Following Sasuke's birthday, kazahana Koyuki and Santaro were welcomed as guests in Sasuke's home. After the celebration, they were set to travel with Sasuke to the Snow Country. Initially, Sasuke had hoped that Langya Fubuki and his team would have successfully captured Doto Kazahana, but in the end, Sasuke realized he would need to handle things personally.
Three useless fools! he thought to himself. But then again, kazahana Koyuki was quite a beautiful princess. If it were anyone else, Sasuke would not have bothered.
Near noon, Chika finally arrived. She could have arrived earlier, but she had been delayed on the road. The moment she saw Sasuke, Chika rushed up to him, clinging to his arm and acting sweetly.
This immediately sparked hostility from the three other girls—Ino, Sakura, and Karin. What had started as a rivalry between three suddenly turned into an all-out free-for-all.
Sasuke left the battlefield to the four girls, uninterested in their quarrels, and turned his attention to the other "guests" at the gathering. Although they were referred to as guests, they were really just his usual companions from Konoha—no outsiders had been invited, except for a few subordinates who were there to report on their work.
Earlier that morning, Zabuza had given Sasuke a report on the recent developments with the shipping company. Six months ago, Zabuza and Haku had been assigned to take over Cardo's shipping empire, a significant venture that Sasuke had set in motion.
Normally, rogue ninjas like Zabuza and Haku wouldn't get involved with wealthy businessmen like Cardo. In the complex world of ninjas, even though they possess immense power, their societal status often doesn't compare to the elite class. The only exceptions are the Kage and the leaders of prestigious clans, who hold authority on par with the daimyo. The average jonin often holds a lower status than that of a wealthy merchant.
In the original timeline, Zabuza had gone against the norm and killed Cardo in an act of defiance, knowing full well that this would invite the wrath of the wealthy and powerful. Normally, such an act would lead to severe repercussions—there was no way that the powerful elite would allow a rogue ninja to live after crossing that line. But in this case, Zabuza and Haku had the protection of Sasuke and the backing of the Uchiha.
Since Sasuke had become the Fire Daimyo's son-in-law, his influence had grown considerably. Ninjas like Zabuza and Haku, operating under his protection, were no longer viewed as mere mercenaries but as representatives of an emerging noble power—Uchiha. Killing Cardo was seen not as an act of rebellion, but rather as Uchiha asserting dominance.
This backing ensured that Zabuza and Haku had no hidden enemies from the incident.
After successfully seizing control of the shipping company, Zabuza and Haku quickly expanded their operations, taking control of over 90% of the offshore shipping within the Land of Fire. Long-distance sea routes were completely dominated by their company, with only the inland shipping routes remaining under independent control.
Having secured control of the maritime operations in the Land of Fire, Zabuza and Haku set their sights on overseas territories such as the Land of Tea, the Land of Craftsmen, and the Land of Rainbows. These territories were vital to trade, forming an arc-shaped chain of islands that connected many smaller nations. Over 70% of the shipping routes in the ninja world passed through these regions, making them a prime target for Sasuke's ambitions.
However, to fully dominate these sea routes, Sasuke had to face a formidable opponent—the Land of Water.
The Land of Water, home to Kirigakure, was one of the Five Great Nations. It was no surprise that the country had built its strength by controlling most of the ninja world's ocean routes. This control brought the Land of Water significant wealth and power, second only to the Land of Fire.
Zabuza and Haku's initial expansion into the shipping routes of the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire had gone unnoticed by the Land of Water, but when they began to extend their reach into international waters, tensions began to rise. Small skirmishes soon broke out between Zabuza's forces and the shipping companies affiliated with the Land of Water.
In one instance, Zabuza used his Water Release techniques to destroy several ships belonging to his rivals. In retaliation, the Water Country sent Kirigakure ninjas to hunt him down.
But Zabuza wasn't one to back down. In his current state, as one of Sasuke's ghosts, Zabuza had become even more powerful. It wasn't like before, where he could be pushed aside.
Amusingly, the Kirigakure ninjas that came after him didn't realize that Zabuza had become aligned with Sasuke. They thought Zabuza had taken on a rogue mission and were perplexed by his aggressiveness, as they hadn't expected him to be so unrelenting.
However, despite their past ties, Zabuza had no intention of holding back. He fought against the Kirigakure ninjas without hesitation, catching them off guard.
"What a funny situation," Sasuke mused. The Kirigakure ninjas were his former comrades, but they were utterly unaware of Zabuza's new allegiance. To them, Zabuza was still the rogue swordsman they knew from before, not realizing he had become something far more dangerous.
Meanwhile, the popularity of breathing techniques within Konoha Village was beginning to spread to other towns, thanks to traveling merchants and traders. The impact of Sasuke's teachings was expanding far beyond Konoha's borders.
At the same time, Sasuke had advised the Fire Daimyo to establish a new guard force. While the daimyo already had the protection of the Guardian Twelve Ninjas, additional forces were required, particularly with the increasing threat of ghosts and rogue ninjas. These guards would be trained in the breathing techniques, giving them an edge against the demons that had begun to emerge in recent times.
If Sasuke had suggested this plan half a year ago, the daimyo might not have approved it, believing his current defenses to be sufficient. But with the rise in supernatural threats, particularly in the capital, there had been growing concern among the nobles.
The first group of students selected for this new guard force would consist of the daimyo's bodyguards. If there weren't enough candidates, they would recruit commoners to fill the ranks. Sasuke's ultimate goal was to create a new, formidable force capable of protecting the Fire Daimyo and his lands against any threat.
Once these guards completed their training, they would begin instructing the residents of the Fire Capital. Sasuke's hope was to eventually spread the breathing technique throughout the entire Fire Country, ensuring the Uchiha's influence reached every corner of the nation.
In his mind, Sasuke smiled, knowing that his plans were progressing perfectly.
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