Chapter 223: The Sorrows of the World Should Not Become the Sorrows of These Children
Inside Menma's office, various sealed boxes were arranged in a neat and orderly fashion. These boxes contained all sorts of precious books from the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans.
The majority were books on the application of their clans' ninjutsu and sealing jutsu, along with works on chakra theory, the ninjutsu system, ninja combat applications, the summoning beast system, Kekkei Genkai research, code-breaking, ninja experiences, and so on.
Another portion consisted of various secret histories and cultural texts from ancient times, the kind that only ancient and distinguished clans like the Uchiha and Uzumaki would preserve.
For Menma, the books from all countries and clans throughout the history of the ninja world were things worth delving into and studying.
After all, the culture of his past life could not be directly copied into this world. Systems and laws, public welfare, and quality education all needed to be systematically sorted out, reformed, and adapted.
If one wanted to become a qualified ruler, both power and wisdom were indispensable.
Over time, Menma had also developed an interest in reading.
"It's indeed very different from my past life..."
Menma sat at his desk, looking down at a scroll, the corners of his mouth turning up with great interest.
The longer he lived in this world, the more he felt the difference between this world and his previous one.
Some of the strange phenomena in the ninja world actually had proper reasons.
The native inhabitants of the ninja world might be used to them, but Menma would not fall into the illusion of "darkness under the lamp."
Humanity as a group was actually quite an exclusive race, yet the small group of ninja controlled most of the resources and power. In essence, ninja and ordinary people were already different.
Even the villagers in the ninja villages who were not ninja were mostly descendants of a ninja, or their descendants had the potential to become ninja.
And the power of a ninja could not only be used for combat but was also a good choice for construction and production. That would absolutely allow them to grow their own power extremely quickly.
A ninja village that integrated military and civilian use would become a self-sufficient, independent force, with no need to rely on nobles and ordinary people.
But the entire ninja world seemed to be deliberately ignoring, or even suppressing, the use of ninja power for civilian purposes.
They merely acted as a semi-mercenary military organization under the control of the daimyō. The nobles and ninja maintained a certain degree of balance, being wary of each other while also having to rely on each other.
How did ordinary people view ninja?
—Just a profession, a group that could be hired with money.
"It seems someone is subtly manipulating the overall direction of the ninja world from behind the scenes," Menma mused to himself, his eyes glinting.
No wonder even the Sage of Six Paths chose to "die of old age," watching over the ninja world from his Pure Land.
Because humanity did not need a god to descend upon the mortal world, even if that god was once human.
"The ninja has always been a closed system with bloodline as the main bond, supplemented by master-apprentice inheritance, with families and groups controlling power."
Menma thought to himself, "If we want to popularize the extraordinary power of ninja among the masses, we must try to dilute the sense of difference between the ninja army and ordinary people."
This wasn't just about ninjutsu and secret techniques; it was also about recognizing their identity.
However, this kind of matter was unlike ninjutsu and biological experiments. There was no one around him he could confide in, so he could only rely on himself to slowly explore and observe.
"We must not only provide ideological and cultural education to our own people but also export economy and culture to other countries."
The Land of Snow had always attached great importance to both internal and external cultural education and was steadily advancing it.
As for opening the economic gates of various countries…
Menma looked at the few flowerpots on the balcony, in which orange-yellow Iris Rainbow Flowers were planted.
This was the first variety of Iris Rainbow Flower he had cultivated. Not only could it reproduce through seeds, but its flowering period also lasted for several years.
The purple-black Iris Rainbow Flower that was a huge hit in the ninja world was just a garbage variety from multiple cultivations. It could only reproduce through bulbs, flowering once a year around April and May, with a flowering period of only about ten days. New bulbs would grow at the roots around September.
Nowadays, more and more nobles were seeking to buy Iris Rainbow Flowers, and people's admiration for them was growing stronger.
But the flowering period of this flower meant its preservation time was not long. Even as the price of Iris Rainbow Flowers continued to rise, the producers had no way to quickly increase the supply.
The inability to increase the supply in time to meet the vigorous demand allowed many people to see the business opportunity within.
More powerful speculators began to buy up bulbs, reducing the supply by hoarding them or monopolizing the Iris Rainbow Flower supply channels.
The "consumption stage" of directly buying and selling tulips was transitioning to the "investment stage" of buying and selling tulip bulbs.
A crisis called an "economic bubble" was quietly emerging.
"However, the bubble is not big enough yet. We need to let the bullets fly for a while longer."
Menma shook his head, put down the secret history in his hand, and looked at the unfurled scroll to the side.
This scroll recorded names written one by one in fresh blood. Below each name, a red, bloody thumbprint was pressed.
Besides members of the Uzumaki Clan, there were actually names from the Uchiha Clan, the Senju Clan, and the already extinct Yuki Clan.
These were all top-tier clans and ninja families in the world.
Flipping to the beginning of the contract scroll, there was another very familiar name.
—Shikkotsu Forest, Slug Sage
This was a contract scroll from "Shikkotsu Forest," already filled with names.
"Compared to those historical secret chronicles, this is a truly surprising discovery."
Menma had already obtained the spatial coordinates of the two great sage regions, Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōboku, from Kabuto and Naruto.
He never expected to obtain the Shikkotsu Forest contract scroll, which he valued the most, by coincidence.
Looking at the ninja names on the scroll, Menma formed hand seals to gather chakra, then slapped his hand on the last two names.
"Contract Seal!"
As chakra surged from his palm, a black formulaic pattern appeared. The color of the two names gradually faded until they completely disappeared from the scroll.
"Heh, this way, a corner of the secrets of the three great sage regions can be unveiled."
A smile appeared on Menma's face. He bit his finger, about to sign his name in the empty vertical column.
But, the movement of his hand suddenly stopped.
According to the records of the Uzumaki Clan, the Slug Sage had a gentle and friendly personality.
Her performance in the original story was also much better than the White Snake and the Toads.
Even if something really happened in Shikkotsu Forest, he could return to the ninja world at any time through the summoning contract.
"There are no worries, then. Perhaps I can be a little bolder."
At this thought, Menma stood up, took the contract scroll, and walked out of the office.
In a classroom at the Land of Snow Academy.
"A person activates ninjutsu by activating the chakra within their body. Ordinary chakra is obtained by mixing one's own physical and spiritual energy, while sage chakra is… Koyuki!"
At the front of the class, a red-haired teacher was giving a lesson.
However, upon seeing a certain "Highness" slacking off, he said with a helpless expression, "The Sage Art course is very difficult. If you fail the exam, I will have to tell Sandayū."
Hearing this, the other students couldn't help but let out a few good-natured laughs.
Kazahana Koyuki, who was about to pass a note, turned red in the face after being discovered and pleaded for mercy, "Yes~ yes~ Teacher Ashina~"
However, after sitting properly for only a moment, she once again began to let her mind wander in class.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Ashina could only shake his head helplessly.
As a dedicated teacher, he sincerely hoped that this monarch could be a little more serious in class, learn some useful knowledge, and become a wise queen as soon as possible.
But seeing Kazahana Koyuki's lack of interest, he could tell she had no interest in Sage Art at all.
Thinking about it, she has no interest in learning ninjutsu in the first place, let alone the dull and uninteresting basic theory of Sage Art.
Forget it.
It's not like I expect Her Highness to learn Sage Art anyway. As long as she can pass the theory exam, that's enough to report back.
"Honestly, why do we have to learn Sage Art?"
Kazahana Koyuki propped her chin on her hand lazily and turned to look at Kurama Yakumo to her left. "Yakumo, you're listening so attentively, do you really understand?"
"Yakumo?"
"Little Yakumo~"
Even the peace-loving Yakumo was getting annoyed by her pestering.
"Koyuki, you almost failed your last exam."
"If you fail the exam a week from now, you'll be nagged by those old men."
With that, she stopped talking to Koyuki and continued to listen to the lesson attentively.
This was knowledge of Sage Art. Although it was only introductory basic theory, it couldn't be learned anywhere else.
As the monarch, Kazahana Koyuki could be willful, but as a member of the Kurama Clan, she could not.
Seeing that Yakumo was ignoring her, Koyuki also felt bored.
"Ah~"
She lowered her head, counted her fingers, and sighed with a mutter, "Three more days until the holiday. Time passes so slowly."
The days of being a monarch were not as wonderful as she had imagined.
Although she had become the ruler of the Land of Snow, Koyuki herself was still a child and didn't know how to govern a country yet.
Therefore, the current Land of Snow was managed by ministers like Asama Sandayū.
Koyuki still needed to undergo systematic learning, complete all her courses like an ordinary child, and only after graduation could she better manage the Land of Snow.
But, when her father Kazahana Sōsetsu was still around, she only had to study for two hours a day in the palace.
Now, she had to spend nine hours a day buried in textbooks, and she had to find time to handle government affairs after returning.
For her, who had an outgoing and restless nature and poor ninja talent, such days were simply like hell.
Koyuki sighed inwardly. "Suddenly, I feel like acting isn't so tiring after all."
But for the next production, she had to wait for Jiraiya to submit his script.
I really want to ask Sister Izumi to lock Jiraiya in a small dark room and make him write day and night!
Just as Kazahana Koyuki was lamenting in her heart, in the corridor just one wall away…
"Lord Sandayū, and… Lord Menma?"
Upon seeing the faces of the two arrivals, the teacher standing outside the classroom was instantly taken aback, especially when he saw the person in front of Asama Sandayū.
"My apologies, I didn't receive any notice…"
Menma waved his hand nonchalantly. "Don't mind it. I'm just taking a casual look around… You can continue with your business, no need to pay attention to me."
"Yes, my lord. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to tell me," the teacher from the Uzumaki Clan said respectfully.
Menma turned to look at the young and tender faces in the classroom.
The so-called "Will of Fire" that Konoha had always espoused was that where the leaves dance, the fire will also burn brightly.
Its meaning was that the light of the fire would always illuminate the village, allowing new leaves to sprout. It was the earnest hope of the older generation for the healthy growth of the young.
Back then, Hashirama Senju had hoped that generations of Konoha ninja could pass down this inherited will forever.
Although he didn't quite agree with the empty parts of it, Menma had to admit that there was some truth to the saying.
No matter what, the adults would gradually grow old and die. The children were the hope for the future.
Having lived in the ninja world for many years, Menma was very clear about the strengths and weaknesses of this world.
Although the people of the Five Great Nations suffered, they could barely survive.
But small countries like the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass were truly hell on earth.
Killing, robbing, exchanging children for food, moral decay…
The nobles only cared about protecting themselves and would not care about the lives of the common people, turning a blind eye to these tragedies.
The sins committed by the adults were borne by the weaker.
And the weakest were these children.
There were too many children in this world who had suffered, so many that it was impossible to calculate an accurate number.
They carried the heavy pain and hatred of war, and when they grew up, they continued to pass this hatred on to the next generation, continuing it endlessly.
If he couldn't solve such problems, even if Menma ruled the ninja world with power, he would only get a chaotic world.
Therefore, Menma proposed the "Stray Children Shelter Program."
For him, the growth of children was a matter that needed to be placed first.
After a long silence, Menma asked, "Are all the orphans here?"
"Yes…"
Sandayū paused, then sighed. "Except for the children who have already died."
Menma nodded with a blank expression.
Most of the children in this elite class were children of refugees or orphans who had lost their parents.
But, this group of children with tragic backgrounds had already skillfully mastered the three basic academy jutsu, and their taijutsu skills and chakra control abilities had also shown significant improvement.
The outstanding ones among them had even begun to learn more advanced subjects such as battlefield tracking, camouflage and escape, and stealth assassination.
In the ninja academies of the Five Great Ninja Villages, the three basic academy jutsu were only tested upon graduation. Students from commoner backgrounds were almost all cannon fodder who didn't even count as genin.
If they went to the battlefield, their only role would be to scout or to expend the enemy's ninja tools and chakra.
Menma would not allow the children of the Land of Snow to become sacrifices.
"Sandayū, do you think…"
Menma asked with a complicated tone, "When these children grow up, will they use their own power to take revenge on the world?"
Sandayū was stunned for a moment, then thought for a while and shook his head. "My lord, to be honest, I don't know."
"But, I only know that what we are doing is right, and I believe in the words you said."
"The sorrows of the world should not become the sorrows of these children."
"...Is that so?"
Menma sighed deeply. "I hope so."
It could be right, or it could be wrong.
In the eyes of others, he might be a very kind person who had implemented many policies that benefited the people in the Land of Snow.
But, Menma knew very well in his heart.
He was by no means a pacifist.
He just wanted to make this world into the one he envisioned.
Changing this boring world was his true purpose.
(End of Chapter)
---
Read up to 25 Chapters ahead on patreon.com/Fanglin
[Please leave a 5 Star review and power stone for this novel]
*Thank you*