"That's only natural. Even if you hadn't mentioned it, we would have done so. It doesn't count as a request." Ryuji spoke frankly.
Sunagakure was probably the most united among all Shinobi Villages.
Sunagakure's establishment was different from other Shinobi Villages. It was built by people who survived the desert battlefields at the end of the Warring States Period.
In other words, before forming the Shinobi Village, they had been enemies killing each other.
The First Kazekage, Reto, was very powerful, a Shinobi of great prestige, but far inferior to Hashirama and Madara.
His prestige wasn't enough to make former enemies let go of their hatred and build a home together.
The method he adopted was to disband the clans, abandon family names, establish a Round Table Conference, and create a brotherhood Shinobi Village.
Everyone was a brother, all equal.
With a prestigious and powerful Shinobi like Reto setting the example, even if others didn't fully trust each other, they would be moved.
Moreover, due to the harsh desert environment and the fatigue from years of war, eventually, everyone reached a consensus and established Sunagakure.
Later, because of the small population and harsh environment, everyone needed to work together to survive.
Gradually, the Shinobi of Sunagakure became more and more united, eventually forming a tightly knit rope.
The incident of the Third Kazekage's disappearance, where the village dispatched nearly all its forces to search regardless of its own safety, showed a glimpse of this.
But this was only the current situation.
As the village grew larger, management became more mature and rational, and many political problems would follow.
For the sake of overall interests, sacrificing individual interests would inevitably happen.
At that time, the village's cohesion would also decline.
Just like later with Pakura and Gaara.
For strategic success, Rasa sold out the village's hero.
Because of the lesson from the Third Kazekage's disappearance incident, Sunagakure dared not send a large force to rescue those protecting them.
These things would chill people's hearts.
But for now, Sunagakure remained the most united village in the Shinobi World.
In the future, Ryuji would also continue to keep it united.
As long as the village was strong enough, these heart-chilling incidents wouldn't happen.
"That's enough. Thank you!"
Since entering the room, Sara who had been forcing smiles finally let out a sigh of relief, showing a genuine smile from the heart.
"Is this really okay?"
Hearing the intrusive questioning voice, Ryuji looked at the speaker... a sunny boy in orange sportswear standing by the collapsed wall on the other side of the room.
—Uzumaki Naruto!
"Why haven't you returned yet?"
Ryuji felt surprised.
Time-space travel occurred because Mukade swallowed the seal that Minato placed on the Dragon Vein twenty years later.
Now, Mukade was dead. The Dragon Vein wouldn't be destroyed, and there would be no sealing technique from Minato.
Naturally, there would be no time travel.
However, if there was no time travel, then the thousands of towers built by Mukade in Roran should also disappear.
Sara's mother should still be alive, and Naruto shouldn't be in this time-space either.
But none of that happened.
There were two possibilities.
One, Mukade wasn't dead.
Two, even if Mukade died, without Minato's sealing technique, other conditions for time travel existed in the future.
Ryuji had repeatedly confirmed Mukade's Chakra Signature earlier; he was truly dead, and no time-space correction had occurred.
So...
'The previous time-space correction wasn't simply changing the fact of Mukade's death; there were other unknown changes as well.'
The concept of time-space correction sounds mysterious, but it's essentially the butterfly effect.
Because the past was changed, the future's historical development changed accordingly.
However, Ryuji was in the future and remembered the memories from before the time-space correction, which is why he felt the world suddenly become different.
To be precise, the memories from before the correction were the unfulfilled possibilities, while the current memories were what truly happened.
Although, they happened after being altered.
"Your country is destroyed, yet you accept the pity of the destroyer. Don't you feel resentment?" Naruto ignored Ryuji, his blue eyes fixed on Sara. "Roran was originally your country. The Dragon Vein was originally yours. Now you have to beg the robber to let you use what's rightfully yours. What kind of logic is that in this world?"
"Shut up!"
Sara clenched her teeth, biting her lower lip. Her pure eyes trembled constantly, forcing back tears.
Everything the other party said, how could she not know?
But what could she do?
Just like this robber said, in this era of war, weakness is a sin.
Possessing a treasure like the Dragon Vein but not using it to strengthen oneself, destruction is only a matter of time.
She simply lacked the power to protect all this.
"Don't think about whether you can do it..." Sara's helpless expression fell perfectly into Naruto's eyes. He clenched his fists, encouraging, "...but think about whether you want to do it. Only by persistently pursuing without giving up is everything possible."
"That's right."
From the hole in the roof, a youth with dazzling blond hair stood straddling the edge, a prominent Konoha's forehead protector on his brow. "Queen of Roran, if you worry your strength is insufficient to protect the country, then ask Konoha for help. We will definitely help you, help this country."
As his words fell, Shibi wrapped in bandages, Choza with bruises and swelling on his face, and the short Kakashi all appeared to the side.
Minato continued, "You don't need to worry that we, like Sunagakure, covet the Dragon Vein. We lack the ability to move the Dragon Vein, and our village is far away in the Land of Fire, unable to occupy this place."
"Moreover, due to competition, we won't allow Sunagakure to seize the Dragon Vein. You don't need to worry at all that we won't help."
Minato's voice was gentle, possessing a convincing magic.
After hearing his explanation, Sara felt her previous decision waver.
As a queen, between the country and the lives of her people, she chose the latter.
But no ruler wants to see their country destroyed.
If both could be achieved, she naturally hoped for both.
'If Konoha could really help, then...'
"Naive!"
A cold voice pulled Sara's fantasy back to reality.
Everyone turned their gaze to the speaker… Ryuji.
"Not to mention whether Konoha has the ability to protect Roran and the Dragon Vein from us, Sunagakure; even if they could, could they protect it forever?" Ryuji sneered coldly. "That's right, Konoha is far in the Land of Fire, unable to occupy this place, so you don't need to worry they'll seize it. But from such a distance, how can they defend against Sunagakure seizing this place day and night?"
"Forgive my bluntness, this place… I alone could occupy it in ten minutes."
"Even if Konoha reinforcements arrive later and drive me away, I could come back to occupy it again after they leave."
"Even if they station personnel here long-term, they won't be a match for Sunagakure, whose main base is right in the desert."
"Once you choose to rely on Konoha, I will kill everyone."
"Then, regardless of the outcome between Sunagakure and Konoha, as long as you choose to rely on Konoha, this country and its people cannot escape the fate of destruction."
"But conversely, Sunagakure can guarantee the people of Roran are free from threats."