Fugaku Uchiha returned to his compound, where the clan elders waited.
He recounted every detail.
“War again?
We have barely recovered!”
“How many more will fall?”
“If they dare strike, we will make them pay.”
Battle was nothing new to the Uchiha—most had fought in the Third Great War, some even the Second.
They feared no enemy, but they feared Konoha’s weakness.
The new Hokage was young, and doubts lingered.
Yet loyalty ran deep: Konoha was their home, their birthright.
They would bleed for it if they must—especially since the Senju had faded.
Hikuro wasted no time.
Once approved, he set teams to work reclaiming land, building evaporation ponds, and installing processing equipment.
With ninja skill and modern engineering—including cement—he raised a vast, state‑of‑the‑art saltworks near Konoha in less than a month.
Civilians were hired to run it, not shinobi.
This was his first step toward freeing Konoha from noble control, turning from endless slaughter to progress.
He would be the one to break this world’s curse.
Across the ninja realm, every invention was eventually twisted toward war.
Someone had to lead the change—and Hikuro would be that someone.
Minato’s orders set the elite in motion, reaching out to noble allies across the Land of Fire.
That afternoon, Hikuro set out for Nonō’s orphanage.
But he had made a grave mistake—one that had forever turned Mito against him.
She had seen the darkness and arrogance festering within him…
Hikuro shook the thought away.
Nonō was already hurrying to meet him.
“Lord Hikuro—please, come in!”
She led him inside.
Years of war had doubled the number of children, and funds were all but gone.
Repeated requests to the village had gone unanswered.
“Our staff have sought donations from merchants,” she explained softly, “but kindness alone cannot sustain us.”
Hikuro nodded.
“I will allocate funds from my research division to cover all costs.”
Nonō’s eyes lit up with relief.
“Truly?
Thank you—thank you so much!” She bowed deeply, her gratitude plain.
“But there is a price,” Hikuro continued.
“I intend to select some of these children and train them to serve me.”
Nonō paled.
“Surely not… like Root?”
Hikuro shook his head.
“No—not exactly.
But they will become a force that answers only to me.
And you will be the one to teach and guide them.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
He went on: “I will shape these orphans into strength, and pass on my vision to them.
The ninja world needs change—and the idea of true peace must spread far and wide.”
And their mother, Nonō, would be one of the keys to keeping them bound.
Controlling one person was easier than controlling many; reaching her heart was the surest way to reach them all.
Nonō bowed her head, her thoughts in turmoil.
She hesitated, then spoke softly: “Lord Hikuro… might you…?”
She trailed off, fearing the children would be turned into mere tools—convinced he meant to make them cold killers like Root.
Hikuro’s gaze lingered on her, catching the soft rise and fall of her chest.
He stood slightly taller; her loose habit should have hidden everything, yet where the fabric clung, he could still trace the curves beneath.
In Konoha, only Tsunade could match her fullness—or perhaps the Hyūga heiress in her prime.
But Nonō’s beauty was different: quiet, modest, yet burning with quiet fire beneath the surface—a saint in appearance, but alive with warmth underneath.
“The orphanage will never lack funds,” Hikuro said, his voice dropping lower.
“And a skilled new director will be appointed.” His fingers brushed idly, as if tracing a shape he already knew.
“Those are my terms.”
And so their date began.
Time stretched soft and slow.
At first only fingertips brushed; then his hand rested at her waist.
Her breath caught as fabric whispered against skin.
Caution gave way to quiet consent.
When his thumb grazed her lip, she did not pull away—only bit gently, answering him more clearly than words ever could.
They wandered past Ichiraku Ramen, where Hikuro stopped for a bowl—nothing special, but warm and comforting.
Then they passed the women’s baths, if only to see if Jiraiya was lingering nearby… “Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”