I am the most popular character in Naruto!

Chiaki spoke softly, having learned from her observations over the past few days that there were truly few Kage-level ninjas in the ninja world at this time.

A major power is considered to have at most one or two Kage; the strength of a nation is determined by the number of elite Jonin. The more elite Jonin a country has, the stronger it is.

If Jiraiya and the other three Sannin were to directly reach the Kage level, then Konoha would have five Kage-level figures to support them, which would be an explosive force.

As Hanzo the Demigod has already said, unless you reach the Kage level, you're just an ant.

Kage-level and non-Kage-level are completely different levels, so the fact that Jiraiya and his two companions, at the elite Jonin level, were able to inflict some injury on Hanzo the Salamander, a demigod, was already enough to shock Hanzo.

"Becoming a Kage-level expert isn't that easy!"

Jiraiya remarked with a sigh, "We've been stuck at the Elite Jonin level for at least three years."

"Have it?"

Tsunade touched her cheek thoughtfully, "Oh... I guess so... I didn't feel anything."

"How long will I be stuck at the Chunin level?"

Chiaki was a little nervous. She had been a Chunin for about half a year now, and during that time she had been consolidating her foundation. Although her strength had increased, it wasn't significant.

"That's hard to say."

Jiraiya shrugged and said with a sly smile, "Chiaki's foundation is very weak. He only got through the genin stage by relying on the First Hokage's cells. He should work on his skills during the chunin stage."

Tsunade nodded in agreement, saying, "Indeed, you should have spent a few years building a foundation during the genin stage, but now you've skipped genin altogether, and you'll have to pay the price eventually."

"Fortunately, you learned the Shadow Clone Technique, which can speed up the process of building a foundation. Practice more. Although your strength hasn't increased much, your overall combat ability is constantly improving."

"Hey……"

Qianqiu sighed and secretly started counting on her fingers.

We are currently in the Second Shinobi World War, which, according to the original story, will last about six years, followed by a few years of peace before the Third Shinobi World War.

The third battle was far too intense; it was incredibly fierce, even resulting in the loss of Kage-level warrior Hatake Yonomi.

By the time of the Third Shinobi World War, Minato had already reached the Kage level, and then he became famous in one battle, his Yellow Flash dominating the battlefield.

In other words, if he wants to play a role in the Third Shinobi World War, or even save Hatake Yonko, he needs to become a Kage-level ninja within at least ten years...

"This is too hard! (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻"

Chiaki flipped the table, using the exceptionally talented Minato as a benchmark: entering the Ninja Academy at seven, graduating at eleven, breaking through to Chunin at thirteen, and achieving Kage level around twenty-three.

It took him a full sixteen years to finally reach the level of a film star.

Let's take another person, the genius Hatake Aoki, who was about to be born. He entered the Ninja Academy at the age of seven, graduated as a Genin at the age of nine, became a Jonin at the age of twelve, and only became an Elite Jonin at the age of twenty-six.

Of course, Kakashi's own procrastination played a part, but the main reason was that he didn't lay a solid foundation when he was young. Even though his talent propelled him to new heights, he still had to go back and work on his foundation and slowly work on his level.

In other words, about ten years of painstaking practice is essential before becoming a film star.

Chiaki has only been involved with the ninja system for less than a year, so to break through to the Kage level in the next ten years is nothing short of a pipe dream.

"At this point, we can only believe in miracles..."

Qianqiu silently clasped her hands together in prayer, hoping to find a large bone to make soup for her, so that a miracle could happen again.

"Everyone, please hurry up and keep up."

Dozens of Root ninjas darted past quickly. One of them, wearing a mask, turned to Chiaki and the other two who were walking and talking and said, "We're about to enter Amegakure. Please be careful of Lord Danzo's safety!"

"Yes Yes……"

Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively at the Root ninja, and he and Tsunade exchanged a glance, both of them indifferent.

Qianqiu silently increased her speed. Should she find a few more shadow clones to practice her movement?

Of everyone present, he was the weakest and the slowest runner...

She thought for a moment, recalling people who moved quickly...

Jiraiya and the other three legendary ninja...

No, no, they're just strong.

Senior Brother Minato...

Hmm, even those with a spatial talent can't learn this.

Sakumo Hatake...

This is good!

Chiaki's eyes lit up. Although Hatake Yin-Yang spoke in a somewhat sarcastic tone, he was still very kind to her.

By the time I get back, Kakashi should be born, right?

When people are in high spirits, they should take this opportunity to ask Hatake Sakumo for help on how to move. He certainly wouldn't be able to refuse!

Isn't it beautiful?

Thinking of this, Qianqiu couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Come on, hurry up, you want to protect Danzo's dog life, right?

I mean...

I'll take it!

Chapter Ninety-Two: The Base That No One Will Discover

Rain Ninja Village.

slums.

"You wretched brat! Don't you dare run! I'll break your legs!"

Stones and trash flew everywhere as a boy with orange hair stumbled out of the garbage heap.

Clutching several meat buns tightly in his arms, he endured the pain of the stones hitting his body and desperately fled into the distance.

The shop owner was cursing under his breath, but he didn't dare to stray too far from his stall.

You should know that there are many poor people in the slums who can't survive. If you leave your stall for even a short while, there will probably be nothing left on it.

Even the flour that just comes to make steamed buns will be licked clean by these hungry creatures.

To survive, you have to seize every opportunity, no matter what it is, as long as it's edible, you have to eat it to keep yourself alive.

When it comes to a bowl of porridge or a bowl of rice, we should remember how hard it was to come by; when it comes to a thread or a strand of cloth, we should always remember how difficult it was to obtain resources.

Everyone who struggles to survive in the slums of Amegakure understands this principle. Perhaps the only ones who don't understand it are those who have enough to eat and have never experienced hunger or cold.

The orange-haired boy ran a long way until he reached the jungle. Once he was sure no one was chasing him, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave a relieved smile.

After wandering around for a while, he finally arrived at a well-hidden secret base. Large foliage covered the small cave, so much so that even wild animals could hardly detect the existence of this secret base.

The boy looked around, then pushed aside the leaves and entered the cave.

"Yahiko! You're back!"

The blue-haired girl was holding a basket woven from branches, which contained some picked berries and mushrooms.

Although the secret base was small, it was decorated very warmly by the girl. Flowers were everywhere, adorning the rough furniture and giving these missing pieces of furniture a strange kind of beauty.

"Xiao Nan, didn't I tell you not to go out at this stage?"

Yahiko said helplessly, putting down the steamed bun in his arms.

Xiao Nan chuckled and said, "It's alright, our secret base is very safe. I'm just taking a walk around nearby, I won't be discovered."

"Don't take such risks next time. It's not easy for girls in this world!"

Yahiko sighed. Wartime is cruel for children, especially for children like them who have lost their parents.

"By the way, where's Nagato?"

"Nagato is still resting, let him rest a little longer, sigh..."

Xiao Nan shook her head, picked up her basket, and prepared to start a fire to cook.

"I'll go check on him."

Yahiko thought for a moment, then grabbed a steamed bun and headed toward the inner room of the secret base.

Even though the cave was small, Xiao Nan still planned it out carefully.

Three bedrooms and one living room, small but cozy.

Yahiko, carrying the steamed buns, walked to the door of Nagato's room, knocked, and then went inside.

"Nagato, come and have something to eat!"

"We have meat buns today!"

"No...no...any more..."

Nagato responded tremblingly from inside the room, trying to shrink himself into the small bed made of straw.

He knew Yahiko meant well, but he was too ashamed to face anyone right now.

Just a few days ago, Nagato's parents tried to take him away from Amegakure, but they ended up running into Konoha's defenses.

Upon seeing the headbands of the Rain Ninja, the Konoha ninja instinctively launched an attack. However, the couple, who were merely genin, were powerless to retaliate and could only try their best to protect Nagato as they fled at top speed.

The Konoha ninjas, realizing they had attacked the wrong person, looked at each other in dismay. But this was war, and they were better off killing the innocent than letting the guilty go free. After Nagato's parents, despite being seriously injured, fled for several kilometers with him, two kunai ended their lives.

Staring blankly at his parents falling in the rain, Nagato completely lost the ability to speak. He could only follow his parents' last command and keep running and running.

Even Nagato himself didn't know how far he had run. He felt like he had inexhaustible strength until he saw a blue-haired girl. The girl was looking at him with fear as he approached, holding a tattered kunai in her hand, trembling with wariness.

Nagato finally came to his senses, his consciousness went black, and he collapsed in front of the girl.

When Konan, who had gone out to pick fruit, saw that Nagato was almost harmless and extremely thin and on the verge of death, she felt a pang of pity and took him back to the secret base.

Yahiko scolded her for this for a long time, but since they were both children, he eventually accepted Nagato.

"Eat something. We haven't had any meat for many days. It will help us regain some strength!"

As Yahiko spoke in a cheerful tone, he stuffed the steamed bun in his hand into Nagato's hand.

Nagato is not the kind of person who doesn't know how to repay kindness. His good upbringing made him understand that it was Yahiko and Konan who saved him.

The image of his parents dying before his eyes still lingered in his mind, and he could only try his best to overcome the trembling in his heart and accept Yahiko and Minami's kindness.