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I will also release one extra chapter beyond what was promised on Patreon later on, but I need a bit more time to work on it properly.
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The relationship between the mysterious masked man and Zetsu was far more intricate than it appeared on the surface. To outsiders, the two seemed like allies bound by a shared objective, moving in quiet coordination toward the same distant end. In truth, however, their connection was built on something far colder and more fragile. Zetsu was nothing more than a tool left behind by Uchiha Madara, created to observe and restrain the masked man who was, in reality, Uchiha Obito himself. Obito had never intended to place his trust in Zetsu, nor to open his heart to him in any meaningful way, and Zetsu harbored no such intentions either. Their cooperation existed solely because their paths temporarily aligned, nothing more.
Just as Zetsu had stated earlier, Obito's manipulation of Yagura Karatachi and the deliberate intensification of the Bloody Mist were never the result of impulse or momentary cruelty. At their core, these actions were driven by revengeraw, unrelenting, and deeply personal. Everything traced back to the death of Nohara Rin, an event that had carved an irreparable wound into Obito's heart and left him with a hatred toward Kirigakure that could never truly fade. That being said, from another perspective, the control of Kirigakure itself had little direct relevance to the Eye of the Moon Plan. Because of this, Yagura's death and the emergence of a new Mizukage were developments Obito did not feel compelled to immediately address.
Even so, whether because of the effort he had already invested or because of emotions that refused to settle, Obito had no intention of letting Kirigakure escape unscathed. It simply was not his priorityfor now. His attention was focused elsewhere, fixed firmly on a matter that eclipsed all others. The impending massacre of the Uchiha Clan. In recent days, he had already met with Uchiha Itachi, and the two had reached a quiet yet decisive agreement regarding the night of bloodshed and their cooperation thereafter. Obito would remove Itachi from Konohagakure and bring him into the Akatsuki, and in return, Itachi would become an indispensable piece on Obito's board, one that would influence the future far beyond that single night.
...
Precisely because the entire shinobi world was in turmoil, with every great nation entangled in its own internal storms, Chiba seized this rare opportunity to vigorously strengthen Kirigakure's economy and overall power. Within the shinobi world, the relationship between ninja villages and their respective nations had always been one of mutual dependence. Ninja villages fought wars and carried out missions, while nations provided the financial backbone that sustained them. This did not mean that nations were devoid of other forms of conflict, nor that ninja villages lacked independent sources of income. Fundamentally, however, the mission systemaccepting requests, executing them, and receiving rewardswas still financed by the great nations themselves.
From something as trivial as a D-rank mission, such as Uzumaki Naruto helping a daimyo's wife locate her missing cat, to perilous S-rank missions that only elite jōnin could undertake, everything flowed through that structure. Even years later, when Pain unleashed Shinra Tensei and reduced Konohagakure to rubble, the village still had to request enormous reconstruction funds from the Fire Daimyō. No matter how formidable a ninja village became, it was still insignificant when compared to the vast scale of an entire nation. The relationship between the Land of Water and Kirigakure followed the same principle.
During the era of the Bloody Mist, relations between Kirigakure and the Land of Water had been severely strained, at times bordering on open hostility. Financial support was simply out of the question. After Chiba assumed the position of Mizukage, however, he dispatched Elder Gen'yū to oversee diplomatic relations with the Land of Water. While working to ease long-standing tensions, Gen'yū also presented numerous proposals aimed at restoring economic stability and promoting sustainable development. Beyond rebuilding the ninja systemthe most fundamental pillar of allKirigakure's true transformation had only just begun.
Chiba went further, opening multiple avenues to stimulate economic growth. The scale of Kirigakure continued to expand, merchants flocked in droves, shops lined the streets, and traffic flowed endlessly as prosperity became visible to the naked eye. He encouraged the major ninja clans to relocate to Kirigakure or its surrounding regions, steadily increasing the population of the nearby areas. Using his ice-based abilities, Chiba connected the island upon which Kirigakure stood to dozens of surrounding islands. With a single motion of his hand, he could create an ice bridge spanning the sea, linking two islands togetherbridges that would never melt, never collapse, and remain eternally solid and stable. This was the level of power Chiba had reached.
The Land of Water, by its very nature, was an archipelago composed of dozens, if not hundreds, of islands. In the past, their isolation had forced them to develop separately, limiting trade and cooperation. Now, thanks to Chiba's ice bridges, commerce and economic exchange surged to life almost overnight. Not only Kirigakure, but the entire Land of Water began to recover its vitality. Beyond this, after putting an end to the Bloody Mist and opening the nation's borders, Chiba also expanded diplomatic and economic relations with other countries. These efforts extended not only to the other four Great Nations, but also to non-shinobi maritime nations scattered across the seas, such as the Land of Crafts, the Land of Rainbows, and the Land of Tea. Rich in artisans, tea production, and specialized industries, these nations brought further prosperity and cultural exchange.
From internal governance to foreign diplomacy, from economic reform to military restructuring, from education to cultural development, every aspect of Kirigakureand indeed the entire Land of Waterwas undergoing rapid transformation. Civilians and shinobi alike watched this astonishing growth with awe, their admiration and reverence for Chiba, the new Mizukage, growing deeper by the day.
...
Even amidst his relentless workload, Chiba allowed himself brief moments of rest. On occasion, he would visit the secluded estate where Yuki, Haku, and the others resided, ostensibly to "check in" on them. At present, in addition to the mother and daughter, Ringo Ameyuri and Tsuchigumo Hotaru were also staying there. Naturally, this arrangement did not interfere with Chiba's time spent with Yuki. On this particular day, however, when Chiba arrived, Yuki was not home. Instead, he found Ringo Ameyuri guiding Haku through her training.
The moment Haku noticed Chiba, her face immediately lit up with excitement.
"Brother Chiba! NoMizukage-sama!"
Chiba smiled and gently pinched her cheek.
"At home, you can just call me Brother Chiba."
"That's great, Brother Chiba!" Haku said, her small face flushing red as she looked up at him. "Are you here to see Mama? She's not home right nowshe went out to buy something tasty!"
"Is that so?" Chiba chuckled softly. "Then seeing you works just as well."
At that moment, Ringo Ameyuri seemed to gather her resolve, as if she had finally made up her mind. Turning to Haku, she said firmly, "Haku, continue your training on your own. I have something to discuss with your Brother Chiba."
"Yes, Sensei!" Haku replied obediently.
Ameyuri then led Chiba into her room. Chiba glanced at the tsundere woman, her slightly sharp teeth visible as usual, and smiled faintly.
"Well?" he asked calmly. "What is it you want to say?"
Ringo Ameyuri's face turned redfar redder than ever before.
"I… I want to"
Before she could finish, Chiba stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
"There's no need to say anything."