"The Hyuga clan's grip over the Ninja World grows stronger—it's intolerable!"
From the moment he stepped into Heiankyo, Asura ranted all the way, gesturing wildly without a care for the strange looks from passersby.
Even though his words were no more reliable than a pig's promise to fly, no one directly confronted or criticized him. Instead, they simply stared at him with the expression usually reserved for fools.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu, who followed closely behind as his attendant, felt increasingly uneasy, fearing that the Joint Government's Security Force would burst out and capture them alive, tearing them apart piece by piece in the lab. Rumor had it that those secret laboratories—established personally by Hyuga Soushu and led by the infamous Orochimaru—specialized precisely in dissecting enemy ninja!
"That look on your face makes it easy for others to suspect something."
Asura turned around and said seriously to Kakuzu, "Loosen up a bit! You're my elder, after all—don't act like you've seen a ghost. Show some composure! Stand by what you do and say!"
But caution had already become second nature to Kakuzu!
Especially during the time when Hyuga Soushu swept across the northern Ninja World and established the Shogunate, he'd grown accustomed to a life of seclusion and low profile. If it hadn't been for his ill fate—being captured by that accursed nuisance, Asura, and enslaved through the Sealing Technique—he probably would have opened a bookstore and quietly faded away years ago, surrounded by stacks of carefully hoarded Gold Kan.
More importantly, all of Asura's current travel expenses came straight out of Kakuzu's personal savings!
For someone who'd always lived frugally, this was simply unacceptable.
But the world of ninja was brutal—if you were weaker, you deserved to be exploited, and Kakuzu could do nothing about it.
[Why don't you just use Chakra-based sound transmission?]
Kakuzu subtly reminded him using ventriloquism.
After all, both of them were currently inside the capital city of the Ninja World Coalition Government—the very place where Hyuga Soushu resided. To describe this location as a dragon's lair or a tiger's den wasn't an exaggeration. Yet here Asura was, wandering around openly, spewing nonsense casually!
Kakuzu couldn't tell if this guy was genuinely an idiot or if his plans were so deep Kakuzu just couldn't see them.
"We're merchants, not ninja. We've already gone through so much trouble hiding our chakra traces. If we now use Chakra-based sound transmission, wouldn't that basically be announcing ourselves to everyone?"
Asura whispered softly, "Also, do you really think someone like you could get a licensed ninja certification from the Joint Government? Don't you know what happens to those without one?"
[You couldn't get one either!]
Kakuzu muttered silently but chose not to voice it aloud.
Still, from this, one could see that the Joint Government maintained considerable tolerance toward free speech—even turning a blind eye to subtle criticisms made publicly against itself or even Hyuga Soushu personally.
However, speaking of that, the existence of such opinions holds no significance whatsoever to ninjas.
After all, the power of ninjas is something these grumbling commoners simply cannot resist. During the era of ninja villages, great nations could employ ninjas to quell rice riots. Now that ninjas have direct control over governance, it's even less possible for powerless civilians to challenge the revered status of ninjas.
"Let's go. We'll sell the goods we brought at the marketplace, and then we can take a break for a while."
Asura paid no mind to Kakuzu's internal grumbling. Acting like a rural merchant, he called out to Kakuzu—who was currently shouldering the load—to follow him toward the trade market.
This time, Kakuzu had brought many local specialties from the Land of Fire in central Ninja World. After a long journey, these goods eventually sold for quite a decent price.
After all, even if Kakuzu felt reluctant about the task, he was still a powerful ninja. Carrying supplies temporarily was effortless for him. As a result, despite the long journey, none of the goods got damaged or dented, leading to higher-than-average prices.
"Well, I guess the current Ninja World isn't entirely without its merits,"
Asura made the rare positive comment after successfully selling off all the cargo used for disguising their identities: "At the very least, ninja abilities do prove useful. Even buying low and selling high can earn quite a profit. Don't you agree?"
"You're happy, so that's fine!"
Kakuzu had no reply.
Though it seemed on the surface that Asura's sales had earned roughly a 50 percent profit, in reality, this was built upon two key factors: their superior strength allowing them to travel nonstop without exhaustion, and all expenses being deducted directly from Kakuzu's own pocket.
If an ordinary person without any ninja abilities tried to transport goods over such a long distance relying only on walking, the costs of travel and food alone would've eaten up any potential profit, not to mention the losses along the way.
"Therefore, I think this so-called railway recently built by the Joint Government is just a colossal waste of time and taxpayer money!"
Sure enough, Asura launched into another round of complaints. "They could've just handed that money out as direct food supplies to the people. That would've benefited the civilians much more! Honestly, who knows what those ninjas were thinking!"
"Uh..."
Kakuzu hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.
The railway was a newly introduced long-distance transportation system recently promoted by the Joint Government, currently only undergoing experimental construction in the core administrative region where the capital was located. According to Kakuzu's observation, although this connected iron carriage made a lot of noise, its carrying capacity indeed proved comparable to a ninja transporting supplies through Sealing Scrolls.
And therein lay its greatest value.
After all, ninjas could never serve as regular transport workers—not due to compensation concerns, but because it was inappropriate for ninjas—members of the ruling class—to engage in commercial competition with civilians.
In addition, the massive improvement in transportation capacity would definitely promote the distribution of supplies across the Ninja World, bringing some benefits to civilians. For example, Kakuzu once saw honey from the Third Control Zone of the former Land of Earth being sold at the marketplace. Previously, goods like this—somewhat distinctive but not highly valuable and with low production—rarely circulated beyond their regions.
And all this was still happening before large-scale railway operations had even started—relying solely on horse-drawn caravans for logistics. If railways could eventually connect all corners of the Ninja World, the rate of commodity circulation would surely experience a dramatic increase.
That's exactly why Kakuzu believed there was value in building the railways.
As for that nonsense Asura spouted about using the money set aside for railway construction to simply hand out food? Just hearing it gave Kakuzu a headache. He was supposed to be an emotionless enhanced being! Who could tell how many amusing emotional fluctuations had occurred within him during their time together?
Yet, given his current disadvantageous position, Kakuzu chose to swallow back every sarcastic remark he was tempted to throw out.
"Let's go. We'll explore the culture and scenery of Heiankyo later."
Asura never expected Kakuzu to respond; everything he said was merely talking to himself. Having stated his views, he simply walked straight out of the Marketplace.
Those civilians who felt dissatisfied or displeased with his remarks didn't even deserve Asura's attention.
In his eyes, these commoners were a misled herd, easily fooled by small favors offered by the ruling class—the Joint Government—who, though essentially evil, often played the role of benefactors. That's why they failed to recognize the truth in his words.
Arrogant as he was, Asura considered such trivial matters beneath his notice. He believed that once the Ninja World was set back on the "correct path," those commoners would naturally fall in line. After all, they were nothing more than fickle opportunists, always leaning toward whichever side seemed stronger. It had always been this way for thousands of years.
Yet this haughty indifference annoyed Kakuzu greatly, because he realized that, in Asura's eyes, he himself might also be a mere disposable pawn—one who could be sacrificed without hesitation if Asura deemed it necessary for his cause of justice.
"I can't continue like this anymore."
Kakuzu was deeply conflicted yet helpless.
What he didn't know, however, was that the seal Asura placed upon him wasn't merely physical restraint. Hidden within it was another function: monitoring emotional changes.
Therefore, although Kakuzu appeared obedient and compliant as usual, Asura internally further downgraded his level of importance.
The only reason Asura kept Kakuzu around was because he currently had no other choice.
"What a disaster for the Ninja World."
At that moment, a drizzle began to fall from the sky. Asura gazed up at the heavens with a deep sigh, his mood heavy.
[Because of you, all this disaster came!]
Kakuzu silently cursed inwardly.
But on the outside, he still had to maintain his usual respectful demeanor. Otherwise, if Asura activated the seal, he wouldn't live to tell the tale.
As a series of proposals in the Ninja World Parliament gradually concluded their voting process, the first round of the inaugural session of the Ninja World Parliament finally came to an end.
According to the system established by Sakumo Hatake, the head of the parliamentary tribunal, the parliament intended to elect a group of standing members to represent all Jonin representatives and continue exercising decision-making authority during the recess between concentrated sessions. As a result, suddenly everyone among the representatives was scrambling once again to make connections and form alliances.
After a few failed proposals that didn't even get enough co-signatures, the reps from Iwagakure and Kumo finally got the hint this time. Simply put, besides running their own candidates, they were planning to join forces to get their guys elected as standing members.
According to Sakumo Hatake's requirements, thirty-five standing members would be selected out of the seven hundred members of the Ninja World Parliament—in other words, there was a 1 in 20 chance.
Based on the existing number of former Iwagakure and former Kumo Jonin currently serving as members, about two standing seats should be obtainable.
But aside from these relatively united old powers, things were rather awkward for the Ninja Clans.
Except for the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, the two most powerful families who each securely claimed five seats, other Ninja Clans basically couldn't guarantee that their family would get even one standing seat.
Though ninja clans carried prestige, when it came down to it, they didn't have many top-tier ninjas—especially not enough to secure many Jonin representative spots. Meanwhile, Iwagakure and Kumo had fully joined the new system now. And despite having no blood ties, they were sticking together far better than the clans ever could.
So some clans started thinking about how to make the most of their votes instead—especially since going solo wasn't going to cut it anymore. For example, they engaged in behind-the-scenes deals, exchanging favors to direct their votes toward those who needed them.
Regarding the various irregularities occurring throughout the election of standing representatives, naturally, Sakumo Hatake wanted very much to impose discipline and reform.
However, immediately after submitting his plan to Soushu Hyuga, it was directly halted.
Sakumo Hatake felt deeply shaken and utterly confused.
"These are just minor issues in the parliamentary process. After all, as the saying goes, water that's too clear holds no fish. So there's no need to dwell on such small issues—as long as there are no signs of rebellion, keeping watch and maintaining records will suffice."
To address Sakumo Hatake's concerns, Hyuga Soushu had him called in and explained in person: "Even if they collude together, the role of Standing Members is limited to functioning during recess periods between assembly sessions. At worst, we can simply hold a few more session meetings."
"This kind of precedent can't be allowed!"
Sakumo still believed such underhanded election practices should never emerge. Even if it was just a budding issue now, it needed to be nipped in the bud.
"The parliament is a long-term plan, and fundamentally a newly introduced system. There are bound to be some hiccups at the beginning."
Hyuga Soushu continued counseling: "We just need to maintain more patience. Also, we should trust in the new system's ability to correct its own deviations. Besides, military power remains firmly in our grasp. Nothing major could possibly go wrong."
"That may be true, but..."
Deep down, Sakumo still felt a lingering sense of inner conflict.
After all, to some extent, he was someone with certain moral perfectionism. Deliberately ignoring things he found unacceptable would always leave him feeling uncomfortable.
"This is only the first parliamentary session. The next election will happen in five years."
Hyuga Soushu reiterated firmly: "At worst, we can publicly announce all the proposals submitted by members and their pass rates during this term. Then those jonin with nomination rights will know how to choose properly next time."
"That does make sense."
With that said, Sakumo naturally had nothing more to add.
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