Before entering the treasure vault, they had to navigate an extremely complex maze. However, thanks to Kopamaru, it was able to track the scent of Tsunade, Haruto Saito, and the others, leading them on the correct path. Because of this, they did not lose their way inside the labyrinth.
"It's really a treasure!"
"The Meiji Treasure!"
More than twenty ninjas were completely stunned. Over a hundred chests had been opened, revealing gold and silver, creating an overwhelmingly intense visual impact.
"Didn't I tell you to wait outside?" Tsunade said coldly. She hadn't even finished discussing how to divide the treasure with Haruto Saito, yet this group had already rushed in.
More importantly, the full inventory hadn't been completed yet. They were unsure if there were other, more sensitive items hidden within.
"Tsunade-sama," Umino Saku immediately spoke up. "We saw that you had been inside for a long time without any news. We were worried something had happened, so we—"
"Perfect timing!" Haruto Saito interrupted, giving Tsunade a meaningful look. Silently, he pushed the coffin lid back into place before gesturing around them. "Start moving everything. All of it gets transported back to Konoha. Also... Aken, go back up and call everyone down. Take everything that can be moved. Make sure to mark the path on the way out—this is a maze, and others might get lost."
Inuzuka Ken immediately agreed and rushed out with Kopamaru.
At this moment, he was also working for Haruto Saito. Haruto had hired him for an entire day, paying him 500,000 ryo. Compared to the 10 million ryo he had spent to secure Tsunade's cooperation, this amount was pocket change.
Two Hours Later
Every valuable item from the Meiji Treasure Vault had been transported to the base of Meiji Mountain.
Over two hundred ninjas were involved in the transport. Half of them carried large chests on their backs, secured tightly with tree vines. These were all strong and skilled ninjas—though the chests were extremely heavy, as long as they didn't sprint, the weight wasn't a problem.
Other miscellaneous items, including weapons and armor, were also bundled together with vines and carried by different ninjas.
The coffin was carried by four people. Umino Saku personally took charge, lifting it along with three jonin. The contents of the coffin weren't particularly heavy, but the coffin itself was incredibly solid and weighty.
By the time everything was ready, it was already late at night.
Everyone was exhausted, including Haruto Saito and Tsunade, who had barely rested since the previous night.
"Come on, everyone! Push through! A hundred kilometers isn't that far—let's go!" Haruto Saito raised his hand and called out.
And so, they officially began their return journey!
The Vanguard Unit led the way, while Haruto Saito and Tsunade followed behind. Both of them were carrying items as well—Haruto was carrying the most important beast-hide bundle and a sleeping Minato Namikaze on his back, while Tsunade was carrying a small chest filled with gemstones. She also held a glowing stone the size of a human head in her arms.
The journey spanned over 130 kilometers. Under normal circumstances, the Konoha Defense Corps Vanguard Unit could have completed the distance within a few hours at full speed. However, with the heavy loads they were carrying, their pace was inevitably much slower.
The Next Day – 1:00 PM
A transport convoy of over 200 people emerged from the western forest near Konoha Village. The Hyuga Clan ninjas from Konoha's Intelligence Division, who were in charge of external patrols and surveillance, were the first to spot them. Shortly afterward, Konoha Defense Corps ninjas guarding the village entrance and Uchiha Clan ninjas patrolling the village interior also took notice.
By the time the convoy arrived at the village gates, a large crowd of ninjas had already gathered to watch.
There were too many people talking at once. Haruto Saito couldn't possibly silence over two hundred individuals, nor did he even attempt to. It wasn't just a matter of secrecy anymore—so many goods were being transported that even a blind person could see what was happening. So he simply let things unfold naturally. Ninjas from the Vanguard Unit were approached by others, and when questioned, they answered truthfully.
At this moment, Haruto Saito realized something:
The discovery of the Meiji Treasure had become the talk of Konoha!
A historic event was unfolding!
It was an unprecedented sensation.
It seemed that every ninja who heard about it was utterly shocked before immediately rushing toward the village gates.
As Haruto led the convoy through Konoha's bustling streets, more and more people gathered to watch. The streets were packed, to the point that it could be described as a city-wide frenzy. Many residents initially had no idea what the "Meiji Treasure" was, but after overhearing others talk about it, they quickly understood its significance.
Four hundred years ago, the Hyuga Clan and the Meiji Clan had fought a final, decisive battle. The Hyuga Clan emerged as the absolute victors. Afterward, they conducted an extensive search of all the territories formerly ruled by the Meiji Clan. They searched every inch of land, yet found nothing.
It was precisely because of this fruitless search that the world realized the Hyuga Clan had not directly acquired the vast wealth that the Meiji Clan had accumulated over generations. Thus, the legend of the Meiji Treasure was born!
Four centuries later, after so many years of change...
The Meiji Treasure had finally reemerged!
There was no way such a revelation wouldn't cause an uproar.
No one had ever expected the Meiji Treasure to be hidden right beneath Meiji Mountain all along!
It was important to note that Meiji Mountain originally had no name. It was only called that because it was the site of the Meiji Clan's downfall. Other than this historical event, the mountain itself had no distinguishing features. It was an ordinary peak, just like any other mountain in the Land of Fire. Furthermore, the Meiji Clan's main settlement wasn't even built on Meiji Mountain. Because of this, no one had ever suspected that the treasure could be there.
Hyuga Clan Compound – Deep Inside the Main Estate
Inside a simple and elegant study, a middle-aged ninja wearing a white traditional robe stood in front of a desk. Holding a brush in one hand, he was painting. A large sheet of rice paper lay on the desk, already displaying a landscape scene. However, one section remained blank, where he was now painting a flock of birds.
"Uncle! Uncle!"
A frantic voice came from outside the room. Then—Bang!—the door burst open as two teenage ninja brothers rushed in. They looked identical—they were Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi.
The middle-aged man in the white robe frowned and looked up sternly. "Why are you so flustered? Where are your manners?"
Although Hyuga Hiashi was the future head of the main family, and Hyuga Hizashi was the future head of the branch family, their status still paled in comparison to this white-robed man. He was the current leader of the Hyuga Clan's branch family, the younger brother of the clan head, and the uncle of both boys—Hyuga Raita.
Upon hearing Hyuga Raita's reprimand, Hyuga Hizashi quickly lowered his head and didn't dare to speak. However, Hyuga Hiashi was undeterred. He ran up to the desk and urgently said, "Uncle! The Meiji Clan's treasure has been found!"
"Oh?" Hyuga Raita's expression froze for a moment. Then, his eyes widened in shock.
"The Meiji Treasure!!"
"Uncle, I remember Father once said that inside the Meiji Treasure, there might be some of our Hyuga ancestors' lost—"
"Wait for me!"
Before Hiashi could even finish speaking, Hyuga Raita vanished in an instant.
Moments Later – Hyuga Clan's Sacred Archive
Descending a dimly lit staircase, Hyuga Raita soon arrived at a sealed chamber. He lit an oil lamp. The chamber wasn't large, but it was filled with bookshelves. Each shelf was stacked with various books and scrolls.
These were family records, documenting a thousand years of the Hyuga Clan's history.
"Meiji Clan… Four hundred years ago…" Hyuga Raita walked along the bookshelves, searching the section dedicated to events from four centuries ago. Soon, he pulled out a scroll labeled "The Complete History of the Meiji War."
His eyes flashed.
"The Meiji Treasure… The lost technique…"
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