The Land of Iron was unlike any other nation—it stood apart from the conflicts that ravaged the ninja world. Long ago, an agreement was reached among the ninja villages to respect its neutrality. Governed by samurai, it maintained its unique culture, independent governance, and self-sustaining military.
"This place really is beautiful…" Kakuzu couldn't help but admire the landscape. The Land of Iron, known as the last sanctuary of the samurai, was dotted with majestic architecture and untouched natural beauty.
"You've been here before, haven't you? What's with the sudden awe?" Ruri asked with a smirk as the two stood atop a snowy peak, surveying the scenic landscape below.
"Maybe I never took the time to notice," Kakuzu muttered, exhaling softly.
"That's probably because you were always on your way to kill someone—or returning from a mission soaked in blood," Ruri teased.
The Land of Iron's landscapes were pristine, unscarred by the endless battles that plagued other nations. Even in the relatively peaceful Land of Waterfalls, a major battle had once leveled half of the capital. Ruri wouldn't admit it out loud, but... that had been his fault.
Kakuzu fell silent for a moment before murmuring, "Peace really is nice, isn't it?"
Ruri almost choked on his own breath. Wait… did Kakuzu just say that? He rubbed his temples to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. Did this merciless bounty hunter just become a pacifist?
"Out of all the ninja in the Land of Waterfalls, you have the most blood on your hands," Ruri muttered incredulously. "Now you want to talk about peace?"
Kakuzu shook his head and sighed. "Think about it, Ruri. When it's peaceful, making money is a lot easier. Sure, the underground market pays well, but all those bounties are drenched in blood. If I had a chance to run legitimate businesses, I'd take it in a heartbeat. Who'd want to risk their life every day, licking the blade just to survive?
"A single bounty can go for tens of millions—or as little as a few hundred thousand. But a single trade shipment can bring in just as much. The math doesn't add up. And let's be real—how long can someone survive in this line of work? Eventually, someone will collect my head for a reward."
He paused, a rare look of introspection crossing his face. "If I could, I'd destroy the entire underground market. It's exhausting."
Ruri blinked, stunned. For the first time, he saw a glimpse of Kakuzu's deeper thoughts.
In the original timeline, Kakuzu became an outcast, hunted by his own village, forced into a life of crime. With no other choice, he joined the underworld, chasing bounties to survive. Perhaps, given the right circumstances, things could have turned out differently for him.
Maybe I was right to groom Kakuzu as the Second Takikage. His ambition for wealth could drive economic growth for the village, and with his talents, he was the perfect candidate for leadership. As for dismantling the underground market... well, that was off the table. After all, the black market was Ruri's operation—and it made him a lot of money. Its web of influence ran deep, and shutting it down wasn't an option.
"All right, enough philosophizing," Ruri said, cutting off further discussion. "Let's find a place to stay. The Five Kage Summit is tomorrow, and we need to be well-rested for whatever's coming."
Ruri pointed toward the city nestled below them—the meeting place for the Five Kage. There would be no welcoming party waiting for them. In fact, they were lucky the local samurai didn't attack them on sight. Many of the older samurai harbored a deep resentment toward ninja, blaming them for displacing the warrior class. The fact that they hadn't been accosted yet was a small miracle.
After finding a modest inn, Ruri and Kakuzu set up basic security seals and stayed inside to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Later that night, Ruri finally had a moment to sit down and focus on the system. The flurry of recent events had left him with little time to explore its full potential. Now, with the summit looming, he needed every possible edge.
"System, any missions available?" Ruri asked, hoping for something useful to aid him during the summit.
[Village Leader System: Tasks and Rewards]The system responded promptly.
"The Village Leader System grants rewards for actions that benefit the development of your village. Examples include training talent, constructing infrastructure, and improving the village's reputation."
Ruri's eyebrow twitched. Isn't that too broad? What am I supposed to do—build irrigation systems and hope for rewards?
The system's response came immediately.
"Indeed. Actions such as building irrigation systems, increasing agricultural productivity, or raising the village's prestige will yield rewards."
Ruri rolled his eyes. Great... just as I thought. These kinds of projects weren't exactly the kind of thing that could be completed overnight. What he needed were instant, game-changing rewards—like the Truth-Seeking Ball.
"The system also features an Achievement Module. The rewards you've received so far, such as the Truth-Seeking Ball, were part of this module. Achievements provide significant, immediate benefits."
"Perfect! Show me what achievements I can complete," Ruri said eagerly.
[Achievements Available]
Unite the Shinobi World: Create a Shinobi Alliance.
Seal Kaguya: Protect the World's Core.
Achieve Harmony with Tailed Beasts: Find peaceful coexistence between humans and the nine tailed beasts.
Ruri's excitement faded as he scrolled through the list. The achievements were all monumental tasks—things that could take years, if not decades, to accomplish.
"Isn't there anything I can do to boost my strength—just for a day, even?" Ruri muttered. He needed to be at his absolute peak for the summit. This was his one chance to make an impression, especially in front of Hashirama Senju. A single Truth-Seeking Ball was impressive, but its duration was limited—it wouldn't last long enough.
After a moment of silence, the system responded.
"Given the difficulty of the available achievements, the system will unlock the Lottery Module. Each completed achievement grants three lottery spins, with rewards aimed at village development or personal enhancement."
"A lottery? Now we're talking!" Ruri grinned. Maybe today was the day for an SSR pull—or even a legendary item. His mind raced with possibilities. What if I got a secret technique or a powerful kekkei genkai?
Then his excitement faltered. Wait… rewards aimed at village development? No jutsu? No bloodlines? No forbidden techniques?
Before he could complain further, the system activated the first lottery spin.
[Ding! Congratulations! You've obtained: Grape Wine Brewing Method.]
"…What." Ruri's face twisted in disbelief. Where's the spinning wheel? Where's my nine-square grid? How is the draw already done? And... wine brewing?!
The knowledge of the brewing method instantly flooded his mind. Supposedly, the wine made using this method surpassed anything in the ninja world. If the villagers cultivated vineyards and mastered the craft, it could boost the local economy significantly.
But that wasn't what Ruri wanted right now.
"Fine, let's try again." Ruri gritted his teeth and initiated another spin.
[Ding! Congratulations! You've obtained: Blueprint for a New Waterwheel.]
"At least that's somewhat useful…" Ruri muttered. A new waterwheel design could increase agricultural efficiency, but it wasn't exactly the power-up he was hoping for.
On his third and final spin, the system surprised him.
[Ding! Congratulations! You've obtained: Wood Release – Four Pillars House Jutsu.]
"Wood Release?!" Ruri's jaw dropped. For a moment, he thought the system was playing a cruel joke. But no—the knowledge of how to perform the jutsu embedded itself in his mind.
He had actually drawn Wood Release.