Hokage: Ryo's Path

Chapter 457

Time flew by without them even noticing it. Yamanaka Ryo and Shikamaru-Ino-Choji had been leaving Konoha for more than half a year.

In the past six months, in addition to going to Orochimaru base every month to resupply Korin’s natural Chakra, they also came to see Sasuke. They now had seen half of the Ninja World.

All kinds of things never seen before had opened Shikamaru-Ino-Choji’s eyes toward the Ninja World.

........

Today they came to the Land of Iron, the last stop of this tour.

Land of Iron was not within Five Great Countries, but it was close to the Land of Earth and Land of Lightning, and it borders with Land of Fire, Land of Waterfall, and Land of Rice Fields.

Land of Iron does not have Ninja. What exists is a profession called Samurai. During the Soudaime period, the Land of Iron and the Five Great Ninja Village reached an agreement and remained neutral. Using their special forging technology, Land of Iron provides The Five Great Ninja Village weapon as per their request.

Because of this, the Land of Iron survived the Shinobi World War three times, and the Land of Iron has been silently developing and maintaining itself when the outside world was raging with war.

Yamanaka Ryo and the trio found out that the people here, whether commoner or Samurai, all have Samurai swords. Some people even had several swords around their waists.

Both Shikamaru and Yamanaka Ryo were curious because it was their first time seeing such a scene.

As everyone looked around, a loud voice came from behind them, “Well, guys, is this your first time to visit the Land of Iron?”

Yamanaka Ryo glanced back and was met with a bald-tall man who smiled and said, “Harmless to humans and animals, smiled.”

“Well, we are Konoha Ninja. We come to take a look and play.”

“Oh, you’re from Konoha. Let me introduce myself, honored guest. My name is Mifune Lang. Just call me Lang.”

As soon as Yamanaka Ryo heard that name, he frowned and remembered that the ruler of the Land of Iron was called Mifune too.

Mifune Lang saw Yamanaka Ryo’s deep-in-thought face and said with a smile, “Don’t worry, Sir. The name Mifune is very common in the Land of Iron. There were at least a few hundred people on this street with the same name. If everyone with a Mifune name is the Lord of this country then Land of Iron has long been messed up. “

“Haha, So that is. I’m sorry I was a little worried. My name is Yamanaka Ryo. These three kids are my relatives.”

When Mifune Lang heard Yamanaka Ryo’s name, the smile on his face froze, and his expression was a little uncomfortable. Shikamaru took a glance at Mifune’s expression, and it raised a little alertness in his heart. At the same time, he gave a puzzled look to Yamanaka Ryo. He didn’t understand why he said his real name now?

Wherever they had been in the past six months, they had always been pretending to be commoner, and not even once they disclose their name. But, why now all of a sudden?

But since Yamanaka Ryo had told his real name, they had nothing to hide, so Shikamaru took the lead and said, “Hi, my name is Nara Shikamaru.”

“Hello, I am Yamanaka Ino.”

“Yo, I’m Akimichi Chōji.”

The look on Mifune’s face become more rigid, and it took him a long time to say something, awkwardly, “Shikamaru, Yamanaka, Akimichi? Konoha’s Ino–Shika–Chō three clans? What a really noble guest we have today! It was a great surprise to four of the Ino-Shika-Cho members to visit the Land of Iron. Is there something wrong?”

“It’s okay, we’ve been traveling in Ninja World recently, and we’re passing through the Land of Iron today, so we decided to take a look!” said Yamanaka Ryo.

Hearing this, Mifune looked relaxed a bit and then said, “That’s great! I thought you were coming to the Land of Iron’s Blacksmith festival too!”

“Blacksmith festival? What festival is that?” Shikamaru asked.

“Oh? So you don’t know?”

They glanced at each other, then shook their heads.

“Then I will explain it to you! The Blacksmith Festival is a festival of our Land of Iron that has been going on for hundreds of years. On this day, the famous Blacksmith masters in the Land of Iron will appear, and the Blacksmith competition will take place in the central square of the Land of Iron. At the same time, the Blacksmith divisions in the middle school will open furnaces to forge weapons. As long as you have good materials and money, you will be able to forge the weapons that are most suitable for you. ”

Yamanaka Ryo nodded, “So it turned out to be like this. Then it seems that we really come at the right time. Speaking of which, I really want to make something.”

“Haha, there’s still 3 days until the Blacksmith festival. Please wait patiently. Pardon me, but I still have something to do and have to leave first, please excuse me. There are a hotel and restaurant on the street ahead. I wish you all a good time in the Land of Iron.” Mifune turned and ran away.

As soon as the Mifune left, Shikamaru asked Yamanaka Ryo, “Uncle, why don’t you hide your identity in the Land of Iron? After hearing your name, he seemed uneasy. Shouldn’t we be more careful?”

“The reason why I say my real name is actually very simple, because Land of Iron is a neutral country and will not be hostile to any Ninja Village, but the identity of Mifune is not. I deliberately revealed my identity just to let him report about us to Mifune.”

“Uncle, how do you know that Mifune Lang’s identity is unusual?” Ino asked curiously.

“Shikamaru, do you know?” Yamanaka Ryo asked without looking towards Shikamaru.

“Probably because of the cocoon on his hand, and Chakra!”

“Cocoon on hand? Do you mean the cocoon mark that was left by practicing swords? But everyone in the Land of Iron holds a Samurai sword around his waist. It is not surprising that there is a cocoon in his hand!”

Yamanaka Ryo shaking his head said, “Ino, if you look closely at the people passing by, you will find that most of their hands are very clean, only a few have cocoons. You should know by using your Secret Jutsu. The people that have cocoons, there’s almost no Chakra in their body. But the people that don’t have cocoons on their hands have Chakra fluctuates on their body. Most likely they’re the subordinate of the leader of the Land of Iron Mifune. ”

Still, in doubt, Ino tried it according to Yamanaka Ryo and found that it’s true. She then asked, “Uncle, then why do you let Mifune know that you are in the Land of Iron?”

“It’s easy, because I’m gonna ask him something, but after learning about this Blacksmith festival, it doesn’t matter whether I can meet him or not. Well, you three don’t get so nervous, come here, let’s go and taste the Land of Iron’s food.”

After that, Yamanaka Ryo took the lead and hit the street where hotels and restaurants that Mifune mentioned just now.

...........

Meanwhile, in a loft in the Center of Iron, Mifune Langzheng and Mifune are sitting on the main seat reporting about Yamanaka Ryo.

Mifune looked very serious after listening to the report. Yamanaka Ryo’s name was also extremely popular in the Land of Iron. Especially recently, the five Great Ninja Villages had dubbed Yamanaka Ryo as the strongest in Ninja World. And now such a person came to the Land of Iron. Mifune couldn’t help but feel nervous.

After a moment of hesitation, Mifune said to Mifune Lang, “Lang, tell your subordinates. No one should disturb Yamanaka Ryo, don’t follow him, don’t keep on watching him, let him do as he pleases. As you said earlier, he may really just want to forge something on the Blacksmith festival. “