Chapter 85 – Rebuilding Konoha 重建木叶

Positioned on the Hokage Rock, Lin Yuan's gaze tracked the finish-line banner swaying rhythmically in the breeze in the distance. Next to him, Rock Lee was doing push-ups, counting the numbers aloud while shouting, "The power of youth is boundless! I will surpass Master Guy!"

Lin Yuan smiled helplessly and retracted his gaze, his thoughts gradually drifting back to the past two months.

With the assistance of Yamato's Wood Release, Konoha Village had recovered much faster than expected. Most of the houses had been repaired, and the laughter and chatter of pedestrians once again echoed in the streets. Some large halls and shops were still being repaired, but Konoha was clearly reviving. The village was finally shaking off the shadow of war.

However, these two months had not been without their share of turbulence.

Lin Yuan couldn't help but recall the news of that day. Danzo's death at the hands of "Akatsuki" during the Five Kage Summit was brought back to Konoha, causing quite a stir. Even though Danzo's actions had been highly controversial, his death still created quite a commotion among Konoha's higher-ups. Naruto was also caught in a deep conflict because of what Sasuke had done.

"Seriously, that Naruto guy..." Lin Yuan muttered in a low voice, and the indignant expressions of Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji flashed through his mind. Even Shikamaru, usually so calm, couldn't hide his opposition to Naruto's decision. "Sasuke's an enemy of Konoha. Naruto's choice will put us all in danger!"

However, in the end, persuaded by Sakura, Shikamaru and the others reluctantly chose to believe in Naruto. Lin Yuan couldn't help but sigh as he thought of this.

On the other hand, Kakashi handed Sasuke's companion, Karin, over to Ibiki for intelligence interrogation. That red-haired girl seemed to know a lot of secrets about "Akatsuki" and Sasuke, and this would become an important bargaining chip for Konoha in the face of future crises.

As for Lin Yuan himself... In the training space of the Jiuchong Ring, he had finally accomplished two set goals: learning to open the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates of Dunjia and being able to maintain the battle for at least one minute, and mastering the basics of the Flying Thunder God Technique, enabling him to use the Flying Thunder God to transfer people or objects to another location. Remembering his days of repeated training, he felt proud yet couldn't help wondering: What third goal would the Jiuchong Ring set?

"It's really a headache..." Lin Yuan mumbled, and his gaze returned to the Hokage Rock. Just then, he saw Guy and Kakashi rushing over from the Konoha gate.

Guy shouted, "Kakashi! I won't lose to you this time!"

Kakashi lazily lifted his eyelids and even took the time to turn a page of "Make-Out Paradise": "Guy, you're putting in too much effort. In a competition, strategy matters."

"Nonsense! A competition requires going all out! This is youth!" Guy roared and accelerated his sprint.

However, in the final few meters, Kakashi calculated precisely and walked leisurely, crossing the finish-line banner first.

Guy fell to his knees and pounded his fist on the ground: "Alas, I lost again!"

"Come on, Guy. It's not the first time you've lost to me. Don't be like this. It's embarrassing," Kakashi's eyes curved into a smile. "The more you lose, the more you'll get used to it."

Lin Yuan stood by and shook his head: "These two are always so... lively."

Just as Guy was still grieving over his defeat, suddenly, a ninja rushed over in a hurry, pulled Kakashi aside, and whispered something in his ear. Kakashi's relaxed expression froze briefly, then he smiled in relief. "Lady Tsunade's awake."

As soon as Guy heard this, he immediately stood up: "Oh! It seems Lady Tsunade was so moved by my youth that she woke up!"

Lin Yuan: "..."

Rock Lee beside them also looked at Guy with admiration: "Master Guy, you truly are the light of youth in Konoha!"

Lin Yuan rubbed his forehead and turned away resignedly. "Sure enough, these people are as troublesome as always."

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林远站在火影岩上,看着远处树立的终点布条随风摇曳,旁边是正在做俯卧撑的小李,一边数着数字,一边高声喊着:"青春的力量无穷无尽!我要超越凯老师!"

林远无奈地笑了笑,收回目光,思绪渐渐飘回了过去的两个月.

木叶村在大和的木遁协助下,恢复的速度比预期要快得多,大部分的房屋已经修缮一新,街道上重新回荡着行人的笑语声.只是一些大型会馆和商铺还在修补中,但已经显现出木叶逐渐复兴的景色.这个地方,终于从战争的阴霾中逐渐走了出来.

然而,这两个月也绝非平静无波.

林远不由得回忆起那一日的消息,团藏,在五影大会上被 "晓" 杀死的消息传回木叶,引起了不小的震动.即使团藏的行为饱受争议,他的死仍然在木叶高层掀起了不小的波澜.鸣人也因为佐助的所作所为陷入了深深的矛盾中.

"真是的,鸣人那家伙..." 林远低声嘟囔,脑中浮现出鹿丸,井野,丁次愤愤不平的模样.尤其是鹿丸,冷静如他,也难掩对鸣人决定的反对: "佐助已经成为木叶的敌人,他的选择,只会让我们全都陷入危险!"

可是,最终在小樱的劝说下,鹿丸一行人还是勉强选择了相信鸣人.林远想到这里,不由得叹了口气.

而另一方面,卡卡西将佐助的同伴香燐交给了伊比喜,进行情报审问.那个红发少女似乎知道很多关于 "晓" 和佐助的秘密,而这将成为木叶对抗未来危机的重要筹码.

至于林远自己...在九重戒指的修炼空间里,他终于完成了两个既定目标:学会开启八门遁甲的第七门并能维持至少一分钟的战斗,以及掌握飞雷神之术的基础,能够用飞雷神将人或物品转移到另一个地点.他回忆起那些日复一日的训练,心里虽然有些自豪,但也不由得想着:第三个目标,九重戒会定什么呢?

"还真是让人头疼啊..." 林远嘟囔着,目光扫回火影岩,正巧看到凯和卡卡西从木叶大门冲了过来.

凯大喊着:"卡卡西!这次我绝不会输给你!"

卡卡西懒洋洋地抬了抬眼皮,甚至还抽空翻开了一页"亲热天堂":"凯,你太用力了,比赛是要讲究策略的."

"胡说八道!比赛就是要全力以赴!这就是青春!" 凯怒吼着,加速冲刺.

然而,在最后几米的地方,卡卡西凭借精准的计算和轻松的步伐,率先冲过了终点布条.

凯跪倒在地,捶着拳头:"唉,我又输了!"

"唉,凯,你又不是第一次输给我了,别这样,怪丢人的." 卡卡西眼睛弯成了一道弧线,"输多了,就会习惯的."

林远站在一旁看得直摇头:"这两个人,永远都这么...热闹."

就在凯还在为失败悲愤不已时,突然,一个忍者急匆匆跑来,将卡卡西拉到了一旁,附耳低声说了些什么.卡卡西原本轻松的神情微微一愣,随即露出了难得的释然笑容.

"纲手大人醒过来了."

凯一听,立刻站了起来:"哦!看来纲手大人是被我的青春感动得清醒过来了!"

林远:"..."

周围的小李也一脸崇拜地看着凯:"凯老师,您果然是木叶的青春之光!"

林远按了按额头,无奈地转身离开:"果然...这群人还是一如既往地麻烦啊."