Chapter 123: 119: Road to the Land of Demons (2)
Konoha Hospital.
In a ward on the second floor, Tsunade was examining Minato's condition.
"How are you feeling now?" Tsunade inquired, her finger pressing against Minato's exposed arm.
"The muscles feel very stiff, and I can't move them freely." Minato replied, his face pale. Since waking up, he had experienced stiffness in his body and difficulty in physical movement.
"That's normal. Don't worry. There are no abnormalities in your body. I'll prescribe some medicine, and you should recover in about half a month."
Tsunade reassured him, her diagnosis aligning with her expectations.
Although Minato had been revived from the near death state, his body would remain weak for some time. With medication and rest, he would gradually regain his normal functions.
"What about your heart?"
Tsunade asked further, mindful of the fatal wound inflicted by Shadow Dancer that had targeted Minato's heart.
Minato touched his chest and replied, "I don't feel any pain anymore."
However, the memory of that fateful night still sent shivers down his spine. The man had really intended to kill him, likely fearing his space-time ninjutsu - the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
"By the way, Tsunade-sama, what's happening with Kushina?" Minato asked with concern.
"Don't worry; her situation is more stable than yours. The seal has been successfully repaired, and Sarutobi-sensei has dispatched Anbu to investigate discreetly." Tsunade informed him.
"I see." Minato responded.
Given the gravity of the situation and Kushina's status as the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki, a thorough investigation was imperative.
Before this incident, only high-ranking officials and Anbu were aware of Kushina's status and provided protection.
However, Shiraishi and Ruri had precisely located Kushina, released some of the Kyuubis' power within her, and even broke the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu.
This incident was of utmost seriousness.
"Tsunade-sama."
Shizune entered the room, pushing a cart with medicine for Minato on the top layer and lunch and diluted nutritional food on the lower layer.
"Shizune, please come in." Tsunade welcomed her.
"Yes, this is the medication Minato-senpai should take regularly, as well as his lunch." Shizune said.
Shizune brought the cart to the side of the Minato's hospital bed, pouring hot water into a cup as she prepared to serve the medication.
Tsunade picked up the medicine bottles from the cart and inspected them closely. She then turned to Shizune and asked, "Aren't these medicines developed by Konoha?"
Shizune turned her head and smiled, "These are specialized medicine from the Purple Rose Company. They're meant to restore Minato-senpai's body as soon as possible."
"Have they been checked?"
Tsunade inquired, her cautious nature at play. Pouring out a few tablets from the medicine bottle, she put it on her nose, smelling it.
Tsunade wasn't questioning Shizune's judgment but rather taking every precaution for Minato's safety, given the sensitive situation.
"Yes, they've been thoroughly inspected multiple times and are safe." Shizune affirmed.
Satisfied with the response, Tsunade nodded and put the medicine bottles back.
"Minato, you should rest here for now. I'll go to the intelligence department to gather more information." Tsunade suggested.
"Alright, please take your time, Tsunade-sama." Minato agreed, realizing that keeping Tsunade with him continuously was unreasonable.
As Tsunade and Shizune left the room and walked along the hospital's second-floor corridor, Shizune broached a topic.
"Is something bothering you, Tsunade-sama? Minato seemed hesitant to speak earlier." Shizune observed.
lowered his head and glanced at Shizune next to her. and replied
"Are you here to ask about that too? The little girl named Nohara Rin had questioned me about it repeatedly before. Although it's hard for me to accept, all of that person's actions in Konoha were likely a pretense."
"But... There were no signs at all before. Why would Shiraishi-senpai betray the village?"
Shizune questioned, her eyes showing sadness.
She couldn't imagine that the kind and polite senior she knew could turn out to be an enemy who inflicted significant harm on the village, even ruthlessly attacking their comrades mercilessly.
"This... who knows." Tsunade replied with a contemplative look.
"You can head back now. I'll go to the intelligence department to gather more information." Tsunade added as they reached a parting in the corridor.
"Alright." Shizune agreed and made her way back to the room alone.
Tsunade, on the other hand, took a different route, proceeding until Shizune's figure disappeared around the corner.
The intelligence department occupied a quiet corner of the village, not far from Konoha's library. Several Konoha ninjas were stationed at the entrance, primarily clerical staff who possessed diverse knowledge and analytical skills. They were exceptional ninja in their own right.
"Tsunade-hime, do you have any orders?" a female ninja asked as Tsunade arrived.
"I had asked earlier." Tsunade reminded her.
"Well, most of it is in order, but because the information is scattered, and there were no warning signs before, there may be some discrepancies in piecing together the information." the female ninja explained hesitantly.
She then led Tsunade into her office, retrieved a scroll from a shelf, and placed it in front of her.
After making a cup of tea for Tsunade, the female ninja excused herself to continue her work, leaving Tsunade alone to go through the scroll.
Tsunade opened the intelligence file, revealing the records for Konoha Ninja Chiba Shiraishi. These records were markedly different from previous ones.
The previous file contained information typical of a standard chunin level ninja. Aside from proficiency in medical ninjutsu, the rest of the abilities were quite average for a chunin. Within the Konoha ninja ranks, they were considered unremarkable.
"Controlling Mudman, giant water python, and summoned beasts..." Tsunade muttered to herself.
The Mudman had a latent ability that made it difficult for ninjas to perceive, and it possessed immortality.
Even if its body was severed or blown up, it would not die. the Water Python were parasitic creatures that absorbed chakra, rendering ninjutsu ineffective against them. They could convert chakra into water to attack and create a favorable combat environment.
Their destructive and defensive capabilities were impressive, and physical attacks were most effective against them.
The black beast had control over lightning release. However, the problem lay in the fact that, on the night of the battle, the witch seemed to possess summoned abilities, suggesting that she might be a non-human creature resembling a human.
Or...., Shiraishi's summoning jutsu might be of a unique level.
In addition to these abilities, Shiraishi seemed capable of using a shadow jutsu like the Nara clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu.
The shadows had physical forms and attacked swiftly, making them formidable in close combat. Even a jonin would be ill-advised to engage him up close; a safe distance of more than five meters was recommended.
Shiraishi could also mark a person with a 'mark' and use the physical shadow to carry out assassinations. To avoid detection, the amount of chakra in the shadow was reduced, resulting in shorter attachment times and decreased lethality. A precise strike to a vital area was necessary for a guaranteed kill.
Whether this represented Shiraishi's full capabilities remained uncertain.
"Where did that brat find these creatures?" After Tsunade finished reading, Tsunade wondered aloud. Her brows furrowed tightly.
According to this information and the accounts of Anbu who had witnessed the battle, it was impossible for even someone of her caliber to handle these summoned creatures with special abilities single-handedly.
The huge water python, in particular, posed a significant threat, as it could absorb chakra and continue fighting, a troublesome type for most ninjas.
The following analysis delved into personality traits, a comprehensive ability index, and the reasons behind Shiraishi's defection. However, these analyses were based solely on data and did not provide concrete answers. More information was required for a thorough analysis.
In Tsunade's view, the Intelligence Department had already done its best at this level of analysis. Aside from the battle that night, Shiraishi had left little valuable information behind. When Anbu operatives had searched Shiraishi's residence, they had found only worthless items.
After studying the information for a while, Tsunade left the Intelligence Department and headed to the Hokage Building to meet her teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Sarutobi-sensei, I'd like to request some time off." Tsunade began.
"Asking for leave?" Hiruzen paused from his busy schedule.
"I'm planning to leave the village for a while." Tsunade explained seriously.
"Where are you going?" Hiruzen inquired.
"The Shikkotsu Forest."
"The forest where the slugs live?" Hiruzen pondered for a moment, concerned that Tsunade might be intending to investigate Shiraishi's case.
As long as that was the reason, there shouldn't be any issues. After all, Shiraishi's existence was too dangerous.
"Yes, I have some questions that I believe the slugs in the Shikkotsu Forest might be able to answer." Tsunade replied.
Even though the matter of Minato's resurrection had been resolved, numerous mysteries remained. Tsunade believed that the slugs in the Shikkotsu Forest might possess information that could shed light on these unknown.
"While I'm away, you can appoint someone else to oversee the academy's classes." Tsunade suggested.
.......
The Land of Demons.
In the forest, Ameyu dressed as a priestess performed hand seals, accumulating chakra.
"Wind Release: Thousand Faces Wind!"
Numerous small wind blades with faint white auras sliced through the forest. The trees on both sides tumbled one after another, causing tremors and raising clouds of dust.
But this wasn't the end. The small wind blades continued to circle, skimming across the surface of the fallen trees. They peeled away branches and bark, leaving only the sturdy core.
In less than a minute, a single individual had completed a task that would have taken a logging team half a day to accomplish at best.
The ninjas from the Land of Demons cheered as they used natural energy to effortlessly lift the trees onto transport trucks for transportation.
On the other side, Raimei had transformed into lightning, and all observers could see was its figure darting rapidly through the forest. Tree after tree fell, causing joyful exclamations.
Ameyu used Wind Release again to strip the branches and bark from the felled trees, allowing ninja to transport them back.
"What an exhausting job." Raimei remarked as he returned to Ameyu's shoulder. Even sweat had formed on his face.
Though the work wasn't particularly difficult, the sheer volume was exhausting, particularly in terms of chakra expenditure. Raimei believed it was more tiring than battling Konoha ninjas.
"There's still a quarry in the western mountains to deal with. Let's go, sister."
Ameyu carrying Raimei as she flew toward the western mountains.
......
In the city of Oni, the capital of the Land Of Demons, along the road facing the northern city, transport vehicles were making their way. These vehicles were laden with various stones, wood, and construction materials like sand.
The residents living along this route observed this scene and understood that the military controlled zone in the northern urban area was preparing to construct some unusual buildings.
While they were curious about the military's activities, the residents adopted a wait-and-see approach and had no intention of opposing the construction.
The Land Of Demons had always remained a neutral nation, untouched by war. Its military capabilities had traditionally been limited, with their faith placed primarily in the Miroku-sama.
The belief held by the Land Of Demons's residents was simple: as long as their priestess remained, their nation would remain untouched by war. This unwavering belief had been vindicated by historical evidence.
With such profound faith, their priestess's decision to establish a special military territory within the country didn't meet resistance. No matter what happened, Miroku-sama would protect them.
However, the sheer number of vehicles transporting various building materials towards the military city in the north hinted at significant developments.
They had recently begun constructing roads near Oni City, but the nature of these new buildings was still unknown.
"Shiraishi-sama, the workers have been assembled." reported the administrative personnel in charge of logistics to Shiraishi.
Shiraishi's current location was the northernmost point of the North City Military Region in Oni City.
Due to the necessity of expansion in this direction, expansion towards residential and commercial areas wasn't possible. Instead, they continued expanding to the north.
Through the relentless efforts of the earth release ninjas within the organization, the towering stone wall in the north, reaching several tens of meters in height, had been dismantled, revealing a vast plain.
At the far end of this plain lay a lush forest, a lake, and the faint silhouette of mountains in the thick fog.
Over a thousand individuals were involved in this construction effort. Among them, Shiraishi had dispatched twenty earth release ninjas, fifty ninjas who had enhanced their strength and speed with natural energy, and the remainder were ordinary laborers.
These ninjas had previously undergone preparation for construction tasks, enabling them to transition to the work seamlessly. Ninjas, by nature, were highly adaptable.
Shiraishi's limitation in allocating more personnel to construction stemmed from practical constraints. Numerous tasks required immediate manpower, making it impossible to dedicate all resources to construction.
The initial plan involved completing the project in roughly a month, utilizing a workforce consisting of thousands of ordinary laborers, twenty earth release ninjas, and fifty taijutsu-focused ninjas.
This vast expansion included the construction of a ninja training area, an essential military asset. Therefore, maintaining separation from residential and commercial areas was crucial.
Like Konoha, where ninjas lived among the general population, there was a risk of blurring the lines between military and civilian roles, diminishing the effectiveness of ninja operations.
From Shiraishi's perspective, ninjas were soldiers with extraordinary strength, and they were an important department that must be developed in a prosperous and powerful country. Thus, preserving their secrecy was paramount.
The academy fell under the military category and required strict confidentiality measures to ensure the safety of its peop6.
From the outset, Shiraishi had entirely segregated these two distinct groups: the military and the civilian population.
Personnel responsible for patrol duties typically operated within residential and commercial areas. Construction was in full swing, and Shiraishi was on the eay to another area. He had been preoccupied with these matters for a while, leaving him with little time for research.
However, the organization had now accumulated a large pool of research talent. Their focus extended beyond ninjutsu and chakra, encompassing the study of society and history—an essential area of knowledge. Dedicated specialists were required to address these matters.
Shiraishi didn't believe that simply importing knowledge from his previous life would resolve everything. The development histories of the two worlds differed significantly, and the presence of chakra meant that some common knowledge might be incorrect.
Shiraishi had painstakingly sought out individuals with expertise in these fields, recording their experiences and knowledge, which would be disseminated through books.
In Shiraishi's view, the knowledge possessed by these individuals represented a cultural treasure worthy of preservation.
Understanding the essence of things, studying historical narratives, and summarizing experiences and lessons were all instrumental in fostering a world's growth and maturity.
It prevented societies from becoming entrenched in distorted environments and promoted the development of people's aspirations for freedom and peace.
In the ninja world, power alone could accumulate problems, leading to sudden eruptions of conflict.
The history of ninja wars during the Warring States era and after the establishment of the one country, one village system was evidence that the fundamental issue remained unresolved.
Nonetheless, there had been progress. A complete national structure had been formed.
Previously, nations had relied on hiring independent ninja groups for territorial invasions. These groups had achieved success in economic and political domains but lacked significant military power.
This discrepancy stemmed from the fact that these ninjas, in essence, did not belong to any specific nation, and their formidable military strength operated independently.
With the establishment of one-country, one-village, ninja clans established ninja villages. This attracted additional ninja clans, forming a powerful military force that aligned with individual nations.
It was during this period that a nation was fully realized. Shiraishi regarded this as the true contribution of the Senju and Uchiha clans.
This military development increased the nation's integrity, reducing its reliance on external ninja forces and enabling the development of its own ninja military power. This approach yielded better personnel and resource management.
Security personnel responsible for patrol duties in residential and commercial areas were distinctly separate from the ninja military.
Construction continued at a brisk pace, and Shiraishi didn't need to remain onsite continuously.
Shiraishi's next plan involved conducting field inspections in various regions of the Land Of Demons to identify any problems that might have escaped his notice.
Shiraishi firmly believed in the principle that one should not speak without conducting actual investigations. In his view, a leader who did otherwise was a disastrous existence.
"Shiraishi-kun, don't you plan to return tonight?"
Ayane, who walked beside him on a narrow path leading to a village in the country, was feeling bored and sought conversation.
"Well, since the investigation work is time consuming, it's essential to gather information on issues as quickly as possible." replied Shiraishi.
"It's okay to leave this kind of thing to the people below." Ayane suggested.
"No, this is very importance. I need to inspect it personally before I can be rest assured. Road construction can be completed using ninjutsu, and it might be completed in three months or half a year. But education is different; there are no shortcuts. It's a long-term endeavor that must align with the actual circumstances." Shiraishi explained.
The world of ninjas and ordinary people had vastly different educational methods. One couldn't use the methods meant for ordinary people to develop ninjas, nor could they use ninja education methods for regular folks.
The choices each individual made were influenced by their nation and family environments, resulting in complex and changeable situations.
"I always feel it's so troublesome."
Walking along this path, they found it to be dirty, as it had yet to be repaired by the engineering team. It might take some time before this stretch of road could be paved.
They soon reached a secluded village in the Country. Because it was untouched by war, even in this humble village, it appeared that the villagers lived happily and peacefully.
Compared to most places in the ninja world, this village resembled a paradise on earth.
"Are you outsiders? It's been a long while since we've seen any newcomers in our village." Asked an elderly woman carrying a heavy bundle.
"Yes, we are." Shiraishi replied. "You seem tired; let me help you with that."
"Thank you, young man." the elderly woman said. She hesitated for a moment before handing Shiraishi the heavy bundle she had been carrying.
"What's inside? It's quite heavy." Shiraishi inquired, noticing the weight.
"It's a gift from a neighboring village." she explained. "Just follow me."
Accompanied by Ayane, Shiraishi followed the elderly woman into the village. While stability was assured, it wasn't necessarily linked to wealth.
"By the way, are you two a couple traveling together?" the elderly woman asked, noticing their companionship.
Before Shiraishi could reply, Ayane leaned in, pressed her chest against Shiraishi's arm, and beamed at the elderly woman. "Yes, we're engaged, aren't we, dear?"
Shiraishi glanced at her speechlessly, realizing that she had a knack for crossing boundaries.
"I can see that your relationship is very good." the elderly woman noted.
"Yes, we've been sweethearts since childhood and plan to get married soon." Ayane replied.
Shiraishi couldn't help but feel that Ayane was exaggerating.
However, he couldn't accuse her of lying, could he?
"In that case, congratulations." the elderly lady offered her well wishes.
They soon arrived at the elderly woman's house, a single wooden dwelling enclosed by a fenced yard where some wild vegetables were growing. Life here was so simple.
"Place it here." the woman directed, pointing to a spot.
Shiraishi set down the bundle containing souvenirs on the ground.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, it's getting late now,. Do you two want to stay for dinner?" the elderly woman offered.
Just as Shiraishi was about to decline, Ayane, with a blush on her face, embraced Shiraishi's arm and said, "Actually, we came here to experience rural life during our travels. So, please let us join you for dinner, Mother-in-law."
"NotNo trouble, I'll cook, you two can do whatever you want." the elderly woman replied.
It had been a while since she had entertained guests for dinner, and she seemed to be in a good mokd as she headed to the kitchen.
"Seriously, don't make decisions for me casually." Shiraishi whispered helplessly to Ayane since there were no chairs, and he had to sit beside her.
"Anyway, you're here to observe the rural environment of the Land Of Demons. This should be part of your fieldwork. Besides, the old lady seems quite lonely. She will be happy if we stay for dinner." Ayane replied.
Hearing Ayane's reasoning, Shiraishi realized that although it deviated slightly from his original plan, the purpose remained essentially the same. He had intended to investigate this village's situation broadly and learn more about its residents tomorrow.
"What's more, I'm suddenly looking forward to tonight. The countryside seems quite charming."
Ayane added with a beautiful smile.
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