Chapter 27 Konoha 41 Years

Having cleared away all obstacles, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally got rid of the shadow of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and began to make drastic reforms, wanting to build Konoha Village into what he wanted. History is like a little girl who can be dressed up by anyone, stumbling and being pushed to the front stage, showing the world Sarutobi Hiruzen's masterpiece.

On the surface, Konoha Village was developing in a good direction under the leadership of Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Sand Village was driven back to its hometown, the Kirigakure was pinned down at the border and could not advance an inch, the dominant position of the Fire Country was once again defended by the blood and tears of the Konoha ninjas, the praises of the leadership group in the village were growing louder and louder, and everything seemed to be thriving.

But behind the prosperity, there are many doubts, questioning the leadership of the ruling group headed by Sarutobi Hiruzen. The war has been going on for five or six years, and the ninjas are tired of this war that has no known cause. They are eager to end the war and say goodbye to the killing and return to peace. However, the strength of Konoha Village has greatly declined after losing the Senju clan. It has no power to decide the direction of the war between the two countries. It can only rely on its strong financial resources to drag down the other side, which has led to increasing dissatisfaction among the ninjas fighting on the front line, and defections are happening every day.

In the 41st year of Konoha, Konoha Village was forced to recognize Hanzo as the ruler of the Rain Country. The Rain Country War ended and about two thousand ninjas were transferred to the Wind Country, striving to defeat the Sand Country in one battle.

In a desert in the Kingdom of Wind, Ye Shan buried his entire body in the sand, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed. From a distance, it was impossible to detect that there was someone hiding there.

It has been two years since the Senju clan retired. During these two years, he has been fighting on the front line. Except for one time when he was seriously injured and went back to the village to recuperate, he has never returned. The long-term mental tension made him extremely tired, and he was almost at the limit of what he could bear.

The temperature in the desert was extremely high during the day, and the sun was emitting scorching rays all the time, baking the earth. The sand was extremely dry, and Ye Shan had to cover his body with a thin layer of chakra to resist the high temperature.

I don’t know how much time had passed, but just when Ye Shan couldn’t bear it anymore and wanted to drink some water, he heard light footsteps, which made him alert.

When Ye Shan saw the 43-yard big foot appearing nearby, he suddenly jumped out of the sand and chopped at it with the dagger in his hand with a crackling sound.

The unsuspecting Sand Ninja never dreamed that someone would jump out from his feet. In a hurry, he took out his kunai and rushed forward like a conditioned reflex.

Under the horrified gaze of the Sand Ninja, the kunai broke like tofu at the touch, and the dagger struck his chest with undiminished force.

The gushing blood dyed the hot sand red. Yeshan, who was hit by the attack, reached out and grabbed the limp body of the Sand Ninja, and turned it backwards to block several kunai that were shot at him. Then the screams of the Sand Ninja were heard.

A trace of helplessness flashed in Ye Shan's eyes. He dropped the dead body of the Sand Ninja in his hand and looked back.

Konishi Kakuei pulled out a ninja sword from a Sand Ninja's body, shook off the blood, smiled slightly, and said, "Yayama, you are still a step too slow." He pointed at the Sand Ninja who was dying with his eyes open and continued, "I killed two, and tonight's meat and vegetables belong to me."

"Yes, yes, yes." What can Ye Shan do? He is also desperate...

After easily defeating a team of Sand Ninjas, Hayama and Konishi Kakuei completed their mission for today and began to prepare to return to the camp.

Looking at the apprentice in front of him who was almost as tall as himself, Konishi Kakuei couldn't help but laugh. For two years, he had kept Hayama by his side, teaching him fighting skills and ninjutsu without reservation, which could be said to be his dedication. And Hayama did not disappoint him. Although his talent was not excellent, he was extremely hardworking and perfectly inherited his legacy.

Perhaps it's time to let the eaglet find its own food.

Thinking of the ninja army transferred from the Rain Country a few days ago, Kakuei Konishi knew that the decisive battle was about to begin and it was time to let Hayama fight alone.

"Yayama." Konishi Kakuei called out.

"Ok?"

"When you return, go find Master Sakumo and you can start your apprenticeship."

Ye Shan was somewhat reluctant to leave even though he had expected this. The two years he spent fighting in the Kingdom of Wind were the happiest two years of his life, and also the two years in which his strength grew the fastest. Under the careful instruction of Konishi Kakuei, he made up for his shortcomings in ninjutsu, completed the practice of changing the nature of chakra, and grew into a truly independent ninja. He benefited a lot.

Ye Shan stopped and looked back at Konishi Kakuei, whom he rarely called Master. He sniffed and responded in a muffled voice, "Got it."

"Why are you trying to stir up trouble, you little brat? I'm not dead yet!"

Konishi Kakuei glared at Ye Shan fiercely, with a hint of reluctance in his eyes, and shouted: "Don't think you can be free and easy just because you have graduated. If I find out that you have brought disgrace upon our family, I will show you how I will deal with you!"

Ye Shan: “….”

There are only two of us in the whole family, why are you pretending to be a rich and powerful family? Bear with me for a while, when I get out, I will spread the news to the world that you grind your teeth when you sleep and like to steal other people's meat...

At the Konoha Camp Headquarters, Hatake Sakumo was reviewing documents, which was actually just stamping papers. There was no other way. Ever since the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen made a reform, the power of frontline commanders had been greatly reduced. All they had to do was follow orders, which was like eating chicken ribs. If you win, you don't get any credit, and if you lose, you take the blame, like a puppet being manipulated by others.

Ye Shan came to the outside of the tent, nodded to the two ninjas on duty, opened the door curtain and walked in. Hatake Sakumo, who was tired of stamping, saw Ye Shan's eyes light up, waved his hand hurriedly, threw the seal to Ye Shan, and drank tea happily.

Shaking his head helplessly, Ye Shan transformed into a ruthless stamping robot, leaving bright red stamps on the lower right corner of each document.

Strictly speaking, Yeshan is the disciple of Hatake Sakumo. Konishi Kakuei was once taught by Hatake Sakumo, and although they were not in the official relationship of master and disciple, he treated Hatake Sakumo as a disciple. It's just that Hatake Sakumo has never acknowledged that he has such a disciple, but the relationship is there, no matter how much you deny it, the relationship is still there.

It took a long time for Ye Shan to finish stamping the document. He rubbed his wrist and slowly explained his purpose.

Hatake Sakumo sat upright in his chair, listened carefully to what Ye Shan said, squinted his eyes and thought for a while, then said: "Shimura Shinji of the Minato team died in battle yesterday, you go and take his place."

Ye Shan recalled the voice and appearance of Minato Namikaze in his mind. The few brief exchanges left a deep impression on him. Unlike Ye Shan, who looked ordinary, Minato Namikaze had a handsome appearance, and his rare yellow hair added a bit of sunshine to him, giving people a sense of reliability.

Ye Shan had no objection to Hatake Sakumo's arrangement. Minato Namikaze, who was specially trained by the top leaders, led a team with deep political significance. It was a star team, and every member was the product of the game between various forces. Not everyone could get in. But since Hatake Sakumo said he could go, he would definitely get in, because in the Kingdom of Wind, Hatake Sakumo was the highest leader, and even the three ninjas had to stand aside.

Since joining the Uchiha chariot, Yeshan has truly experienced what it means to enjoy the shade under a big tree. Various resources are almost always available, and he can join a star team like the Minato team at any time. This was something he had never dared to think about before.

Of course, on the surface, Hayama got all this because of the appreciation of Konishi Kakuei. As for Uchiha, they tacitly never mentioned it, as if it had never happened. Hatake Sakumo even kept a certain distance from the Uchiha clan and firmly threw himself into the arms of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The adult world is so complicated and full of routines.

...........

In the evening, after learning the news, Minato Namikaze took the initiative to find Ye Shan and led Ye Shan to the team's tent.

The tent was not big but clean and tidy, without a trace of sweat odor, but a faint fragrance, which surprised Ye Shan. You have to know that ninjas exercise a lot every day, and this is the country of wind, where water resources are extremely scarce, and it is impossible to have the luxury of using water to take a shower, which makes the whole camp stink. I don't know how Minato can achieve perfect deodorization.

"Yeshan, this is your bed. Come, I'll help you make the mattress." Minato smiled gently, giving people a warm feeling.

Ye Shan refused again and again, but he still couldn't convince Minato, so he could only watch him busy from the side.

Touching his nose awkwardly, Ye Shan asked, "Don't the other team members live here?"

Namikaze Minato, who was making the mattress, paused and said with a smile: "They are all family ninjas. They have their own camp. Shinji and I lived together before."

Shinji, whose full name is Shimura Shinji, was probably a relative of Shimura Danzo. He died at the hands of the Sand Ninja yesterday. It was said that he was cut into pieces by the Wind Style and died in a very unpleasant way.

After finishing his work, Namikaze Minato rubbed his right hand on his clothes, stretched it in front of Ye Shan, and said with a smile: "Welcome to join the Minato team, Baiyun Ye Shan!"

Ye Shan held Minato's right hand, but did not speak, just nodded heavily.

In the forty-first year of Konoha, two hands were clasped together in a simple yet warm tent. No one knew what kind of storm their owners would bring about in the future, just as no one knew when the disputes among mankind would end.