Chapter 516: The Law Does Not Punish The Past

The Kizashi in that dream was completely different from the ordinary Kizashi Haruno who had lived an unremarkable life since childhood and had only just managed to become a Chunin.

The Kizashi Haruno in the dream had been extraordinarily gifted from childhood and had even awakened the legendary Wood Style of the first Hokage during his youth.

During the Third Shinobi World War, he had dominated the battlefield, earning glorious military achievements and reaching the height of fame.

After the war ended, he stood atop the Hokage Building, bathed in boundless rays of sunlight.

Below him, countless ninja looked up at him like a surging tide, shouting the same name in unison.

It was him, the Fourth Hokage, Kizashi Haruno.

Thinking of that, Kizashi shook his head, feeling a surge of guilt.

The Fourth Hokage should be Captain Shinichi, and only he was worthy of that position!

How could he dream such a grand dream about becoming the Fourth Hokage himself?

Kizashi sat up in bed, took a deep breath toward the rising sun outside the window, and made his decision.

He was going to do it, not to become Hokage, nor for glorious military achievements; he simply wanted to gamble on becoming a different version of himself.

...

A few more days passed, and at last the long-awaited day arrived.

It was the day the International Supervisory Committee would travel to the Village Hidden in the Sand to inspect its implementation of the Shinobi World's humanitarian convention.

Led by President Isshin, together with representatives from every village, reporters from major newspapers, and accompanied by Genjo, a procession of nearly a hundred people surged grandly through the Village Hidden in the Sand's gates, drawing both civilians and ninja to stop and watch.

Next, they would inspect the prison, examine various facilities, and question the prisoners one by one.

More precisely, they would be questioning Konoha prisoners.

After all, during this Shinobi World War, the Village Hidden in the Sand had only one opponent, Konoha.

The condition of the Konoha ninja imprisoned in the Village Hidden in the Sand's prisoner camp was naturally the biggest focus of this inspection.

People across the Shinobi World watched with wide eyes, holding their breath in anticipation, secretly making their own guesses.

Would fighting break out on the spot? Or would some disgraceful scandal be uncovered?

But to the disappointment of many, the Village Hidden in the Sand had clearly made extensive preparations. It had no intention of becoming the first village to invite overwhelming criticism while the world's attention was focused upon it.

As early as the conclusion of the international humanitarian conference, the Village Hidden in the Sand had already carried out a comprehensive overhaul in strict accordance with the convention's provisions.

The prison cells in the prisoner camp had been thoroughly cleaned, the food standard had been temporarily raised by one level, and injured prisoners had all been gathered together for emergency treatment during this period.

As for the old wounds that simply could not be concealed, along with the scars left behind by harsh interrogation, the fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had long since prepared a response.

When President Isshin repeatedly searched for faults as though sifting through sand, even pointing out several Konoha prisoners whose old scars were plainly visible, Rasa's expression never changed. He merely replied calmly, "Those all happened before the convention was officially signed."

Then he casually added, "The law does not punish the past."

In the end, Isshin merely gave Rasa a long, deep look. His emotions remained unreadable as he left behind only a flat remark.

"Keep it up."

Afterward, he led the delegation away. Though the procession of nearly a hundred people had arrived with great momentum, it departed just as cleanly and efficiently.

For a time, the world didn't quite know how to describe the International Supervisory Committee's visit to the Village Hidden in the Sand.

On the surface, the Village Hidden in the Sand had indeed strictly complied with every provision of the convention. The prison was clean, the prisoners were in good condition, and the reception staff answered every question without hesitation, presenting themselves flawlessly. That should have been a good thing.

Yet many people, especially those who simply enjoyed watching chaos unfold, couldn't help feeling somewhat disappointed, as though they had eagerly awaited a storm of epic proportions only to find not even a ripple.

Perhaps it was simply because no fighting had broken out.

In the end, those spectators had always been hoping for conflict more than peace.

However, Shinichi himself understood perfectly well.

With advance notice, this kind of public inspection was exactly the same as the inspection routines from his previous life.

It was essentially saying: "I know there may be problems here, but as long as you've polished up the appearance before I arrive, I'll pretend not to notice."

At such a sensitive moment, especially as the very first ninja village to undergo inspection, as long as the Village Hidden in the Sand's leadership had any sense at all, it would never allow itself to become the example made of first.

So this inspection had been destined from the start to uncover nothing of real substance.

The true confrontation, the real contest, would only reveal its fangs during an unannounced surprise inspection.

That would be when Sword Demon Isshin truly made his entrance.

As for the International Supervisory Committee's next destination, Konoha, although people still held a certain expectation of seeing some excitement, they also understood that there probably wouldn't be any major incident this time either.

After all, Konoha was the original proposer and initiator of the Shinobi World's humanitarian convention, and they couldn't slap themselves in the face on their own doorstep.

However, just as everyone believed the inspection was about to conclude without incident, something happened that shocked the entire world.

...

Half a month later, inside one of the reception rooms of the Hokage Building in Konoha.

The third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was greeting the newly arrived members of the International Supervisory Committee with a warm smile, exchanging pleasantries with President Isshin in a harmonious atmosphere.

At that moment, an Anbu wearing a mask silently appeared behind him and leaned down to whisper something into his ear.

The smile on the third Hokage's face did not change in the slightest.

Unhurriedly, he exchanged a few more polite remarks with the members of the International Supervisory Committee before giving a slight nod of apology, turning around, and calmly leaving the reception room.

When he entered his office, two members of the communications division were already waiting inside.

"What is it?"

The third Hokage asked directly.

"Hokage-sama! The Village Hidden by a Waterfall has come under attack! They've sent an urgent request for our assistance!"

In fact, shortly after the international humanitarian conference in the Land of Iron concluded, Konoha and the Village Hidden by a Waterfall had already reached an agreement regarding the Seven-Tails' Jinchūriki and the transfer of the tailed beast, with the timing set for after Konoha had completed the International Supervisory Committee's inspection.

According to Konoha's calculations, every country and village would still be busily preparing for the coming war while also dealing with the International Supervisory Committee's inspections.

After the Village Hidden in the Sand and Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Stones, the Village Hidden in the Cloud, and the Village Hidden in the Mist were still waiting in line.

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