"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 221: Friendship Forever
"Lord Yūshin, you mentioned falling into deep sleep before awakening—does this signify something?"
In Nara Shūji's understanding, Yūshin had always been someone who combined intelligence with decisive action. Such a person would never sleep or awaken without reason.
Regardless of how much Nara Shūji's perception idealized Yūshin, his current assessment was accurate... Yūshin truly hadn't awakened without purpose.
"I appear to have a war to fight. Nothing more."
Yūshin had experienced countless events throughout his life. From a struggling ninja, he'd grown—through fate and circumstance—to his current level. At this point, not attempting to reach the Six Paths level would be almost inappropriate.
"War... Lord Yūshin, have you detected some conspiracy brewing in the Shinobi World?"
Nara Shūji was startled. The Shinobi World had seemed peaceful these recent years, yet as time passed, inexplicable unease had begun growing within his heart.
He harbored ominous premonitions, so upon hearing Yūshin's words, he assumed this was a case of great minds thinking alike.
"This has nothing to do with Konoha, the Land of Fire, or even the Shinobi World. It's merely a personal skirmish of mine... Forget it, the explanation is complicated. Just consider it a scientific experiment I'm conducting."
Yūshin quickly deflected the topic concerning himself, as such matters shouldn't be discussed... Nara Shūji was an old friend, so Yūshin had inadvertently let it slip.
"However, your concerns aren't groundless. Forty years have passed since Konoha's founding, eighteen since the First Shinobi World War..."
"You seem somewhat uneasy, and I can guess the source of that unease—though each nation has been managing its own affairs these past years, development between different countries has reached extremely unbalanced proportions."
"Poverty breeds cunning schemes. During the First Shinobi World War, the Land of Fire wasn't particularly prominent, but as time progressed and national strength developed, the Land of Fire became increasingly conspicuous... The Land of Fire's prosperity could very well become a catalyst for war."
Currently, for nations outside the Land of Fire, the international situation had reached a "neighbor hoards grain, I hoard weapons" state. Though the Land of Fire wasn't deliberately stockpiling, to surrounding countries it appeared extraordinarily wealthy... The natural conditions of the territory the First Hokage had claimed were simply too favorable.
The First Shinobi World War's direct cause was the First Hokage's death, but the war's origin was Iwagakure, fighting to restore the Land of Earth's territory.
Iwagakure's rebellion was actually against their own "unfair treatment"—they weren't resisting the Shinobi World order designed by the First Hokage. In fact, post-war Iwagakure actively maintained this system... One country, one village, each independent—Iwagakure recognized this principle.
If another Shinobi World War erupted, the purpose would likely be simple plunder... When someone is extraordinarily wealthy, others inevitably want to take a bite.
"Sigh, the Land of Fire can hardly cease development to avoid making others envious, can it?"
Nara Shūji felt helpless regarding war and its potential causes.
The Land of Fire's current system could roughly be considered "advanced" feudalism. With such a foundation, one could hardly expect the daimyō or his government to formulate excellent development or economic policies, right?
They lacked that capability, understand?
The Land of Fire was more prosperous than other nations purely due to superior geographical conditions—scatter seeds in the ground and agricultural yields would exceed other countries regardless of care. What was there to discuss?
So, if the Land of Fire disappeared, wouldn't all other nations become the Land of Fire?
This territory had already become a target for all.
"Lord Yūshin, when do you think war will break out?" Nara Shūji asked.
"Who can say with certainty? The previous Shinobi World War erupted in Konoha's twenty-second year. Counting forward another twenty years, the next Shinobi World War might occur in Konoha's forty-second year." Yūshin answered according to the original timeline.
Forty-two—a number containing the universe's ultimate secrets. Having a major war in such a year for excitement wasn't excessive, was it?
Just as Yūshin made this bold prediction, a ninja hurried from the distance, rushing into the cemetery and reaching Nara Shūji's side instantly.
"Lord Shūji, urgent matter—the village has summoned you for a meeting."
Yūshin paused momentarily. No way—was the Shinobi World War about to erupt immediately?
Nara Shūji glanced at the ninja, then at Yūshin beside him... Wait, the messenger was a Fireflies ninja—why wasn't he greeting Lord Yūshin?
Yūshin had simply cast a minor genjutsu, rendering himself invisible to the messenger... He wasn't certain whether his "resurrection" would agitate certain individuals, so he temporarily chose concealment.
"Don't panic. First, explain what happened."
Judging by the messenger's demeanor, Nara Shūji knew something unfortunate had occurred. If war had truly erupted, he'd be compelled to attend the meeting.
"It's the daimyō. Lord Shimizu Kiyosuke, founding daimyō of the Land of Fire, passed away last night," the ninja reported.
Nara Shūji's raised foot settled back down. The daimyō's death was certainly significant, yet this was the type of event that appeared momentous but wasn't actually substantial. For such domestic affairs, Shūji had no intention of participating.
"Inform the leadership that I've retired. Let them handle such national matters... I won't attend the meeting."
Nara Shūji spoke diplomatically—if this were truly a national crisis, could he remain here peacefully?
"Lord Shimizu? Life is indeed unpredictable. When I last saw him, I felt he could live another thirty years, yet he survived barely ten... The daimyō's death—you've confirmed no human factors were involved?"
Yūshin was momentarily stunned before accepting this reality. After all, Shimizu Kiyosuke's life had been perfect, completely without regret—his death could be considered a joyous passing... Living to approximately seventy was already impressive for a daimyō.
The messenger didn't respond to Yūshin's question, so Nara Shūji repeated it.
"The daimyō remained under our personnel's protection throughout. Natural death has been confirmed."
Shimizu Kiyosuke had no reason to be assassinated. Only his son possessed motive, but his son lacked such courage.
"I won't participate in the meeting, but I'll offer the Hokage a suggestion: dispatch the highest-caliber medical team to confirm the daimyō's cause of death with absolute certainty... Go."
"Yes, Lord Shūji."
After the ninja departed, Yūshin continued:
"A peaceful natural death? Lord Shimizu enjoyed good fortune throughout his life."
On Yūshin's "died happily" ranking, Shimizu Kiyosuke would certainly surpass Tobirama Senju.
"Lord Shimizu's life was indeed without regret. This is where he surpassed all ninja," Nara Shūji also sighed.
"I cannot participate in official matters, but the daimyō's death is deeply sorrowful. Both emotionally and rationally, I should pay my respects..."
He hadn't expected their previous farewell to become eternal. As old friends, based on their friendship, Yūshin should help ensure the daimyō's grave was properly positioned—that the diggers hadn't skewed it.
"Lord Yūshin, I'll accompany you as a gesture of respect..."
Though Yūshin had the closest relationship with the daimyō, after Konoha and the Land of Fire's establishment, Nara Shūji had actually conducted most dealings with the daimyō. He also fell within the "emotional and rational" category.
More importantly, Nara Shūji had nothing else to occupy his retirement.
"Very well, let's go together."
These two old survivors prepared to help supervise their old friend's burial project, ensuring the daimyō's tomb wouldn't become shoddy construction... The daimyō hadn't befriended them in vain.
Truly friendship forever.
Speaking of which, though the daimyō died "naturally," Yūshin's awakening and immediate activity in the Shinobi World coinciding with the daimyō's death made one wonder if the daimyō had been "cursed to death."
"Foolish Daimyō" Shimizu Kiyosuke was renowned across all nations as a relatively accomplished ruler—an exemplary daimyō. News of his death spread rapidly, becoming a significant topic of discussion.
With this, all first-generation daimyōs of various nations had perished. Shimizu Kiyosuke was the last.
Several days later, Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
The previous war's defeat remained Sunagakure's humiliation. For twenty years, they'd continuously accumulated strength, seeking to wash away that shame.
Particularly since the First Kazekage abdicated and the Second Kazekage assumed power, Sunagakure had nearly fallen into militant extremism.
Everyone knows that militant extremism eventually crushes itself, and when they approached collapse, enormous internal pressure would rapidly transform into external aggression motivation... They were entering "Naizu-to" mode.
Kazekage office building, conference room.
Using the Land of Fire daimyō's death as pretext, Sunagakure's leadership was convening.
Besides Second Kazekage Shamon, Kazekage candidate Kamakura, the Chiyo couple, Ebizō, Maku, and others, some village "promising young talents" also attended as observers... For instance, eighteen-year-old Magnet Release user Rasa, skilled at gold mining.
Young ninja present here could be viewed as Sunagakure's future hope, reflecting the village's recognition. However, future was future, present was present—currently they only had meeting attendance rights, not opinion expression rights.
Counting roughly, current Sunagakure could be considered talent-rich.
"The Land of Fire daimyō is dead. This is definitely an opportunity."
"How is this an opportunity? It's not like the Hokage died."
"The daimyō's death will at least affect Land of Fire central government and Konoha's supply allocation, right? If the new daimyō opposes Konoha, that would be even better."
"Regardless, military-political friction requiring adjustment is certain."
"The daimyō's death is significant, at least convenient for finding excuses—like the Hokage secretly assassinating the daimyō."
"Currently Konoha's strength represents its historically weakest period. That Nara Shūji has also retired due to illness."
"He's not worth concern—consider his age."
After mentioning Nara Shūji, the Second Kazekage couldn't help shifting his position.
He had no personal connection with Nara Shūji, yet Nara Shūji was the ninja he most detested in life. The reason was simple... After painstakingly developing the Puppet Technique, before he could celebrate, he discovered someone had preceded him.
Too infuriating—he'd transformed from original technique inventor to knockoff practitioner.
The Second Kazekage, in his fifties with strength still at its peak, compared to the First Kazekage's wise and imposing image, presented an unacceptable appearance... He resembled a street thug, complete with facial tattoos.
Summarizing Sunagakure leadership's discussion, they'd already prepared for war.
Puzzlingly, their hatred target was Iwagakure, yet their primary combat objective was Konoha.
This seemed unreasonable but was actually very logical.
Because...
Since they were fighting anyway, and war's purpose was acquiring "land under the sun," how could the Land of Earth's territory compare to the Land of Fire's?
No comparison existed—warfare also required cost-effectiveness consideration.
In Sunagakure's view, Konoha's strong had aged or died, posing no threat. At this moment, the Kazekage only wanted to whisper to the Hokage: "You're easier to defeat than Iwagakure."
Well, though Sunagakure leadership wouldn't admit it, they were somewhat fearful of Dust Release.
External evaluations of Konoha were indeed declining annually—now only describable as "generational transition gap."
But in reality? Konoha's younger generation had already matured, simply lacking battlefield proof.
For example: Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade.
Also, Hagūgen Aoi, who disdained his father's strength but actually resembled him in character and style.
These young people needed only several battles to easily step onto the Kage level.
Not to mention Hagūgen Aoi—both Jiraiya and Tsunade had been "catalyzed" by Yūshin, while Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru, born from the Fireflies, had countless people training them through various methods in childhood.
Hatake Sakumo needed only several blade draws to become the "Cutting King," and Orochimaru, seeing teammates' progress, would naturally seek self-improvement methods.
However, compared to Konoha, Sunagakure wasn't much inferior, yet warfare often resulted in "missing by a hair, erring by a thousand miles."
"One final question: if we take action, what's the First Kazekage's opinion?" Kamakura suddenly asked.
Kamakura, who possessed Magnet Release, obviously originated from the Kujō clan, thus naturally respecting First Kazekage Retto's opinion.
"Given the First's age, he's long since lacked energy for village affairs. Let him peacefully enjoy retirement," Chiyo said.
Chiyo's weapons were the Puppet Technique and toxins—obviously the Second Kazekage's disciple, naturally prioritizing the Second Kazekage's opinions.
Chiyo's opinion was truly excellent—excellent because she and her family would soon perform the "love at first sight with White Fang" scene.
But her statement wasn't wrong. Deep within Sunagakure, the reclusive First Kazekage had aged beyond recognition.
He knew the village's prevailing winds, had expressed opposition to attacking the Land of Fire, but facing the village's boiling public sentiment, what effect could his aged, power-distant conservative opinion achieve?
"Sigh..."
Retto leaned on his walking stick, gazing toward distant sandstorms.
So-called "friendship forever" actually manifested in two forms.
Shimizu Kiyosuke had demonstrated one situation.
Kujō Retto was about to demonstrate another.
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