Chapter 168: Naruto, Come Out and Greet the Guests
After entering the Land of Grass, the atmosphere became somewhat somber.
Among the various nations in the Ninja World, the Five Great Nations are the wealthiest and the most peaceful.
But the other small nations are extremely chaotic.
Not only are they used as battlefields by the Five Great Nations, but the quality of their own hidden villages is terrible.
Although Konoha has its flaws, as far as Ninjas are concerned, they are already the most trustworthy.
Take the Grass Hidden Village for example; chaos, disorder, and turning on their employers are common occurrences.
Therefore, the Five Great Ninja Villages handle almost all of the commissions.
In the original work, the range of missions Konohaaccepted spanned from the Land of Fire, the Land of Grass, the Land of Stars, and the Land of Bearsto the distant Land of Snow, and so on; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say their missions covered the entire Ninja World.
This situation exists because the state of the small hidden villages is worrying.
Since the hidden villages, as a nation's military force, have reached this state, the nation itself naturally cannot be very pleasant.
As Jiraiya and Naruto traveled along, what they saw and heard was practically like hell.
Beggars and refugees could be seen everywhere.
The same was true for bandits and mountain thieves.
In other words, the Land of Grass had lost most of its order.
Only the large cities were still relatively normal.
Naruto finally understood why Karin was treated that way in the Grass Hidden Village.
They had no plans for the future anymore.
They only thought about the present.
But Jiraiya's silence wasn't because the scenes were particularly cruel.
He had participated in wars and seen much more cruel images.
The Land of Grass was certainly miserable, but he didn't have many emotional fluctuations.
He was remembering the White Lotus Sect's teachings.
['Peace and development are the primary contradictions of the Ninja World. Without peace, there is no development. Whether Ninjas or civilians, all will be in endless strife. And the so-called peace in the current Ninja World is only temporary, because only a few people are the vested interests.']
Jiraiya was lost in thought.
The more one sees, the more one can understand the foresight and insight of the White Lotus Sect's teachings.
The author who wrote these books is truly a god-like person.
"Naruto, rest here for a while. I have something to take care of and will be out for about half a day,"
Jiraiya suddenly spoke up.
Thinking of the White Lotus Sect's teachings, he wanted to verify its contents.
The current state of the Land of Grass was quite suitable for that.
"Okay."
Although Naruto was curious, he tactfully didn't ask.
Jiraiya turned and left.
After a ten-minute walk, he arrived at a town.
There were very few pedestrians on the street, and most of them looked numb.
There is no hope here.
Jiraiya stopped in front of a large manor.
One could tell the owner's extraordinary status just from the guards at the door.
They exuded arrogance.
"Civilians and slaves are not allowed to approach this place!"
A faint smile played on the corner of Jiraiya's mouth.
Truly a noble.
He moved to the backyard and flipped over the wall to enter.
With his strength, no one could detect him.
Jiraiya scanned the patrols and layout in the courtyard and quickly locked onto a room.
This was where the noble who managed the town resided.
The so-called City Lord.
"How nice."
Jiraiya lay on the roof, listening to the sounds of a man and woman in close combat below.
But this time, he had no desire to peep.
A few minutes later, the room quieted down.
Jiraiya entered through the window.
"Who are you?"
Nishimura Tadashi shouted in terror, "Someone! Quickly, someone come here!"
But no one heard him.
Jiraiya stepped forward, raised his hand, knocked the woman unconscious, and looked at Nishimura Tadashi.
"Spare my life, hero! I'll give you whatever you want! Whether it's women or money, I can give it to you!"
"Shut up."
Jiraiya glared at him, "Don't talk nonsense. I ask, you answer."
Nishimura Tadashi nodded hurriedly.
An hour later, Jiraiya got his answers.
It was just as expected.
The nobles only cared about exploitation, not development.
If there was no money, they added taxes.
If someone couldn't pay taxes, they handed over people.
Civilians became slaves, once again bringing profit to the nobles.
Even in the chaotic Land of Grass, the nobles were still filthy rich.
If most of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of the nobles, then what about the commoners at the bottom?
Jiraiya was in a daze.
He ran around for the sake of peace, but was it really for peace?
Perhaps it was for the Ninjas and the nobles?
If the peace he envisioned arrived, the ones truly benefiting wouldn't be Konoha, but the nobles.
Because without war, their workload as Ninjas would be drastically reduced, and the result would be the Daimyo cutting back on aid.
Jiraiya thought of the White Lotus Sect's teachings again.
['The way out for Ninjas lies in professionalization; not all Ninjas must be prepared for war. Construction, agriculture, manufacturing, engineering, service industries, etc.—they will play a greater role. This is what's called productivity. To use it only for war, how ridiculous!']
He suddenly realized that the White Lotus Sectcould not be disbanded.
If everyone understood such teachings, how could they be disbanded?
"So that princess is the key?"
Jiraiya vaguely sensed something, but he wasn't quite sure how it would work in practice.
He sighed and knocked Nishimura Tadashi unconscious.
He didn't kill anyone.
Because it was meaningless.
Jiraiya turned and left.
"Sensei, you're back so early?"
Naruto noticed Jiraiya and couldn't help but be stunned.
Could it be that his body hasn't been up to it lately?
But he didn't smell any alcohol or perfume.
"Yeah."
Jiraiya sat across from him, thinking about today's events.
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Being this quiet wasn't Jiraiya's style at all.
Strange.
"Naruto."
After a moment of silence, Jiraiya spoke, "You are the child of prophecy the Great Toad Sage spoke of. What are your thoughts on peace?"
Naruto's face appropriately showed deep thought.
He was only thirteen.
He couldn't say anything too extreme.
"It should mean having no war."
"Yeah."
Jiraiya nodded; there was nothing wrong with that statement.
The key was how to make the Ninja World have no war?
He thought of his own prophecy.
Perhaps obtaining the White Lotus Sect's teachings was his destiny.
"In terms of Ninjutsu, I don't have much more to teach you, but I am older than you after all, and I have more experience. I plan to teach it to you, what do you think?"
"Okay."
Naruto didn't refuse.
Learning from experience was also good.
But when the lesson started, he realized he was dead wrong.
In the room, under the lamp.
Jiraiya was holding an introductory level White Lotus Sect manual and teaching it to the White Lotus Sect Leader.
"..."
He felt like something had gone wrong somewhere.
Why did it turn out like this?
Naruto looked at Jiraiya's rigorous and responsible attitude; he really truly wanted to teach him.
He pretended to listen carefully while he was thinking.
Who did he run into or what happened when he went out?
But Naruto couldn't directly ask Jiraiya.
He could only listen to the lecture peacefully.
Although Jiraiya didn't say it was the White Lotus Sect's teachings, the content was pretty much the same.
They studied until late into the night.
Jiraiya scratched the back of his head.
He felt like his own gains were actually even greater.
Because he had to explain it, he had to fully master the content.
Precisely because of this, he gained new insights and understandings.
Jiraiya admired the author who wrote the teachings more and more.
If he had the chance to meet him in the future, he must thank him properly.
He suddenly had a hypothesis.
If Lord Senju Hashirama had also understood the White Lotus Sect's teachings back then, perhaps the entire Ninja World would have welcomed peace long ago.
Jiraiya snapped back to reality and realized he was offending the God of Shinobi in his heart.
He sighed.
The smarter a person is, the easier it is for them to understand the White Lotus Sect's teachings.
After understanding them, they will naturally be influenced.
The next day.
The two of them arrived at the Grass Hidden Village.
But they were greeted by Ninjas who were trying to rob them.
Jiraiya was speechless.
This kind of hidden village wasn't worth saving.
After taking down the four robbing Ninjas in a few moves, he arrived at the crime scene.
The traces of Ninjutsu were very obvious.
"Fire Release and Lightning Release."
Jiraiya took a glance and said, "Common attributes; it's hard to know their identities based on the Ninjutsu."
He exposed his identity again and checked with the Ninjas of the Grass Hidden Village, and as expected, no flaws were left.
But it wasn't without gains.
He obtained portraits of Sasuke and Karin.
Their appearances were naturally unfamiliar.
But what was noteworthy were their clothes; they were very special and should be recognizable at a glance.
Jiraiya thought back for a moment and had no memory of them.
The Tianming Organization that appeared earlier in the Land of Fire didn't seem to wear this set of clothes.
Moreover, their strength didn't match at all.
According to Konoha's information, the Tianming Organization wasn't very strong, just an ordinary merchant guild.
There were two possibilities.
First, this Tianming was not that Tianming.
Second, this Tianming was the real Tianming, and the others were just peripheral or affiliated units.
Jiraiya's interest in Tianming now even surpassed that of the Akatsuki Organization.
Because he wanted to know if the White Lotus Sect actually belonged to the Tianming Organization.
Naruto rubbed his chin.
Because the Grass Hidden Village's strength was average, Sasuke didn't use his Mangekyo Sharingan.
However, even if it were exposed, it wouldn't be linked to a thirteen-year-old Genin.
Granted, Sasuke was a famous genius, but no matter how famous he was, he wouldn't be able to fight the Raikage to a standstill.
It was simply too outrageous.
The most important thing was that Sasuke had an alibi.
After all, he was currently following Hana Rin on a guard mission.
As for Chidori.
With the Mangekyo Sharingan, wouldn't learning Chidori be a very simple matter?
Even if someone went to ask Kakashi, he wouldn't dare to say Sasuke could fight the Raikage on even terms even if he were beaten to death.
Of course, the news about the Hidden Cloud Village hadn't spread yet.
Even fewer people cared about the Grass Hidden Village.
"Let's go."
Jiraiya had no good feelings toward the Grass Hidden Village and wouldn't stay to help them.
After sending the intelligence to Tsunade, he continued to teach Naruto.
He could be said to have regained his dignity as a teacher.
Well, he didn't know that the Naruto in front of him was a Shadow Clone.
While the main body had already slipped away.
As the White Lotus Sect Leader, if it got out that he let an outsider teach him the doctrines, wouldn't his Shadow Clone be laughed to death?
Otogakure.
Sasuke had his hands in his pockets, waiting for Naruto's arrival.
Under Karin's care, his body had already fully recovered.
Compared to the original work, he was actually much stronger and not as weak.
The reason for this was Naruto's Chakra.
Although he couldn't compare to Naruto, that freak, he had already surpassed most Ninjas.
Even his Chakra capacity was the same.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of using Magical Girl Mode.
"Sasuke-kun!"
As soon as Karin appeared, she fluttered over like a butterfly.
Sasuke still kept his posture unchanged, only pulling his hands out of his pockets to stop the girl's restless little hands that wanted to check his body.
What a pity.
Karin looked at him with a beaming smile; since she couldn't take advantage of him, she could only return to normal.
"Let's go."
Naruto grabbed one in each hand and arrived at the Hidden Cloud Village again.
The sound of clanging rang out.
Sasuke looked around at the panicked Hidden Cloud Village, a smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.
So what if it's one of the Five Great Villages?
They also lost their cool upon seeing him.
He lifted his chin proudly and said in a flat tone, "Tell the Raikage to come out."
Naruto crossed his arms and took over the conversation, saying, "That's right, let him come out and greet the guests. Our Tianming Organization's boss wants to see him."
"???"
Sasuke and Karin both looked at him at once.
What on earth?
Hearing Naruto's incredibly arrogant words, the Cloud Ninjas were all beyond furious.
"You're dead! How dare you insult Lord Raikage!"
But although they said that, they didn't dare to make a move.
After all, they couldn't win.
The Hidden Cloud Village certainly had a fierce reputation, but facing an enemy with such a huge gap, they still knew where they stood.
There was no reason to lead the charge—oh no, lead the way to their deaths.
"How did I become the boss?"
Sasuke skipped the first half about the strange phrase 'greeting guests' and asked, "Isn't our boss that Ninja called The Fool?"
He hadn't met The Fool, so there wasn't much respect in his tone.
"They don't know that,"
Naruto said indifferently, "Being the boss has more style; I think it suits you better."
Sasuke let out a soft exclamation of surprise.
He always felt Naruto was acting strange.
Based on his understanding of him, he shouldn't be saying such things.
But he didn't ask further.
A brilliant meteor streaked across the sky.
Sasuke immediately went to meet it.
In the Raikage's abundant lightning flash, the light on his body was instead directly ignored.
Magical Girl Mode activated.
It was slightly different from before; cyan and white colors surged around him.
Cyan was Sage Mode.
White was Magical Girl Mode.
With the two superimposed, Sasuke suddenly felt a new world.
He had never used the two modes together before.
"What is this?"
Astonishment appeared on the Raikage's face.
His punch, which was just now incredibly fast, was actually dodged.
It was simply unbelievable.
He stared at Sasuke.
He only felt the surging Natural Energy and Chakra on his body intertwining with each other, and there was even an unfamiliar energy.
While his heart was shaken, Sasuke boldly launched an attack.
A sense of omnipotence surged within him.
His body seemed to blend into the air, the distance of several meters vanished in an instant, and he struck the Raikage with a punch.
His eyes lit up.
His speed had indeed caught up.
But it was just that this Lightning Armor was a bit too hard.
Sasuke felt the armor on the Raikage's body was outrageous during the last battle, and even now with Magical Girl Mode superimposed, he still couldn't break through the defense.
Naruto was somewhat surprised.
Has he made progress again?
This time it could be considered truly evenly matched.
But stamina was still Sasuke's biggest problem.
Naruto suddenly thought of something.
[cloning card used, target Fourth Raikage A's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, copying...]
[Copy successful, you have successfully obtained it.]
[Do you confirm this Ninjutsu as the final result of this card? Select 'Yes' and the card disappears; select 'No' and it continues to exist, but you will temporarily not know the relevant information of the Ninjutsu.]
[You selected 'No'.]
[Current remaining uses: 3/5.]
Good luck.
In a sense, Lightning Release Chakra Mode isn't worse than Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Of course, the two Ninjutsu have different uses and cannot be compared like that.
Naruto shifted his gaze as an octopus leg attacked him in a violent manner.
At the same time, Killer Bee came into view.
He pulled Karin back.
The octopus leg hit the spot where he had just been standing, and the ground suffered again, with a shallow pit appearing.
Seeing this, Killer Bee swung his arms, a blood-red cloak covered him, and he entered a semi-Tailed Beast state again.