bookmarkrole Chapter 279 Elder Yan's Cultural Export
Chapter 279 Elder Yan's Cultural Export
Marching is tedious.
After walking for about two hours, the group stopped for a short rest.
The ninjas dispersed to replenish their water and food, and check their equipment; everything proceeded smoothly.
Yahiko and Konan sat on a large rock by the roadside. Konan took a small water bottle out of her ninja tool bag and handed it to Yahiko.
"Drink water."
"Thank you, Xiao Nan."
Yahiko took the water bottle, gulped down a few mouthfuls, and then wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
His gaze followed the distant, undulating mountain range.
"Is this... the Land of Fire?"
He asked softly, with a hint of uncertainty.
"yes."
Jiraiya's voice came from behind. He was leaning against a tree, a blade of grass he'd plucked from somewhere dangling from his mouth. "This is our country. What do you think? Pretty, right?"
"Um……"
Yahiko nodded, but then shook his head. "It's just...it feels so big."
For the two children who grew up in a small town in the Land of Rain, the vast mountains and plains brought a sense of awe and bewilderment.
Just then, a steady footstep approached.
Mitokado Yan walked up to them.
He didn't look at Jiraiya, but instead slowly squatted down in front of the two children.
This action startled Yahiko and Konan, who quickly stood up from the rock.
"Elder Yan... Elder Yan."
"Sit down, child," Mitokado Homura said gently.
He took out a somewhat worn roll of parchment from his ninja tool bag and carefully unfolded it on the stone.
It was a hand-drawn map.
On the map, mountains, rivers, forests, and towns are all depicted with meticulous brushstrokes.
"Come and take a look." Mitokado Homura beckoned to the two children.
Yahiko and Konan exchanged a glance, hesitated, and then walked over.
Mitokado En's finger landed on a point on the map.
"This is where we are now."
His fingers moved slowly, tracing a winding blue line.
"Decades ago, our Konoha ninjas crossed this river to the west to intercept the Sunagakure village's surprise attack."
The finger continued to move, tapping on a green area.
"This forest is the mysterious forest of the Land of Fire."
"This place is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack..."
Mitokado Homura's account lacks the exaggeration and embellishment of Jiraiya's.
He simply stated the facts calmly in a serious yet sincere tone.
But the weight behind this calm made Yahiko and Konan almost breathless.
They seemed to see scenes of fierce battles, and the blood and sweat shed by countless Konoha ninjas to protect the land beneath their feet.
So this is how the peaceful and beautiful Konoha that the teacher spoke of was protected.
It turns out that the word "homeland" is something that needs to be defended with one's life.
"call--"
The hustle and bustle inside and outside the camp seemed to fade away at that moment.
Jiraiya also abandoned his nonchalant demeanor, sat cross-legged to the side, and listened quietly.
Yahiko and Konan's breathing became somewhat light.
Mitomon Yan raised his head and looked at the two children.
There was a deep and sincere light in those slightly cloudy eyes.
"Children, the legends of heroes are certainly captivating, but you must understand that safeguarding peace has never been achieved through the reckless courage of any one individual."
"It is thanks to the countless ninjas who sacrificed themselves, the foresight and wisdom of the Hokage throughout history, and the land beneath our feet that we have protected with our lives."
"This is Konoha."
Xiao Nan's fingers had stopped at some point. Instead of folding paper cranes, she carefully folded a flat piece of paper into a small, pure white lily.
She gently placed it on the map, marking the location of Iron Wall Mountain.
Yahiko loosened his fist, then clenched it again.
He looked at the dense symbols on the map, the mountains and rivers, which no longer seemed like cold geographical terms, but rather vivid faces and weighty stories.
He suddenly realized that the prestige that Jiraiya spoke of and the protection that Elder Yan spoke of were two completely different things.
The former made his blood boil, but the latter... made his heart feel a burning, sour, and heavy feeling.
After a long while, Yahiko finally spoke with an unprecedentedly solemn tone.
"Elder Yan...can we...can we also become ninjas who protect Konoha in the future?"
Upon hearing this, Mitokado Homura's usually serious face slowly broke into a somewhat stiff, yet incredibly gentle smile.
He reached out his calloused hand and gently placed it on Yahiko's head.
"sure."
"Konoha will always welcome every family member who is willing to protect her."
A gust of wind blew by, stirring up some dust in the camp.
Jiraiya watched En, who was patiently guiding the children like a teacher, and the two children who were deeply moved, and his heart was filled with emotion.
He leaned close to Yahiko's ear, lowered his voice, and whispered in a mysterious tone.
"hey-hey."
"Elder Yan wasn't like this before. He was as rigid as a stone, more serious than anyone else."
Yahiko looked up in confusion.
Jiraiya grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and raised his chin towards the east, in the direction of Konoha.
"It seems our Hokage is truly someone who can change the world."
Yahiko looked in the direction he was looking, and although he couldn't see anything, his orange eyes were instantly filled with a light of admiration and longing.
He nodded vigorously, as if trying to etch those words into his heart.