News of Yuji and Pakura's relationship quickly spread through the Sand Village like wildfire, becoming the talk of every street and household.
Of course, most people's reactions were not unusual ones. They were mostly simply happy for the two of them.
In everyone's eyes, one was the strongest Kage in the village's history, and the other was the strongest female ninja the Sand Village had ever produced. Furthermore, they had known each other since childhood. A perfect match in every sense. Naturally they were well suited for each other.
What everyone found curious was that neither Yuji nor Pakura had ever seemed like people particularly interested in romantic relationships, so their sudden pairing was somewhat unexpected.
Of course, those who knew the inside story would not have found it strange at all.
Originally, Yuji and Pakura had not intended to make their relationship public. But ever since that day when Yashamaru and Sakamoto came to the office and witnessed the scene, the news had spread throughout the village almost instantly.
Without question, everyone knew it was Sakamoto and his complete inability to keep anything to himself who had spread it.
There was nothing to complain about though.
They were in love, were they not?
Something good had been quietly hidden between them, and now everyone knew.
To be honest, during the time he spent with Pakura, Yuji found himself experiencing a genuinely pleasant daily life. Although Pakura was his personal guard, she took care of every aspect of his daily routine, including all three meals. Later, after he had openly acknowledged their relationship, he would take Pakura on walks around the village whenever he had free time. Villagers would readily offer congratulations to them as a couple whenever they passed.
Their relationship had also quietly changed Pakura's personality in noticeable ways. She was no longer as cold as she had once been. She smiled more often. When discussing matters or speaking with people, her tone was considerably gentler. She had, in short, become more of a mature woman in the fullest sense.
But the feelings between the two of them were still somewhat complicated in nature.
Yuji had arrived in this world as a man with essentially no relationship experience, having had little in that area in his previous life either. He was practically starting from zero. Pakura had admired him since childhood and had never been involved with anyone else.
So the two of them living their lives together was simple and pure in its own way.
And during this time, their feelings for each other had genuinely undergone subtle and real changes.
His initial motivation for considering marriage had been straightforward. To leave behind descendants. Like all ninja in this world, even with his current strength and even with the system protecting him, he could not be one hundred percent certain he would never be harmed. If he were to die, he did not want to have passed through this world without leaving behind a bloodline.
Furthermore, the Sand Village had become something genuinely magnificent, and his influence on the village was immense. His will had been imprinted on many people. And ideals required inheritance. On this point he fully agreed with Konoha's approach.
The desire for him to settle down and start a family was something every senior figure in the Sand Village hoped for, and it was difficult to keep refusing. They also hoped to cultivate a successor who could inherit his will, so that even if something unexpected happened to him, the Sand Village's future would not revert to the circumstances of the Third Kazekage's era.
Consider it a chosen option.
In short, his relationship with Pakura, and their subsequent marriage, had begun as something of an experiment. He had been willing to use himself as the test subject in this case. He had not hidden this thinking from Pakura. And she had happily agreed.
For Pakura, who had been in love with him for years, simply being with him was already more than enough happiness. What he was thinking behind it did not concern her in the slightest.
Although his initial approach to pursuing Pakura had carried this calculated quality, the feelings that developed between them were not fabricated. They were not a forced or artificial connection.
Another significant factor was that Pakura's strength was already formidable and would only continue growing. Even if she never quite reached the level of a Kage, she could at minimum establish herself as a figure of standing and influence in the ninja world and within the village. If something unexpected ever happened to Yuji, Pakura would also be capable of helping stabilize the situation.
He had chosen Pakura not only because of the genuine emotional connection between them, but also because of these other practical considerations.
It could only be said that even marriage, when one was a village Kage, required considerable deliberation.
"Kazekage. We meet again."
One day, outside the Sand Village, Yuji came out personally to welcome a Konoha student delegation.
Tsunade, one of Konoha's Three Legendary Sannin, arrived outside the village leading over a hundred Konoha ninja.
Upon seeing Yuji, Tsunade greeted him with considerable confidence.
The size of the group might have suggested a small Konoha strike force arriving to attack the Sand Village. But in reality, Tsunade was leading people to the Sand Village to study its medical system regulations and knowledge.
After a period of careful consideration, the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato had finally agreed to the proposal. If Konoha wanted to emulate the Sand Village's medical system, it could only do so by sending people to the Sand Village for in-depth training. Sand Village teachers would not be going to Konoha to instruct.
Of course, having such a large group of students studying within the Sand Village would require paying a substantial sum in tuition.
Both Minato and Tsunade were intelligent people. The ninja world currently appeared peaceful, but this was only an illusion. It was impossible to predict when a minor conflict might trigger another great war. To avoid being left behind or falling too far behind the Sand Village when that next war came, Konoha had to lower its stance and begin catching up.
"There are one hundred and seven people in total. This is the list with each person's information. As agreed beforehand, during the training period in the Sand Village, we will unconditionally accept supervision from your village's personnel and will also abide by the Sand Village's rules and regulations," Tsunade said, handing over a document.
Yuji took it and glanced through it briefly, then raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You are also on the student list?"
"That is correct," Tsunade nodded.
"I must admit that as medical ninja go, I am inferior to you in many areas. So I came here with a genuine learning mindset," Tsunade said, her eyes bright with a smile.
"The Kazekage should not have any objection to that, yes?"
"Of course not. We in the Sand Village treat everyone equally," Yuji nodded.
He then turned and led the Konoha group into the village.
Both sides had already reached an agreement on the terms. Konoha students studying in the Sand Village would face certain restrictions on their movements throughout the village, and Konoha had accepted this. If any issues arose, Tsunade would serve as their representative with full authority to communicate and negotiate with the Sand Village's senior figures on the group's behalf.
"This is the area," Yuji said, briefly leading them through the Sand Village's educational district, introducing them to the schools they would be attending, then guiding them to the dormitory building that had been arranged in advance.
"Let me clarify something beforehand. Although you are here to study, the school will set aside dedicated classrooms specifically for your group. In other words, Konoha students will not have direct contact with our Sand Village students during class time."
"Understood," Tsunade acknowledged.
"Good," Yuji said simply.
Since entering the Sand Village, Tsunade had maintained a composed exterior throughout. But Yuji could sense the suppressed emotions fluctuating beneath her calm surface.
This was also her first time in the Sand Village. Witnessing the thriving scene following its reconstruction, and in particular seeing this vast educational district, made clear how much emphasis the Sand Village placed on education and talent development.
These things were far beyond what Konoha currently possessed in this area.
Whether it was the medical system, the ninja's combat capability, or other personnel matters, all of it ultimately rested on education as its foundation. Education was the root of everything.
The Konoha group would be staying in the Sand Village for six months, essentially completing a study abroad period. After six months they would return to Konoha.