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"The name of the 'Child of Konoha' is something I've heard of. With outstanding ninjas like you in Konoha Village, I must say this is something Rain Village can never match."
Jinnai looked gently at Sōsuke and smiled.
Upon hearing his words, although Himiko smiled as well, she couldn't help but feel puzzled about why this young Rain Village leader suddenly made such a statement.
"I wonder if Child of Konoha, Sōsuke would honor us by staying in Rain Village for a few days. After all, we are of similar age, and I admire ninjas like you."
Jinnai's narrow eyes squinted slightly as he spoke softly.
Undoubtedly, this reason seemed a bit lame.
However, upon hearing his words, Sōsuke's lips curled slightly, and he looked at him warmly.
"Since Lord Jinnai is so enthusiastic, I naturally can't refuse your kind offer. Staying for a while is indeed acceptable."
Seeing that Sōsuke agreed so quickly, Himiko couldn't help but glare at him.
This guy!
Even though the war between Konoha and Rain Village has ceased, what if this young Rain Village leader has some ulterior motive? Moreover, staying in Rain Village will undoubtedly affect your reputation. What's going on in that head of yours!
Obviously, getting Sōsuke's affirmative answer made Jinnai somewhat happy, and his face was filled with a smile as he looked at Himiko.
"Miss Himiko, there is no need to worry. Since Rain Village and Konoha are now allied ninja villages, I naturally won't do anything unfavorable to Sōsuke, this outstanding ninja from Konoha. I just want to make a friend, nothing more."
Sōsuke also smiled and looked at Himiko, gently patting her shoulder and saying, "It's okay, Himiko. You can go back and deliver the mission. I'll return to Konoha after spending some time in Rain Village."
Since Sōsuke said so, she had no choice but to give up. She nodded slightly to the people in Rain Village and left the place.
At the entrance of the Rain Village, within the fine rain curtain.
Sōsuke watched Himiko's departing figure and raised a slight arc at the corner of his mouth, a playful smile flashing in his eyes.
In front of him, Jinnai, who had been standing tall, slightly bent, and the smile on his face also restrained a bit, showing a more respectful expression.
...
In the forest near Rain Village.
"Swoosh!"
A slender figure suddenly appeared on a thick tree trunk, and the purple hair had long been wet in the drizzling rain.
Himiko observed the surroundings with a cold gaze, and after confirming that no ninjas were tracking her, she took out a shuriken.
"Swish!"
After a light sound, she lightly cut off the raincoat on her shoulder.
Looking at the fragments of the raincoat in her hand, her brows wrinkled slightly.
On it, by some unknown method, as if melted, a line of characters was inscribed.
"Investigate, Hanzo, return to the village, don't worry."
Seeing the words clearly, her proud and charming face showed a trace of annoyance, muttering to herself with some anger.
"What a self-appointed guy!"
"Why... would he take this upon himself...!!"
"And... who... would worry about you... what a narcissist..."
Having said that, she couldn't help but turn slightly and look towards the direction of Rain Village. The black eyes showed a hint of complexity. Thinking of the words written on the raincoat, Himiko finally decided to return to the village first.
She turned back slowly, leaving without looking back.
In the fine rain curtain, it seemed to leave behind a faint sentence.
"A narcissistic guy... should come back safely..."
....
Three days later.
Within the Land of Fire, Konoha Village.
The bright sunlight gently bathed the rooftops, and several birds perched on the utility poles along the street were chirping merrily.
At the street corner, children were playing and laughing, bathed in the warm sunlight, their faces filled with joy.
All of this was observed by an 'elderly' man with a weary gaze.
In the office of the Hokage Building, Hiruzen slowly withdrew his deep gaze, glancing at the two items on the table.
One was a carefully wrapped scroll containing the peace treaty signed between Rain Village and Konoha.
The other was a piece of ordinary raincoat fabric with some writing on it.
"Sandaimeme, the mission of negotiating with Rain Village has been successfully completed by Root..."
At this moment, another man in the office gently opened his murky eyes and hoarsely spoke.
"Next, Konoha should be able to exert its full strength and focus on dealing with Suna Village."
Hearing this, Hiruzen took a deep drag from his cigarette, nodded, and spoke in a deep voice.
"Homura, draft a plan for the military operations, prepare to concentrate all forces and shift the offensive towards Suna Village."
Upon hearing his words, Mitokado Homura nodded solemnly.
"Understood! Sandaime."
Having received this order from Hiruzen, Danzo, though expressionless on the surface, couldn't help but think to himself.
The members of Suna Village... since they disrupted my plan... let them pay with their lives...
At this moment,
Koharu Utatane walked forward slightly, also looking at the raincoat fabric on the table. She hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke.
"Danzo...This...Sōsuke...Kid?"
Hearing her words, Danzo nodded gently, without saying anything. He then half-closed his eyes and glanced out the window.
"Sigh... Undoubtedly, the title of 'Child of Konoha' is well-deserved for that Sōsuke."
Utatane sighed softly.
Hearing her words, Hiruzen took another deep drag from his cigarette and spoke in a slightly deep voice.
"Danzo, inform that child to come back as soon as possible. The matter between Rain Village and Konoha has been settled. Even if Hanzo appears, there's nothing more he can stir up."
"... After all, he's an outstanding child. He shouldn't bear such a great risk at this time."
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Danzo slightly opened his eyes, spoke in a deep voice.
"I think, let that child do it. After all, on the battlefield of the Land of Earth, he has been patient for too long."
"Ultimately, he is still a child. In such a situation, even if he were to investigate the whereabouts of the elusive Hanzo, he probably wouldn't want to return to the Iwa Village battlefield, where commanding has no meaning."
Undoubtedly, Danzo's words were a bit cutting, but neither Utatane nor Hiruzen could say anything.
From the reports from the Iwa Village battlefield, it was clear that Sōsuke's strength undoubtedly surpassed his generation by too much.
However, if it weren't for the massive attack by Iwa Village at that time, 'Child of Konoha' would have almost become a joke.
In this matter, even though the ninja deployment at that time was arranged by Hiruzen, Danzo, and Utatane together.
However, Danzo was still Sōsuke's teacher, and Sōsuke was his disciple. The teacher was worried about the disciple, and arranging for the disciple to go to a safe place was understandable.
But the starting points of Hiruzen and Utatane were somewhat embarrassing, because of Sōsuke's previous actions.
There were even rumors in the village that the high-ranking officials of Konoha and some ninja families were secretly suppressing Sōsuke, trying to curb the rise of 'Child of Konoha.'
Rumors can be frightening, and at this point, Hiruzen had to carefully consider these aspects.
Hiruzen, after taking a deep drag from his cigarette, pondered for a moment.
"Danzo, entrust the command of this full-scale attack against Suna to Sōsuke. It's also a way for the village to explain to him."
Utatane was slightly surprised to hear this, wanting to say something but ultimately murmured and did not speak.
Hearing this, Danzo lifted his head slightly, opened his murky eyes slightly, and a glint flashed through. In a hoarse voice, he said,
"I understand. I will contact that child as soon as possible."
Hearing this, Hiruzen took another drag from his cigarette, looking out at the prosperous Konoha Village.
Regardless of who sits in this position... as long as it keeps the village flourishing... as long as the smiles on the faces of the villagers don't fade, it's good...
Sōsuke... 'Child of Konoha'... can you lead Konoha to glory...