The calendar system established with the founding of Konoha as Year One was no longer suitable for the current era.
After completing the initial reorganization across the Ninja World, Hyuga Soushu officially introduced a new calendar compiled by the elders of the Hyuga Clan. Through official decrees, this calendar was established as the standardized chronology for the entire Ninja World. Although the year was already halfway through, it was still recognized as the First Year of the New Era.
While the various ninja clans across the Ninja World did not fully grasp the significance of Hyuga Soushu's move, they accepted the new calendar without resistance, largely due to the undeniable power of the Shogunate and its military feat in launching a long-range expedition that completely destroyed Mount Myoboku.
A new calendar marked the dawn of a new order.
Though Hyuga Soushu never explicitly stated his intentions and the other clans remained rather puzzled, the gradual influence of the new calendar on future generations' perception of governance and authority would inevitably take root over time.
Especially as young clan members trained in the Instructional Corps returned to their respective families following the restructuring of the Direct-Control Ninja Forces, the habits and attitudes toward the Shogunate they brought back would, to some extent, reshape internal family power structures and their views on the ruling order.
This kind of subtle transformation couldn't be rushed, and Hyuga Soushu himself remained patient.
Rather than hastily issuing numerous decrees to transform the Ninja World immediately after establishing the new calendar, Soushu methodically restructured the power hierarchy, quietly assigning key positions within the Direct-Control Ninja Forces.
Naturally, the Hyuga Clan, from which he originated, occupied the most prestigious position as the ruling family—this was unquestionable.
Next came the Uchiha Clan, naturally placed in the second-tier elite status. After all, Mahiru Uchiha had given birth to Soushu's legitimate eldest son, Hyuga Ryujū, who carried half Uchiha blood. No matter the setting—be it public or private—the Uchiha Clan's standing as the most esteemed relatives-by-marriage remained unshaken.
When it came to the true second tier, meticulous planning had clearly taken place.
Clans such as the Inuzuka, Aburame, and other Former Konoha Ninja Clans, along with those who had defected from the New Mist faction, possessed relatively modest strength. However, they had served as original shareholders during the Capital Corporation era and contributed significantly by dispatching their ninja for Organization military campaigns. Therefore, despite limited clan power, they managed to secure placement within the second tier—at least when it came to political allocation, their share exceeded their actual strength.
The Sarutobi Clan, from which the Third Hokage hailed, had once been in opposition to the Ninja Clan Capital Corporation. However, during the campaign against Mount Myoboku, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had sacrificed his life performing a forbidden technique that eliminated half of Jiraiya's soul. Out of respect for his service, the Sarutobi Clan joined the Mitotou and Yamanaka Clans among the ranks of the second-tier groups.
On the other hand, the Nara and Akimichi Clans—one part of the former Ino-Shika-Cho triad—had failed to attain high-ranking positions within the Shogunate structure. Neither did they have branches serving under Soushu's command at an early stage nor did they achieve remarkable battle accomplishments in subsequent campaigns. As a result, they were relegated to the third tier.
As for the Utatane Clan and the Shimura Clan, it was already a sign of courtesy that Hyuga Soushu refrained from exterminating them completely. Naturally, they received no special treatment either, instead joining the Nara and Akimichi Clans in the third echelon.
There were also allied ninja clans and Hidden Leaf-affiliated groups that operated outside the Konoha and Shogunate systems. They were ranked in the third and fourth echelons according to their strength.
Hyuga Soushu's target for [Weaken Their Authority] naturally started from the fourth echelon, progressing gradually upward to ultimately unify the entire Ninja World.
Like education and enlightenment, though, diminishing their influence would take time and careful effort. Hyuga Soushu had no intention of stirring up trouble—not yet—after destroying Mount Myoboku, so he would not provoke any large-scale conflicts for now.
With hired shinobi gradually returning to the village after contract terminations, coupled with a series of policies from the Shogunate, the previously barren Land of Wind entered a fleeting period of unsustainable prosperity.
The Sunagakure ninjas wielding large amounts of Golden Certificates certainly possessed strong purchasing power. Moreover, during the process of currency unification, many ninja and former nobles who had held large quantities of Wind Country paper money gained some profit through exchange rate differences. As a result, trade within the Land of Wind soared rapidly to unprecedented levels.
As a result, many merchants came from far corners of the Ninja World, bringing their goods here to satisfy the ever-growing demands of the Sand Village ninja.
Meanwhile, as a gesture of submission to the Shogunate government, Third Kazekage personally issued an order lifting the prohibition on ninja being required to live within ninja villages, allowing Sunagakure ninja the freedom to move and reside anywhere within the Land of Wind. However, entry into territories governed by other Shogunate ninja clans necessitated obtaining official travel documentation.
Thus, relatively civilized groups of Sand ninja soon migrated and permanently settled in oases located in the northeastern part of the Land of Wind.
Coincidentally, this region in the northeast of the Land of Wind also benefited greatly from the water diversion projects of the Land of Rain, making it the most prosperous area within the Land of Wind in a short span of time.
It was under these circumstances that Asura finally emerged again, arriving at Sahaijin—the largest oasis city in the northeast of the Land of Wind.
Being the first major settlement he encountered since entering the Ninja World, the Sahaijin Oasis broadened Asura's horizons significantly.
Years had quietly passed, turning the landscape of old into something entirely unfamiliar. Although Sahaijin lagged far behind the bustling heartlands of the Land of Fire in terms of development, it still amazed Asura. After all, settlements of such scale were extremely rare in his time. Even more so the massive canal projects launched by the Land of Rain, which had transformed the land entirely—they seemed utterly fantastical.
Yet beneath this superficial prosperity, Asura detected a subtle sense of impending concern with his acute perception—an undercurrent brought by changing times.
He noticed that those ninja possessing extraordinary combat skills no longer maintained strict separation from common civilians, but instead lived closely interwoven together within the same oasis community.
This phenomenon, though seemingly breaking boundaries and promoting a degree of integration, had also unknowingly sown the seeds of potential danger.
In the past, there was a clear dividing line between ninja and civilians. This arrangement showed reverence for power while maintaining peace. Nowadays, as this boundary grows increasingly blurred, although it may bring convenience in communication and cultural blending, concerns naturally arise: when power is no longer strictly controlled, will it threaten social stability and harmony?
As everyone knows, the strength of ninja is absolutely devastating to ordinary people.
"It seems they have completely abandoned the path of the Ninja Sect."
Asura sighed inwardly.
However, he didn't react strongly, since this was no longer his era after all.
Moreover, judging from the generally amicable interactions between ninja and civilians, things seemed mostly fine on the surface.
After all, there still existed an armed security force operating under the Shogunate's banner within this oasis, composed entirely of Sunagakure Ninja whose main duty was to maintain order in various settlements.
According to Asura's experiences traveling from the distant borders of the Land of Wind to here, this was actually the first time he'd seen an organized Ninja Force openly bearing the Shogunate's insignia within the Land of Wind.
After venturing deeper into the heart of the oasis and conducting thorough undercover investigations, Asura gradually uncovered the mystery surrounding this security unit.
It turned out to be the significant outcome of deep cooperation between the Shogunate and Sunagakure Village. Sahaijin, as the pioneering demonstration zone for their collaboration, had fully accepted the Shogunate's administrative guidance, with its power structure and management system seamlessly integrated into the Shogunate framework.
The creation of this remarkable security force was filled with strategic wisdom and long-term planning.
They did not emerge from nothingness but were formed through cooperation between experienced law enforcement professionals dispatched from Uchiha Clan territory and Sunagakure Ninja working together to establish this new force.
This partnership wasn't just about Uchiha Clan expanding their influence in the northeast of the Land of Wind—it was also a clear sign that the Shogunate was steadily taking over the region.
Nowadays, Sunagakure simply lacked the fighting spirit to continue vying for dominance.
Faced with the massive amount of goods and employment opportunities provided by the Ninja Clan Capital Corporation, those once proud and unyielding Sunagakure Ninja proved powerless to resist. After all, people just naturally crave peace. Except for a few bloodthirsty martial faction warriors who loved conflict, most ninja were essentially just powerful casual fun-seekers—they didn't really care who held authority, only concerned about their immediate small joys.
Thus, after wandering around the oasis for two weeks and finding no real opportunity, Asura, originally intending to take action, decided to leave this place with no prospects behind and head into the directly governed territories of the Shogunate in search of potential openings.
Although Mount Myoboku had become a relic of the past, and its so-called prophecies were now nothing more than jokes among ninja, Asura had no intention of giving up. He shifted his focus—his new mission was to seize and destroy the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path that was currently in Hyuga Soushu's possession. Then, he would build a new organization to reshape the order of the Ninja World.
Of course, Asura wouldn't act rashly unless everything was perfectly prepared. Otherwise, he had no intention of revealing himself recklessly. Thus, all along his journey here, he had left no trace behind and stayed completely under the radar.
And just as he had finished a hearty meal and purchased sufficient provisions to prepare for departure, Asura suddenly noticed a large crowd of ninja gathered around the notice board at the entrance of the Security Force, excitedly discussing something among themselves.
Asura didn't use any ninjutsu techniques to eavesdrop. Instead, he waited until groups of curious civilians started gathering before approaching himself to see what all the fuss was about.
"In my opinion, we should not be fighting over regional governance at all," said one Sunagakure Jonin, spitting with enthusiasm as he spoke. "We must strive wholeheartedly to secure seats in the parliament! Let me tell you, the future Ninja World will undoubtedly belong to a coalition government. The parliament, as the supreme decision-making body, will definitely be at the center of power."
"But if regional governance falls into someone else's hands, what happens to our legacy and traditions?" countered another Sunagakure Chunin who looked deeply worried.
"Whoever is capable should handle local governance," replied the Sunagakure Jonin matter-of-factly. "Moreover, rather than focusing on local control issues, we'd be better off entering the parliament—the symbolic highest authority in the Ninja World—and pushing through legislation to secure benefits for our regions. That is the truly long-term strategy!"
Completely baffled by their conversation, Asura pushed his way forward toward the notice board to take a closer look.
There, glaringly posted on the board, was an official notice titled *Announcement Regarding the Establishment of the Joint Ninja Government and Election of the First Ninja Parliament*.
After carefully reading its contents, everything finally became clear to Asura.
This was an announcement regarding the reorganization of the Shogunate.
It declared that the original Shogunate would be transformed into the Unified Ninja Government, with further standardization of territories controlled by various ninja clans and villages. While local areas could retain tax collection rights, actual governing authority would now fall under the jurisdiction of the United Ninja Government and its subordinate agencies.
In addition, there was mention of this so-called Ninja Parliament.
Formally recognized as the highest authority within the Ninja World, members of the Ninja Parliament would be elected via voting from among all existing Jonin.
Meanwhile, aside from the top-level parliament, there would also be regional councils, in which every Jonin would automatically hold a seat.
Furthermore, the announcement described plans to redraw administrative boundaries throughout the Ninja World in order to serve broader collective interests. In short, geographic names such as Land of Wind or Land of Fire would no longer exist.
However, Asura quickly noticed a less conspicuous point in the notice: the authority to certify Jonin rank would now fall under the control of the newly established United Ninja Government.
In other words, the key to gaining access to the Ninja Parliament would firmly lie in the hands of this new government. And with this new system of certification, selection criteria would certainly no longer rely purely on strength alone.
"They've managed to seize total control behind the scenes," Asura murmured to himself.
After listening a bit longer to the Sunagakure ninjas' chatter, Asura turned and quietly walked away.
There was no point staying any longer.
Since the Sunagakure ninjas' main concern was simply how to grab a share of power from the upcoming joint government and top ruling assembly, it was clear that they had little real resistance in their hearts—they were just fighting among themselves like dogs battling over future authority.
This wasn't something Asura wished to see.
After leaving the Land of Wind, Asura entered the region governed by the Uchiha Clan.
Unlike the Land of Wind, the area under Uchiha control imposed stricter rule and was no less prosperous.
"The order has already been set," Asura couldn't help but think to himself, his mind clouded with worries about what lay ahead.
Considering how advanced the ninja world currently is, if Hyuga Soushu's rule lasts another one or two decades, there won't be any opportunity for Asura to challenge or oppose this dominant force within his lifetime.
But that was not what Asura wanted.
If his plans brought chaos to the current ninja world, he'd still carry them out without hesitation.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>