"No, Minato, you ???" Ryun Uchiha looked at Namikaze Minato with an expression of disbelief, while Minato himself looked back at his teacher with a smile, his eyes full of adoring stars.
Ryun swallowed the curse words he wanted to say. His face was full of helplessness. Among the Konoha ninja traveling with them, Hatake Sakumo pressed his lips together, hiding a smile. He of course knew the Hokage was someone who hated trouble the most, so he understood what the Hokage was probably thinking right now.
So he secretly gave Minato a thumbs-up in his mind. Although he also felt this was an opportunity for Ryun, a chance to show off in front of everyone. However, he wouldn't intervene, because he knew his Hokage was petty. If he spoke up, he'd probably have a rough time when they got back.
A smile hung on Ryun's face. He waved at everyone and then walked towards the stage. Samui's eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth lifted. She was actually very curious about this legendary ninja, or rather, somewhat favorably inclined. Beauties love heroes, especially the kind who is the greatest hero in the world. Any woman would be curious, right?
The only thing that made her regretful was that Ryun Uchiha had entered the tomb of marriage at such a young age. This made her a bit disappointed. What disappointed her was that the one entering the marriage hall with a hero like Ryun Uchiha was not herself.
In the ninja world, there was actually a kind of hero-worshipping sentiment. Many women hoped their husbands would be heroes. It didn't have to be a hero of the entire ninja world. Even being a hero of their own village was fine.
Ryun shot a sharp glare at Namikaze Minato. Kid, very good, very good. I brought you out to have fun, and this is how you repay me by throwing me under the bus, huh. Very good, very good. When we get back, I'll have to train your physical strength a lot more. As the future successor to the Hokage, how can you have weaknesses.
And the most obvious and effective method for physical training is getting hit.
Ryun decided. Once they returned to Konoha Village, he would definitely properly train Minato's ability to withstand blows. He must mold him into a well-rounded fighter. Yes, yes, yes. When they got back, he'd also have to test his knowledge and theory again. Make him do all the exam questions from Genin to Jonin. Get one wrong, and he'd have to start all over from the beginning. That's what he'd do.
For some reason, Namikaze Minato at this moment was sweating profusely. A feeling of suffocation, like a python coiling around him, wrapped his body. He swallowed and nudged Hatake Sakumo. "Lord Sakumo, don't you feel a bit cold?"
"Not at all. Minato, are you cold?" Hatake Sakumo didn't know why Minato would ask that, but he asked in return anyway, and placed his hand on Minato's forehead. He felt it. "Not hot. Why is this child talking nonsense?"
Minato shook his head. It must be that he was too nervous, having an illusion. No, he had to confirm again. He looked at Obito and found him and Rin feeding each other little cakes. Anger rose in him for no reason.
So you two are the only ones who know how to show off your affection. Don't you see what time it is now. Your teacher's teacher is about to go up and give a speech. Not only are you not cheering him on, you're actually showing off your affection here. These young people.
Namikaze Minato slapped the back of Uchiha Obito's neck. "Hey. Obito, stop feeding her. You're never letting anyone rest easy." (The author finally understands why Obito wanted to kill Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina back then. If it were me, I'd kill them too.)
Uchiha Obito's face showed pain. He didn't know what was wrong with his teacher. Was it his fault that his teacher's wife wasn't here? "It's not cold at all, Minato sensei. It's a hot day. The sun is blazing outside."
Nohara Rin also felt Minato was being excessive. What's it to you if she and Obito were just feeding each other little cakes. So she said angrily, "Maybe it's because the Hokage didn't want to go on stage, but thanks to Minato sensei's move, he has no choice but to go up. He's probably already thinking about how to deal with Minato sensei."
Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo realized. He gave Nohara Rin a thumbs up. Perhaps it really was as Rin said. He looked at Namikaze Minato with pity in his eyes. This kid probably didn't know how bad it could be to offend Ryun Uchiha, right?
Back when Hatake Sakumo had tricked Ryun Uchiha once, Ryun had tricked him back for a full month without repeating the same method. During that time, Sakumo was constantly on edge. When the wind blew through the grass, he'd suspect Ryun would drag him into a genjutsu and beat him up the next second.
Namikaze Minato's face turned pale. He swallowed. It really might be true. Why hadn't he thought of that direction earlier. Oh mother, he seemed to have gotten carried away and tricked his own teacher. The key point was, who didn't know Ryun Uchiha was petty?
Minato looked at Ryun with earnest eyes, hoping he could be forgiven. Ryun sneered. He knew Minato had realized it now. But. This wasn't over. Minato, wash your... no, wash yourself and wait. This time, if I don't raise your physical toughness to the max, I won't be called Ryun Uchiha.
Namikaze Minato understood Ryun's meaning. Despair filled his eyes. Even the drinks and food could no longer attract his attention. In his heart, he was thinking, "Kushina, I'm sorry. I might have to let you down for a month."
Ryun adjusted his mood. He walked onto the stage. However, the next moment, Samui charged forward with her assets, wanting to grab Ryun's hand. Ryun took half a step back. He spoke into the microphone, "It seems our host, Miss Samui, is quite enthusiastic."
Samui pouted. Tsk, tsk. What did Ryun Uchiha mean by that. Was he afraid she'd eat him. Really. Samui cleared her throat. "It's just my first time seeing a living hero standing in front of me. I was a bit distracted for a moment. That's not too much, is it. But Hokage sama, are you afraid of contact with me because your wife at home keeps a tight leash."
Samui's words instantly made everyone present laugh. They could see Samui was interested in the Hokage. But Hokage Ryun Uchiha was already married, to Tsunade no less, the little princess of the Senju clan. So naturally he wouldn't let other women touch him.
"Ahem. What kind of talk is that. What kind of talk. That's called respecting my wife. She has been through thick and thin with me for nearly twenty years, and gave birth to a lovely, beautiful daughter for me. As a man, one should always be vigilant and refuse temptations from the outside. It's definitely not being afraid of my wife." Ryun said solemnly and seriously.
The audience applauded. Ryun's reply was good. It didn't make Samui lose face, and gave a perfect, proper explanation for his fear of his wife. Perfect.
Although the expressions of those present held teasing, clearly not believing him, and even felt he could describe fear of his wife in such a fresh and refined way, he was truly a talent. Many people had already taken out small notebooks to start recording Ryun's quotes.
Hokage quotes. This wasn't embarrassing. Even a great figure like the Hokage had to fear his wife, so they didn't feel it was embarrassing anymore.
Seeing Ryun react so quickly, Samui couldn't help but laugh. "It seems our Hokage sama really loves his wife. Well, enough small talk. Next, let's hand the stage over to Ryun Uchiha, our Hokage sama. I'm sure everyone is already impatient, wanting to know how the Hokage governs Konoha, how he keeps Konoha firmly seated as the head of the Five Great Ninja Villages."
"That's right. Hokage sama, if you have any secrets, please don't keep them to yourself. We also want to make our villages better."
"Yes, Hokage sama, please don't hold back in teaching us. This is a top priority matter for the benefit of the entire ninja world."
Many voices spoke up. Even the three Kage and the soon-to-succeed Fourth Raikage, A, waiting backstage, had picked up small notebooks and pens, ready to record Ryun's words.
Seeing this, Ryun understood. Today he had to say something practical, or he wouldn't be able to get off this stage. So he looked at Samui. Samui also smiled and handed the microphone in her hand over. Ryun took the microphone. Then he glanced at the microphone and saw written on it, "madein Konoha."
The corner of his mouth twitched. Were Konoha products this good. It made him feel like he was home everywhere. But it didn't matter. He raised the microphone and looked at the audience below, suddenly becoming serious.
"Everyone is clear about Konoha Village's operational model. I won't go into detail about that here. I want to ask just one thing. In everyone's eyes, what role do civilians play." Ryun said calmly.
Because he was the strongest. Because Konoha was the number one village. So his words would attract everyone's attention and make them reflect.
"In the long history of the ninja world, there have been three major changes. The first was during the era of Ninshu, the war between Indra and Asura fighting for the true successor of Ninshu. The second was the Warring States period, the battles between various clans. The third was the First Great Ninja War." Ryun said calmly.
"Hearing about these wars, everyone understands that ninja played an important role here, even the leading role. Everyone feels that being a ninja makes one inherently superior. Am I right. Even the lowest Genin, or those not even Genin, but with ninjutsu inheritance, able to perform one or two jutsu, think they are amazing. Am I right."
Ryun's words were sharp, speaking the truth, tearing off the fig leaf covering the ninja, resonating with everyone. Indeed, even now, in every village, the status of ninja was higher than that of civilians.
"But what I want to say is, ninja and clans can be wiped out, but civilians will not. They have always played an important role in this ninja world, providing food for everyone, handling logistics. One could say that in every war, the role civilians play is not small, even more important than that of ninja."
"In our Konoha, contribution points are not only obtainable by ninja performing missions. Even civilians, as long as they make contributions, providing food, handling logistics, we give them opportunities to earn contribution points. Their status is equal to that of ninja." Ryun explained his model.
Anyway, if this model was implemented, their ninja village could see results within ten years. But Ryun clearly understood how difficult it was to operate this model.
Because ninja and civilians were two different classes. To complete this kind of reform, the leader must have strength, ability, be determined, not be bought by other interests, and have a firm will.
Looking throughout history, many could think of this, but those who could achieve it were few and far between.
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