Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 352 International Movements

"This is a direct order from the Daimyo, requiring Konoha ninja to escort convoys transporting supplies to various regions."

"This mission is widely dispersed and covers a large area. Moreover, the time is tight and the task is heavy. Each team leader must be cautious and not allow any mistakes."

"Remember, any lost supplies are a loss of lives for the civilians in the disaster area!"

"Yes, sir! Hokage!"

The plaza in front of the Hokage Building is rarely this lively. Apart from the Hokage succession ceremony, it's almost impossible to find so many fully equipped ninjas gathered here. With the Hokage's order, the ninjas, who had already received their missions, marched directly towards the gates of Konoha, their momentum almost like the prelude to a small battle.

However, the person who had just gone out for a stroll and ended up getting himself into trouble wasn't among these people. This guy was wrapped in a black cloak and stood silently not far behind the Hokage.

Leaving behind the most mobile ninja in Konoha was clearly not a wise decision, but the daimyo deliberately included a clause in his orders that restricted the ninja's movements.

"Since a large number of Konoha's elite troops have been transferred to other areas, the internal defenses will inevitably be weak. It is recommended that Naruto Uzumaki stay in Konoha to ensure that Konoha can quickly support any location if the Land of Fire's border is attacked."

The proposal seemed reasonable and could convince most people, but the higher-ups who knew Naruto's abilities well understood that it was both a warning and a disguised honor.

With so many ninjas in Konoha, to be specially nominated by the Daimyo for such an important mission, how can that not be considered an "honor"? And confining the most mobile ninja to a corner of the land, how can that not be considered a warning?

"All four captains in charge of the squads have your mark on them, and your friends from the same period have also been dispatched. You'll definitely be able to react in any emergency. Don't worry too much." Tsunade thought Naruto, who looked extremely serious, was worried and comforted the boy.

Ever since this kid became a ninja, he has always been at the forefront of the most dangerous situations. He has hardly ever been a team member. Suddenly, he has become the one who sees his comrades off to battle, which is still a bit of a shock.

However, she was clearly overthinking it. Naruto was already familiar with this feeling; it was just that the pain of working overtime on both fronts and his dwindling energy were giving him a headache. But a headache was no excuse to rest; the things that needed to be done had to be done. Even as he stood there, he was thinking about how to negotiate with government agencies in various countries and how to subtly allocate resources.

"I'm not worried, they can definitely do it." Naruto answered quite firmly. He was the one who had the most faith in the overall quality of the Konoha ninjas, but he really disliked those guys who hid in the shadows and gave orders.

Seeing how strong the child was, Tsunade didn't say anything more, but told him to rest well these few days so that he wouldn't be too tired to deal with any emergencies that required support.

However, such worries were unnecessary. Due to this year's unusual weather, the major powers capable of attacking Konoha were all struggling with the heavy snow and had no time for unnecessary trouble. The most trouble the escort team would encounter was mountain bandits. In fact, what really troubled the team was not the enemy, but the unarmed civilians. Because supplies were finite and had fixed delivery destinations, the escorts had no right to allocate resources. If they encountered suffering civilians begging for food or firewood, they could only turn a blind eye.

This is a journey that truly tests one's willpower.

"Sigh." In the leader's office of Hokushin, Uncle Hashirama was sighing again and again.

"Are you ever going to stop?" Izuna was in a manic state, ready to lash out at anyone, and she found anyone who showed kindness annoying.

Tobirama instinctively reached for Izuna's waist, but considering the current situation, he changed course and gently patted Izuna's back, his entire body screaming: "Calm down."

That's the situation. So, what's the next step?

Jinlun subconsciously tucked the hand warmer into his pocket. Actually, as a clone, he shouldn't be afraid of the cold, but his main body had developed a habit over the past few days, and that habit was reflected in his clone.

"Uncle Fugaku, do you have any ideas? You're in charge of Dongfeng, so you know the situation best. You must have thought of some solutions, right?"

Fugaku, who had never been the first to offer an opinion, remained calm and said unhurriedly, "I think we've reached the point where we need to find a 'backer'."

"It's too late to look for them now. Those guys from the Land of Lightning need to be beaten hard before they'll learn to restrain themselves." Izuna didn't completely object, but he still couldn't suppress his murderous intent, after all, that country did indeed have a grudge against him.

"The victims are innocent. Since we have the ability, we should take responsibility and get through this crisis first." Although Hashirama was trying to persuade them, he didn't really oppose a military solution, after all, he also had a grudge against that country.

Tobirama unusually chose to remain silent. He didn't actually dislike the Second Raikage that much, but rather admired him as an enemy. His biggest mistake in life was believing that this guy could manage his subordinates. Perhaps it was his untimely death that led to the decay of Konoha's roots.

Therefore, the final decision rested with Jinlun. He had anticipated this outcome, so he had already reviewed Dongfeng's current supplies and disaster situation overnight before making the final decision.

While ensuring supplies from existing bases, actively communicate with local authorities regarding relief efforts. If local authorities are willing to cooperate, appropriate collaboration can be undertaken to guarantee the supply of materials. If local authorities are uncooperative and this affects normal cooperation and communication, then supplies should be temporarily suspended, and resources should be used where they are more needed.

"This decision was difficult, but our capabilities are limited. We cannot rush to 'give away' supplies when we know that someone is deliberately hoarding them at low prices and then selling them at high prices to profit from the national crisis. In addition, we should have the intelligence department collect evidence properly, and then the propaganda department should find a way to spread the word widely. We cannot give them the opportunity to pin accusations on us."

"Formal negotiations with the Land of Fire should begin as well."

At this moment, Tobirama spoke up with some surprise, "Isn't this a bit too early?"

"It's getting late. These kinds of negotiations might not yield results for a year or two, so it's better to prepare early."

"But the real purpose of the negotiations is to help you run for the Sixth Hokage."

"I know. But who says that joining means I can't help others? Besides, what if there really is an opportunity in a year or so?"

"Xiao Gang isn't that fragile."

"Just kidding."