Sunlight pierced the crisp air, melting the previous night's snow in Star City.
The brand-new teaching building of the Star Ninja Academy reflected a soft glow under the sun. The shouts of children training echoed from the playground, full of vitality.
Kushina, wrapped in an elegant cloak, stood by the wide corridor window of the teaching building.
On her grayish face, the cracks characteristic of the Impure World Reincarnation seemed slightly fainter in the sunlight.
Her eyes, with their strange gray glow, looked curiously through the glass window into a classroom with an open door.
Inside, Menma appeared in his youthful form, wearing his signature black robe with red edges, his unruly black spiky hair standing tall. He stood at the podium.
He had just used chalk to write two powerful, bold characters on the blackboard: Ninja.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the dozens of young, curious faces below.
These were the children newly enrolled this year. Some came from schools across the Land of Stars, others were orphans gathered by Gato from outside.
Their eyes held innocence, anticipation, and the traces of their respective pasts.
"Today's first lesson," Menma's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached every corner of the classroom, "We will discuss, 'What is a Ninja?'"
He paused, posing the core question: "In your hearts, or rather, in your past understanding, what kind of person qualifies as a [Ninja]?"
After a brief silence, the classroom atmosphere became lively.
A boy with dark skin and a stubborn look in his eyes shot his hand up, his voice booming: "A Ninja is someone with great power! Like Shura-sama, who can defeat all enemies! Protect us!"
His words were filled with worship and longing for power.
Next to him, a little girl with pigtails, who seemed somewhat timid, instinctively shrank her neck and whispered timidly: "I... I've seen Ninja before... they... they killed so many people... it's terrifying..."
She seemed to recall some bloody scenes, her small face turning slightly pale.
The atmosphere in the classroom grew somewhat stagnant because of her words.
A bespectacled boy who looked more studious pushed his glasses up and said thoughtfully, "Ninja carry out missions, protect the village..."
Menma listened quietly, not judging immediately.
He waited for the children's voices to gradually subside before speaking slowly: "What you said is both right and not entirely right. That is the traditional definition of a Ninja."
He walked to the blackboard and pointed at the characters [Ninja]: "These traditional Ninja are indeed a group of humans who have mastered a special power, namely Chakra. They possess physical strength, speed, and destructive power far beyond ordinary people."
His gaze deepened as it swept over the young faces: "However, for a millennium, this powerful force has been excessively, even pathologically, focused on killing. Ninja clans, villages, and nations, for resources, for hatred, for so-called 'protection', have turned Ninja into tools of war. They scheme against each other, endlessly."
He paused. The classroom was silent, even the boy who craved power was listening intently.
"This singular pursuit of power, this tradition that only knows destruction, not construction," Menma's voice carried a heavy insight, "is the root cause of the millennium of chaos and tragic cycles in the Ninja World. It is like a disease deep in the bones, distorting the essence of Ninja and hindering the development of the entire human society."
He changed his tone, injecting a new hope: "And the Ninja of our Land of Stars aim to break this cycle. We will become the new Ninja."
"New Ninja?" the children repeated in unison, their eyes filled with curiosity.
"Yes, new Ninja," Menma affirmed, "The training of Star Ninja is no longer solely for creating killing machines. We focus on the comprehensive development of morality, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics!"
He raised one finger: "Morality is understanding what we fight for. Not for some narrow-minded clan or village, but to end the chaos and strife of the entire Ninja World, to create a peaceful and tranquil world for all humanity. Protecting this hard-won peace is our highest mission."
Then a second finger: "Intelligence is learning cultural knowledge, understanding how the world works. Besides Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu, we must also study history, geography, mathematics, physics, and more. Knowledge is the foundation of power and, more importantly, the wisdom to use it."
A third finger: "Physique is forging strong bodies and exquisite combat skills. Power itself is neither good nor evil, but great strength is an indispensable cornerstone for protecting what we cherish."
Finally, a fourth finger: "Aesthetics is cultivating the perception and pursuit of beautiful things. Life shouldn't only be about fighting and missions. Art, music, appreciation of nature... these allow us to maintain balance and warmth in our hearts in a cruel world."
Menma walked to the window and pointed at the vibrant cityscape outside in the sunlight and the faintly visible construction scenes in the distance: "Do you know how those massive dams, the newly cultivated fertile fields, the roads cleared after being covered in ice and snow came to be?"
The children shook their heads.
"That is the work of Earth and Water Release Ninjas!" Menma's voice held a trace of pride: "They no longer use their power to kill or destroy, but to reshape the terrain, build water conservancy projects, prevent floods from raging, and turn originally barren or unusable land into granaries that can feed millions!"
He continued with examples: "Fire Release isn't just a weapon to burn enemies. In cold winters, it can quickly melt snow, clear vital transportation routes, and ensure the flow of supplies and people. When reclaiming wasteland, it can efficiently clear vegetation and obstacles through controlled burning."
"Lightning Release," His fingers seemed to crackle with electricity, "holds unimaginable potential in the field of precision mechanical processing and on the path to exploring new energy sources! And Wind Release can aid transportation and clean the environment."
"And Yin Release in psychological counseling and therapy, Yang Release in the fields of life, medicine, agriculture, materials, and more."
"Every type of Chakra and Ninjutsu can find a path to serve human survival and prosperity!"
Menma's gaze swept over the children in the classroom, who represented the future of the Land of Stars: "Chakra and Ninjutsu, they have no inherent good or evil. The key lies in what the people who master them use them for. The path of the new Ninja is to turn this power from a tool of killing into a cornerstone of construction, a shield of protection, an engine of development! To serve all of human society!"
The children seemed to understand, yet not fully, but their eyes sparkled.
The vision Menma painted was completely different from the image of Ninja they had heard about before.
No longer just cold missions and bloody slaughter, but filled with possibilities for creation, protection, and hope.
A brand-new concept, like a seed, was quietly planted in the soil of these young hearts.
Outside the window, Kushina watched all of this quietly.
Menma's words were like a heavy hammer, striking her sealed memories.
She recalled her own time at the Konoha's Ninja Academy.
What were the courses taught to their group of children?
Shuriken throwing, the Three Basic Ninja Techniques, Chakra Refinement, some Ninjutsu's hand seals, diagrams of human vital points, tracking and counter-tracking techniques...
The core was always the same: how to fight more effectively, how to infiltrate more stealthily, how to kill or injure the enemy more precisely.
Even the so-called [Will of Fire] ultimately landed on the specific, exclusionary goal of 'protecting Konoha'.
But the [New Ninja] concept Menma proposed leaped over the narrow barriers of a single nation or village.
His vision was aimed at the well-being of all humanity in the Ninja World, at ending the root cause of chaos.
Chakra was no longer a symbol of killing, but a force for building homes and creating a future.
This perspective, this redefinition of the essence of power, deeply shocked Kushina, even making her feel a trace of inadequacy.
"Alright, that's all for today. Class dismissed." Menma's voice interrupted Kushina's thoughts.
The children stood up neatly, bowed, and filed out of the classroom with excited and thoughtful expressions.
Menma organized the teaching materials on the podium.
Just then, a figure appeared at the classroom door.
Kanon wore a practical Ninja Attire, her red hair meticulously tied back.
Her face bore its usual gentle smile, but between her brows was a trace of gravity.
When her gaze inadvertently swept over Kushina by the window, her steps noticeably paused for a moment, a flash of surprise and inquiry in her eyes.
This unfamiliar red-haired woman had a unique aura, with strange patterns on her face, but for some reason, she gave Kanon a feeling of familiarity.
"Shura-sama," Kanon collected her thoughts, quickly entered the classroom, and bowed respectfully.
"Kanon, what is it?" Menma put down the teaching materials, sharply noticing her unusual state.
Kanon took a deep breath, speaking slightly faster: "Sir, it's about the agricultural cooperation project with the Land of Swamps and the Land of Darkness. There's a problem."
Her voice held a trace of suppressed anger: "According to the previous cooperation agreement, we sent our most skilled Earth and Water Release Specialist Ninja Teams. They spent a great deal of time and Chakra to remodel the large floodplains and marshlands along the lower reaches of the Yuu River that flow through both countries."
"The project progressed smoothly. Initially, nearly one hundred thousand acres of land suitable for cultivation were prepared. According to the plan, this land was to be used to build large cooperative farms, resettle refugees and poor farmers. We were to provide technology and some seeds, with the output distributed proportionally."
She paused, her tone turning cold: "But! Just as the initial remodeling was completed, shortly after the soil fertility test reports came out, the nobles of the Land of Swamps and the Land of Darkness tore up the agreement!"
"Oh?" Menma's brows instantly furrowed, a cold glint flashing in his sapphire blue eyes.
"Not only did they unilaterally declare ownership of that land for themselves," Kanon's voice was full of contempt, "They also sent their privately raised samurai and armies to brutally drive out all the refugees and poor farmers we had organized to prepare to cultivate that land! They even used force, injuring many people!"
"What's worse, they have now mobilized their armies and surrounded our temporary outposts within their borders! They claim Star Ninja are interfering in their internal affairs and demand our people immediately withdraw from their territory!"
Outside the window, Kushina heard clearly. Anger also appeared on her grayish face.
The actions of those nobles were blatant betrayal and oppression!
Menma was silent for a few seconds, his fingers lightly tapping the teaching materials on the podium.
Sunlight fell on his young face but brought no warmth.
He looked out the window at the prosperous Star City, yet seemed to see the greed-coveted newborn land along the lower Yuu River.
"I understand." Menma's voice was steady, carrying an undisguised killing intent that made both Kanon and Kushina feel a slight palpitation, "Maintain the status quo. Ensure the safety of our personnel. Avoid direct conflict for now. I will arrange for someone to handle this matter."
Meanwhile, far to the north, in the capital of the Land of Snow, perpetually covered in ice and snow, the atmosphere was completely different.
Inside the grand yet cold, metallic-feeling palace, the light was somewhat dim.
The Daimyo of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Doto, sat on the seat of power. He wore Chakra Armor underneath and a heavy, ornate robe with a fur collar over it.
He was tall and imposing, with a cold, stern face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. His fingers unconsciously tapped the armrest, emitting a dull 'thump, thump' sound.
Below, Fubuki, who had just finished reporting her defeat at the border of the Land of Stars and the loss of one of her subordinates, knelt on one knee, her head bowed low.
Her purple twin tails were somewhat disheveled, and there were a few minor scratches on her Chakra Armor.
Her voice carried a trace of barely perceptible tension and defeat: "The one leading the opposing team was the Star Ninja's Jonin, Natsuhi. She is very strong, proficient in a powerful Ninjutsu that create a Purple Chakra Dragon. Additionally, there was a Kekkei Genkai user in their team who used a strange ability to kill Yuki, and summoned a blood dragon to repel us... I am incompetent. I beg for your punishment, Your Highness!"
After listening, Doto's face showed no expression. He simply waved his hand, his voice low: "Understood. You may leave. This encounter was not solely your fault."
Fubuki felt as if she had received a pardon. She bowed her head deeply: "Thank you, Your Highness!"
She then stood up and quickly retreated from the cold hall.
The hall doors closed, leaving only Doto and a middle-aged man in dark blue civil official attire standing beside him. The man had a goatee and shrewd eyes.
His chief strategist, Matsuzuki Donosuke.
"Donosuke," Doto's gaze turned to the strategist, carrying inquiry: "Regarding this Land of Stars, and that Star Ninja Village, how much do you know? Their national strength, the Ninja Village's power... what are they truly like?"
Donosuke bowed slightly: "Reporting to Your Highness, based on information gathered from merchants and travelers who have visited the Land of Stars, it seems that since its founding, the Land of Stars has primarily focused its efforts on internal affairs and construction."
He paused, then added, "Aside from the large-scale military action last year when they annexed the Land of Demons, they have not engaged in any further public, large-scale military expansion against other surrounding nations. Therefore, information regarding the specific upper limits of Star Ninja's combat power, especially their high-level combat strength, is very limited. The outside world knows very little."
"Oh? Internal affairs and construction?" Doto raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by this answer: "A force founded by Missing-Nin isn't rushing to expand, but is instead focusing on internal affairs?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Donosuke nodded, "And their method of handling internal affairs is quite peculiar. Recently, they have been actively engaging in so-called 'agricultural cooperation' with the Land of Swamps and the Land of Darkness in the western part of the Ninja Continent, leveraging the influence of the Priestess Miroku."
"Agricultural cooperation? Ninja farming the land?" A hint of mockery curled at the corner of Doto's mouth.
"Precisely so," Donosuke explained, "The Star Ninja sent a group of Ninja skilled in Earth and Water Release deep into the vast plains and marshlands along the lower reaches of the Yuu River, which flows through the Land of Swamps and the Land of Darkness. Their goal seems to be to remodel, dredge, and fill those perpetually flooded, unusable wastelands and dangerous swamps, turning them into fertile farmland suitable for cultivation."
Doto's eyes flickered, as if he had thought of something.
Donosuke continued, "According to the agreement leaked by nobles of the Land of Darkness, the nobles and Daimyo of both countries originally handed over these 'wastelands', which they saw as worthless, to the Land of Stars for cooperative cultivation, to establish large farms. The Star Ninja were responsible for land remodeling and providing partial technical support, with the output shared. It seemed like a win-win situation."
He changed his tone, his voice carrying a note of amusement: "However, just as the land remodeling project began to show results, and those former mud pits and flood zones began to resemble fertile land... things changed. The greedy nobles saw immense profit and tore up the agreement!"
"Not only did they brutally declare these newly created lands their personal property, they also drove out the refugees and poor farmers organized by the Star Ninja to prepare to cultivate the land, even using private soldiers to suppress them by force. Now, they have even sent troops to surround the Star Ninja's local outposts, demanding their withdrawal, otherwise it will be considered an invasion. The conflict between the nobles of the two countries and the Star Ninja has escalated to its peak!"
Doto leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the cold armrest, shrewd calculation flashing in his eyes.
After a moment, he spoke slowly: "Donosuke, in your opinion... do we have an opportunity to intervene?"
Donosuke seemed to have anticipated his lord's question. He immediately bowed and said, "Your Highness is wise! This is an excellent opportunity for the Land of Snow to expand its influence, even gain practical benefits!"
He analyzed: "The Land of Swamps and the Land of Darkness themselves have no established Ninja Villages. Within their borders, there are only a few small Ninja Clans maintaining the legacy of the Warring States Period, each acting independently. Their power is scattered and limited, completely unable to match the Star Ninja. What they need most now is powerful military support to resist the pressure from the Star Ninja and protect their 'newly acquired' land."
Donosuke's eyes flashed with sharpness: "We can proactively offer military employment to the two countries! Our Yukigakure's Ninja will provide military protection, helping them resist the 'threat' from the Star Ninja. This way-"
He held up two fingers: "First, we can justifiably strike at the Star Ninja, probe their true strength, and blunt the edge of this emerging force. Second, and most crucially, we can use this opportunity to sneak our military power into the Land of Darkness, and even the Land of Swamps."
He lowered his voice, full of temptation: "Once our Yukigakure's Ninja are stationed, controlling key points, and coupled with some 'special operations'... it is entirely possible, at an opportune moment, to gradually incorporate the Land of Darkness, which borders us, into the Land of Snow's territory under the pretext of 'protection' or 'maintaining order'! Let this perpetually bitter cold land also acquire warm, fertile southern soil!"
The fire of ambition burned fiercely in Doto's eyes. Moving south to acquire arable land had always been his deeply hidden desire.
Donosuke's plan perfectly aligned with his ambitious blueprint.
"Excellent!" Doto slammed the armrest and stood up, "Dennosuke, you will be fully responsible for this matter! I want you to personally go to the Land of Swamps and the Land of Mist to negotiate the military employment matters with their Daimyo!"
"As you command, Your Highness!" Donosuke bowed deeply.
"To ensure the negotiations proceed smoothly and to fully demonstrate the strength of our Yukigakure's Ninja, to intimidate the Star Ninja and those wavering nobles..." Doto's gaze turned towards outside the hall.
"Have Roga Nadare lead his elite team to accompany you. Tell them, if necessary, they can 'help' our employers 'expel' those pesky Star Ninja. The commotion can be... sizable." The last few words were filled with cold killing intent.
"Yes!" A glint flashed in Donosuke's eyes as he accepted the order and left.
The icy hall was left with only Doto.
He walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Outside, snowflakes danced wildly in the sky over an endless expanse of snowfields.
He could never found a way to activate his brother's geothermal device. The possibly key-holding Kazahana Koyuki was also missing. It was difficult for the Land of Snow to melt this endless ice and snow.
Now, the Land of Stars' annexation of the Land of Demons had shown Doto another possibility.
Head south. Annex other countries. To obtain land that can be cultivated!