The development of Konohagakure was in full swing.
The other four major nations were also actively preparing for the arrival of the “one country, one village” era.
It was believed that soon, the other four ninja villages would follow Konohagakure’s example and take root in the land of this great nation.
At this moment, in the Night Kingdom.
The Shogun’s residence in Yomi Castle.
An urgent invitation sent from the Land of Fire was placed on Yayoi’s desk.
Yayoi quickly finished reading the above text.
It was not a large amount, and he could grasp the overall picture with just a quick glance.
Its meaning was clear.
Through the conference, Konohagakure had decided to appoint Senju Hashirama as the First Hokage, and this formal decision would be conveyed to the entire ninja world through the lord of the Land of Fire.
However, although the resolution had passed, the ceremony had not been held.
Perhaps feeling that such an important event should not be rushed, the daimyo of the Land of Fire and the ninjas of Konoha decided to send invitations to high officials of each country to witness the major ceremony of the First Hokage’s inauguration.
The ceremony was scheduled to be held in mid-January of the following year, and since it was not too tight time-wise, each country could secure ample time to prepare in advance.
“The First Hokage… is that the title of the leader of a ninja village?”
Irori was also staring at the invitation, muttering the word “Hokage.” It was a word she had never seen before.
This was a title given only to the leader of Konohagakure.
It was named after “Fire” and symbolized the close connection with the Land of Fire.
“So, Father, will you attend the ceremony?”
Irori asked Yayoi’s thoughts.
“It wouldn’t be bad to go and see.
After all, there are some things whose meaning can only be understood by seeing them with your own eyes.”
Yayoi spoke frankly about his inner thoughts.
Konohagakure, the Hokage…
The era of one country, one village that I remember has officially begun.
Therefore, he did not want to miss such a significant event and wanted to witness the birth of the Hokage with his own eyes.
Irori nodded, her expression instantly becoming serious.
“Then please leave the security measures to me.”
At that time, Konohagakure would inevitably be overflowing with influential figures.
Even if the Senju and Uchiha clans were overseeing the situation, there was no guarantee that trouble would not occur.
There were far too many fools who were not aware of their own deaths and did not understand the difference in abilities.
As the Shogun of the Night Kingdom, Yayoi was targeted for assassination dozens of times every year.
To Irori’s eyes, the abilities of some assassins seemed completely comical.
She could not understand how someone with such limited power could even attempt an assassination.
Therefore, one should not underestimate human foolishness.
Among fools, there were those who did not notice the difference between themselves and others at all and believed themselves to be invincible.
“Yeah, please.
But don’t worry too much, Irori.
Konoha will definitely have tight security.”
No one would try to carry out an operation to destroy Konoha at this time.
Yayoi had not imagined that such a thing would happen.
It was far too abstract.
The current Konohagakure should be grateful for Senju Hashirama’s noble character, who did not carry out a plan to destroy the ninja world.
If he had not suppressed Uchiha Madara, the ninja world would truly have been destroyed.
“By the way, Irori, your power should have stabilized recently, right?”
Yayoi was concerned about Irori’s health condition.
She must have absorbed a large amount of Tailed Beast chakra and made it her own.
In addition to Irori’s own powerful chakra, the amount of chakra accumulated in Irori could be said to be close to that of a Tailed Beast.
With the power of Ice Release, it would not be difficult to defeat a Tailed Beast alone.
Of course, setting aside the Nine-Tails, he recalled that the Nine-Tails had half-killed Orochimaru when it was in its four-tailed form.
Even with a sealing technique like Chibaku Tensei, it had been impossible to suppress the Nine-Tails in its eight-tailed form.
Yayoi felt that the Nine-Tails and the other Tailed Beasts were like two different species.
“Yes, the chakra has stabilized, so there is no longer any danger in going into battle.”
Irori smiled confidently, feeling the enormous and stable chakra within her body.
At first, it had certainly been difficult to get used to this powerful chakra, and it had placed a considerable burden on her body.
However, after getting to know each other well over several months, this chakra had become like flesh and blood to her — a part of her body.
This was no longer a burden but a more powerful boost.
Even if she were to fight the Seven-Tails again, or even fight the complete form of the Seven-Tails, she would be able to defeat it alone.
Tailed Beasts were very powerful, but their abilities were limited, and because of their giant bodies, they were easy targets.
As long as one had countermeasures, dealing with them was not difficult for her.
For jinchūriki who could skillfully borrow the power of Tailed Beasts, it would actually be more difficult to deal with.
“It’s unfortunate that there is no second Tailed Beast in the Night Kingdom.
Now that the borders are closed, attempting to capture a Tailed Beast would involve considerable difficulties, and the disadvantages would outweigh the advantages.”
Yayoi sighed in regret.
The most important point was that Tailed Beasts were mainly distributed within the territories of major nations.
If it had been a small nation, he would have gone to capture the second Tailed Beast long ago.
However, major nations were now facing far too great a danger.
There were too many powerful ninjas there, and there were not a few ninjas targeting the power of Tailed Beasts.
Although Irori was strong, she did not have enough power to rampage within the territory of a major nation.
“However, without knowing the appropriate method, Tailed Beasts are actually very difficult to use, and above all, they are extremely difficult to tame.”
Irori did not sympathize.
The Night Kingdom was now struggling to control the second Tailed Beast.
Sealing a Tailed Beast required advanced techniques, and Yayoi’s ability to seal one of the Seven-Tails had already reached its limit.
He no longer had enough energy left to seal a second Tailed Beast.
If a Tailed Beast was sealed inside the body, most ninjas would die instantly.
Even if the Tailed Beast was completely sealed, it could occasionally cause problems or go berserk.
Without mature technology, the power of Tailed Beasts would become a burden rather than an asset.
“If only we had the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan…”
Yayoi could not help but feel envious.
The sealing techniques obtained from the Hagoromo clan and other destroyed small ninja clans were still too low-level.
The method of sealing Tailed Beasts he was currently performing was a combination of sealing techniques and physical barriers, and furthermore, he needed to periodically weaken the power of the Seven-Tails to ensure no problems occurred, which consumed a large amount of his energy.
If there were advanced sealing techniques, such complicated processes would not be necessary.
“If they accept the marriage alliance… but the position of principal wife has already been decided.”
Yayoi thought of the path of a marriage alliance at that point.
He had already tasted the benefits of exchanging techniques through marriage with the Hyuga clan.
He had once obtained the corpse of an Uzumaki clan ninja in the underground black market and studied that clan’s chakra.
Like him, this ninja clan’s chakra also possessed strong life force.
However, its activation level was much lower than that of his chakra.
“If it’s about activation techniques, I might be able to provide some support.”
Yayoi’s strength lay in the fact that his chakra was naturally blessed with extraordinary life force.
This innate vitality was difficult to convey to outsiders, but that did not mean he had not researched his own special chakra.
Based on his understanding of his own chakra long ago, he had developed techniques for chakra activation.
Although this level of activation did not reach the activation level of his own chakra, it could also be applied to others, and outsiders could learn from it as well.
This was a basic technique.
If one had flexibility, they could develop even more techniques based on this.
Like the Rasengan, it could be extended in multiple directions.
He had always considered it one of his most important techniques.
Even when he arranged the marriage alliance with the Hyuga clan, he had not provided this technique.
According to him, this fundamental technique of activated chakra was more important than incomplete Yin-Yang Release.
The higher the activation level of chakra, the more comprehensively the three areas of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu were strengthened.
If one continued practicing for a long period, it might even extend one’s natural lifespan.
“No, that is nothing more than wishful thinking.
The potential of this technique far surpasses the value of a marriage alliance.
We must not focus only on the status quo.”
Yayoi abandoned that idea.
This basic technique had a certain popularity and also led to improvements in the three areas of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.
If it were exposed, it would become extremely dangerous.
Yayoi regained his composure, but his longing for the powerful sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan did not disappear.
“Irori, leave things here to me.
I’m going underground.
Also, call Kakuzu over here.
That ‘thing’ should be almost finished by now.”
Yayoi lightly tapped Irori’s face and told her to stay here and handle official duties in his place.
This was the first time something like this had happened.
Irori’s importance went without saying.
When he was absent, her power was equal to his.
Although only a few months had passed, it was clear to everyone’s eyes that Irori was the acting Shogun of the Night Kingdom.
“Yes, Father.”
Irori faithfully carried out her duties, including handling official duties in Yayoi’s place.
….
The castle tower referred to the underground space.
Its depth far exceeded the height of the castle tower on the ground.
Not only in depth but also in width, it was incomparable to the small castle tower.
There were many entrances and exits here, leading to secret passages that extended to the outer courtyard, inner courtyard, and even outside the Shogun’s residence.
The unit guarding this place was also the strictest and most powerful.
Furthermore, there were various mechanisms and traps, as well as numerous dangerous and powerful explosive devices.
If an outsider set foot here, they would undoubtedly be reduced to ashes.
Guarding this place were not only ninjas and samurai, but also mysterious special humanoid puppets that only Yayoi could create.
They were naked and maintained a basic human form.
The important joints of the human body had become lubricated circular bearings, and their smooth, hard skin could withstand swords and also directly withstand attacks from low-power ninjutsu.
Most importantly, in addition to being physically sturdy, these humanoid puppets were wrapped in heavy armor and swords, further enhancing their defense and attack power.
They drifted through the sky of the underground space in strange ghost-like postures, patrolling 24 hours non-stop.
From this characteristic, Yayoi named these puppets “Ghost Puppets.”
Without using chakra threads or other manipulation methods, they simply wandered.
The eyes beneath their helmets emitted green light.
They were like a group of ghosts that had come from the underworld.
Silent, without a single sound.
Yayoi was already accustomed to such a sight.
This was the most important facility in the Shogun’s residence.
Ninjas and samurai were only one of many barriers.
The astonishingly large number of Ghost Puppets also formed a powerful defensive line.
However, this was limited to this area, where the Ghost Puppets could move flexibly in “wireless” mode.
Inspired by the Rinnegan, the Six Paths Puppets used special signal receiving devices to remotely transmit chakra and control their movements.
Although he did not have the Rinnegan, in the field of puppetry, his activated chakra was more advantageous, and this technique could be easily reproduced.
Otherwise, how could Irori have obtained the title of “Puppeteer” on her own?
During the war to found the Night Kingdom, Irori had already possessed combat capabilities, but those capabilities were incomparably inferior to now.
The reason he had been able to sweep through the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Crystal was mainly thanks to his own ninjutsu and taijutsu, as well as his large-scale puppet army.
He could even manipulate enemies with chakra and make them kill each other.
The battle that made him most famous was the one where he single-handedly collapsed a castle defended by a thousand warriors in one night, creating a river of blood.
There, a living puppet play was performed, creating a terrifying hell where not a single person survived.
Thus, the title “Demon of Hell” began to spread.
The limit of a puppeteer was ten fingers, but Yayoi certainly had ten fingers.
However, when chakra was fully activated, dozens of chakra threads could be released from each finger, allowing precise control of puppets.
Thanks to activated chakra, puppets could move nimbly.
This was his unique technique.
In the first place, no one had stipulated that only one chakra thread could be released from a finger.
He was the greatest puppeteer of this era and embodied what a true puppeteer was.
…
Lower floor.
The number of ninjas and samurai had drastically decreased, leaving only the ghost-like puppet units floating in the air.
Deep in the sealed space appeared a steel device the size of a two-story house, resembling a human brain, protected by multiple layers of thick hemispherical glass domes, while radiating minute chakra waves to its surroundings.
It was filled with a large amount of solution, and bubbles were being released as if this steel brain was breathing.
Numerous spells were engraved on the glass cover, and numerous magical seals were applied, further enhancing the device’s defensive capabilities.
This was the mastermind controlling the Ghost Puppet Legion in the underground space.
It continuously diffused activated chakra 24 hours a day and connected to the chakra signal devices inside the puppets, enabling wireless control of the puppet army in the underground space.
Its advantage was the ability to control over 2,000 puppets without manual operation.
In other words, over 2,000 Ghost Puppets were guarding this place.
However, the disadvantage was also clear: it could not go beyond the boundaries of the Shogun’s residence.
Beyond this range, the Ghost Puppets would stop moving and lose their lives.
Yayoi glanced at the steel structure resembling a human brain inside the glass case and accurately grasped the situation.
This steel brain was essentially a puppet created by Yayoi.
Unlike Irori, its main body was primarily made of steel, with many precious chakra metals added, and a concentrated chakra core was created before final completion.
This puppet with an iron brain had no name — only the codename Zero.
They did not possess advanced intelligence but only mechanical consciousness and coldly followed Yayoi’s orders to maintain the Ghost Puppet army underground.
Of course, Irori, the highest-ranking existence created by Yayoi, also held command authority here.
This was an operable puppet weapon created solely to organize a large-scale army and conduct war.
“The situation is perfect, and performance is much more stable than before.
From now on, improving performance will also become much easier.”
After examining this steel brain, Yayoi made his own evaluation.
According to his original plan, the brain puppet “Zero” should have been able to freely control over 10,000 puppets and expand the activity range of the Ghost Puppet army throughout the entire Night Kingdom.
However, achieving this was extremely difficult both in terms of ability and technology, and at present, it was nothing more than an imaginary existence on paper.
“Lord Yayoi, I have arrived.
Do you have any business with me?”
Footsteps could be heard from behind him, and Kakuzu, a ninja dressed in black and wearing a mask, appeared right behind Yayoi, interrupting his thoughts.
“I’m sorry to call you at this hour, but there is something important I must give you.
Given the time you’ve been here, it should be finished by now.”
Without explaining anything, Yayoi walked in another direction and signaled for Kakuzu to follow.
Although the steel pipes were sealed, the inside was quite spacious, large enough for even large spiritual beasts to pass through.
“This is my first time coming to this place…”
Kakuzu was paying attention to the surrounding situation.
He rarely came to the lower floors of the castle tower.
He only knew that many dangerous things were stored there.
The last time he came here was when he sent the Seven-Tails and sealed it here.
As far as he knew, the severely injured Nanabi had been confined by Yayoi in a sealed room in this underground space.
“There are many dangerous things here, so if you touch them carelessly, it will be a big problem.”
Yayoi gave an explanation.
Finally, the two stopped in front of a huge iron gate.
A large talisman was pasted on the iron gate.
When Yayoi lightly pressed his palm against it, the talisman immediately peeled off from the iron gate and fluttered down.
The iron gate slowly opened, and purple fluorescence leaked out from the gap in the door.
Beyond the door was like another world, exuding an atmosphere of coldness and mystery.
“Come in.
I think you will be able to use it perfectly.”
Following Yayoi into the room, Kakuzu wondered what Yayoi was going to give him.
Beyond the iron gate was unbelievably vast.
It was hard to imagine that such a huge artificial structure existed hundreds of meters underground.
Numerous large cylindrical glass containers filled with green solution were lined up, containing many strange creatures and artificial objects that consciously breathed and emitted bubbles.
Here, only the sound of bubbles gurgling could be heard.
It was silent, as if dead silent.
Upon reaching the last glass container, Kakuzu could clearly see its contents.
It was different from before.
It was a mass of threads.
No, that was wrong.
It was a mass of intertwined creatures with black tentacles that still seemed to be breathing.
They intertwined in a circle, beating like a heart.
A living tentacle-like heart.