[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha":3,"chapter-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-74":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting Off with Horse and Sword in Konoha",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2349125,4591,"Chapter 74: Peace Policy!","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>A technique, from its development to final refinement, is never a simple matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma did not hastily use the Mounted Combat System to allocate skill points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mounted Combat System boosts progress quickly, but the evolution of the Lei Shen Mode technique might not follow his intended path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take it slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night passed without incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the medical unit began relocating to follow the front-line combat forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By afternoon, after the medical unit had just selected and settled into their camp, a Hidden Leaf ninja appeared before Fujinaka Genma: “Genma-sama, Jiraiya-sama requests your presence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma nodded, waved to Hyuga Mio, and returned to the front to meet Jiraiya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the commander’s tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only was Jiraiya there, but also Nara Shikamaru.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Genma, it seems Itachi have no issues left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiraiya let out a sigh of relief upon seeing Fujinaka Genma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nara Shikamaru smiled and said, “Congratulations on your recovery, Genma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank Itachi all for your concern—it was just exhaustion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma smiled, then asked about the current battle situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nara Shikamaru took over from Jiraiya to report: “The Mist ninja have retreated entirely to the coastal regions, with their command and logistics stationed on islands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Additionally, the Mist ninja have received reinforcements.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Genma, Itachi should know—Tailed Beasts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tailed Beasts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma was startled, nodded, and said gravely: “Tailed Beasts—I know. Like Suna’s Shukaku.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems the Mist ninja leaked this information deliberately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiraiya nodded approvingly: “Yes, this is a threat to Itachi!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The current situation has reverted to its initial state, with combat mostly limited to small-unit skirmishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mist ninja’s message was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let go of Fujinaka Genma, and we’ll release the Tailed Beast!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s hurt each other!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma thought for a moment and asked: “Can we pinpoint the Tailed Beast’s location?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiraiya spread his hands: “It’s difficult—and…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nara Shikamaru added: “The Third Hokage intends to negotiate with the Mist ninja.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negotiate?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma froze, then considered it: “It is indeed an opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma shook his head: “Even if we negotiate now, when the chance arises, the Mist ninja will surely strike us again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mist ninja have just suffered a defeat and lost many elite ninja—this is indeed a good moment for negotiation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem is this:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless the Hidden Leaf ends fighting on other fronts, the Mist ninja will still seek an opening to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One, to reclaim lost gains; two, for revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over three hundred elite ninja were reduced to just a dozen by his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Seven Swordsmen of the Mist were reduced to just Biwa Juzo, fleeing with a broken blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too tragic!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This hatred the Mist ninja may endure for a while—but not for long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiraiya knew this well, yet sighed helplessly: “The old man has ordered Itachi back to the Hidden Leaf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next, Itachi’ll likely be sent to the Suna front.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma instantly understood: “Is the Third Hokage trying to force Suna into surrender?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nara Shikamaru nodded: “The village’s forces are stretched too thin. The Third Hokage wants to end the war as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even newly graduated children are on the battlefield—how could forces not be stretched thin?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Uchiha clan and Hyuga clan have already deployed nearly all their combat strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ending the war sooner is better—too many have died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiraiya and Nara Shikamaru exchanged a glance, then patted Fujinaka Genma’s shoulder and said solemnly: “Genma, war isn’t what we want. Itachi killed so many only to protect yourself and the village.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our goal is to end the war.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help but feel a bitter amusement—they feared he’d be psychologically scarred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he recalled—he was only fourteen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a fucked-up world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma cursed inwardly, then nodded to Jiraiya’s reassurance: “Jiraiya-sama, I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then when do I leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiraiya said: “If possible, today!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With Ebisu and Guy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma nodded: “Understood!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three then spoke for a while longer, with Jiraiya and Nara Shikamaru gently guiding and counseling Fujinaka Genma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because the battlefield from three days ago looked horrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of the Hidden Leaf genin sent to clean up the site still carried psychological trauma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Fujinaka Genma appeared mature, he was still just a fourteen-year-old.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Jiraiya was deeply concerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he admired Fujinaka Genma’s character and responsibility; second, he was Minato’s student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch with Jiraiya, eating grilled meat, Fujinaka Genma set off with Ebisu and Guy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Fujinaka Genma still felt a quiet curiosity—why had the Third Hokage summoned him back to the Hidden Leaf?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Going to the Suna front now should be the best choice—quick, decisive action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ending the war with Suna first would greatly reduce the Hidden Leaf’s pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps even force the Mist ninja to withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During wartime,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>travel was faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three departed in the afternoon and returned to the Hidden Leaf by nightfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ebisu and Guy had long adapted to Fujinaka Genma’s pace—no issues at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before eight, an Anbu ninja arrived at his door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma immediately went to the Hokage’s office to meet Hiruzen Sarutobi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though little time had passed, seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fujinaka Genma felt he had aged greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this great ninja war had worn Hiruzen Sarutobi down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled immediately upon seeing Fujinaka Genma: “Genma, how are Itachi feeling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfectly fine, Hokage-sama!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma knew exactly what Hiruzen Sarutobi meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at him, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt deeply reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always favored Fujinaka Genma, but never expected such a remarkable surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this age, he was even more outstanding than Minato had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the ninja world truly had a Kage-level classification, Fujinaka Genma now unquestionably belonged in that tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep growing—Itachi might become someone like the Second Hokage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiruzen Sarutobi’s regard for Fujinaka Genma had reached its highest point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was simply too pure of origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born a commoner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he had become a disciple of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he maintained excellent relations with the Legendary Sannin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the usual pleasantries, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke of the mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Fujinaka Genma’s surprise, this time he would be deployed alongside his teacher, Minato.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the Hidden Leaf already holding the advantage, Hiruzen Sarutobi intended for Fujinaka Genma and Minato to be the final straw that crushed Suna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma had no objections to the mission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still too young to voice opinions—this he understood clearly, even with his growing fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped out of the Hokage Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma was on his way to find Minato and Kushina Uzumaki when he was stopped by a masked Anbu ninja.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lord Genma, Lord Danzo requests your presence!”\u003C\u002Fp>",1110,"2026-06-21T02:29:34.312Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f342b5cc938b3d96f9c1b24f585abe038108132923fd19a158775d0d2f8e5876","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-75","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-73",157,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-cover.jpg"]