Konoha Notes.

Chapter 503 Innocent bystanders

Chapter 503 Innocent bystanders

Tsunade dragged Shuji all the way to the entrance of the hall, showing no mercy in her strength.

The fifth generation boasted, "I'm the only one who can use this excuse to skip work."

"You should just go back home obediently."

"You've lived up to your potential, Lord Shuji."

Shuji lowered his head and straightened his collar, which had been pulled askew, without showing any annoyance. After straightening his collar, instead of retracting his fingers, he formed a "未" (wei) seal.

Tsunade's eyelid twitched.

This seal isn't particularly special in Konoha. The Hyuga clan occasionally uses it during Sharingan awakening training to help concentrate chakra into their eyes.

"In other words, from now on, it will be Byakugan Tsunade."

"Once the publicity is spread, the casinos will completely shut out big spenders."

Tsunade lowered her eyelids, pursed her lips, and pushed the person out the door.

"My betting style is beyond your imagination."

The fifth generation leader left these words behind and slammed the door shut in front of Shuji.

Shuji stood outside the door, recalling Naruto and Sasuke's trembling expressions.

Those two are probably plotting something against him.

Shuji put his hands in his pockets and walked towards home.

It seems that the next few days won't be too boring.

When Sasuke returned home, the light in the entryway was still on.

When he took off his shoes, his fingers touched his ankles and he realized that there was still a bit of stiffness left in the back of his neck.

He didn't need to hesitate when he got involved, but only after being targeted by that man did he understand what that feeling was like.

It wasn't the oppressive feeling of battle. That feeling was more lingering, like a damp mist seeping into your clothes and clinging to your skin, impossible to shake off no matter how hard you tried.

To accomplish that, we must forge sufficiently powerful allies.

Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, is willing to take the lead, but in terms of execution, more people who won't be seen through by that man are needed.

At the very least, it can't be someone you wouldn't even notice you're being followed.

The first person he ruled out was his own brother.

Naruto could openly reveal his plans for Shuuji to his father, while Sasuke believed that as long as he leaked even a hint to Itachi, the man would know the whole story the next day.

In this matter, Itachi is completely untrustworthy.

He took off his shoes and walked into the courtyard.

Fugaku stood by the pond, watching the fish swim in the moonlight.

Naruto's father, as the head of the village's police department, must know something about what Naruto mentioned.

"Father."

Sasuke spoke.

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

Fugaku did not look away. He simply nodded slightly, signaling Sasuke to continue.

"I heard there's a monthly gathering in the western suburbs."

A koi fish flicked its fins, creating tiny ripples on the water's surface. The light shimmered and shattered into pieces, then slowly pieced itself back together.

"Didn't Itachi tell you?"

Sasuke replied, "No."

"yes."

"He probably didn't mention anything else about Shuuji either."

He said it casually, but Sasuke understood a deeper meaning behind it.

If she already knew Xiu Si's identity, she wouldn't have come to ask about the western suburbs alone.

Fugaku felt that some things shouldn't be delayed any longer. Itachi probably thought Sasuke was still too young to know these things.

Sasuke has already started working, but he doesn't even really know who that man is. This isn't a good approach.

"The number of people in the village who know about this will probably only decrease."

Sasuke heard his father say this.

"Shuji and the current Fifth Hokage are from the same clan. They both belong to the Senju clan."

Sasuke paused for a moment.

"Mr. Shuuji?"

In other words, he, the second generation in the experimental building, and the current fifth generation all come from the same clan.

"He clearly didn't—"

He clearly doesn't have the surname Senju. No one in the village calls him Senju Shuji, and his lineage isn't as clearly defined as that of the Fifth Hokage, who is the granddaughter of the First Hokage.

"That clan abolished its surname long ago," Fugaku said. "In this day and age, probably not many people still remember that behind the First and Second Hokage stood one of the largest ninja clans in the ninja world."

Sasuke couldn't help but ask, "Why are they doing this?"

What he wanted to ask was why they would give up everything a powerful ninja clan should have: reputation, status, and the dignity of their clan.

Fugaku thought Sasuke was asking why they had given up their surnames and were now meeting once a month.

So he sat down by the fishpond and gestured for Sasuke to sit down as well.

The father and son sat side by side by the pool.

Fugaku closed his eyes.

"Itachi and you may be the most promising generation of the Uchiha clan."

He said something that seemed unrelated.

"So since your brother didn't bring these things up himself, I'll tell you about them myself."

"The Senju clan didn't abandon their surname. To be precise, they disbanded the entire clan decades ago. It wasn't until six years ago that Shuji reunited them."

Sasuke pondered the word.

Dissolution.

A powerful ninja clan, without encountering enemies or being persecuted, disbanded itself.

Fugaku opened his eyes.

"At that time, I suggested to him that the Uchiha clan cooperate with the Senju clan in their reorganization."

"But he rejected me."

"Everything you see now, the gathering in the western suburbs, the forces that split up, only slowly took shape after he refused to reunite."

"He mobilized the resources of the Senju branch family for his own use, but did not give them a common surname."

Fugaku gazed at the koi carp slowly swaying their tails in the pond.

He had never truly understood this matter.

The First and Second Hokage personally disbanded the most powerful clan in the ninja world. Now, the current generation has reunited the Senju clan and led the village onto a broader path, but has also chosen to keep the clan behind them hidden in the shadows.

But recently, looking at my own Uchiha...

Watching them repeatedly run into obstacles in the Joint Affairs Bureau, watching them become the target of everyone's criticism even though they were clearly upholding the rules.

He suddenly understood.

Why would the second generation agree to that choice? Why did this person follow the same path?

Whether it was the two who originally founded the village or the people who have now reunited the Senju clan, they have all chosen not to make their clan too conspicuous.

"The Senju clan has used this strategy to maintain control of the village, and even the current Joint Affairs Bureau."

Sasuke's thoughts swirled around in his father's words.

Is this what the second generation wanted him to know?

Fugaku stood up, his back to the pond.

"Even excluding Itachi, there is no one more suitable than you in this generation."

"Never before in the history of the village have the Uchiha and Senju gotten so close."

Sasuke said, "Yes, there are outstanding people."

Fugaku thought he was referring to Neji: "Hyuga Neji is from the branch family, anyone could be a potential match, but he has no hope."

Sasuke denied it: "It wasn't Neji."

Fugaku didn't ask him who he had approved of, but just looked at the fish in the pond for a while longer before turning around and walking into the house.

"Don't let this opportunity slip away, Sasuke. This is the Uchiha generation that has come closest to that position."

Wasabi Jirocho rested well. Not because the matter was resolved, quite the opposite, but because he knew it was far from over.

From the moment he sent a commission to Izumi Port but never received a reply, he realized that this was no longer a simple commission issue.

In all his years of life, he had dealt with numerous forces, large and small, and he had never seen a ninja organization make such a basic mistake in this matter.

If it weren't for knowing the current Fifth Hokage and having the connection with Shuji to personally visit him, this trip to Konoha would probably have ended in vain.

Now that the hardest step has been taken, the remaining time cannot be changed by his own anxiety alone.

So the next morning, after Jirocho finished washing up and changing into decent clothes, he saw Shuji when he went out for a walk.

The man was sitting in the lobby on the first floor of the hostel, occupying a table by the window. He held a glass of water in his hand, his gaze fixed on the street scene outside the window.

Jirocho couldn't help but feel a little worried, and quickly walked over.

"Did Mr. Jirocho sleep well?"

"I used to go out to sea a lot when I was young." Jirocho pulled out the chair opposite him. "It's natural to rest better in such a comfortable place."

Shuji put down his cup.

"Regarding the Tea Country, the secret service has already taken action. However, it will probably take some time."

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Jirocho sat down, his back still very straight.

"It is an honor for the Wasabi family to have Mr. Shuji go to such lengths."

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These words were spoken from the heart. He knew very well that if Xiu Si hadn't personally intervened, there might not have been a decent response by now.

"If it's not too much of a bother, please allow me to entertain you."

Upon hearing this, Shuji smiled and said, "This is Konoha, after all."

Jirocho laughed as well: "Being a guest doesn't mean you can't express your gratitude to the host."

"I never refuse to enjoy things," Shuuji said, setting his cup aside. "It would be a shame to waste this gratitude on such a simple breakfast."

Upon hearing this, Jirocho laughed even harder.

"Then let's wait until a more formal occasion, so that Mr. Shuji can truly experience the gratitude of the Wasabi family."

The loud voice caught the attention of the innkeeper. Shuji took the opportunity to order two breakfasts. While waiting, he rested his elbows on the table and looked at Jirocho.

"The Daimyo expressed their dissatisfaction very directly. So, in this matter, Konoha has dragged you down."

"The land of tea will likely face a period of considerable turmoil in the future, so I apologize to you in advance."

Jirocho looked down at the miso soup that had just been served on the table, steam rising in gusts.

"I see."

He picked up his chopsticks, but didn't immediately take any food.

"There's something that's perfect for casual conversation over breakfast. After all, I'm getting too old to come up with many topics that would interest young people."

"Since the end of last year, departure inspections at Jiegang Port have been much less stringent. The Bureau's adjustment of manpower deployment is one aspect, but it's not the only one."

"The officials in Daimyo, who used to keep a close eye on overseas affairs, have relaxed their scrutiny considerably."

Shuji didn't respond; he just listened quietly.

"At the beginning of the year, around the time when the troubles were just starting, a lot of news started circulating among the various guilds."

"These are all very practical words. Goods are selling better, and overseas trade is very profitable, yielding several times more than before."

.

"The port did indeed prosper for a while back then. Ships came frequently, and goods moved quickly."

"Until Kado arrives."

After Jirocho finished speaking, the smile on his face faded slightly.

"During the days when my family made the entrustment to the secretariat, some people also thought of other ways."

"They said that overseas surveillance is very strict, but as long as you find a responsible ninja and make a proper request, the matter might be resolved smoothly."

"After all, those killed were daimyo and nobles. Merchants who do not overstep the rules, deliver goods in full, and collect payment according to the contract will not be harassed."

Shuji nodded: "Isn't this a life worth longing for?"

Jirocho did not deny it.

"Yes. When we talked about it in private, everyone thought that kind of life was pretty good. Apparently, even someone as insignificant as me got quite a few opportunities over there."

"If it weren't for the fact that the place is too far away, and that the resources overseas aren't particularly abundant—"

He paused, then swallowed the rest of his sentence along with the miso soup.

"Perhaps some people have already set off."

Shuji wasn't surprised.

When a social class is artificially erased, the vacant position naturally needs to be filled.

Whether it's local selection or filling the gaps with outsiders, overseas is now essentially a blue ocean in terms of social class.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for businessmen, local bullies, and anyone with ambition.

Shuji asked, "Has the market become more chaotic since the establishment of the Joint Affairs Bureau?"

"Compared to before, it's naturally more orderly now," Jirocho replied. "In the past, people would always hire ninjas from different places to fight each other. Even after you came, that still happens occasionally."

"Moreover, the problem of bandits and wild animals has also been well resolved."

Shuji then casually inquired about the ninja schools in various regions.

"As for the tea country, I remember that building a school there was not a low priority."

Jirocho affirmed, "I am old, but I have sent many members of my family into this line of work."

The "family" he referred to was not his own family, but the Wasabi family.

"There are quite a few people who think the same way. After all, as long as you become a ninja, you can have a good future no matter where you are."

Shuji smiled and shook his head: "Wasabi-san's extra reminder is a warning to me that as long as the overseas regions remain stable, will some of the ninjas trained in the Land of Tea leave?"

"Given the strength of the Joint Secretariat, it's unlikely to be like that," Jirocho said.

"It's alright. What we need now is a clear boundary based on the current situation. As for the future, if anyone does establish a foothold overseas, the Joint Affairs Bureau will not hold them accountable."

"The problem of the world in the future will be the problem of those who can become ninjas and those who cannot."

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"As for the conflict between us and them, it will not fall on those who are looking for a future."

Upon hearing this, Jirocho bowed slightly to Shuji: "Just hearing those words makes this trip far more rewarding than anything else."

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