Chapter 122

When Nawaki hurried back to Konoha, he was the first to come across several massive craters. His heart raced, feeling as if it might burst out of his chest at any moment. However, as he crossed the craters and caught sight of Konoha, his heart sank once again.

The city walls of Konoha remained unchanged, and the bustling activity within the village's barrier gave the illusion that nothing had changed. But if there were any changes to note, it was the lack of vitality among the Shinōbi Clans. The atmosphere, especially within the Shimura Clan, felt heavy.

Nawaki had heard that the Shimura Clan had started a pottery and furniture factory in their home. Apparently, their clan's porcelain was too fragile, and it was expensive to purchase new items every day. So they decided to produce their own, even selling some to support their household. The high cost and constant expenditure had taken its toll on the clan.

Yet, despite these trivial matters, Nawaki's biggest discovery upon returning was that his grandmother seemed happier and healthier than ever. After several days of observation, he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer and asked, "Grandma, why have you been so happy lately?"

Uzumaki Mito smiled and, while ruffling Nawaki's hair, replied, "It's because the position of the Senju Clan is becoming more stable, and your safety factor is increasing. Grandma can rest easy knowing that."

Uzumaki Mito worried that the Senju Clan's influence might threaten Sarutobi Hiruzen's position and lead to attacks. But now, things were different. Sarutobi Hiruzen's strength had been proven, and everyone had accepted his leadership. The Senju Clan, known for their peaceful nature, wouldn't actively vie for power. Uzumaki Mito's only remaining concern was jealousy, but with Sarutobi Hiruzen's significant increase in strength, that jealousy seemed to have dissipated.

Nawaki nodded, still somewhat puzzled by his grandmother's words. However, he understood one thing: Uzumaki Mito would never harm him, and that was enough for him. As for the other matters he couldn't comprehend, he had his father, uncles, and even his sister to rely on. He didn't need to worry too much. As his father often told him, he just needed to train diligently and strive to reach his grandfather's level as soon as possible. The rest would be taken care of by someone else.

Meanwhile, Shimura Danzo came to a realization as to why things hadn't been going well for him in recent years. His close friend, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had sought out new allies while leaving him behind. Sarutobi Hiruzen had quietly increased his own power and enticed Orochimaru away to collaborate with another talented individual named Himihu. Their research had yielded incomprehensible results, leaving Shimura Danzo out of touch with the times.

In the following days, all the Shinōbi who had assisted Konoha returned, restoring the village's defenses to their peak state. Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't concern himself with the sentiments of others. He was pleased with the return of Nawaki, Tsunade, and the elite Shinōbi brought back by Hatake Sakumo.

Within the Hokage's Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Hatake Sakumo on the shoulder and exclaimed with a smile, "Your salary will be increased, and you'll have more rest time. There will be award certificates and honors once the war is over. You've done an excellent job."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's first source of happiness was the immediate return of the two of them. He admired their devotion and felt they deserved commendation. They were far better than those who merely talked but didn't act.

His second source of happiness came from Tsunade's report that she had developed a group of skilled medical Shinōbi and completed the medical system.

Lastly, Orochimaru had trained an elite force. The first battle in Amegakure had brought forth a group of exceptional Shinōbi. Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but chuckle at the benefits he had gained from this scheme.

The medical system was complete, the elite forces were trained, and they had obtained Seven-Tails. They had weakened the increasingly powerful Takigakure and struck a blow against the ambitious Amegakure. What more could he ask for? Sarutobi Hiruzen reveled in his happiness.

While Sarutobi Hiruzen basked in his joy, Orochimaru couldn't shake off a feeling of melancholy. As they advanced with great force, they also had to guard against the village of Iwagakure behind them. If they hadn't prepared well, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio wouldn't have been able to hold off the forces of Iwagakure. Orochimaru knew the danger he faced.

Observing the desperate fight on the opposing side and how Rain Ninja desperately tried to resist, Orochimaru's smile turned cruel. "Summoning Jutsu - Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes," he coldly commanded.

His icy voice sent chills through the air, and suddenly, five pythons appeared above the battlefield, crushing the enemy's line. From underground, numerous small snakes emerged, relentlessly attacking the Rain Ninja. The savagery on the battlefield was indescribable.

After a day of intense fighting, the Rain Ninja temporarily retreated, allowing the Shinōbi of Konoha to push the battle line forward once again. The scarlet-stained earth bore witness to the aftermath, with pits and mounds scattered across the landscape. Puddles occasionally concealed lurking corpses, the majority belonging to Rain Ninja.

Orochimaru knew what his strategic goals were. Each time a Konoha Shinōbi was injured, someone immediately rushed to their aid, bandaging their wounds and replacing them on the front lines. The completion of the mission in Amegakure was certain.

Upon hearing news of Hanzo's death and the capture of Seven-Tails, the entire Shinōbi World erupted in chaos. Amegakure had surrendered without resistance, allowing Orochimaru to infiltrate without encountering any opposition. The Shinōbi of Iwagakure showed no interest in attacking Orochimaru from behind.

Meanwhile, Hitoshi returned to the Sunagakure base in Ame no Kuni. "Rasa, take over all the areas that border our original territory within a fifty-mile radius," he commanded in a cold voice, echoing through the base.

Konoha had claimed the biggest share of the victory, and everyone agreed. However, having already enjoyed the lion's share, they now sought to claim the remaining crumbs. Rasa accepted the order with a cold demeanor. With a small team of three hundred, he set off to secure the borders between Ame no Kuni and Tsuchi no Kuni. To ensure better negotiations, he even invited several experts in the art of brickmaking as witnesses. They plundered the accumulated Ninjutsu and Kekkei Genkai of Amegakure.

Food, on the other hand, wasn't part of Konoha's plans. They considered it too audacious, something one should try on their own.