CH - 120 Let’s Go Meet Madara!

"Achoo!" Akihiko involuntarily rubbed his nose, sensing that someone might be cursing him. However, he quickly dismissed it. As a Grass ninja, he knew he couldn't be everyone's favorite, and such occurrences were expected. Enjoying a rare moment of leisure, Akihiko leisurely strolled through the Grass Village's base.

Recently, the Mist Village had been relentlessly pressuring Konoha, with their forces inching closer to Konoha's borders in their pursuit of the Three-Tails. Konoha, however, maintained a stoic silence in response to these demands.

On another front, the ongoing war between the Mist and Sand villages showed no signs of abating. Pakura, now a lone force, utilized his Scorch Release abilities to single-handedly hold the Mist Village at bay. This substantially alleviated the Sand Village's situation on the battlefield.

In the absence of the Third Kazekage, Rasa and Pakura had taken on the roles of representing the young generation of the Sand Village. They engaged in an intense competition for the coveted position of the next Kazekage.

Meanwhile, Rasa was rapidly gaining recognition due to his effective use of Gold Dust against the Cloud Village and his unwavering defense of the Sand-Cloud Village frontline. In the eyes of the village, he was fast becoming the hero of the Sand Village and a strong contender for the title of the next Kazekage.

In the Grass Village, Akihiko continued his relaxed stroll. However, suddenly, a voice interrupted his leisurely walk, "Leader!"

"Oh, it's you, Koujou." Akihiko turned towards the voice, recognizing it. The atmosphere in the factory had grown tense when Akihiko arrived unannounced. Even the factory manager appeared flustered as he hurried over.

"No need to be so tense; I've just come for a visit. Everyone should return to work, you don't need to pay me any special attention," Akihiko assured them.

Koujou, the factory manager, was a familiar figure to Akihiko. He was the first worker to interview for the job, the first to enter the canteen for meals, and the first to receive both the 'Outstanding Employee Award' and the 'Personal Progress Award.' His daughter had been studying at the Grass Village Academy for several years, and he was a role model for many Land of Rain workers, dedicating himself tirelessly to Konoha. He was known for his dedication, responsibility, and care, earning him the respect of his fellow workers. Recently, he had been promoted from assistant manager to full-fledged factory manager.

"Thank you for your dedication," Akihiko expressed his gratitude for Koujou's hard work and commitment.

Koujou, overwhelmed by the leader's appreciation, showed visible excitement. His eyes even welled up slightly as he responded enthusiastically, "No need to thank me, Leader. I'll work even harder!"

Akihiko, trying to temper Koujou's enthusiasm, waved his hand and said, "No need to get too excited."

Koujou composed himself and asked, "Is there anything I can assist you with, Leader? Would you like me to give you a tour?"

Akihiko shook his head, replying casually, "No, I just came for a brief visit. I've heard you haven't been home in a while. Do you plan to return after the war ends? How's your family?"

Koujou assured, "No problem, Leader. My wife Shuko and our daughter Ruko are doing well in the village. They write to me from time to time, so you don't need to worry."

Seeing Koujou's happiness, Akihiko couldn't help but feel pleased. Akihiko smiled upon hearing this and asked, "Is that so? That's wonderful." 

He had established a system using Grass ninjas who traveled between the two places to act as temporary couriers, allowing people from the village working in Konoha to communicate with their families back home. It had proven to be a beneficial decision, considering the number of people who spent extended periods away from their families.

As he thought about receiving mail, Akihiko recalled a recent visit from the Three youngsters. They had brought a letter that Kana had written to him. While it was a simple inquiry, it had warmed his heart to receive it.

Akihiko hadn't had the opportunity to recharge his energy for quite some time, and his mental state was starting to wear thin. Replenishing his strength was a necessity once he returned.

However, there was something mentioned in Kana's letter that made him smile wryly. She wrote that the flowers Nagato had planted had finally thrived beautifully during his absence. Speaking of which, that boy seemed to relish a carefree life whenever he could. He had simple hobbies like this, quite different from Yahiko, who was interested in a multitude of things and had a carefree attitude.

As Akihiko concluded his brief inspection of the factory, Akihiko realized that it was nearly time for the workers to finish their day. As he prepared to take his leave after offering words of encouragement to Koujou, something significant crossed his mind.

"By the way, in a little while, you might be able to return home. And by that time, there will be a very convenient tool that will make traveling between the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain much easier," Akihiko mentioned as he continued towards the factory's exit.

Koujou stood there, somewhat bewildered. "Returning home?" he murmured. It seemed as though he grasped the significance of these words. His eyes widened slightly. "Could it be... the war is finally coming to an end?"

Koujou had committed to staying until peace was restored. The leader's message hinted at the possibility of a return home.

"Is the war really drawing to a close?" Koujou's face lit up with excitement. Yet, he soon remembered that the news wasn't confirmed, and he didn't wish to distract his fellow workers. He swiftly concealed his smile and regained a composed demeanor.

Nevertheless, his eyebrows furrowed, and he pondered, "What kind of convenient tool could it be?"

With renewed anticipation, he turned back into the factory, his steps seeming lighter than before.  he exclaimed, filled with enthusiasm, "I can't wait to find out!"

…

Leaving the factory, Akihiko didn't immediately return to his office. Instead, he made his way to the minefield area, a location he had chosen for its convenience and discretion, situated not too far from the factory. This area was well-suited for the extraction, refinement, and transportation of minerals. 

Recently, Elder Yoshinori and his team had been sending requests for large quantities of ores, suggesting that they were entering the crucial phase of their research, possibly even reaching the experimental stage. The excitement evident on Elder Yoshinori's face indicated that their project was approaching completion.

Akihiko was determined not to hinder their progress and diligently ensured that the necessary ore supplies and processed metals were promptly transported to them.

"Leader!" a tall, bald man dressed in the Grass Village's green protective gear called out to Akihiko as he approached. Akihiko smiled and nodded at this robust figure, instructing him to take care of the materials and ensure they were sent to Yoshinori.

This man was Daisuke, the Rain ninja who had been brought to the Grass Village by Yahiko years ago. Over time, he had developed into a more rugged and capable individual compared to when he had first arrived.

As for Hato, the other person brought by Yahiko, he currently oversaw task assignments for the Rain Village's ninjas. Despite his somewhat eccentric behavior, he was diligent in his work and had become quite proficient in his current role.

"Understood, I'll take care of it. You can trust me, Leader," Daisuke replied with unwavering seriousness. "This won't delay Elder Yoshinori's experiments in the slightest."

"Thank you," After ensuring that everything was in order, Akihiko nodded and prepared to leave. It was a rare day out for him, and there wasn't much happening at the Grass Village base.

However, After taking a few steps, Akihiko heard Daisuke call out to him once more. He turned to look at Daisuke, slightly puzzled. Before he could inquire about the matter, Daisuke, wearing a serious expression, asked, "Leader, is the Land of Rain going to have peace?"

Akihiko was momentarily taken aback and was about to suggest that he should ask Hanzo about the situation. However, when he saw the hopeful look on Daisuke's face, he couldn't help but smile and nod, "Of course."

Daisuke's tough and serious expression melted into a smile at Akihiko's response. "Thank you, Leader!"

Akihiko didn't say anything more and just shook his head in a slightly helpless manner. He walked back towards his office.

However, as he reached his office, he was surprised to find White Zetsu standing there, grinning. "Grass Village Leader, do you have some time now?"

As White Zetsu spoke, Akihiko seemed to understand something. His eyes brightened, and he excitedly grabbed White Zetsu's hand, asking, "Now? When do we leave?"

White Zetsu became momentarily speechless, surprised by Akihiko's enthusiasm. He chuckled and withdrew his hand, replying, "Yes, right now... we can go immediately!"

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