Naruto: Fooling the Ninja World, I'm Hailed as a Savior

Clack, clack, clack.

The tall, wide main gate slowly creaked open, the hinges issuing a faint sound. The envoy group, led by three Hidden Cloud ninjas, stepped into Konoha's main gate, instantly bathed in the brilliant sunlight upon entering the village.

The rising sun pierced through the clouds, illuminating their faces. The three ninjas squinted slightly, gazing into the distance at the welcoming Konoha contingent and the surrounding scenery.

Dense layers of tree canopies rippled like flowing jade waves, churning with golden-green patterns in the early autumn breeze.

The four stone-carved faces on the Hokage Rock cast their shadows, overlooking everything. A giant wall, dozens of meters high, embraced Konoha in its arms, and the fabric banners of the shops along the roadsides swayed in the wind.

The entire world felt vibrant and bright. The clamoring voices, carried by the breeze with scattered flower petals and clean air, reached them, warming them from head to toe. A single thought emerged simultaneously in the minds of the three Hidden Cloud ninjas:

Konoha was indeed as prosperous and rich as the rumors claimed. So prosperous and rich that it ignited greed and envy in their hearts.

Their Hidden Cloud Village, located in the Land of Lightning, was built entirely upon towering mountains that pierced the clouds. It was vast but sparsely populated. In terms of resources, apart from noteworthy electrical energy, it was as barren as the lands of the other three ninja villages.

Only the Land of Fire, where Konoha was located, could be said to occupy the most resource-rich region in the entire ninja world.

Situated in a hilly area, it boasted a mild climate, ample sunshine, abundant arable land, a developed economy, a large population, and sat at the heart of the ninja world's central transportation routes.

Konoha Hidden Village was merely named a "village"; it was more like an administrative district. In terms of actual land area, it should be called a "city-state." 

Villagers could live their entire lives in Konoha without stepping a foot outside its borders, self-sufficiently living well on Konoha's own resources. In contrast, hundreds of people in the Hidden Cloud Village died from lightning strikes each year, and all resources, including ninjutsu, had to be seized and fought for with lives…

Envy burned in their chests like fire, scorching the three Hidden Cloud ninjas.

If Mabui and the Raikage-sama's plan succeeds, then this prosperous Konoha could have a share for the Hidden Cloud as well…

The three Hidden Cloud ninjas exchanged glances, each seeing the greed in the other's eyes.

The Hyuga Main House members generally did not leave the village casually. Even if they did, they would certainly be accompanied and protected by Branch House jōnin. 

This made it difficult for other villages to capture a living Hyuga Main House member. Even if a Branch House member was captured, their Byakugan would be remotely destroyed by the Main House using the [Caged Bird] seal.

However, during the Third Great Ninja War, the situation changed. A Hidden Mist jōnin named Ao managed to obtain a Byakugan and easily completed the Byakugan transplant surgery. His overall combat capabilities, including reconnaissance and support, significantly improved.

From then on, the major ninja villages also learned the difference between the Byakugan and the Sharingan.

Much like the styles of the Uchiha and Hyuga, the Sharingan was relatively domineering, while the Byakugan was gentler and more adaptable to the body. In the underground black market, the bounty for a Byakugan had reached 35 million Ryo.

Currently, the Hidden Cloud Village's greatest shortage wasn't ninjutsu, but powerful bloodline limits like the Byakugan and Sharingan. The Sharingan was out of reach; the Uchiha were a bunch of mad dogs, even the Hidden Cloud didn't want to provoke them. But if it was the Hyuga...

This plan had only three possible outcomes. The best outcome: the plan succeeds, they escape safely, and the Hidden Cloud obtains the Hyuga clan's bloodline. However, abducting a hostage from the Hyuga compound was almost an impossible feat. But it didn't matter.

If the plan failed, they would deliberately die at the hands of a Hyuga Main House member, then use that as an excuse to force Konoha to hand over the "culprit," or else they would declare war.

If Konoha handed over the Hyuga culprit, it would not only create conflict between Konoha's conservative and radical factions but also sow discord between the Hyuga clan and the Hokage's faction, while simultaneously draining Konoha's vital forces. Even if the Third Hokage agreed to go to war, according to their intelligence, Konoha's Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki died in the Nine-Tails attack, Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, defected, and Jiraiya and Tsunade were nowhere to be found.

Konoha's power had been weakened to such an extent that the Hidden Cloud Village naturally would not fear the current Konoha.

Success means obtaining the Hyuga clan's bloodline; failure means a legitimate reason to wage war. Either way, it was advantageous for the Hidden Cloud. And the price they paid would not be too much, at most, their three lives.

While the three observed Konoha, the Konoha villagers also observed them.

"Three jōnin, huh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's slightly squinted eyes opened. Knowing this was the standard configuration for an envoy group, his last sliver of caution quietly dissipated. He nodded slightly and said, "Go, Rinna."

"Yes, Third-sama."

The young girl Rinna, holding a fresh bouquet of dewy flowers, jogged towards the distant Hidden Cloud envoy group. Her long, golden ponytail bounced with her steps in the sunlight.

"Welcome to Konoha."

Handing the flowers in her arms to the leading Hidden Cloud ninja, the two shook hands ceremonially and then smiled. "Please call me Rinna. I will accompany you throughout your itinerary for the next few days."

The girl wore no distinctive clan emblem, appearing to be just a young female ninja, not even looking like a ninja from her appearance.

"Thank you," the leading Hidden Cloud jōnin, named Yūrui, returned a smile, his tone gentle. "Then, Miss Rinna, please take good care of us."

Wearing high heels, running at a decent speed, indicates strong balance. The calluses on her hands, particularly her tiger's mouth, are clearly trimmed, suggesting she's skilled with bladed weapons. And…

"An Anbu ninja?" Yūrui thought calmly. "It seems avoiding surveillance won't be easy."

While he mused, they had already reached Hiruzen Sarutobi at the front of the line. Hiruzen Sarutobi proactively extended his hand and firmly clasped Yūrui's. Yūrui's first impression was of strong vigor, completely unlike an old man leading a great family in his twilight years. It was as if a fire burned within that decaying husk, still capable of radiating awe-inspiring, terrifying power.

Is this Konoha's Third Hokage?

Yūrui's mood grew a bit gloomier, but he had no hesitation about what he was about to do.

"May this alliance treaty bring solace to all lives lost in the war."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out the already negotiated alliance scroll, speaking in a gentle, smiling tone as he unrolled the meter-long scroll on the table before them.

"Raikage-sama also looks forward to a long and lasting peace between our two nations."

Yūrui also took out the Fourth Raikage's seal from his robes and simultaneously stamped it onto the two scrolls laid side-by-side.

Click.

Seeing the seal firmly imprinted, Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly let out a sigh of relief.

The crowd erupted in even more fervent cheers, and more flower petals suddenly rained down from the sides of the street, scattering onto the shoulders of the people below. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yūrui met each other's gaze, extending their hands to shake, both wearing the same official smile.

"Please, come this way," Hiruzen Sarutobi put away the scroll, turned slightly to lead, and smiled. "I hope you enjoy your time in Konoha."

Next would be some private discussions.

Seeing that both Konoha and Hidden Cloud contingents had departed, Hyuga Kawa's eyes flickered in the crowd.

He glanced at Might Guy, who had long since been swept away by the crowd and was enthusiastically chatting with others, then quietly disappeared into the throng. 

After watching this comical play of the weasel paying his respects to the chicken, it was time to prepare for tonight's operation.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi and several ninja clan heads were escorted towards the Hokage's office building. Along the way, he introduced the clan heads to the three Hidden Cloud ninjas. However, not hearing the Hyuga clan's name mentioned, a timely look of confusion appeared on Yūrui's face, and he spoke, "I've long heard of the Hyuga clan's renown. Why isn't their clan head present?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't quite expected him to ask directly. His gaze paused for a moment, then he smiled. "My apologies, the Hyuga clan head wished to come, but today is his daughter's, the Hyuga Main Branch heiress', third birthday. It's very important to the Hyuga clan, so…"

"I see," Yūrui smiled, seemingly unconcerned. "It seems today is indeed a good day."

However, the two Hidden Cloud ninjas behind him clearly lacked his composure. Upon hearing this, they instinctively exchanged glances, their eyes burning with fervor.

It truly is today!