Amid the tumultuous chaos at the borders, the situation inside the Land of Grass remained notably calm. Thanks to Akihiko's strategic planning to counter the enemy's advances, the Land of Grass was spared from the external turmoil.
In contrast, the Land of Rain had been a battlefield for years, and the ongoing war only added to the pre-existing chaos in the region. This turmoil was nothing new for its inhabitants.
Despite the appearance of relative calm in the Land of Grass, the effects of the war still cast a shadow, creating an underlying atmosphere of unease. In response to the outbreak of conflict, strict management and control measures had been implemented. Entry and exit were closely regulated, but with organized governance and the cooperation of its residents, order was maintained, and the Grass Village remained a well-functioning community.
The people of the Grass Village placed their trust in their leader, the one who had brought stability to the Land of Grass and was now leading them in this formidable alliance with Rain Village against the four major ninja villages. Victory seemed not only possible but inevitable under his guidance.
The Land of Grass was experiencing a relatively mild summer day. Despite the season, it didn't seem excessively hot, and the temperature was quite comfortable. The influence of the ongoing war might have contributed to this unusual weather. Even at noon, the warmth was gentle and pleasant, accompanied by a soft, cooling breeze.
However, the appearance of calm in the Grass Village couldn't hide the underlying desolation caused by the war. Unified management decisions resulted in several factories and facilities ceasing their production. With the exception of essential personnel, everyone else was under strict orders to remain indoors.
Obito and Rin, upon arriving in the Grass Village, were taken aback by the scene. They received some brief instructions and faced various restrictions but were eventually granted entry into the village.
Obito and Rin didn't display any dissatisfaction with the strict regulations imposed by the Grass Village. They understood that these measures were necessary during wartime. As rogue ninjas from Konoha, they considered themselves fortunate not to be treated as enemies upon entering the village. The stringent requirements actually reassured them that the Grass Village harbored no ill intentions.
For Obito, learning that their arrangements were due to his teacher, Madara-sensei, was a reassuring factor. He obediently followed the Grass Village's orders, appreciating the unexpected help provided by Madara-sensei.
In fact, He had initially contemplated living with Madara, but given his status as a rogue ninja, he understood the perilous situation he was in. Consequently, he had also made plans to roam the Shinobi world with Rin. Little did he expect that Madara had already made preparations for them.
Surprisingly, as they ventured deeper into the Grass Village, they found an unexpected serenity. It was astonishingly peaceful inside the Land of Grass, even more so than the Konoha.
This was rather remarkable, considering the Land of Grass was a relatively small country surrounded by the four major ninja villages. One would typically expect such a place to be in complete chaos under the assault of these formidable powers. After all, smaller nations often struggled to maintain peace, as evidenced by the neighboring Land of Rain's turmoil.
But the Land of Grass defied those expectations, somehow managing to maintain an unprecedented level of calm despite the ongoing conflict. This was truly a remarkable feat.
"I never expected the Grass Village to have made such remarkable progress," Rin couldn't hide her surprise as she gazed upon the well-developed Grass Village. She hesitated for a moment and then continued, "I've heard from others that, even though the Land of Grass has been rebuilt, there are still a lot of internal issues among the Grass Ninjas, and the situation is quite chaotic."
As she spoke, Rin suddenly realized her own rudeness, and her face flushed with embarrassment. She quickly stuck out her tongue, bowed apologetically to the Grass Ninja guide, and said, "I'm so sorry!"
The Grass Ninja smiled in understanding and replied, "No need to apologize. We're aware that people from other ninja villages might have misunderstandings about us Grass Ninjas. In reality, we value peace more than anyone can think."
Obito and Rin exchanged glances, their expressions momentarily speechless. Their minds couldn't help but recollect the events with the five major ninja villages. Sardonically, they thought to themselves that the Grass Village did indeed seem to cherish peace, even going as far as staging fake battles. It's just that their approach had some rather risky elements to it.
The Grass Ninja who was guiding them politely explained some of the rules and procedures to Obito and Rin. He mentioned that there were areas where jutsu usage was prohibited and assured them that they could reach out to him for any questions or concerns during their stay. He also briefly touched upon the Security Department, which piqued Obito's curiosity.
Obito couldn't help but interject, "Security Department? Is it the same as Konoha's Security Department?"
However, the Grass Ninja quickly clarified, "Oh, I almost forgot about your identity. Don't worry, the Security Department here is different from Konoha's Security Department. It was established by our leader to protect the Grass Village's inhabitants. I can't explain it all here. You'll understand later."
He noticed the exhaustion on Obito and Rin's faces after their long journey and smiled sympathetically. "I can see that you must be tired after your travels. We'll arrange your accommodations first. As for school enrollment and transfers, please be aware that the academy is temporarily closed at the moment. We'll sort out those procedures when it's more convenient."
Obito and Rin, who had already graduated from their respective academies, felt a mix of anxiety and uncertainty about rejoining an academy, especially considering the ominous talk of immense homework mentioned by the red-haired young ninja earlier.
"Your dormitories are separate, with facilities for both boys and girls, but they are located in close proximity. If you wish to meet, it's convenient," the Grass Ninja stated with a warm smile. "However, you're still young, and we hope you'll focus on your studies and honor the goodwill of our leader."
Obito and Rin exchanged slightly awkward glances at the mention of the living arrangements. Obito, though his eyes hinted at a touch of regret, chuckled, "Haha, don't worry, it's nothing like that."
The Grass Ninja accepted their response, saying, "Very well, let's proceed." As he began to lead them toward the academy and the dormitories near the factories, something caught his attention. He noticed a young man with black hair quietly picking up trash on the street not far away. He couldn't help but remark, "Huh? It's only noon, and the sanitation workers are already at work? They really work so hard!"
However, as the Grass Ninja turned to Obito, he saw that Obito had become unusually excited and was now rapidly approaching the young man. His agitation was noticeable, and the Grass Ninja couldn't help but inquire, "Hey, what's wrong?"
Just as the Grass Ninja finished his question, Obito appeared to be inattentive to his words. With determination in his voice, Obito had already approached the young man and called out with a trembling voice, "Zetsu!"
At the sound of his name, Zetsu paused his work, looking in the direction of the voice with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Due to the ongoing war, the Land of Grass had been rather desolate, prompting him to seek work early in the day.
However, he hadn't anticipated Obito's return at this moment. His face immediately lit up with happiness as he exclaimed, "Obito, you're back?"
"I-I... I'm back!" Obito's eyes welled up with emotion as he looked at Zetsu standing before him, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
Zetsu's current appearance, while different from the original, was immediately recognized by Obito. It was clear that Zetsu had been making efforts to maintain an unthreatening appearance, possibly out of consideration for not alarming people during his work. So this guy had indeed been diligently collecting trash to support his studies and care for Madara.
He looked at the pile of garbage behind Zetsu. Upon seeing this, Obito couldn't help but express his concerns. "Zetsu, you don't have to collect trash," he said earnestly.
However, just as he finished speaking and before Zetsu could respond to Obito's words, a Grass Ninja burst in with an exhilarated expression, shouting, "Our leader single-handedly killed the Mist Village's Mizukage, repelled the invading Mist Ninjas. Then, he joined Lord Yoshinori, and had a fierce confrontation and drove off the Cloud Village's ninjas."
The Grass Ninja paused briefly to gauge the crowd's reaction, then continued, "Meanwhile, Lord Kakuzu took on hundreds of Iwa Ninja single-handedly, clutching one by the neck and shouting, 'Who dares to demand money from the Grass Village?' The Iwa Ninja retreated scaredly, and thus, the war is coming to an end!"
Stunned by the messenger's news, Obito and Rin couldn't help but turn to look at him. Several other villagers also emerged from their homes, their eyes filled with excitement. Even if they didn't fully understand the details, they recognized that one thing was clear, the war was drawing to a close. With trembling lips, they joined in the cheering, "That's wonderful!"
"Our leader is incredible!", "The war is almost over!" The cheers spread like wildfire, enveloping the entire Land of Grass in a joyful celebration.
Obito and Rin exchanged glances, clearly surprised by the turn of events. They had anticipated the Grass Village to be struggling, yet it seemed that the Grass Village was on the verge of achieving a swift victory in the war.
Obito sighed and contemplated that they would be residing here for a while. He recognized that peace was a welcome change.
Just as he was about to continue his conversation with Zetsu and express his gratitude for the care he had provided, he noticed that Zetsu was no longer present. "Hey, where did Zetsu go?"
He was about to call out to him when he looked down and spotted a piece of paper in his hand. Had it been left behind by Zetsu? Curiosity piqued, Obito lowered his head, unfolded the paper, and began to read the message inscribed on it: "Hehehe, I've gone to take care of Madara-sama. I'll treat you to a meal next time, Obito!"
Obito's eyes welled up with emotion, turning a vivid shade of red. His lips quivered as he murmured, "This idiot."
Rin looked at Obito with a puzzled expression, unsure of why he was getting so emotional. She asked, "What's wrong, Obito? Why are you crying?"
Obito, still visibly moved by Zetsu's actions, quickly wiped his eyes and tried to dismiss his emotional state. With a forced smile, he replied, "I'm fine, Rin. I just encountered an idiot."
He cast his gaze downwards once more, his eyes fixated on the note. As he continued to stare at the note left by Zetsu, he couldn't help but mumble, "Obviously, it should be me who treats you to a meal, you idiot."
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