"That's actually a good thing, since smart people know when to back down."
Qingshui crossed his arms, observing his surroundings as he commented.
Observing the level of infrastructure, the appearance of the residents, and the commercial atmosphere—all of these could reflect Rouran's national strength.
And, of course, observing the geographical environment to see if it was suitable for combat.
This was the instinct of a ninja who had been on several battlefields.
Although Rouran currently looked quite prosperous, it wasn't yet a metropolis like the one Qingshui had seen in animated movies from his previous life.
There were no towering skyscrapers, but rather houses with a strong desert region style, coupled with wide, straight streets and busy yet smooth traffic. All of this showed the grand vision of the Rouran Queen for Rouran.
He just wondered if, after he changed the future of this world, Hyakusoku would still transform into An Lushan and come to this time period.
But regardless, investigating the intelligence first was always the right move.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Rouran Royal Palace.
The Rouran Queen tiredly held a document, scrutinizing it carefully, then suddenly asked a nearby attendant:
"Where are the Sand Village envoys? Have they arrived in Rouran? Have you found out which Jonin is leading them?"
The attendant replied, "Your Majesty, the guards at the city gate saw four ninjas wearing Sand Village uniforms enter today. The one leading them, after comparison, should be Jonin Fukami Senran."
"It's him, then. It seems the Sand Village values our Rouran quite a lot."
Fukami Senran's status in the Sand Village was among the highest, just below the Kazekage and the two elders. He was considered a high-ranking official, so his presence naturally carried some weight.
"Have they requested an audience?"
"No, after entering the city, they wandered around and even inquired for information in taverns, Your Majesty. You don't think the Sand Village would…"
The Rouran Queen slowly shook her head.
"If the Sand Village intended to directly conquer Rouran, we would already be dead. They are likely investigating the domestic situation now, preparing to control Rouran later."
The Rouran Queen closed her eyes, deep in thought.
After years of war, the Sand Village was also quite exhausted. But now that they had signed a peace treaty with Konoha and had their hands free, it would be incredibly easy for them to take over Rouran.
However, they fought wars for profit, and controlling Rouran was also for profit.
Sending troops to conquer Rouran would only result in a Rouran that had experienced war and was no longer prosperous. If she were the Sand Village's leader, she would certainly want a prosperous Rouran, one that could provide significant benefits to the Sand Village and the Land of Wind.
The Sand Village wanted to control Rouran to gain benefits. As long as she could offer benefits that satisfied the Sand Village, they wouldn't mind letting her continue to be queen.
It was just that, in this case, Rouran's future development momentum would have to slow down.
...
...
"The undisputed ruler of Rouran now is the Rouran Queen. The Queen's lineage, through their inherited abilities, can suppress the Dragon Vein and, to a certain extent, borrow its power. This is why Rouran can have favorable weather and evolve into a large oasis in the desert."
"There are three ministers with significant influence in the country: the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Political Affairs, and the Minister of Public Security. Their names are…"
"The estimated total population and military strength are respectively…"
After half an afternoon of investigation, the four gathered together to consolidate their intelligence.
There was no An Lushan among the ministers. Perhaps the future truly had changed, and that whole affair was gone. Or perhaps it was too early, and that guy hadn't crossed over yet.
But regardless, it was a good thing.
If An Lushan were here, who knew what complications might arise.
And if An Lushan were to arrive later, by then the Sand Village would have complete control over Rouran, and the moment he showed his face, Qingshui would target and take him down.
"No time to lose. Let's go to the palace now to find the Rouran Queen. I see some people in the city are already looking for us. It's likely that because we stayed in the city for too long without going to the palace, Her Majesty is already feeling the pressure."
Fukami Senran looked at the sky and said to the others.
"Good idea. We haven't had dinner yet, and we haven't found a place to stay tonight. Why not let Her Majesty arrange it for us?"
Baki patted his stomach and followed along.
The Rouran Queen did indeed prepare a lavish dinner for the Sand Village ninjas and arranged for three ministers to accompany them.
"Everyone, I apologize for the poor hospitality. Please forgive me."
The Rouran Queen smiled brightly and toasted Qingshui and the others.
She was a red-haired woman, appearing to be in her early thirties, with a beautiful face, elegant demeanor, and dignified, graceful bearing. She was very beautiful.
"My apologies, Your Majesty, but the village has not yet lifted the wartime restrictions. We must adhere to ninja regulations while on duty and cannot drink. Eating some dishes and drinking some soup will suffice."
Fukami Senran pushed his wine glass away, speaking seriously.
"I see. It was thoughtless of me as your host. I shall punish myself with three cups first."
The Rouran Queen picked up a wine glass with her delicate hand and drank three consecutive cups towards Qingshui and the others. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, making her appear quite charming.
Qingshui was currently observing the Rouran Queen.
Red hair was a relatively rare hair color; otherwise, Kushina's red hair wouldn't have been mocked by her classmates at the Ninja Academy.
Rasa and Sasori's mother both had some Uzumaki Clan blood. Although they weren't pure Uzumaki, they also had red hair and significantly more Chakra than ordinary ninjas.
The Queen of Rouran also has red hair, I wonder if she's also related to the Uzumaki Clan.
While Qingshui was lost in thought, he suddenly felt Pakura, who was beside him, step on his foot.
"Hm?"
Pakura's cheeks puffed out slightly, and her eyes narrowed, like an angry kitten. Then she quickly turned her head, a smile appearing on her face, as she said to the Queen of Rouran:
"Your Majesty, you are truly beautiful!"
"This little sister from the Sand Village certainly knows how to flatter! You're very beautiful too!" the Queen of Rouran replied with a smile.
The others didn't notice the small interaction between Qingshui and Pakura, simply assuming Pakura spoke up to lighten the mood.
This girl…
Quite possessive, isn't she?
Qingshui couldn't help but chuckle. His lips moved slightly as he activated his Airflow Manipulation, shaping the vibrating air near his mouth into a thin stream that entered Pakura's ear, calming her.
Pakura glanced at Qingshui in surprise.
She had never seen Qingshui use a Secret Technique like Sound Transmission. Besides the Yamanaka Clan in Konoha having a similar Secret Technique, she hadn't even heard of it existing anywhere else.
After some pleasantries, the Queen of Rouran proactively began discussing official matters.
In such informal settings, discussing business often yielded unexpected results.
It wasn't directly related to whether or not they drank; it was primarily about the atmosphere, and drinking was a good way to set the mood.
My sleep schedule is completely messed up… another unproductive d
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Read 1111+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------