"They've already left." After sending off Kushina, Ayaka Uzumaki arrived at Room 18. She couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't as simple as they seemed. Despite acquiring sealing techniques, it was difficult for her to deal with powerful ninjas. Until her Adamantine Chains ability awakened, her sealing techniques were only effective against Chunin or Genin-level foes. Once it came to Jonin-level enemies, they could easily ignore her slow-acting seals.
"There are four people still nearby. After speaking with the other three who were monitoring you, they split up. They've settled in a house 352 meters southwest of the Nakanami District, and they're currently planning to take action against you." Room 18's voice remained calm as he spoke, then he turned to look at Ayaka, asking, "Would you like to know what they discussed?"
Ayaka nodded. Since they were targeting her, she had to know their plans.
A sound began to emerge from the listening device that 18 held. It was one of his creations—a small, flying listening drone that could capture sound waves within a 5-meter radius, analyze them, and then filter out the useful information.
"Lady Kushina's persuasion failed."
"Is there even a chance left for persuasion?"
"According to the information from the 'Fox Courier,' it's unlikely. Their attitude is resolute, and they harbor hostility toward Konoha."
"In that case, we'll follow Plan B. Find an opportunity to bring her back to Konoha and secretly deliver her to the master."
Ayaka clenched her fist in anger as she listened to the conversation. The dark forces of Konoha had made it clear that their goal was to capture her.
"This is the situation, sir," 18 reported. Ayaka wasn't the only one listening to the intelligence. Though Hyuga Mirai wasn't in the capital of the Land of Fire, 18 had already briefed her in detail about everything happening here.
"It seems these four are members of Root," Mirai's voice came through the communicator on Room 18's device. "On the surface, they are here to protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but their real aim is to kidnap Ayaka and return her to Konoha. 18, this is now your task. Stir up trouble between the Land of Fire and Konoha."
"Understood, sir."
Hyuga Mirai paused for a moment before adding, "If things get too dangerous, take Ayaka and leave the capital."
"Understood, sir."
18 responded quickly. If the Root members didn't take action, things would be fine, but if they moved against Ayaka, it would inevitably result in the deaths of a few noble families from the Land of Fire. Moreover, the identities of the ANBU would be recorded. If Konoha were to repeat such actions, it would cause a rift with the Land of Fire. Even if Konoha's ninjas were concealed, as long as they were in the capital, they couldn't escape 18's surveillance.
The Uzumaki Trade Association, though newly established, had grown rapidly. Anyone with a sharp eye could see its immense ability to generate wealth. Over the past period, there had been several attempts—both open and covert—to sabotage the association, but all of them had been swiftly dealt with by 18.
Additionally, Ayaka's medical ninjutsu had helped her establish connections and gain renown, which had instilled some fear in potential enemies. This was how the Uzumaki Trade Association managed to maintain and expand its foothold in the Land of Fire's capital.
However, the association's focus on computers and ninja-related games was already approaching its limit. To push further, they would need to create another front. For now, the expansion into electronic products would provide additional revenue.
18 had already prepared to establish a new branch of the association, focusing on finished pharmaceuticals and mining resources. These resources could be found in smaller countries and would play a significant role in developing military equipment and mechanical guardians.
As for finished medicines, there was immense profit potential in the ninja world. While there were some medicinal products in circulation, most of them were herbal concoctions. Only a few high-end medicines, such as pills and capsules, were available, and even these were mostly controlled by the major ninja villages. Only powerful and wealthy nobles could afford them, while others—no matter how rich—had to make do with potions.
When it came to the division between the rich and the poor, Mirai would gladly declare the ninja world to be the most extreme example of inequality.
Mirai had transmitted a wealth of biological and genetic knowledge to 18. After extensive calculations, she had already determined the synthesis methods for 11 different pharmaceuticals. Once the new branch was up and running, it could rapidly scale. 18 had already created a biological automaton, with only the intelligent system and biological cell muscles left to complete. Once those were ready, the automaton could manage the new association.
As for the intelligent system, 18 had almost finished programming it. The final key steps required Mirai's intervention. The biological cell muscles, however, would take more time. Cultivating Eight-Tails Cells and Hashirama Cells would take time, but these combined cells could even provide chakra as energy when needed, far surpassing the capabilities of half of the existing biological disguises.
Mirai also had her eye on nanotechnology, but without the appropriate materials or laboratories, he planned to focus on combining Tail Beast Cells with Yin-Yang Release to explore the potential. Tail Beast bodies could transform between physical matter and chakra, and understanding that principle could significantly aid in the development of nanotechnology.
In Konoha Village, the advance unit had already gathered and was ready to depart. Unlike the Sand Ninja, the Rock Ninja, who had just killed the Third Raikage, were in a state of peak morale.
Hyuga Mirai didn't need to take on any tasks other than medical duties this time. Now a Medical Jonin, he was also serving as the deputy for this medical team. While his combat abilities were at the Chunin level, Danzo was clearly more concerned with his medical skills.
Sometimes, a powerful medical ninja could change the course of a war. Tsunade could not only treat the wounded, but also replenish her teammates' chakra through her summoning of slugs, with an extremely wide range. If Hyuga Mirai's summoning beast were the slugs from Shikotsu Forest, he could achieve the same feats as Tsunade. Although he hadn't compared directly, Mirai felt that his chakra reserves were now comparable to Tsunade's.
As the troops were on their way, Hyuga Kiyo approached Mirai and stood quite close to him.
"What's going on, Kiyo-sama?" Mirai asked softly, glancing at her, his voice dropping.
"Why are you whispering?" he added, noticing her behavior.
Kiyo's pale white eyes filled with confusion. She looked around, realizing there were no other people nearby except for two branch family guards. She wasn't sure why she needed to be so close if there were no secrets to be shared. Mirai shook his head.
"I was overthinking it. So, Kiyo-sama, do you have something to say to me?"
Kiyo furrowed her brows slightly and asked, a little displeased, "Can't I talk to you if I don't have anything important to say?"
"Of course not," Mirai replied, but then added, "But it's clear that you have something to tell me."
Kiyo hesitated and, though she felt a little upset, she decided not to dwell on it. She then spoke directly.
"My grandfather asked me to remind you to perform well on the battlefield in the Land of Grass. This war is very important to the Hyuga Clan, so..." Her words were fragmented, but Mirai understood the key point.
"Don't worry, Kiyo-sama. As long as my chakra lasts, I will ensure that there are no serious casualties in the medical camp!" With the level of medical ninjutsu he had displayed publicly, Mirai was confident enough to make this promise. As long as Tsunade wasn't around, he seemed to be the most skilled medical ninja in Konoha, which was acknowledged by the other medical ninjas in Konoha Hospital.
The reason he wasn't made the head of the medical camp was that they didn't want him to get distracted by managing the trivial matters, and his age was still a bit of a concern.
"Don't say such foolish things!" Kiyo glared at Mirai and then added, "Even if you're supposed to perform well, there's no need to push yourself so hard. Doing your best is enough."
If Mirai made significant contributions this time, Hyuga Zosuke would apply for resources from the clan's head to help him become the head or deputy head of a department at Konoha Hospital. The more credit Mirai earned, the higher the Hyuga Clan's prestige and standing in Konoha. This mission was also a test from Zosuke to Mirai.
At first, Mirai and Kiyo were the same age and grade, which made him her guard, as they happened to attend school together. If Mirai didn't perform well in the future, his position as a branch family guard would be revoked, and he would be reassigned to serve the Hyuga Clan in another way.
But Mirai had exceeded expectations by excelling in medical ninjutsu instead of following the traditional path of Gentle Fist training. Before the war in the Land of Rivers, Mirai was just someone that Zosuke saw as a potential, though still immature, branch family member. However, after the battle with the Sand Ninja in the Land of Rivers, Mirai began showing remarkable potential.
Before turning twelve, he became the youngest Medical Jonin in Konoha. Given his talent, it wasn't unreasonable to think that, with another eight years of growth, he might surpass even Tsunade. As a result, Zosuke had no choice but to adjust his attitude and began to think about securing Mirai's future service to the clan.
He had also heard that Mirai got along well with another genjutsu-type female teammate, and this was another matter that Zosuke had to consider. The Hyuga Clan's branch families mostly married within the clan, but there was no strict rule against marrying outside the clan. However, the main family had that restriction to keep the purity of the Byakugan bloodline.
The branch family, on the other hand, had more leeway. Most members of the Hyuga Clan considered marrying within the family to ensure the purity of the Byakugan for future generations. But Zosuke feared that Mirai might stubbornly hold onto his own ideas.
If that happened, Zosuke would have to rethink how to approach this issue, as forcing Mirai with the Caged Bird seal wouldn't be an option, given Mirai's position. Even the Hokage would likely intervene in such matters.
Once the war ended, Zosuke was determined to settle this issue while Mirai was still young.
As for the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, there were rumors about a character named Ao, who supposedly acquired her Byakugan from a character introduced in Itachi Shinden.
However, after some research, it seemed that wasn't the case. The truth was that Ao's Byakugan came from her right eye, not from the branch family member Hyuga Mukae, who unlocked his left eye's Byakugan during a battle with Itachi and Shisui.
(End of Chapter)
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