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"Really, I was just trying to be helpful."
Sitting in his office, Shiraishi couldn't help but murmur quietly as he recalled the incident when Ruri had kicked him out of the house. He couldn't fathom why, as he hadn't done anything particularly bothersome.
In fact, he believed he was just being considerate by advising her not to overexert herself, go for weekly check-ups at the hospital, avoid excessive consumption of seafood and spicy foods, remember to have fruits after meals, and reduce physical training. When he thought about it carefully, these were just natural expressions of concern from a loving partner.
With these thoughts in his mind, Shiraishi felt a bit concerned. He wondered if Ruri had followed his instructions and was resting in her room, eating fruits after meals, and engaging in physical activities appropriate pregnant women.
"Do I really want to go check on her?"
He thought about it. However, he quickly dismissed the idea, recalling Ruri's impatient expressions. He was certain that she had it all under control, and besides, Ameyu was there to keep an eye on her.
His focus needed to shift to other matters, as personal and professional life should be kept separate. The unexpected news of Ruri's pregnancy had left him somewhat distracted over the past few days, making it difficult to concentrate on work.
While Ruri had expressed her desire for a child, thus refraining from contraceptive methods, she hadn't expected to conceive so soon. Now, Shiraishi found himself contemplating the gender of their future child. If it was a girl, they would need to choose a beautiful name, but what about a boy?
Shiraishi frowned as he delved into the thought of this matter. His deep thoughts led him to realize that it was already two o'clock in the afternoon. His work had come to a near standstill, with a large amount of untouched documents on his desk.
He realized that he was acting stupidity. His thoughts had been occupied by pregnancy and the future child, leaving him unable to focus on his work.
In any case, Shiraishi couldn't bear children, as he was not of the female sex. He couldn't help but shake his head at this realization.
Nevertheless, Ruri's pregnancy was significant, and it meant that this year would not be an opportune time to confront Uchiha Madara.
Even if he wanted to, Ruri would likely disapprove of it.
In addition to this, he and Ayane might not have the capacity to eliminate the cunning conspirator Madara, who had remained hidden within the world for many years. The two of them, even with their combination, would not be enough. They were awaiting an opportune moment.
Fortunately, they needed time to build up strength, so there was no rush to confront Madara. He was likely waiting for something too, and wouldn't easily reveal himself.
The connection with Kirigakure had grown stronger, with Yagura dispatching his subordinates secretly on numerous occasions. It appeared that Yagura had drawn inspiration from the Land of Demons.
This was a development that Shiraishi had hoped for.
To unite the ninja nillages in the future and establish a community with connections, he couldn't withhold information from the Land of Demons. Yagura needed to witness more than just the superficial aspects to make the choice to join in the grand endeavor of reforming the world.
In Shiraishi's eyes, Yagura was dissatisfied with the daimyo and nobles of the Land of Water and eager to enact a complete reform within the village. He was the ideal friend to have on one's side.
With Kirigakure's support, the process of changing the world would undoubtedly be sped up a lot. This endeavor to reform the world was of utmost importance, just as was dealing with Uchiha Madara. There was no distinction between these two priorities.
At this moment, the communicator used for remote text Transfer emitted mechanical noises and the sound of brush writing. Soon after, an encrypted text was printed out from the communicator.
This communicator utilized natural energy as the medium for transmitting information, allowing for long-distance communication.
It enabled rapid Transfer of accurate information, be it issuing orders or relaying messages, making it an invaluable tool. However, due to technical and cost constraints, it wasn't widely available and was exclusively provided to internal members of the Land Of Demons..
If this communicator were to become widely accessible, it could potentially revolutionize the current mode of war within the world.
The information received this time originated from the Land of Earth. The sender was Ayane, who briefly detailed her mission: she had been hired by the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, to fight against Kumogakure.
"Kumo, huh? I anticipated they would be dispatched to confront the Konoha ninja, but it seems my calculations were off. Placing Ayane in the northern part of the Land of Earth signifies that the pressure Kumo exerts on Iwa shouldn't be underestimated." Shiraishi pondered as he sketched the current structure of the ninja world.
In Shiraishi's understanding, the present state of the ninja world was as follows: Kirigakure was ensnared in internal conflicts between the Reformist and Blood Mist factions. This internal schism had made it challenging for them to focus on the wider situations in major ninja villages.
Sunagakure and Konoha had engaged in war in the Land of Rain, and with Amegakure, under Hanzo the salamander's call, they had publicly declared war on Suna.
Simultaneously, Iwagakure and Konoha were embroiled in a war in the Land of Grass, leading to an uncertain outcome. Furthermore, Iwa and Kumo's northern engagement in the Land of Earth was capturing the attention of nations.
Shiraishi knew that changes on any one of these battlefronts had the potential to influence other areas. These changes could have a significant impact on the landscape of the Third Ninja World War, and possibly even on international events following the war.
He was extremely convinced of these events.
In this turbulent world, Shiraishi believed that it was essential to focus on self-preservation and to continue working on their development.
"Until Ruri's pregnancy proceeds smoothly, we need to maintain a low profile." Shiraishi added, sending a message to Ayane.
...
Shiraishi's message to Ayane was straightforward: to cancel their prior plans and temporarily keep the White zetsu close to Uchiha Obito.
It was advisable not to prematurely reveal their hand, as clearing the special White Zetsu beside Uchiha Obito would disrupt their future plans. Shiraishi needed the white zetsu positioned beside Uchiha Obito to track Madara's movements.
Now that Ruri was pregnant, their battle potential had reduced, as they lacked Ruri's formidable combat capabilities to confront Madara.
Shiraishi had reviewed Ruri and Madara's brief clash in her memories, witnessing the astonishing power behind Madara's single-strike start-and-finish attack.
Even with Ruri and Ayane, two fighters comparable to the current Five Kages, he remained uneasy. The accumulation of their strength was insufficient.
With greater strength, they could overcome Madara without needing Ruri's assistance. However, they were not yet at that level.
Furthermore, Madara had infiltrators with exceptional abilities by his side, making detection difficult. To avoid exposing their strengths prematurely, they had left the White Zetsu beside Uchiha Obito.
Based on the above judgment, Shiraishi made this decision.
"Is that Sharingan woman pregnant?"
Ayane's attention shifted away from Madara and toward Ruri's pregnancy. Her facial expression revealed her displeasure at this development.
Although she had expected this to happen, the confirmation of Ruri's pregnancy happened sooner than she had anticipated. It left Ayane feeling depressed and irritable. She couldn't help but feel like she'd been beaten to it.
Obviously she took the first kiss....
But, It was Ruri who had been first in establishing their relationship, publicly revealing it, and positioning herself as his lover in the eyes of others. Ruri had also been the one to sleep with him first and now..... getting pregnant.....
Ayane, who never wanted to admit defeat, felt truly defeated for the first time.
Ayane wasn't content. She found herself blaming the Caged Bird seal and the Hyuga clan, believing them to be the cause of her current predicament.
If it weren't for that cursed mark on her forehead and the Hyuga clan's restrictive rules, she wouldn't have allowed the Sharingan woman to take the lead. Ayane believed that it was all the fault of the Caged Bird seal and the Hyuga clan's mistakes.
But upon reflection, without the Caged Bird seal, they might never have been able to be honest with each other. If not for that wretched mark, perhaps their relationship wouldn't have developed the way it had.
"Is it the right time for this old man to enter? I always feel you're always in a bad mood, little girl."
The one who entered the room was an old man with a prominent red nose on his face. He was the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
"No, it's just because the food yuu provided for me wasn't enough. I'm still not full."
Onoki smiled awkwardly at Ayane's response, sensing her discontent.
Kitsuchi had previously referred to Ayane as the "Queen of Gluttony."
She may appear to be a pure and quiet girl, but her voracious appetite was the polar opposite of her appearance.
"You've devoured the provisions meant for dozens of people today."
"But didn't the agreement state that room and boarding would be provided free of charge?"
'Who knew one person could eat so much!'
Onoki couldn't help but grumble about Ayane's insatiable hunger.
This little girl had quite the appetite. If it weren't for the Byakugan he would believe she was from the Akimichi clan.
'It appears that Kitsuchi's suggestion for self-sufficiency in food needs to be put into action as soon as possible. Letting her eat and drink freely her is a burden, even if we has a strong foundation.'
"Do you need something from me right now?"
Onoki coughed before discussing the matter at hand with Ayane.
"We are planning a sneak attack on Kumo, and we require your assistance in disrupting their supply lines."
The previous attempt to sabotage Kumo's supply point had failed due to an encounter with Kumo's ninja, led by the Fourth Raikage, which forced a strategic retreat.
Ayane, like everyone else, had decided not to rush into Kumo's territory. The Raikage's fierce reputation and the memory of the previous Raikage who died while surrounded by enemies had made her wary of Kumo's strength.
So, she decided to retreat and gave up on destroying Kumo's supply point. However, Onoki understood that Ayane wouldn't truly fight for Iwagakure's interests against Kumo, but rather, their relationship was built on mutual interests.
"The question is, how long can you stall Kumo?"
Ayane hesitated to agree, given the heightened vigilance of Kumogakure, who were now wary of her activities. She understood that she couldn't singlehandedly face thousands of Kumo ninjas and also acknowledged the presence of other formidable ninja in Kumo, aside from the Fourth Raikage.
Among Kumo's elite ninja, there was that Lava Release user with a Kekkei Genkai, capable of constructing a powerful rubber walls and rubber balls that could mitigate the impact of the Air God Strike. This ninja possessed profound experience and a quick judgment, making them a more significant threat than their Lava Release ninjutsu.
"How about two hours?"
Onoki contemplated and offered this response. The concern was not to delay for too long, as it would result in casualties for both Iwa and Kumo.
Onoki was intent on minimizing the casualties of both sides, aiming to eliminate Kumo swiftly, then shift focus to deal with the Konoha in the Land of Grass, and later join forces with Suna to target the Land of Fire. His primary goal was never Kumo, and he wouldn't have engaged these Land of Lightning barbarians if it hadn't been for the deceptive actions of the Third Raikage.
Kumo was known for its audacious dominance in the ninja world, dealing openly with incidents, even beating up victims who reported their actions. Onoki was at a loss about how to deal with these strength obsessed barbarians.
To be honest, winning a direct confrontation against Kumo was the ideal scenario, but Iwa lacked the capabilities to do so. Kumo's overall strength likely surpassed Iwa's.
Wars couldn't be decided solely based on personal power. In an attempt to eliminate the Third Raikage, thousands of ninja lives had been sacrificed, a thought that weighed heavily on Onoki's conscience.
"Two hours? I will give it a shot."
Ayane accepted the challenge.
"Then please."
Onoki breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't that he was reliant on these bounty hunters, who operated for money and didn't care about their origins. However, Iwagakure was in short supply of top-tier ninja resources.
Kumo's top ninjas might not be numerous, but they were formidable. Following the Third Raikage's death, the Fourth Raikage had been immediately selected by the elders without internal conflicts. Onoki couldn't fathom the chaos that would ensue if he were to meet the same fate.
"By the way, I heard you possess two Tailed Beasts—the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails. Why don't you send them to the battlefield to make up for your forces?" Ayane inquired.
"Tailed Beasts are a measure of last resort."
Onoki shook his head and replied. The statement was not entirely truthful, as the relationship between the two Jinchuriki within the village hadn't been managed well.
The Five-Tails Jinchuriki was understandable, but the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi, had a rigid and stubborn personality. He frequently clashed with others and had tried to leave the village on multiple occasions. These disputes had made the relationship even more strained.
Moreover, Tailed Beasts were top-secret entities. It wouldn't be wise to divulge to outsiders that he, the Tsuchikage, had lost control of the Jinchuriki.
Thus, he cited the necessity of the Tailed Beasts' participation in the battle as an excuse to placate Ayane.
Ayane didn't press further upon hearing this. After accepting Onoki's mission, she left the Iwa camp.
Seeing Ayane's determined expression and the immense strength concealed within her petite frame, Onoki couldn't help but feel envious and jealous.
Konoha was indeed a breeding ground for talent. Apart from himself, there were likely no contenders within Iwa who could rival her.
According to Ayane, Uchiha Ruri, another member of the original White Fang team, was even more powerful than herself. Reflecting on this, Onoki felt a mix of resentment toward Konoha and envy.
If not for Iwa's shortage of capable talents, why would he have to rely on powerful bounty hunters in the underground black market, tarnishing Iwa's reputation?
The reality was that in vast Iwagakure, there was no single ninja who could replace him. Lacking a suitable successor, Iwa had to grapple with formidable opponents from Konoha and Kumogakure.
....
On the coastal battlefield, Kumo and Iwa engaged in a fresh round of combat.
The Fourth Raikage led the charge, transforming into a bolt of blue lightning and effortlessly pulverizing the multiple layers of earth walls with his fists, creating a significant spectacle.
"Dust Release - Detachment Of The Primitive World!"
A colossal beam of light descended from the sky.
The Fourth Raikage adeptly dodged it using the Lightning Flicker
The translucent white beam of light struck the ground, disintegrating a large section into thin air, vanishing from the earth.
"Raikage brat, your lightning release and your instant body flicker somewhat resemble your father's.. Your father must be very pleased to know."
Onoki hovered in the air using jutsu like the Light-Weight Earth Technique, a rare skill among ninja in the world that enabled free flight.
He appeared to be intentionally provoking the Fourth Raikage by appreciating his dodge, offering the air of an elder amused by a younger generation's achievements.
"You old Tsuchikage! Return my father's body!"
The Fourth Raikage, radiating with thunder and lightning, his hair bristling, feathers of lightning expanding outward, with faint flickers of lightning in the atmosphere. His expression turned fierce, full of fury, as he shouted at the suspended Onoki.
His father had died in battle, and his remains were about to be defiled by Iwa. This was completely unacceptable to him.
"Heh, just like your father, impulsive as ever. Whether you can retrieve your father's body is up to you, young man. In this brutal world, the weak have no say."
"You old coot! I'll kill you!"
The Fourth Raikage was about to leap forward when Dodai appeared and addressed him:
"Please, calm down, Raikage-sama. There's no foothold in the air, and it's easy to be struck by his Dust Release. If that jutsu hits you head-on, you'll definitely die."
Dodai gazed up at Onoki, showing hisfear.
"Kumo's Dodai? This one is troublesome."
Onoki frowned.
He glanced into the distance, sensing that the time had come to take action there.
...
Eliminating a few patrolling Kumo ninjas along the way and without the Fourth Raikage obstructing her, she proceeded toward the Kumo supply point deeper on the island.
Even though the patrol route had changed from the previous period, in front of her Byakugan, any patrol pattern seemed to have fatal flaws.
"At this point, the sensory ninja stationed at the supply point can almost sense me."
Ayane murmured to herself.
As expected, the Kumo ninjas ahead started making odd movements, rushing towards her one by one.
Judging by the chakra signatures relayed through her field of vision, while many of these Kumo ninja were Jonin, none possessed chakras on par with the Tailed Beast like the Fourth Raikage.
"The Fourth Raikage is engaged with the Third Tsuchikage, and that Kumo nin Dodai is sure to follow to protect him."
Ayane was confident in her own strength, convinced that even if surrounded by thousands of ninjas, she could escape unscathed once these two troublesome ninjas were out of the picture.
She rushed toward the defensive perimeter of the supply point, being picked up by the sensory ninja. She understood that she had already been sensed.
Whoosh, whoosh, shadows rushed toward them; it was the Kumo ninja guarding the supply point.
Upon a quick count, there were forty to fifty individuals.
Countless lightning bolts erupted from their hands followed by a surge of water. Lightning-covered water not only struck the enemy but paralyzed them for an extended duration.
Ayane stood in front of the approaching torrent, her long hair fluttering, body slightly crouched, and palm pressed to the ground.
Boom!
She released an earth wall
The solid and thick earth wall met the clash of water and lightning, with cracks spreading on the wall's surface.
The earthen wall crumbled, and the electrified water flowed through. But Ayane's figure had vanished from that location.
"Over there!"
A sharp-eyed Kumo ninja pointed toward the sky.
Ayane descended from the air, and just as they prepared to counter with ninjutsu, she spun in mid-air with no visible source of power.
"Rotation!"
The immense chakra sphere transformed into a destructive whirlwind. Over a dozen Kumo ninja were drawn into it, tossed around and sent flying with bruises all over their bodies. The horrifying sight shook the Kumo ninjas who had narrowly avoided being caught in the vortex.
Ayane ignored them, rushing through the gap she had created.
She maintained incredible speed and had the supply point in her sights. Upon encountering dozens of Kumo ninja blocking her path, she took a deep breath and raised her palm.
"Air God Strike!"
Accompanied by a massive explosion, numerous Kumo ninja were sent flying amid a cloud of dust, free-falling from the sky, creating considerable chaos.
Ayane rushed into the supply point via the central path.
Countless Kumo ninjas surrounded her, but Ayane was resolute, and with her Byakugan, she pinpointed her objective precisely.
Arriving at the gate of a plain warehouse, Kumo ninjas persisted in pursuing her without fear of death.
Ayane clenched her fist and forcefully punched the door, sending it flying into the warehouse, revealing a mountain of accumulated supplies.
She quickly entered, retrieved exploding tags from her pouch, attached them to kunai, and was about to start the destruction process.
Time was of the essence; no time could be squandered, and the materials needed to be destroyed as swiftly as possible.
Burning these resources would distress Kumo for an extended period.
With a happy mood, Ayane reached out for the kunai with with a explosive tag, prepared to throw it when footsteps emerged from behind.
Several Kumo ninjas rushed in.
"Are you certain you want to do this here?" Ayane raised the explosive tag in her hand, turned around, and taunted the group of Kumo ninjas chasing her.
In situations like this, Ayane didn't fear the surrounding Kumo ninjas. Their attacks would only hasten the destruction of the supplies here.
She observed a Kumo ninja starting to perform seals with cold determination. Beginning from the central black spot of the warehouse, numerous dark seals extended outwards, spreading in every direction.
"Hmm?"
Ayane's expression changed subtly as the surrounding space started to distort. An invisible force constricted her body, leaving her no chance to break free.
"Heavenly Transfer Jutsu!"
The name of the jutsu was voiced by a Kumo ninja.
Ayane, along with the burning supplies, disappeared from the warehouse. A quiet atmosphere filled the warehouse, accompanied by hidden smirks on the faces of many Kumo ninjas.
"Don't underestimate Kumogakure. This Byakugan user will meet a gruesome end this way. It's just unfortunate for those Byakugan." commented one of the Kumo ninjas.
The ninja who had executed the "Heavenly Transfer Jutsu" shook their head and stated, "No, based on the intelligence summary provided by Raikage-sama, it appears this woman possesses a unique jutsu that makes her body exceptionally strong. I'm afraid she would be able to endure the disruptions of time and space caused by the transfer. But rest assured, even if she survives the assault on time and space, there are still 3,000 ninjas awaiting her."
Despite the considerable amount of supplies used in baiting the woman, the gains from acquiring those Byakugan would far outweigh the losses.