"Water Swordsmanship is the strongest!"
"That's… that's nonsense! Lightning Swordsmanship has the most power!"
"If your Lightning Swordsmanship is so strong, why have you lost to so many tis?"
The deep sky above and two students from the Kenkakure Academy walked down the street at sunset, each carrying a standard long sword.
As their discussion on different elental swordsmanships escalated into an argunt, the verbal sparring beca more intense. They even used the ice cream in their hands as weapons to sar each other's faces. They ran through several streets, and by the ti green and white ice cream covered their faces, they pointed at each other and burst out laughing.
Shady trees lined both sides of the avenue, and the bustling lights behind them seed to fade like the tide.
Once a desolate place, Kenkakure had changed when the Land of Waves beca a battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure ninjas. The local settlents were transford as the blood of the dead spoke of life's fragility. Terrified residents moved to the mountainside where Kenkakure was located, just to be closer to this suddenly erged ninja village.
The once crowded Kenkakure test site now saw fewer people. With over fifty thousand residents in the Land of Waves, almost everyone had taken the test after the battle between Konoha and Kirigakure. Apart from contributing a few talented young people to Kenkakure, it no longer had the initial popularity. After all, the Land of Waves had a limited population.
A few construction trucks carrying li and cent clattered past the roadside.
"That's Mr. Tazuna's transport for bridge construction," said a student from the Ninja Academy, licking the ice cream on his face.
"Yes, the people of the Land of Waves can no longer endure Gato's exploitation," a tall figure walked past them, his indifferent voice floating into their ears. "However, I don't agree with Mr. Tazuna's compromising approach. As long as Gato is alive, everything is in vain. He will definitely stop the bridge construction."
"And Gato will be my gift to the Land of Waves when I graduate. He will die by my hand!!"
This tall young man's ambitious declaration drew gasps from those around.
"It's Kusama-senpai!" soone recognized his face and couldn't help but exclaim.
Fujiwara Kusama, the strongest new student since the establishnt of Kenkakure, was not only famous in the academy but also in the surrounding towns built around the village.
After Hashirama, the leader of Kenkakure, explicitly refused to intervene in the internal affairs of the Land of Waves and did not want to expel Gato's shipping monopoly, many emotionally invested residents pinned their hopes on this diligent and talented student.
Although Hashirama had repelled Kirigakure's attack and was a hero of the Land of Waves, he was still an outsider and hadn't taken a single coin from the Land of Waves. He owed them nothing. When he refused to intervene in internal affairs and suggested they seek help from the Daimyo of the Land of Waves, many were disappointed but could not argue.
But Kusama was different. He was one of their own, watched by everyone as he grew up. He couldn't sever ties with his original neighbors just because he joined Kenkakure.
Everyone knew how evil Gato was, and they still rembered Kaisa's death vividly. Kaisa had been a staunch leader against Gato but eventually admitted guilt and died wrongfully under Gato's lashings.
That was the result of a lack of power.
A strong spirit and will couldn't bridge the gap in strength.
Just as the Land of Waves couldn't resist the dual ravages of Konoha and Kirigakure.
They could only hope that Fujiwara Kusama would return successful.
And they hoped Kenkakure would beco the pillar that supported the Land of Waves in standing firm among the great nations.
Kusama's appearance sparked cheers from the crowd. He was like a superstar, welcod wherever he went, especially during the Land of Waves' dire tis.
"Even though I've given everyone the chance to beco heroes, it seems they all just want to watch soone else beco a hero," Neiki mused in Kenkakure's office building, gazing at the distant lights.
"That's the fault of the Daimyo of the Land of Waves. They were bought off by Gato. It's not anyone else's fault," the tall masked man shook his head, his voice that of a "righteous person." "Even Konoha could only govern a small part of the Land of Fire and couldn't intervene in the whole country's affairs."
The gentle-mannered man clearly didn't understand Neiki's real point.
Neiki shook his head, saying no more.
He had given everyone in the Land of Waves who took the test the opportunity to beco stronger. With the knowledge provided, whether they joined Kenkakure or not didn't significantly impact their training progress. However, aside from young people under forty occasionally training, most people in other age groups rarely trained. They were busy with their lives, working long hours, making it difficult to find ti for training.
Neiki pondered.
Economic foundations determine the superstructure. Only the progress of productivity can free more people from the hard work of farming and fishing, allowing them to join the noble ranks of training.
Though the accumulation of Byakugan essence in the Divine Tree was increasing rapidly, Neiki was still unsatisfied. He felt there were many more things he could do to promote training.
Improving productivity was one.
Maybe he should also work on propaganda?
For instance, training not only strengthens the body but also enhances vitality and longevity?
That way, people of all genders and ages could join the training ranks, contributing more power to Neiki's Divine Tree.
And other similar thods.
Once the first batch of students graduated from the Ninja Academy and there were enough people, they could try these approaches. When the residents saw familiar faces suddenly gaining the power to control their own fate, it would likely trigger another wave of training enthusiasm in the Land of Waves.
Chapter 113: Hashirama Senju Going to Teach
As Neiki pondered these thoughts, the voice of the man behind him broke the silence again, "Seeing Kenkakure like this reminds of when Konoha was first established… Ah, it was so prosperous, full of life. Back then, there wasn't a ninja academy; Konoha's ninjas were mostly children of the clans, and they were all outstanding young people."
Neiki turned around and asked, "Konoha didn't have a ninja academy at the beginning?"
"No," the man sighed, waving his hand. "Back then, Konoha barely had any civilians. Ninja education was handled by the elders of each clan, so there was no need for a ninja academy."
"After all, Konoha was initially ford by bringing together clans like the Senju, Uchiha, Hyuga, and many others. There wasn't a single unfamiliar face in the village… I heard that after my death, three great wars erupted in the ninja world. The civilians must have moved to Konoha during those tis of danger, much like how people moved to Kenkakure now. They lacked ninja techniques but wanted to beco ninjas, which eventually led to the establishnt of the ninja academy."
Neiki nodded slightly and said, "So, do you want to teach at the ninja academy?"
The air grew silent for a mont. The man awkwardly fiddled with the cup on the table, his gaze shifting uneasily. Finally, he looked at Neiki and tentatively asked, "Can I?"
Neiki couldn't help but laugh. "Why not… Having the God of Shinobi as a teacher is an honor for all students in Kenkakure."
The tall man wearing a wooden mask before Neiki was, of course, the real Hashirama Senju, whom Neiki had summoned through the Edo Tensei. Hashirama was the sa person who had subdued the fully transford Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
"Hahaha… Thank you," Hashirama scratched his head and laughed. "To be honest, I actually enjoy teaching the younger generation… I personally guided Tobirama and Itama; my teaching skills aren't bad…"
Hashirama displayed a rare enthusiasm since his summoning. He rambled on about his educational achievents with Tobirama and Itama, then expressed concerns about whether he, as an old-tir, could keep up with modern tis, showing a mix of pride and anxiety.
"You can teach at Kenkakure, but you can't use your original identity," Neiki made a small request. "Because the identity of Hashirama Senju is already ‘claid.'"
"That's no problem at all," Hashirama agreed generously. It wasn't a big deal to change his na. "Also, your movents are currently restricted to Kenkakure. If you leave the village, you'll lose control of your body, which will be taken over by . Keep that in mind," Neiki reminded him.
"Just like in Kirigakure?" Hashirama asked.
"Just like in Kirigakure."
"Got it," Hashirama nodded. In the previous battle at Kirigakure, Neiki had forcibly taken control of him once, and it wasn't a pleasant experience.
"Speaking of which, my granddaughter Tsunade…" Hashirama rembered why Neiki had taken control of him.
"She's still alive, living at my place, well-fed and taken care of. I'll let you see her when I have the ti," Neiki promised.
Hashirama nodded, uncertain when "having the ti" would be, but he knew he couldn't rush. As long as he was useful to Neiki, Tsunade would always be safe; there was no doubt about that.
"What an impressive young man…" Hashirama remarked, looking at Neiki with admiration.
He was well aware of what Neiki had done to Konoha. By the third ti Neiki summoned him using the improved Edo Tensei, Neiki had revealed his identity and actions to Hashirama.
Initially, Hashirama was furious and frustrated, but upon reflection, he realized that the Hyuga clan's extre conservatism with their caged bird system was bound to lead to disaster. Konoha was rely an extension of the Hyuga clan's troubles.
When Neiki calmly recounted how the Hyuga clan head, Hiashi, had seen him as the "reforr" of the Hyuga clan before his death, any lingering hostility Hashirama felt toward Neiki dissipated.
After all, Neiki was just a young man struggling against his fate, willing to take risks for a chance at freedom. Despite his ruthless thods that heavily damaged Konoha and sparked the Fourth Great Ninja War, it was clear he had no better options at the ti; it was his only choice to break free from his cage.
"How's the situation in Konoha now?" Hashirama asked, creating a new mask with Wood Release to cover his face.
Neiki had said he couldn't use his identity since this mask was tied to the leader of Kenkakure, "Hashirama Senju." If he wanted to teach, he needed a new mask.
"Unexpected," Neiki replied with a faint smile.
The entire ninja world was shocked by the outco of the battle between Konoha and Kumogakure.
"What… what happened?" Hashirama suddenly felt a bit nervous.
Neiki glanced at him and said, "Konoha, under the leadership of Danzo and the deceased Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, repelled and severely injured the Kumogakure surprise attack unit led by the Raikage."
"Now, Jiraiya's reinforcents have arrived and are hunting down the remaining Kumogakure ninjas."
"Yes, Konoha turned the tide by using the Edo Tensei to summon the past strong Konoha ninjas."
"Orochimaru sure works fast."
Hashirama was montarily stunned by the news, then sighed in relief. "Well done."
Even though he had been dead for decades, he still cared deeply for Konoha. When he first learned about Konoha's decline from its once glorious peak to the brink of destruction, he felt more guilty than angry.
He felt that Konoha's downfall was partly due to his initial ideals or so mistake in his will of fire.
While he respected the course of history, if Konoha were destroyed, especially by outsiders like Kumogakure, he would never find peace, even in the Pure Land.
"Truly well done."
"That's great."
Hashirama repeatedly praised the outco.
"So Danzo will be the Hokage…" Neiki murmured, his expression sowhat complicated at the thought of this impending reality.
"What is he like?" Hashirama quickly asked.
He knew of Danzo but only rembered him as a kid from the Shimura clan.
"He's alright. Anyway, with him in power, our future reform plans for Konoha might proceed more smoothly…" Neiki replied softly.
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