"Report-!!"

"The Mist emissaries have arrived! They are currently waiting at the village entrance."

Kakashi, now clad in an ANBU Captain's uniform, abruptly burst into the meeting hall, dropping to one knee with a serious expression. He delivered his report swiftly and concisely.

His voice stopped Danzo, who had just stepped out of the room, in his tracks. He turned and walked back inside.

"What?! The Mist ninjas are here already?"

Minato Namikaze shot to his feet, his expression darkening.

He hadn't expected the Mist emissaries to arrive before news of Konoha's increased military spending had even spread.

Truly… revenge is a dish best served cold, or in this case, quickly.

Emotionally, Minato desperately hoped Gojo Kaigetsu would win the bet against Danzo.

But rationally… the chances of victory were slim. Even in the best-case scenario, even if Kirigakure was wary of Konoha's power, the most they would do was temporarily tolerate them.

Gestures of goodwill, lavish gifts… unless the moon was made of cheese, Minato considered these unrealistic.

A pack of bloodthirsty madmen feigning tolerance? Accepting their goodwill would be an invitation for a vicious backstab.

"Escort them to the guest reception room in the Hokage Tower."

After regaining his composure, Minato's demeanor turned resolute.

He approved of all of Gojo Kaigetsu's actions thus far. If this resulted in retaliation from Kirigakure, he, as Hokage, would bear the primary responsibility.

"Under the leadership of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Konoha experienced the shortest period of peace in its history." Minato was prepared to shoulder such infamy.

During the Third Shinobi World War, it was Might Duy who single-handedly crippled Kirigakure's forces. If today marked the beginning of the Fourth War, then the man to crush Kirigakure once again would be…

A surge of adrenaline coursed through Minato. He adjusted his Hokage robes. "Bearing the title of Hokage, I will not lose."

Minato's fervor seemed contagious.

Fugaku, usually taciturn and burdened by the Uchiha name, spoke up, a rare occurrence. "Fourth Hokage… although I cannot speak for the entire Uchiha clan, if Kirigakure dares to wage war against Konoha, I will stand by your side."

"We will win!"

Fugaku's gaze was unwavering, potent chakra brewing beneath his calm exterior.

If Kirigakure wanted war, they would have it!

As a veteran elite Jonin of the Konoha Uchiha clan, since awakening his scaryly powerful eyes, he had yet to engage in a truly serious battle.

He wondered if those madmen from Kirigakure could withstand his power.

"…In the end, you still have no faith in me."

Gojo Kaigetsu chuckled wryly.

Kirigakure hadn't even stated their intentions yet, and one was already shouldering the Hokage's burden, while the other declared victory… really, they shouldn't be throwing around such flags so carelessly.

Even if Kirigakure did initiate a localized conflict, so what?

These ninjas, despite their immense strength, were overly cautious.

Setting aside Jiraiya, the Third Hokage, and Danzo, who were Kage-level or near Kage-level, even Tsunade with her hemophobia… Gojo Kaigetsu believed that if he were truly in mortal danger, she would overcome her psychological issues.

Even discounting these remnants of the old era from Konoha's current fighting force, just within this meeting room alone, there was the "Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze," the "Mangekyo Sharingan wielder, Fugaku Uchiha," and the "Strongest Ever, Gojo Kaigetsu"!

The three of them together could easily be called the "New Era Sannin." Aside from lacking a legendary ninja to bestow the title upon them, they practically fit the bill.

They might not be able to defeat the Akatsuki at this stage, but taking on any single hidden village without Bijuu unleashed would be a piece of cake!

Tap tap tap-

Danzo returned, his tone sharp. "Fugaku Uchiha, the upcoming meeting with Kirigakure is the responsibility of the Konoha Elders. This is not your concern."

"Unrelated personnel, leave immediately."

Fugaku Uchiha didn't argue.

Regarding crucial decisions between villages, even as the Uchiha Clan Head and the Head of the Konoha Military Police Force, he was not qualified to participate.

The power to decide the fate of the village and its clans rested solely in the hands of the Hokage and the Elders.

Fugaku silently resolved that during Kaigetsu and Minato's era, the Uchiha clan must secure a seat on the Elder Council.

These were the worst of times, yet also the best, the most hopeful of times.

Even if he couldn't achieve it, the exceptional new generation of Uchiha would! Itachi, Shisui, and his yet-to-be-born second son…

…

…

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The leader of the Kirigakure emissaries was not Ao, the right-hand man of the Mizukage, but another confidant, Gonbee.

Ao's position in Kirigakure was equivalent to Shikaku Nara in Konoha, an absolute pillar of the village, unwavering regardless of political shifts.

Loyal and intelligent…

In theory, Ao would have been the ideal representative for Kirigakure in inter-village diplomatic affairs.

However, at this juncture, his abilities as a ninja presented a delicate issue… His right eye was the Byakugan, taken from the Konoha Hyuga clan. As a gesture of goodwill, they might be asked to return it. The village had just lost two Kekkei Genkai users; they couldn't afford to lose his Byakugan as well.

Gonbee's delegation was quite large.

Knowing Konoha's nature, they deemed a sudden attack on the emissaries during the meeting unlikely, so they came prepared.

They had elite ninjas from Kirigakure's, the Terumi clan, and a promising member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi…

"Don't disgrace the pride of Kirigakure's ninja, but don't be overly arrogant either. After all, this time, Konoha is someone we need to unite with…"

"…Learn from the barbarians to control the barbarians. Take the younger generation to Konoha to observe. Ideally, they'll learn the secrets of their enduring strength." These were the Mizukage's instructions before their departure.

Essentially, he was sending them on a learning expedition.

"Once we enter Konoha, mind your manners. We represent Kirigakure! Don't embarrass the village."

Gonbee, walking at the front, instructed, "You younger ones, observe carefully. The responsibility of building a new Kirigakure will eventually fall upon your shoulders."

"Discard Konoha's flaws. Etch their strengths into your hearts like a brand!"

"Do you understand?!"

"Yes!"

A young kunoichi from the Terumi clan, Mei Terumi, responded.

"If you think the village is flawed, don't complain, learn to change it!" This was her motto. She harbored a grand dream: to one day completely eradicate the Bloody Mist, crushing any hint of its resurgence.

Achieving this dream would be difficult, but if she became Mizukage, anything was possible! And unlike other villages with their complicated political maneuvering, becoming Mizukage in Kirigakure required only one thing: to be the strongest!

Regardless of prior class, the strongest in Kirigakure would become the next Mizukage. This was the most direct and effective method of social mobility within Kirigakure.

'…Konoha, since its founding fifty years ago, has always been the most powerful village in the shinobi world.'

'If my goal is to become the Fifth Mizukage, what can I learn here?'

Mei's gaze hardened with resolve.

Zabuza Momochi, a prospective member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, lacked such lofty ideals.

His hands were clasped behind his head, his gaze brazen and defiant. His headband was askew, and his face was wrapped in bandages, perfectly fitting the Konoha stereotype of a Kirigakure ninja.

Flippant, delinquent, wielding ninjutsu devoid of compassion, and possessing a decidedly uncooperative mindset…

He was a terrible ninja, the antithesis of the Will of Fire.

Unlike Mei, he felt no sense of belonging to Kirigakure. In fact… if Haku hadn't already done what he intended to do, after maturing and becoming a Jonin, he too would have rebelled and fled the village.

Flaws or advancements, it didn't matter to Zabuza. He simply wanted to leave Kirigakure and breathe the air of the outside world, and incidentally… if he could add a few powerful ninja to his kill count, honing his skills in the process, all the better.

If you think the village is flawed, don't complain, just defect!

As for what constituted strength…

Zabuza crossed his arms, glancing sideways at the two Hyuga Chunin guarding Konoha's gate, poised for battle.

'At least, not like those guys.'

'Below Jonin, I'm invincible. Against a Jonin, it's a one-for-one trade. As for Chunin, they'd need a Sharingan to even stand a chance against me.'

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

The Hyuga ninja seemed to have received a message from the Hokage Tower through some secret technique. Standing at attention, they slowly opened Konoha's gates for the Kirigakure delegation.

"Welcome, emissaries of Kirigakure."

Gonbee nodded slightly, reiterating his instructions to his subordinates in a low voice before stepping onto Konoha's soil, leading the way.

After walking for a short distance, the scene before them opened up.

The sight of Konoha's main street unfolded before the Kirigakure delegation.

'So… so big…' This was Mei's first thought, her brown eyes wide with astonishment.

Mei had read "Iki I & II," which depicted a peaceful, civilized, and powerful Konoha. She had mentally prepared herself, but witnessing it firsthand still left her deeply shaken.

It was like a world from a genjutsu.

Konoha's new commercial street bustled with activity, carriages and donkey carts constantly coming and going.

The architectural style of the entire street was unique and elegant, a blend of various designs, perfectly combining Gojo's aesthetics with the traditional Will of Fire style.

The streets were clean and tidy, practically devoid of litter. Novel shops lined both sides, their shelves brimming with a dazzling array of goods, attracting the attention of Konoha villagers.

Street vendors exuded a warm and inviting atmosphere, the colorful and diverse soldier pills on their stalls emitting enticing aromas.

Laughter echoed through the streets, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Drawn by the charm of the commercial street, the villagers of Konoha seemed to revel in this prosperous and peaceful world, lingering with delight.

Mei was speechless. Her usually straight posture involuntarily slumped slightly at the sight of such prosperity.

Living in the same cruel era of ninjas, just one year after the end of the Third Shinobi World War, how could Konoha have developed to such an extent?

Where did their village get the funds to build such an environment?

Look at the roads, as if reinforced by some strange Earth Style jutsu, the very feel underfoot different from ordinary dirt roads.

Look at the shops lining the streets, some of which were beyond her comprehension, like "Foot Massage Parlor" and "Sauna"…

Look at those conducting business. Why did those who looked like wealthy merchants resemble people from the Land of Water? No, wait, their familiarity suggested they were indeed Konoha villagers. Their accents, though peculiar, were definitely from the Land of Fire. How could this be, after just a few days? Impossible, impossible.

This Konoha… was too advanced.

As they walked, a sense of bewilderment washed over Mei.

Her dream was to become Mizukage, end the Bloody Mist, and transform Kirigakure into a truly powerful hidden village.

But… setting aside the strength of their ninjas, just looking at what was before her, what she walked upon, how many years would it take for Kirigakure, even with all its might, to catch up to this Konoha?

Even if they confiscated all the wealth accumulated by the village elders for generations and used it for infrastructure, it probably wouldn't be enough.

Workers, technology, raw materials… just thinking about it gave her a headache. To achieve what Konoha had, they would likely have to hire people from Konoha, further enriching Konoha's coffers.

It was a snowball effect, the gap between Kirigakure and Konoha widening with each passing day.

'Unless one day, a supremely powerful ninja completely razes this Konoha to the ground, the chasm between our villages will remain insurmountable.'

It wasn't just Mei. The other Kirigakure ninjas, their initially aggressive gazes, had also softened. The once audacious and bloodthirsty ninjas now appeared timid and hesitant.

Their eyes, filled with curiosity and restraint, darted towards the shops lining the streets.

It was as if, with one glance too many, fashionably dressed Konoha villagers would leap out and accuse them of being country bumpkins from Kirigakure, telling them to scurry back to their small-town backwater.

This was probably the typical reaction of outsiders visiting a major city for the first time.

Fortunately, they were Kirigakure ninja! Not mere villagers.

After the initial shock, they quickly adjusted, naturally accepting the grandeur of Konoha.

So what if it was nice? It just had more shops, friendlier villagers, sturdier roads, and a more impressive Hokage Rock…

So what?

Kirigakure survived without all that!

Mei's heart ached, the invisible burden on her shoulders feeling a little heavier.