Start with a Zanpakuto and build the strongest Mist Village.

Who in this world would complain about having more power at their disposal, especially a strategic unit like a tailed beast?

Ultimately, it's because Lord Ye wants to stop the evil people's conspiracy at its root!

Chapter 174 Shadow Isles and the Unseen Empire!

The Fourth Mizukage, Mizuki Yoru, was truly great and selfless.

In order to curb the evil plots of ambitious individuals, they were even willing to give up nuclear deterrence such as the Tailed Beasts.

Such vision and magnanimity are perhaps the reasons why Minazuki Yoru was regarded by the villagers as the greatest Kage in the history of Kirigakure!

The people present all thought the same thing, and their gazes toward Ye became even more respectful and reverent.

These are the people they follow!

"By the way, Kisame, you guys are here on a B-rank bandit suppression mission, right?" Yoru glanced around and nodded in satisfaction. "You did a very good job. I'll file the mission later and have the Anbu distribute the mission reward to you."

"Thank you for your help, Lord Mizukage."

"This is simply my duty."

Ye smiled and waved, then his figure transformed into a wisp of white smoke and disappeared from the spot.

The people present were not surprised at all. They knew very well how busy Mizuki Yoru was on a daily basis. Even with the help of his two secretaries, Terumi Mei and Mizuki Akira, there were still a lot of things that Yoru needed to handle.

People often see Mizuki Yoru busy at both ends of the village.

According to incomplete statistics, there are at least a dozen clones working throughout Kirigakure, striving to transform this village, which was ravaged by the Third Mizukage and had just experienced three brutal battles, into the most powerful ninja village in the ninja world!

"Kisame."

Hozuki Mangetsu suddenly spoke up: "You must have spoken with Lord Yoru, right? Do you think I could join Seireitei?"

"Seireitei?"

Kisame looked at the full moon with some surprise, and Yuri also showed a look of astonishment.

They were all close confidants of the Night, and naturally already knew about Seireitei.

They had all wanted to join in, but Ye had rejected them because, in Ye's view, they were not ready at the time.

Of course, they don't possess that right now either.

"Don't say such things just because of a momentary emotional outburst, Man-wol."

"You are the most outstanding genius in the history of the Hozuki clan. In the eyes of those old guys in the Hozuki clan, you are bound to take over the banner of the Hozuki clan in the future."

Kisame Hoshigaki grinned, looking at the ninja prodigy in front of him: "Besides, Suigetsu was only born not long ago."

"Siblings, relatives, friends, your entire clan, and everything else—are you truly ready?"

"I……"

Man Yue's expression froze for a moment.

He truly couldn't let go of those things, but wasn't it precisely because he couldn't let go of those things that he was even more determined to protect them with his life and his entire existence?

"I want to join Seireitei. I want to become someone who can truly protect the village and protect everything!"

"Aren't you protecting your village and your family and friends right now?"

Kisame retorted, "Is it impossible for you to do all this without joining the Seireitei and becoming a so-called Shinigami?"

“You are a genius of Kirigakure, Mangetsu. Whether it is talent, temperament or character, you are one of the most outstanding people in Kirigakure. There is no doubt about that. Even Eitai-chan praises you highly.”

"In my opinion, all you need to do is be yourself and complete every task that Yongdaimei assigns you, and that will be enough."

Kisame spoke the words that Yoru had once told him.

In truth, Kisame was also very curious about the Seireitei and desperately wanted to join it, as were all the high-ranking members of Kirigakure.

However, Mizuki Yoru rejected all of their applications.

He always said to wait, to wait, that the time was not yet right.

So when will the time truly come?

Kisame didn't know, but he knew very well that it was definitely not just a casual remark made by Yoru to refuse. Before long, they too would be entering that unknown realm!

Before that, all they need to do is continuously improve themselves.

Get stronger! Get even stronger!

"But... with my qualifications, can I really become strong enough to be summoned by Lord Night on my own initiative?"

Listening to Kisame and Mangetsu's conversation, Yuri, whose heart was already shaken by Yoru's words, felt even more complicated and depressed, and even began to doubt herself.

She, along with Hozuki Mangetsu, Touna Yukiko, and Uzumaki Yumi, were all subordinates personally chosen by Yoru at the time, and were Yoru's most capable assistants during his time in the Anbu!

But apart from her, the other three are now the backbone of Kirigakure!

Mangetsu is currently the vice-captain of the Kirigakure Anbu and the future head of the Hozuki clan, the Mizukage family. His talent and strength are highly praised by Yoru, and he was even once thought by the world that if Yoru and Mangetsu were not so close in age, the position of the Fifth Mizukage might have been held by Hozuki Mangetsu!

As for Yukiko Touna and Yumi Uzumaki, there's no need to say more.

Although the two were not well-known in Kirigakure, all the high-ranking members of Kirigakure knew of their special status within the village.

The two were the chief persons in charge of the Kirigakure human bloodline modification and soul shinigami conversion projects, respectively. Their status was even higher than Hozuki Mangetsu, second only to Yoru, the Mizukage.

It could be said that of the Dark Night's secret squad, only she remains today.

One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and the wielder of the Raito (Lightning Blade) Kiba.

Although this name is quite famous in Kirigakure and even the ninja world, it is worlds apart from that of Mangetsu, Yukiko, and Yumi!

Ringo Yuri's eyes were filled with confusion.

"what do I do……"

……

As Ye, who was in the laboratory, dissipated after the shadow clone casually dealt with the resurrected Three-Tails, he paused for a moment before his expression returned to normal.

The exceptionally clean and tidy laboratory was lined with many translucent glass jars, each containing strangely shaped objects, most of which probably couldn't even be considered living organisms!

Stones, vegetation, tools.

These inorganic substances actually grew flesh and blood inside the glass jar, looking as if they had been given life.

"I think it's time to conduct human trials."

Looking at the data analysis scroll in his hand, Ye raised his head and looked at Miroku in front of him. He said to Yumi beside him, "The balance of the four forces in Miroku's body is very good. We just need to follow this ratio, and then living people can also master spiritual power."

“The only problem is how to transmit this force on such a large scale.” Yu Mei said softly, “We can’t transform and change each person one by one. That would be too much work, and it wouldn’t be possible to achieve universal and widespread transformation.”

"How about using the initial decision to make Maitreya like the three holy lands and the so-called evil god cult, to create a holy land, establish a sect lineage, and thus spread this power."

"That's a good choice, but holy sites and religious traditions with ordinary names may not be very convincing to ordinary people."

"The Water Shadow's endorsement, the Hidden Mist's title, the National Preceptor of the Land of Water?"

"That actually works! But what about the loyalty of those who join in the future..."

"There's no need to worry about that. It was originally intended to promote the power of the Grim Reaper. As for the future core, I will choose from it again."

Unlike Shinigami, Quincy are more like Hollows, a broad category.

Only with a large enough base can the Night select enough elites to build a powerful force.

To form a Sternritter that belongs exclusively to Night.

An invisible empire belonging to the night!

Yumi and Yoru took turns talking, getting more and more excited as they went on. Miroku, who was completely unaware of what was happening, was a little confused. The only thing she knew was that after successfully converting her chakra into Shinigami power, she no longer had to experience that strange feeling of being constantly torn apart and merged.

Yes, at this moment, Miroku has also completed his transformation into the God of Death.

Actually, describing Miroku as a death god is not accurate.

Miroku is special. As a thousand-year-old immortal, the power within her body is a perfect fusion of four types of energy: chakra, spiritual energy, natural energy, and soul energy.

At this moment, Miroku simply replaced the chakra among the four powers with the power of the Shinigami. Furthermore, since Miroku is a living being, describing her as a Quincy would be more accurate.

The world's first Quincy!

"Maitreya".

"Ah, here we are!"

Suddenly, Ye spoke, and Maitreya, who was counting ants with his head down, abruptly raised his head and responded earnestly.

Looking at the serious and earnest Maitreya, Ye revealed a gentle smile.

Miroku instinctively shrank her neck. Every time Ye showed this expression, she would suffer unimaginable pain.

"There's no need to be so serious. Haven't you always wanted to leave here? From today onwards, you will become an official citizen of Kirigakure in the Land of Water."

"You can settle down anywhere in the Land of Water, including Kirigakure, and you can freely enter and leave these places. You can even leave the Land of Water and return to the Land of Demons."

"Really...really...?"

Miroku's eyes gleamed with a faint light, and when he spoke of returning to the Land of Demons, his radiance reached its peak!

Although she has merged with the demons and awakened countless memories, becoming the immortal Maitreya from a thousand years ago, everything she experienced as the witch Maitreya is deeply imprinted in her mind and spirit.

Perhaps Maitreya could ignore or abandon those so-called subjects and officials, but Ziyuan, whom she had carried for ten months, was a daughter she could never part with!

I originally thought that I had been captured by Mizuki Yoru and that what awaited me was endless experimentation and imprisonment (which was indeed the case; ever since Miroku was brought back, he had been in the laboratory).

Unexpectedly, today Minazuki Yoru had a change of heart and made her such an incredible promise!

"The price, and the cost..."

Suppressing his excitement, Maitreya swallowed hard and looked at the night, whispering, "What price will I have to pay?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Since the night has given her such extraordinary treatment, she should naturally pay the price she deserves.

"Don't worry, there will be no price to pay. I, Mizuki Yoru, am not the kind of person who would exploit and drain you dry."

Ye Wen said gently, "Do you still remember the promise we made back then?"

"An agreement?" Miroku was taken aback. "Are you serious?!"

"Of course. I, Mizuki Yoru, never speak carelessly. Since I have already made a promise to you, I will naturally not break my word."

"From this day forward, you, Miroku, will be the national advisor of my Land of Water, and the sage-shaman personally recognized by me, the Fourth Mizukage, Mizuki Yoru!"

Ye waved his hand and said, "I will designate an island among the countless islands of the Water Kingdom as your exclusive holy land, just like the holy lands of Ryuchi Cave and Mount Myōboku... Hmm, as for the name... Wraiths are mountain spirits and monsters, the shadowy god of plague, and you are the Witch Shadow Sage, so let's call it Shadow Island."

"It's all up to you!"

Seeing that Ye was completely genuine, Miroku was also a little excited. As for his name and title, he didn't care at all.

All she knew was that from this day forward, she would be free again.

Not only is she free, she can even become an existence like the Toad Sage, the White Snake Sage, and the Slug Sage!

"Then, when do I start?"

Maitreya looked at Ye nervously, fearing that Ye had just said it on a whim.

"There's no time like the present, let's do it today!"

Ye smiled slightly: "From today onwards, you are the Shadow Sage of Shadow Island in the Hidden Mist Village of my Water Country. However, there is one thing I need to make clear to you first."

Sure enough it's not that simple!

Maitreya's heart tightened: "Speak."

"Whether it's Ryuchi Cave, Mount Myoboku, or Shikkotsu Forest, they all hold onto their inherited power tightly, calling themselves sacred lands of immortals, high and mighty. Over the past thousands of years, the number of their inheritors can be counted on one hand."

"But our Shadow Isles are different."

"The ninja world has suffered from the Sage of Six Paths and chakra for too long. Shadow Island is fighting for a glimmer of hope for the world. Therefore, I want you to open your doors wide. Anyone who is destined to be with Shadow Island can become your disciple."

"The one with destiny?"

Maitreya blinked, somewhat bewildered.

Isn't this boundary a bit too vague? What does "fate" even mean?

Night coughed lightly: "The so-called fate means that anyone who wants to join the Shadow Isles counts."

"All of them?!"

Maitreya was somewhat incredulous. Wasn't he afraid that by doing such reckless things, the Shadow Isles would become a melting pot of all sorts of people in the future?