"At least we're finally here!" grumbled a voice, dripping with irritation. "This delay is entirely your fault, Lord Hanzo. You wasted so much time wandering around. If someone didn't know better, they might think you were collecting intelligence on the Grass Village."
As the words hung in the air, Hanzo of the Salamander, also known as Demi-god, turned his emotionless gaze toward the speaker, Yahiko. He replied with an air of calm, "And who's to say I wasn't gathering intelligence?"
He paid little heed to Yahiko's grumbling, instead focusing on the neat and well-maintained gates of the Hidden Grass Village. His masked eyes were filled with a complex array of emotions. The Grass Village was situated relatively close to the Rain Village, and Hanzo had opted for a slightly slower route to gain a firsthand understanding of the real situation of the Land of Grass.
The journey had not been in vain, it had even exceeded his expectations. Given the swindlings done by the Grass Village in the past, it was quite astonishing that just a few years later, there were no evident signs of turmoil. The roads were wide, the houses stood clean and neat, and the smiles worn by Grass Village civilians were genuine.
Though the lingering effects of the Ninja War were still apparent, coupled with the vigilant security of the Grass ninja, an overall atmosphere of tranquility prevailed. To the casual observer, there were no telltale signs of the once-warlike nature that had plagued the village.
At that moment, an elderly figure strolled toward them. It was none other than Yoshinori, the elder of the Grass Village, who had been anticipating their arrival.
Upon seeing the figure, the three young ninjas immediately relaxed and waved their hands in greeting. "Elder Yoshinori!" they exclaimed.
"Hahaha, you three are here? Where's Kakuzu?" Yoshinori inquired with a hearty laugh as he approached them.
"After arriving at the village, Kakuzu-senpai left, saying he still had to make money, and asked us to accompany Lord Hanzo," Konan replied, recalling Kakuzu's departure to tend to his financial affairs.
"It's true that Kakuzu just left the matter to you like this? Alright, you kids should return and rest. Leave this to me," Uzumaki Yoshinori nodded kindly.
He had already received a letter from their leader, so even though he was curious about why the Rain Village's leader was in the Grass Village at this time, he was prepared for 'The Leader of the Rain Village Visits the Grass Village.'
"Long time no see, Lord Hanzo. I will be your host during your stay," Yoshinori greeted warmly.
Hanzo nodded in acknowledgment and then glanced at Yahiko, who had let out a sigh of relief and walked away. Despite the friendly façade, Hanzo was well aware that the Grass Village's hospitality also served as a form of surveillance. However, he didn't mind. His identity was clear, and even if he went to the strongest village, Konoha, they wouldn't allow him to act freely.
"Do you require any rest, Lord Hanzo?" Yoshinori inquired. Normally, Mubuki would handle these matters as he was more experienced, but since he was currently in the Land of Rain, Yoshinori had taken on the responsibility for now.
Moreover, Akihiko had made it clear to them that Hanzo's visit was primarily for observation, and he wasn't expected to engage in any particular activities. Thus, it didn't seem like a particularly demanding task.
"No, I'm not tired yet. I'll take a walk around for now," Hanzo replied calmly, his masked eyes revealing a hint of complexity. "It's early, and I'd like to explore a bit."
"In that case, please, Lord Hanzo, feel free to wander," Yoshinori said, gesturing for him to proceed.
While the Grass Village had recently experienced a brief respite as many workers took a break due to the snowfall, it was now getting busy again. Moreover, Grass Village couldn't afford to be too lax when the leader of another village was visiting. They couldn't risk tarnishing the reputation of the Land of Grass.
As they strolled together, Hanzo's gaze swept over the clean and orderly village, and his sense of complexity deepened. Although the Ninja War and the presence of the Grass ninjas had created an undercurrent of tension, the overall atmosphere was surprisingly peaceful. It was hard to believe that this was the same Land of Grass that had caused so much trouble in the past.
Eventually, they reached the heart of the Grass Village, which was now blanketed in a thick layer of snow. Due to the wintry weather, the streets were mostly deserted. Hanzo couldn't help but notice the warm smiles on the villagers' faces as they went about their business, wrapped in cozy coats. Even the presence of ninjas didn't appear to disturb their tranquility.
Such smiles were only possible in an environment of peace and trust, a stark contrast to the Rain Village where civilians lived in constant fear, anxiety, and distress. The mere sight of a ninja would send shivers down their spines.
Hanzo remained silent, letting the snowflakes fall upon him as he observed the Grass Village's civilians who didn't have to endure the pangs of hunger and cold. His expression held a sense of hesitation, and he let out a deep sigh as said, "It hasn't been long since the Land of Grass began its reconstruction."
He could vividly recall the dire state of the Land of Grass years ago, a land marked by hunger, cold, and despair. It had been a harsh place, much like other small nations, if not worse.
"Almost ten years now," Yoshinori replied, recalling the information he had received. Akihiko had been barely 16 years old when he first embarked on his mission to end the turmoil in the Land of Grass. Now, almost a decade later, the results were evident. Moreover, It had been a little over seven to eight years since serious reconstruction efforts had begun.
"It's truly remarkable. In less than a decade, the Land of Grass not only recovered but has become even more prosperous than before. It has rekindled the spirit of its people," Hanzo continued, his gaze sweeping the surroundings as he murmured, "These well-maintained streets, orderly houses, and the genuine smiles on people's faces, you can't fake any of this."
As Hanzo's words settled, Yoshinori couldn't help but smile, responding with an admiring tone, "This is all thanks to our leader's guidance!"
His eyes seemed to drift into memories as he continued, "When the Land of Grass began its reconstruction, our leader devised a five-year plan, with a focus on improving people's lives, fostering development, and promoting progress. Although it was initially termed a five-year plan, it has continued uninterrupted to this day, with unwavering momentum." He let out a nostalgic sigh, "Regrettably, I missed the crucial first meeting that laid the foundation for it."
"A five-year plan?" Hanzo pondered, falling into a contemplative silence. Memories of his own ambitious past resurfaced. He remembered the time when he had risen to become a Demi-God in the ninja world, not long before he declared war against the Five Great Ninja Villages in pursuit of making the Land of Rain the sixth major village.
However, after defeating the Land of Iron and subsequently facing the combined might of the major nations, the Rain Village had ultimately been defeated. Even now, he yearned for an opportunity to engage in negotiations, but he never dared to provoke the Five Great Ninja Villages again. Was it because of his age? Fear? Perhaps both? Hanzo let out a deep sigh, lost in his thoughts. "Where did I go wrong?"
Yoshinori's words diverted the conversation away from Hanzo's contemplation. "Let's not dwell on that. Up ahead is the Grass Village's factory, which is quite similar to the one in the Rain Village, so I believe there's nothing particularly interesting for Lord Hanzo there."
He then pointed to the side. "And over there is the Grass Village's academy. It's the hope of the Grass Village. Even if the Grass Village faces difficulties, the children there won't be sent to the battlefield unless it's absolutely necessary. As our leader says, 'The Land of Grass hasn't been destroyed yet, so what are these kids doing on the battlefield?' Our leader truly has an exceptionally broad vision. He values not only the ninjas but every citizen of the Land of Grass. That's why the Uzumaki clan, the Chinoike clan, and the Yuki clan were welcomed and integrated into this village."
Hanzo remained silent, pondering Yoshinori's words. 'A broad vision, huh?'. There was a time when he believed he possessed such vision as well.
As they continued walking, Hanzo gazed up at the impressive academy building in the distance. It was both grand and aesthetically pleasing. 'The future of the Grass Village?'. Moreover, The presence of heavily guarded Grass Village ninjas around the academy made it clear that the village placed significant emphasis on education.
Hanzo sighed once more, admitting, "I am truly lacking. Even in this village, at this crucial time, they have dispatched so many ninjas to protect this place. I can feel the Grass Village's dedication to children and education."
However, at this point, Yoshinori's expression twitched slightly, and he hesitated before explaining, "Um... ordinarily, we wouldn't have sent so many ninjas. Today is just a special occasion, the final exams at the academy. We were worried about potential disruptions during the children's exams, so that's why we sent so many ninjas today."
Hanzo froze at Yoshinori's words. His face, which had shown emotions just moments ago, now seemed uncertain about how to react.