Yuya was a bit perplexed upon learning that the Second Kazekage was so straightforward and planned to visit Konoha directly. Was this man truly so brave? Was he not afraid of Konoha and Kawa no Kuni conspiring against him? Well, Yuya himself would never engage in such schemes. In fact, he needed to hurry and prepare the guest house that Konoha had arranged for visitors.
The Second Kazekage's visit to Konoha was ostensibly to negotiate peace with Kawa no Kuni, but he had a greater agenda. He wanted to witness firsthand Konoha's current development. The policies and progress that Yuya had implemented in Konoha Village were reported to other villages, but the Kazekage needed to see them for himself to be certain.
Another reason for his visit was to evaluate Konoha's military capabilities. After attending the first Five Kage Summit with the First Kazekage, the Second Kazekage had met Senju Hashirama, the man who ended the wars in the ninja world and became its strongest figure. From that encounter, the First Kazekage had crafted a national policy focused on strengthening the military. The peace Konoha promised could be maintained while Hashirama was alive, but what if he were gone? Konoha's power was something Sunagakure Village had to guard against, lest Konoha decide to attack.
This led to a clear martial culture in Sand Hidden Village, with the Second Kazekage working to improve puppet techniques and utilize the village's terrain for strategic defense. The irony was that Sunagakure's plans to attack Konoha originally aimed to prevent Konoha's aggression.
Thus, the Third Kazekage needed to be unyielding against external threats. To gauge Konoha's situation and military strength, and to understand the disparities between the two villages, the Second Kazekage made his journey.
The Second Kazekage didn't bring many people with him, which was typical for a visit to Konoha. In fact, he was prepared for the possibility that he might not return. However, he was determined to gather Konoha's information by any means necessary.
Despite the fierce appearance given by the tattoo partially visible under his hat, the Second Kazekage was far from mindless. He was a strategic and intelligent leader, adept at assessing situations.
Upon arriving near Konoha with his two personal guards, business representatives from Sunagakure, and family representatives, they were greeted by three ninja teams:
"They must be Kazekage-dono and his party from Sunagakure Village."
This was obvious, given the prominent "风" character on the Second Kazekage Samana's hat.
The Konoha team informed them that they were there to welcome them.
Samana responded calmly, indicating that everything was fine.
The team of ninjas escorted Samana for ten kilometers before changing teams. Observing their skilled coordination and the exchange of secret signals, Samana closed his eyes. It was clear to anyone with sense that these codes changed daily.
Samana couldn't determine the exact number of ninjas outside Konoha Village, but by sensing his surroundings, he detected at least five teams. Even without factoring in the increased security due to his visit, there were typically at least three ninja teams patrolling within a 20-kilometer radius. This suggested that seven pairs of ninjas was a standard configuration.
With such security, Samana knew a sneak attack or assassination attempt would fail.
Maintaining his composure, as if unaware of anything, Samana followed the Konoha ninjas toward the village. The escort changed three times along the way, further confirming Samana's suspicions.
Upon reaching Konoha Village, the ninja leading the Kazekage and his group handed them over to a guide sent by the Hokage's office, who had "Konoha" engraved on his attire.
The guide shook hands with the Kazekage and made a respectful gesture, inviting the group into Konoha.
Samana was intrigued by the buildings and numerous construction sites in the distance. He looked at the guide curiously and asked, "Is this the outer city of Konoha?"
The guide nodded, "Yes, Lord Kazekage, this is the outer city of Konoha."
Samana nodded, though thoughts raced through his mind. Konoha's outer city didn't seem particularly impressive. The main difference from their Sand Hidden Village was simply that one was built with sand and the other with earth.
However, after turning a corner, the dirt road transformed into a flat concrete surface. The buildings on either side were uniformly two-story templates, looking like they were copied and pasted.
Samana asked the guide, "Are these houses inhabited by the villagers of Konoha?"
The guide looked confused and shook his head, "No, strictly speaking, these are not people of Konoha. They do not have Konoha identity documents. They are refugees who have come to Konoha."
Samana was intrigued and inquired, "Proof of identity?"
The guide seemed even more puzzled, and Samana's fierce smile almost startled him. Fortunately, the guide was prepared for such reactions, as he was sent by Yuya to escort guests.
"The agent has said that I can answer your questions as long as they don't involve Konoha secrets," the guide explained as they continued walking. "Refugees from other places without Konoha's identity certificate cannot apply immediately. They can only apply after residing in Konoha for five years."
Of course, there is another category—ninjas who serve Konoha. After thorough vetting, they can be granted identity documents, allowing them to live in Konoha's inner city. This process is overseen by Senju Tobirama himself, so the guide omitted this detail.
Samana nodded, understanding that the outer city was essentially for refugees. There was little need to invest heavily in building these structures. A simple batch of basic housing sufficed.
Samana noticed a building with a man and woman painted on the door and curiously pointed, "What is that?"
"Public restroom," the guide explained.
Samana nodded. They had similar facilities in Sand Hidden Village, though of a different style.
Eventually, Samana was led to Konoha's gate. Even standing outside, it was clear that the inner city, separated only by a wall, was more refined. One side featured smooth blue bricks, while the other had a polished cement road.
Undoubtedly, the brick road was more elegant, and the continuous high-rise buildings until the line of sight was blocked further emphasized the distinction.
Samana sighed inwardly. He understood immediately. This inner city surpassed the outer city by far.
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