Hanzō found Minato peculiar.
But this peculiarity wasn't enough to make him lower himself to assassinate a child of a few years, especially since Minato was Konoha's envoy.
Though their stances clashed, they hadn't reached the point of killing an envoy.
In the Shinobi World, assassinating the genius of an enemy nation was common practice, but no one ever dared to admit it. Some matters were best kept in the shadows.
Otherwise, it might not be long before the Hokage themselves were found staking out Ninja Academy students.
After leaving Amegakure, Nawaki seethed with anger. "Damn that bastard! How dare he speak to the Hokage like that!"
Minato chuckled softly. "But wasn't he right? Konoha has never truly cared about Amegakure's concerns."
"Hmm—but Sunagakure invaded us first, didn't they?"
Nawaki pouted. "It's all Sunagakure's fault! Why are those guys always targeting us?"
"Because Konoha has money and resources."
Minato casually remarked, "The Land of Wind is entirely desert, with very little arable land. This leads to resource scarcity and economic poverty. Poverty means the people can't pay their taxes, so the Daimyo's Office naturally has no funds to allocate to the Ninja Villages."
Nawaki frowned deeply. "Isn't that a vicious cycle?"
"Not necessarily. It's just that solving problems with force is cheaper."
Seeing Nawaki's serious expression, Minato smiled, realizing he needed to educate his friend. He didn't want the young man to be misled by some idle, unlearned fool in the future.
"Take the Land of Rain as an example. It's perpetually overcast and the environment is equally harsh, but it borders six countries, including three major powers: Wind, Fire, and Earth. It could easily become a transportation hub connecting the economies of multiple nations."
Las Vegas is a prime example, and besides, casinos are a legitimate business in the Shinobi World.
"But... what's the point of prosperity if war breaks out?" Mikoto asked, puzzled.
"What if the investors behind that prosperity are the nobles, wealthy merchants, and even officials and daimyo of the surrounding countries?"
Hearing Minato's words, Mikoto suddenly understood.
It was like two countries going to war, only to discover that the high-ranking officials of Country A had all their savings in Country B's banks.
"Heh heh heh—human society is developing comprehensively, with progress across culture, economy, technology, institutions, laws, and education. As society advances, people's ideologies will also change, and war will become increasingly rare."
Orochimaru said calmly, forever believing in the power of technology to change the world.
Especially after meeting Minato, he delved into other fields of knowledge to keep up with Minato's thinking, which far surpassed the era's standards.
Orochimaru patted Nawaki on the head. "Though this might sound cliché, Nawaki, you should read more—not just about Ninjutsu."
"I know—"
After traveling a distance from Amegakure and sensing no more Amegakure Ninja nearby, Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport himself and the others back to the camp.
The three followed Orochimaru into the command tent to report on their mission.
Orochimaru placed the scroll on Mitokado Homura's table. "Hanzō demands we withdraw from the Land of Rain, or he won't negotiate."
Mitokado Homura frowned. "Could he be trying to ally with Sunagakure?"
"That's even less likely. At least Konoha has some sense of propriety. Sunagakure has never cared about the Land of Rain's fate."
Orochimaru chuckled. "Even the Land of Rain is one of Sunagakure's targets for invasion."
"Surely they wouldn't try to fight both Sunagakure and Konoha simultaneously?"
Mitokado Homura was baffled. Seeing Orochimaru's matter-of-fact expression, he suddenly froze. "Is he crazy?"
He didn't doubt Hanzō's Kage-level strength, but Amegakure wasn't Konoha!
Orochimaru remained silent. If Minato and the others hadn't been present, he might have fanned the flames to hasten the outbreak of war.
"Enough—let's set this aside for now."
Mitokado Homura shook his head and said nothing more.
In truth, he had anticipated this outcome. After all, even a rabbit will bite when cornered.
With Konoha and Sunagakure clashing in the Land of Rain for so long, it would be strange if Hanzō didn't lose his temper.
He turned to Minato. "Minato, stay within the camp for the time being and avoid going out unnecessarily. We've just received intelligence that there's already a bounty on your head in the Black Market."
"A bounty?!"
Nawaki's expression changed. "How much?"
"One hundred million ryo!" Mitokado Homura said gravely.
"One hundred million?!"
Nawaki's eyes widened instantly.
Mikoto gasped softly, covering her mouth, while Minato's eyebrows rose slightly.
Roughly the price of three Asumas...
This was the first bounty—no, wait, this wasn't the Pirate Era.
"This price is an insult to Wood Release, and even more so to Minato-kun's strength."
Orochimaru chuckled. "It must be those stingy Sunagakure bastards. How cheap!"
Mitokado Homura: "—"
Do you think this is some kind of good news?
He turned to Minato. "For now, Minato, you'll be responsible for setting up the camp. Coordinate with Tsunade on the details and then stay near the command post."
"Understood."
Minato nodded. Building houses didn't sound too bad.
"What about us?" Nawaki's face fell, and he pointed to himself. "What about Mikoto-nee and me?"
Mitokado Homura said indifferently, "You're a team; you should stick together. Otherwise, Minato wouldn't be at ease, would he?"
"Nawaki will assist Tsunade for now."
Orochimaru added casually, "As for Mikoto, you'll follow Minato-kun. We can't just dump all the work on him."
"Yes, Teacher!" Mikoto nodded.
Nawaki remained silent, looking dejected.
Since arriving at the front lines, he hadn't encountered a single enemy!
Is this even the front lines?
After submitting the mission report, Orochimaru stayed at the command post. Minato found Tsunade, and they began their base-building (and yu) mission.
As the head of logistics and medical services, Tsunade ordered Minato to build the medical department first.
"Wood Release: Frontline Fortification—Healing and Protecting Hospital Technique!"
Under the speechless gazes of Tsunade and her companions, a battlefield hospital capable of housing two hundred beds rose from the ground!
"Oh! Is that Wood Release?"
"Incredible!"
"Is that the legendary Wood Release prodigy? The one they call Namikaze Minato?"
"His Chakra reserves are astonishing!"
Unlike the small wooden hut he'd built earlier, this structure required a much larger area, necessitating site preparation that drew considerable attention.
Many people quietly observed Minato, their curiosity piqued by the legendary Wood Release prodigy.
"Phew... I'm so tired!"
Seemingly drained from excessive Chakra use, Minato staggered and fell backward.
Tsunade, standing behind him, caught him and their Chakras connected in unspoken understanding.
"Was that a bit over the top?"
"Doesn't matter. Who's to know?"
Just as Minato, exhausted from his Chakra depletion, was forced to retreat to his room to rest,
In Amegakure, Hanzō fell into deep thought as he reviewed the intelligence report delivered by his subordinates:
Black Market Bounty: Namikaze Minato
Konoha's Wood Release Bloodline Limit, eight years old, blond hair and blue eyes, bounty of one hundred million Ryo—
Related Information: Mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, single-handedly crushed a hundred-man Sunagakure frontline unit—
"He's only eight years old?!"
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