I will use the ninja world to aid my cultivation of immortality.

After all, not just anyone can easily encounter an elite Jonin like Zabuza in a small place like the Land of Waves.

"You did a great job. Each of you will be credited with a B-level mission reward. You can collect the mission reward directly from the mission hall."

However, this is a long-term mission, so your rest period will be relatively short. You will be going to carry out the mission again in three days.

Inside the office, looking at the group of star ninjas across from him, who looked travel-worn, Naraku offered words of encouragement with a smile.

This group of Star Ninjas were the people he had arranged to go in search of the elixir.

They have clearly returned safely, bringing back the first batch of elixirs for Naraku.

If you want a horse to run, you can't stop feeding it grass.

He's not such a rude person.

So when the elixir was successfully brought back, Naraku generously recorded a B-rank mission reward for each of these people.

The mission levels and rewards set by Naraku in Hoshigakure are comparable to those in Konoha.

The reward for a Class B mission is between 50,000 and 150,000 taels of silver.

Compared to the dangers of searching for elixirs, the rewards for a Rank B mission are definitely a bonus.

"Thank you, sir!"

The Star Ninjas were overjoyed by the reward offered by Naraku and immediately bowed in gratitude.

After the Star Ninjas withdrew, Naraku couldn't wait to use "Shrinking the Earth to an Inch" to teleport to the ninth-floor training room with the submitted spiritual medicine.

Although this was Naraku's first time searching for medicinal herbs, and in order to make a quick profit, he only searched within the medicine shops in the Land of Bears, the quantity and quality of the medicinal herbs he obtained this time were greater than when he first searched in Konoha.

This is not surprising.

Although Konoha is a great ninja village, ordinary people cannot identify spiritual herbs.

The number of herbal medicine shops in Konoha is naturally less than that in the entire Land of Bears.

Even if it's a matter of probability, it's only right that the Bear Kingdom harvests more spiritual herbs.

One by one, the spiritual herbs were consumed and refined by Naraku.

During this period, with the help of his True Qi Shadow Clone, he never stopped cultivating.

Now, with the help of the spiritual medicine, his cultivation is finally approaching the perfection of the third level of Qi Refining.

"I'm almost there. Even with normal cultivation, it should only take about half a month for me to reach the perfect third level of Qi Refining."

As the last spiritual herb was refined, Naraku felt a surge of joy as he experienced a significant increase in his true energy in his dantian.

Once he reaches the perfect third level of Qi Refining, he can then begin his breakthrough again.

Once you break through the fourth level of Qi Refining, you will successfully enter the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

The most direct benefit of this breakthrough is an improvement in strength.

Naraku knew better than anyone that the disappearance of the Third Kazekage was the trigger for the Third Shinobi World War.

In other words, war could break out at any moment.

With the Land of Bears potentially becoming a battlefield between Sunagakure and Iwagakure, every bit of strength he gains now will become his confidence in the face of war.

The materials brought back by the Third Hokage have been successfully refined by Naraku into a second batch of [Spirit Detection Compasses].

Moreover, due to advancements in weapon crafting techniques and the availability of more materials, a total of fifty [Spirit Detection Compasses] were crafted this time.

Naraku, of course, wouldn't waste such an opportunity.

In addition to the existing manpower, he selected another group of people from Xingren Village and sent them out to find more spiritual herbs for him.

"Your subordinate has successfully brought back funds from the Land of Waves, as you have accomplished your mission!"

Rain and Summer Star knelt on one knee to pay their respects. Summer Star then stood up and respectfully handed several sealing scrolls to Naraku.

"Thanks for your hard work!"

Naraku responded with a smile while sizing up the two who had returned after being away for several days.

The rain's changes were relatively minor, but Xia Rixing's changes were much more pronounced. Even though he was trying to restrain himself, he still unconsciously exuded a murderous aura.

This murderous aura was not directed at Naraku, but rather an instinctive reaction formed after too much killing.

It is clear that the plundering of the Land of Waves by 'Liangshanbo' involved a great deal of bloodshed.

Especially for someone like Xia Rixing who hasn't been involved in much killing, the frequent battles have already given his soul a baptism.

"My lord, besides robbing all the wealthy and noble people in the Land of Waves on this trip, I also took the opportunity to visit the gold exchange." After handing over the looted funds to Xia Rixing, Yu also got up to report to Naraku.

"Oh? It seems you've discovered something?" Naraku looked at the other person.

Yu nodded, but didn't speak immediately. Instead, she glanced at Xia Rixing.

Noticing the other person's gaze, Naraku smiled and said, "It's alright, just say it."

Chapter 48: The Third War Breaks Out

"Yes!"

Seeing Naraku's attitude, Yu no longer hesitated and immediately said in a deep voice, "I found our bounties at the gold exchange. My bounty and Wolf's bounty is 30 million taels, Captain Nonou's is 45 million taels, and your bounty is as high as 80 million taels, sir."

"Hehe, not surprising. Given our situation, it's normal for Danzo or the upper echelons of Konoha to use the gold exchange if they can't find us." Naraku was surprised by what Yu said, but not unexpected.

As for the bounty on his head being as high as 80 million taels, he didn't care at all.

After all, he didn't bother to dispose of the bodies when he killed Yamanaka Hayato and the others.

In other words, as long as Konoha's subsequent forces can find the bodies of Yamanaka Hayato and the others, they can completely read their memories from their heads.

Nearby, Natsumi Hoshino, who had overheard Naraku and Ame's conversation, stared at the two of them with her mouth slightly agape in astonishment.

She knew that Yu had left for a while when they returned from the Land of Waves, but she didn't know that Yu had gone to the Gold Exchange, nor did she know that Naraku and the others had a bounty on their heads at the Gold Exchange.

Most importantly, the conversation between Naraku and Ame also touched upon Konoha, the strongest ninja village in the current ninja world.

Xia Rixing's heart raced; it seemed she knew the secret of Lord Naraku and the others.

"Alright, don't worry about the bounty. Just make sure you wear a mask and hide your identity when you're on the move." Naraku reassured Yu before telling her to leave.

After Yu left, only Naraku and Natsumihoshi remained in the office.

Naraku looked at the other person and asked with interest, "Is there anything you want to say?"

Xia Rixing hesitated for a moment, then said with a firm expression, "Don't worry, sir. No matter where you come from, you are now the leader of our Xingren Village."

Whether it's the display of martial prowess or the changes in Hoshigakure today, Naraku has already won over everyone in Hoshigakure, including Natsumi Hoshi.

Xia Rixing was quite self-aware. Although she was shocked that Naraku and his group had some kind of relationship with Konoha, and that they might even be Konoha's rogue ninja, she immediately corrected her stance.

"Yes, I'm glad to hear you say that. Alright, you can go and rest now!" Naraku said with a smile.

He wasn't actually that worried about Xia Rixing.

Based on his understanding of Xia Rixing, her personality, and the control exerted by Xingren Village, she wouldn't dare to reveal anything to outsiders.

This is why he reassured Yu to continue speaking when she gestured for him to.

During the 'Liangshanbo' operation, the population of Xingren Village did not stop growing, and people were still being sent there.

However, due to funding issues, the Ninja Academy stopped recruiting students.

After all, the growth of ordinary villagers not only puts less pressure on resources, but also brings more labor.

As for now.

With the successful first raid on Liangshanbo and the resulting increase in funds, the Ninja Academy naturally began to expand again.

Although the Land of Waves is a small country, and even quite impoverished, this poverty is limited to the common people; the wealthy and nobles live quite comfortably.

Therefore, the looting was quite successful, greatly relieving the financial pressure on Xingren Village.

As for the Ninja Academy, it expanded by another 300 students, bringing the total number of ninja reserves to around 2,300.

Meanwhile, as time went on, the benefits of Naraku refining the [Star] into a magical artifact gradually became apparent.

With better stimulation of chakra, all of the original two thousand students in the Ninja Academy, except for the newly added three hundred, have now successfully refined their chakra.

Some of the more gifted individuals have even officially begun practicing the "Peacock Mystic Technique".

Such progress is something even the five great ninja villages, which select their students with great care, would envy.

After returning to the village, Yu and Xia Rixing's 'Liangshanbo' did not stay for long. They simply rested for a few days before setting off again.

It is worth mentioning that, in order to conceal their identities and avoid implicating the Star Ninja Village.

The members of 'Liangshanbo' all wear black combat uniforms similar to those of the Anbu, and all wear masks with sealing techniques set by Naraku himself.

In addition to reinforcing the mask, the sealing technique also has the ability to isolate the senses.

Especially when this sealing technique was performed by Naraku using his true energy, the isolation effect was even stronger.

Even the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan couldn't see through the masks to get a clear look at Yu and the others.

The successful operation of 'Liangshanbo' undoubtedly signifies that Xingren Village's development will reach a new level.

If we just develop step by step, it's only a matter of time before we reach the scale of the Five Great Ninja Villages, but become the 'Sixth Ninja Village' like Amegakure.

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