Just like when Kyoichi traveled to the Land of Water, this time their voyage by sea toward the Land of Fire was smooth all the way. They did not encounter a single problem. Even the most vicious pirates at sea would immediately retreat the moment they spotted Kirigakure's banner.
On the open sea,
Kirigakure was the undisputed ruler.
"We're about to make landfall."
Anjō Oniyuzu stood at the bow, one hand resting on the railing as he gazed toward the faint coastline emerging in the distance. "Konoha's shinobi should already be waiting for us at the harbor… Kyoichi, at this distance, can you sense anything?"
He turned to look at the boy standing behind him.
"It's a bit tough."
Kyoichi frowned slightly. "We're still too far. I can barely sense anything at all. Besides, Baishi Port is one of the top three major ports in the entire Land of Fire—there are too many living presences mixed together. If I want to distinguish the shinobi among them… we'll have to get closer."
He had already attempted to sense things before Oniyuzu even asked, but just as he said, the life signatures on shore were too many and too chaotic. And given how far they were from land, his Earth Listening Technique was severely weakened over water. With all these factors stacked together, he ultimately sensed nothing.
"Then we'll talk again once we get closer."
Oniyuzu nodded. Instead of being disappointed, he was impressed yet again.
He wasn't a sensory-type shinobi himself. But as a well-traveled veteran of Kirigakure, he had met more sensory specialists than he could count—dozens at the very least. Among them, some were weak, not worth mentioning, but even the elite standing at the top of Kirigakure's sensory corps… very few could sense things at such distance.
So not only did the kid have monstrous combat ability,
He was also a top-class sensory ninja?
Oniyuzu silently reflected. After spending so many days together on the ship, he had come to deeply recognize just how brilliant and extraordinary this boy from the Koeda Clan was. To be honest, even that girl who inherited the bloodline limits of both the Terumi and Kirigumo clans… might not necessarily surpass this boy.
Unfortunately, the Koeda Clan was still an outsider clan, new to the village.
Unless a complete political upheaval overturned the entire structure of Kirigakure, Koeda Kyoichi had almost no chance of becoming the next Mizukage.
"By the way, Kyoichi— I heard… you have some connection with Konoha's Yellow Flash?"
Oniyuzu asked again.
"You've definitely read the report I submitted. I swear there were no omissions. Every detail of the few times I met Konoha's Yellow Flash is recorded there. You really don't need to ask again. Everything I know is written."
"I did read it. Your courage alone made me want to stand up and applaud."
"You flatter me."
"But I'm not asking about the details of your encounters with the Yellow Flash. What I want to know is… what do you think of him? Do you believe he's someone we could win over?"
"…I'm sixteen."
Kyoichi sighed helplessly.
The new year had already passed—they had celebrated it aboard the ship. Before they even reached the Land of Fire, the entire envoy had aged one year.
According to Konoha's calendar,
This was now Konoha Year 48.
"Age is never the issue… I've seen 20-year-olds who are still as naïve as children, but those only exist among nobles and merchants. Among shinobi… there are kids carrying blades longer than they are, killing people."
Oniyuzu looked at Kyoichi and continued, "So, age is never the problem. Besides—16 is already old enough to start a family. When I was your age, my elders had already arranged a marriage for me… How about this, Kyoichi? Once we return, I can introduce you to my granddaughter. She's three years younger than you. A bit young for children, but marriage is no problem."
The topic
veered off a cliff and sped toward a completely unrelated direction.
"…Let's stick to talking about the Yellow Flash."
"Look at you, so unwilling. My granddaughter is very pretty!!"
"As for the Yellow Flash, I don't believe he's someone who can be swayed by profit."
"Haha!"
Oniyuzu burst into laughter.
Kyoichi rolled his eyes, letting out a silent, helpless breath.
"Fine, fine. If you don't want to, you don't want to. It's not like that Terumī girl hasn't already met you early on… Old Masakazu really is sharp—his judgment and decisiveness are still admirable."
Oniyuzu muttered on and on.
Kyoichi, however, tuned him out completely.
Until—
"I'm not expecting us to buy off Konoha's Yellow Flash. According to the latest intel, the Third Hokage may step down soon and pass the position to a younger generation. Right now, the strongest candidates for Fourth Hokage are one of the Sannin—Orochimaru—and Konoha's Yellow Flash."
"I'm not delusional enough to think we can 'buy' someone who might become Hokage. But after reviewing your report, I realized the Yellow Flash seems to treasure his bonds deeply. So… perhaps we could help him secure the Hokage seat."
"If we manage that, we won't be negotiating with the sly, seasoned Third Hokage anymore. Instead, we'd face a young, sentimental Fourth Hokage. That would be far more favorable for us."
"Kyoichi, what do you think?"
Finally, Oniyuzu fell silent and looked at him.
"…I think the feasibility is too low."
Kyoichi shook his head. "Konoha would never allow outsiders to interfere in the Hokage succession. And besides—what do we even have that could help the Yellow Flash win? If Konoha discovers our involvement… Elder Oniyuzu, forget rescuing our captured comrades—we'd be lucky to even make it home alive."
"You're absolutely right."
Oniyuzu nodded, not denying a single point. But then he added:
"Still… people make possibilities. Never mind. I'm the one talking too much. These matters don't need a genius like you to worry about. Just fulfill your responsibilities well."
***************************
Read advanced chapters ahead of everyone else on my P@treon.
P@treon/GodDragcell