LRAB Chapter 136 The Banquet, Main Storyline Activated
Chapter 136 The Banquet, Main Storyline Activated
Chapter 127 The Banquet, Main Storyline Activated
Around 11 a.m., Hoshino Senju and Tsunade stopped shopping and returned to the Daimyo's residence.
In the main hall of the guest room where the Konoha team was staying, Sarutobi Shinnosuke and his teammate Murakami Kawano had already arrived.
"Lord Sakumo, these two are scrolls of the alliance agreement." Shinnosuke handed them over with both hands. "And this other one is a gift from my father to the daimyo of the land of rivers—a piece of calligraphy he wrote himself."
"Thank you for your hard work, Shinnosuke."
Sakumo Hatake took it and began to read the scroll of the covenant carefully.
Two copies of the scroll were made, with Konoha and the Land of Rivers each keeping one copy after the agreement was signed.
These documents have fixed templates, focusing on military defense clauses and formal permission for Konoha ninjas to carry out missions in the Land of Rivers.
To put it simply, the Land of Rivers pays a certain "protection fee" every year, while Konoha guarantees the rule of the Daimyo and sends troops to quell internal strife when necessary.
The various benefits promised for this mission were not written into the main text of the alliance, but were instead stipulated in a separate authorization agreement.
At that moment, Hoshino Senju and Tsunade walked in.
"Oh, Shinnosuke, you're here too?" Chisaku greeted.
"Lady Tsunade, Senju-kun," Shinnosuke greeted politely.
"Shin-chan has grown so much, why don't you call Tsunade 'older sister' anymore?" Tsunade teased him with a smile.
"Tsunade—Sister." Shinnosuke, who always tried to appear mature and composed, had his ears turn slightly red.
"Okay, good girl."
Tsunade always enjoyed teasing this child—who could blame her for looking so much like her teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi? It was a unique kind of fun to bully him.
Unfortunately, Shinnosuke is too rigid and serious now, not as fun as he was when he was a kid.
Sakumo Hatake looked up and nodded to the two men before continuing to read the scroll.
Shinnosuke then introduced his teammate, Murakami Kawano.
A moment later, Shuo Mao put down the scroll of the covenant and unfurled the calligraphy.
Above are eight large, bold characters: "The waters of friendship flow far and wide."
The scroll is signed "Sarutobi Hiruzen" and bears a personal seal. It is quite large, with two vertical columns, making it perfect for hanging.
Xingyuan Qianshuo and Tsunade also leaned closer to take a look.
Tsunade curled her lip, thinking to herself, "The old man is really frugal with his gifts. He just writes a few words on the fly; it costs him almost nothing."
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Xingyuan Qianshuo felt that the gift had a very good meaning. Many rivers in the Land of Rivers flow through the Land of Fire in their lower reaches. "The waters of friendship flow far and wide" is a fitting description of the geography of the two countries and also expresses the wish for continued good relations.
The Land of Fire's geopolitical strategy toward its neighboring smaller countries is relatively lenient: as long as they don't vigorously develop their military power or side with the other four major powers, they are good neighbors.
For the Land of Rivers to form an alliance with two major ninja villages at the same time is tantamount to completely abandoning the idea of building its own ninja army, which Konoha would naturally welcome.
Sakumo Hatake carefully put away the three scrolls, intending to have them reviewed by Moriyuki Minamoto at a later date so that they could be formally signed at the ceremony the day after tomorrow.
The daimyo's inauguration ceremony was arranged somewhat hastily. Minamoto no Okimori hoped to pave a solid path for his second son, Minamoto no Oki Wataru, in the last period of his life.
Since important figures from Konoha and Sunagakure were present, the signing ceremony was used to amplify the event's prestige.
In the morning, Sako, a trusted advisor of Genjiro, presented gold gifts to Konoha and Sunagakure respectively, and then busied himself with preparations for the ceremony.
At this moment, he once again went to the guest room where the Konoha ninjas were staying.
"Greetings, esteemed lords." Zuoqiu bowed with a smile.
"What brings you here, sir?" Sakumo Hatake asked.
"Tonight, Daming Prefecture will host a banquet for you all. We cordially invite you to attend."
After a moment's thought, Hatake Sakumo nodded in agreement.
He then said, "The Hokage of Konoha has sent someone to deliver the scroll of the alliance agreement. Should we first present it to your daimyo for review?"
Zuoqiu Zheng pondered for a moment and replied, "Please wait a moment, Lord Shuomao, while I consult with my lord before I return with a reply."
"it is good."
Zuo Qiuzheng added, "The Sand Village ninja will also be invited to this banquet. I hope you all understand."
"It's alright."
Since Yuanqiu Sheng wanted to please both sides, he naturally had to maintain a balance to the end.
Zuoqiu breathed a sigh of relief, took his leave, and turned to walk towards the courtyard of the guest rooms where Sunagakure was located.
At noon, servants from the Daming Prefecture brought lunch. After everyone finished eating, they dispersed.
Xingyuan Qianshuo and Tsunade did not go out again.
Witnessing Chisaku's rapid improvement in strength, Tsunade also felt a sense of urgency.
Her goal is to develop a regeneration and healing technique that utilizes Yin Seal chakra as soon as possible.
It is already in its initial form, but the details of the spell seal technique still need to be repeatedly refined.
Xingyuan Qianshuo casually offered a few pointers from the side, but they always hit the nail on the head.
Tsunade's thinking became increasingly clear, and the difficulty of developing new techniques suddenly decreased.
Around 2 PM, Hatake Sakumo, accompanied by Sarutobi Shinnosuke, paid a visit to Minamoto no Mori and his son Minamoto no Wataru, presenting them with the covenant scroll and a gift of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The contents of the alliance were correct, and the inscription by the Hokage suited both of them well.
The banquet was hosted by Genjiro Watari, while Genjiro Mori only appeared for five or six minutes before leaving to rest.
Although Genkichi tried his best to treat both sides gently, his methods were far less sophisticated than his father's.
Fortunately, the leaders on both sides—Sakumo Hatake and Ebizo—are both considered moderates in the village. Even if they have grudges, they can put aside their differences and talk and laugh freely at this moment.
As for the others, they were bound by their connections, and since they had already received the money and the banquet was in full swing, they couldn't very well offend the host.
The dinner wasn't particularly lively, but there wasn't a tense atmosphere either.
During the meal, the Sand Village ninja frequently glanced at Hoshino Senju and Tsunade without making any attempt to hide it. They served each other food and drinks, and their intimate behavior made their relationship obvious.
Yekura glanced at it a few times before focusing on her meal, though the feelings in her heart were hard to describe.
Xingyuan Qianshuo was about the same age as her, and his defeat and subsequent healing left a mark on her. This wasn't a stirring of emotion, but rather a complex feeling that ignited her ambition.
Unlike Yekura's chaotic emotions, Rasa appeared particularly calm and composed.
He was ambitious and knew how to assess situations. Although young, his strength and wisdom far surpassed those of his peers, and he had been quietly observing and learning from his seniors such as the Third Kazekage, Ebizo, and Chiyo.
Although the mission was not entirely successful, he learned one thing: negotiation and transactions can bring tangible benefits, and sometimes they are even more effective than pure fighting.
After the banquet, the people from Konoha and Sunagakure returned to the guest room area together.
Sakumo Hatake and Ebizo walked side by side, chatting casually as they went, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
If Chiyo were to witness this scene, she would likely rush up and beat both of them up; if Sasori were to see it, he might already be plotting how to turn them into puppets.
Back in their guest room, after washing up, Chisaku and Tsunade lay down side by side and talked softly.
"Chisaku, do you think it would be useful for the Land of Rivers to simultaneously sign agreements with both Konoha and Sunagakure?"
Xingyuan Qianshuo pondered for a moment: "It has some effect, but in the end, it's just a balancing act for small countries to survive in the cracks."
"In the past, the Daming Prefecture would try to appease both sides in private, but now it has to put the balance on the table. These two alliances can boost its prestige, make the common people feel safe, and also deter local separatist forces."
"But the relationship between Konoha and Sunagakure has not truly changed. If the conflict intensifies, war will still be inevitable."
Tsunade leaned against Senju's chest, her fingers unconsciously stroking his chest as she listened quietly.
"Chisaku, the peace you spoke of in the ninja world—can it really be achieved? Even someone as powerful as my great-grandfather could only maintain peace temporarily."
"Peace requires strength, but it cannot rely on strength alone," Hoshino Senju said slowly. "We need to unite a group of people with strength and belief, and then use the deterrence of strength and the attraction of benefits to gather most of the elite ninjas and establish an alliance that transcends the nation and ninja villages."
"The First Hokage gathered the ninja clans within the Land of Fire, achieving unity within the country, but he did not continue to move forward and gather the power of the entire ninja world."
"He distributed the tailed beasts in the hope of maintaining the balance of power among the great nations, but as it turns out, what truly maintained peace in the ninja world was his absolute personal strength."
Chisaku's words made Tsunade's heart sink slightly.
In the past, he said he wanted to change the survival model of ninjas who relied on hired missions, and he wanted to improve it peacefully; but what he is saying now is clearly a path full of struggle and danger.
For every supporter, there is an opponent. To gather and win over the majority of elite ninjas, it is necessary to suppress or even eliminate other opponents.
Tsunade could sense the underlying tension and risk in his words. She supported Chisaku, but she also worried about him.
Xingyuan Qianshuo seemed to sense her emotions and hugged her even tighter.
"Don't worry, I won't rashly embark on this path without the power of the First Hokage. Besides, the alliance I want to establish is not to completely destroy countries and ninja villages, but to give the strong people of each country and village a higher stage to realize their ambitions in a wider world."
"The power of ninjas, from the chaos of clans in the Warring States period to the current conflict between ninja villages—will one day lead to the unity of the entire ninja world."
"At that time, under this alliance, chakra will no longer be a tool of war, but a source of nourishment for the people and the creation of well-being. As for those skilled in combat—they will become the organization's sword and shield," just like the current Anbu, protecting order and eliminating turmoil.
As Chisaku's words unfolded slowly, Tsunade gradually sketched out that grand outline in her mind.
To put it simply, what he wanted was to build a "ninja village that encompasses the entire ninja world"—to bring together all the scattered ninja forces under the same banner.
This path is destined to be more difficult than when my grandfather founded Konoha. Deep-seated grudges and intertwined interests among nations mean that every step forward may be met with fierce counterattacks.
The primary prerequisite for all these ideas to come to fruition is that Chisaku must possess power surpassing that of his grandfather.
That is not only the foundation for realizing ideals, but also the "primary driving force" for promoting change.
Only when this alliance truly takes root, grows, and improves can it gradually break free from absolute dependence on individuals and instead rely on shared ideals, mature systems, and strong interest ties to maintain its long-term existence and operation.
After a moment of contemplation, Tsunade spoke softly, her voice low but each word clear: "Chisaku, I will support you."
"Yes, thank you, Tsunade."
Xingyuan Qianshuo responded softly, his words carrying a sincerity that needed no further explanation.
Tsunade's words were not just about understanding and support, but also about the deep affection of entrusting trust.
If she were to follow her heart, she might prefer to live a simple and peaceful life, watching the clouds drift by and enjoying the tranquility of time.
But Qian Shuo is her man—a man whose heart is filled with faith and dreams of the future.
She loved him precisely because of this, and therefore was willing to accompany him on that long and bumpy road.
Xingyuan Qianshuo understood the full weight of those words. He responded softly, yet it was as if he held the entire future in their intertwined palms.
"Huh!"
Xingyuan Qianshuo suddenly exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Tsunade looked up at him.
"It's nothing—Tsunade, you're truly my lucky star." He lowered his head and gently kissed her hair.
"Hmph—" Tsunade snorted twice, her tone revealing a hint of smugness.
Xingyuan Qianshuo felt a surge of joy—the long-dormant "Main Quest 2" had quietly been activated at this moment.
[Host strength detected to have reached Kage level, possessing a firm belief in pursuing peace in the ninja world. Main quest "Studying medicine can't save the ninja world" activated. Rewards: Origin Scroll *1, Skill Perfection Scroll *2, Chakra +20000]
[System activated "Reputation" mode. Host's current reputation points: 13883]
[The system has launched the "Shop | Section," where the host can use reputation points to exchange for skill experience scrolls.]
The system has launched the "Organization" section, where the host can use reputation points to exchange for organization member abilities.
[Please create an organization based on the belief of "Peace in the Ninja World" and name it.]
"Star." Xingyuan Qianshuo pondered for a moment and murmured to himself.
[Congratulations, host, on creating the "Star" organization. You have received the following reward: Chakra Nature Fusion Scroll (Beginner) *1]
[Side Quest Generated: Recruit at least 3 members of the "Star" organization, requiring a loyalty level of 20% or higher. Accept?]
"receive."
A series of system notifications overwhelmed him.
He was completely absorbed in the moment, and his hand unconsciously caressed Tsunade's soft skin.
"Main quest activation depends on two things: strength and conviction—" Xingyuan Qianshuo thought to himself, "Never mind, activation is fine."
"One original scroll and two perfect scrolls — a very generous amount, we must make good use of them."
He didn't rush to use it, but instead checked out the new features of the system.
The reputation model is easy to understand; 13883 points should be the result of his recent rise to prominence.
The key lies in the exchange value of these reputations.
Open the "Shop" and you'll find various scrolls displayed in a grid similar to an inventory—all of which were previously awarded as rewards.
The purple Origin Scroll is the most expensive, requiring 20,000 reputation points, and his current accumulation is not even enough to exchange for one.
The golden perfect scroll is worth five thousand, which would be worthwhile if used on an S-level skill.
Green mastery scrolls are worth 1,000 each, and they are all skill scrolls with no usage restrictions.
The store even offers beginner tutorial reels, also priced at one thousand, which is a bit expensive.
The "Chakra Nature Fusion Scroll (Beginner)" that the system just rewarded is also among them. It is a light blue scroll priced at 5,000 reputation points, which is the same value as a perfect scroll.
Xingyuan Qianshuo's mind raced, and he roughly understood its purpose—this scroll should be able to develop techniques like the Scorching Escape Technique.
Magnet Release is a type of bloodline limit formed by the fusion of two chakra natures.
Its greatest value, perhaps, lies in the fact that it recreates "Wood Release".
However, it's hard to say whether the fusion of earth and water properties will result in Kazamatsuri Moegi's "Grass Release".
Furthermore, the word "primary" suggests that it is likely limited to the fusion of two chakra natures, making it difficult to reach the Bloodline Elimination or even Bloodline Limit.
The "Organization" section is currently empty, but the "Exchange Organization Member Abilities" feature makes him look forward to it.
As for recruiting members required for the side quest—Xingyuan Qianshuo's mind flashed through the minds of the rogue ninjas of the Akatsuki organization in the original work, but unfortunately it was too early and most of the candidates were not suitable.
The system emphasizes a "belief loyalty of 20% or higher," which refers to the degree of identification with "peace in the ninja world." Therefore, recruiting people cannot be done arbitrarily, and the specific actions required careful planning.
After browsing through them, Xingyuan Qianshuo did not immediately use these scrolls.
With a slight thought, he shut down the system and casually flicked several sealing talismans onto the surrounding walls, setting up a soundproof barrier.
Before Tsunade, who was enjoying the tender embrace in his arms, could react, he pinned her down.
Qian Shuo bent down and buried himself in that mountain range —
Tsunade held his restless head, her fingers running through his hair, her eyelashes fluttering, and she let out a soft moan.
The night was long.
The road ahead is still long.
Instead, let's focus on the present and express our true feelings.
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