Chapter 124

"Big Brother, you're a good person. Thank you for saving us," Konan said with a sunny smile as she sat across from Hitoshi.

In the place where Hitoshi stayed, known as the secret base, the three children found refuge and managed to survive. Grateful for their rescue, they invited Hitoshi to visit their secret base. As a guest, Hitoshi brought high-quality food from Sunagakure, not accustomed to settling for less.

"Oh, no, I'm not a good person. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have ended up in such a miserable situation," Hitoshi replied, taken aback by Konan's words. He shook his head and smiled.

"But Big Brother, you saved us. Otherwise, we might be dead," Konan insisted earnestly.

"Well, I suppose I did save your lives," Hitoshi reluctantly conceded, not wanting to argue.

"Big Brother, are you a Shinōbi?" Yahiko suddenly asked Hitoshi, looking up from his ravenous eating.

"Yes," Hitoshi confirmed, meeting Yahiko's hopeful gaze.

"Can you teach us Ninjutsu?" Yahiko asked eagerly, jumping up with excitement.

Perplexed, Hitoshi furrowed his brow. "Why study Ninjutsu?"

"Because I want to bring peace to Ame no Kuni, just like Lord Hanzo. And strength is the only way to achieve peace," Yahiko explained solemnly, his gaze fixed on Hitoshi.

Staring into Yahiko's clear eyes, Hitoshi saw no ulterior motives, only an earnest desire for peace. Growing up in turbulent times, he understood the longing for a peaceful existence.

"I don't want to teach. It's too tiring, and I'm not from Ame no Kuni. It wouldn't be beneficial for me to teach you," Hitoshi said, lowering his head and avoiding Yahiko's gaze. He began eating a pastry instead.

Disappointed, Yahiko sat back down and resumed eating. He hadn't held much hope that Hitoshi would teach them, merely trying his luck.

"I'm a pragmatic person. If you can't bring benefits to me, I have no interest in teaching you. Keep the food and clothes," Hitoshi stated, breaking the silence. After about an hour, he stood up and left the room.

As he left, Hitoshi retrieved three sets of clothes and some food from a wormhole and left them in the room. The moment the three children wanted to say something, Hitoshi's figure disappeared, leaving them looking at each other in confusion.

"Yahiko, look," Nagato suddenly exclaimed, pointing to the clothes left by Hitoshi. They noticed five small scrolls nestled in between the layers of clothing.

"Quickly, let's open them and see," Yahiko and Konan exclaimed in unison, rushing to open the scrolls.

Nagato joined them, curious to see what was inside. "These are Chakra extraction and Ninjutsu Scrolls," Nagato observed. Being from the Uzumaki Clan, he had a better understanding of Shinōbi matters, even though his mother hadn't explicitly taught him.

Meanwhile, outside the room, Hitoshi stood in the rain with his umbrella, quietly observing the room and listening to the excited voices of the three children. A smile graced his lips.

"The Third Kazekage won't act as an enemy. Naruto Fan Hitoshi will indeed follow his own path," Hitoshi whispered to himself.

With that, he turned and walked away. His actions were merely a reflection of a single thought, devoid of ulterior motives.

"I wonder if your fate will be as tragic in this life. Hanzo's premature demise will certainly make a difference," Hitoshi pondered, his back turned to the three children's secret base. He continued on his way, hoping to make amends for the regrets he had witnessed while watching the anime.

Even if it was only a small contribution, it meant something to him.

In Hitoshi's eyes, amidst the grand Hokage drama, the greatest sorrow wasn't his brother Itachi, Naruto, Sasuke, Uchiha Madara, Obito, or the members of Akatsuki.

It was the three children, the ones hidden in the darkness with bright hearts.

Having experienced life in chaotic Ame no Kuni as children, the happiest moments of their lives were the times when Jiraiya took care of them.

"In the next ten years, I hope Ame no Kuni won't be consumed by war. I hope you can thrive and lead Ame no Kuni to prosperity," Hitoshi silently wished the three children, considering the state of the Shinōbi World.

Konoha wouldn't occupy Ame no Kuni for long. After the war and the looting were over, they would soon withdraw. Sunagakure and Iwagakure would relinquish control of Ame no Kuni once they secured the land they needed.

With Hanzo gone, the chances of Ame no Kuni rising to power were gone as well.

The situation in the Shinōbi World grew increasingly complex, defying everyone's expectations.

After the war in Ame no Kuni, Orochimaru was supposed to be transferred back to Konoha for rest. However, for some reason, the Land of Lightning's family attacked Konoha. Orochimaru had no choice but to lead half of his Shinōbi to support Jiraiya.

Kirigakure also unexpectedly launched a fierce assault on Sunagakure and the Land of Wind. It would have been a disaster if Yasuke hadn't been prepared.

Of the Five Great Countries, only Iwagakure and the Land of Earth hadn't launched an offensive yet, but they were being closely monitored. Nobody trusted the Tsuchikage lineage.

Stabbing the alliance in the back was a trademark of the Tsuchikage lineage.

The spoils of war would be divided after the conflict, and the Tsuchikage lineage had its own methods.

Recalling the events of the Fourth Shinobi World War in the original work, where the Second Tsuchikage wasn't available and was subsequently resurrected through Impure World Reincarnation, Hitoshi understood the untrustworthiness of the Tsuchikage lineage.