The day after the Hokage inauguration ceremony, many national delegations were leaving one after another.
The major powers did not leave; instead, they chose to stay, presumably to negotiate some secret matters with Konoha.
Judging by the recent actions of the four major powers—Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Water—they were also on the verge of establishing Ninja Villages.
It is believed that yesterday’s ceremony left the delegations of these four major powers feeling a near-terrifying sense of shock.
If they did not establish Ninja Villages, they would be eliminated by the era; this was a fact that all four major powers could foresee.
The exchanges between the major powers did not affect Yayoi.
On the second day of the ceremony, like some other countries, he packed up and left Konoha to return to the Land of Night.
Konoha was in need of reconstruction; currently, apart from the military aspect, the rest of its foundation was very weak.
Fields like education, commerce, and medicine were all blank slates, without a systematic framework built up.
This was Konoha’s biggest gap, but it was also the advantage of the Land of Night.
The Land of Night had been formally established for nearly ten years, and thanks to Yayoi’s step-by-step efforts, there had been considerable achievements in many foundational areas.
In the coming era, he had a certain head start.
There was one more thing that made Yayoi feel relatively at ease: Konoha had not shown any willingness to expand externally.
It was simply occupying the most fertile Land of Fire and seemed to be shouldering the important function of balancing the order of the Ninja World.
In a sense, this was a good thing.
An era where the situation was tense but the environment was relatively stable, and where the strongest were willing to step forward to maintain peace, was undoubtedly an era of great development.
According to the original plot he knew, as long as the general trend did not change, the First Ninja World War would not officially break out until more than a decade after Konoha’s establishment.
In other words, whether the Land of Night could catch up with the pace of the Five Great Nations depended on the next decade, which was the most critical period.
While others were apprehensive, he could take advantage of this prophetic edge to make great strides in development.
“I always feel that the future Ninja World will be completely different from before.” Inside the palanquin, after a day of settling down, Kicho, who had watched the entire Hokage ceremony, was still inwardly shaken, unable to calm down for a long time.
The impact of that overwhelming momentum was more rapid and suffocating than anything else.
Not to mention Kicho, who did not know the future plot developments, even a prophet like Yayoi, despite knowing many things about the future, had been restless at the venue yesterday.
It is hard for people to imagine things they have never seen before.
One Country, One Village—that was the thing that made people feel strange, that they didn’t even dare to imagine.
It was the first time people knew that Ninjas and Ninja Clans…
could actually be linked and bundled together like that.
In the ancient era, there were Ninjas who first understood the essence of Chakra, and people called them the Ninja Sect.
The earliest Ninja Sect was not about Family and Family, but about individuals connecting with each other through Chakra.
Then, as the era evolved, the Ninjas who first mastered Chakra abilities began to act with the Family as the unit.
Consequently, the battles of Ninjas began to rise from individuals to families.
Now, the curtain was falling on single Ninja Clans, and the battles between Ninjas were no longer person to person, or clan to clan, but had become country to country.
“It’s okay, Kicho, I am here.” He held Kicho’s trembling body tightly in his arms and comforted her softly.
Her palms were colder than usual, clearly still not having fully recovered from the suffocation of yesterday.
A fragile individual facing such a torrent of an era can only submit and pray; there is no other way.
Therefore, Yayoi knew that he could not collapse.
Even if it was difficult, he had to grit his teeth and persevere.
Aside from himself, no one in the Land of Night was qualified to stand at the forefront of this great trend and lead everyone through the brambles and thorns.
This was the capacity and courage that a monarch of a country, and a husband, should possess.
This reminded him of a very reasonable old saying: “Establishing a foundation and starting a business; there has never been an emperor who achieved success without effort.” As a monarch, if one could not achieve this, power would become a vacuum, rule would disintegrate, the people would no longer believe, and one would eventually become a complete failure.
“Mm…” Kicho nodded gently, snuggling into Yayoi’s embrace, whispering and enjoying the momentary peace and warmth.
“After we go back…
I’ll sell the clothes and accessories I bought before.” After a long time, Kicho’s voice sounded muffled.
“Why do you say that?” Yayoi was slightly stunned.
“Because the country’s development in the future will need a lot of money, right?” Kicho broke free from Yayoi’s embrace and sat up straight, her pure white pupils revealing a look of seriousness and determination.
“…” Yayoi was a bit dumbfounded.
Although Kicho sometimes had a sharp political sense, she didn’t seem very familiar with national economic aspects.
Then again, she was still so young; it was impossible for her to think of everything, and her sensitivity to money was not high.
“You, sometimes you are really foolishly cute.” Yayoi flicked her fair, delicate nose, as if teasing her innocence.
Under Kicho’s puzzled gaze, Yayoi gave a steady and powerful answer: “That is your rightful expenditure as the General’s wife.
Besides, Kicho, didn’t you do very well?
You communicated with the wives of the civil officials, thereby stabilizing the hearts of the civil officials.
You don’t need to worry about money.
Let’s put it this way: whatever I lack now, I will never lack money.” Or rather, he had known long ago that such an era would come, and for this, Yayoi had prepared a lot of preventive work in the Land of Night.
One of the items was about how to save and spend money.
Various strategies for people’s livelihood, military, diplomacy, etc., had all been prepared with several feasible plans in advance.
Facing the era of One Country, One Village, no country other than the Five Great Nations would be more stable than the Land of Night.
Like the Five Great Nations, the Land of Night had the qualification to sit on the high platform and watch the show in the time to come.
The ones who would really struggle desperately were the small countries with weak risk-resistance capabilities.
Not to mention, the Land of Night had long since transformed; Ninjas and samurai were already accustomed to the system of the Land of Night.
One Country, One Village was the stuff of the Five Great Nations and had nothing to do with the Land of Night.
The reason he was silent was entirely because he was frightened by the military power of Konoha during its initial period.
It was not a worry that the Land of Night’s system could not be compared to the Five Great Nations.
However, was he the only one who was frightened?
The delegations and Ninjas of the other four major powers were also the ones who were severely shocked.
“Is that so?” After listening to Yayoi’s explanation, Kicho also doubted whether she had been taking things for granted.
Thinking about it this way, her little expenses, when elevated to the national level, were completely a manifestation of her own panic.
“Besides, if you don’t buy more beautiful clothes, wouldn’t night life be too boring?
I still want to see more of your different beautiful poses, Kicho.” Yayoi touched his chin, quietly switching to a private topic.
“My Lord Husband, you…” Looking at Yayoi who had completely relaxed his mindset, Kicho was also amazed at how optimistic and strong his heart was.
It was as if there was nothing in this world that could break him.
‘This is the husband I love the most.’ Kicho felt inexplicably moved and proud.
Although they had known each other for less than half a year, if this man really failed, she would willingly commit suicide for him.
◎ Meanwhile, Konoha.
The two major clans at the core of the Village—Senju and Uchiha.
At this moment, within the Uchiha Clan, a predictable split was occurring.
“Izayoi, are you really planning to leave the clan?” An Uchiha Elder over sixty years old, with graying long hair, looked at the young Genius girl in front of him, only thirteen years old, who had already awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan, and sighed deeply.
“Of course.
Just the thought of living with people from the Senju makes me feel physically sick.
Elder Gaku, are you going to stop me?” The girl named Izayoi spoke her inner thoughts to the clan Elder.
The gloom on her face meant that the matter could not be eased.
This girl was the Uchiha girl—Uchiha Izayoi—whom Yayoi had met once a few months ago when he captured the Seven-Tails.
After receiving the news of the Uchiha and Senju alliance from Yayoi that day, she rushed back to the clan without stopping, only to see the scene of the Uchiha and Senju alliance.
Although she made a big scene, no one took this little Uchiha girl seriously.
The Senju Clan Chief, Senju Hashirama, even patted her head, laughing heartily with a ‘Gahaha’, saying childish things like ‘From now on, both sides will no longer have to fight and kill each other’ and ‘The Uchiha and the Senju will be one Family’.
She was so angry that she kicked the other party in the knee on the spot, almost causing a diplomatic incident.
Thanks to Hashirama himself not taking it to heart, only laughing and saying: ‘If getting hit a few more times can lead to peaceful coexistence, little girl, feel free to punch me a few times’…
Afterwards, her foot was swollen.
Was the body of the Senju Clan Chief made of steel?
Undoubtedly, she was regarded as an ignorant child by the Senju Clan Chief.
Izayoi felt that as the winner, the Senju did not liquidate the Uchiha but instead invited the Uchiha to form an alliance; there must be some ulterior motive behind it.
She did not believe that the Senju Clan Chief, Hashirama, was an easily happy fool.
He must be that kind of insidious man who hides a knife in his smile.
After all, there are no Ninjas that naive.
But no matter the reason, Izayoi did not intend to continue staying in this Ninja Village called Konoha.
She would rather starve or freeze to death outside than live in a place with the Senju Clan.
“If you have such thoughts, even if I wanted to stop you, it would be difficult, right?
I can’t tie Izayoi up for a lifetime to make you obedient.
Besides, you are not the only one in the clan who thinks this way.
You should have contacted those people, right?” Uchiha Gaku’s dark pupils seemed to see through Izayoi’s thoughts.
On his wrinkled, aged face were the traces carved by time.
As an Uchiha Elder in his sixties, he had experienced the long struggle with the Senju Clan.
There were not many Uchiha Ninjas left of his generation who could live safely until now.
Some had let go, but for others, as time passed, that hatred for the Senju grew day by day.
“Since you know, why ask these things?
No matter what, it is impossible for us to coexist with the Senju people.” Izayoi’s young face was silent for a moment, then her nose made a soft snort.
Yes, she was not the only Uchiha clansman who wanted to leave Konoha.
Although most Uchiha clansmen had compromised with the Senju Clan and were willing to coexist peacefully.
Because by this point, whether it was Uchiha or Senju, they were actually tired of killing.
Previously, the Uchiha had been defeated, but the clan still retained considerable strength and could have completely relocated and left, waiting for a new powerhouse to be born to compete with the Senju Clan again.
But due to the weariness of war, coupled with the good terms offered by the Senju, the compromise faction appeared in large numbers within the Uchiha.
As a result, the radicals who wanted to continue fighting began to be excluded, suppressed, and their voices stifled.
As a member of the radical faction, Izayoi would rather be killed than surrender to the Senju.
Her parents, sisters, close friends, and relatives had all died at the hands of the Senju.
Her deep-seated hatred made it impossible for her to coexist peacefully with the Senju people.
Even if she didn’t go for revenge, she couldn’t accept living with the Senju people.
Under this background, the radicals began to unite in secret, making the decision to leave Konoha and stay away from the Senju.
“Are you going to stop me, Elder Gaku?
Or is this Madara’s decision?” As the representative of the compromise faction, the Uchiha Clan Chief Uchiha Madara had once been the Ninja Izayoi respected the most.
But now…
he was the person Izayoi despised the most.
Similarly, Madara was also hostile to the radicals.
In their minds, ‘Madara’ as the Clan Chief had already died.
“Lord Madara doesn’t care about this.” “Ha, that’s true.
That guy is probably mixing with the Senju people now.” Izayoi revealed a mocking smile.
The Clan Chief who previously needed to be respectfully addressed could now naturally be called ‘that guy’.
Failure is not terrible; weak compromise is the shame.
“Perhaps, but the clansmen are indeed very tired.
Not just the Uchiha, the clans that joined Konoha are also feeling fear and numbness in the long-standing fighting and hatred, afraid of when they will die and their clan will be destroyed.” Gaku’s words were earnest; he neither affirmed nor denied, but just stated the facts he knew.
When he was young, he was among the most radical Uchiha Ninjas.
As for now, for the stability and continuation of the clan, he could also manage to let go of hatred.
These few months of stability had made him, an old man who had fought for a lifetime, understand the preciousness of peace.
“Hmph, weak rhetoric.
If you are not going to stop me, then I am leaving.
Everyone is waiting for me.” Izayoi sneered, becoming a bit impatient with this rambling old man.
Although this old man was a close friend of her late grandfather and had taken good care of her in the past; her Ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and the techniques for using the Sharingan were all taught by him.
He was both a close Elder and a mentor-like figure.
“…Can I ask one more thing?
After you leave, how do you plan to live?” Gaku suddenly asked when Izayoi was about to lift her foot to leave.
“How else?
Naturally, find a new employer and work for money.” Izayoi spoke without thinking.
“…Since that is the case, take Meira with you.” Gaku’s eyes flickered.
“Uncle Meira?” Izayoi frowned.
Uchiha Meira.
This person was an elite of the Uchiha, whose Sharingan was at the three-tomoe level and trained to the extreme.
He was the Ninja in the clan most likely to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, and also Gaku’s personal bodyguard.
In the previous war with the Senju, he did not appear on the battlefield but acted as a reserve, performing the important task of protecting the clan.
“The era is different.
If you still hold on to past concepts, you will die very quickly.” Intending to retort, but seeing Gaku’s suddenly stern look, Izayoi mumbled and had to nod in agreement.
If she did not agree to Gaku’s condition, Izayoi suspected that she would not be able to leave the clan at all.