Chapter 318 Burning Heaven (2)

The river was roaring, its waves were clear, the river water mixed with mud was turbid and rushing, a black-sailed boat was drifting downstream, a child at the bow was having fun, lying on the wooden board in the early autumn rain, touching the water with his hands, one or two words of admonition came from the black sail, but the child continued to amuse himself without caring about anything.

"Look, there's a person floating there!"

The curtain was lifted, and a strong man holding a harpoon rushed out. He looked in the direction of the child's finger. The ferocity on his face suddenly disappeared, and he hurriedly grabbed the child and hid in the black tent.

He was a ninja, and judging from the forehead protector on his forehead, he was a ninja from the Rain Country, known for his cruelty and cunning, so the man naturally didn't dare to provoke him.

Kabuto Yakushi looked at the Wupeng boat expressionlessly, quietly put down the kunai in his hand, and continued to float on his back with the help of the river. The time was around noon. According to his estimation, he could reach the Grass Country through the New Rain Country in one day at most. Although the Konoha ninja did not catch up, Kabuto Yakushi did not dare to relax his vigilance. The chakra in his body was always in a fast running state so that he could respond to sudden attacks at any time.

Walking on water will more or less leave some traces of chakra, and sinking to the bottom of the river will test the ninja's lung capacity. Going downstream along the river is the wisest option for Kabuto Yakushi. Of course, when he meets unidentified people, he will temporarily sink to the bottom of the river to avoid unnecessary trouble.

.........

The modern city with millions of people is bustling with traffic, and people work like hard-working ants, bringing unparalleled prosperity and luxury to this centuries-old city.

Guigong Street is adjacent to the daimyo's mansion. It is named after the nobles of all sizes who live on the street. It has always been the heart of the Fire Country. The luxury and enjoyment there can be imagined. A group of nobles who have been born with no worries about food and clothing have plenty of time to kill their vigorous energy, such as cockfighting, gambling, fine wine, beautiful things, beauty, Cuju, poetry meetings, etc. These nobles are far ahead of others in the entertainment industry, so of course they are qualified to call people in remote areas barbarians and vulgar people who do not know etiquette.

Although the nobility pay attention to the second generation to see the food, the third generation to see the wealth, the fourth generation to see the articles, but human beings are the first of all spirits, and naturally need to eat to survive. When a person's material life reaches a certain level, he will naturally become picky.

At twelve o'clock, the largest and most prosperous restaurant in Guigong Street welcomed a group of diners on time. They were wearing dark green Konoha standard vests and ninja forehead protectors. They did not look elite at all. They came to the entrance of the restaurant with their arms around each other, and waiters were already waiting for them.

"What would you like to eat today, my lords?"

The leader was about fifty years old, with the Uchiha clan emblem embroidered on his collar. He smiled and said, "We are tired of eating fish and meat these days. I heard that you have a new chef here who used to specialize in making tofu in the Tea Kingdom. Let's have some tofu."

"Okay, please take a seat."

The leading ninja sat down carelessly, reached out to pick up the teapot, poured a cup of tea and said, "Please take a seat, everyone. This restaurant is very popular among the princes and nobles. You have just been transferred from the village and you must have never eaten here. Today I will treat you all to a taste."

"Master Qide," a middle-aged ninja said hesitantly, "Isn't this a bit extravagant? Our meal allowance is not much, and this meal is over the limit."

Uchiha Qide waved his hand and said, "The allowance from the village is not enough, but this is the capital of the Land of Fire. The money for meals can be deducted from other office expenses."

Seeing the hesitation of several people, Uchiha Qide said again: "It's okay to eat and drink a little. No matter how thrifty the Hokage is, he won't be stingy on this. The prosperity of the big city is fascinating. Only when you come here can you experience what it means to be alive."

Soon the dishes were all served, four cold dishes, four hot dishes, four stews, four stir-fries and a tofu dish. Uchiha Qide opened a bottle of sixty-year-old wine and said with a smile, "Let's drink a few glasses. We have to meet the daimyo in the afternoon. It's impolite to smell of alcohol."

After drinking a glass of wine, Uchiha Qide picked up a piece of tofu and put it in his mouth, his face full of intoxication. The bean fragrance and the seafood flavor were perfectly combined into one. The tofu tasted fragrant, fresh and...expensive.

"Too luxurious." Someone murmured.

Uchiha Qide chuckled: "It's better to be a little extravagant. Luxury is what matters in this street. We have fought hard for most of our lives and are left with injuries. If we don't eat and drink, I really don't know what we have lived for."

"It's a great thing that Hokage is determined to make new policies. I support it one hundred percent. Ninja training is certainly best done with a calm mind, but at my age, what's the point of training? I finally got a position and was sent to the capital to garrison. What's wrong with enjoying myself a little?"

Uchiha Qingyu frowned, put down his chopsticks and said, "What Qide said makes some sense, but it is not a good thing for ninjas to pursue enjoyment blindly. Hokage has only three dishes and one soup for dinner every day, and he has repeatedly emphasized the importance of keeping oneself clean in the journal of the Ninjutsu Research Association. Last year, I served as the disciplinary inspector of the New Rain Country, and I personally investigated many daring corrupt officials. The speed and depth of their corruption are shocking."

The implication of his words is obvious. It's okay for you, Uchiha Qide, to enjoy yourself, but if you dare to put your hands into the public purse, you will be exposed sooner or later.

Uchiha Qide put down his chopsticks and stared at the younger generation of the clan: "The peace of the ninja world is maintained by us, and the prosperity of the capital is won by us. We put our heads on the belt and fought to the death. If we really died on the battlefield, we can only blame ourselves for our lack of ability and died in vain. But we finally survived, so what's the big deal about eating and drinking?"

Uchiha Qingyu spoke a little louder: "The extravagant capital has corrupted your mind! Do you really think the village doesn't know how much money the Daimyo of the Land of Fire has given you? Hokage-sama sent us here to warn you. If you continue like this, you will end up in jail sooner or later!"

Uchiha Qide's face turned pale, and he slammed the table fiercely and said, "Then you should investigate thoroughly! Send my cousin to jail and let me spend the rest of my life in prison!"

The atmosphere at the dinner table was heavy for a moment. Uchiha Qide calmed down and said, "In the past three years, I have received a total of 30 million taels from the daimyo, but I don't have a penny left to my name!"

"Since the moment I, Uchiha Keide, became a jonin of Konoha, I have had a total of thirty-three subordinates who have been friends with me at all costs. After decades of turmoil and war, some of them died, some were maimed..."

Uchiha Qingyu's face twitched a few times: "No reason can be a reason for you to use your official position for personal gain..."

"Using public office to enrich oneself?" Uchiha Qide smiled and tilted his head: "We are the ones who built this ninja world."

Uchiha Qingyu looked at him, looking at the old man who had been famous in the clan since he was young.

"My brothers took it!" the other said, "We fought hard. Do you know how many brothers died, how many brothers were disabled, and how many brothers left behind families? Do you know that the glamorous world of the capital today belongs to others? Do you know how many of my brothers' families are sick and can't see a doctor or use good medicine? Do you know that if they came to the capital, their annual pension would not be enough to buy a feast of seafood and land delicacies?"

Uchiha Qingyu didn't say anything.

"Does it seem vulgar? But why do we all fight so hard? To live a good life, isn't it? For the so-called Will of Fire? To protect the villagers? Especially those brothers who have already died, their families and children should have a future no worse than anyone else's, isn't it? I fought for the village when I was in my teens, I was injured, suffered, and endured pain, isn't it right for me to eat and drink a little?"

"For the injured ninja, the village has arranged doctors and infirmaries. As for the widow and children, I know that the higher-ups have made arrangements, so don't talk nonsense."

"There is an arrangement, but it's just an ordinary arrangement, an ordinary residence, an ordinary school. But have you ever been to the capital? Look at these people. They have everything, their own novelties, fine clothes and delicious food. Do you know how I felt when I brought my subordinates' children to the capital three years ago and saw those good things that we couldn't afford? Do you know how it felt when we couldn't afford them and our brothers had broken legs and blind eyes?"

“So you want to be greedy?”

"I raised forty-seven children. They were the only proof that my brothers remained in the ninja world. I gave them the best things and spent my money there. I have a clear conscience!"

"So," Uchiha Qingyu paused, "Uncle, you are flirting with the daimyo?"

Uchiha Qide leaned back in his chair, his gray hair was meticulously groomed, and the wrinkles on his face piled up together. He said tiredly: "Do you know that those people were born high and mighty nobles, and they have mountains of gold and silver waiting for them to squander without having to work for their whole lives? Do you know that my subordinates and brothers died miserably on the battlefield, and I still don’t understand who they were fighting for!"

"Hokage-sama's new policies in the New Rain Country have already brought down many nobles. The ninja world will eventually usher in a fair and peaceful situation."

Uchiha Qide shook his head and was about to speak when a ninja with sweat all over his forehead suddenly appeared. Seeing that the people at the dinner table were unfamiliar faces, a trace of vigilance flashed in his eyes and he whispered something in his ear.

Time stood still at this moment. Uchiha Qide sat up straight and told the news just now: "Thousands of ninjas from the Land of Lightning crossed the border this morning, and their target is the village."

With a crash, several people stood up, with murderous and shocked expressions on their faces.

Uchiha Qide slowly picked up a piece of tofu and put it into his mouth: "It's good stuff, but it's a pity that I can't eat it every day."

"The Kumogakure Village has evil ambitions and has always coveted the position of village hegemony. This time they took advantage of Kushina's weakness after giving birth and attacked. They are bound to become a serious threat."

Uchiha Qide wiped his mouth with a silk scarf, stood up and said: "In times of crisis, we ninjas have to fight hard. Without us in the front, these princes and nobles are worse than shit!"

"Yulang, go gather the team," Uchiha Qide said to the ninja who came over, "Let me make it clear, our duty is to guard the capital and the daimyo, and blocking the enemy passing through is not included in the mission regulations. Brothers who are willing to go with me will each be given a pension of 20 million taels, and don't think I'm speaking unlucky, because everyone knows that we won't be able to see the moon at night after this trip."

"If I ask for money from the daimyo, I'll just say it's what I want!"

Uchiha Qide cursed, "Damn it, we are fighting in the front, but these bastards are living a life of luxury here. How can this be justified?"

"Qingyu, don't just stand there like an idiot. Get out of here with your people! Go back and tell the Hokage that it's only right for me, Uchiha Kaito, to eat and drink a little, and it's also only right for my brothers to live a good life. If you have any words or any punishment, burn it back to me."

At 2:00 p.m. on October 8th in the 48th year of Konoha, an ambush aimed at harassing and tiring the enemy took place outside the capital of the Land of Fire. More than 30 garrison ninjas, including Uchiha Keide, blocked the enemy's advance for half an hour at the cost of their lives.

One by one, the nerve endings died miserably and heroically. The giant of Konohagakure had not felt any pain so far, but with the orderly resistance and transmission of the ninjas, Yeshan received the news in the early morning of the next day.

On the ninth day of October, Kushina moved into the barrier and Konoha Village officially entered a level one emergency state.