Naruto Uchiha Rong Lin

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Tsunade hadn’t even remembered the leader of the convoy’s name, which slightly wounded his pride. Still, he quickly stepped forward to answer her question.
"It’s settled then. Let’s rest for a day in the border town. Everyone’s exhausted from the journey."

After some thought, Tsunade made the suggestion—not because everyone was tired, but because she wanted to relax.
The convoy leader was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood. These merchants who traveled far and wide were experts at reading people, and he immediately grasped Tsunade’s intention. Smiling, he nodded. "No problem. A day of rest is good. Balancing work and relaxation is always best."
If it had been anyone else escorting them, there wouldn’t have been any chance of resting. But since it was Tsunade, they needed to give her some face. It was just one day—it wouldn’t delay anything important.

"Great! Finally, we can rest. Ronglin, let’s go shopping!"
Spring Rain Evening, who had been cooped up on the carriage with nothing to do for days, couldn’t contain her excitement any longer. She didn’t dare say anything earlier, but now that they had a full day to rest, she intended to make the most of it—walk around, buy things, and enjoy some delicious food.
Compared to Konoha, the border town was like two completely different worlds. One was lush and green, while the other was covered in sand. The sky looked gloomy, the air was stifling and dry, but for the mischievous duo who had never been to such a place before, it was still quite intriguing.

"No thanks, you two go ahead. I’ll just rest."
Ronglin smiled and declined. He didn’t want to be the third wheel during their precious downtime.
"Alright then." Ronglin’s refusal left Spring Rain Evening disappointed, but she cheerfully dragged Zhicheng Ying away.

"I hope you two can make it to the end," Ronglin silently wished as he watched them leave happily.
"Has anyone told you that you don’t act like a seven-year-old at all?"
Not far away, Tsunade leaned against the carriage, observing Ronglin. From the very beginning, she had been secretly watching his every move. The conclusion she drew left her feeling powerless.

He was clearly just a child, yet he carried himself with such maturity—acting steady, speaking thoughtfully, and behaving more like an adult than a seven-year-old. This strange contradiction made Tsunade feel uneasy.
"Do you expect me to act silly and laugh all the time just to fit the image of a seven-year-old?"
Tsunade knew that Ronglin was aware of her covert observation, but he simply chose to ignore it.

"Come eat with me."
Without giving him a chance to refuse, Tsunade strode toward a tavern on the side of the street. Ronglin shrugged and followed along.
"Boss, bring us two bottles of alcohol and some snacks to go with it."
They found a nice spot to sit, and Tsunade called out loudly.

"What do you think about this mission?"
Ronglin frowned slightly as he sat down, raising his head to look at Tsunade, who was calmly sipping tea across from him. After a moment’s thought, he replied, "Truth or lies?"
"Hmm… truth."

Tsunade paused, setting her teacup down with interest. She hadn’t expected such a response from Ronglin. Ninety-nine percent of rookies would’ve answered something bland like “boring” or “meaningless.” Yet Ronglin’s reply hinted at a deeper level of understanding.
"The truth is that Konoha truly lives up to its reputation for generosity. Even though they have their reservations, they still sell supplies to Wind Country at low prices, supporting them."
"And what about the lie?"

"Lie?" Ronglin glanced at Tsunade, puzzled. "You °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° really want me to say it?"
"Why not?"
A faint smile crept onto Tsunade’s lips. "Isn’t it an interesting response?"

Seeing Ronglin hesitate, Tsunade pressed further. "Don’t worry about offending me. Just speak your mind. This is purely an exchange between teacher and student—no hidden agendas."
"Are you sure?"
"I’m sure."

"You’re certain?"
"........"
"Fine." Tsunade’s smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression. Ronglin could tell she was about to lose her temper, so he quickly revised his tone. "The lie is that Konoha takes advantage of Wind Country’s hardships by selling them large quantities of supplies, using another nation’s resources to bolster their own economy and compensate for the financial strain caused by war. This tactic is perfectly reasonable, yet Wind Country has no choice but to accept it because they’re poor. Poverty leads to backwardness, and backwardness invites exploitation."

In the world of Naruto, strength reigns supreme—but beyond power, money plays an equally crucial role.
Among the major nations, Wind Country is the poorest, while Fire Country is the wealthiest. Other great nations dream of seizing opportunities to exploit Fire Country’s riches.
Every industry relies on financial support—including ninjas. The cost of maintaining a ninja force is staggering. Without substantial wealth, it’s incredibly difficult for a village to develop.

Compared to Konoha, Sunagakure might as well be described as a barren wasteland.
Without money, there are no resources; without resources, how can one train ninjas? Keep in mind that ninjas are among the biggest money pits.
After the Second Shinobi World War, the countries and villages entered a period of recovery. However, Konoha recovered faster than anyone else—and money played a significant role in that.

Conversely, Wind Country recovered the slowest. They traded their own grain and basic goods for resources to sustain themselves—a strategy Fire Country and Konoha have employed for years. All talk of kindness and compassion is nonsense when it comes to international relations. There’s no room for mercy between nations.
"Even if Wind Country understands Fire Country and Konoha’s intentions, they have no choice but to comply. Their land produces little grain or other necessities, forcing them to rely on Fire Country for purchases. In the end, Fire Country—and Konoha—always come out ahead."
Konoha Village and the Daimyo of Fire Country operate separately but are interdependent. The Daimyo provides funds, while Konoha protects the Daimyo. Both parties need each other. Without the Daimyo’s wealth, Konoha cannot grow. Without Konoha’s strength, Fire Country would struggle.

Tsunade unconsciously tightened her grip on her teacup. For the first time, she heard such words from a seven-year-old. Waves of shock crashed through her mind. She couldn’t believe that insights into the strategies between nations and villages would come from a child.
Had Ronglin’s background not been so clean and his behavior unremarkable, Tsunade might have suspected him of being a spy planted by another nation.
What an extraordinary kid!

Her expression shifted repeatedly. Finally, Tsunade loosened her grip on the teacup and fixed her gaze on Ronglin. "Did you figure all this out yourself, or did someone tell you?"
"The library allows me to learn more. I must thank the Third Hokage. If he hadn’t granted permission, I wouldn’t have been able to access the school library so freely."