The military reform carried out in the Land of Demons smoothly integrated ordinary soldiers and ninjas into a unified entity. This change didn't cause any disturbance in the world.
People's attention remained focused on the immense powerhouses of the Five Great Nations and the relentless Third Ninja World War, leaving little interest or concern for this remote neutral nation.
Even if the news did reach their ears, they responded with little more than a casual acknowledgment, viewing it as typical for a country like the Land of Demons, the only nation in the ninja world without a daimyo. The mixing of ordinary soldiers and ninjas in a military reform didn't strike them as particularly noteworthy.
This alignment with Shiraishi's expectations was precisely the indifference and disregard he had anticipated.
While chaos reigned outside due to the ongoing Ninja World War, Shiraishi's Land of Demons enjoyed a period of stability.
Straight, expansive roads now connected every town, some of which had even absorbed previously remote rural regions, effectively merging urban and rural areas.
Approximately half of the towns and cities in the Land of Demons had already implemented mandatory school enrollment policies.
Shiraishi was aware that the establishment of these schools presented a distinct challenge compared to road construction.
Sufficient teachers were crucial and necessary.
Shiraishi intended to complete the implementation of the remaining schools in the next two to three years. However, these schools were not oriented towards producing ninjas but were, in fact, regular institutions.
The sole ninja school, located within the capital city of Oni, was situated in a restricted military zone inaccessible to ordinary citizens.
The improved road infrastructure in the Land of Demons had not gone unnoticed by astute individuals and local business owners. Many foreign traders now ventured to the Land of Demons for potential business collaborations, bringing with them various products and huge capital investments.
Some perceptive businessmen witnessed the huge changes in the local roads after these continuous enhancements. Notably, the roads saw upgrades nearly every day, ensuring that each visit to the Land of Demons revealed novel developments.
"It appears that those businessmen will start building their own roads when they return to their home countries. Could this affect our market?"
Ruri was initially skeptical of Shiraishi's investments in road construction, marveled at the incredible transformations brought about by the continuous improvements to the local infrastructure.
The economic development had a positive ripple effect throughout the entire country. This progress bolstered Ruri's financial standing further.
Ruri held a substantial number of shares in the Purple Rose Medical Company, and the Purple Rose Merchant Association, founded by her parents, Uchiha Sosuke and Uchiha Miyoko, controlled most businesses beneath it.
The Purple Flower Merchant Association oversaw enterprises in the medical, food, wine, tea, tourism, clothing, hotel, real estate, and various other industries. Though these companies might not have been top-notch in their respective fields, the combination of their endeavors represented considerable force.
As a result, Ruri held a huge share of the wealth. Even without the need to work, the daily influx of money into Ruri's accounts was more than sufficient to sustain a comfortable lifestyle for the rest of her life.
The road improvements in the Land of Demons only served to hasten the flow of funds into her accounts.
This was a direct consequence of the roads' completion and their location far from the turmoil of the ongoing war between the Five Great Nations. This stability provided a secure platform for various business collaborations.
"It's natural for them to think along those lines, but it's not as simple as they imagine."
Shiraishi explained, shaking his head.
"What do you mean?" Ruri asked, puzzled.
"They may have excellent ideas, but who will pay for road construction?" Shiraishi said, turning the focus to Ruri.
But were these merchants willing to do so?
For such a massive project, every family contributing would amount to an astronomical sum. The primary roads spanned the entire nation and consumed vast amounts of time, labor, and resources, daunting even the most determined of businessmen.
For the nobility and the wealthy, such an endeavor was nigh impossible. To persuade them to finance national road construction would be more challenging, you might as well kill them.
In his effort to reconstruct the roads across the Land of Demons, Shiraishi had mobilized not only ordinary road workers but also a significant number of ninjas, both his own and those recruited through the underground black market.
Even his own clones worked tirelessly, laboring twenty hours a day, without pause, to complete this seemingly impossible feat within a matter of months.
At a regular pace, this endeavor would require decades, if not longer. The Purple Rose Chamber of Commerce provided full funding for the project.
The priestess's policies were incredibly open. This broad support for ninja workers, huge funds, and official backing laid the foundation for this monumental task.
"Considering the existing systems in the world, including the Five Great Nations, it's quite a challenge to achieve this in a short span of time. Those genuinely interested in road repairs are constrained by financial limitations, while the affluent are often reluctant to invest. Even if a few narrow and uneven roads are constructed on a whim, it will only be viewed as charity. It's like being trapped in an endless loop with no solution, forcing the roads to continue deteriorating." Shiraishi explained with a smile.
He had already identified the next location in the Land of Demons for revitalization.
The economic pulse of the Land of Demons undeniably rested within the grasp of the Purple Rose Merchant Association, which controlled the majority of the nation's wealth and served as a important cornerstone of its development.
In political terms, the priestess held sway, wielding important authority such as appointing and discharging officials, overseeing diplomacy, policy implementation, personnel transfers, and more, all contingent upon her approval.
Overseeing the military aspect was Shiraishi, the recently appointed Minister of Military Affairs. His responsibilities encompassed warfare, though the Land of Demons, as a neutral nation, emphasized countering local banditry and safeguarding its own stability rather than expansion beyond its borders.
The integrated forces of the Land Of Demons now comprised more than 1,600 ninjas, with 500 of them dispatched to various corners of the ninja world, involved in intelligence gathering, debt collection, security, and bounty hunting.
The other component consisted of the newly restructured army, exceeding 60,000 ordinary citizens, essentially the original Land Of Demons military. These individuals were civilians trained for combat, and within their ranks, they represented a formidable presence compared to average citizens but paled in comparison to the capabilities of ninjas.
"Leaving that aside, the most immediate priority is reorganizing our army and making necessary role adjustments."
The road construction could progress under the care of dedicated personnel, thus sparing Shiraishi from concerning himself with those details. The forthcoming change in the military structure demanded his utmost attention.
"Training these tens of thousands of soldiers into ninjas?"
"Yes, it's a long-term developmental task."
"Given these tens of thousands of soldiers as a reserve, we might not need to recruit homeless individuals from across the world." Ruri remarked.
"Perhaps... but it's not that simple. Expanding the population is beneficial. Moreover, not all of these soldiers can be instantaneously injected with the enhanced medicine. The production of such a substance is highly limited, with an annual output of fewer than 5,000. My goal is to increase the number of these enhanced ninjas to between 20,000 and 30,000 within five years."
While they may not compare to the quality of the Five Great Nations' ninjas, their numbers would make a significant difference in a decade.
The advantage of enhanced medicine was that it transformed individuals into strengthened beings. They were not privy to the method of naturally using the energy. Once their physical capabilities reached their peak, the medicine diffused throughout their bodies, making it nearly impossible to discern its ingredients.
This was a one-time, permanent drug, a far cry from the minority of elite members who used natural energy as part of their combat arsenal.
Nevertheless, enhanced civilians could still confront regular ninjas. By using group tactics and armed with weapons, they could handle Chunin-level opponents. Jonin would depend on factors like luck and strategy.
"Oh, by the way, how has your recent training progressed? Any new breakthroughs?" Shiraishi casually changed the conversation.
He wasn't too concerned about the training of mid- to lower-tier fighters, as long as he produced sufficient strengthening drugs.
Even if he took a conservative approach, he could amass at least 10,000 "instant ninjas" within five years. However, cultivating high-level combatants required considerable time, effort, and the allocation of top-notch educational resources.
"For now, there haven't been any major breakthroughs."
"In other words, you still have no clue about the Mangekyou Sharingan?"
Shiraishi asked tentatively. He had recently been studying the pair of Mangekyou Sharingan that Miyoko had given him, uncovering numerous secrets.
"No." Ruri replied with a complex expression.
She did know how to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan, but it was absolutely impossible to do so. Her conflict with the elder Uchiha had led her to leave for the Land of Demons with some like-minded individuals.
"I actually have some ideas." Shiraishi admitted with a cough.
"What ideas?" Ruri inquired.
"The Sharingan's evolution should be related to Yin Release, meaning it's more spiritual and emotional."
"Exactly."
"Stimulating the eyes with emotions is a conventional approach. However, emotions are varied. Evolving through hatred and pain can significantly influence a person's character. Wouldn't it be better to harness other emotions?"
Shiraishi suggested.
"Other emotions?"
"For example, I mean If i sleep with Ayane, you—"
Boom!
An explosion erupted, originating from Shiraishi's front desk.
"Sorry, my hand slipped. I didn't catch what you just said. Could you repeat it?"
Ruri's eyes darkened abruptly, her gaze growing unnerving, and her face became expressionless.
"I simply mentioned the idea that—ahem, anyway, anger is also one option, but I'm suggesting something else."
"What other emotion are you talking about?"
"Calmness." Shiraishi stated after careful thought.
"Calmness?"
Ruri pondered, lowering her head.
"It's like having a mind as still as still water, like practicing natural energy. The calmer a person's mind, the more attuned they become to natural energy. Calmness is also an emotion, and you've had experience in this realm. It might be worth exploring this avenue."
Ruri nodded slightly. Her Sharingan had always operated outside the boundaries of regular Uchiha Sharingan, and since she had no other leads, she was willing to test Shiraishi's approach.
Emotional calmness.
A tranquil mind.
As Ruri left, Shiraishi breathed a quiet sigh of relief, surveying the damaged desk with a touch of exasperation in his eyes, before instructing the staff to bring a replacement.
...
A few days later, early July had arrived.
And with it came the sweltering heat of summer. Ruri, clad in a snug black ninja attire, sat beneath the scorching sun in the middle of the training ground, her hands clasped in what she referred to as the 'mind like water' practice, unfazed by the rising temperatures.
It was nearly dusk when Shiraishi found a moment to approach and assess Ruri's training progress.
At this moment, Ruri opened her crimson eyes, activating her Sharingan.
Seein6 the unveiled red Sharingan, Shiraishi's reaction was dull; his mouth fell slightly agape, and his expression took on a vacant look.
"What's going on with you? Why do you look so bewildered?" Ruri frowned seeing Shiraishi's confused reaction..
"Uh, it's your Sharingan, Ruri..." Shiraishi pointed at Ruri's Sharingan, his expression still quite unusual.
"Sharingan?" Ruri touched her eyes, what happened to her Sharingan?
Despite a modest increase in her pupil power, it was too soon for her Sharingan to evolve into the coveted Mangekyou Sharingan. Moreover, she felt no changes in her exclusive pupil technique.
So, what had left Shiraishi so surprised?
Ruri moved to a poolside and observed her reflection in the water, noticing the changed state of her Sharingan. Like Shiraishi, she momentarily froze in surprise.
To her disbelief, her once three-tomoe Sharingan had regressed, changing into a two-tomoe Sharingan. It was a puzzling development – Sharingan had never been known to spontaneously regress in the annals of Uchiha history.
"Why did my Sharingan regress? If it did, my pupil power should reduce, but I sense an even greater strength within my eyes. What's going on?" Ruri contemplated, wrestling with the bizarre decrease in the number of tomoe in her Sharingan.
"This might be the result of your training." Shiraishi walked to Ruri, and it was the first time he saw such a situation, so he wasn't very sure of his assumption.
"Training? You mean..."
"Didn't you mention it earlier? The transition from a three-tomoe to a two-tomoe Sharingan, along with increased pupil power... If you can return to the three-tomoe form, it's possible your pupil power will ascend to another level."
Ruri found Shiraishi's reasoning plausible. Her pupil power hadn't diminished, so the regression might be an avenue to greater power.
....
After that another week passed. At the end of July, Ruri gazed at her reflection with a strange expression.
Her pair of red Sharingan hadn't reverted from the two-tomoe Sharingan to the three-tomoe Sharingan as she'd hoped. Instead, they had undergone further degeneration, now appearing as one-tomoe Sharingan.
However, the enigma deepened – her pupil power hadn't diminished. On the contrary, it had grown stronger.
"Shouldn't the Sharingan simply vanish?" Shiraishi, observing the anomaly in the mirror, was left speechless.
"Try it, and you'll see. My pupil power hasn't weakened, so there shouldn't be an issue." Ruri, frustrated but undeterred, continued her training, determined to decipher her new state.
It wasn't until half a month later, at the end of July, that Ruri's Sharingan underwent a change. It vanished completely. No matter how hard Ruri tried to activate it, her eyes remained in their ordinary state and refused to transform into the Sharingan.
The situation made Ruri overwhelmed, but what baffled her even more was that although her Sharingan had disappeared, her pupil power hadn't disappeared. It appeared to be brewing within her eyes, a sensation that confused her.
To verify her thoughts, Ruri invited a fellow Jonin from her clan to conduct an experiment.
"Activate your Sharingan and use your Genjutsu on me." she instructed the Jonin.
Her fellow clan member, puzzled by the request, complied. He activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and cast a powerful Genjutsu upon Ruri, who only had regular eyes.
Initially, the Genjutsu proceeded normally, but it soon became evident that something was wrong. The Uchiha Jonin felt as if he were ensnared by an irresistible force, rendering him unable to move.
"How... How is this possible?" He struggled to speak but was silenced when a multitude of chains constricted around him, binding him into a helpless and uncomfortable position. The chains tightened inexorably, causing his skin to flush, and his face to contort with pain.
Then, the chains abruptly vanished, leaving the Jonin to kneel on the ground, breathless, his sweat falling in heavy drops. He gazed up at Ruri with a newfound reverence.
Though she hadn't activated her Sharingan, she had effortlessly repelled his powerful Genjutsu. It was a remarkable feat.
Unconcerned by the awe that her ability had stirred in the Jonin, Ruri remained focused on her mysterious pupil changes.
Until now, the ability to rebound a Genjutsu without Sharingan activation had been unfathomable. Sharingan's visual prowess had previously been indispensable for that feat, and it was impossible to break a Genjutsu without it.
However, her Sharingan was not in its regular state – if it was indeed active, it appeared as regular eyes, yet something within them had fundamentally changed.
The power of her Genjutsu repelling ability seemed even more formidable than her three-tomoe Sharingan form from before. In the past, while it was possible to repel Sharingan Genjutsu of a comparable level, it hadn't been as effortless.
To add to the mystery, this power was self-sustaining in her eyes and required no chakra to maintain. Ruri sensed that she had embarked on an entirely uncharted path with her Sharingan.
As she continued her training, she couldn't help but wonder about the incredible changes that might unfold in her Sharingan down this mysterious path.
...
"Perhaps it's a means to suppress the originally ingrained negative spiritual energy within Sharingan."
In the laboratory, Ruri lay on the examination equipment, dressed in nothing but light and minimalistic underwear, revealing her well-defined figure and skin.
She awaited the results of Shiraishi's tests, who had just concluded collecting comprehensive data from her body. He put forward his speculation during this interval.
Shiraishi's suggestion to employ 'calmness' as an emotional catalyst for enhancing Sharingan's power stemmed from Ruri's exceptional proficiency in harnessing natural energy.
Her devotion to strength, including the art of cultivation, displayed an extraordinary level of dedication and concentration, bordering on achieving the elusive 'mind like still water.'
This deep focus allowed her to empty her mind of any distractions, enabling a state of pure and profound love for her craft.
Shiraishi and Ayane were unparalleled in this regard.
At that moment, Shiraishi contemplated whether this particular emotion, when applied to Sharingan, could potentially propel it closer to attaining the coveted Mangekyou Sharingan. What he didn't anticipate, however, was the extraordinary transformation Sharingan would undergo.
"Now that Sharingan has taken such a miraculous turn, and your pupil power remains intact, I find it quite interesting." Shiraishi remarked after Ruri's Sharingan had regressed to its ordinary state.
"Suppressing negative energy?" Ruri questioned.
"I'm guessing that in the past, when you activated Sharingan, it was influenced by negative emotions. If I recall correctly, the first time you unlocked Sharingan was when a comrade from your clan died on the battlefield, which opened your eyes due to the sadness."
Ruri thought about the accuracy of his statement. Indeed, the first time her Sharingan was awakened, it was due to the profound sadness she experienced following her clan member's battlefield sacrifice.
The unresolved issues surrounding this incident, her disappointment in both her clan and Konoha, as well as her simmering anger and frustration, had further fueled her Sharingan's transformation into a three-tomoe state. It became apparent that these were not positive emotions.
Hence, it was likely that her Sharingan had also absorbed these negative energies.
"According to the test results, your body and eyes remain unaffected, with chakra and natural energy flowing steadily. This is a positive development, showing no issues." Shiraishi assured her.
"In that case, can I continue with this training in the future?" Ruri asked as she donned her clothing.
As she dressed, Shiraishi couldn't help but admire her physique and skin, his words punctuated by a playful smile. "Yes, you can, but if any new changes occur, please inform me promptly. This is very novel experimental data."
"Understood. And can you stop staring at me like that?"
Ruri squinted her eyes and squinted at Shiraishi unhappily. She hated this man the most, his behavior of being curious about everything.
During her examination, she had found his scrutiny of her rather discomforting, as though he wanted to run his tongue over her smooth skin.
She covered her chest with her hands.
"This is different from what you're thinking. They're two distinct matters. I apologize, but it's been a while since I've had a partner to engage with. I can't help being captivated by this interesting experimental data. Besides, you've initiated the initiatives on multiple occasions, and there's no need for any shyness."
Shiraishi chuckled
Ruri wasn't entirely convinced by his reason.
"Even so, it's not the same concept, and they're entirely different."
"You're right, I understand."
"I'm going back."
With those words, Ruri left the laboratory.
As Shiraishi remained behind, he contemplated the significance of 'calmness.' In his perspective, it was not so much an emotion as it was a state of mind free from all thoughts and emotions, resulting in an empty mental space without any positive or negative sentiments.
The fluctuations of intense emotions could lead to differing mental states, thereby highlighting the profound power inherent in emotional calmness.
For humans, emotions exert substantial influence over their mental states. Emotions fluctuate from moment to moment, making them challenging to control. In a way, only the dead can achieve such a state where their thought processes are stilled, and their minds are completely vacant.
However, Shiraishi recognized that it was not a practice that could be universally adopted. It held little significance for ordinary people as not everyone possessed a Sharingan capable of evolving and growing stronger through spiritual abilities.
As he reviewed the data, Shiraishi couldn't help but consider how mysterious the world could be. It was clear that human emotions and mental states were easily influenced by external factors, and emotions fluctuated continuously. Achieving and maintaining a calm state was no small feat, and he marveled at the inherent challenges.
"Perhaps it's a practice too complex to be widely embraced, and it doesn't hold much value for ordinary individuals." Shiraishi pondered. "Not everyone possesses Sharingan capable of evolving and growing stronger by relying on spiritual abilities."
Shiraishi meticulously organized the data, sealed it, and placed it in a drawer for reference in the event of further transformations in Ruri's Sharingan.
Two hours passed as Shiraishi continued his work in the laboratory, eventually emerging from the room. The evening sunlight streamed through the glass windows, casting a warm glow on the corridor, but the summer heat still clung to the air.
"Shiraishi-sama, there's an urgent message from the Land of Grass." a man in a black windbreaker with Purple Rose embroidered on the back informed him in the dusky corridor.
"An urgent message from the Land of Grass? Is something weon with the Bug Men on the battlefield between Konoha and Iwagakure?" Shiraishi inquired, his mind quickly connecting the dots.
The Land of Grass typically meant an urgent report about the bounty hunter team in which the Bug Men was involved, and trouble on the battlefield was a common occurrence.
"No, that's not the case. The message is about Ayane-sama..." The messenger seemed slightly uneasy.
"Ayane?"
Shiraishi was stunned. Ayane was supposed to be on a mission to capture white rats; how had she ended up participating in the intense war in the Land of Grass?
"Yes, Ayane-sama... she is assisting Iwagakure in their attack on Konoha's ninja forces." the messenger informed him, clearly sweating profusely.
Ayane's actions took Shiraishi by surprise. Her involvement in the most heated war in the Land of Grass, particularly after her mission to apprehend white rats, left him bewildered.
"...." Shiraishi's eyelids twitched as he struggled to contain his emotions. Eventually, he sighed, attempting to maintain his composure. Getting angry with a woman was the last thing he wanted.
He envisioned Ruri, striving to maintain a calm state of mind with a heart as peace as still water, and he strived to emulate her. Nonetheless, the desire to lock Ayane up and train her persistently gnawed at him.
"What on earth is happening here?" He inquired, his voice low.
"It seems to be connected to the Third Tsuchikage." the messenger reported.
"The Third Tsuchikage?" Shiraishi frowned, recognizing the influence of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
The Third Tsuchikage had a penchant for recruiting mercenaries, a practice consistent with the war-torn Ninja World's ongoing conflicts. He would offer substantial bounties to formidable bounty hunters operating outside of any specific nation, entrusting them with brutal war-related missions. This approach, though condemned by the other Kage, was Onoki's distinctive modus operandi.
"I see... In any case, this approach is far too conspicuous. Relay my message and ask her to return." Shiraishi responded calmly.
"Understood, Shiraishi-sama."
The messenger took his leave, and Shiraishi reflected on the situation. He knew Ayane had gone to capture the 'mice' of Konoha, a mission that demanded her utmost discretion. To him, her bold participation in the war was concerning.
Shiraishi resisted the urge to let his emotions get the better of him, understanding that it was not the time to be angry. Instead, he instructed,
"Shadow Dancer, you should go to the Land of Grass without delay. Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, may not pose a significant threat, but Minato and his Flying Thunder God Jutsu is a powerful enemy."
"Yes, Father."
A shadowy figure emerged from Shiraishi's body, quickly disappearing into the corridor without making a sound.
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