noveltune Chapter 601 The Rebirth of Water
Chapter 601 The Rebirth of Water
That was a flame called hope and longing.
"What...what should we do?"
Hozuki Kaigetsu's voice trembled uncontrollably; it was a helpless and devout expression of having found a god but not knowing how to pray.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a gentle smile, a smile that carried the encouragement of an elder to a junior.
"You don't need to do anything."
These words startled both the brother and sister.
"All you need is..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly and solemnly pushed the heavy scroll to the edge of the desk, in front of them. "Go back to Kirigakure and tell everyone what kind of future you will bring them."
"Leave the rest to me."
He looked at Hozuki Kaigetsu and said finally.
"Now, this is your plan."
The brother and sister's gaze fell on the heavy scroll.
It is no longer just a plan, a promise, a blueprint, but a unique ticket to a new world.
Hozuki Kaigetsu trembled as she stretched out her hands, as if holding a priceless treasure or welcoming a newborn baby, carefully cradling the scroll in her arms.
That astonishing weight was both physical and mental.
The next second, the brother and sister looked at each other, as if they had made up their minds, and knelt down on one knee at the same time, burying their heads deeply.
Facing Hiruzen Sarutobi, the man who had reshaped their worldview with a mere laugh, they roared with all their might in unison:
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Outside the office door, Uchiha Shisui, who had been standing as still as a statue, had a slight, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.
He watched his teacher's retreating figure, filled with boundless admiration.
What is the strongest illusion?
It is neither Kotoamatsukami nor Tsukuyomi.
Instead, it makes the enemy willingly believe that the dream you paint for them is the future they themselves desire.
The brother and sister gripped the heavy scroll tightly, as if they were holding the entire Hidden Mist Village in their hands.
Hozuki Kaigetsu held the scroll tightly to his chest, as if he were protecting a newborn world.
On the day of departure, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
The plaza in front of the Hokage Building was empty and quiet. The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, draping the more than twenty figures standing there in a hazy veil.
They were like sculptures growing out of the shadows, silent and still, each of them breathing at an almost imperceptible frequency, blending into their surroundings.
These are the elite Anbu members who accompanied and protected the Hokage on this occasion.
They were wearing the latest combat uniforms, improved by the Zero Squad.
The dark gray main color blends perfectly into the night and rocks. The material is flexible yet strong, and key parts are embedded with chakra conduction wires provided by Orochimaru, which can instantly enhance the effect of defensive techniques by 10%.
The ninja tool pouch at the waist has been redesigned to be flatter and more form-fitting, yet it can hold 30% more equipment than the old version.
What is most striking are the cold masks on their faces, pure white bone china without any extra lines, leaving only two pitch-black holes, as if they can swallow all light.
Standing at the very front of the group was the captain, Uchiha Shisui.
He wasn't wearing a mask; the morning breeze ruffled his slightly curled black hair, and his face, which always carried a gentle smile, appeared exceptionally serene today.
He simply stood there quietly, like a sunny boy next door, but the twenty ANBU members behind him, exuding a chilling aura, made him the eye of this silent storm.
Hozuki Kaigetsu and Hozuki Shio, the brother and sister duo, also changed into dark casual clothes provided by Konoha for easy movement. The cuffs were embroidered with an inconspicuous vortex symbol in silver thread, symbolizing their current special status.
Standing at the end of the line, they were enveloped for the first time so vividly by the power that embodied the concept of Konoha.
Haiyue stood ramrod straight, his gaze almost greedily dissecting everything before him.
There were no bloodthirsty shouts, not even the slightest unnecessary movement.
These twenty members of the secret service were like twenty parts of an extremely sophisticated war machine, each perfectly positioned and waiting for a command to activate.
This oppressive feeling, stemming from absolute discipline and self-confidence, is far more suffocating than the beast-like madness of the Blood Mist Village.
This is true power.
A powerful force that is calm, rational, and can be precisely calculated and executed.
Unlike her brother's solemn expression, Hozuki Shio seemed rather bored.
She quietly kicked a pebble at her feet, then reached out and touched the individual combat energy bar at her waist, which was specially supplied by Hatake Sakumo Farm and supposedly used the latest preservation technology.
The girl was a little curious whether this was the legendary version of the Akimichi clan's secret recipe, where one bite could taste both grilled meat and rice.
Just as she was about to tear open the packaging to find out what was inside, several familiar figures appeared at the other end of the square.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was still dressed in a plain dark blue casual outfit, his hands casually in his pockets, as he strolled over slowly.
Behind him were Tsunade, Orochimaru, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Nara Shikanobu, who was carrying a large stack of scrolls and yawning incessantly.
"Lord Hokage, won't you reconsider?"
Nara Shika, sporting heavy dark circles under his eyes and looking like he might fall asleep at any moment, tossed the mountain of scrolls in his arms and said in an almost pleading tone, "Regarding the contingency plan for encountering a once-in-a-millennium waterspout in the Land of Water, and the fact that our ship has eighteen holes in its hull, I've only just come up with the seventh solution... Could you stay a couple more days so I can finish writing down the remaining one hundred and one possibilities?"
He felt like he was going crazy.
For the Hokage's outrageous trip, he and his son Shikaku have been working for three days and three nights without sleep, deducing thousands of possible accidents and developing tens of thousands of contingency plans. They even prepared a plan for how to send a distress signal if they were abducted by aliens.
Even so, he still felt uneasy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up to him, patted the towering scroll in his arms, and smiled gently, "Shikanobu, thank you for your hard work. It's because of your thorough preparations that I can go out with peace of mind."
In his mind, he was furiously complaining: This guy is really turning himself into a terminal paranoiac. It's just a business trip, why is he acting like he's going to solo the Sage of Six Paths?
Once he gets back, I'll have to force him to take a long vacation and let him sleep for three days straight at the Akimichi family's ranch. I don't care about your contingency plan on "how to send a distress signal if abducted by aliens." It's good that the aliens are here. I'd like to ask them what level of technology they've reached and if they can provide some new ideas for Konoha's infrastructure.
With just one sentence, all of Nara Kazumi's complaints were silenced.
Looking at the Hokage's trusting expression, he could only sigh helplessly and resignedly step aside.
"Hiruzen".
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stepped forward. These two usually decisive and efficient advisors were now filled with undisguised concern.
"We will handle the affairs of the village."
Koharu's words were as concise as ever.
Be careful in everything you do.
Mitomon Enoki added solemnly.
Don't worry.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded, then turned his gaze to the two disciples on the other side whose demeanor was clearly off.
Tsunade stood with her hands on her hips, glaring angrily at Orochimaru beside her. Orochimaru, however, completely ignored her anger, and was writing and drawing on the equipment of the ANBU members in a small notebook while muttering to himself.
"...Chakra conduction efficiency is still too low. If we could use my latest third-generation snake scale alloy, it could theoretically be improved further. Hmm, I'll submit the application report when I get back... Also, the material of this mask, while sturdy, lacks breathability. Wearing it for extended periods might affect the user's concentration. We could consider adding a micro-circulation ventilation system..."