Konoha: Starting as the Leader of the Land of Grass

Chapter 12: An Eye-Opener

He knew that the population was also a problem for the Land of Grass. After all, it had been destroyed not long ago and had experienced civil unrest and corruption, so its population was relatively small.

If the Uzumaki clan's population... reached over a hundred, perhaps the Land of Grass could truly gain a real Kekkei Genkai clan.

Instead of the current situation...

With just over 20 people.

And only four of them were ninja.

How embarrassing.

"If the leader has time, you could send someone to the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Temple. There's treasure hidden there from before the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed."

"Also, the Mask Temple... could I trouble the leader to help the Uzumaki clan move it here?"

Elder Yang watched Kusa Hikaru's retreating back, a smile of relief on his lips.

He could feel it...

This leader had truly accepted their Uzumaki clan.

He had a broad heart and the magnanimity to accommodate others.

No wonder he was able to lead the Land of Grass to be restored from chaos and was followed and recognized by so many people.

If it were the Warring States period... Leader Hikaru would surely become a great figure like the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi—Hashirama Senju.

After all, Lord Hashirama was followed by various clans and established the strongest hidden village—Konoha.

"It's a pity Kushina was already sent to Konoha. Her aptitude is the best. If only she could be here as well. I wonder how she's doing now," the Third Elder sighed with emotion, shook his head, and walked with his stooped back towards his home. "And what about the Sixth Elder and the others? I wonder how they are now?"

Before coming to the Land of Grass, he would never have imagined that the Uzumaki clan could still be accepted by another country.

Meanwhile.

Kusa Hikaru was walking home with Kana.

He hadn't expected such a windfall.

Indeed, when a country is destroyed, how could they not have made preparations?

The moment they knew they were doomed, they had hidden away some of their precious things.

It would be great if they could restore their country in the future. If not, that money could at least allow the Uzumaki clan to live well.

They just hadn't expected the ninja from other villages to be so ruthless. Even after the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, they didn't let them go and continued to send people to hunt them down.

Just like the Uchiha clan. When the clan was annihilated, aside from a certain foolish little brother, they didn't even spare the civilians.

The Land of Whirlpools was a country about the same size as the Land of Grass, but stronger. He figured... the wealth left after its destruction should be enough to sustain the Land of Grass for some time.

At the very least...

He wouldn't have to... exhaust his heart and blood every night.

Kusa Hikaru sighed with emotion.

Suddenly.

As if noticing something, he blinked his eyes. "What are those two little ones doing?"

At his words.

Kana, who had been lost in thought, also came back to her senses and looked in the direction Hikaru was facing.

She saw two little rascals...

Nagato and Yahiko.

They were sneaking furtively into the small woods.

Looking all mysterious.

Just as she opened her mouth to call out, she saw Hikaru looking amused and quietly following them. After a thought, she didn't make a sound and followed as well.

"Yahiko, why did you call me over here? I still have to help my mom move."

"Relax! It's not like there's much to move anyway, and it's just next door. Konan and Aunt Fusō are enough!" Yahiko said with a nonchalant expression, then pursed his lips. "I'm telling you, what's the point of moving? Isn't it nice living at Teacher Hikaru's house?"

"That's still Teacher Hikaru's house. It's not right to stay there forever."

It was only because they had nowhere else to go at first, and it just so happened that his mother's clansmen were there.

Nagato's eyelid twitched, and he rolled his eyes, saying irritably, "Spit it out! What did you call me out here for?"

"I've got something good here. I secretly took it from old man Mujina!" Yahiko winked. "If it wasn't because we're good friends, I wouldn't let you see it!"

"???" Now Nagato was curious too. "What is it? But stealing isn't good."

"Ta-da! This is it!" Yahiko pulled a book out from under his clothes. "It's just borrowing. Old man Mujina said he would let me see it when I grow up. I'm just borrowing it to take a look first!"

At his words.

The two of them looked at the book in Yahiko's hand.

It was colorful.

There were all sorts of strange pictures: a toad? A snake? A slug? And something with wings...

They were just all drawn so strangely.

And on the cover.

[Review Guide]

Four large characters.

It looked incredibly mysterious.

Nagato blinked his eyes. "What... is this?"

"I heard from old man Mui that it seems to be a book written by a 'Teacher Oki'!" Yahiko said with a mysterious air. "It records a very powerful training method."

"Really?"

"Of course! I saw it! Every day, old man Mui trains until his eyelids are heavy, his legs tremble, and his back is bent. If it wasn't powerful, why would it be so exhausting? Wanna take a look?"

"Well... okay?"

With that.

The two curious little rascals looked at the book again, swallowed nervously, and with hearts full of tension and apprehension, were just about to open it.

Suddenly.

A hand reached out and snatched the book right out of their hands.

"???" x2

"Instead of training properly, what are you two doing sneaking around here?" Kusa Hikaru looked at the two little rascals with a dark expression. "Is the house moved?"

And that Mujina, really. He didn't hide it well enough and let the kids find it!

Next time he saw him, he had to give him a good talking-to, and mention it to his wife as well.

"Ah~, Teacher Hikaru is here?" x2

Yahiko was stunned for a moment, then reached out his hand while saying with a smile, "Aunt Fusō is at home, Teacher Hikaru can just go right in. That secret training manual..."

Before he could finish.

"What secret manual?" Kana's voice came. "Huh, Hikaru, what's that in your hand?"

"..."

Startled, Kusa Hikaru fumbled. Just as he was about to put it away, Yahiko reached for it and accidentally knocked it to the ground.

Kana had already walked over, bent down, and picked it up. She looked at the cover curiously, paused, and then opened it.

A moment later.

Her cheeks immediately flushed red. She looked at Kusa Hikaru strangely and hesitated. "Hikaru, you..."

"It's not mine!"

"I took it from old man Mui!"

Yahiko's and Kusa Hikaru's words fell at the same time.

The blush on Kana's face subsided, and her strange expression instantly changed. "How could that Mui let children see this? It's too improper!"

Kusa Hikaru: ...

Yahiko and Nagato blinked their eyes. "Isn't this a secret training manual?"

"..."

The two adults fell silent. Finally, Kusa Hikaru gave a fake cough and said with a serious expression, "It is! But~," he raised his voice, "this is not something children should be training with. If children practice this, it will easily deplete their bodies, leading to weakness in the limbs, cold hands and feet, hair loss, and they will become very ugly!"

"?!"

"This is a forbidden art, so you can't look at it in the future either!" Kusa Hikaru looked at the two, whose faces had turned pale with fright, and patted their heads with a smile. "Now... it's time to go home and help. Since you have so much free time, your training will be doubled tomorrow!"

"..."

"I'm going back first! Sister Kana, the book... forget it, old man Mui is still waiting for me!"

"I'm going back too! It's all Yahiko's fault. I was clearly helping my mom!"

The two little ones quickly scampered off.

After watching the two leave, Kusa Hikaru shook his head with emotion. Then he looked at Kana, who was secretly flipping through the book with a red face, and hesitated. "Kana..."

Before he could finish.

Kana looked at Kusa Hikaru with a smile and said gently, "What is it?"

"Nothing."

"I'll destroy the book." Kana winked, her cheeks slightly red. "Hikaru, you can't look either~. This 'Oki' person..." she looked at the cover, "doesn't look like a good person at all!"

At her words.

"...You're right! This Oki is definitely not a good person!" Kusa Hikaru nodded earnestly and chuckled. "Let's go. We should head back."

Teacher Oki isn't a good person, but what does that have to do with me, the leader of the Land of Grass—Kusa Hikaru?!

At the same time.

"What? My book is out of fashion? It's already out of fashion?" Jiraiya, who was about to write a book for travel funds, looked seriously at the bookstore manager before him. "How did it go out of fashion? You know, this is my masterpiece of confidence this time!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Traveling Toad! Of course, we can still sell it, but because there's a risk, the royalty share must be lowered."

"???" Jiraiya looked at him suspiciously. "You're not trying to trick me, are you? To lower the price?"

"It's really not that!"

"Then let me see this so-called 'hottest book' of yours! This immortal doesn't believe it!"

"Please wait a moment."

A moment later.

The manager brought out a book and handed it to Jiraiya.

"It doesn't look like much, does it? It just has a color cover," Jiraiya said disparagingly with a pout. "If this immortal's book also had a cover like this..."

Before he could finish.

Jiraiya: ⊙ω⊙

His eyes widened instantly.

What was he seeing?!

A toad? A snake... a snake?! A slug?!

He sucked in a cold breath and said in an incredulous tone, "It can be drawn like this? An eye-opener! A real eye-opener! This immortal admits defeat!"

"Teacher Oki is a true talent! His other works are also very popular."

"Give them to me!" Jiraiya pulled out his money without hesitation, then looked at the author's name and muttered with a grave expression, "Teacher Oki..."

(End of Chapter)