Chapter 22: Soldier Handprint (Seeking follow-up reading)
AI Model: gemini-2.0-flash
Land of Rivers, Land of the Daimyo.
Yamanaka En yawned, "I didn't expect this mission to be so boring. I wonder how much longer it will take to finish."
Xuan Yi, who was practicing hand seals nearby, heard him and said, "It should be soon."
"The new Daimyo of the Land of Rivers has already ascended."
"Besides, it's been a month. If there's still a need, the Village should send other teams to replace us."
Yamanaka En nodded, tilting his head to watch Xuan Yi make hand seals. "Xuan Yi, are these seals really that amazing?"
Xuan Yi smiled slightly when he heard this. "They are indeed different from basic seals."
"But they are a bit difficult to master."
"En, are you interested too?"
Yamanaka En shook his head. "I'd rather not. The hand seals for our Yamanaka Clan's secret Ninjutsu are already simple enough."
Xuan Yi nodded when he heard this.
Indeed.
For Ninja clans with secret Ninjutsu, passed down through generations, their secret Ninjutsu has often been thoroughly developed, and the hand seals are very simple. There's really no need to waste time learning the Nine Syllable Mantra Hand Seals.
After all, it is indeed very difficult to master the power of these hand seals.
Even now, the only hand seals Xuan Yi can use are the 'Zai' seal and the 'Zen' seal.
He is currently mainly researching the 'Hei' and 'Kai' hand seals.
For the 'Hei' hand seal, Xuan Yi has vaguely grasped a hint of a pattern, feeling it helps improve speed.
As for the 'Kai' seal, Xuan Yi is trying to use it in genjutsu and against genjutsu.
It's just that he hasn't found any clues yet.
Whoosh!
Uchiha Namiichi suddenly appeared. "You two are really leisurely."
Yamanaka En laughed, "Isn't that because we have you and the captain!"
The four of them were actually divided into two groups, taking turns protecting the new Daimyo of the Land of Rivers.
Moreover, during this period, the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers had always been inside the Land of the Daimyo, with samurai on the outside. As Ninja, they were actually hidden in the shadows, providing protection.
Furthermore, the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers also had Ninja in his employ for personal protection.
It had been a month, and there hadn't been any accidents.
Although the Land of Rivers is not a major country, it is at least an ally of the Land of Fire.
And it originally had a Ninja Village, namely Amegakure.
It was just that after the Second Ninja World War, Hanzo was defeated and retreated, abandoning the Land of Rivers.
Thus, the missions in the Land of Rivers were handed over to Konoha.
But the Land of Rivers itself still had some foundation; otherwise, Konoha would not have sent only the Hatake Sakumo's team.
Xuan Yi stopped his training. "Langyi, is the mission ending?"
Uchiha Namiichi nodded. "Yes, a new team has come to replace us."
"Let's go!"
Xuan Yi and Yamanaka En stood up, and the three of them disappeared from where they stood.
"Big Brother Minato!"
Xuan Yi was very surprised.
He hadn't expected that the team coming to replace them would be Minato Namikaze's team.
"Kushina-ane-san!"
Xuan Yi then greeted Uzumaki Kushina, who was wearing a vest.
Yes, Uzumaki Kushina was not always confined to Konoha Village; she also carried out missions outside.
"Xuan Yi seems to have grown a bit taller!"
Uzumaki Kushina reached out and patted Xuan Yi's head. "Hmm, your hair seems to have grown a lot too!"
Xuan Yi scratched his head. "Because I learned a Ninjutsu from Jiraiya-sensei, long hair is more beneficial."
Uzumaki Kushina understood instantly upon hearing this.
By this time, Sakumo Hatake had finished the handover with Minato Namikaze and the others. The two sides didn't chat much. Xuan Yi waved his hand and left with Sakumo Hatake and his team.
After leaving the Land of the Daimyo, Xuan Yi looked back, then asked, "Sakumo-sensei, the political situation in the Land of Rivers won't always be this stable, will it?"
Sakumo Hatake turned his head curiously and asked, "Why do you say that?"
Xuan Yi said, "The Land of Rivers is very rich in resources. After the defeat of Amegakure and Sunagakure, the profits here had to be given to our Konoha and the Land of Fire."
"But I don't think Sunagakure and the Land of Wind will be content, especially now that the political situation in the Land of Rivers is in turmoil."
For Konoha, the profits from the Land of Rivers meant more missions, which was Konoha's main income apart from the funding from the Land of Fire's Land of the Daimyo.
And for the Land of Fire, it meant profits from the development of various mineral resources and so on.
The ascension of the new Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, in Xuan Yi's opinion, was a very good opportunity.
But strangely, there hadn't been any incidents during this period.
Was it Konoha White Fang's deterrent power that was too great?
Or did other forces truly have no intentions?
Xuan Yi had a hint of doubt in his heart.
Sakumo Hatake was very surprised to hear this, not expecting Xuan Yi to be so sensitive to politics and have such a good overall perspective.
"Xuan Yi, your consideration is indeed correct."
Sakumo Hatake affirmed Xuan Yi's thoughts, then said, "However, recently, the Ninja Villages of other countries have indeed not made any moves."
"After all, the Ninja World War only ended not long ago. There were significant losses during the war, and now everyone is recovering their strength."
Xuan Yi nodded upon hearing this.
This reason is indeed plausible.
And Yamanaka En laughed, "Xuan Yi, don't think so much. Isn't it better if nothing happens?"
Xuan Yi also laughed. "That's true."
"Compared to fighting and killing, I prefer quiet training."
Speaking of this, Uchiha Namiichi couldn't help but complain, "Xuan Yi, your hard work makes En and me look very lazy."
Although it was a complaint, Uchiha Namiichi still maintained a cool demeanor.
Xuan Yi said helplessly, "If I had your strength, of course, I could also be more leisurely."
"But that's obviously impossible; there's too much I need to learn."
Yamanaka En feigned a sigh, "Sigh, with you here, Xuan Yi, I always feel very ashamed."
Xuan Yi rolled his eyes and retorted, "I've never seen you change."
At this, everyone burst into laughter.
It was the morning of the third day when they returned to Konoha.
The team disbanded, and Xuan Yi immediately went home and took a comfortable bath.
It wasn't that he couldn't bathe during the month in the Land of Rivers, but it was clearly not as comfortable and convenient as at home.
Changing into casual clothes, Xuan Yi greeted his parents and then went out to Shizune's house.
"Shizune!"
Xuan Yi cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted.
Soon, the upstairs window opened, and Shizune poked her head out, delighted. "Xuan Yi!"
"Wait for me!"
Before Xuan Yi could speak, Shizune quickly closed the window.
A moment later, Shizune appeared in front of Xuan Yi, smiling as she asked, "Did you just get back today?"
Xuan Yi nodded. "Yes, just got back."
"What have you been doing lately?"
Shizune clasped her hands behind her back, taking joyful steps. "Following Lady Tsunade for training, observing at Konoha Hospital, and training at home, it's been so boring!"
Xuan Yi smiled. "Then it seems you've made quite a bit of progress recently, haven't you?"
Shizune said with a slight blush, "I've already mastered Medical Ninjutsu."
In front of others, this would be something to show off.
But Xuan Yi had already mastered Medical Ninjutsu, so Shizune felt a bit embarrassed instead.
"That's already very impressive."
Xuan Yi knew his own situation.
Mastering Medical Ninjutsu was entirely due to overdrawing his future, not because he truly possessed such great talent.
"Let's go, we'll go to Konoha Hospital."
Xuan Yi said.
Having received praise, Shizune was very happy and quickly nodded. "Okay!"
For her, being with Xuan Yi, it didn't matter where they went.
And for Xuan Yi, going to Konoha Hospital meant having a great teacher.