"Naruto: My Ninja Skills"Chapter 182: Fragments (2)
Madara Uchiha's death seemed to have tremendous impact, yet simultaneously appeared to change nothing at all.
Regardless, Konoha was now developing at breakneck speed, while Madara Uchiha was merely a pitiful ninja abandoned by the times.
After returning to Konoha, Hashirama seemed to completely cast Madara from his mind and began implementing his next plan.
Konoha's attempt to capture and manage the most dangerous Tailed Beast—the Nine-Tails—was, in Hashirama's view, an important measure for shouldering great nation responsibilities and maintaining peace in the shinobi world.
It must be said that straightforward thinking and straightforward methods don't necessarily produce straightforward results or external recognition.
When Hashirama shared his plan to control the Nine-Tails with Tobirama, Tobirama immediately expressed support... The idea of each nation controlling Tailed Beasts was good, but Konoha controlling the strongest one was even better.
Tailed Beasts were extremely unstable and dangerous—even Tobirama had no intention of controlling all nine... After all, their understanding of Tailed Beasts was limited, and they didn't know these creatures could "combine into one" to form a golden legend.
Hashirama's basic motivation for dealing with Tailed Beasts was eliminating the shinobi world's mobile natural disasters, making them controllable. As for balancing village power—at least while Hashirama lived, that wasn't a consideration.
In reality, Tailed Beasts were extremely difficult to weaponize, or rather, even if successfully weaponized, they were hard to deploy effectively... They possessed tremendous deterrent power but lacked practical utility.
Later ninja villages wouldn't easily deploy Jinchūriki to battlefields, as this risked losing their Tailed Beasts...
In any case, Konoha decided to secure the Nine-Tails first—this marked the beginning of the "Tailed Beast Distribution Plan."
The Nine-Tails was truly unlucky; thanks to Madara Uchiha's actions, it had once again entered Hashirama's sights and would soon lose its freedom.
The mission was entrusted to the Uzumaki Clan. However, sealing the Tailed Beast was one aspect, restraining it another... This job required two groups working together.
The Uzumaki Clan took the Nine-Tails very seriously. The old clan leader Ashina Uzumaki planned to personally go to the front lines, though the sealing specialist would be Mito Uzumaki... Currently no one was considering the Nine-Tails' disposal method—the Jinchūriki issue—the first priority was simply bringing the Nine-Tails back.
"Who else will participate in this mission?"
The Uzumaki Clan was organizing various sealing implements when old clan leader Ashina Uzumaki asked Mito Uzumaki.
"Sasuke Sarutobi of the Sarutobi Clan, who will execute the restraint mission. He'll lead two combat squads to assist us in sealing the Nine-Tails," Mito Uzumaki replied.
"What about Lord Yūshin?"
"He seems extremely busy, buried in the medical department working hard on that research."
"That's good. Our personnel combination can be more flexible."
Mito Uzumaki didn't understand this comment, but Ashina Uzumaki had no intention of explaining.
Currently Konoha was blessed with talent—obviously not all work could be assigned to Yūshin alone, especially given his habitual laziness.
"What about Uzumaki Mito? Bring that boy along, let him see the world."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
After both clans completed preparations, they immediately set out to locate and seal the Nine-Tails.
The process needn't be elaborated—they brought the Nine-Tails back to Konoha without any casualties... Indeed, there's nothing worth mentioning; among the Uzumaki Clan's expedition force, they could easily assemble five or six sets of "Adamantine Sealing Chains."
With so many chains binding it simultaneously, the Nine-Tails, despite its massive chakra, had absolutely no room for resistance.
Afterward, Mito Uzumaki shouldered her responsibility as the Hokage's wife, voluntarily becoming the first Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Following this, news of Konoha's successful Tailed Beast weaponization spread rapidly throughout the shinobi world.
Soon after, Konoha sent correspondence to the Land of Lightning, hoping to visit their territory to help them control the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails that frequently operated there.
Naturally, this request was ruthlessly rejected. Konoha's banner sounded noble, but everyone knew their true intentions... What exactly did "help control the Eight-Tails" mean?
Next, Konoha secretly dispatched teams to infiltrate the Land of Water, attempting to capture certain "aquatic" Tailed Beasts, but they were intercepted by Kirigakure ninja. No conflict occurred, but the parties parted unhappily.
Sunagakure stated that the One-Tail Shukaku had always been under the Kōji Clan's control, representing their traditional asset—they needed no help from Konoha.
Suddenly, Tailed Beasts transformed from universally reviled street rats into precious assets actively sought by every village.
Indeed, only a "mad dogs fighting over scraps" situation could fully mobilize everyone's enthusiasm.
The major ninja villages convened meetings—Tailed Beast disposal had become urgent.
At year's end, Tobirama Senju still achieved his wish of marrying quietly, his life trajectory departing from Yūshin's initial assessment of him being "destined for lifelong solitude."
In Konoha Year Five, the first Four Kage Summit convened in the Land of Iron.
Precisely speaking, this was a "4+1" meeting... Ahem, don't misunderstand—the "1" referred to Takigakure.
By this time Iwagakure had been established and participated as an "observer nation," but they could only sit at the children's table.
The meeting immediately rejected Konoha's proposal to control all Tailed Beasts, then after lengthy discussions, the Four Kage basically reached consensus on the "territorial principle" for Tailed Beast control.
Meaning whichever country a Tailed Beast operated in, that country had the right to capture it—Tailed Beasts on the highlands were temporarily exempt from this principle.
According to this principle, Takigakure could also control one Tailed Beast—this was difficult to accept, but the First Hokage believed that once principles were established, they must be followed, so Takigakure didn't lose their natural rights.
Unexpectedly, Sunagakure's First Kazekage Reto didn't oppose Takigakure obtaining a Tailed Beast from the start, nor did he attempt to claim Tailed Beasts beyond the One-Tail... This man was consistently shrewd, among the few who saw through Hashirama's purpose and believed "Tailed Beasts are paper tigers."
The meeting reached the following final consensus:
Konoha controls the Nine-Tails. Sunagakure controls the One-Tail. Kumogakure controls the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails. Kirigakure controls the Six-Tails and Three-Tails. Takigakure controls the Seven-Tails. The remaining Four-Tails and Five-Tails were natural treasures—only the virtuous could possess them.
In summary, this meeting crushed Konoha's conspiracy and achieved complete success.
After the meeting's conclusion, some ninja villages adopted "guarding their bowls while grabbing from the pot" tactics, preemptively striking at unclaimed Tailed Beasts... Kumogakure controlled the Four-Tails, Kirigakure controlled the Five-Tails.
They seemed to gain advantages but also planted future troubles—stealing others' possessions inevitably offends people.
Following this meeting, wars ended, ninja stabilized, Tailed Beasts were all controlled, and the shinobi world entered a peaceful, rapid development phase.
The following year, Orochimaru, wearing "Gan Wencui's" mask, completed special prosthetic development—finally, ninja missing arms and legs had hope.
Yūshin suspected this guy deliberately slowed development progress, but lacked evidence.
Yūshin had no intention of transplanting Hashirama cells, since transplanting Hashirama cells wouldn't make him Hashirama.
That same year, Yūshin first followed Orochimaru to Ryūchi Cave, planning to meet the White Snake Sage, but found nothing.
Subsequently Yūshin attempted multiple times but never glimpsed the White Snake Sage.
He still suspected Orochimaru was scheming, but again lacked evidence.
Konoha Year Ten, for certain reasons, Iwagakure's strength surged dramatically, beginning to sweep highland forces.
Konoha Year Fifteen, Iwagakure completed highland unification, the Land of Earth was established, and a ninja called "Mū" declared himself Tsuchikage, but received no recognition from major nations.
That July, Yūshin visited Sunagakure on a diplomatic mission, stopping briefly at Kikyō Castle during his return journey.
Yūshin's Sunagakure visit had no special purpose—merely routine friendly diplomacy. The two great ninja villages had always maintained friendly relations, with both sides hoping this could continue, so a ninja of Yūshin's caliber visiting Sunagakure carried strong symbolic meaning.
By this time Yūshin, through masterful application of various Kekkei Genkai, had become extremely formidable, yet an invisible ceiling already blocked his advancement—even this increased strength was largely meaningless.
Those around him were all aging, so to blend in better, Yūshin consciously began adding wrinkles at his eye corners.
Currently The Fireflies village had shrunk to a single outpost but still maintained influence in this region.
Yūshin's nostalgic return to Kikyō Castle stirred emotions, and he planned to rest here temporarily, but his arrival was immediately discovered by Konoha ninja.
Though the Konoha ninja leader tactfully appeared only briefly before wisely ceasing to disturb him, his first appearance had substantively granted Yūshin supreme command over local ninja.
With no internal worries or external enemies, what could Yūshin do besides slack off?
Well, he could await Madara Uchiha's moves, but only Madara himself knew his "incubation" progress.
Yūshin believed the Land of Fire wouldn't suffer foreign invasion, but actually, the Land of Fire did suffer foreign invasion.
This noon, without warning, a ninja used Space-Time Ninjutsu to appear within Kikyō Castle.
Konoha ninja reacted swiftly, surrounding this enemy and immediately beginning combat.
Simultaneously, news was synchronized to Yūshin at maximum speed.
Yūshin was stunned—a powerful enemy capable of Space-Time Ninjutsu combat? Could it be Obito Uchiha? Damn, not Shichimi again?
Then, upon seeing the besieged ninja, he immediately understood what was happening.
"Everyone stand down—it's fine... I mean I'll handle him."
Yūshin arrived at the combat site, signaling other Konoha ninja to disengage from the enemy.
However, he had no intention of attacking.
Because the "enemy" before him was covered in blood, tall and robust, with a bald crown.
He seemed somewhat unclear, but when Konoha ninja withdrew and Yūshin approached, he instantly froze.
"Lord Yūshin... is that you?"
"It's me. Do I look different from before?"
"A bit... why have you aged? Right, Yui! Where are Yui's enemies?"
This question stunned Yūshin. After thinking briefly, he understood what "Yui's enemies" meant—the Yui Clan's grave grass was seven feet high.
Realizing this, Yūshin couldn't help bursting into laughter.
He stepped forward, continuously patting the shoulders of his bewildered old friend.
"Nin-sei, it's been too long."
Then he addressed the surrounding Konoha ninja:
"This is Akimichi Nin-sei, former Akimichi Clan leader—one of ours."
Konoha ninja exchanged glances, still unclear what was happening. But undeniably, as superiors aged, their presence intensified—they rarely saw Lord Yūshin laugh so heartily.
Akimichi Nin-sei's temporal sense and external awareness remained frozen on the night Yui attacked... This was beneficial, indicating he hadn't endured prolonged torment in darkness, thanks to Shichimi's Mangekyō Sharingan evolution that night.
"This isn't a place for conversation. Come with me."
"Yes, Lord Yūshin."
Akimichi Nin-sei couldn't grasp the situation, but knew following Yūshin was never wrong.
Subsequently Konoha ninja dispersed while Yūshin led Akimichi Nin-sei away from Kikyō Castle toward the nearby Fireflies outpost.
Yūshin's house remained here. He welcomed Akimichi Nin-sei inside, treating his wounds while speaking:
"I have good news—your daughter married. After returning to Konoha, you can skip many life stages and directly enter grandparent mode."
"My daughter? Married? Lord Yūshin, that's not funny—my daughter is only six."
Yūshin thought: your grandson is nearly five.
"Nin-sei, you might think that battle happened last night, but actually... the fighting ended almost twenty years ago."
"Hmm... what?"
Akimichi Nin-sei looked down at his hands, feeling something indescribable... Yūshin's words seemed absurd, but his intuition recognized their truth.
After Akimichi Nin-sei's emotions somewhat stabilized, Yūshin recounted these years' events.
Like a different world? Truly a different world.
"Guiyue he... Ah, Lord Yūshin, I originally thought I'd sacrifice myself on the battlefield, never expecting Guiyue..."
Akimichi Nin-sei fell into sorrow.
But theoretically, Akimichi Nin-sei had also died once.
Yūshin knew how to handle such situations. He pulled up Akimichi Nin-sei, saying:
"Come on, The Fireflies still exist, as does the Akimichi Clan."
He said nothing more, directly pulling Akimichi Nin-sei toward Konoha, completely disregarding his current severe injuries and exhaustion... After all, he wouldn't die.
Yūshin brought Akimichi Nin-sei to Konoha, heading directly to The Fireflies headquarters and pushing open the door.
"Um, Lord Yūshin—"
"Cut the nonsense. Where's Akimichi Shenyu? Go find Akimichi Shenyu for me—immediately, right now, quickly."
Yūshin had long stopped managing The Fireflies' specific affairs, so his sudden arrival seeking Akimichi Shenyu made many instinctively assume Akimichi Shenyu had committed some unforgivable error.
Soon, notified Akimichi Shenyu abandoned his current mission and hurried anxiously to The Fireflies headquarters.
Akimichi Shenyu looked toward Yūshin, about to force a flattering smile, then immediately froze... he saw the person behind Yūshin.
Akimichi Nin-sei's eyes filled with tears. He stepped forward, grasping Akimichi Shenyu's arm:
"Third brother, you were originally youngest, but now you've become the oldest."
Akimichi Nin-sei originally had no temporal awareness—his mind was filled with "last night's" flashing blades and shadows—yet upon seeing time's marks on his brother's face, his eyes immediately brimmed with tears for unknown reasons.
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