Chapter 55 Plans (1)
"Nice to meet you for the first time, Mr. Chiba Shiroshi. This is our first face-to-face encounter, isn't it?"
The priestess Miroku spoke. Her voice had a unique quality, and when she spoke, the surroundings became even quieter.
"That's correct, Your Excellency Miroku."
Shiroshi sat on the cushion prepared by the maid before her departure, nodded, and maintained a respectful but not subservient attitude.
They had been communicating through written correspondence sent by General Tsuchi until now. This was their first real meeting.
"What brings you here at this moment?" Priestess Miroku asked.
"There are some matters I wish to discuss with Your Excellency Miroku. This is a plan I drafted hastily. Please have a look."
Shiroshi went straight to the point without any unnecessary words.
As Shiroshi was about to step forward to hand over the scroll, Miroku remained seated, raised her hand, and the scroll in Shiroshi's hand floated up on its own, landing in Miroku's hand.
Seeing this scene, Shiroshi couldn't help but smile.
The priestess's abilities... seemed quite intriguing.
Miroku opened the scroll, her gaze calm as she scanned its contents. After reading it, a rare expression of curiosity appeared on her face.
"Your Excellency Miroku, what do you think?"
"While I may not fully understand some parts, I can sense that if what is written here becomes a reality, it can improve the lives of the people in the Land of Demons. I entrust this to you, Mr. Shiroshi."
"Thank you very much for your trust."
"Don't mention it. I only hope that the people of this country can have a better life."
At this point, Miroku couldn't help but glance at the content of the scroll again.
Repairing roads, building schools, promoting education...
If Shiroshi needed the Land of Demons to provide him with the status of a neutral country to engage in some unlawful activities, Miroku felt that it was quite reasonable.
"By the way, Your Excellency Miroku, can you clarify something for me?"
Shiroshi interrupted Miroku's thoughts.
"Please, go ahead."
"It's about Mount Myobkou ."
Shiroshi's expression became much more solemn.
Initially, he had thought that Mount Myoboku, the sacred land, was inhabited by a group of toads practicing sage arts. However, the incident with Minato had shown him the depth and power of that sacred place.
Even the resurrection of the dead was possible. Honestly, Shiroshi had to reevaluate the power of this sacred land.
"I have limited knowledge of the matter over there. However, there is one thing to note. The leader of Mount Myoboku, the Great Toad Sage, possesses the power to foresee the future, much like us priestesses. And in the realm of prophecy, he is even more comprehensive and versatile than we priestesses."
For the first time, Miroku's face showed a serious expression.
"The Great Toad Sage?"
This was the first time Shiroshi had heard this title and the existence of someone named the Great Toad Sage.
"Legend has it that the Great Toad Sage is a toad that has lived for over a thousand years. In the records passed down by the priestesses, it is roughly mentioned that it had a deep friendship with the ninja's founding ancestor, the Sage of the Six Paths."
Hey, why did the conversation suddenly turn into a mythical story? Shiroshi couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled.
A toad that had lived for over a thousand years was already quite awe-inspiring. But mentioning a character like the Sage of the Six Paths, who was supposed to be a fictional figure from legends, was a bit too much.
Isn't that a myth?
And myths are usually fictional characters created through various artistic processes by humans.
"Mr. Shiroshi, do you not believe in these things?"
"To be honest, when the topic suddenly shifted to the Sage of the Six Paths, I always thought it was a fictional character."
Shiroshi answered honestly.
"However, in this world, there are indeed many extraordinary things that cannot be explained by human logic. That Great Toad Sage may have already taken notice of you."
Miroku's statement caught Shiroshi slightly off guard.
"Taken notice... of me? What does that mean? I haven't had any direct contact with the toads of Mout Myoboku."
"There is no need for direct contact. The power to foresee the future inherently peeks into destiny. Sometimes, we priestesses also have dreams about the future, and without exception, those things happen exactly as they appeared in the dreams. However, Mr. Shiroshi, you don't need to be too pessimistic. Please remain optimistic even when facing death."
Even while discussing such matters, Miroku's face maintained a gentle smile.
Obviously, she had become accustomed to such things.
Issues like life and death didn't seem to trouble her.
"..."
Shiroshi glanced at Miroku in silence.
He didn't think that the priestess Miroku was trying to console him.
While standing up from the ground, he sighed, "Fate, huh? Although I don't want to believe in such strange things all of a sudden, I'll pay attention to it. Thank you for the reminder, Your Excellency Miroku."
Mount Myoboku, huh? It was indeed a troublesome presence.
The next time he had to confront the people from Konoha, he would have to deal with this thorn in his side first.
Otherwise, constantly killing his enemys and having them resurrected was a very tricky situation.
"Well then, I'll take my leave, Your Excellency Miroku."
"Please, go ahead."
"By the way, if my identity as a rogue shinobi is exposed, will it cause trouble for the Land of Demons?"
"Well, about that... You don't need to worry. In this world, there are certain responsibilities that only priestesses can fulfill."
Miroku the priestess provided this answer.
Shiroshi nodded. Although he didn't know exactly what the priestess's responsibilities were, he was sure they were troublesome in their own way and might be related to the Land of Demons' status as a neutral country.
It was best not to delve too deep into such matters for now. His current task was to strengthen his power as quickly as possible during the wartime.
…
The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
The battle began early in the morning.
Ding ding —
Dong dong —
In the pouring rain on the battlefield, the sounds of Kunai and Shuriken clashing rang out.
They were hacking at each other, and you could hear people screaming hysterically.
The air had no warmth, only the strong smell of rust that stimulated everyone's nostrils.
That was the smell of blood.
Explosive tags detonating, ninjutsu striking people, and the heart-wrenching screams of enemies as their lives slipped away.
The sky was densely covered with dark, thick clouds that pressed down so heavily that it was hard to breathe.
Bodies were everywhere.
Weapons stained with blood, craters created by ninjutsu and explosive flashes.
Water bullets and fireballs, lightning and earthen walls, sharp wind blades roaring like beasts.
This was the war of ninja.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Core!"
An Iwagakure Jonin formed seals and used ninjutsu.
A vast area of land rushed toward the sky, sending a large group of Konoha ninja flying into the air, then spitting out stones from its mouth.
As these stones moved through the air, they suddenly grew in size, smashing into the airborne Konoha ninja, causing them to scream in agony as they were reduced to bloody pulp.
"That guy from the Hidden Stone Village is quite capable. Well, I can't fall behind."
The Iwagakure Jonin with an exploding headband also grinned, clenched his fist, and descended towards the ground.
The ground immediately exploded, causing a small earthquake that made it impossible for the Konoha ninja in front to stabilize their bodies.
"It's a Blast Release user!"
"Haha, am I really that famous now?"
The Iwagakure Jonin using Blast Release heard the panicked shouts of the Konoha ninja and immediately leaped over, causing a series of explosions that sent a large number of Konoha ninja flying.
He moved through the Konoha forces like a whirlwind.
Boom!
A huge shadow descended from the sky, covering the sky shrouded by dark clouds.
A thunderous sound, like a thunderclap, echoed behind the Blast Release Iwagakure Jonin.
Ten or so Iwagakure ninja perished in the explosion of the thunderous thunderclap.
Sand was flying, and stones were scattered.
The earth trembled, and countless patterns appeared on the ground.
As the Iwagakure ninja in the vicinity shivered along with the trembling earth, they were also shocked by the sight before them.
It was a colossal toad, as big as a small mountain, and the Iwagakure ninja crushed beneath it had already turned into a puddle of flesh.
Attacks from the sky were more ferocious and direct than any ninjutsu.
"Cough, cough!"
The Blast Release Iwagakure ninja retreated from the scattered dust, blood trickling from his mouth. He looked up at the Konoha ninja standing on the giant toad.
One of the Legendary Sannin Jiraiya!
"This time seems to be a bit troublesome."
The title of Sannin meant "Three Ninja," but for most ninja, they were still the pinnacle of existence.
The Blast Release Iwagakure ninja quickly retreated. It would be too difficult for him to deal with Jiraiya, even with his abilities.
This guy needed several top-ranking ninja, hundreds of mid-ranking ninja, to coordinate with him when fighting such a large summoning beast.
"Really, human wars never seem to end. You too, Jiraiya, don't summon me for battle every time."
The giant toad summoned by Jiraiya, with a massive pipe in its mouth, cast a disdainful gaze at the ninja below and complained to Jiraiya.
"Sorry, Gamabunta, but this time, Konoha can't afford to lose."
Jiraiya understood the seriousness of the situation.
If he were to lose here, the Iwagakure ninja could march straight into the Land of Fire, coordinate with the Hidden Sand Village on the other side, and launch a pincer attack on Orochimaru's forces.
At that time, the Konoha ninja left here would undoubtedly suffer heavy losses, and both Iwagakure and Sunagakure would take advantage.
"I understand."
Saying that, the toad Gamabunta puffed up its mouth and immediately spewed out a large amount of oil from the sky.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, formed seals and spewed a massive fireball from his mouth.
"Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet!"
The fireball mixed with the oil poured from the sky immediately turned into a sea of flames, burning towards the Iwagakure ninja.
Even in the rain, the fiery onslaught was still overwhelming.
"Don't underestimate us, Konoha ninja! Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"
A high-ranking Iwagakure ninja patted the ground with one hand, and an earth fortress rose from the ground, blocking the mixed attack of oil and fire.
Because he had released a large amount of chakra, the Jounin also couldn't help but catch his breath, but he stared stubbornly at Jiraiya with a defiant look.
"This guy's strength is quite tricky."
The Blast Release Iwagakure ninja came over to the Jounin.
"After all, he's the Hokage's disciple."
"Are they teaming up? Blast Release and the son of the Tsuchikage... Both troublesome ninja."
If their opponents were these two, Jiraiya didn't think he had time to take care of the other Konoha ninja.
If he didn't handle this carefully, he might lose the battle right here.
Leaving the son of the Tsuchikage aside, The Blast Release Ninja was an elite Jounin from Iwagakure, known for his exceptional Blast Release Kekkei Genkai.
…
The intense clashes between the ninja of Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure immediately stirred up ripples in the ninja world. The small country caught in between them had once again become a battlefield, and the scale of this war was even more terrifying than the last Great Ninja War.
In comparison, the Land of Demons, which was far from the battlefield, was not involved in this war because of its remote location.
"Eliminate bandits?"
Rui was a bit puzzled by Shiroshi's suggestion.
Facing Rui's confusion, Shiroshi nodded in response.
"Yes, although the Land of Demons has not been affected by the war, the domestic situation is not entirely stable. There are many bandit groups operating in the vicinity of some remote and unregulated villages. We need to quickly eliminate all the bandits within the country. This map records the markings of the bandits."
Shiroshi took out a map of the Land of Demons, with many places marked in red, indicating the presence of bandit groups.
"These minor tasks can be handled by the subordinates."
If the opponents were of similar strength, Rui might be interested. However, these powerless bandits didn't pique her interest.
"No, they need to help with road construction."
Shiroshi rejected Rui's proposal.
"..."
"The Land of Demons has many roads that are not very accessible. For ninjas, it's not much of an issue, but for ordinary people, especially in rainy weather, it's very difficult to travel. This is a significant project."
Even if all the manpower in the organization was mobilized, it would still take a long time.
But this was a necessary task for the convenience of the future.
"What's the point of doing all this?"
Rui furrowed her brow, feeling a headache coming on.
She was more interested in becoming stronger than dealing with bandits or road construction. She wasn't a mercenary or a craftsman.
"It's meaningful. Road construction is necessary to promote beneficial exchanges in commerce and education. It's a big project."
"I understand. I'll do it."
Rui walked away, clearly displeased.
Seeing Rui's unhappy face, Shiroshi felt helpless because there was currently no available manpower within the organization.
Eliminating bandits was the first step because stabilizing the internal situation of the Land of Demons required dealing with the bandit problem first. While addressing the bandit issue, road construction had to proceed simultaneously.
There was no time for rest now.
To connect new roads to every city and village in the Land of Demons was a massive undertaking.
Fortunately, ninja could use various clever methods to shorten the project's duration; otherwise, the scale of the project would be daunting.
Compared to road construction, eliminating bandits and other tasks were relatively simple and straightforward.
Bandit elimination and road construction were both progressing vigorously, without the need for Shiroshi to micromanage.
What remained was the establishment of educational institutions. With schools in place, they could intensify political propaganda, address education issues, and raise the level of ideological awareness among the citizens.
"Shiroshi, I've come to find you."
Ayane's voice sounded from behind.
Suddenly, there was a familiar elastic sensation on his back.
"Hey, don't suddenly appear behind me."
"What's the big deal? I just used Byakugan to see that Rui seems to have left..." At this point, Ayane's face showed a mischievous smile. "That means it's just the two of us here, right?"
Her gaze seemed to be anticipating something.
"Have you finished your work?"
Shiroshi ignored her expectations and gave her a look.
Ayane released her hold on Shiroshi's neck from behind and stood to the side, speaking with a troubled tone, "The tasks you assigned to me are too boring. It's precisely because they're dull that I didn't want to stay there. Anyway, it won't make much difference without me, so I had General Tsuchi watch over things in my place."
"Can you be a bit more discreet, please? You're the face of those Hyuga clan ninjas. By the way, is everything alright with your mother?" Shiroshi asked, recalling something.
When Ayane left the Hyuga clan this time, she had directly knocked her mother unconscious from behind and had her transported here.
Ayane played with her hair with her fingers while smiling indifferently. "That woman, at first, she cried and said I shouldn't have done this, that I should quickly go back and apologize, that the main family would forgive me or something... She's really a foolish woman."
"Is it okay to speak about her like that? After all, she is your mother."
"If she wasn't my mother, I wouldn't care about her life or death. Don't worry, that woman is very conservative; she wouldn't dare say anything out loud, only complain silently in her heart. She's a woman who adheres to Hyuga traditions."
Ayane assessed her mother in this manner.
After hearing Ayane's words, Shiroshi decided not to dwell on it. After all, his current task was to quickly get the Land of Demons development plan on the right track.
"Shiroshi, can't we take a break once in a while? We're completely free now, and Rui happens to be away. How about going to the hot springs? We can get back to work afterward. Speaking of which, I've never been to the hot springs in the Land of Demons. Shall we go try it together?"
Ayane embraced him again and spoke in a suggestive manner.
Her substantial, tightly-fitting snow-white assets almost seemed like they were about to bounce out of her clothes.
"Hey, this is the office; don't suddenly... block my view."
Shiroshi felt a burning sensation deep in his nose.
Is this the power of an S-rank secret technique?
This secret ninja technique had clearly crossed the line.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"Oh dear, is little Shiroshi inside? It's me, Miyoko Uchiha. I brought the documents for you. Huh? The door seems to be unlocked. I'll just come in then."
With a click, Miyoko Uchiha, dressed in elegant attire, entered from outside, wearing a bright and beautiful smile on her face, looking like she was in a very good mood.
But what she saw was the sight of Ayane pressing up against Shiroshi's body in a suggestive pose.
Her eyelids twitched, and her smile froze on her face.
"Um... Little Shiroshi, what are you guys doing? Did Auntie come at the wrong time?"
…
After being discovered by Miyoko, Shiroshi just wanted to find a hole to hide in, avoiding any further interaction with people.
Even though he usually had thick skin, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed and awkward, becoming unsure of what to do.
Ayane, on the other hand, calmly disengaged from Shiroshi, giving him a reassuring look. She smoothed out the wrinkles on her clothes and cleared her throat before saying, "Auntie, it's not what you think. Shiroshi just got some sand in his eyes, and I was helping him blow it out."
With a pure, innocent gaze devoid of any impurities, Ayane made sincere eye contact with Miyoko.
"Oh, I see," Miyoko let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest. "I thought little Shiroshi was up to something that would upset Rui."
"How could that be? Auntie, you have quite the imagination. It was just some sand in his eyes, right, Shiroshi-kun?"
Ayane smiled slightly and continued, "Yes."
Shiroshi followed Ayane's lead.
"By the way, who are you..." Miyoko looked at Ayane, a girl of almost the same age as her daughter Rui, and felt that she was quite extraordinary.
"I'm Ayane Hyuga, Rui's close friend."
Ayane maintained a natural expression and smiled, giving the impression of sincerity.
"Then you two must be very close."
"Of course, because we've been comrades in arms, fighting side by side since we were children. We're as close as sisters, having a very good relationship."
Ayane's tone remained sincere.
"I'm sure Rui has caused you a lot of trouble."
"Not at all. If anything, I've caused Rui a lot of trouble. She has to take care of many things because of me."
In Shiroshi's incredulous gaze, Ayane and Miyoko chatted on the sofa. Both of them sat gracefully, exuding the elegance of noblewomen.
What's going on here?
At first, he thought Ayane would leave as she usually did after getting what she wanted. However, the two of them were chatting like close mother and daughter – no, like close sisters. They discussed interests, hobbies, favorite clothing colors, and regional delicacies. In short, it was a conversation between women. They completely forgot about his presence.
"Miyoko-san, would you like to join me for a trip to the hot springs? I recently found a very nice hot spring inn here."
Ayane extended an invitation.
"That sounds good. I don't have anything planned for today anyway. Let's do that, and we can have a meal there too."
Miyoko accepted Ayane's invitation after a moment of thought.
Before accompanying Ayane to the hot springs, Miyoko left the question documents she had brought on Shiroshi's desk.
"Little Shiroshi, here are the documents you wanted. I'll leave them here."
With that, as if the previous situation had never happened, she left Shiroshi's office with Ayane, chatting and smiling.
After the two of them left, Shiroshi finally breathed a sigh of relief. When they were present, he had been on edge the entire time. Fortunately, nothing terrible had happened.
However, with the question of Miyoko's files now in his possession, he knew they contained confidential information about the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Shiroshi was particularly interested in the higher-level form of the Sharingan known as the Mangekyo Sharingan.
With eagerness, he opened the file bag, took out the documents, and began reading.
As soon as he saw the opening conditions for the Mangekyo Sharingan, Shiroshi's pupils contracted, revealing an unprecedented seriousness.
—Killing or witnessing the death of a loved one.
That was the recorded condition for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan.
What kind of dark and sinister method was this?
Suddenly, Shiroshi realized something.
"So that's it... Rui must have been forced into this because of that incident. That's why she decided to leave the Uchiha clan."
If the information in the documents was accurate, then Shiroshi could easily imagine what choices Rui had faced.
Relying on this method to gain power was undoubtedly a wicked and twisted means.
With Rui's personality, she couldn't possibly do something so abhorrent as to awaken her Sharingan into the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Thinking about the Uchiha clan members who had followed Rui here, as well as their families, Shiroshi felt a sudden heaviness in his heart.
This dark and sinister method of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan must never be revealed, especially not to the Uchiha clan members. Shiroshi couldn't be sure if there were any extremists among those who had followed Rui.
Continuing to read, Shiroshi found information about the unique abilities of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Exclusive eye techniques possessed by the one who awakens them.
Every Mangekyo Sharingan user had their own special eye technique.
Among them was the unique eye technique of the Mangekyo Sharingan that Miyoko had handed over to him.
The left eye's dojutsu is called 'Amaterasu' while the right eye's dojutsu is called 'Tsukuyomi no Yorinuki'. At the end, there's a warning to 'use with caution.'
"Amaterasu... Tsukuyomi no Yorinuki... If the dojutsu abilities mentioned here are real, they are truly terrifying..."
Seeing the abilities of these two dojutsu, Shiroshi's face turned slightly serious, and his expression became more contemplative.
Encountering these abilities even once would be disastrous.
The left eye's dojutsu, 'Amaterasu,' can burn the physical body, while the right eye's dojutsu, 'Tsukuyomi no Yorinuki,' can produce flames that consume the soul. The injuries caused by these two dojutsu, both to the physical body and the soul, cannot be healed even with advanced medical ninjutsu.
However, because of the immense power of these techniques, there are many limitations to their use. Hence, the warning to 'use with caution' at the end.
This isn't the kind of forbidden jutsu that can be used casually; the user must be extremely careful when employing them.
Continuing to read, there were records of a forbidden jutsu called 'Susanoo.'
This, too, could only be used by ninja who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, and it involved materializing a colossal amount of chakra, forming a giant protective being around the user. This giant being possessed both offensive and defensive capabilities and was an unstoppable force, capable of annihilating everything.
It had supreme defensive and destructive power.
Seeing this, Shiroshi couldn't grasp the exact extent of Susanoo's abilities.
While the power of the dojutsu was easily understandable due to the unique and lethal nature of their abilities, it seemed that this 'Susanoo' jutsu was different.
Perhaps it was because he hadn't directly experienced it, which led to his lack of understanding.
However, since it was a jutsu that could only be activated in the Mangekyo Sharingan state, it was likely a formidable technique.
That's what Shiroshi thought.
Finally, there were some limitations regarding the use of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
For instance, despite possessing these powerful dojutsu, the user's own eyesight and body would suffer a heavy burden.
Excessive use could lead to blindness in both eyes and a decline in physical capabilities.
Therefore, there was another warning to 'use with caution.'
"Intense emotions can lead to a rampage... these eyes are truly cursed..."
The most painful thing for humans isn't the absence of something at the beginning but the loss of it after coming to understand its significance. When one realizes what love truly is and then loses it, intense negative emotions are born, and the person descends into darkness. The deeper the darkness, the stronger the power becomes.
Even though Shiroshi didn't want to label these eyes as 'cursed,' he couldn't find a more fitting term.
He sighed bitterly.
He hadn't expected that within the Uchiha clan, there would be such terrifying forbidden techniques.
What should he do?
Shiroshi tapped his desk with his fingers, lost in thought.
Honestly, even he, after reading all of this, believed that the Uchiha clan's ninja were symbols of great danger. Thinking about the actions of the leader of Root, Danzo Shimura, who had been so opposed to the Uchiha clan, didn't seem entirely unreasonable.
However, merely presenting the problem and eliminating individuals wouldn't solve anything.
The real challenge was to teach the Uchiha clan members how to control these negative emotions, how to release them instead of suppressing them internally. It was a matter of great importance that couldn't be ignored.
After all, Uchiha clan members weren't inherently evil. If they could be guided correctly, the situation might improve significantly.
"In the end, it all comes down to education..."
Shiroshi took out a sealed dossier from his drawer, extracting documents that read 'Sixth Konoha In-service Ninja Psychological Observation Records.'
The records contained information about one hundred ninja that he had observed during his time in Konoha. It included those he had personally observed and interacted with, as well as records of ninja with psychological issues treated at the Konoha Hospital. He had compiled their information, categorized it, and created a document to facilitate observations and finding patterns.
These one hundred individuals are the most prominent representatives, and their common problem is a tendency to feel disillusioned, distressed, and prone to aggression. Many times, they struggle to control their emotions.
Some individuals, due to their extreme emotional instability, have already been confined within Konoha's high-security interrogation facilities. Konoha's leadership has chosen to handle these individuals by imprisoning them.
For instance, some exhibit extreme outbursts of temper, going so far as to initiate conflicts and kill their colleagues over trivial matters, such as a scrap of food. They show no hesitation in taking another person's life.
Regarding this, Shiroshi wasn't surprised.
"In a shinobi world like this, where children under ten can kill at will, it would be unusual if their psychology remained unscathed."
Therefore, Shiroshi believed that the frequent distress and violent tendencies displayed by these ninja were the most normal psychological distortions.
Cultivating the right and positive values in life took a long time, but losing control could happen in an instant. The key to changing the ideological landscape of a nation was education, something that could never be ignored.
Unfortunately, the ninja villages were symbols of military power, and they produced a group of killing tools. Without a guiding ideology to harness this immense power, they would become nothing more than rampaging barbarians.
This phenomenon was widespread among ninjas in the shinobi world. Therefore, education reform was imperative.
Shiroshi couldn't guarantee that this reform would be successful in other countries, but in a neutral nation like the Land of Demons, far removed from the flames of war, it had a high chance of success.
The priestess wasn't particularly interested in power; she simply wished for the country to prosper. Most of the nobility and commoners in the Land of Demons believed in the priestess, following her orders without question.
Financial resources were not a concern either. When the shinobi world went to war, everyone's attention wouldn't be focused on the usually inconspicuous neutral nation, and the timing for development was ripe.
It could be said that everything was in their favor.
What the shinobi world needed wasn't a discussion about peace and war, as it was a question that would never have a definitive answer. Thus, Shiroshi didn't have any particular feelings about the impending war in the shinobi world. Special events were simply a natural progression in human history.
War was an extension of peace, just as peace was an extension of war. The world was still in this stage of development.
What the shinobi world needed was a new ideological storm to break through this deadlock.
…
Rui returned more quickly than expected. She had spent only three days single-handedly eliminating all the bandits within the Land of Demons.
Facing Rui, who could hold her own against ninja at the level of the Five Kage, the bandits had no chance of resisting. They lost their fighting abilities with just one glance.
Ninjas had an overwhelming presence when it came to ordinary people.
At night, in a luxurious mansion within the capital of the Land of Demons.
"Rui, let's not sleep yet. I want to talk to you about the Uchiha issue."
In the bedroom, Shiroshi took out a bottle of warmed sake and sat cross-legged in front of Rui.
The weather in February was still quite cold, but there was a fireplace in the room to keep them warm.
Rui, wearing pajamas, sat down and poured herself some sake, taking small sips.
"What's the matter?"
"It's about the Sharingan, to be precise. I want to discuss the emotions and personalities of the Uchiha before and after awakening the Sharingan."
Shiroshi's expression became more serious.
"The Sharingan?"
"More accurately, it's about how the Uchiha clan's members' emotions and personalities change before and after awakening their eyes."
Shiroshi hadn't particularly studied this because he was intimately familiar with it.
Having lived in Uchiha territory for so many years, even without investigation, he had witnessed many Uchiha ninja and remembered how they were before and after awakening their eyes.
He knew it quite well.
Hearing Shiroshi's words, Rui's face showed a slight reaction. She remembered the forbidden inscriptions on the stone monument she had seen at the Shrine before leaving Konoha.
"With various injuries and negative emotions, the Sharingan opens involuntarily. You've experienced this yourself, haven't you?"
"What do you intend to do?"
"I don't have any ulterior motives. I just want to point out that if this issue exists, it should be brought to light, and we should find a way to resolve it instead of letting it accumulate and pretending not to see it, waiting for them to go berserk."
Shiroshi reassured her with a smile.
The curse of the Uchiha's Sharingan was an established fact. Even if it were suppressed with force or their emotions were controlled, it would eventually erupt. Moreover, the consequences would be more severe.
"I believe that correctly guiding their emotions is the right path. Before awakening their Sharingan, Uchiha clan members are not much different from ordinary people."
Shiroshi had seen many examples of Uchiha ninja awakening their Sharingan. The sinister and icy power in their eyes, the redness that emanated a cursed aura – he remembered it well.
This is the downside and cost of maturing prematurely.
An immature and incomplete life perspective, coupled with various negative influences from the world, is an unavoidably serious issue.
One of the most direct impacts is being sent to the battlefield and witnessing the horrors of war.
The frequency of wars erupting in the ninja world is excessively high.
Moreover, every time a war breaks out, it involves countries at the level of the Five Great Nations, and their actions affect all aspects of the ninja world.
Refugees and bandits are both generated in large numbers due to the wars involving the Five Great Nations.
While the people of the Five Great Nations may endure hardships, they can still manage to survive. However, in smaller war-torn regions like the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass, it's truly a living hell.
Killings, robberies, the absence of law, moral degradation, and even the leaders of their own nations are primarily concerned with their own preservation, disregarding the lives and deaths of their people. They turn a blind eye to these tragedies, and the tax burden grows heavier with each passing year.
Scenes of cruelty akin to hellish paintings can be overwhelming, not only for children but even for mentally healthy adults who witness them firsthand. These experiences can lead to feelings of avoidance, fear, and anxiety.
Yet, these children who call themselves "ninjas" must endure this pain and distortion, using their weapons to tear apart their enemies and bathe in a world filled with bloodshed and violence.
This is especially true for Uchiha ninjas who, influenced by various negative factors, experience intense stimulation that awakens their Sharingan. Suddenly, they gain power beyond that of ordinary individuals, a transformation that easily leads them astray, making them arrogant and overconfident. They face this era with a pessimistic and negative outlook, often walking down an extreme path.
Uchiha ninjas who can maintain their original values after awakening their Sharingan are indeed rare.
"What's the specific plan?"
Rui fell silent. She didn't fully understand all of this, but what Shiroishi said was undoubtedly an issue faced by the ninjas, with the Uchiha clan's problem being even more severe due to their Sharingan, which allows them to tap into various dark influences within the ninja world. This reliance on distorted power is likely to foster darkness and pessimism.
"At present, the bandits within the Land of Demons have already been dealt with by you. Next, we need to build roads to connect every region within the Land of Demons, enabling more efficient communication. After that, we must establish schools. Every small town and village should have schools, and in the capital, we need to establish a new type of ninja academy."
"A new type of ninja academy?"
"Currently, ninja academies in various villages offer six years of education, and students with excellent performance can graduate early. However, I plan to abolish this privilege and, on top of the existing curriculum, add an additional three years of education."
Since early graduation won't be allowed, the original six years, plus three more, will amount to nine years of education.
"Of course, if someone truly proves to be a genius and completes their studies ahead of time, I intend to establish a more specialized educational institution for them. Gifted students will be selected and given deeper knowledge and abilities."
Regardless, nine years of education is a requirement, whether for ordinary ninjas or prodigious ones.
They won't be exempt from this restriction.
However, prodigious ninjas will be chosen for elite education.
"Nine years seems excessive for acquiring the essential skills of a Genin," Rui frowned. When she attended the ninja academy, she had mastered basic ninja abilities in about half a year. Even for those with normal aptitude, six years would suffice, so nine years seemed overly protracted.
"That's precisely what I want to address. Do you think it's appropriate for these children to learn various killing techniques at such a young age?" Shiroishi placed a document in front of Rui.
Rui opened it to take a look. "This is..."
"It's a psychological health investigation report on Leaf Village ninjas. When these ninjas are alone, they often experience restlessness, agony, and remorse. Some even lose control and kill their comrades during missions. The one common factor among them is... they witnessed brutal combat at a very young age and learned how to kill with weapons through coercion. The reason I've added those extra three years is to instill in them a sense of life values, not just teaching them how to use ninja techniques."
Ninjutsu is merely their profession, but it should not define their entire lives.
Before becoming ninjas, they were living, thinking individuals, not just tools of war.
If circumstances allowed it, Shiroishi would extend the graduation age to eighteen.
As Rui carefully read through the document, every entry was detailed, including the time, location, individuals involved, and psychological symptoms. The more she read, the more shocked and solemn her expression became.
If this was happening to regular ninjas, then Uchiha ninjas, who possessed the Sharingan and were more susceptible to the world's negative influences, were even more likely to fall into darkness and pessimism.
"I never paid attention to these issues before," Rui sighed.
It wasn't just her; she doubted anyone had the time to consider such matters.
Because when Konoha discovered these issues, they resorted to mandatory confinement and "solving" the problematic individuals through violence. They never focused on guidance or, even better, preventive measures.
Konoha only used violence against those who became problems as ninjas, without addressing the underlying psychological and character issues.
In ninja schools, such topics were never part of the curriculum. What they learned there were ninja skills and combat knowledge.
"During those extra three years, I plan to introduce courses on critical thinking and psychological counseling. I believe that a well-rounded ninja not only needs to possess great power but also needs a strong mind to control that power. That's what makes a true ninja."
"Will this completely eliminate the issues?" Rui couldn't help but ask.
She hoped that members of the Uchiha clan, when awakening their Sharingan, could step out of the shadow of pessimism.
"It's not a guarantee. However, at least when they face disappointment and distress, they will have enough awareness and judgment to evaluate their own worth with mature thinking, rather than getting intoxicated by the power of being a ninja and committing irreversible mistakes in the heat of the moment."
Shiroishi spoke honestly.
Because everyone's learning and psychological resilience abilities were different.
All Shiroishi could provide was the ability to help
"In addition, all students who enter the new ninja school must sign a confidentiality agreement."
"Confidentiality agreement?"
"Ninjas are a nation's military force and should not be easily divulged. Because I plan to spread the natural energy training method in the new-style ninja school. This secret agreement is, in fact, a kind of sealing technique. I've had the Uzumaki clan research it. By signing this 'confidential agreement,' they won't be restricted in their personal freedom, but they won't be able to reveal any secrets about natural energy."
Shiroshi knows what terrible things can happen if the training method for natural energy leaks out.
Before their own power becomes strong enough, it will only be supplied to those within their organization.
Rui nodded, understanding the depth of this.
"Also, have you noticed any differences between natural energy and chakra?"
"Differences?"
"Recall what it was like when you were training with natural energy, what kind of mood were you in?"
"Peaceful," Rui described the feeling.
"Yes, not just us, but those within the organization who train in natural energy also experience this state. This calm and tranquil state is beneficial for emotional regulation and self-control. I believe that if the Uchiha clan members were to train in this energy, even after unlocking their Sharingan, their emotions would remain much more stable, and they wouldn't easily lose control."
Shiroshi believes that by combining natural energy training with long-term psychological guidance, the negative effects of the Sharingan can be mitigated.
The conversation came to an end, as it was getting late, and it was time to rest.
Due to alcohol, Rui's skin had a slight blush.
How could he describe this unusual and enchanting appearance?
Although Shiroshi had seen Rui's slightly intoxicated blush before, each time, it brought a different kind of delightful feeling.
"He embraced Rui's petite body from behind."
"You're really something," Rui remarked.
She turned to look at him but struggled for a moment and then surrendered, yielding to his advances.
"These past few days have been tough on you, so now I'll help you relax, Rui."
He said this as he slowly unbuttoned her nightgown and slipped his hand inside.
Between her dark and lush hair, a faint, alluring fragrance emanated.
They engaged in passionate kissing and embracing, consuming each other's presence.
"Wait a moment," Rui gasped, her face flushed.
"What's wrong?" Shiroshi inquired.
"During these days when I wasn't at home, that woman with the Byakugan didn't try to seduce you, did she?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Asking on instinct, that woman doesn't strike me as someone who would be so well-behaved."
Rui said this.
Just as Shiroshi was about to respond, their positions reversed, and now Rui was on top.
Rui's dark eyes lowered.
"I'm not in a good mood tonight, so you'll be on the bottom."
(Chapter End)