Chapter 51: Counterfeit Peace
Is Sarutobi Hiruzen angry?
Definitely. After all, the ultimate weapon, the Kyūbi Jinchūriki, was almost stolen.
It would be strange if Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't furious.
But, would Sarutobi Hiruzen really go to war with Kumogakure?
At this time, Sarutobi Hiruzen was starting to become somewhat moderate.
He believed everything he did...
...was for Konoha.
Little did he know that this mediocrity would be Konoha's downfall.
"Ahem! As for going to war, let's forget it!"
Retracting his anger, Sarutobi Hiruzen said with an awkward smile.
"Lord Hokage?"
Hatake Sakumo was a bit stunned. Did those words really come from Sarutobi Hiruzen?
"Sakumo! You must understand, the Second Shinobi World War has just passed. Konoha truly cannot afford another war!"
"...Alright!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's reasoning was sound.
Even if Hatake Sakumo felt somewhat bewildered, he couldn't say much.
Hatake Sakumo just felt that Sarutobi Hiruzen's mentality seemed to have become cowardly.
He didn't know if it was just his imagination.
"Mm!"
Seeing Hatake Sakumo was convinced, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
Only then did he look towards Uzumaki Kushina.
After all, as the person involved, Kushina needed to be appeased.
"Kushina, you must understand, what Konoha needs most right now is peace!"
"But rest assured, after Konoha has had time to rest and recover, this old man will definitely demand an answer from Kumogakure for this incident!"
Words like an empty promise.
It wasn't the first time Sarutobi Hiruzen had said such things.
He was completely used to it.
It mainly depended on whether they believed it or not; anyway, that's what he said.
"Mhm! I understand!"
Uzumaki Kushina indeed did not suspect anything.
Perhaps in Kushina's eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen really was just a kind old grandfather.
"Good child!"
Seeing Kushina like this, Sarutobi Hiruzen also smiled in satisfaction.
However, Aoyama Ryūun, standing at the side, glanced casually at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
This old guy is gradually losing the demeanor of the God of Shinobi.
It probably won't be long...
...before Sarutobi Hiruzen becomes that Third Hokage who strikes hard internally but is submissive externally.
I really don't know what the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama...
...saw in Sarutobi Hiruzen.
...
After that, the matter was settled just like that.
Regardless of Konoha's side or Kumogakure's side,
It was as if the incident had never happened; both sides remained silent.
Aoyama Ryūun didn't care about this at all.
In the following period,
Aside from having Kushina as a little follower sticking to him,
Aoyama Ryūun's life didn't change much.
The Second Shinobi World War completely ended, and the ninja world calmed down because of it.
It seemed as if it had entered an era of true peace.
...
In the blink of an eye, four years passed just like that.
The ninja world was peaceful for four years, and nothing major happened.
The synchronization rate became harder to increase the higher it got.
After four years,
Aoyama Ryūun's synchronization rate had only increased from seventy percent to eighty percent.
It looked good, but Aoyama Ryūun was a little dissatisfied.
After all, at this speed, reaching one hundred percent was still far away.
"Hey Ryūun, let's drink!"
Inside a private room at a Konoha yakiniku restaurant.
Jiraiya laughed loudly, holding a cup of sake, and looked at Aoyama Ryūun opposite him.
"No!"
Shrugging, Aoyama Ryūun retracted his stray thoughts.
Today was the day the Sannin gathered. The Konoha Sannin and Aoyama Ryūun were all present.
In addition, there was Kushina, the follower, and Namikaze Minato.
At this time, Namikaze Minato had been accepted as a disciple by Jiraiya.
As expected of the commoner genius who was the top student during his time at the Ninja Academy.
As soon as he graduated, Namikaze Minato displayed ninja talent far surpassing ordinary people.
He learned everything quickly.
And he possessed a considerable ability to create his own ninjutsu.
Jiraiya was very satisfied with this disciple.
He once thought that Namikaze Minato was the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage, who would save the ninja world.
"Kushina, don't drink alcohol, have some juice!"
Namikaze Minato and Kushina were both juniors, so they naturally sat together.
Watching Kushina's carefree actions of eating barbecue and drinking sake,
Namikaze Minato couldn't help but advise her.
However, regarding Namikaze Minato's words,
Kushina said directly,
"None of your damn business, I like to drink!"
Don't mention it. After spending so much time with Tsunade, she hadn't learned many good habits, but she had learned almost all the bad ones.
Of course, it seemed Tsunade herself didn't have many good habits.
"Tch!"
Seeing Namikaze Minato's hesitant appearance, Kushina was even more dissatisfied.
She moved directly to sit next to Aoyama Ryūun.
"Ryūun, let's drink together!"
Her tone was completely different from when she spoke to Namikaze Minato. When talking to Aoyama Ryūun, Kushina had a hint of coquettishness.
"Call me 'brother-in-law'! Don't call me Ryūun!"
Rolling his eyes, Aoyama Ryūun said grumpily.
You're Tsunade's sister, calling me by my name directly messes up the seniority.
"I don't want to!"
Kushina had heard the same words countless times.
But, that's that.
Whether I listen or not is my business.
"..."
Over these years, Aoyama Ryūun had gotten used to Kushina's presence.
He rolled his eyes and didn't say anything more.
At this time, Namikaze Minato, at the side, was also looking for a chance to talk to Kushina.
"Then Kushina, let me have a drink with you too!"
"Go drink your juice!"
Kushina shot him a glare.
Then she leaned generously against Aoyama Ryūun's side.
"..."
Namikaze Minato was a little dejected.
Jiraiya, watching this scene from not far away, couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Even a fool could see...
...that Namikaze Minato had a little crush on Kushina.
But, Kushina didn't seem to feel anything for him at all.
"This guy, he hasn't learned any of my high emotional intelligence!"
Jiraiya couldn't help but mutter, with a sense of disappointment, 'hating iron for not becoming steel'.
However, the others who heard his muttering couldn't help but laugh.
"Hehe!"
...
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