Chapter 18

The trip back to Amegakure was much less eventful that the prior journey from Konoha had been. Yahiko, always the most talkative of the three, kept up a steady stream of chatter, trying to keep young Kaya's mind off her recent ordeal. And it seemed to work as he and the little girl had an eventful conversation about if water was wet or not.

Konan and Nagato, more reserved by nature, offered quiet support, with Konan occasionally reaching out to pat Kaya's head reassuringly, something that made Garp smile a bit.

Garp, for his part, had been in a slightly bad mood ever since discovering Kaya. The young Uzumaki was obviously another remnant from their Village, and he didn't know many that were left.

'Kushina should already be in Konoha, so maybe she is closer in relation to Karin? There aren't that many Uzumaki actually known in the show, and I can't rule out the possibility that she's simply a person who wasn't shown in the series.' Garp thought to himself.

Garp had remained vigilant, his senses stretched to their limits. What was supposed to be a vacation had somehow turned into him decimating the ROOT forces and adopting a new grandchild. So, at this point, anything that came at them was about to face a world-ending punch before they could realize it.

As they approached the modest house that had been their home for the past few years, Garp felt a bit happier. Regardless of how ordinary the home looked, it was the place he would raise his grandchildren at, and that made it more than worth it.

"Alright, you brats!" Garp announced as they reached the front door, "Let's get settled in. It's been a long day."

The children filed into the house, with Kaya sticking close to Konan, who had taken on a protective big sister role. Garp followed, his large frame filling the doorway as he did a final scan of their surroundings before closing the door behind him.

"Konan." Garp called out as the blue-haired girl was showing Kaya around, "Kaya will be sharing your room for now. Can you make sure she's comfortable?"

Konan nodded, a small smile on her face. "Of course, Grandfather. I'll take care of her."

Garp grinned, ruffling Konan's hair affectionately. "That's my girl. Now, all of you get some rest. I need to head into Amegakure to speak with Hanzo and get some supplies."

Yahiko's eyes widened. "You're leaving again so soon, Gramps?"

Garp knelt down, bringing himself to eye level with his grandchildren. "Just for a little while. There's a lot we need to discuss and prepare for. But I'll be back before you know it."

He turned to Nagato, who had been quiet since their return. "Nagato, you're in charge while I'm gone. Keep an eye on everyone, alright?"

Nagato nodded solemnly, his Rinnegan eyes gleaming with understanding. "I will, Grandfather. Be safe."

With a final ruffle of hair and a few words of encouragement, Garp headed out again, this time towards the heart of Amegakure.

The perpetual rain of the village began to soak through his clothes, but Garp paid it no mind. His thoughts were focused on the conversation and plans that needed to be made.

As he approached the central tower where Hanzo made his headquarters, Garp could sense the tension in the air. News of his confrontation with Danzo and the Konoha elders had reached Amegakure. Shinobi patrols watched him warily as he passed, but none dared to impede his progress.

'Looks like they are still afraid of the Five Great Nations. Looks like we'll have a lot of work to do.' Garp thought as he sighed

At the tower's entrance, two guards stepped forward, their postures tense. "Hanzo-sama is expecting you, Garp-san." one of them said, his voice emotionless.

Garp nodded, following them into the building. As they ascended the stairs, the two guards grew nervous, afraid that Garp and Hanzo may have a fight due to his actions and they they would be caught in the middle of it.

Finally, they reached Hanzo's office. The guards knocked, announced Garp's arrival, and then stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

Hanzo the Salamander stood at the window, his back to the door as he gazed out over his rain-soaked village. His respirator mask gleamed dully in the low light, giving him an ominous appearance.

"So." Hanzo's voice was rough, carrying a hint of exasperation, "You decided to visit Konoha. And cause quite a stir while you were at it, from what I hear."

Garp grinned, casually digging a finger in his ear. "Ah, you know how it is. Can't go anywhere without stirring up a little excitement."

Hanzo turned, his eyes narrowing behind his mask. "A little excitement? Garp, you defeated an entire platoon of ROOT ANBU, crippled one of Konoha's elders, and then demanded a ransom of jutsu scrolls. That's not 'a little excitement'. That's a diplomatic incident waiting to explode!"

As Hanzo continued his tirade, Garp's demeanor remained casual, almost bored. He examined his finger, flicked away whatever he had found, and then finally met Hanzo's gaze.

"Are you done?" Garp asked his tone light but with an undercurrent of steel.

Hanzo fell silent, taken aback by Garp's nonchalance. After a moment, he sighed, his posture relaxing slightly. "What am I going to do with you, Garp? You're worse than a natural disaster."

Garp's grin widened. "But just as unstoppable, eh?"

Despite himself, Hanzo chuckled while rubbing his forehead. "Indeed. Since you're here and miraculously haven't started a war yet, what can I do for you?"

Garp's expression turned serious, the sudden shift catching Hanzo off guard. "I need another bed and more supplies. We've got a guest."

Hanzo's eyebrows rose behind his mask. "A guest? Don't tell me you've adopted another stray."

"Not adopted. At least, not yet." Garp replied. "We rescued a young girl on our way back. An Uzumaki."

This caught Hanzo's full attention. "An Uzumaki? I thought they were all but extinct after Uzushiogakure fell. At least the ones that openly used the surname."

Garp nodded grimly. "Apparently not. Some Kusa ANBU were trying to kidnap her. I... intervened."

Hanzo was silent for a moment, processing this information. "I see. And I suppose those Kusa ANBU won't be reporting back to their village?"

"They've been... permanently reassigned." Garp confirmed, his voice hard.

Hanzo nodded, understanding the implications. "Very well. I'll have the supplies you need delivered to your house. But Garp, we need to talk about the bigger picture here."

Garp moved to the window, standing beside Hanzo as they both looked out over Amegakure. "I know. Things are moving faster than we anticipated. But that might not be a bad thing."

Hanzo turned to face him fully. "What are you thinking?"

Garp was quiet for a moment, his eyes distant as he considered their next moves. "We need time. Time to prepare, to train, to gather our strength. I'd say the three-year time frame should still work."

"Three years?" Hanzo repeated, surprise evident in his voice. "That's ambitious, even for you. I was always expecting you to extend it further."

Garp nodded. "It is. But it's necessary. The ninja world is balanced on a knife's edge right now. We need to be ready when it tips."

Hanzo considered this, and his tactical mind was already working through the implications. "It won't be easy. The other villages are getting restless. They'll be looking for any advantage they can get. I've heard rumors that Kiri is even looking into joining the war."

"That's where you come in." Garp said, turning to face Hanzo. "I need you to stall them. Keep them off balance, play them against each other if you have to. But buy us those three years."

As Garp turned to leave, Hanzo called out, "Garp. Are you sure about this? Once we start down this path, there's no turning back."

Garp paused at the door, looking back over his shoulder. His eyes held a determination that seemed to burn with an inner fire. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Hanzo. It's time for the dawn of a new era. I can't wait for it to end."1

With that, Garp departed, leaving Hanzo to his own thoughts.

Garp couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building. For the first time in his life, he could actively make the change himself rather than being forced to burden it on the next generation.

And he would either succeed or die trying.

As Garp made his way back home, his mind was already racing with plans for the training and preparation to come. His grandchildren had shown remarkable progress, but the challenges ahead would require them to push beyond even their considerable potential.

A smile worked on his face as he returned home at his speed, and he imagined himself making cookies with them that day.

But that smile quickly fell away. Rather than finding a serene scene of his grandkids playing, he saw Nagato shining a golden light above a dead Kiri Shinobi while Yahiko stood at the door with a blade in his hand.

[I got an A on my Midterm, so expect an Extra Chapter this week!!!]

[PS: I got the Discord working again!!! Link here and in the Novel Synopsis- https://discord.new/D7m3XGtn4cdM]

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