socalfunplaces Chapter 192: Wu and Onoki
Chapter 192: Wu and Onoki
Konoha outskirts
The tall, slender woman, covered in white bandages, walked slowly alongside the short child, Onoki.
"Teacher, we have come here specifically to visit Konoha. Do you think they will grant our request?"
Onoki tilted his head back, then couldn't help but add, "Let's not end up being the ones who offer our warm welcome but get the cold shoulder."
Hearing his disciple's deep concerns, he did not stop walking.
After pondering for a few seconds with her eyes lowered, her gentle voice slowly drifted through the gaps in the bandages: "Probably not."
"It is widely known that the First Hokage of Konoha was kind-hearted and always upheld the way of peace. He was a true pacifist and would never neglect a guest without reason."
"Okay, I'll listen to the teacher."
Onoki seemed relieved and nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the direction of Konoha.
In a short while, the two arrived at the entrance of Konoha Village, gazing at the majestic and imposing wooden gate.
Both Mu and Onoki were amazed; the magnificent village far exceeded their expectations.
"Who goes there?"
The Konoha gatekeeper immediately stepped forward, blocking the two men with a wary expression, and demanded an explanation in a stern voice.
Wu Shang stepped forward, speaking in a calm and polite tone: "Young man, we are from Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village). We have come here specifically to hope to meet the First Hokage."
The two guards exchanged a glance.
They had never heard of the name Iwagakure (Hidden Rock Village), so they assumed it was a newly established ninja village during the recent chaos.
In recent years, a wave of new ninja villages has swept across various regions, and it is not uncommon for many newly established villages to visit Konoha to pay their respects.
"Please wait a moment, both of you. I will go into the village to inform them immediately."
The head guard said in a deep voice
As soon as he finished speaking, he used the Instantaneous Movement Technique and disappeared from their sight in an instant.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
The atmosphere inside the Manji residence was somber.
Wan Ci lay weakly in bed, his eyes lightly closed, his breathing slightly rapid, revealing his illness.
Madara Uchiha stood quietly by the bedside, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with deep worry, staring intently at the old man on the bed.
"Ahem... Ban, there's no need to worry so much. I've been through a lot in my life, and I've long since become indifferent to life and death, separation and joy. After I'm gone, please don't grieve too much."
Wanci slowly opened his eyes, his voice hoarse and weak, and gently patted Ban's hand.
"You should also visit your father, Tajima, more often; he is getting old."
"Great-grandfather..."
Madara Uchiha's heart tightened, his face filled with sorrow, and he quickly said, "Great-grandfather, you will surely live to be a hundred years old... uh... I mean, a long and healthy life, please don't say such things."
"Uh, cough cough..."
Wanci didn't say anything more, only coughed softly, staring blankly at the murals on the roof beams above him.
Just then.
Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha entered together.
The two approached the bedside, bowed deeply in unison, and said respectfully, "Lord Hokage!"
"I am no longer the Hokage."
Wanci sighed helplessly.
"In our hearts, you will always be the Hokage of Konoha."
Tobirama Senju responded solemnly in a deep voice.
"Yes, the eternal Hokage of Konoha," Izuna also said.
Manji slowly turned his head to look at the two of them, his tone slightly puzzled: "Didn't I instruct you two to temporarily handle Konoha's affairs? Has something happened?"
At this time, a new Hokage had not yet been chosen.
Therefore, Manji specifically entrusted Tobirama Senju and Izuna Uchiha with managing all the affairs of the village, so as not to neglect the administration.
"Lord Hokage, two people claiming to be envoys from Iwagakure have arrived at the village entrance and insist on seeing you."
Uchiha Izuna stepped forward, bowed, and replied.
"absurd!"
Before Wanci could speak, Madara Uchiha immediately showed anger on his face and sternly rebuked him:
"Yan-what? Yin-what? Never heard of it. Could it be another obscure, backwater village?"
"Didn't you see that Great-Grandpa is seriously ill and needs to rest? Just send them away!"
Upon hearing this, Wanci's heart stirred slightly; Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village)...
Manci gently waved his hand to stop Madara's anger and slowly said, "Madara, when friends come from afar, one must not be impolite; this is the basic way to treat guests."
Madara Uchiha rushed forward and said urgently, "Great-grandfather, you are not feeling well. Leave this small matter to me."
Wanci gently shook his head.
In the original story, it was Madara who received the envoy from Iwagakure, but the meeting ended badly, and the matter could not be entrusted to him.
After a moment's hesitation, Wan Ci directly ordered, "Go and invite them to the mansion."
"yes!"
Not long after, Wu, accompanied by Onoki, slowly entered Manji's residence under the guidance of Konoha guards.
The mansion's inner courtyard is elegant, but its layout exudes a calm and solemn atmosphere.
As soon as the two stepped into the main hall, they came face to face with Wanci, who was sitting in the main seat.
Wan Ci was dressed in a plain-colored robe, with an upright posture. Although he had been suffering from a long illness, his eyes and brows were still gentle, like a kind old man.
Madara Uchiha stood quietly beside him, his handsome face covered with frost, and the cold aura emanating from him made the atmosphere in the entire hall suddenly tense.
"This guy is fierce..." Onoki thought to himself.
He subconsciously glanced at Uchiha Madara, only to feel that cold gaze pierce him like a sharp blade. He shrank back, quickly lowered his head, and hid tightly behind Wu, not daring to make a sound.
In contrast, Wu remained calm and composed, showing no sign of fear.
Wu stepped forward and bowed deeply to Manji, who was seated in the main seat. His tone was respectful and polite: "Lord Hokage, I am Wu, and I have come with my disciple Onoki to pay our respects. Greetings."
"No need for such formalities."
Manji's brows relaxed, revealing a gentle smile: "You've traveled a long way from afar to Konoha, you must be tired from your journey."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two chatted casually about the early days of Iwagakure and the local customs and traditions along the way, and the atmosphere gradually eased.
When the time was right, he did not hesitate any longer, bowed again, and solemnly stated the true purpose of his visit.
"Lord Hokage, to be honest, our Iwagakure village is newly established and still has a shallow foundation. The reason we have come here is to earnestly request that we form an alliance with Konoha, open trade routes between the two countries, promote trade and exchange between ninjas and the people, help each other, and promote common development."
As soon as he finished speaking, Madara Uchiha frowned instantly, a hint of disdain and impatience flashing in his eyes. He was about to retort.
In his view, a mere nameless village was not worthy of forming an alliance with the powerful Konoha.
But then she thought of her great-grandfather, who was seriously ill at his bedside, and finally suppressed the impulse in her heart, swallowing her words back, though her face grew colder and colder.
After hearing Wu's request, Wanci nodded in agreement almost without hesitation: "Of course, this is permissible."