Outside Konoha, Might Gai was running on his hands, coming all the way, his face filled with excitement.
"Gai, stop running!"
"Haha, Shikaku-senpai, you have no idea, I was so cooped up on the ship before. Now that we're finally almost back to Konoha, I'm already anxious to get back!"
Might Gai quickly ran back in reverse. "Shikaku-senpai, I'm going to report back to the village first."
Nara Shikaku couldn't help but laugh. On land, Gai was a taijutsu master. In terms of taijutsu techniques, he was even more formidable than his old man, Might Dai. Who would have thought that this child would become completely listless on a ship, his combat power not even as good as an ordinary person's. Might Dai probably didn't even know his son had this problem…
He couldn't help but smile.
"Gai, you can go first, but when you get back to the village, I will definitely publicize your heroic deeds!"
"Please don't!"
Might Gai instantly returned to Shikaku's side, as obedient as if he were a different person.
Yuhi Kurenai covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. She looked at the village in the distance, her heart also filled with emotion. This trip away had indeed taken a long enough time. Not to mention anything else, just sitting on the ship had taken nearly a month back and forth. Then they were delayed for a while in the Land of Snow. Their previous intelligence contact had to rely on Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God. Otherwise, being in the Land of Snow, they would have been completely cut off from the shinobi world.
Kurenai couldn't help but say in a low voice.
"Shikaku-senpai, if…"
"Shh! We'll talk when we get back to the village."
Nara Shikaku smiled slightly. The people behind him were mostly research talents they had brought back from the Land of Snow, and many were their family members.
Although they were trustworthy, and in the future, like the Iburi clan, they would become new residents of Konoha, they were not yet. And after all, these people came from the Land of Snow. Some words still had to be avoided.
Yuhi Kurenai nodded lightly.
"Minato-senpai is alone, protecting the Third Raikage and the others. Will it be a bit difficult for him?"
"Don't worry. Minato has the Flying Thunder God Technique and can leave at any time. If we stayed, we would just be a burden."
Shikaku was very calm.
After he finished speaking, he smiled.
"If the Third Raikage could have taken him, he would have had all the Cloud ninjas attack at sea."
When strength reaches a certain level, numbers are useless. On the premise that Minato didn't have to fight, even if the Cloud Village had five times the number of people, they still couldn't have kept Namikaze Minato. The reason the Second Hokage died back then was because he could run, but the other young people couldn't. The situation was naturally different.
Speaking of which, Shikaku paused, then turned his head and smiled.
"Everyone, Konoha Village is here!"
Upon hearing this, everyone, who had been exhausted from walking, was immediately invigorated and looked into the distance. At the end of this trade route, a large gate and a continuous wooden wall stood, majestic and grand. In the distance, the Hokage Rock was faintly visible.
Konoha is here!
Seeing this scene, their eyes immediately lit up. Konoha! For them, former wandering ninjas, a place like the "Five Great Shinobi Villages" was undoubtedly a paradise. They had imagined countless times being born as a person of Konoha, but when they woke up, they found that they were actually still wandering.
But now, they were really going to walk into this village and become a part of it. It was like a dream for each of them.
"Shikaku-sama, we, can we really…"
"Of course. Kyohiko said before that you will become a part of Konoha, and your children can choose whether to become ninjas themselves."
Nara Shikaku knew that the reason these people kept questioning was just because they were too excited.
The Land of Snow and the Snow Ninja Village seemed beautiful, but in fact, they had experienced that place and deeply understood how bitter it was. The nobles were fine; they always had ways to live. But once the common people faced a snow disaster, it was a case of their cries to heaven and earth going unanswered. Although ninjas were stronger, their families and children did not necessarily have the ability of ninjas. They still wanted to become a part of a large village like Konoha. It was just that they lacked the means.
As for those snow ninjas who stayed in the Land of Snow, it was not so much that they were unwilling to come, but rather that they did not dare to come, afraid of implicating their fellow clansmen. As for later… after having a way out, they were naturally even more unwilling to trouble Yazawa, who had given so much.
Shikaku patiently explained the policy once more. Everyone listened as they walked to the gate. At the gate, Shikaku smiled.
"We've come at a good time. We've just run into the market. Everyone has just arrived, so you can buy some daily necessities."
Yazawa swallowed. Konoha is so big! And so prosperous. At a glance, there were countless goods, fruits, and vegetables, many of which were simply not seen in the Land of Snow, yet here they were as numerous as snow. They walked on the street, feeling as if they had entered another world.
All the way to the gate, only then did Yazawa remember.
"Shikaku-sama, I wonder about the accommodation…"
"Don't worry, the village has surely solved it."
Shikaku replied with a smile.
Even if it hadn't been solved, with the abilities of Kyohiko and Yamato, building seven or eight houses was as easy as drinking water. As for the place, they could just be placed next to the Iburi clan. That area was full of newly moved-in residents. Everyone gathering together would have common topics, and the water and electricity wouldn't need a new line to be laid.
In fact, it was just as he thought. Before long…
"Yazawa-san, you've finally arrived!"
After a laugh, a figure appeared from the air.
So fast! So much so that Shikaku and the others only saw a blurry afterimage, and then they could clearly see the person in front of them.
"Kyohiko-sama!"
Yazawa was immediately overjoyed.
Kyohiko had come to pick them up personally. The things Shikaku had promised before were set in stone. There would be no such thing as a different treatment after tricking them into coming. He believed in Kyohiko.
Ryoho Kyohiko glanced around, and roughly understood the situation. He immediately looked at Shikaku, his face apologetic.
"Shikaku-senpai, I've been a bit busy during this period and didn't come to pick you up…"
"It's fine. I have some understanding of your situation through Minato," Shikaku said with a smile.
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
"In that case, you go and report to Sister Tsunade first. I'll take them to their residence and settle their accommodation and identity first."
"Alright."
Shikaku nodded. Seeing that Yazawa and the others all trusted Kyohiko, he was also relieved. He immediately greeted them, finished the registration, and then headed for the office.
Ryoho Kyohiko then looked at Might Gai and Yuhi Kurenai.
"Are you going home first or?"
"Let's see it through to the end. We should at least see where they live."
Yuhi Kurenai smiled.
Gai had originally wanted to leave, but hearing this, he immediately and silently stayed. Indeed. He had to know where they were living, and whether it was good! Along the way, they had gotten along harmoniously. A few of them had a good relationship with them and could be considered friends. Who knows, they might still have contact in the future.
***
In the Hokage's Office.
"What? Kakuzu has already been captured?"
"Kurosuki Raiga is also dead?"
Shikaku was a little dazed.
From the time he and Minato had drafted the charter and sent the scroll back to the village, it had only been a few days, right? Could it be…
"Did Kyohiko act and capture them before?"
"No. After you sent back the plan, we confirmed the strategy and thought about how to capture them, so the capture and imprisonment went smoothly."
Tsunade knew he didn't believe it, so she took out a pair of swords from a sealing box and placed them on the table.
Shikaku observed them carefully, and then a flash of inspiration went through his mind, and he instantly believed it. The Kiba blades of Kirigakure! These swords were very special. It was said that they had a very strong enhancement on Lightning Style ninjutsu. Kurosuki Raiga had relied on them to have his current strength. Of course, now, he was most likely already dead.
A look of joy and shock flashed in Shikaku's eyes.
"That's great!"
Since Kyohiko's efficiency is so high, there's great potential for the matter of Takigakure! As long as we can handle Takigakure and Amegakure, the Land of Grass in the middle, won't that be a piece of cake? Shikaku's thoughts turned rapidly.
Suddenly, a thunderclap went through his mind, and he figured it out.
"Wait? Captured?"
His eyes widened. Captured alive? Killing was easy, but capturing alive, the difficulty would increase exponentially! Ryoho Kyohiko actually has such an ability?
Tsunade nodded lightly. Shikaku's breathing quickened by several degrees. He was a smart person and of course understood the value of a living Kakuzu. First, the Yamanaka clan's secret technique could dig out some memories, perhaps there would be intelligence related to Uchiha Madara. Second, Kakuzu had indeed lived for a long time. Many secrets that others didn't know, Kakuzu might know. Third… although the Earth Grudge Fear was a forbidden jutsu, its value was very high. Otherwise, Takigakure would have destroyed it long ago. Why would they keep it to be stolen by Kakuzu?
Looking at Shikaku's fervent eyes, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation—this young clan head of the Nara family was indeed exceptionally smart. No wonder the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans were all willing to listen to his suggestions.
She nodded lightly.
"A lot of intelligence has been extracted. It can be confirmed that Madara contacted these people using the identity of that black and white one."
"Some other intelligence is also of no small value. We also got the money he had accumulated."
"It's a pity that Kurosuki Raiga died."
Tsunade sighed. Although some intelligence could also be dug out from Kurosuki Raiga's body, it was not as good as a living person.
Shikaku was already very satisfied. Capturing Kakuzu alive… that was an existence that could capture the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki! Before this, he couldn't even have imagined it.
But.
"Was Kurosuki Raiga killed by Kyohiko?"
"Not really. Kakashi handled it alone," Tsunade answered.
Shikaku was taken aback, then looked at Tsunade. Seeing the smile in her eyes, how could he not know the situation? Tsunade seemed regretful, but in fact, she was very proud and had deliberately brought up the topic. Kurosuki Raiga was formidable, right? Kakashi killed him!
Kyohiko was strong and talented, this was something everyone knew. And Kakashi also had the name of a genius in his early years, but… in recent years, on one hand, Kyohiko and Minato's fame was too loud, their brilliance too dazzling. On the other hand, Kakashi was in the Anbu and had little room to act. This had led to the fact that for more than a year, Kakashi had not made many moves, and everyone didn't know his specific strength. Looking at it now, not only had he not regressed, but he was even stronger, to the point of being able to kill Kurosuki Raiga alone!
"As expected of… heh, that's not appropriate. As expected of Kakashi!"
Shikaku lamented.
He had originally wanted to praise Kakashi as being worthy of being "the son of Sakumo," but he knew about Kakashi's hard work. The child's today was all earned through his own hard training. "Son of Sakumo," for such a person, was really inappropriate.
Tsunade smiled.
"There's no one else here. No need to be so taboo. But Kakashi works hard, and his rapid progress is inseparable from Kyohiko."
Just as Shikaku was about to praise him, he saw Tsunade impatiently take something out. The gravity training suit! After explaining the principle, Shikaku's eyes immediately lit up. A good thing!
He couldn't be a jonin squad leader without some knowledge. The stronger a ninja was, the harder it was to improve their physical strength. The reason was that after being enhanced by chakra, the ninja's physical fitness would be significantly improved. An ordinary person would have been exhausted after running a few hundred laps, but Might Gai could self-punish by running a few hundred more laps after running a few hundred. An ordinary person playing like this would have been trained into uselessness long ago. But if one could become stronger with less time and effort, who would be willing to train to death like Might Gai? Including Gai himself, that was also because he had no choice. With this thing, it was different!
Shikaku was ecstatic.
"How many of these things can be made?"
"The current production is not good, and the cost can't be brought down. We can only make a dozen or so. The current arrangement is like this, take a look."
Tsunade explained Kyohiko's idea.
Shikaku praised repeatedly. A good method! While making everyone stronger, it can also inspire everyone's fighting spirit. Also…
"According to my idea, the remaining two can be rented out, but only to special jonin and above," Tsunade proposed.
Shikaku nodded repeatedly. This is a reasonable plan! It's just…
"Can't we really make more?"
"No more can be made. The metal is scarce now. Even if you brought some back from the Land of Snow, other aspects also need to use it. It can't be limited to the gravity suit," Tsunade patiently explained. Also, Kyohiko couldn't possibly sit in Konoha just to cast the Added-Weight Rock Technique on them.
Shikaku's eyes rolled.
"Sandaime-sama is proficient in all ninjutsu. The Added-Weight Rock Technique is a bit difficult, but he should be able to research it, right?"
He had also set his sights on the Third Hokage! Kyohiko is busy, but the Third is semi-retired. He shouldn't be busy now.
Tsunade couldn't help but smile. Sarutobi Hiruzen… he's busy as hell! For Earth Style ninjutsu, Sarutobi Shinnosuke could help a little, but in the other four types of ninjutsu, besides Hiruzen, only Orochimaru was proficient in all of them. And Orochimaru? On one hand, he had to research the Chakra Armor. On the other hand, he had to research the Earth Grudge Fear and immortality. He was so busy that his shadow clones were never canceled. He was basically one person doing the work of two.
Then, Tsunade talked about Orochimaru and Kyohiko's recent creations. For example, the Wood Style puppet. Shikaku was shocked to hear it. He only felt that in the one or two months he had been away, Konoha's ninja tool technology had become almost unrecognizable.
After he heard the end, he thought for a moment and came back to his senses.
"Hokage-sama, you should have something for me to do, right?"
"Hahaha, I can't hide it from you. Shikaku, your Nara clan is very good at medicine. I want your clan to research a medicinal bath that can restore the body."
Tsunade stated her request.
Shikaku pondered for a moment and immediately understood that Tsunade was really short of manpower. He immediately nodded.
"Everyone in the Nara clan who is proficient in medicine can participate. The cost problem… we'll do our best!"
Growing and researching medicine all cost money, not to mention that some medicines were expensive in themselves.
Tsunade naturally understood and said in a low voice.
"As long as the jonin can afford it, it's fine."
"That makes it simple!"