A light drizzle fell, producing soft pattering sounds.
Before the Breeding House stood a familiar figure.
The Rain Ninja captain wore slightly worn Battle Armor, the edges of his cloak dampened by rain. Though he appeared somewhat weary, he maintained an upright posture.
Perched quietly on his shoulder was a small Spearow.
Its feathers displayed a pale brown hue, with raindrops sliding off their tips without making the creature seem disheveled.
The Spearow's eyes were sharp, scanning the surroundings, occasionally fluttering its wings to create faint gusts of chilly, damp air.
The Breeding House door opened gently.
Shiroishi stepped out slowly, still dressed in clean gray garments with neat cuffs, his expression as composed as ever.
Noticing the Rain Ninja captain at the door, he paused briefly before offering a faint smile. "Long time no see."
The Rain Ninja captain quickly waved his hand, his face showing a somewhat awkward but genuine smile.
"Boss..."
He hesitated, then reached up to stroke the Spearow on his shoulder. The little creature proudly lifted its neck and let out a soft chirp.
"Actually, I... came to thank you."
The Rain Ninja captain's tone carried sincerity. "Last time, thanks to the Ninja Beast Egg you provided. Without it, I might be buried in the ground by now."
Shiroishi's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"It seems it has fully hatched."
Shiroishi said softly, his gaze resting on the Spearow.
"Your compatibility is quite good."
The Spearow seemed to understand, proudly spreading its wings and emitting a short cry.
The Rain Ninja captain scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "This fellow has quite a temper, but it saved my life on the battlefield. When we were ambushed by Sand Ninjas' traps last time, it detected the ambush in advance, moving so fast I couldn't even react."
"Is that so?"
Shiroishi smiled faintly. "It seems you have good luck."
"Haha, indeed."
The Rain Ninja captain couldn't conceal the pride in his expression.
"However, this one isn't picky about food. Besides the formula you provided, it has its own complex diet and sometimes enjoys hunting on its own."
Shiroishi looked at him calmly and asked, "You didn't come just to thank me, did you?"
The Rain Ninja captain's expression turned more serious as he lowered his voice. "Yes."
He raised his head slightly, his gaze becoming solemn. "I came today under Lord Hanzo's orders."
"Hanzo?"
The name caused a subtle shift in Shiroishi's eyes.
The Rain Ninja captain solemnly retrieved a letter from his chest, bearing Amegakure's emblem on the surface.
"Lord Hanzo has heard that the Ninja Beasts you cultivate at the Breeding House possess exceptional combat value."
He paused before continuing. "Therefore, Lord Hanzo wishes to establish a long-term partnership with you. He plans to purchase ten Ninja Beast Eggs from you monthly on a regular basis."
Shiroishi listened quietly without immediate response.
"The price will follow market rates—one thousand ryo per egg."
The Rain Ninja captain added, "Ten eggs would be ten thousand ryo. Payment upon delivery, with Amegakure personnel handling collection."
The wind swept by, stirring the wind chime at the entrance. The clear "ding-ling!" sound echoed lingeringly.
Shiroishi's rules for breeding Ninja Beast Eggs were simple: either demonstrate Chakra resonance with the egg to receive it free of charge, or pay one thousand ryo to take one for random incubation.
So far, no one had paid to purchase any.
Shiroishi lowered his gaze, weighing the matter silently in his heart.
For Hanzo,
the price of one thousand ryo of silver was actually considerably cheaper than some Ninja Beasts on the market.
Although Hanzo had considered seizing them by force, without fully understanding the breeding methods of this Breeding House, he had tentatively ordered a batch of Ninja Beast Eggs instead.
The darker intentions behind this were unknown to the Rain Ninja captain.
Moreover, these eggs were essentially products automatically generated by the World Tree, costing nothing in essence.
And most crucially, by having more people hatch Ninja Beasts, he could further unlock the growth of the World Tree.
"Deal."
"Eh?"
The Rain Ninja captain was taken aback, clearly not expecting Shiroishi to agree so readily.
He had originally thought it would take considerable persuasion, given that this Ninja Beast technology was almost equivalent to a new form of military power.
Shiroishi smiled faintly. "The Breeding House's pricing has always been set at this rate. I have no reason to refuse."
Hanzo's purchase was, in fact, driven by his own needs for the Rain Ninja's wartime development.
But conversely, this would also help expand the sales of his Breeding House.
So, Shiroishi quickly retrieved ten Ninja Beast Eggs and handed them directly to the Rain Ninja captain.
Holding the ten eggs, the Rain Ninja captain promptly handed over the letter and documents to Shiroishi before departing.
The door of the Breeding House closed softly, the sound of rain outside muffled by the wooden walls.
Shiroishi stepped inside, casually wiping the water droplets from his shoulders, but he keenly sensed an unusual tension in the air.
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan were seated in the center of the room, none of them speaking.
The firelight flickered across their faces, each expression complex.
Shiroishi paused, his gaze sweeping over the three of them as he frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?"
His tone was calm, yet carried a hint of inquiry.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Finally, Yahiko took a deep breath, looked up, his expression unusually serious.
"I overheard the conversation just now."
His voice was low but tinged with unmistakable anxiety.
"You're selling Ninja Beasts to Hanzo... He'll only use them to stir up new conflicts. If those beasts are deployed on the battlefield, who knows how many more people will die because of it!"
Konan and Nagato watched Shiroishi and Yahiko with concern; more than the issue itself, they feared a clash between the two. Jiraiya remained quietly on the sidelines, saying nothing.
Facing their gazes, Shiroishi did not immediately defend himself.
He simply watched them quietly before speaking slowly after a pause.
"You're right."
His voice was gentle yet carried a weight of solemnity.
"Hanzo certainly won't use these Ninja Beasts for farming or gardening. But have any of you considered what he would do if I refused?"
Yahiko frowned, wanting to argue but momentarily at a loss for words.
Shiroishi stepped closer, his gaze steady as it met Yahiko's eyes.
"The Breeding House has managed to exist in Amegakure's territory not because it's powerful, but because it's useful and holds an element of mystery and unknown intelligence for Hanzo."
"As long as he hasn't uncovered the truth here, Hanzo won't make a move—for now."
"This world is cruel. To survive, one must find a crevice to exist upon the edge of a blade."
"For Hanzo, I can produce Ninja Beasts; for me, the protection within his territory allows me to continue nurturing more life. This is purely a transaction."
Yahiko still clenched his fists, clearly harboring resistance in his heart.
Shiroishi let out a soft sigh, then turned his gaze toward Jiraiya in the corner of the room.
"Yahiko, you think Teacher Jiraiya is strong, right?"
Yahiko froze for a moment, not understanding why he suddenly brought up Jiraiya.
Jiraiya also scratched his head, feeling somewhat awkward as he watched the discussion among them.
"But he's a ninja from Konoha, not from the Land of Rain."
"No matter how much he helps us, he can't truly understand the suffering and struggles of the people in the Land of Rain. The fate of the Land of Rain... can only be changed by ourselves."
These words pierced Yahiko's heart like a needle.
He stared blankly at Shiroishi, unable to speak for a long while.
Shiroishi walked up to him and patted his shoulder.
"You want peace—that is your ideal; I hope our Breeding House can survive and thrive. Right now, we are still too weak. Whether it's ideals or justice, without strength, everything is nothing but an illusion."
He paused, his tone suddenly turning gentle yet more penetrating.
"So, Yahiko, I don't want to argue with you about what is right."
"I just want to ask you: when the day comes that you truly have the power to change this country, what will you do?"
Yahiko fell silent.
The firelight in the room flickered across his face, seeming to burn and waver at the same time.
Shiroishi withdrew his hand and smiled faintly.
"We are all searching for our own answers. But before that, surviving and growing stronger—that is the only prerequisite."
After speaking, he turned and walked toward the back hall, his steps steady and light.
Yahiko was left standing in place, his clenched fists gradually loosening.
By directly shifting the question, he made Yahiko bear the responsibility of being the one to change fate, asking him if he had the confidence to do it.
After a moment of silence, Yahiko's eyes suddenly grew resolute.
He looked directly at Shiroishi, his tone no longer hesitant but filled with burning determination.
"I can do it."
He slowly clenched his fist, his voice growing even steadier.
"Not just me—we can definitely do it together!"
Shiroishi smiled; the problem was resolved.