NOVEL NEXT Chapter 141: Land of Iron
After finishing my breakfast, I decided to leave the Land of Hot Water behind. The horse had been a great companion on the journey so far, but it wouldn't be able to handle the cold and mountainous terrain of the Land of Iron. I entrusted it to the care of the village head in the capital.
"Take good care of it," I told him. "I'll come back for it after my business is done."
He nodded. "Don't worry, it'll be in good hands."
As I left the Land of Hot Water, my journey to the Land of Iron required me to pass through the Land of Sound. This territory, known for being Orochimaru's domain, had a certain air of mystery and danger. However, given my current arrangement with Orochimaru, I felt no hostility coming from the area.
The guards at the border were alert but relaxed as I approached. When I identified myself, they let me pass without any trouble. The perks of having Orochimaru as a subordinate, I thought with a small smirk.
While moving through the village, I came across three familiar faces—Dosu, Zaku, and Kin—the Sound Trio who had once participated in the Chunin Exams. In the original timeline, they would have been long dead, but here they stood, alive and seemingly thriving under Orochimaru's rule.
They noticed me too and approached cautiously. "You… Naruto Uzumaki?" Dosu asked, his tone curious but respectful.
"Yeah, it's me," I replied. "Didn't expect to see you guys here. You're looking well."
Zaku crossed his arms, smirking. "We've heard rumors about you, Uzumaki. Seems you've been making waves lately."
Kin, quieter than the others, simply nodded in acknowledgment. "You've changed a lot since the Chunin Exams," she said.
"Guess you could say that," I said with a grin. "What about you three? How's life under Orochimaru these days?"
Dosu chuckled. "Better than you might think. Things have been… stable. Orochimaru's plans have shifted, and we're just following orders."
I didn't dig too deeply into their current situation; I had no time to waste. "Good to hear you're doing well. I'd love to chat more, but I'm on an urgent mission. Maybe we'll catch up properly some other time."
With that, I bid them farewell and continued my journey. It was strange seeing them alive and well, but I had to focus on the task at hand. The Land of Iron awaited, and I needed to get there as quickly as possible.
The path ahead was challenging, filled with steep inclines and snow-covered roads as I moved closer to the Land of Iron's borders.
The air grew colder with every step I took, the icy wind biting into my skin. Despite the harsh conditions, I maintained my speed, focusing on my chakra to warm myself and keep my movements agile.
The snowy peaks of the Land of Iron finally came into view after hours of travel. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow on the white landscape. The sight was breathtaking, but I couldn't afford to slow down.
"Just a little more," I muttered to myself, pushing forward.
By the time I reached the outskirts of the Land of Iron, the temperature had dropped significantly. The snow crunched beneath my boots as I trudged through the frozen terrain, spotting the faint glow of lights in the distance—the settlement where the Kage Summit would be held.
"Tsunade and the others should already be there," I thought. "Better not keep them waiting."
With renewed determination, I quickened my pace, eager to reunite with them and prepare for what lay ahead.
3rd POV
Inside the Land of Iron, the atmosphere was frigid as expected from a land perpetually covered in snow. Despite the sun being at its peak, the cold air bit through any warmth it tried to provide.
Tsunade, sitting in one of the guest chambers provided for the Konoha delegation, seemed less concerned about the time. She leaned back in her chair, swirling a small cup of sake in her hand, her expression a mixture of boredom and irritation.
Shizune, ever the dutiful assistant, stood nearby, her expression filled with concern. "Tsunade-sama, the summit is about to start. Aren't you going to prepare?"
Tsunade sighed heavily, placing the sake cup on the table with a clink. "Shizune, these summits are always the same. A lot of talking, posturing, and no real decisions being made until someone inevitably loses their temper."
"But Tsunade-sama, this summit is crucial," Shizune pressed, her voice carrying a note of urgency. "With everything that's happened—the Akatsuki threat, Orochimaru's movements, and the rumors about Madara—we need to make sure Konoha's position is strong."
Tsunade leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "I know, Shizune. I'll go. But let's be honest—most of the other Kage are going to try to one-up each other instead of focusing on the real threats. I just hope Mifune can keep things under control."
Shizune nodded, though her worry didn't completely fade. "The other Kage are already gathered. We should leave soon."
Tsunade stood, stretching briefly before grabbing her Hokage cloak. "Alright, let's get this over with. I've got a feeling this summit is going to be more trouble than it's worth."
As they stepped out into the snowy courtyard, the cold wind whipped through the air, carrying with it the sense of impending tension. The Five Kage Summit was about to begin, and all eyes would be on Tsunade and Konoha.
A few hours earlier, the preparations for the Five Kage Summit were in full swing. Tsunade paced the guest chamber, her hands on her hips, visibly annoyed by the slow arrival of some of the Kage.
"Shizune, did all the other Kage arrive?" Tsunade asked, her voice carrying a tinge of impatience.
"Except for the Tsuchikage, all have arrived," Shizune replied, holding a small clipboard. "The Raikage and Mizukage reached here this morning."
Tsunade rolled her eyes and grumbled, "That old man and his aching joints. Shouldn't he just retire already? I swear, if he falls asleep during the summit, I'm walking out."
Shizune smiled nervously. "Tsunade-sama, you know he's not the type to retire easily. He's as stubborn as they come."
"Stubborn? More like a fossil that refuses to get out of the way," Tsunade muttered, pouring herself a cup of tea and taking a long sip. "Let's hope his late arrival doesn't delay the summit."
Shizune checked the time and looked out the window. "The Tsuchikage's entourage should be arriving soon. His guards are likely ensuring the route is secure."
Tsunade waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just hope this doesn't drag on longer than it has to. The sooner we're done, the sooner I can get back to Konoha—and my sake cabinet."
Shizune sighed quietly, knowing Tsunade's complaints were a mix of genuine irritation and her usual disdain for politics. "I'll let you know the moment he arrives."
"Good," Tsunade said, leaning back in her chair. "Until then, I'll just enjoy this moment of peace before the storm hits."
Tsunade sighed in frustration as she paced the room, clearly on edge. She turned to the Naruto clone she had insisted on keeping by her side for updates.
"Where is that brat? Didn't he arrive yet?" she demanded, her voice sharp with impatience.
The Naruto clone, unfazed by her tone, replied calmly, "He just left the Land of Hot Water and is nearing the Land of Sound. Shouldn't be too long now."
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a huff. "He's taking his sweet time, as usual. He better not show up late to the summit, or I'll clobber him myself."
The clone gave a sheepish grin. "Knowing the real me, he's probably just taking in the sights—or running into trouble like always."
"That's exactly what I'm worried about," Tsunade muttered. She sat down and poured herself another cup of tea. "The last thing we need is some chaos derailing this summit. It's already bad enough with the tension between the villages."
The clone nodded, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry, Tsuna. The real me always gets where he needs to be, even if it's at the last second."
"That 'last second' thing is the problem," Tsunade grumbled, rolling her eyes. "Fine, just keep me updated."
The clone gave her a thumbs-up before standing at attention, ready to relay any new updates about Naruto's journey.
Back to the present.
"Where is he now?" Tsunade asked for what felt like the hundredth time, her impatience clear. It was as if she couldn't bear to be without him for even a second.
"He's close. He should arrive in a few minutes," the clone replied calmly.