"This… is the Hidden Leaf Village now?"
Outside the Hidden Leaf Village, two days before the press conference, the Third Raikage looked upon the newly transformed village, disbelief written all over his face.
Sharing the same expression were his eldest son—the future Fourth Raikage, A—whom he had brought along to broaden his horizons, as well as several members of the Hidden Cloud delegation who hadn't visited the Leaf in the past two months.
Intelligence reports could only offer words, at best accompanied by a few ink illustrations. It was entirely different from seeing it with one's own eyes.
One cannot truly imagine what one has never seen. Just as people can't conjure the unfamiliar in their minds, the Third Raikage and his party were the same.
Now, seeing firsthand the vast development and massive changes in the Hidden Leaf, the Raikage's group was not only stunned but also deeply unsettled. And arising alongside that bewilderment—was instinctual fear.
It was fear of the unknown, the kind that comes from lacking understanding, from something beyond comprehension or imagination.
This fear was so potent that even the hot-headed and irritable A, son of the Third Raikage, was rendered speechless. He didn't say a word—he didn't know what to say. And this was the same man who, prior to arriving, had scoffed at the changes in the Leaf, eager to criticize their frivolous direction.
At this moment, a seed of doubt took root in their hearts. A doubt that shook their prior assumptions—
Was the Leaf's current model of development truly flawed? Would the Hidden Leaf really descend into decay and helplessness in a few years' time?
This doubt embedded itself deeply into their minds, rendering them silent.
Especially the older members of the Cloud delegation—those who had been to the Leaf before—they didn't stay silent. They marveled at the clear changes that had taken place in such a short time: new districts, new buildings. This only deepened the anxiety of the "newcomers" among the Raikage's entourage.
However, the silence didn't last long, for soon the Leaf's welcoming party arrived.
It was led by Hiruzen Sarutobi himself. After all, since it was a "Kage" visiting, it was only proper that the one to welcome them be another Kage.
Naturally, Minato Namikaze and Tsunade were also present. The authority of the village was soon to be handed over to them—though in reality, it already had been. Still, formalities had to be observed.
Participating in this reception would help pave the way for Tsunade's future succession.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi approach, grinning so broadly it almost seemed unbearable, the Third Raikage suddenly had the urge to clench his fist.
Because to him, that smile was pure showboating.
A display of the Leaf's development, and of the achievements they had claimed.
Though Sarutobi said nothing, the meaning behind his expression was as clear as day.
And while the Raikage dearly wanted to smash his fist into Sarutobi's aging face, he knew he could only entertain the thought. Acting on it would be disastrous—they would never leave here alive.
While the Third Raikage had once held off the entire Hidden Stone army by himself to buy time for his troops, that had been on neutral ground, not deep inside enemy territory.
They were currently in the Land of Fire, just outside the Leaf Village—surrounded by elite shinobi. If things got violent, they'd never escape.
So no matter how much he wanted to explode, the Third Raikage had to endure.
Thus, the battle-hardened man exchanged hollow pleasantries with Sarutobi and offered praise for the Leaf's impressive development.
Though he looked like a rough brute, the Third Raikage had served as a Kage for many years. He may not have been full of clever turns of phrase, but he certainly wasn't a fool.
Besides, the changes in the Leaf were genuinely impressive, and he wasn't the type to feign ignorance or pretend otherwise.
Sarutobi responded with humble words, claiming that it was all thanks to the united efforts of the people of the Leaf—that their progress was hardly worth mentioning.
But the corners of his mouth… were harder to hold back than an AK.
Seeing this, the Third Raikage's fists clenched even tighter.
In truth, it wasn't just him. Many members of the Hidden Cloud delegation found Sarutobi's smug expression unbearably irritating.
A, the most hot-blooded of the group, mirrored his father—his fists tightening as well.
Still, A did not step forward or act rashly. As the son of the Third Raikage and widely regarded as the future Fourth Raikage, he had received extensive training.
He understood that as a bodyguard in a diplomatic mission, he couldn't act on personal emotion.
Especially when the current atmosphere was relatively cordial. Causing a scene out of personal dissatisfaction wouldn't be considered bravery—it would just be brainless.
So A suppressed his irritation and silently fulfilled his role as bodyguard.
Next came the formal introductions between the two delegations. Since both Kage were present, this was effectively an introduction of each village's future leadership and high-level personnel.
And then—as if guided by fate—A and Minato Namikaze locked eyes. Or rather, it was A who singled out Minato, his gaze burning with battle intent.
As introductions reached them, A spoke first: "I know you. Minato Namikaze—the Yellow Flash of the Leaf, hailed throughout the Land of Fire as the fastest man in the ninja world."
Minato, of course, responded modestly. He said it was all exaggeration, a reputation born of admiration, and not to be taken seriously.
But this modesty only fueled A's dissatisfaction. The fierce young man snorted coldly: "Even if those rumors are exaggerated, they must have some truth. You must be very fast. But that doesn't mean I accept you as the ninja world's fastest! Because that title… is something I strive for myself!"
As he spoke, powerful battle aura surged from his body, casting a sudden pause over the previously harmonious scene. All eyes turned toward them.
Faced with A's aggressive stance, Minato looked at him calmly and replied with a gentle smile: "I see. It seems Lord A is very confident in his speed. If the opportunity arises, I would be happy to spar with you."
The meaning was clear: Minato wouldn't go out of his way to compete for the title of the fastest, but he also wouldn't shy away from a challenge.
Of course, this "spar" was just a polite formality. "If the opportunity arises" meant perhaps on the battlefield someday, not a casual duel right now.
It was a statement full of tact—gracious, yet not submissive.
Anyone with a bit of tact would know to let things slide at that point.
But who was A? Even as the future Fourth Raikage, he was known for being wild and impulsive.
Though not brainless, his arrogance knew no bounds—at least before he was beaten down by reality.
Yes, it took two humbling defeats for A to truly understand that there was always someone stronger.
In the original timeline, the first of those defeats came at Minato's hands—when he realized what real speed looked like. The second came against Madara Uchiha, when he saw what the true pinnacle of the shinobi world was.
Before those beatings, A believed himself to be the fastest. Later, he believed he was at the pinnacle of power, capable of taking down Madara with the help of the other Kage.
And the result? Well, anyone who's read the original series knows.
Back to the present: A was still in his hot-blooded youth. Among his generation in the Hidden Cloud, he was unmatched. With his Lightning Release Chakra Mode specialized for speed, even his father couldn't compare.
So naturally, he was unconvinced by the praise showered on the "fastest man"—the Yellow Flash of the Leaf, Minato Namikaze. In his mind, he had fantasized countless times about defeating him and claiming that title for himself.
With such thoughts, how could he let the conversation end so easily?
Immediately, the muscle-bound man from the Cloud said: "Good! You've got spirit and confidence! In that case, I won't hold back. Since our delegation will be staying in the Leaf for a few days, let's use this time to have a proper match!"
"I'll show you that true speed isn't achieved through a few space-time jutsu. Only raw power and real speed can earn the title of fastest!"
With those words, the atmosphere came to a grinding halt. Everyone stared in stunned silence, completely unprepared for A to outright challenge Minato.
After all, Minato had just been making polite small talk. Anyone with a shred of tact could see that.
Then came the iron-fisted discipline from his father. The Third Raikage slammed his fist into A's head, smacking him upside down. Then came a furious scolding.
Of course, the Third Raikage quickly apologized to Minato and the others on behalf of his son.
After all, in terms of diplomatic etiquette, A's statement was pure provocation.
Had this been the Five Kage Summit, it might have been overlooked. But this was a goodwill diplomatic visit, and starting a fight in someone else's home was a textbook example of making a scene—one that could spark a major diplomatic incident.
In response, Hiruzen Sarutobi swiftly stepped in to smooth things over, laughing it off. Minato also said a few gracious words, and the awkward tension was finally defused.
However, at the end of it all, Minato fell briefly silent, then smiled at the slumped A and said, "Lord A, if you truly wish to spar, once the conference concludes, I'd be happy to have a light match with you."
Upon hearing this, A's eyes lit up. He stared directly at Minato, then, before his father could get angry again, immediately accepted: "Deal!"
The Third Raikage could only sigh in exasperation. He wanted to punch his son again, but this wasn't the time or place. In the end, he let it go and, alongside Hiruzen, formally agreed to the match.
In a way, this arrangement pleased both sides. It was quite common in the shinobi world for young elites from different villages to engage in friendly matches to "flex their muscles."
After that, the Cloud delegation was escorted to a specially prepared guest residence—well-furnished and walled off for privacy. Compared to normal delegations, this was clearly a class above.
After all, a delegation led by a Kage was no ordinary group.
In fact, the Cloud team wasn't the only high-profile guest around. Directly across from them was a similarly appointed Japanese-style mansion.
That one housed the delegation from the Hidden Sand, led by none other than the Kazekage himself.
The Sand had arrived the previous day and already moved in. Upon learning of the Cloud's arrival, the Third Kazekage promptly brought his right-hand man Rasa to pay a visit.
Given the proximity, it was barely different from dropping by a neighbor's house.
Hearing of the Kazekage's arrival, the Third Raikage personally came out to welcome him into the residence.
Clearly, the Third Raikage had great respect for the man often hailed as the strongest Kazekage, seeing him as a worthy rival deserving of the highest courtesy.
Naturally, the Leaf observed all of this closely—but did nothing. They merely watched from outside the residence. They did not spy on what happened within.
After all, being caught doing that would give the other villages plenty of ammunition.
Inside the reception room, once the Kazekage and Rasa were seated, the Third Raikage ordered a barrier to be erected.
What followed was a Kage-level dialogue.
After a few formal exchanges, it was the more fiery Third Raikage who broke the ice.
"Kazekage-dono, you've seen the Leaf for yourself now, haven't you? What are your thoughts?"
The Kazekage wasn't surprised. He had anticipated this question and prepared his response in advance.
Thus, without hesitation, he answered:
"It feels unfamiliar. Prosperous. And deeply unsettling. None of this can be conveyed through pictures or written reports. At the very least, it's nothing like I imagined. And you, Raikage-dono—what do you think?"
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