CHAPTER 341: KAZEKAGE NINJA-CHAPTER 130: CARDS? YOU’RE NO GOOD. WAR? I’M NO GOOD.

"Lord Hokage, we’ve been in a standoff with the Wind-Cloud Alliance for over two months now. The soldiers’ morale is starting to slip," Minato Namikaze said with deep concern.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t slow his stride one bit.

"Sigh, it’s understandable. Ninja are human too. Their endurance might be stronger than ordinary people, but their nerves aren’t made of steel. Since the war began, we’ve suffered defeat after defeat—such brutal battles, so many deaths. The psychological pressure has reached its limit. Though we’re still in a standoff now, at least things have calmed down somewhat. If morale remained stretched tight, people would go mad."

Hiruzen sighed and finally stopped, closing his eyes as his mind drifted back to that terrifying night outside Lishi Fortress. Those endless explosions had bloomed like festival fireworks, but each blast claimed several lives.

That tragic night remained buried deep in Hiruzen’s heart—he refused to recall it. Those piercing screams and wails... every memory brought a bone-deep, heart-stabbing pain.

That’s why he chose to patrol Konoha’s outer walls with Minato after finishing each day’s defense preparations.

Konoha’s high walls had been completed during the Third Hokage’s era. Tall as hills and stretching endlessly, they encircled the entire village—a solid artificial barrier.

The walls now bristled with defensive fortifications: watchtowers, arrow slits, hidden barracks, rolling logs, catapult stones, blade carts, ballista—every defensive weapon imaginable. Every hundred meters, a ninja squad stood guard. Seeing the Hokage personally inspecting, they all rose and saluted.

Hiruzen smiled warmly, calling out words of appreciation and frequently returning their salutes. He even shook hands with the wall guards, leaving them deeply moved.

"Everyone’s worked hard."

"How’s the food? Are you eating enough?"

"The night air is cold—guards on duty should wear more layers. What? No supplies distributed? What the hell are those logistics bastards doing? It’s not like the warehouse is empty! Minato, look into this. By tomorrow, make sure all bedding and clothing are distributed!"

"Each night post should still have two ninja squads—that way you can take turns resting. Your young bodies can handle it now, but once you’re older, you’ll be riddled with ailments."

These heartwarming words moved the wall guards immensely. Many young ninja shed tears of gratitude. Minato watched with deep admiration.

This is true charisma. A Hokage must make everyone feel that he always carries them in his heart, that he stands with them.

"Minato, leadership isn’t about always acting high and mighty. You need to come down and look around from time to time—let the ninja below feel you’re not distant from them. Understand?"

Hiruzen smiled.

"I’m learning so much."

Minato nodded.

"The way of commanding troops is the same. You can’t just rely on military discipline and superior authority to pressure subordinates. That won’t win hearts, and it’s not sustainable..."

Mid-sentence, both Hiruzen and Minato stopped simultaneously, their eyes fixed on an inconspicuous corner.

There sat a small equipment storage room built into the wall’s edge.

In the quiet, pitch-black night, that storage room was leaking faint light, and they could vaguely hear a "clatter-clatter" sound.

Hiruzen knew that sound all too well.

Mahjong tiles.

Minato’s face instantly turned iron-blue. He was about to charge forward when Hiruzen raised his hand to stop him.

"Let’s go see. Don’t make noise."

Hiruzen frowned and crept toward the storage room.

Minato’s hands trembled slightly. With battle imminent, who has such audacity to gamble on the city walls? Outrageous!

Under the bright moonlight, Minato looked at Hiruzen—his face was dark as water, his clenched fists tight, his body radiating killing intent.

Hiruzen stood quietly outside the door for a moment, then suddenly kicked it open with a front kick and strode inside.

"Who dares act so brazenly!"

But it wasn’t Hiruzen or Minato speaking—it was a ninja inside. He wore a tactical vest slung across his body, his forehead protector crooked, shaking dice in his hand. Thinking one of his subordinates had barged in without notice, he barked the rebuke before looking up.

That one glance nearly scared his soul from his body.

"Ho... Hokage-sama!"

The ninja dropped his dice and immediately stood at attention. The other three were scared witless, standing and trembling, unable to even speak.

"I! I! I!"

The ninja stammered "I" for ages without producing anything coherent.

Hiruzen didn’t move, his eyes scanning the table. Mahjong tiles were neatly arranged—clearly a fresh game. The table was piled with bills—five thousand ryō, one thousand ryō notes. They’re playing for high stakes.

"Who lost?"

Hiruzen asked expressionlessly.

The four looked at each other, finally turning to the ninja with the crooked forehead protector.

"It was... Chūnin Panma Shiranui... who lost."

Hiruzen glanced at Panma Shiranui.

"Shiranui? You retreated from the Northern Army?"

"Yes!"

Panma Shiranui stood at attention.

"Hmm, you fought hard at the Battle of Moon Lake. Now you’re responsible for this section’s defense?"

Hiruzen asked.

"Yes, I’m... responsible for five hundred meters of wall... defense."

Hiruzen said nothing, walking straight to Panma Shiranui’s seat and coldly addressing the three ninja:

"Sit down. Continue."

"Ah?!"

The three ninja were dumbfounded.

"Didn’t you hear? I said sit down! Continue!"

Hiruzen’s tone became stern.

"Sit down and play!"

Minato backed him up sternly.

Helplessly, the three ninja sat back down, beginning the most unforgettable mahjong game of their lives.

"The dice?"

Hiruzen asked.

One ninja hurriedly picked up the dice Panma Shiranui had dropped and handed them over.

"It’s my deal, right?"

Hiruzen said.

The three ninja nodded like pecking chickens.

Hiruzen threw the dice—seven points.

The three ninja played while wiping sweat, their minds already scattered, their game a complete mess. Hiruzen seemed completely unconcerned with their skill—one moment a straight flush, the next a triple pung. He finished a round with casual conversation and laughter while those three poor souls were drenched in sweat, all the money from their piles now in front of Hiruzen.

Only then did Hiruzen stand up, scooping all the table money and stuffing it into Panma Shiranui’s arms. Calmly, he said to Panma Shiranui:

"Cards? You’re no good. War? I’m no good. I’ll leave the wall defense to you all. Minato, let’s go!"

Without looking back, he led Minato out of the room.

Not far away, they heard a "thud."

Minato looked back.

Panma Shiranui had already dropped to his knees toward Hiruzen’s retreating figure.

"Hokage-sama, I, Panma Shiranui, swear here—as long as I have breath in my body, Sunagakure ninja will never step foot in my defense zone!"

Minato couldn’t help but admire him completely.

This mastery of human hearts is truly perfected.

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

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