Naruto: IY Ch. 34

On the small bridge, a team stood on either side.

The elite ninjas of Ame had been released, now standing behind Hanzō.

And the newly formed core team of Yoake stood behind Yahiko.

Genno carried a video camera, recording the scene live. This footage would one day be placed into the history of Yoake, to remind future generations: fall behind, and you'll be beaten. Truth only exists within the range of a kunai.

Yahiko was shameless, politicians didn't need pride. Even if it meant the most degrading work, Yaheiko would grit his teeth and bear it.

Between the two groups, a table had been set. On it lay a treaty.

[Treaty:

Today, Ame and Yoake establish an alliance.

Nature of Alliance: The relationship between Ame and Yoake shall be one of close kinship and mentorship. The leader of Yoake will regard the leader of Ame as a senior ally and advisor. Leadership succession and seniority between the two villages shall be based on age and experience.

Border demarcation: The Redwood Forest shall serve as the official border between the two territories. Both sides agree to withdraw stationed forces. In the case of missing-nin crossing the border, neither side will provide shelter or protection.

Tribute provisions: Ame shall supply manpower assistance. In return, Yoake will provide a monthly payment of 4,000 ryō per person, including accommodations and meals. Additionally, Yoake shall prepare and sell food at reduced cost sufficient for an equal number of Ame personnel.

Trade relations: Each village shall promote and exchange specialty goods, supporting mutual economic development.

...]

A forest lay between Ame and Yoake.

It was called Redwood Forest.

"Equal number" meant, if Ame sent 500 people, Yahiko had to prepare food for 500 and sell it cheap.

Hanzō looked at Yahiko in disbelief, You actually drafted this kind of treaty?

In the shinobi world, contracts were usually just checklists, you filled in what you wanted.

This one, with clear clauses and detailed provisions, it was the first of its kind.

"Hanzō! Today, we sacrifice a salamander to seal our alliance!"

Yahiko pulled out a kunai from his tool pouch. It looked surprisingly legitimate.

Ame viewed the salamander as a divine summoning beast, capable of communing with spirits. To slay one was akin to inviting the Sage of the Six Paths to witness the alliance and oversee its terms.

"Alright."

Hanzō nodded and summoned a salamander. He also pulled out a kunai.

Both men slashed the salamander together, the treaty took effect.

This treaty came to be known as: The Oath of the Salamander.

After the formalities, Hanzō left with 800 Ame ninjas and told Yahiko to send someone in a few days to collect the new "employees."

The nobles dispersed.

Yahiko looked at the dark-skinned, muscular young man in front of him.

"Yo, yo, passing by Yoake, someone's sleeping..."

The young man suddenly jabbed both index fingers into the air.

"Stop!"

Yahiko raised his left hand flat, poking his right index finger onto it.

"What the heck are you saying?"

"This ain't nothing, this is melody from my mouth. You just don't appreciate it, so you think there's no rhythm. Oh yeah!"

B kept dancing and rapping nonsense.

Yahiko got a headache and told Nagato and the others to head back first, he'd follow later.

He glanced at B. He raised an eyebrow. He cracked his neck, took a breath, and stepped up.

♪Boom this, boom that, I detonate verbs,Every word I spit got chakra reserves.Tongue like a seal tag, syllables snap,Flow so sharp, it could split a trap.Fire in my lungs, wind in my chest,Water when I breathe, earth in my steps.I'm the storm in Yoake, lightning's heir,Even shadow clones stop and stare.Spittin' like I'm summoned, divine decree,Rappin' so raw, even fate fears me.♪

B stared wide-eyed at Yahiko.

"Not enough?"

"More than enough..."

♪Came from the silence where the shadows slept,Now every move I make leaves a ripple step.Talk with the weight of a thousand oaths,Each breath I take, Yoake grows.Steel in my voice, wind in my chest,Peace in my mind but I train like the rest.Hands write futures with every seal,Not just rhymes — I make legends real.♪

B ended up kneeling the entire time, holding his head in awe.

Yahiko crossed his arms, looking off toward Yoake. "Yoake's got rap, man!"

B repeated, "Man!"

---

Konan had already relocated the elderly and children. Half the village's ninjsa had gone to protect them.

On the streets, young civilians searched their homes for farming tools, hidden in their clothes.

They would pretend to be weak, and if any Ame ninjas tried to loot or assault the village, they'd strike.

Not only that, every household in Yoake had an underground tunnel dug by Yahiko when the village was founded.

These tunnels had air vents, traps, and toilets, allowing for hiding, living, and even guerrilla warfare.

It had to be said, his foresight exceeded that of ordinary men.

If, due to the butterfly effect, the Fourth Great Ninja War resulted in Naruto and Sasuke's defeat, the Otsutsuki invaded, and Boruto fell, he could lead everyone underground, potentially preserving a spark of hope for the shinobi world's rebirth.

He classified this plan as an S-Rank document, named The Human Seed Project, known only to himself.

Back then, even Madara secretly had White Zetsu involved, in case some fool accidentally dug into his base.

When the tunnels were first completed, Yahiko personally explained guerrilla tunnel warfare to every villager: Use the hidden exits to ambush the enemy. Wear them down bit by bit.

"We cannot fall!"

"Do not be intimidated by the enemy's bluster!"

The ninjas picked up their kunai and shuriken and entered the tunnels, ready to launch guerrilla warfare if the village fell.

In the darkness, their belief burned bright. Once a person has belief, they will no longer fear anything.

Just like the village symbol, that red dawn cloud, from top to bottom, inside and out, Yoake was red.

"I wonder how Yahiko is doing."

Before the great war, all the women in the entertainment district were evacuated, only Konan stayed. Her eyes suddenly welled up. She looked toward the direction of the small bridge.

Not long after, Nagato and the others returned.

She looked around but didn't see the familiar figure she was hoping for.

Just as she was about to ask, Jiraiya held up the kunai. Under the high sun, bloodstains shimmered on the blade.

"Yahiko used this kunai just now to slay the salamander."

Shuzen felt a little heartbroken, if only both kunai had been kept as collector's items. "Hanzō used his too..."

At that moment, time seemed to freeze. In Konan's eyes, a vision emerged, Yahiko falling slowly, pierced by Hanzō's kunai.

Fear and despair clutched her throat. Not a single sound could escape. Her mind drifted to a hazy childhood memory.

White clouds floated across a blue sky.

"Yahiko… I don't want explosive tags anymore."

She crouched down, covering her face as tears fell like rain. She looked utterly helpless.

"If I couldn't protect you, what use are all these explosive tags?"

But not far away, in a hidden underground tunnel, lay Konan's stash, collected over the past two years.

Almost two million explosive tags.

Whether Yahiko was alive or not, she no longer cared to argue right or wrong.

I want explosive tags.

I want six hundred billion explosive tags.

I want to blow Ame off the map!

"Uh..."

Nagato and the others scratched their heads, what just happened? Did Konan misunderstand something?

"Yo! Yo!"

"Look at me! My fingers are chill, my gaze like..."

Two figures danced and rapped their way onto the scene.

Hmm?

What was that?

Did she just say... she doesn't want what anymore? Why is Konan crying?

---

The Oath of the Salamander had just been signed, and news of it spread rapidly, shocking the leaders of the Five Great Villages.

What the hell?

Ame marched in with 800 troops to crush Yoake, and Yahiko repelled them with just six people?

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, reading the intel in his hands.

"Was it Jiraiya who stepped in?"

He didn't know the specific contents of the treaty, but assumed Yoake gained quite a lot.

Wouldn't it have been better to give all those resources to me?

You think I'd shortchange you?

"Phew..."

Hiruzen, a lifelong pipe smoker, lit his pipe and let out a long exhale.

He'd seen the footage. And finally understood why the Uchiha awaken their Sharingan.

Even someone like him, a seasoned veteran of war, nearly keeled over from the emotional impact.

To hell with love triangles and cuckold tropes!

"What are we going to do about the Uchiha? One just awakened today!"

Listening to the door slam open, Hiruzen didn't even flinch. He was used to it by now.

Danzō had come to rant about the Uchiha again.

---

In the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki suddenly floated into the air.

"Heh... interesting."

He asked his bulky son, Kitsuchi, "What do you think, should I go join in the fun?"

"Won't Hanzō come after us with everything he's got?"

Kitsuchi laughed quietly to himself.

---

In the Raikage's office, the Third Raikage frowned deeply and issued an urgent order:

"Quick! Send personnel to the ranch!"

A burst of energy, A kicked open the door:

"Father! Let's just wipe Yoake off the map!"

The Raikage didn't speak, just pointed to the map on the wall. It had just been updated, now it included Yoake's coordinates.

A tiny dot, adorable, really.

Hidden between three major villages. To attack Yoake directly, they'd have to pass through the Land of Rain.

Detouring would require going through the Land of Frost, the Land of Waterfalls, or the Land of Grass.

A: "..."

---

Meanwhile, in Kiri, their people remained indifferent, unaffected by the affairs outside their village, uninterested in the drama.