The port in the southern Land of Fire was bustling and prosperous, with many merchants selling goods, forming a small market where one could buy cheaper products.
How lively!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, disguised as a traveler with a straw hat, looked at the bustling port in surprise. He hadn't been here in a long time. Before, there were few people here, let alone such a carefully built port, which clearly cost a lot of money.
"Here, these are the sardine fish balls you love."
Sarutobi Biwako walked up to Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding two skewers of grilled sardine fish balls and grilled squid.
"Oh! Sardine fish balls!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the sardine fish balls from his wife with a beaming smile.
"Let's hurry to the pier over there; if we're late, we'll have to wait for the next ship."
Sarutobi Biwako pulled Hiruzen Sarutobi towards the pier, marveling at the changes here. She remembered that there used to be no port here, and only wooden boats came and went. The port was clearly newly built in recent years.
She grew increasingly curious about what the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company, which had brought significant changes to various countries, was truly like.
"I see, you're also going to the Land of Waves for tourism!"
"Uncle, are you also traveling? What a coincidence! I heard that the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company is in the Land of Waves. I wish I could work at that company! I wonder if their hiring requirements are high!"
"I believe you'll be fine!"
"Thanks for the good wishes, Uncle!"
On a passenger ship transporting tourists, Hiruzen Sarutobi had a pleasant conversation with a young and beautiful girl who was traveling to the Land of Waves, hoping to work at the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. He completely failed to notice Sarutobi Biwako's increasingly calm and indifferent gaze beside him, with a murderous intent flickering in her eyes that would only erupt when she was alone with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
When the passenger ship arrived at the Land of Waves pier, Hiruzen Sarutobi was visibly much more listless. The girl who had been chatting with him earlier clearly knew what had happened and covered her mouth, chuckling.
"How prosperous!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked along the port, watching merchants coming to the Land of Waves to stock up. On the distant beach, which had become a tourist destination, he saw bikini-clad beauties and couldn't help but glance a few more times. Feeling the murderous gaze from beside him, he quickly averted his eyes and walked forward with a serious expression.
White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company
"What?"
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Kakuzu in surprise, "Are you sure it's the Third Hokage?"
"There's no mistake. It's Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and his wife, Sarutobi Biwako. They arrived in the Land of Waves by passenger ship not long ago and will be at the company soon."
Kakuzu took out two photos, one of Hiruzen Sarutobi and one of Sarutobi Biwako.
"The Third Hokage actually brought his wife to the Land of Waves…"
Uzumaki Chigusa couldn't figure out the Sarutobi couple's intentions for a moment. If it was to invite them to join Konoha, they wouldn't bring his wife to the Land of Waves, would he?
Hiruzen Sarutobi bringing his wife to the Land of Waves felt more like they were there for leisure.
Uzumaki Chigusa had recently asked the villagers for their thoughts. Most wanted to stay in the Land of Waves, a small portion wanted to rebuild Uzushiogakure, and a very few who wanted to join Konoha changed their minds after seeing so many people wanting to stay in the Land of Waves.
They, instead, began to worry that the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company would drive them away after they had recovered.
On this point, Uzumaki Chigusa also wanted to know how Orochimaru would settle the Village survivors once she knew they wanted to stay.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sarutobi Biwako walked and played along the way, arriving at the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. Amazed by the prosperity near the company, they entered the company's main gate.
"Welcome."
Iryu, with a polite smile, stepped forward to greet the Sarutobi couple's arrival.
"Ms. Iryu?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Iryu in surprise, not expecting her to come to greet him. He wasn't surprised at all that his and his wife's whereabouts had been exposed; he and his wife hadn't deliberately hidden their tracks along the way, so it would be strange if they weren't discovered.
"Sir, I already know your intentions. Please follow me."
Iryu's smile deepened as she motioned for the Sarutobi couple to follow her to the lounge on the top floor of the company building.
Ding—!
The elevator doors opened, and the Sarutobi couple followed Iryu out of the elevator, seeing a particularly comfortable lounge.
There's even a pool!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was drawn to the pool, where he saw men and women in swimsuits.
"Ahem…"
Sarutobi Biwako noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze towards the bikini-clad beauties, cleared her throat, and her serious expression darkened slightly.
Oh no!
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately averted his gaze, gave an awkward smile, and led by Iryu, arrived at the other side of the rooftop lounge, where he met Uzumaki Chigusa.
"Well then, I won't disturb you."
Iryu smiled, took two steps back, and turned to leave.
"Third, Biwako, you've arrived."
Uzumaki Chigusa greeted the Sarutobi couple and sat down at a table near the bar, where a parasol shielded them from the scorching sun.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uzumaki Chigusa, who seemed to be in good spirits, and asked, "Chief Chigusa, how are the people of Uzushiogakure living in the Land of Waves?"
"Life in the Land of Waves is alright; it still needs time to recover from the trauma of losing our home."
Uzumaki Chigusa sighed, then remembered something and asked, "Third, how is Konoha? I only learned that Konoha was attacked by Sky Ninja after arriving in the Land of Waves."
Uzumaki Chigusa and Hiruzen Sarutobi chatted like this, discussing the crisis Konoha had previously faced, and then Uzushiogakure.
Hiruzen Sarutobi came with the intention of clearing up misunderstandings; he didn't want the Uzushiogakure survivors to misunderstand Konoha.
Of course, this was only one of his purposes for coming to the Land of Waves.
Sarutobi Biwako saw that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't seem to intend to invite the Uzushiogakure survivors to join Konoha, so she didn't say anything.
"Chief Chigusa, what are your plans for the future?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt the time was right. All necessary misunderstandings had been cleared up, so it was time to get to the main topic.
If the Uzumaki Clan could join Konoha, that would naturally be excellent. With Lady Mito there, the Uzumaki Clan could integrate into Konoha more quickly.
The newly established Sealing Team would be even more complete, and with the Uzumaki Clan, there would be even less to worry about regarding the Jinchuriki of other Various Ninja Villages.
"Starting a new life in the Land of Waves is also good. The environment of the Land of Waves is beautiful, and the company also saved our lives. Settling in the Land of Waves is a good choice for us."
Uzumaki Chigusa saw that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to invite them to join Konoha.
After Uzushiogakure was jointly destroyed by the Four Great Shinobi Villages, the peace treaty with Konoha had long been a dead letter, and could be considered non-existent.
In her conversation with Hiruzen Sarutobi, she had already learned about the crisis Konoha was facing at the time.
This was consistent with the intelligence collected by the company, proving that Hiruzen Sarutobi had not lied to her.
Do the Village survivors hate the Four Great Shinobi Villages that destroyed Uzushiogakure?
Hate!
Their home destroyed, their clansmen murdered, how could they not hate?
They wished they could fight the Four Great Shinobi Villages to the death!
Would joining Konoha allow them to get revenge?
The answer was no.
If they joined Konoha, they would be Konoha's people, needing to consider Konoha's interests, needing to let go of their hatred for the Four Great Shinobi Villages.
If that was the case, why wouldn't they stay in the Land of Waves, this beautiful, temperate island nation?
Similarly, letting go of hatred, staying in the Land of Waves was clearly better than joining Konoha.
Joining Konoha would, instead, give some people an unrealistic hope, which was the hope of revenge.
"Staying in the Land of Waves is indeed a very good choice."
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled dryly and asked, "Chief Chigusa, have you considered Konoha?"
Since he was already here, he might as well ask, what if the Uzushiogakure survivors had thoughts of joining Konoha?
Hiruzen Sarutobi still held a glimmer of hope in his heart.
"Third, I may have to disappoint you."
Uzumaki Chigusa smiled and said, "Staying in the Land of Waves is everyone's decision, not mine."
"Haha… *cough*… What a pity."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave an awkward laugh. Uzumaki Chigusa had already made it so clear, yet he still wanted to try, but the outcome remained unchanged.
"Third, Konoha cannot declare war on the Four Great Shinobi Villages for us, can it?"
Uzumaki Chigusa looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sarutobi Biwako, directly stating the obvious, showing her hatred for the Four Great Shinobi Villages for the first time.
"Both I and the Village survivors need to learn to let go of hatred. This is the same whether in the Land of Waves or Konoha… Our home destroyed, so many people died…"
"This hatred is very difficult to let go of. Our joining Konoha would not be a good thing for Konoha. Unresolved hatred could bring disaster to Konoha."
As Hiruzen Sarutobi left the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company building, he was still pondering Uzumaki Chigusa's words.
Uzushiogakure had been so devastated; if the Uzushiogakure survivors wanted revenge on the Four Great Shinobi Villages, could he even stop them?
However, once they join Konoha, they become people of Konoha, and we need to consider whether their revenge will bring trouble to Konoha and whether it will affect Konoha's interests.
Although signs of war have appeared, it is still very, very early before the war breaks out.
No one can say for sure what will become the fuse for the war, leading to its outbreak.
"Hiruzen, are you thinking about them?"
Sarutobi Biwako looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi beside her, seeing that he was deep in thought, not even bothering to look at the beautiful women walking by on the street.
"Hmm..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. Uzumaki Chigusa was right; their joining might not be a good thing for Konoha.
The survivors of Uzushiogakure are different from the Iburi Clan. The Iburi Clan are a Ninja clan that originally lived near Konoha, and their joining Konoha would not bring any hidden dangers. But the Uzushiogakure survivors are different... If they want to seek revenge on the Four Great Shinobi Villages, he can neither stop them nor not stop them; it's a real hot potato.
Stopping them would inevitably displease the Uzumaki Clan.
If he doesn't stop them, and their revenge actions affect the Village, how will he explain it to the people of the Village?
Punish the Uzumaki Clan?
Their revenge is justified. Even as Hokage, he can't stop them from avenging their destroyed homeland and murdered clansmen, can he?
The more Hiruzen Sarutobi thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He felt that being Hokage was truly too difficult.
Frustrating, truly frustrating.
"Biwako, I'm having such a hard time..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi could only complain to his wife.
"Sigh..."
Sarutobi Biwako sighed, placing her hand on Hiruzen Sarutobi's shoulder and patting it gently.
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