Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 25
🕑 Added 2024-11-27 19:35:26 +0000 UTCUnder the guidance of Shikaku, with the Police Force as escorts, the diplomatic team from Kiri made its grand entrance into Konoha's main district, heading towards the Hokage Tower.
Along the way, Konoha villagers looked on with curiosity at these foreign ninjas clad in high-collared sweaters, their faces full of fascination.
Small clusters of people gathered at shop entrances and street corners, some pointing discretely at the visitors.
"Those are Kiri ninja? They look so... normal," a villager whispered to his companion.
"Shhh. I heard they drink blood for breakfast," another responded.
Civilians and their ridiculous rumors. Though I suppose Kiri's reputation isn't entirely undeserved, Masashi thought as he maintained his position in the escort formation.
"Positions steady," Shikaku murmured to the Police Force. "Keep the formation tight but not threatening."
As the first village in the ninja world, Konoha had hosted foreign delegations a fair number of times, with a few visits each year. However, since its founding, a delegation from Kiri was a rare sight.
Though Kiri had previously signed a peace agreement with Konoha, the talks took place on the former battlefield with the leaders, so the Kiri ninjas didn't actually enter Konoha.
Konoha, for its part, was also wary of allowing them into the village casually. After all, what if they attempted a suicide terror attack?
The Kiri ninjas had a history of such actions. Since the days of the Second Mizukage, they had demonstrated to the entire ninja world what it meant to not play by the rules.
The Second Mizukage had once traveled across several countries to take down the Second Tsuchikage with him, perfectly exemplifying what could only be described as a hardcore warmonger.
Under the Third Mizukage, Kiri transformed into the industry's benchmark for terror tactics, creating countless infamous incidents.
Any ninja aspiring to be a terrorist would study Kiri's special warfare techniques as foundational training—they were practically the pioneers of the craft.
Now, with Kiri ninjas known for their arrogance and bloodlust appearing in Konoha, it naturally sparked intense curiosity among the villagers.
But the villagers were disappointed, even the Konoha ninjas who had fought against Kiri in the past were perplexed.
Because these Kiri ninjas were shockingly well-behaved.
Arrogant and wild? Looking at Fuguki's cheerful attitude, you'd have to be quite twisted to call him that.
Bloodthirsty? People got fiercer when their spouse discovered a stash of hidden money at home.
Not a single trace of the Bloody Mist attitude.
Instead, they resembled noble ministers from the daimyō's palace, refined and courteous. Faced with the villagers' frankly impolite stares, they simply returned polite smiles.
This year's 'Exemplary Ninja Village in Civil Conduct' award might as well go to them if they continue like this.
Shikaku felt his guess might be the truth: he had been observing Masashi who seemed to have somehow subdued the Kiri ninjas into their current behavior.
Apparently, the Uchiha clan's conflicts with the Kiri ninjas were not as simple as the clan believed.
At least, they didn't involve only Shisui.
Enduring Konoha's excessive attention, the large procession finally arrived at the Hokage Tower. The ANBU's presence was immediately noticeable, their masked figures positioned strategically around the perimeter.
Seeing the towering building, Kiri's delegation members all breathed a sigh of relief. Their chakra control had been impeccable throughout the journey, but the strain was showing in subtle ways that only the most observant could detect.
Walking alongside the White Ghost was exhausting—they were almost depressed by the end of the journey.
The bloodline users among them had it the hardest. They had been suppressing their chakra like crazy, fearing that any fluctuation might result in their precious bloodline becoming a White Ghost collectible.
They were eager to meet the current Hokage, knowing well that relations between the Uchiha and the Hokage's faction were strained.
The White Ghost would have to leave the meeting soon.
Once inside the Hokage Tower, the first floor had already been secured by the ANBU, with a pathway cleared to the staircase for the group to pass through.
"Thanks for your work; we'll take over from here," an ANBU member said to the head of the Police Force.
"As protocol demands," the Police Force leader responded.
The Uchiha ninja nodded, signaling his clansmen to stand down. The Police Force ninjas dropped their guard and left in small groups.
Masashi was about to leave as well, which visibly relieved the Kiri ninjas—they would have high-fived in celebration if it were appropriate.
Finally, they could breathe.
"Please wait," Shikaku suddenly said.
Everyone in the ANBU and Police Force looked at him.
"Masashi-kun, please represent the Uchiha clan and attend the meeting," Shikaku's words shocked everyone.
The Uchiha ninjas were stunned because, ever since Tobirama's time, the Uchiha clan had never been part of any official diplomatic meeting in the Hokage's building.
The Kiri ninjas were equally shocked—they thought Shikaku was way too cunning.
They had actually thought he was a good guy. Konoha really didn't have any good people!
Even the ANBU were shocked.
As one of the Third Hokage's most trusted clan ninjas, why would Shikaku say such a thing?
"I'll report this directly to the higher-ups," Shikaku said to the ANBU leader. "Please execute this for now, and notify the Hokage in advance as well."
"Understood, Shikaku-sama." The ANBU leader recognized that hesitation wasn't an option here, so he acted quickly. "Masashi-san, please attend as well."
"Oh? Sure." Masashi had no idea what was going on, but he didn't mind. This could be interesting.
Wait—why did the Kiri ninjas look like they'd seen a ghost?
He cast a confused glance at them, who all wore expressions of dismay, and followed the ANBU team upstairs.
With Shikaku and the ANBU leading the way, the delegation was escorted to the third-floor reception hall.
The hall was spacious, designed for diplomatic discussions. There was even a dining room in the adjacent room.
Accommodations for the delegation had been arranged at the finest hotel in the northern district, with the Police Force guarding the perimeter while the Kiri ninjas managed internal security.
Otherwise, it would seem more like imprisonment than hospitality.
As they entered the hall, sitting in the main seat was the Fourth Hokage. Seated to his left and right were four senior advisors, while around a dozen others stood. The seating arrangement itself was a silent display of power and hierarchy.
As always, there were no Uchiha representatives present.
This was the political structure crafted by the Third Hokage: within the Police Force, the Uchiha had authority, but outside, they had none.
Currently, Hiruzen, now in his fifties, was in his twilight years as a shinobi, though not yet elderly.
As Masashi's gaze fell on him, Hiruzen looked back. Still sharp as ever, old man.
Behind him stood three individuals whose iconic attire and demeanor marked them unmistakably as the famous Legendary Sannin of Konoha
They were also the main pillars of the Third Hokage's faction.
The Senju princess who had once complained he was cheating at cards had grown into a stunning beauty since he'd last seen her, though now she looked unwell, her former liveliness gone.
The man with long hair and pale skin must be Orochimaru, with an aura that was undeniably eerie.
And the broad-shouldered, square-faced man was likely Jiraiya; he was the only one who seemed genuinely approachable.
"Masashi-kun, follow me," Shikaku said, leading him to another group.
Masashi looked over and saw the eight major clans of Konoha, with seven clan heads present, including Shikaku who stood beside him.
Oh, and two young men around Shisui's age.
The silver-haired one was Kakashi, still wearing his ANBU uniform. The other, clad in green, was undoubtedly Guy.
Just as Masashi was about to walk over, he heard a long, sharp intake of breath behind him. The sound was loud, and everyone turned to look.
It was Fuguki, his expression as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Green…" he muttered through gritted teeth.
Everyone was puzzled. Green what?
"Green Beast…"
"???"
Why did it sound like he was insulting someone?
Of all the things to fear in this room, Masashi thought with amusement, he's focused on Guy's fashion choices.
Fuguki's loss of composure didn't last long; after a brief lapse, his sharp eyes flickered with recognition as they fixed on Guy's green attire.
He quickly regained his calm, though his knuckles had whitened slightly where they pressed against his leg.
"Apologies, I lost my composure," he admitted openly, which, in turn, earned some goodwill from Konoha's side.
"There's no need, Fuguki-san," Minato replied in a gentle tone. "The wars of the past were tragedies for both sides. As someone who personally took part, it's only natural to feel conflicted and upset about it."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama, for your understanding."
Fuguki wasn't truly bothered by the war; it was the sight of that familiar attire that had stirred up dark memories.
But since Konoha had given him a way to save face, he wasn't going to reject it.
After taking a long look at the young boy in green, he tried to compose himself.
"Hokage-sama, I'm ready to begin."
"Good, please go ahead, Fuguki-san."
After a brief exchange of formalities, everyone took their seats.
As per protocol, the Hokage took the main seat for Konoha's side. Key figures from various departments and clan leaders without official positions followed.
Guy was still very young and a chunin at this time, appearing here as the son of a hero.
In Konoha, being the child of a hero was a prestigious title that represented high honor and significant political value. However, earning this title wasn't easy.
While the Hokage's office promoted the idea that everyone was a hero, only particularly distinguished heroes afforded such status to their children in practice.
Duy was one such hero. And what a costly honor it proved to be.
The origin of the Eight Gates was a mystery, but it was known that before the Third Shinobi World War, this technique was obscure within Konoha.
It wasn't until Duy made a significant impact that the Konoha high command realized its terrifying potential.
Normally, this would have led to a scene where high officials beat their chests, lamenting the loss of a great talent. But Guy's existence forced a different outcome.
Following in his father's footsteps, Guy also mastered this technique. So the narrative shifted to two generations of Hokage extending their arms in a loving embrace for the hero's orphan.
Masashi sat at the far end, with Kakashi between him and Guy. Judging by the seating arrangement, Guy's significance to Konoha's upper echelon was clear. They were already planning his future role in the village.
Guy didn't yet possess his future grandeur, seemingly unaware of the meaning of his seat, sitting there in a daze while casting a complex gaze at Fuguki.
He knew the man before him was practically his father's killer.
Kakashi's expression was unreadable, as usual, with only one eye visible, but his body language spoke of careful alertness.
In short, everyone was serious.
Fuguki took out a scroll, placed it on the table, and gently slid it towards the space between Minato and Hiruzen.
The position was chosen with care, a detail that didn't escape anyone's notice.
Minato took out a scroll of his own and slid it towards Fuguki, while picking up the one from Kiri's side.
"I'm unfamiliar with the daimyō of the Land of Water's handwriting. Could you verify it, Sandaime-sama?"
"You're the Hokage; such an important document should be checked by you personally. I shouldn't overstep," Hiruzen replied with a smile. "Of course, I will help verify the handwriting if you want."
"It just shows how immature I am, having to trouble you for such a small matter," Minato sighed, before unrolling the scroll and spreading it out between him and Hiruzen.
The two examined it carefully.
Across the table, Fuguki also unrolled the scroll Minato had given him and scrutinized it, his expression giving nothing away.
This was a high-level meeting, with discussions covering not only Konoha and Kiri's interests but also state matters between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.
It was no wonder that the Hokage's office had not disclosed the meeting's details to the Uchiha clan.
Except for Kakashi and Guy, the others on Konoha's side seemed fully briefed on the matters at hand.
Why is there no tea or any snacks? Masashi observed the room.
After a while, both parties had completed their examination of the credentials, the atmosphere shifting subtly as they prepared to address their findings.
"Fuguki-san, what do you think of the daimyō's authorization?" Minato inquired.
"I've reviewed it; there's no issue. How do you find our daimyō's authorization, Hokage-sama?"
"The wording is fine, though it lacks the daimyō's personal signature," Minato remarked. "For a long time, all daimyō of the other nations, including the Land of Wind, Earth, and Lightning, have signed the authorizations themselves."
"Our customs differ from other nations. We use personal seals, which hold the same authority as signatures," Fuguki explained apologetically. "I hope you understand."
"I'll let it go this time. However, if your country truly intends to build good relations with others, wouldn't it make sense to follow common practices?"
"Our daimyō has never personally signed documents, but I'll be sure to mention it to the Mizukage when I return. I'll ask him to encourage the daimyō to change his approach."
"That would be ideal," Minato nodded.
Hiruzen suddenly spoke up. "Since the Land of Fire and the Land of Water have no prior alliance, should we each retain a copy of this authorization for our records?"
"Agreed," Fuguki nodded, understanding the underlying message about trust and verification.
Minato handed the authorization to Hiruzen and continued, "We're discussing national matters here, Fuguki-san, and with your wisdom, we hope this meeting will benefit both sides."
"Of course," Fuguki said with enthusiasm. "Among all nations, the Land of Water and the Land of Fire are closest. Today's disputes are temporary, and in the long run, mutual support is the best strategy."
"If we remain enemies, it will harm both our countries. We're both located in the south of the continent and should focus on the big picture, fostering lasting peace. That way, we won't fall prey to the northern countries."
His words drew glances from all those present.
What a bold move, Masashi thought, playing the regional card while Kumo's alliance is still fresh.
"Fuguki-san," Minato couldn't help but remark, his tone carrying a subtle warning, "The Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, Konoha and Kumo, also share friendly relations."
"That's exactly what I mean," Fuguki said with approval, smoothly turning the point to his advantage. "If Konoha and Kumo can get along, what's there to worry about with us from Kiri?"
An elder with a cross-shaped scar on his chin frowned beside him, clearly disapproving of this direction.
"The friendship between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water will not consider the stance of a third nation."
Then he turned to Minato and said, "Hokage-sama, let's continue with the main agenda."
The room's atmosphere shifted once again, ready to delve into the real matters at hand.
