Start with a Zanpakuto and build the strongest Mist Village.

Madara Uchiha raised his head, his crimson three-tomoe Sharingan slightly rotating, and in an instant, the surrounding world turned pale again.

Time seemed to reverse itself around Madara Uchiha, and the aged old man was transformed once again into the shrewd ninja who looked down upon the world!

"Time is meaningless to us. What truly matters is your heart, Obi-To."

"If you truly have the determination to change the world, and the intention to inherit my name 'Uchiha Madara,' then show your fighting spirit!"

……

The brilliance of the reflective membrane gradually faded, and Ye and Yu Mei's figures emerged in a valley.

Mei Terumi, Yukiko Touna, and others were already waiting there.

Because of Ye's reminder, they led their elite squad and left the Mist Concealment position early on.

Unexpectedly, no sooner had they left than the Hidden Mist Fortress was bombarded by Tailed Beast Balls.

While marveling at Yoru's uncanny foresight, Terumi Mei and the others also regarded this valley as a new frontline position of Kirigakure, although the number of people there was pitifully small, only a few dozen.

"night!"

"Master Ye!"

Mei Terumi and the others were very excited to see Ye Ping'an return.

Even though they had great confidence in Ye, it was still Konoha's territory, which was like a tiger's den and a wolf's lair.

Fortunately, everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Ye returned unharmed. They then became curious: with Lord Ye back safe and sound, what had become of the positions in Konoha?

"Of course it's a frozen wasteland!"

"Lord Yoru single-handedly defeated all the Konoha ninja!"

Yu Mei said with a face full of pride, as if it was she herself who had achieved such great feats, not Ye.

The group of friends were full of curiosity. Yumi described Yoru's battle in a vivid and dramatic way, as if she were telling a story. She also highlighted that Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki looked like defeated dogs in front of Yoru!

Although everyone knew that Yumi's words were exaggerated, they still caused a stir among her friends.

He could make the world lose its color and winter descend with a wave of his hand, he could slice Minato Namikaze into a melon rind with a single slash, and he remained calm and composed even when faced with the explosion of a Tailed Beast Ball...

The flattery was so effusive, it even made Ye sound like he was on par with the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju. Even with Ye's thick skin, he couldn't help but cough twice.

"What do you plan to do next, Ye?"

Mei Terumi asked softly, "Both sides' positions have been destroyed. Yagura has given the order to retreat and has led his men back to Kirigakure. What are you going to do..."

"The general has already ordered a retreat, what preparations can I possibly make?"

Ye chuckled and shrugged, saying, "Besides, if we continue to let those corrupt high-ranking officials in the village issue orders haphazardly, we're afraid it won't just be a matter of mutual destruction with Konoha. If the village is gone, I'll be homeless."

Although the words were full of jokes, they made everyone present show extremely serious expressions!

no doubt.

All the Hidden Mist ninjas knew this very well.

Since the outbreak of the war, almost every decision and command made by the top leadership has been a failure and a mistake.

No.

That can't even be described as a mistake or a failure; it was a regime completely aimed at destroying the future of Kirigakure!

If it weren't for the night, this war would probably have ended long ago with the defeat of Kirigakure!

"Have you made up your mind, Yoru?" Mei Terumi stared intently at Yoru.

"determination?"

Night shook his head: "There's no need for any so-called determination. We in Kirigakure have always respected the strong, haven't we?"

"Although this sounds a bit like self-praise, the decaying Third Hokage is old and decrepit, and the stubborn Yagura is like a defeated dog. Only I can lead Kirigakure to a more glorious tomorrow!"

His words were plain, yet they were filled with an indescribable arrogance. However, no one present showed the slightest doubt, only boundless fervor.

No reason is needed; Ye's performance in this war has already proven everything!

Chapter 78 Only by pruning the corrupt roots can it continue to grow.

after one day.

Kirigakure Village.

Compared to the fervor before the battle, the atmosphere on the streets of Kirigakure was unusually oppressive and calm. Even the villagers who occasionally walked by had heavy expressions and deep sorrow and grief in their eyes.

Before the battle, everyone thought that Kirigakure, having rested and recuperated, would easily defeat Konoha, which was exhausted from years of fighting.

Forget about opening champagne at halftime; they were already fantasizing about the vast, fertile lands and resources of the Land of Fire even before the war began!

Clearly, the truth has slapped everyone in the face.

News of the battle at the front has reached the village. Although Yoru managed to achieve a one-for-one exchange, it still cannot conceal the fact that Kirigakure was defeated. The deaths of a large number of ninjas have brought enormous pressure to Kirigakure, which is already sparsely populated.

Whose husband, whose father, and whose child?

Even in the Blood Mist Village, broken families still bring immense sadness, and now the entire Hidden Mist Village is shrouded in such gloom!

There was no welcoming procession to be expected. A large number of ninjas died on the front lines without gaining any benefits. Even though the Third Hokage had not yet announced the defeat and surrender, even the generals had fled back to the village in a sorry state. They were clearly the defeated side.

The fact that no vegetable leaves were thrown at them is because the villagers of Wuyin know that the village is short of resources and understand the importance of cherishing food.

After returning to the village, Yoru didn't rush to meet the Third Hokage. Although the front line was in its current state largely because of him, the general was Yagura, and the task of reporting intelligence was not yet his.

Besides, he had more important things to do.

After parting ways with his men, he and Mei Terumi arrived at a mansion in Kirigakure.

"Lord Ye! Captain Ming!"

Upon seeing Yoru and Terumi Mei, a member of the Kirigakure ANBU, who had been hiding in the shadows by the door, emerged and respectfully said, "The elder is inside."

"Thank you for your help, Kwon Bing-wei."

Yoru nodded slightly and stepped into the courtyard with Terumi Mei.

The entire courtyard was quite empty, with only a single old, crooked pine tree rooted in one corner.

The door to the room was half-open, and one could vaguely see an elderly figure sitting at a desk, revising something.

This seemingly elderly man, named Genshi, is a powerful elder in Kirigakure, whose status and authority are second only to the Third Hokage.

He is also Mei Terumi and Yoru's teacher.

"teacher."

"Old man!"

"Here he comes."

Hearing the call, the old figure raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Yoru and Mei Terumi, a look of relief on his face: "I was just watching the situation on the front lines. I never imagined this war would turn out like this. Yoru, Mei, thank you for your hard work."

"Tch, so you know how hard we work, old man? Do you even know how rotten the intelligence department is?!"

Mei Terumi pointed angrily at the corner of her fair, smooth eye and shouted at Genji, "Selling village intelligence, collecting false information, nine and a half out of ten intelligence agents are just fishing in troubled waters and drawing salaries without working. I'm so worried that I'm getting wrinkles at the corners of my eyes ten years ahead of schedule!"

"I really don't understand why you would entrust the village's intelligence department to that guy, Suigetsu Hozuki. Is it just because he's fat?"

"If it weren't for this rotten intelligence, the village wouldn't have made a series of wrong decisions, causing us to suffer repeated defeats on the front lines. If it weren't for Yoru, Konoha would probably have already invaded our village!"

"Sorry, thank you for your hard work."

Hearing Mei Terumi's indignant complaints, Genji sighed softly: "Many things in the village are intricately intertwined, and layers of interconnected interests have made this village no longer what it used to be, but I never imagined it had become so corrupt..."

"I never expected this! How could you not have thought of anything? You're a Yuan Master! How could you not have thought of anything! The village has become like this, and you..."

Mei Terumi was filled with anger, whether directed at her teacher or at the village's decay, it was unclear.

"Alright, Ming."

Ye spoke softly: "Teacher is right. This village has long been blocked from the sunlight by a thick fog of interests, to the point that the roots and stems are rotting and stinking, and there is nothing that can be done."

“Night…” Master Yuan frowned slightly and looked at Night: “It seems that you have a different idea in your heart.”

"Then would you be willing to support me?"

Night countered with a question.

Master Yuan fell silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "My support is not important. This is Wuyin. The weak are inferior and the capable are superior. This is the ironclad rule that we in Wuyin believe in."

"With the end of this war, even if we are defeated, your achievements and reputation are enough to elevate you to any position. As long as you can surpass Yagura in strength and defeat the Third Hokage, you will become the Fourth Hokage of Kirigakure!"

"Do not."

Ye shook his head: "The location of just a water feature is not enough to change this village."

"What I need is a wind that can blow away the thick blood mist that hangs over the village, and a light that can dispel the cold darkness from the rotten roots. My identity as the Water Shadow alone is not enough to do all of this."

"No matter how many changes are made, if the rotten roots are not pruned, it still cannot absorb new nutrients. Teacher, you should understand what I mean."

"But you can't get fat in one bite, night."

Master Yuan paused slightly, his slightly cloudy eyes looking at Ye's exposed eyes: "No one can reach the top in one step."

"But I think I can."

Night said softly, "Thousands of Mist Ninja have already died on the front lines. If another batch dies in the village, it won't make much of a splash."

The unexpected dialogue sent a shiver down the spine of Terumi Mei, who had been grumbling just moments before. She instinctively wanted to pull Yoru aside and try to explain that if she wanted to rise to the top, she would probably need the teacher's help, but looking at Yoru's indifferent eyes, Terumi Mei could only suppress her thoughts.

Master Yuan slowly stood up, gazing out the misty window: "Do you have enough cards in your hand?"

"It's alright. The Hozuki clan, the Terumi clan, and the Ringo and Momochi clans... Oh, and the Yuki clan should listen to me too."

The calm sounds of the night echoed in the room. Despite the damp, misty environment, it seemed to contain a raging fire powerful enough to burn down the entire village!

Master Yuan gazed silently out the window, without uttering another word.

Ye slowly rose and bowed to Master Yuan: "I hope you will take care of your health and not overwork yourself. I have some things to take care of, so I will take my leave now."

"Hey, night!"

Chapter 79 [Artificial Remains Technology] and [Artificial Soul Technology]

"Why, Yoru? With your teacher's help, wouldn't it be easier and smoother for you to either seize the position of Mizukage or the path after becoming Mizukage?"

Emerging from Genji's residence, Terumi Mei stared at the night, puzzled.

In her view, Master Yuan was one of Night's political assets. With the support of the most powerful elder in the entire Hidden Mist Village, coupled with Night's own combat strength and the prestige accumulated in this war, becoming the Fourth Hokage was basically a foregone conclusion.

With the help of Master Yuan, Ye's position as the Water Shadow can be even more secure.

But now, not only has Ye rejected this help, she has turned it into an obstacle.

what is this? !

"Because what I want has never been just a position of 'shadow'."

Night stopped in her tracks, looking at Mei Terumi, who stood before her with a bewildered expression: "Could this blood mist shrouding the village have been formed simply because of the Third Hokage's decisions and political biases? All crows are black; in this swamp, no one is clean."

"To become the shadow of this village, and then be deeply entangled in that tangled web of interests... I'm sorry, but I don't think that the insect elder who sits by and watches the blood mist condense can become my right-hand man in dealing with the village in the future."

Even though he was my teacher.

"night……"

Mei Terumi opened her mouth: "If you keep doing this, the pressure will probably be immense..."

"Master Ye!"

A clear, crisp call rang out from the side.

Mei Terumi's eyebrows furrowed, the words she was about to say lingered on her lips, and Mizuki Akira's pure white figure appeared at the street corner.

A gentle smile appeared on her delicate face as she bowed deeply to Ye Shen: "Lord Ye, would you be so kind as to accompany me back to my clan's territory?"

Night glanced indifferently at Mizuki Akira, then walked past her.

Mei Terumi crossed her arms and followed Yoru's steps. As Yoru passed Mizuki Akira, she let out a soft snort: "Some things that were given up long ago, if you want to get them back now, you'll have to pay a pretty high price."

"A considerable price to pay..."

Mizuki pursed her red lips and bowed deeply to the night once more until it disappeared at the end of the street corner. Only then did she straighten up and quickly head towards the Snow Clan's territory.

……