Chapter 173
"Oh?" Upon hearing Minato Namikaze speak, Haruto Saito turned around and looked at him. "You know this place?"
"This place... How far is it from Konoha Village?" Minato asked uncertainly. Due to his viewing angle, he couldn't see the mountain's full appearance.
"Around 130 kilometers, to the northwest of Konoha Village." Haruto replied.
"Then this must be Meiji Mountain." Minato confirmed, rubbing his tired, sleep-deprived face. He quickly added, "I learned about Meiji Mountain in both history and geography classes."
"It was in geography? And also in history class?" Haruto frowned. This was just an ordinary small mountain. If it was mentioned in geography, that would make sense, but if it was in history as well, then...
"Is there some historical significance to it?" Haruto asked again.
"Yes, there is." Minato nodded. "In the history book I'm currently studying, it's mentioned in Volume 3, Chapter 6, Section 12."
Haruto was stunned. This kid is a genius! He even remembered the exact volume, Chapter, and section number.
Minato continued, "The reason it's called Meiji Mountain is because a powerful ninja clan once thrived here—the Meiji Clan. Their first-generation leader, Meiji Yamato, was an exceptionally talented and ambitious figure. He created numerous unique secret techniques and forbidden jutsu and even sought to conquer the entire Land of Fire... He spent twenty years expanding the Meiji Clan's territory by thirty times its original size."
"The Meiji Clan rose to power 640 years ago and was destroyed around 400 years ago. Although they only existed for a little over 200 years, they had a glorious history. At their peak, they controlled nearly one-fifth of the Land of Fire. Even the Senju Clan had to tread carefully around them. According to historical records, the clan that waged full-scale war against the Meiji Clan and ultimately defeated them was none other than the Hyuga Clan from our village. The Hyuga Clan entered its golden age after emerging victorious over the Meiji Clan."
"This mountain wasn't originally this low. During the final battle between the Hyuga and Meiji Clans, it served as the battleground. The intense battle flattened a significant portion of the mountain, reducing it to its current form. It originally had no name, but because it became the site of the Meiji Clan's downfall, later generations referred to it as Meiji Mountain, and over time, that name became official."