Capítulo 250: Chapter 250
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Two years later.
Mount Myōboku.
Naruto, who was raised by Jiraiya and the toads, was now five years old. The lively and energetic nature of a child was fully awakened in him. Naruto, barefoot, was running around mischievously.
"Naruto!"
Jiraiya chased after him from behind. Naruto turned his head, looked back, and then ran even faster, splashing water everywhere from the bucket he was carrying.
But how could short little legs outrun an adult?
"It's time for your lessons," Jiraiya said, grabbing the back of Naruto's shirt with one hand, lifting him off the ground while Naruto flailed about.
"Sensei, I don't want to go to class. It's so boring, really boring!" Naruto struggled, looking somewhat comical without the whisker marks on his face.
Jiraiya sighed and set Naruto down but didn't let go, fearing he would run off again. He knew Naruto's loneliness and felt a pang of sorrow.
Kyomu!
If it weren't for you, Naruto would have had a very happy childhood!
Jiraiya thought silently, kneeling down and gently ruffling Naruto's blonde hair.
"Naruto, if you finish your lessons today, I'll take you to a new place where you can make lots of friends."
"Really?" Naruto's eyes lit up. "Jiraiya-sensei, you better not be lying this time!"
Since he could remember, Naruto had lived in Mount Myōboku. Although the toads treated him well, he couldn't really play with them because they were different species.
Other than Jiraiya, Naruto hadn't interacted with humans. Leaving Mount Myōboku and seeing the outside world had become Naruto's primary goal.
"I'm not lying," Jiraiya said, smiling and gently patting Naruto's head. "I promise you'll make many like-minded friends."
Over the years, besides taking care of Naruto, Jiraiya had been traveling, seeking a new haven to anchor his ideals. However, the ninja world was only so big, and only four countries could rival the Land of Dragons, leaving Jiraiya with limited options.
After many encounters and rejections, Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning agreed to take him in. Their acceptance was partly for their benefit, but their sincerity surpassed the other three major hidden villages.
Moreover, Jiraiya had come to terms with reality. Rebuilding Konoha and the Land of Fire had become a distant dream.
If Jiraiya clung to that idea, no country in the ninja world would accept him. For Naruto's sake, to oppose Kyomu, and for his own ideals, Jiraiya gave up the idea of rebuilding Konoha and joined Kumogakure with Naruto.
Today was their last day in Mount Myōboku, and this lesson had to be completed properly.
After getting Jiraiya's promise, Naruto eagerly listened to his lesson without daydreaming once.
"Jiraiya-sensei, can we leave now?"
After the short lesson, Naruto looked at Jiraiya with hopeful eyes.
Jiraiya smiled and nodded.
"Yay!" Naruto cheered, "I can finally go out and make new friends!"
He turned and ran off. "Jiraiya-sensei, I'll go pack my things. Wait for me and don't leave without me!"
Watching the excited Naruto, Jiraiya's smile remained, but his eyes filled with tears. Over the years, his heart had been tormented, and his beliefs and ideals wavered multiple times.
He often thought his past actions were completely wrong. If not for his past actions, Naruto wouldn't be in this situation now.
Clenching his fists, Jiraiya took a deep breath.
"I'm doing the right thing!" He reaffirmed his resolve, striding forward to the Great Toad Sage's lair.
After a while, Naruto came running back, carrying various bags and packages.
"Jiraiya-sensei, let's go!" Naruto said cheerfully, unaware of what lay ahead once he left Mount Myōboku.
"We'll visit the Great Toad Sage first, listen to his latest prophecy, and then we'll go."
"But... the Great Toad Sage is always sleeping. Who knows when he'll wake up," Naruto said, biting his finger. "Jiraiya-sensei, can't we just leave first and wait..."
Before he could finish, the large stone door at the entrance to the lair lifted, and the aged voice of the Great Toad Sage echoed from inside.
"Jiraiya, bring little Naruto in."
"Yes, Great Toad Sage."
Jiraiya, with reverence, led Naruto into the lair.
"Great Toad Sage." Jiraiya bowed with Naruto, though Naruto's curiosity outweighed his respect, making his bow awkward as he looked around.
The Great Toad Sage didn't reprimand Naruto, barely acknowledging him. He understood Naruto's significance.
"I see a glimmer of hope," the Great Toad Sage began. "Jiraiya, follow through with your plan. The night is long, but the dawn's light is brilliant."
With just those words, Jiraiya felt his heart, desperate for reassurance, come alive again.
"Great Toad Sage, about Naruto..."
"He is the savior," the Great Toad Sage said confidently. "He will save the ninja world from peril, without a doubt."
Jiraiya nodded, while Naruto looked confused. "Savior? What's that?"
The Great Toad Sage didn't answer, falling asleep instantly, making it clear they were to leave.
Understanding, Jiraiya made a shushing gesture and led Naruto out of the lair.
"How rude," Naruto muttered. "He doesn't even talk properly and falls asleep when asked questions. How does he sleep so easily?"
Hearing this, Jiraiya's head throbbed, and he couldn't help but tap Naruto's head.
"The Great Toad Sage has lived for a thousand years. He can see glimpses of the future and..."
Jiraiya explained, becoming more animated as he spoke, and Naruto's view of the Great Toad Sage shifted. Clearly, Naruto, influenced by Jiraiya, began to idolize the Great Toad Sage blindly.
"Amazing...!" Naruto marveled, his eyes shining. "Jiraiya-sensei, am I really the savior?"
"Of course," Jiraiya nodded. "Love is the greatest power in the world, and mutual understanding is the foundation of a perfect world. Forced actions, violence, and oppression only breed resistance and chaos."
Jiraiya tirelessly instilled his 'love and peace' philosophy in Naruto, and because of his young age, Naruto easily accepted it.
Raising someone from a young age, you could even convince them the earth was flat, and they would believe it as the truth, rejecting any contrary ideas.
"Jiraiya-sensei, I understand!" Naruto nodded, deciding to embrace this philosophy.
Jiraiya felt gratified, patting Naruto's head as they left Mount Myōboku for Kumogakure.
"Jiraiya, welcome to Kumogakure," the Fourth Raikage personally greeted them, showing great respect to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya smiled and nodded, introducing Naruto to the Fourth Raikage.
The Fourth Raikage listened patiently and showed considerable attention to Naruto. Finally, he squatted down and asked, "Naruto, you're of school age, aren't you?"
"I... I'm five... I should be, right?" Naruto replied nervously, looking up at Jiraiya several times while speaking.
Jiraiya didn't intervene; this was Naruto's first step towards integrating into society, and he had to take it himself.
Fortunately, Naruto was naturally friendly and sociable, quickly overcoming his initial nerves.
"Raikage-sama, will you enroll me in school?"
"Of course," the Fourth Raikage nodded. "I think you'll make many good friends at school."
Naruto beamed and quickly asked, "Can I start today?"
"Haha, if you're that eager, I'll make an exception and enroll you this afternoon."
"Thank you, Raikage-sama!" Naruto bowed, making the Fourth Raikage laugh again.
"Mabui," the Fourth Raikage called his secretary, entrusting Naruto to her. "Take Naruto to complete the enrollment process. I need to speak with Jiraiya privately."
"Yes, Raikage-sama." Mabui nodded and gently took Naruto's hand. "Come with me."
Naruto blushed at the first touch of a woman, feeling awkward yet immensely fond of it.
Mabui took good care of Naruto, taking him for a meal before heading to the ninja school.
Eating, Naruto started crying.
"Naruto, what's wrong? Did I do something wrong, or..."
"Mabui-nee, I'm just so happy. I've never eaten such delicious food, and no one has ever treated me to a meal before. I..."
Before he could finish, Mabui patted his shoulder and smiled gently.
"This is just the beginning. You'll have many friends and much happiness. Consider this your home."
"I will!"
Naruto felt Mabui's kindness deeply, enjoying the moment and looking forward to a happy future.
"After this, I'll show you around the village."
"Really?"
"Of course." Mabui smiled, "This is your home."
Naruto nodded eagerly, feeling content as Mabui held his hand, their laughter echoing through the streets.
Meanwhile, in the Raikage's office...
"Jiraiya, this is Kumogakure's greatest sincerity," the Fourth Raikage said earnestly. "Rest assured, Naruto will receive the best education and grow up in a stable environment. But the Land of Dragons might make a significant move soon."
Sighing, the Fourth Raikage continued, "It will be a catastrophe for the ninja world. Even if the four great nations unite, we might not withstand Kyomu's onslaught."
This was evident to anyone. Two years ago, Kyomu had the power to sweep across the ninja world. The only reason for the delay was the lack of enough soldiers to govern the land they conquered.
"Moreover, our intelligence is our biggest weakness. Our spies in the Land of Dragons don't last a year; none have survived."
The Fourth Raikage added, then fell silent, looking at Jiraiya.
"I understand." Jiraiya knew what the Raikage meant. "I am skilled at gathering information. I can investigate the Land of Dragons."
The Fourth Raikage finally smiled. "Then I leave it to you."
Jiraiya nodded. "It's my duty. I just hope... for more peaceful days, so Naruto can grow up safely."
"That's unlikely," the Fourth Raikage didn't hold much hope. "If Kyomu accumulates enough power to sweep the ninja world and govern it, he won't hesitate."
"One step at a time. Kyomu can't keep winning forever." Jiraiya sounded certain. "Truth will stand on our side."
With that, Jiraiya stood up. "Raikage-sama, I'll set off once Naruto is settled."
The Fourth Raikage nodded, standing up to see Jiraiya off.
Alone, the Raikage sighed deeply. "It's time to consider our fallback options," he thought, contemplating how to preserve the heritage of the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure in case of defeat.
In contrast, Ryūgakure was peaceful, with few worries. Everyone lived comfortably, and the new generation played freely in the spacious streets, while passersby watched over them kindly.
This was Ryūgakure's future, which needed careful nurturing.
"Sasuke!"
"Coming," Sasuke, hands in pockets, walked over lazily but coolly. "Are you feeling confident today, wanting to spar with me?"
Neji was momentarily stunned, then his eyes lit up with fighting spirit. Just as he was about to respond, his sister, Hinata, tugged at him.
"Tomorrow. I'll beat you tomorrow."
"Why tomorrow? Why not today?" Sasuke glanced at Hinata behind Neji. "Scared?"
Grinding his teeth, Neji clenched his fists. For some reason, talking to Sasuke always made his blood boil. He really wanted to beat Sasuke to a pulp.
But seeing Neji's reaction, Sasuke smirked, intensifying his taunts.
"Today or tomorrow, it's the same. A loser like you will always lose. It's just self-awareness, like how I know I'm excellent."
"You're insufferable!" Neji shouted.
"I'm sorry to hurt your feelings," Sasuke said without a hint of remorse. "But admitting defeat isn't bad, like how I know I'm excellent."
"I don't want to argue with you today," Neji said. "This is my sister, Hinata. She doesn't go out much, and I..."
"I'm not interested in girls," Sasuke interrupted, turning to leave.
"Hey, Hinata is just like you. She's entering a year early."
This caught Sasuke's attention. He stopped, turned, and scrutinized Hinata.
He shook his head. "I don't see anything noteworthy about her."
"I'm asking you to take care of her!" Neji said, standing firm.
"If you beat me, I'll consider it," Sasuke said, hands still in his pockets. "She needs to build her own confidence. Lack of confidence means fearing too much, never becoming strong."
"Can you talk about something else?" Neji groaned, rubbing his forehead. Without the Caged Bird seal, he was much more lively.
"Anything else is pointless if you lack strength," Sasuke said, turning away. "See you tomorrow at the training ground. It's been three days since I last taught you a lesson."
As Sasuke walked away, Hinata finally peeked out from behind Neji. "Brother, he's harsh, but I don't sense malice from him."
"All Uchiha are like this," Neji said, clenching his fists. "But don't worry, Sasuke will look after you in school."
"I... can manage..." Hinata muttered, her shyness showing.
"Do you really think so?" Neji took her hand. "Come on, let's meet some other friends."
"Who are they?" Hinata asked timidly. "Are they like Sasuke?"
"No, they're all girls, very nice ones. You'll get along well."
Neji genuinely cared for Hinata, nurturing a protective bond without the Caged Bird seal.
Meanwhile, Sasuke continued walking, occasionally glancing toward the village entrance.
A training fanatic, Sasuke wasn't slacking off today. It was the day his brother, Itachi, returned from a mission.
Despite the abolition of the ninja commission system, ninjas remained a military force in critical national matters. Missions involving national interests still required ninja intervention, not for commissions but as part of their duty.
Ninjas no longer worked for money but received stipends. Their missions were directly commissioned by the higher-ups of the Land of Dragons. These missions included solving cases and mediating disputes.
In the Land of Dragons, ninjas wielded increasing power, poised to become the highest governing class after the unification of the ninja world.
Finally, Sasuke spotted Itachi in the crowd and sprinted towards him.
"Brother!"
Itachi turned, seeing Sasuke rushing over, and smiled, kneeling to catch him.
"Haha." Kisame laughed. "Itachi, Sasuke is really attached to you. I've heard he's quite aloof and difficult to approach."
Mind your own business.
Sasuke shot Kisame a displeased look.
"Sasuke, did you forget what I told you?" Itachi gently reprimanded, patting Sasuke's head.
Reluctantly, Sasuke greeted Kisame. "Hello, Kisame-senpai."
"Haha," Kisame laughed heartily. "I'm honored to be greeted by Sasuke. It's not easy."
Sasuke didn't respond, staying close to Itachi, holding his hand tightly.
All Uchiha were doting brothers, it seemed.
"Brother, you completed the mission. Can you tell me about it?"
"Nothing major. I dealt with an injury case and escorted new graduates from the local academy to further their studies in the village."
The Land of Dragons' educational system was now a comprehensive network, centered around Ryūgakure, extending to towns and cities across the country. This ensured talent was not overlooked, with rigorous selection processes.
Graduates from local academies would be chosen to study further in Ryūgakure's advanced academy. This system ensured no talent was wasted, supported by the nation's resources and guided by powerful ninjas.
"Anything else?" Sasuke asked, losing interest. "No enemies or anything?"
"Enemies?" Itachi shook his head. "Whether it's bandits, rogue ninjas, or foreign ninjas, entering our territory is suicidal. They're constantly monitored."
This was Kyomu's rule. The Land of Dragons had become a haven for merchants, with seamless transportation and safety. Merchants no longer needed to hire many bodyguards, as the land was free from bandit threats.
However, those leaving the Land of Dragons to trade elsewhere had to hire guards at the borders, usually ninjas from other nations, as only national merchants were allowed to hire Ryūnin for protection.
This policy increased the nation's revenue and Kyomu's influence, while Kyomu also implemented the agent system to prevent ninjas from becoming direct rulers, maintaining balance.
Kyomu didn't want to become a tyrant. After unifying the ninja world, he envisioned ninjas as "nobles" overseeing the "population" society managed by agents.
"Kyomu, what are you looking at?" Yugito asked, noticing Kyomu's gaze.
"Nothing, just saw Itachi and Sasuke."
"Itachi's back?" Mei checked her notes. "He's early, two days ahead of schedule."
Kyomu nodded, his gaze shifting to Mei, then lowering slightly before settling.
Mei noticed Kyomu's gaze, not embarrassed but subtly adjusting to accentuate her assets.
Both now adults, they no longer avoided such topics.
Yugito, annoyed, tapped the table. "Focus on work, will you?"
Kyomu, embarrassed, rubbed his nose, glancing at Yugito, appreciating her figure as well.
This silenced Yugito, reducing her to another decorative figure like Mei.
"Let's discuss our current ninja count," Kyomu said, returning to business.
"We've reached ten thousand active adult ninjas, meeting your goal," Yugito reported.
Mei continued, "The agents have been selected and are compliant, especially the Fire Country's Hito, who shows great dedication."
"Of course," Kyomu smiled. "This is his chance to redeem himself, but keep him in check. They should remain as puppets, without real power."
"We understand," the women agreed.
"Good. Recall all deployed ninjas and prepare for the Fourth Ninja World War," Kyomu declared.
"Finally," Yugito said, blushing. "I thought you'd wait another two years."
"No need," Kyomu replied. "We're ready now. Waiting longer is pointless."
"I thought you'd crown yourself first," Mei hinted.
"Same difference," Kyomu dismissed. "I'd rather be crowned with the four great nations' leaders bowing before me."
"And after that?" Yugito pressed.
"Marry and have children," Kyomu stated plainly. "Both of you."
"Who first?" Mei asked coldly.
"Me first, then you two," Kyomu answered, dismissing the topic. "Focus on the present."
"You just want us to keep fighting," Yugito retorted. "Aren't you afraid we'll team up against you?"
"Unlikely," Mei said, arms crossed. "You should see a therapist for your issues."
"You need therapy!" Yugito snapped, like a cat provoked. "My feelings for Kyomu are clear."
"Enough," Kyomu interrupted. "Prepare for war."
"Yes!"
The women set aside their differences, focusing on their tasks. As they left, they continued their subtle rivalry, bumping shoulders and refusing to yield, squeezing through the door together.
Kyomu shook his head. Their rivalry had intensified since adulthood, frequently breaking their professional boundaries with personal disputes.
But as long as they managed their work well, Kyomu didn't mind much. Except for Tsunade...
Kyomu sighed.
Since he became an adult, Tsunade avoided him like the plague, despite him doing nothing wrong.
Except Tsunade couldn't avoid him this time.
The next morning, Kyomu's summons brought Ryūgakure's top forces together.
Sakumo, Fugaku, Tsunade, Hiashi, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Obito, Kakashi, Guy, Rin, Genma, Ebisu, and more.
Alongside veterans were promising newcomers like Shisui, Itachi, Kisame, Haku, Kimimaro, and others.
With such strength, Ryūgakure was unmatched.
Kyomu couldn't lose the Fourth Ninja World War even if he tried!
"Obito," Kyomu called. "Handle the declaration of war. You're perfect for it."
Obito nodded, his Mangekyo Sharingan gleaming.
The Fourth Ninja World War was about to begin!
(End of Chapter)
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