Chapter 67 Land of Iron

A few days later, Renjiro had fully recovered, except for one thing: he still couldn’t use Thunder God Mode properly. Other than that, all his other Jutsu worked fine.

By then, the Third Hokage had dealt with all of Danzo’s schemes and, without any more opposition, returned to his position as Hokage.

Feeling ready for missions again, Renjiro went to Hiruzen’s office and explained that he wanted to forge a new blade, asking for his help.

Hiruzen put down his papers and asked with interest: “A new blade? Has your current one worn out?”

Renjiro scratched his head, sounding a bit helpless: “It was destroyed in the battle with the Nine-Tails. And honestly, ordinary swords can’t keep up with my growth anymore. I need something stronger—one that can handle my techniques without breaking.”

Hiruzen thought for a moment before saying: “As it happens, I have a mission for you in the Land of Iron.”

Renjiro’s eyes lit up: “The samurai country?”

The Land of Iron was famous for its samurai, and every samurai carried a sword. It was said that they could even channel chakra into their weapons, proof of their advanced forging skills.

Konoha’s own blacksmiths could make chakra-conducting swords, but to craft a weapon that was both a top-grade blade and a perfect chakra conductor—something worthy of being called a ‘named sword’, one needed a true master smith.

Only the Land of Iron and the Land of Lightning had such masters. But since the Land of Lightning was an enemy, it wasn’t even an option.

“Yes.” Hiruzen confirmed and said: “I’ll also write you a letter of introduction. Once your mission is done, give it to an old friend of mine—Suishin, the chief swordsmith of the Bizen-style Ichimonji school. He’s one of the best."

After a slight pause, he continued: “With my letter, even if he doesn’t personally forge it, he’ll have his finest blacksmith make your sword.”

---

The next morning…

Renjiro stood in front of his assigned team for the mission and felt an immediate headache coming on.

"Seriously, Hokage-sama… this lineup?" He thought bitterly.

First was Kosuke Maruboshi, the so-called Eternal Genin.

Although he was a minor figure in the anime, Renjiro remembered him well because his life story was unforgettable. Kosuke had served Konoha since the time of the Second Hokage, all the way into Naruto’s era.

Despite his skill, he had chosen to remain a Genin. It wasn’t because of guilt over killing a comrade, but out of humility and selflessness. After a mission as a Jonin commander went wrong and cost the lives of his comrades, Kosuke voluntarily demoted himself and refused promotion ever since.

Second was Hakuya, an elite Chunin known for his mastery of the Vacuum Blade Jutsu and the graceful Leaf Substitution Technique. Calm, adaptable, and dependable—Renjiro had no complaints about him.

The real problem… was the third.

“YOUTH IS A FLAME THAT BURNS FOR ETERNITY!”

Clad entirely in green, with the unmistakable bowl cut, and unable to stop exercising even for a moment, the last member made Renjiro quietly pray for patience.

He knew Guy’s personality all too well, and feared the man might spend the entire trip to the Land of Iron challenging him to spar.

---

Whoosh!

The forest raced by in a blur as Renjiro and his team moved swiftly, their steps light yet quick.

At the head of the formation was Guy, who, from the moment they’d departed, hadn’t stopped shouting loud, over-the-top encouragements.

"This is going to be a long trip." Renjiro muttered helplessly, eyes fixed on Guy’s back.

If it were up to him, he’d be doing this mission with his own Renjiro Squad. But this was just a diplomatic envoy to a neighboring country—meant to make a statement, not to engage in real combat.

With Renjiro’s reputation alone, Konoha could send a clear message without pulling in an elite unit.

As for Guy, Renjiro decided it was best to just… ignore him completely.

In truth, the mission was nothing more than political damage control after the Nine-Tails’ attack.

Since that night, rumors had spread across the nations, whispers about the heavy toll Konoha had suffered. Those whispers weren’t far from the truth. The village had lost many of its best shinobi, and the Fourth Hokage himself was gone.

If Konoha didn’t want to appear weak, they had to show strength now, especially with the Third Shinobi World War still fresh in everyone’s mind. Any hint of vulnerability could invite another conflict.

---

Missions like this high-profile diplomatic visits with a subtle edge of intimidation were exactly what the current situation demanded.

Normally, a neutral nation like the Land of Iron wouldn’t require someone of Renjiro’s level. This time, it was simply a matter of timing and convenience.

Kosuke had been assigned as a safeguard, an old veteran the Third trusted to keep the younger shinobi in line.

And Guy?

He had apparently caught wind of the mission and begged the Hokage to let him join, eager to witness the legendary strength of the samurai firsthand. Eventually, the old man relented… and handed him off to Renjiro.

Renjiro exhaled a weary sigh, muttering to himself: “Why do I have the feeling this mission won’t be quiet?”

---

The Land of Iron followed traditions so old they predated the shinobi themselves. Its history stretched back to the age of the samurai—long before the Sage of Six Paths and the birth of ninjutsu. It stood as the last living remnant of that era, fiercely holding on to customs from a world that had almost vanished.

The moment Renjiro’s team crossed the border, they realized they had underestimated the climate. Even with chakra warming their bodies, the cold bit into their skin like teeth.

“Asshhh! It’s so cold!” Guy exclaimed, his body trembling as the icy air seeped through his clothes.

The Land of Iron was a merciless expanse of snow and ice, its terrain locked beneath a permanent white blanket. The chill here was even harsher than in the Land of Snow.

Yet no one dared dismiss this seemingly barren country. Its warriors—the samurai, were not ninja, but their discipline and coordinated battle tactics made them a force capable of being ranked as one of strongest smaller shinobi nations.

They had never taken part in the shinobi wars, their neutrality safeguarded by ancient treaties and shrewd politics.

“Here, wear this.” Kosuke said in his calm, gentle voice.

This was where Kosuke’s presence truly proved its worth. From his pack, he pulled out four heavy fur-lined coats. The moment Renjiro slipped his on, the cold became far more bearable.

“Having you here really was the right call, Kosuke-san.” Renjiro said sincerely. The wisdom that came with age and experience was worth more than most realized.

“Hehe, it’s nothing.” Kosuke replied with a warm smile.

“Ha!” Guy’s voice thundered over the howling wind: “Cold means nothing to the springtime of youth! From here on, I’ll travel the rest of the way… on my hands!”

Before anyone could react, he kicked up into a handstand and started marching forward on his palms, legs swaying in the frigid air.

Then—

“Eh? Why’s it so dark? Did someone turn off the lights? Hello? Could someone turn them back on…?”

Renjiro, Kosuke, and Hakuya just stared at him in silence for several long seconds.

Finally, Kosuke let out a soft chuckle: “A very… spirited young man.”

---

The capital of the Land of Iron sat atop three towering peaks known as the “Three Wolves.” From a distance, the mountains looked like the heads of massive wolves, forever frozen mid-howl beneath the moonlight.

At the base, Renjiro’s group was halted by a squad of samurai clad in full battle armor, faces concealed behind steel masks, each man carrying two swords.

“Stop there! State your purpose!” One of the guards shouted, his voice was stern and cautious as he spotted the approaching shinobi.

“I am Takane Renjiro, a shinobi of Konoha.” Renjiro called back: “We are here on a diplomatic mission under the orders of the Sandaime Hokage.” He tossed the mission scroll toward the guard, who caught it with ease.

Renjiro then gave a clear, measured explanation of their purpose. The samurai commander listened without interruption, then gave a respectful nod and instructed them to wait while he reported to his superiors.

As they stood there, Guy’s eyes lit up at the sight of the armored warriors. His stance shifted restlessly, every muscle in his body itching for a challenge.

Before he could act on the impulse, Hakuya’s voice cut in sharply: “Don’t cause trouble. If you disrupt the mission, you’ll disgrace the entire team.”

For a shinobi, pride was tied to the mission. The words hit Guy like a bucket of cold water. His posture deflated instantly, shoulders slumping in reluctant obedience.

“But… but I really wanted to test myself against a samurai…”

Even as Guy sulked off to the side, his eyes kept drifting back to the armored warriors. His stare was so intense that the samurai began unconsciously edging away from him.

Renjiro, taking pity, leaned over and said: “Guy, don’t lose hope. Once we meet the leader of the Land of Iron, you could always request a spar with one of his subordinates.”

Guy’s head shot up, eyes blazing with excitement: “Really?!”

“…Probably.” Renjiro replied, looking away from that fiery gaze. The truth was, he had no idea whether the general would allow such a thing—there was a good chance he’d refuse.

But Renjiro’s real goal was to stop his muscle-headed teammate from doing something reckless that might jeopardize the mission.

That was all Guy needed to hear. His enthusiasm roared back to life as he immediately began doing squats right there in the snow, as if preparing for the duel on the spot.

Renjiro could only shake his head: “He really is simple… and far too easy to fool.”

---

The samurai commander soon returned and bowed respectfully, inviting them to follow. The leader of the Land of Iron, General Mifune, would receive them in the Tenshukaku, the towering keep at the very heart of the capital.

Their path wound upward through the mountains, the air growing sharper with each step.

Renjiro and the others took in the city’s architecture along the way. The buildings here were massive and imposing, every stone wall radiating a quiet sense of power and dignity.

Unlike the wooden, practical structures of most shinobi villages, these fortresses looked as if they had been carved to endure for centuries, weathering any storm.

At last, after passing through multiple layers of checkpoints and watchful guards, they arrived at their destination, the Tenshukaku.

Rising from the highest peak of the Three Wolves, it loomed like a fortress born from the mountain itself, a symbol of the Land of Iron’s enduring strength.