Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Ryūgakure and Konoha
The Land of Whirlpools, Ryūgakure.
Three years of development had allowed this newly emerging ninja village to firmly establish itself.
The number of ninjas had surpassed three thousand, and although there was still a gap compared to the Five Great Ninja Villages, it already exceeded most small and medium-sized villages.
More importantly—quality.
"Haku, Kimimaro, that’s enough for today’s sparring match."
On the training ground, Sora (Suzaku Bunshin), who had transformed back into his original appearance, called a halt to the two who were exchanging blows.
Ten-year-old Haku and Kimimaro stopped and stood at attention. Both had minor injuries on them, but their eyes were bright, and their breathing was steady.
After three years of systematic training, both had reached the special jōnin level. Under Sora’s instruction, their strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.
"Go to the medical unit to tend to your wounds, then proceed with chakra control training," Sora instructed.
"Yes, sir!"
The two bowed respectfully, then turned and left.
Sora watched their retreating figures, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
Haku had inherited his mother’s Ice Release Kekkei Genkai and had developed even more variations based on it.
Unfortunately, despite multiple experiments, the Kekkei Genkai disease stemming from Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku remained uncontrollable. Sora had decided to clone a new body for him.
Besides them, Karin had also begun training her chakra.
Karin, now almost five years old, had inherited the Uzumaki clan’s immense chakra reserves and strong life force. Although she didn’t know any jutsu yet, she had already completed the basics of chakra refinement.
"Big brother Sora!"
Karin ran over, her little face flushed: "Today, when I was refining chakra, I felt like I had a little more than yesterday!"
Sora ruffled her hair: "Good. Keep up the hard work."
Karin nodded vigorously, then asked again, "Mom said she’s going to help out at Nonō-neechan’s hospital today. Can I go watch?"
"Go ahead, but don’t disturb their work."
"Okay!"
Karin skipped away cheerfully.
Sora turned and walked towards the administrative building, where the "Ryūkage" who didn’t even have genin-level strength—Miyamoto Ichirō—was waiting for him.
"Sora."
Miyamoto Ichirō handed a report to Sora as soon as he saw him. "This is a summary of the village’s development over the past three months. The number of ninjas is growing steadily, but there are very few outsiders passing the screening now. From now on, we’ll have to rely on nurturing our own."
Sora took the report and flipped through it.
Just as Miyamoto Ichirō had said, most of the ninjas in the shinobi world willing to join Ryūgakure and pass the assessment had already come in these three years. Those remaining either were loyal to their original villages or didn’t meet the requirements in terms of strength or character.
"Then strengthen the training system."
Sora closed the report. "Establish a complete Ninja Academy system, recruit talented children from within the Land of Whirlpools, and simultaneously increase intelligence-gathering efforts externally, focusing on tracking down promising rōnin or missing-nin."
"Understood."
Miyamoto Ichirō nodded, then added, "Also, Pakura led a team to complete an S-rank mission last month. Her reputation in the village is growing; many young ninjas see her as a role model."
"That’s a good thing."
Sora smiled faintly.
In the three years since joining Ryūgakure, Pakura, with her Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai and extensive combat experience, had quickly become one of the village’s core combat forces and had fully integrated into the community.
The hatred in her heart hadn’t disappeared, but it had transformed into motivation to increase her strength.
And it was worth mentioning that one of Pakura’s three teammates was none other than Uchiha Yami.
During these three years, Sora had awakened these two siblings and transplanted eyes cloned from their own cells. Although they weren’t Mangekyō, fortunately, they were still normal Sharingan that could be awakened properly.
And judging by their previous experience of awakening the Mangekyō, it seemed the probability of them re-awakening the Mangekyō would be significantly higher.
It was just a pity that the two harbored some resistance towards Sora. But considering Sora’s strength and his newly acquired title of the "God of Shinobi," they could only choose to accept it. At least Sora hadn’t taken their lives.
"There’s one more thing."
Miyamoto Ichirō lowered his voice: "The White Snake Sage sent word. Over in Konoha... it seems Uchiha Takumi is being isolated."
A flicker of surprise crossed Sora’s eyes: "Tell me the details."
...
Konohagakure, the Hokage’s Office.
Uchiha Fugaku sat behind the desk, wearing a Hokage robe embroidered with flame patterns, but his face bore an undeniable weariness.
Three years.
It had been three years since he became the Fifth Hokage, yet the pressure on his shoulders hadn’t lessened; instead, it had grown heavier.
The Uchiha clan had indeed seized the highest power in Konoha, but the price had also been immense.
"Hokage-sama."
An Uchiha Anbu appeared in the office, kneeling on one knee: "The latest battle report from the border. Kirigakure forces crossed the line and provoked us again. We repelled the enemy, but our casualties... are thirty percent higher than last time."
Uchiha Fugaku took the report, his frown deepening the more he read.
During these three years, Konoha had projected extreme strength externally. Any provocation was met with swift and overwhelming counterattacks.
This had indeed deterred many enemies, but it had also kept the casualty rate for Konoha ninjas—especially Uchiha ninjas—stubbornly high.
"Kirigakure is testing our limits."
Uchiha Fugaku put down the report and said in a deep voice, "Tell Shisui, the next time Kirigakure dares to cross the line, there’s no need to request instructions. Counterattack immediately. Be ruthless. Make them remember the pain."
"Yes, sir!"
The Anbu acknowledged the order and departed.
Uchiha Fugaku leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
Being externally tough was necessary. The Uchiha had just taken power; they had to demonstrate sufficient strength and resolve to intimidate those with ill intentions.
But behind this, the cost was being paid in Uchiha lives.
On the night of the coup, nearly two hundred Uchiha clan members had died in battle, and many more were severely injured. The clan, already small in number, was dealt a devastating blow.
And during these three years of external conflict, the Uchiha, serving as an ’example,’ were always at the forefront, suffering the loss of nearly another hundred ninjas cumulatively.
Now, the entire clan had fewer than a hundred ninjas capable of combat. They were rapidly approaching the same path as the Senju clan.
"It’s almost as if there’s an invisible hand, secretly reaping Uchiha lives in the shadows..."
Uchiha Fugaku murmured to himself, doubt flashing in his eyes.
Some missions, though seemingly low-risk, always ended up having accidents. Some battles could have been avoided but inexplicably escalated. Some injuries shouldn’t have been fatal, but worsened due to various reasons...
There were too many coincidences.
So many that he couldn’t help but suspect someone was targeting the Uchiha.
But he had no evidence.
"Father."
The office door opened, and nine-year-old Uchiha Itachi walked in.
Compared to three years ago, Itachi had grown quite a bit. His features were still refined, but his eyes had already become three-tomoe Sharingan, their gaze steady far beyond his years.
"Itachi, what is it?"
Fugaku revealed a gentle smile.
He was immensely proud of this son.
Awakening the three-tomoe Sharingan at nine, with ninjutsu talent surpassing all his peers—and more importantly—keen political instincts.
"Passing by the Police Force headquarters just now, I saw people from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans on duty."
Itachi walked up to the desk and spoke calmly. "The Uchiha have retained less than a tenth of our personnel, with most transferred to the Anbu and other departments. Was this your decision, Father?"
Uchiha Fugaku nodded: "It was your suggestion. I adopted it."
Not long ago, Uchiha Itachi had privately said to him: "Father, the Uchiha have controlled the Police Force for decades. While we’ve had power, we’ve also accumulated too much resentment. Now that we are the Hokage’s clan, we should voluntarily yield some power in exchange for the trust of other clans."
At the time, Fugaku was astonished that a nine-year-old could think of such things.
But upon reflection, it did make sense.
The Uchiha had long monopolized the Police Force. Inevitably, there had been instances of favoritism or harshness during law enforcement, offending many people.
Now that the Uchiha were the Hokage’s clan, if they still clung tightly to the Police Force, it would only make other clans more wary.
So Fugaku gradually transferred the authority of the Police Force to the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, with the Uchiha retaining only symbolic oversight.
And in exchange, large numbers of Uchiha clan members entered vital departments like Anbu, the Administrative Department, and the Education Department.
