuchi said. "He is willing to cooperate, with only a few small demands."
Then Kitsuchi repeated Mugetsu's conditions.
After listening, Hanzo's face darkened.
Small demands?
A ninja organization of just over a hundred people wanted to stand as equals with Amegakure, and they wanted a status in the Land of Rain similar to an official ninja village.
In truth, the first part was not a serious problem for Hanzo. He could decide that himself.
Even if the treaty did not explicitly say equal, the Shinobi Sect would not obey him, and Rain shinobi would not obey Sōsuke. Writing equality into the agreement merely matched reality.
But the second part was different. Hanzo would have to discuss it with the daimyo, and it carried hidden dangers.
"This is a serious matter. I need to speak with the daimyo," Hanzo said at last. Even so, he still chose to accept the Shinobi Sect's proposal.
Whether he acknowledged them or not, the Shinobi Sect existed. If cooperation could improve their relationship, the outcome might change.
…
Konoha.
At the training ground, Might Guy was warming up with blazing excitement, while Teacher Chen sat across from him, reading a book.
With no immediate rivals left in the disciple infighting, Guy had set his own instructor as his next target.
Teacher Chen's taijutsu was not truly the absolute strongest in Konoha, but he was considered among the most formidable taijutsu users. If Guy could defeat him, Guy believed he would take a huge step toward his goal.
"Genma, do you think Guy has a chance to win?" Ebisu asked the chunin beside him.
On the East Bank battlefield, the sight of Guy furiously opening the Fifth Gate and using Rock Breathing Chakra Mode to fight four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was still vivid in Ebisu's mind. Even if the opponent was Teacher Chen, a man known as Konoha's strongest taijutsu user, Ebisu did not believe Guy was helpless.
Genma could not help asking again, voice tight with anticipation.
Ebisu pushed up the sunglasses on his nose. "Hard to say. Teacher Chen has extremely rich taijutsu experience. If they really fight, Guy may not gain any advantage."
Guy was strong, but Ebisu still felt the seasoned Teacher Chen would win.
"If he really wins, that would be insane." Genma felt the unfairness of the world again. "Wouldn't he be able to take the title of strongest taijutsu user from Teacher Chen?"
Back on the East Bank battlefield, in the seven person squad, only they were still chunin now.
Clap.
As Guy finished warming up, Teacher Chen closed his book, put it away, and stepped into a fighting stance.
"Guy, you're already a jonin," Teacher Chen said, eyes calm. "I won't hold back."
Teacher Chen felt complicated emotions.
From the bell test alone, he had seen Guy's taijutsu talent and known Guy would eventually surpass him. But he had not expected Guy to grow this quickly.
At eleven years old, Guy already had the strength to challenge him.
"A battle of youth must be fought with all your might!" Guy beamed, his teeth flashing bright white, and gave Teacher Chen a thumbs up.
Teacher Chen smiled back. He was truly proud to have a disciple like Guy.
"Begin!" Ebisu shouted once he saw both of them ready.
"Eight Gates, Fifth Gate, Gate of Limit, open!" Facing Teacher Chen, Guy did not dare be careless for even a moment. He went straight into the Fifth Gate.
Guy knew Teacher Chen's strength. A powerful physique and masterful taijutsu.
Without the Eight Gates, he was not qualified to exchange blows with him.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Both of them burst out in the same instant, chakra surging as their bodies blurred forward.
Their figures tangled together in a storm of hooks and hand chops. Then they split apart at the same time, sweeping into simultaneous whirlwind kicks.
Bang. Bang.
Fists and feet crashed again and again, fierce as a squall. The airflow from their collisions made the leaves above them tremble and rustle loudly.
Genma and Ebisu could not see their movements at all. Every time they thought they caught one, it turned out to be nothing more than an afterimage.
"As expected of Teacher Chen!" Guy laughed loudly, even as several parts of his body burned with pain.
On the surface, they looked evenly matched. In reality, Guy was losing.
He had not landed a clean hit, while Teacher Chen had already struck him several times.
Fighting Teacher Chen reminded Guy of his first battle with Transparent World Kakashi.
Every attack was read. Every feint was useless. He could only take hits.
The difference was method.
Kakashi saw through attacks using Transparent World. Teacher Chen relied on decades of accumulated taijutsu experience.
Guy knew he could not continue like this. He had to use his trump card.
He silently closed the Fifth Gate. Then he focused his breathing to the extreme and entered Rock Breathing Chakra Mode.
The moment it activated, Guy's aura surged. His physical strength and speed climbed rapidly.
Teacher Chen's eyes narrowed. He gathered more chakra as well.
Whoosh.
Guy moved like a green streak shooting straight at Teacher Chen.
Bang.
Teacher Chen caught Guy's punch in his palm, steady and controlled.
This level was still within his range.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
The shockwave from fist and palm forced both of their hair backward. Teacher Chen grabbed Guy's fist and flung him away.
"Leaf Dragon God!"
Guy twisted in midair, grabbed a branch, and landed cleanly. Then he gathered a massive amount of chakra, unleashing the signature taijutsu that had made Teacher Chen famous throughout Konoha.
.....
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