Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Leader
🚨 Important Note : For the continuity of this story consider to Support us on Pãtreon/Flokixy to access advance Chapters and To Support The Daily Update
The ninja world was instantly in an uproar; the entire world was shaken by this event. The helpless lambs awaiting slaughter had, in an instant, transformed into ferocious tigers that devoured people without spitting out the bones. This change was simply unbelievable. Small countries including the Land of Mountains, the Land of Bears, the Land of Birds, the Land of Seas, and the Land of Gasshō were all annexed by the Land of Sakura.
Five small countries combined, plus the original Land of Sakura, made six small countries instantly united. The land area surged dramatically, almost catching up to the Land of Water, the smallest of the Five Great Nations. Not to mention the strength of the Land of Sakura's ninjas, just looking at its land area, the Land of Sakura was already the country with the largest land area outside the Five Great Nations.
And the reputation of the Land of Sakura also began to rise in this world. More and more people came to know of such a country, and the Land of Sakura's ninja village, named Sakuragakure (Village Hidden in Cherry Blossoms), also appeared in the world's sight.
Countless ninjas and ninja villages in the ninja world began to take an interest in this country, whether they were small ninja villages, medium-sized ninja villages, or even the Five Great Ninja Villages. After all, the rise of this country was too legendary.
Three years ago, it was still a small country surrounded by wolves, with weak military strength. But in an instant, it made a huge turnaround. Not only did it quickly suppress the rebellion within 19 days, but two years later, it counterattacked, instantly annexing the five surrounding small countries in a short period, becoming a nation with a land area second only to the Five Great Nations.
Sakuragakure, as its name suggests, is a ninja village. The former Sakuragakure was only responsible for maintaining the country's internal security. But now, this village has undergone a tremendous change and has become a formal ninja village, beginning to accept external commissions and complete missions.
And what was most mysterious was the leader of this village, externally known as the Shodai Sakurakage (First Cherry Blossom Shadow), who had never appeared in public.
Despite many countries trying various ways to gather intelligence, they still couldn't find out any information about the village leader. Gender, age, appearance – all were a complete mystery, without a single clue. Even when spies from many countries went to Sakuragakure under the pretext of posting missions, they were received by specialized personnel; the Sakurakage never showed their face.
The most shocked were the two great ninja villages, Iwagakure (Village Hidden in Stones) and Kumogakure (Village Hidden in Clouds). They were extremely wary and fearful of this emerging power. These two villages were also the most active in trying to gather intelligence on Sakuragakure, but they had no success. Even when they sent spies to infiltrate Sakuragakure, there was no follow-up; the spies never returned.
This was a peaceful village. The village gate was made of wood. Above the huge wooden gate hung a large wooden sign, clearly engraved with the three characters 'Sakuragakure'. On both sides of the main gate were two ancient stone platforms. The lanterns on the stone platforms were carved with the marks of time, an ancient charm emanating from them. Beside the lanterns stood two enormous cherry blossom trees, their blossoms dancing in the air, filling the entire scene with poetic and picturesque beauty.
Within the village, there were many cherry blossom trees. The entire village was enveloped by dancing cherry blossoms, appearing incredibly beautiful and romantic. There were numerous buildings in the village, mostly two-story wooden houses, with a small portion built from cement or stone. Many houses were new, looking as if the village had just recently expanded.
The streets within the village were exceptionally wide, and the ground was also covered with cherry blossoms. Shops lined both sides of the streets: restaurants, ramen shops, inns, general stores, and even taverns, as well as weapon shops and ninja tool shops.
Villagers came and went on the streets, and many children played on them. Everyone had a smile on their face, a scene of peace and harmony. The village was also crisscrossed with canals. In front of many buildings were small waterways, in which clear water carrying cherry blossoms flowed gently. In many cherry blossom groves, there were dozens of large and small streams. Clear water carried countless cherry blossoms drifting into the distance, creating an incomparably beautiful scroll painting.
One could vaguely see many young ninjas, and even some youth ninjas, training by the riverside, practicing the ninjutsu or taijutsu they excelled at.
Within the village, there were also many ancient ancestral halls or shrines that were freely open for people to visit. Grand festivals would be held on specific holidays.
In short, this was a beautiful and peaceful village, without too much intrigue or conflict. The smiles on people's faces came from the heart.
In the depths of the village, against the mountains, stood a huge building. The building was very new, seemingly just recently constructed. It was a massive structure built with brown wood. At the very top of the building was a large character Sakura, which was precisely the office of the village's Sakurakage.
On the top floor within the building, in a large room, there was a huge desk, on which many documents were piled.
And behind the desk sat a young man.
The young man looked very young, around seventeen or eighteen years old. He had unruly black long hair, a handsome face, and his bangs partially covered his right eye. He wore a black high-collared long robe that exuded an air of dominance. This person was Su, who had helped Kirigakure (Village Hidden in Mist) overthrow the Fourth Mizukage three years ago.
And his current identity was precisely the leader of this Sakuragakure, externally known as the Shodai Sakurakage. It was also three years ago, with his help and that of Deidara and several other powerful ninjas, that the current Daimyo of the Land of Sakura, Gotō Yuri, was able to suppress the rebellion and completely control the Land of Sakura. And the war of annexation launched by the Land of Sakura a year ago was also Su's 113th masterpiece; not fighting back after being hit was not his style.
And it was Su who, three years ago with Deidara, officially joined the Land of Sakura's Sakuragakure. With his own formidable strength, he won over the crowd and became the Shodai Sakurakage. Under his command, Sakuragakure's combat power also surged rapidly. He recorded many of the ninjutsu he knew for the village ninjas to learn, including his proficient Fire Release ninjutsu, as well as other Water Release and Wind Release ninjutsu. These were all techniques he had copied with his Sharingan during past battles.
Deidara also contributed many Earth Release ninjutsu, and several other powerful ninjas also contributed many of their own ninjutsu to the village. All the ninjutsu were recorded on a huge scroll, existing like a sealed scroll of forbidden techniques.
Since he had already joined this village and become its leader, he naturally had to consider the village's well-being. Deidara and the others were the same. However, compared to being in Iwagakure, he lived much more freely and unrestrainedly here.
Thanks to the ninjutsu and much basic ninja knowledge contributed by Su and the others, the ninjas of Sakuragakure grew very quickly. In recent years, many powerful young ninjas have emerged. The village's strength has also surged, completely surpassing many surrounding small countries. Coupled with the formidable power of Su and his companions, they were able to annex the surrounding small countries so quickly...