The prosperity of Kirigakure was beyond imagination.
The village's buildings were grand and imposing, with solid foundations. Workers and shinobi cooperated seamlessly, building the great infrastructure projects of Kirigakure side by side.
Among the many new constructions, the ninja academy stood out as the most majestic and dignified. It clearly reflected the village's emphasis on education and investment in its future.
"They actually moved the enrollment age from six to three? Three-year-olds are starting school…"
Shizune was visibly shocked. "But a child's chakra pathways aren't even developed at that age. If they're already learning ninjutsu and training chakra, isn't that like forcing the sprouts to grow early?!"
"No—they don't train in chakra or study ninjutsu at age three."
Tsunade set down the scroll titled Kirigakure Academic Stages Analysis, her expression thoughtful.
"Yuki Yoru proposed that the purpose of early childhood education is to relieve families of the time, space, and environmental pressures of raising children, so the kids can develop physically, mentally, and emotionally in a healthy way. It's all preparatory education—developing a sound personality, good habits, and a basic understanding of nature and society."
"That guy… he really wants children to be guided properly right from the beginning!"
Tsunade and Shizune left the school grounds, still stunned, walking side by side down the village street.
They had also learned a few other things about Kirigakure's ninja education system.
Unlike in Konoha—where graduates of the ninja academy immediately became genin if they passed, and simply continued in school if they failed—Kirigakure had introduced a more structured system: following three years of kindergarten, students progressed through three formal stages of ninja education—elementary, middle (vocational), and high.
After completing kindergarten, children entered a six-year elementary ninja education phase at age six.
Upon finishing those six years, all students underwent a professional aptitude evaluation.
Those with exceptional potential entered the middle-level vocational stage for continued shinobi training, while those with lower combat aptitude were placed into technical tracks focused on non-combat roles.
These students would still receive basic ninjutsu and chakra control instruction—far surpassing the average civilian in physical capability—but they weren't cultivated for battle.
Instead, they were trained to become technicians, support staff, and infrastructure specialists.
With this system, even the weakest students could find a role in Kirigakure—a place to shine.
"He's really thinking about Kirigakure's future," Tsunade muttered, walking through the bustling streets with a complicated look on her face.
The vibrant and peaceful roads around her felt more like the capital of some rich and powerful nation than a shinobi village hidden on a remote island.
On both sides of the street—whether shinobi or civilian—smiles filled every face. No one carried the stress or gloom of poverty, hardship, or fear.
And yet, only a few years ago, Kirigakure had just finished fighting in the Third Great Ninja War. Even though they were technically among the victors, their casualties were just as heavy as Konoha's—and no less severe than the defeated nations.
But in less than two years… Kirigakure had completely shaken off the scars of war and was now flourishing.
How was this even possible?
Even in Konoha, Tsunade had never seen anything like it.
"There's no way this is real. This prosperity—it has to be a facade."
Tsunade muttered darkly under her breath.
Human experimentation, Soul experimentation, Bloodline research, Kekkei Genkai harvesting…
This dystopian nightmare—a totalitarian Kirigakure ruled by Yuki Yoru—was what she had imagined before coming here.
So why…
"T-Tsunade-sama! L-look over there!"
"Hm?"
Shizune suddenly broke in, pointing excitedly toward a white-cloaked figure outside the hospital.
"That clothing… there's no mistaking it!" Tsunade's expression turned intense. "Yuki Yoru… let's see what kind of lies you've covered Kirigakure with. I'm going to rip off that mask and expose the darkness beneath!"
"Let's follow him!"
"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"
...
"This season's Uchiha newborns total thirty-six. Congratulations, Lord Shisui."
A Kirigakure ANBU handed a data scroll to Uchiha Shisui. "That brings the number of Uchiha currently living in the village to nearly three hundred, doesn't it?"
"Three hundred and twenty-eight," Shisui replied, accepting the scroll. A faint smile spread across his face.
Three hundred and twenty-eight.
That number was already on par with the remaining Uchiha population in Konoha. Of course, due to variations in bloodline purity, it was inevitable that some among them would be unable to awaken the Sharingan.
But that didn't matter.
The spark had been lit. The bloodline was being passed on.
With Yuki Yoru's full support—and with Shisui himself at the helm—the Uchiha legacy would shine even brighter in Kirigakure.
The ANBU took his leave.
Shisui looked down at the information scroll in his hand, his smile growing wider. Yet after a moment, his expression paused slightly—as if he'd sensed something. Still, he said nothing, turning and continuing on toward his residence.
Shisui's home was located at the very end of Kirigakure's central boulevard—the most central and important location in the entire village.
His estate was vast, rivaling even the old clans like the Kaguya and Hōzuki. The compound was so expansive it had its own internal street network, connecting directly to the village's central district. It was, in every sense, a village within a village.
Women could be seen everywhere along the streets—some nursing infants, others chatting while pushing baby strollers. Their faces all carried the same expression:
Happiness. Contentment. Fulfillment.
When they saw Shisui return, many of them waved at him from afar, smiling warmly.
Some were elite Kirigakure ANBU.
Some were kunoichi from prestigious shinobi clans.
But they all shared one status in common—
They were mothers of children born from Shisui's seed.
However, none of their names were recorded in the Uchiha clan registry. Even as they raised these children, they were free to pursue their own lives, even romantic relationships.
Still… it seemed most of them remained quite fond of Uchiha Shisui.
Unfortunately, with several hundred women in the mix and only one of him, the competition was fierce. Now that his identity had changed, Shisui was no longer the young man who could be toyed with in that dark little room without resistance.
So, despite their teasing and flirtatious remarks, when he fled back to his estate blushing and flustered, they let him go.
Back inside his compound, with the doors shut, Shisui's gaze turned to a shadowy corner of the courtyard.
"You've been following me for a while now. What do you want, Princess Tsunade?"
"…So you noticed. You Shinigami really are something else."
Tsunade slowly revealed herself, her eyes locked onto Shisui's youthful face.
"So what should I even call you now? Captain of the Second Division of the Gotei 13? Or… Konoha traitor, Uchiha Shisui?"
"I never thought someone so highly regarded by the Old Man—someone even Danzō considered equal to the Fourth Hokage—would betray Konoha, defect to Kirigakure, and turn into their personal breeding stock."
"Uchiha Shisui… do you really think what you've done is fair to Konoha? Or to the Uchiha clan?"
Tsunade's words were like a barrage, harsh and direct—no room for pretense. She was visibly furious. The moment she'd discovered the identity of Kirigakure's so-called "Head of Uchiha," she could hardly believe it.
The prodigy once hailed as the Uchiha's brightest hope—now living in Kirigakure, serving as their… stud?
She had seriously wondered if she was under a genjutsu.
For the Uchiha—those who valued their clan more than their own lives—to abandon their name, their village, and become breeders for another nation?
It was outrageous.
But Shisui's expression remained perfectly calm.
"I've betrayed neither Konoha nor the Uchiha," he said flatly.
"You and the others are trapped in your narrow worldview. You talk of honor and legacy, but you can't even ensure your clan's survival. I made the only choice that made sense."
"Choice? You call this the right choice? Leaking the Uchiha's bloodline to Kirigakure? Becoming a traitor to your own people? Turning into their damn breeding machine—this is your right choice?!"
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Shisui looked her in the eye, his voice steady, eyes calm—like an ancient well.
"Should I stand by while the Uchiha, like the Senju, strip away their identity, dissolve into the ranks of the village, and slowly vanish? Our eyes—our power—mean we will never be 'just' another Konoha clan. The Uchiha can't become the Senju."
"But Konoha was built by the Senju and the Uchiha!"
"Then why have there been four Hokage—and not a single one from the Uchiha?" Shisui sneered. "Tsunade Senju, tell me—did you really leave that village just because of your hemophobia?"
"As the First Hokage's granddaughter, and the Third's disciple… surely you saw it, didn't you? The rot under the surface. Human experimentation, power struggles… even a hero like White Fang was driven to suicide. That's why you really left, isn't it?"
"You—!"
Tsunade's body trembled.
"Seems you understand," Shisui said calmly. "Once you strip away all the pretty slogans and moralizing, what lies beneath is uglier than anything in the real world."
"I don't know why you came to Kirigakure—and I don't really care. I imagine the Mizukage in the Mizukage Tower probably feels the same way."
"If you're here as a guest, feel free to look around. The village is open, even the Duel Tower is public."
"If you came seeking secrets? Try all you like. As for me… I'm going to rest now."
With that, Shisui turned and walked toward his room.
Behind him, Tsunade's brow furrowed deeply. She wanted to strike him down then and there—to make him submit by force.
But she held back.
Defeating Uchiha Shisui might not be a problem.
But this was Kirigakure.
If she angered Yuki Yoru, things could get very bad.
She still remembered his overwhelming presence in the Akakyu Mountains—completely beyond her expectations, and more than enough reason for caution.
Tsunade gritted her teeth and left the Uchiha compound, heading back to the place where she and Shizune had agreed to meet.
To her surprise, Shizune was just as shaken.
"Tsunade-sama, you won't believe what I just saw!"
Shizune couldn't hold it in. "After you and that white-robed man left, I stayed behind and explored the hospital. And I found out… they've not only reformed their education system—they've completely overhauled their medical system too!"
"Kirigakure now has a full, formal program for training medical-nin, and their pharmacy wing is stocked with some insanely advanced and powerful medicines!"
As she spoke, Shizune pulled several items from inside her cloak.
"This is a specialized healing ointment—just apply it to a wound, and it heals almost instantly. This upgraded version can regenerate flesh directly. Even severed fingers and toes can grow back!"
"This one's an adrenaline shot—inject it, and the pain disappears, and you get a temporary boost in combat ability. The only downside is post-use fatigue. But as long as you don't overuse it, there are no long-term side effects!"
"And this—this is potent heart revival pill. As long as the user still has chakra, this pill can keep them alive long enough for rescue—basically guaranteed survival in critical cases!"
"Then there's… this."
Shizune paused and carefully took out a small, jade-green pill from a velvet pouch.
"This is an official product from the Kirigakure Hospital—limited release only. They call it the Eternal Youth Pill. Taken regularly, it supposedly slows aging—and may even restore one's youth…"
"Restore youth?"
That specific phrase hit a nerve.
Tsunade, who had been lost in thought about Shisui, snapped to attention. "Are you sure?!"
"That's what the hospital's description says," Shizune said, a little embarrassed. "It could be exaggerated marketing… but it's limited edition, and the price is really high—three hundred thousand ryō per pill."
"Three hundred thousand?!"
Tsunade nearly choked.
That was the payment for an A-rank mission. Sure, for someone like Tsunade—rich, high-ranking, and practically a legend—it wasn't a huge deal.
But for the average shinobi? That was a small fortune!
Paying three hundred thousand ryō for a single untested youth-restoring pill... well, it was definitely effective marketing, judging from the way Shizune's eyes sparkled.
Who could blame her? What woman could easily resist the lure of eternal youth?
Not everyone had Tsunade's unique Yin Seal technique to maintain their youthful appearance.
"…I need to analyze this pill's ingredients," Tsunade muttered darkly. "Shizune, find us an inn. We're staying in Kirigakure for a while."
Tsunade's voice was steady and cold. "This village is full of secrets. We need to find out exactly what Yuki Yoru is planning—and expose the truth behind Kirigakure's perfect facade."
"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"
Meanwhile…
"Sara and the remaining survivors of Rōran have been resettled," Mei Terumi reported calmly, standing in the Mizukage's office across from Yuki Yoru. "Also… do you not think we should keep an eye on that Sannin? She might leak everything about Kirigakure once she leaves."
"Let her."
Yoru smiled casually, shrugging. "We've been open to the public for a while now, haven't we? It's a good opportunity for the Sannin to promote us!"
In truth, despite Kirigakure's dramatic transformation and official openness, their location was still far too remote. The distance from the mainland limited their influx of visitors.
The most common guests were wealthy merchants and nobility.
Ordinary travelers? Practically nonexistent.
If a Sannin spread word of what Kirigakure had become, Yoru would be more than happy.
"You're really ready to let everything out into the open?" Mei asked curiously. "The Shinigami… the Gotei 13… right now it's only implied. Officially acknowledging them as part of Kirigakure would make things very different."
"You're not worried that the whole shinobi world might turn against us?"
"I couldn't care less," Yoru said nonchalantly. "If they come at us, they're just bringing us more souls."
"You're way too confident for your own good."
Mei smiled, her crimson lips curving slightly. Her eyes sparkled—not with doubt, but with something more like… admiration.
This man—this Fourth Mizukage—was someone Mei Terumi could respect.
"By the way," Yoru suddenly asked, "how's your progress on developing new Kekkei Genkai?"
"Decent," Mei replied. "I've already managed to use both Lava Release and Magnet Release, though I haven't fully mastered them yet. As for Wood Release… still no luck."
As she spoke, Mei raised her slender hand. A surge of molten heat flared in her palm—scorching magma, hot and pulsing. A moment later, she floated off the ground, chakra lifting her into the air.
"Incredible. You really are a genius, Mei. In just a few months, you've already learned Lava Release and Magnet Release. I'm impressed."
"Hmph. That didn't sound like a compliment. More like a backhanded insult."
Mei gave him a haughty sniff and dispelled the jutsu.
A few years ago, she might've boasted about this achievement.
After all—Lava Release was a top-tier destructive Kekkei Genkai from Iwagakure, and Magnet Release was the hallmark of the Kazekage of Sunagakure.
And now she had mastered both Lava and Magnet Release, alongside her already mastered Boil Release—known for its corrosive vapor.
That made her a shinobi who now wielded three powerful Kekkei Genkai.
This wasn't like Hiruko's artificial collection through body modification. This was the real deal—a natural evolution of her own power.
But even so…
Compared to the level Kirigakure had reached now—compared to what she knew Yoru was doing—
It wasn't enough.
She was falling behind the times.
While she was still dealing with chakra and elemental nature transformations, Yoru was already researching the soul, delving into realms beyond chakra itself.
Shinigami. Hollows. Zanpakutō.
These powers far surpassed the current limitations of shinobi techniques.
Mei had begged more than once to be granted Shinigami powers—to become part of the Gotei 13.
But Yoru had turned her down each time.
"Hmph…"
Mei gave a soft, petulant huff and said nothing more.
But she wasn't in a rush. She wasn't the only one left behind—Yukiko Fuyunai, Uzumaki Hiromi, Yuki Kiri… all of them, women close to Yoru, were still ordinary shinobi.
If none of them had ascended yet, then she had time.
No need to be the first.
Let him wait.
And Yoru understood her thoughts perfectly.
But now wasn't the time.
Not because Shinigami power wasn't ready—but because he had something even better in store for Mei.
"But seriously," Mei said, lowering her voice slightly, "you're just going to release the chakra fusion formulas for all these bloodline limits—Ice Release, Lava Release, Boil Release, Magnet Release—and post them inside the Kirigakure Duel Tower for any jōnin to study? Isn't that… risky?"
"The bloodline clans are extremely proud and possessive. Even if they don't dare to rebel openly because of your strength, they'll definitely hate you behind your back. Some of them will scheme. Try to sabotage you."
"If bloodlines become publicly accessible, those old families will lose the thing that made them special. You're threatening their status and interests. Even if you get the Yuki clan to lead by example, there'll still be resistance."
"Maybe they won't revolt out in the open... but if they go behind your back…"
"Even if they can't topple Kirigakure, they'll definitely cause trouble."
Mei's tone was grave.
She was right.
Bloodline publicization undermined the very foundation of the old ninja clans' prestige.
No matter how dominant Yoru's strength was, when people's core interests were threatened, their obedience could turn into silent resentment—or worse.
But Yoru's response was calm.
"Don't worry. these things are nothing."
His voice was serene—quiet confidence, not arrogance.
This wasn't bluster or overconfidence.
It wasn't a case of him underestimating human nature.
Yoru already had his countermeasure in place.
That measure… was the Kirigakure Duel Tower.
Yes, the Duel Tower wasn't just a facility for shinobi training, or for suppressing souls to create a "Spirit Gound." It had another function hidden within its structure:
Psychological suggestion. Mental imprinting.
The ninth floor of the Duel Tower used massive chakra fields combined with Spirit Ground techniques to draw out the soul and force it into direct confrontation with mental will.
That's why shinobi who lost on this floor often suffered severe mental fatigue and required extended periods of rest to recover.
And within that process… Yoru had subtly introduced a faint imprint.
Not control. Not domination.
Just a single, quiet idea:
"Loyalty outweighs personal gain."
These ideas were subtly etched into the minds of shinobi using the Duel Tower.
Nothing blatant. Nothing forceful.
Just enough for his policies to take root smoothly within the hearts of Kirigakure's elite.
Of course, Yoru had no intention of turning the entire village into puppets. That would be pointless. If he wanted blind loyalty, he could've just filled the place with Edo Tensei corpses—undying, untiring, infinite chakra sources.