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As evening descended, the sky grew darker, revealing a frozen white sky in the distance amidst the twilight.
The weather in February remained bitterly cold, and in the modest Land Of Demons, only a select few in the city could afford stoves for warmth. In the countryside, heating often meant finding an open space in the house and stacking firewood to keep warm..
Surviving the winter in this manner was the norm for the villagers in this part of the Land Of Demons.
In many impoverished and smaller nations, winter nights were sometimes more fearsome than ninja wars. With no heating systems or proper shelter, it was easy to succumb to the cold, particularly for the homeless in war-torn areas.
Faced with Grandma Haru's warm hospitality, Shiraishi and Ayane accepted her invitation for dinner.
The wooden house, while not aesthetically striking, was strong enough to provide shelter from the wind and rain. With doors and windows sealed tight, the only sounds were the cold winds whistling the solid wooden walls.
Dinner was very simple, consisting of steamed buns, pickles, and a thin rice porridge.
Shiraishi could tell that this was the best meal the elderly lady could provide. If it weren't for visitors, she probably wouldn't have considered sharing it.
The available ingredients included wild vegetables and radishes, which were seen everywhere in the area. The old lady's solitary life likely dictated the simplicity of her diet, yet it lonely sufficient to meet the basic needs of sustenance in this village.
Haru lived alone as her husband had passed away to illness a few years ago. She had a son who worked as a sailor in a port town within the Land Of Demons.
He was married and ran his own business. Every December and January, he returned to the village with his wife and children to celebrate the New Year before returning to work in the port town.
"That's the statue of the priestess." Shiraishi noted, during the meal, his gaze falling upon a clay statue of the priestess enshrined on a pedestal in the room.
"It's Miroku-sama." Grandma Haru replied with a smile.
"I've noticed statues of Miroku-sama in many places. It seems that this country has a deep devotion to the priestesses." Shiraishi remarked.
Understanding something in theory and experiencing it personally were two entirely different things.
The belief in the priestess extended even to such remote and impoverished villages, and has been seamlessly integrated into the daily life of the people of the Land Of Demons.
"Indeed, the peace in this country is attributed to Miroku-sama. We're grateful to Miroku-sama for ensuring our peace." Grandma Haru said, folding her hands and bowing toward the clay witch.
"Of course, the peace in this country is due to the Miroku-sama. I want to thank the Miroku-sama for bringing us peace."
Grandma Hary clasped her hands together and bowed in the direction of the statue.
During the meal, Grandma Haru told Shiraishi and Ayane with tales of the priestess slaying demons.
Twenty years ago, shortly after the conclusion of the First Ninja World War, the Land Of Demons faced a catastrophic calamity. A horrifying monster was born and spread death across the land of the kingdom of ghosts.
"That was truly terrifying, those Terracotta Army..." Grandma Haru recounted, visibly affected by the memory.
Given her age, it was likely she had personally experienced the horrifying nightmare.
"Terracotta Army?" Shiraishi asked upon hearing the name, his voice revealing incredulity.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong about the name?" Ayane asked, casting a puzzled look at Shiraishi, who seemed disturbed by the term.
"Ah, no, it's just that the name...sounds a bit unusual. Please continue, Grandma, what happened with those Terracotta Army?" Shiraishi responded, unable to hide his bemusement.
Shiraishi couldn't quite put his finger on it, but "Terracotta Army" struck him as an oddly distinctive name.
"Those Terracotta army were said to be stone demons from the kingdom of the underworld. They were three meters tall and wielding massive stone swords. They formed an army of immortal demons, they are called the 'Ghost army.' They were controlled by that monster, bringing death and devastation."
Grandma Haru explained, not paying attention to Shiraishi's increasingly confused expressions.
"Didn't the surrounding countries intervene?" Shiraishi asked curiously
"I remember that ninjas came to deal with it, but their attack didn't seem to have any effect. Many people died, because it was an undead army."
Grandma Haru didn't know the specific situation, but saw a lot of ninjas trying to stop the Ghost Army. As a result, many people died. There were ninja corpses on the road, and they were killed by the army.
"So what happened in the end?" Shiraishi pressed.
"In the end? Miroku-sama took action to quell the demonic chaos. However, that happened during the previous generation priestess, and my memory is somewhat hazy. I only remember that she sealed the monster and died alongside it."
Grandma Haru said regretfully..
"Well, what was the demon's name..." Shiraishi inquired, curiosity unabated.
"Mōryō. The demon's name was Mōryō."
Grandma Haru said the name of the demon that caused the disaster, and she recalled it very clearly.
Following the meal, Grandma Haru retired to rest. Given her old age, her energy was considerably less compared to the youthful guests she had welcomed into her home.
Shiraishi decided not to trouble anyone and instead borrowed a woodshed where he and Ayane could spend the night.
The two settled in the woodshed, igniting a fire to dispel the darkness and cold that surrounded them.
"I never expected to stumble upon such an interesting tale in the Land Of Demons, a battle between demins and ninjas, and finally the priestess quelled the chaos.."
Ayane appeared to regard Grandma Haru's story as if it were a fairy tale.
"It might not necessarily be fake. Konoha's library contains records of similar events. Twenty years ago, a great calamity did befall the Land Of Demons. Those ghosts and demins Grandma Haru spoke of might have been real." Shiraishi responded.
"But isn't a monster different from a demon? There shouldn't be demons in this world, right?" Ayane inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"The Priestesses are surrounded by a very mysterious form of natural energy. It appears different from the natural energy we use, something else had been added." Shiraishi explained.
"Something else?" l
"I can't specify what it is, but it's certainly not a fusion of chakra and natural energy like our own. It's another different form of special art, likely passed down through the inheritance of the priestess." Shiraishi elaborated.
Shiraishi recollected the sense of peace and kindness he'd felt when he met Priestess earlier, possibly influenced by her extraordinary power.
"Moreover, Mount Myoboku, the home of the toads, possesses the capability to resurrect the dead. So, the priestess s unique abilities might not be as far-fetched as they seem." Shiraishi added, folding his hands thoughtfully.
While he couldn't accept every detail of Grandma Haru's account, the existence of a demon wasn't beyond the realm of possibility.
It was a pity that his visit to the Land Of Demons was brief, and he had limited knowledge about many aspects. Moreover, core secrets concerning undead monsters likely resided solely with the priestess herself, with ordinary people being privy to only so much.
"Namikaze Minato is truly alive?" Ayane was incredulous. The concept of resurrecting the dead was nothing short of miraculous. If true, Mount Myoboku's abilities were indeed too magical.
"We had individuals infiltrate Konoha Hospital, and I also tasked Kado's operatives in Konoha to investigate. Namikaze Minato, whom I fatally wounded, was indeed alive. Soon after, an elderly green-skinned toad visited Konoha Hospital and retrieved something from Minato's body."
Shiraishi recounted, as if he had personally witnessed the events with his own eyes.
"That's incredibly powerful. If we encounter it in the future, we'll need to exercise caution." Ayane remarked.
"Don't worry too much. Such a method of resurrecting the dead must be a forbidden jutsy. The user might bear huge risks and costs." Shiraishi reassured her.
Shiraishi didn't believe that Mount Myoboku's method of bringing the dead back to life would allow them use the jutsu at will without paying any price.
At this stage, he didn't believe there was any reason to be concerned about Konoha's pursuit. Konoha had essentially thrown all its resources into dealing with Sunagakure and Iwagakure and had no other power left to pursue them.
His most important job currently was to increase his own strength.
"It's time to rest, Shiraishi-kun. I'm feeling a bit tired." Ayane yawned.
"Go to bed. I still have some things to think about." Shiraishi responded.
"Really? Goodnight, then."
Ayane said, closing her eyes and falling asleep with a contented smile on her lips, her head resting on Shiraishi's lap.
"The ground is too cold; this way, you'll stay warm." Ayane explained as she closed her eyes.
"I never said anything." Shiraishi replied.
"That's because Shiraishi-kun is a pervert who would try to peek at me while I'm sleeping." Ayane teased.
"Don't worry; I won't."
Shiraishi said affirmatively.
"You don't have any intentions at all?"
"Why would you say that?"
"At least have the intention to possess my body. I've said it before—I don't want to be separated from Shiraishi-kun. You can use me however you want." Ayane suggested.
"Don't worry, I won't abandon you." Shiraishi assured her, sighing.
"Scumbag." Ayane murmured softly.
"Hello!" Ayane curled up, her breathing growing lighter as if she had drifted into a deep sleep.
Shiraishi glanced at the peacefully sleeping Ayane and sighed.
This wasn't the first time he had considered making promises to women. Yet, there were two irreplaceable individuals in his life, and he held a special place in his heart for each. This was a challenging and painful choice to make.
So, towards Ayane and Ruri, he felt indebted. Sometimes, he wondered if he was being too selfish.
......
When Shiraishi woke up the next day, the weather remained very cold, and his body felt a bit stiff, though some light exercise helped alleviate it.
Ayane went to assist Grandma Haru in preparing breakfast. After a hearty meal, they both felt much warmer.
In this village, people adhered to a simple and routine lifestyle, working diligently from sunrise to sunset, day in and day out, year after year.
This peaceful and secure existence, safeguarded by the priestess, was something many other countries envied. However, it wasn't just because of the Miroku's presence; the country's somewhat remote location played a role too.
Unlike the Land of Fire with its fertile lands, this country, coupled with Konoha's relatively weak diplomatic attitude, faced the constant challenge of territorial disputes.
Shiraishi began his investigation in this village, which had a combined population of around two hundred individuals. Most of the residents were elderly, women, and children, with only a few young and able-bodied people remaining.
According to their conversations, it was evident that the young and middle-aged population had migrated to larger towns in search of jobs to support their families.
The overall level of education was quite low; most adults only know limited characters. The absence of a village school or any unified educational institution was notable.
Shiraishi also asked about the subject and learned that most adults considered sending children to school.
The adults simply lacked the awareness of such an education, and given the village's limited resources, learning to read and write held little practical value.
Instead, they emphasized the importance of cultivating skills that could contribute directly to their survival, such as farming.
"I find their way of thinking rather outdated." Ayane said after accompanying Shiraishi to visit several villagers.
"This is their genuine thought. What they need are livelihoods that can sustain their families, not the knowledge that seems useless to them." Shiraishi explained.
In an era marked of low productivity, the crops and vegetables produced by ordinary farmers barely covered their needs after taxes.
Concepts like schools only existed in cities in their subconscious minds and were typically seen as privileges reserved for the nobles. To these farmers, excelling in agriculture to provide for their families was the sole objective.
While Shiraishi considered this way of thinking backwards and ignorant, he acknowledged its validity in the context of the village's circumstances. Not everything from the cities was suitable for their reality.
It was like ninja training materials, irrelevant to ordinary people. Learning and applying such knowledge was beyond their reach and unnecessary for their day-to-day life.
"This is why I ventured into investigative work. Should a school be established here with standardized books from the cities, the villagers would likely resist and resent it because these books offer knowledge that holds no value for them." Shiraishi muttered.
If education failed to align with the interests and necessities of the people, it would invariably be rejected, leading to a lack of unified thinking.
"It sounds quite troublesome." Ayane confessed, her head throbbing. Nevertheless, as she watched Shiraishi's unwavering determination, she admired his strong-willed demeanor.
"Everyone has unique needs, and the development of any force relies on talents from various backgrounds. The future of the ninja world hinges on these talents. True talent emerges from diverse origins, akin to sand being sifted through waves. To train more talents, we must expand our 'base.' The ninja way of life is beyond the reach of ordinary people."
Therefore, Shiraishi aimed to differentiate the education methods between ninjas and ordinary people. The varied geographical, educational, and economic contexts of different regions would naturally result in differences in the schools established and the teaching material offered to students.
In poor areas, they would be taught knowledge that could quickly make them rich, quickly solving their needs like food and clothing.
In wealthier regions, where sustenance wasn't a concern, the likelihood of nurturing talent would be greater.
In this present age of ninjas, ordinary people should not be disregarded. After all, ninjas were once ordinary people themselves, selected from their ranks. Prioritizing the development of ninja power while neglecting ordinary people at the grassroots level would be an arrogant misjudgment.
Through his time in this village, Shiraishi obtained a rough understanding of the living conditions in the non-urban regions of the Land of Demons. While there might be a few prosperous villages, most were still struggling to secure enough food and clothing.
In the days that followed, Shiraishi delved deeper into the village's dynamics, eventually bidding farewell to Grandma Haru and continuing his investigations elsewhere.
When he returned to the organization's headquarters, it was early March, marking the arrival of spring a month later.
During this month, Shiraishi divided his time between Ayane in the cave and spending nights in the villagers' homes. Although they were several problems, the advantages were evident. There was a sense of order and stability, and the remaining issues could be addressed gradually.
Upon his return to headquarters, he found that the ninja training area had already been constructed, capable of accommodating hundreds of students simultaneously for skill instruction. It was expansive, with ample space for practical combat training.
Shiraishi intended to draw students from the Land of Demons and acquire additional children from the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Uzumaki clans. Furthermore, he planned to recruit young orphans from around the world for training.
Natural energy based training required no chakra aptitude; as long as a person's body lacked severe defects, they could develop combat abilities. Even rudimentary physical skills could prove insurmountable for ordinary individuals.
The downside was the low probability of producing exceptionally powerful ninjas. Nonetheless, the advantage lay in quantity compensating for quality, ensuring a steady supply of capable fighters. In a world teeming with homeless orphans, gathering hundreds of them was a feasible endeavor.
According to the reports, over 400 orphans had been collected thus far, and training was set to start officially in April, approximately nine years later.
"Shiraishi-sama, this is a letter from Konoha."
As Shiraishi observed the school area, a man clad in a windbreaker embroidered with an Purple Rose logo suddenly flickered before him to deliver a letter.
Shiraishi quickly scanned the contents of the letter. Over the past year, he had arranged for negotiations with the locals to establish a cooperation agreement between them and Konoha, focused on training medical ninjas.
The Purple Rose Company would contribute to the cost of medicinal materials, while Konoha would take responsibility for training the medical ninjas. The formal collaboration was set to start in April, coinciding with the beginning of Konoha Ninja School's session.
With late March now upon them, Shiraishi needed to finalize these arrangements. The letter outlined a provision to send 20 to 30 students with medical ninja potential to receive six years of training at Konoha Academy.
Half of the expenses for teaching materials and accommodations during these six years would be covered by Konoha, with Shiraishi footing the remainder. However, any costs related to experimental materials would be Shiraishi's responsibility entirely.
Shiraishi nodded in approval, finding the request quite reasonable and satisfactory. He then inquired, "How many individuals are currently studying medical ninjutsu here at our headquarters?"
After a moment of contemplation, the man responded, "A total of forty-one people."
Shiraishi made a swift decision, instructing, "Select twenty-five individuals and arrange for them to depart for Konoha the morning after tomorrow. They should take the sea route to the Land of Tea and from there proceed to the Land of Fire."
Given that the Land of Rain, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Rivers were all potential war zones, traveling by land posed significant danger and could result in getting entangled in a conflict.
"Yes, Shiraishi-sama. By the way, there's a peculiar rumor circulating in the ll world lately."
Concerned by this news, the man lowered his voice cautiously and continued, "A strange rumor."
Shiraishi asked, "What sort of rumor?"
"Although it hasn't been confirmed, there are reports that the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure has seemingly vanished." the man disclosed in hushed tones, aware of the gravity of the matter.
The abrupt disappearance of a ninja, one of the Five Kage, was a significant concern.
Upon hearing this news, Shiraishi was shocked. "The Kazekage is missing?"
"Yes, it appears he disappeared at the end of January. Despite over a month of ongoing ninja war, the Third Kazekage hasn't made any appearances or taken any actions. This has raised significant doubts about the truth of the news." the man shared.
Shiraishi's expression showed suspicion. The Third Kazekage had vanished at the end of January, yet in February, Suna launched an assault on Konoha. Who was responsible for mobilizing Suna's forces? Could the leadership of Sunagakure be involved?
Initially, Shiraishi had presumed that the Kazekage's disappearance was connected to the war's initiation. However, it seemed this was not the case.
But how could the Third Kazekage, one of the Kages, suddenly disappear? Was it part of Suna's conspiracy?
"Shiraishi-sama, should we send someone to investigate this matter?" the man inquired.
Shiraishi shook his head, stating, "No, this doesn't concern us. Our current role is to sell drugs, so let's not engage in unnecessary affairs. Let the ninja deal with their battles, and we'll focus on our profit."
Though surprised by the Kazekage's disappearance, Shiraishi realized it wasn't pertinent to his operations. Regardless of the Kazekage's whereabouts, Sunagakure would continue to purchase medicines from him. Interfering unnecessarily could expose him and raise suspicions with Suna.
Once the man departed, Shiraishi continued his inspection of the academy. As he was about to leave, the ground started to swell, and General Tu began to materialize.
General Tu handed Shiraishi a note, and as Shiraishi read its contents, his brows furrowed. "That peculiar white creature is infiltrating Konoha again, heading towards the Uchiha clan?"
General Tu nodded, confirming the unsettling development.
"This is endless. What do these individuals aim to achieve?" Shiraishi wondered aloud.
Truthfully, Shiraishi was very afraid 9f the mysterious group behind these strange white creatures. The pressure he felt from the Sharingan was unforgettable.
However, these people must have a purpose. Repeatedly infiltrating Konoha and investigating the Uchiha clan indicated an extensive conspiracy.
But what was their ultimate target?
These were questions Shiraishi could not answer. "This time, follow these people and observe their destination."
As he spoke, a serpentine stream of water suddenly emerged from Shiraishi's sleeve, attaching itself to General Tu's body before disappearing.
"Be careful. If you sense anything wrong, withdraw immediately. Ensure you only check their location; there's no need to go too deeply." Shiraishi cautioned.
He worried that General Tu might encounter the mastermind behind this unknown group during his investigation, hence the use of the water clone to provide a retreat option in case of danger.
General Tu nodded and promptly returned underground to continue tracking the mysterious white creatures.
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