Chapter 163: 159: Surge
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The new residence remained a splendid two-story villa, complete with a reasonably large courtyard and a small training area. It was spacious enough for taijutsu, as long as they didn't involve large-scale ninjutsu.
The paths to the garden were thoughtfully designed with intricate carved marble, and a part of it was covered by a blanket of white snow.
Close to the gate, a rather luxurious pet house stood. It was a two-story dwelling for a creature that looked like a cat but was not quite a cat. This weird creature wad lazily lounging by the pet house's entrance, enjoyed the warmth of the sunlight.
After a while, a black-haired girl wearing a miko outfit erged from the villa. Her pupils slowly changed color, spreading from the pupils to the whites of her eyes in rippling waves. She carried a lunchbox and approached the creature by the pet house, setting the al down for it.
The creature leisurely rose from the ground, sniffing the lunchbox a few tis before perceiving the mouthwatering aroma of the food.
"Ayu-nee, your cooking skills keeps improving"
The creature praised the black haired girl.
This girl was Shiraishi's wind clone, Ayu, a unique soul clone capable of using wind release and sage MODE. Despite being a clone, she had her independent personality, marked by her silence and lack of emotions from birth.
Ayu affectionately stroked the soft fur of the creature, showing her skillful touch.
The creature, Raii, was another of Shiraishi's soul clone, the lightning clone. A beast capable of using lightning release and sage mode as well. It wasn't rely lightning release, it had pure speed abilities that made it difficult even for Jonin to defend against its surprise attacks.
Raii didn't resist Ayu's touch, it was a gesture of the strong bond between them.
As Raii enjoyed the al, Shiraishi walked out of the villa, closed the door, leaned against the door fra, and exhaled deeply.
"Yo, Father,"
Raii greeted, extending his paw. Ayu also bowed slightly.
Shiraishi approached, but before he could speak, Raii asked, "Have you being kicked out again?"
"No, the house was getting stuffy, so I ca out for so fresh air,"
"Human beings will always have various disputes because of their unfulfilled desires. Whether father or mothers. In the end, it's caused by father's love, right?" Raii said insightfully.
"Are you just lounging around here with nothing to do?" Shiraishi frowned.
"No, I'm simply stating the truth. Artificial life forms like us lack these extraneous desires. All we require is a comfortable environnt and good food to be satisfied," Raii stated proudly.
"It seems I should consider adding the function of breeding offsprings to you next ti,"
"But my soul is a fragnt of your own. If I were to breed an offspring, where would I find a female to mate with? Maybe cats would be a better choice, they are graceful and dignified after all like myself," Raii analyzed.
"...you'll start work on the construction site tomorrow."
"...okay."
Raii sighed. There was no choice but to comply. After all, he was his father, the great creator right? The creator was infallible, and if there were any mistakes, it was undoubtedly the stupid son or daughter's fault.
However, thinking on it, it was his father who resorted to bullying a clone composed of his own soul fragnts because he couldn't bear the battle between the two won in the house. What a pitiful and sad father.
As Raii reached for another piece of fried chicken from the box, he noticed that another chicken leg had disappeared, with Shiraishi munching on it.
"Father, that was my fried chicken leg,"
This was a nutritious al lovingly prepared by Ayu-nee for him. Was it reasonable for a father to steal food from his own children? Where was his sha?
"Ah, I knew you would share it with
if you couldn't eat it all. Aren't you supposed to be grateful and thankful to ?"
"Father, have you been squeezed by mothers to this miserable point where you have to steal food from your pet to live?"
"Go to the construction site the day after tomorrow. Your assistance will be needed,"
"Father, your generosity truly moves ," Raii remarked sarcastically.
"It's never too late to recognize my big heart,"
Shiraishi responded, snorting as he finished the chicken legs and disposed of the bones in the nearby trash. Then he reached into Raii's lunchbox once more.
Raii sighed helplessly. Sotis, as a son, one had to help their father occasionally.
.....
In the dead of night.
Raii continued to rest at the entrance of the pet house, snacks and hot drinks thoughtfully provided by Ayu as his supper.
Snow gently fell from the sky, the moon illuminated the night, creating a serene ambiance.
"What a beautiful night," He thought.
Despite the day's unpleasant events, he cherished the peace of enjoying his peace with these monts.
While snacking and admiring the snowy night, the villa unexpectedly shook. It seed that the chakra bombardnt caused the entire building to vibrate.
"It's starting again. Father must be struggling with the challenges of hugging the left and right side. Life can be quite unsatisfying,"
Raii comnted, taking a sip of his hot drink, exhaling contentedly, and swaying his tail.
Click!. The sound of a doorknob turning.
Shiraishi stood at the door holding a blanket and approached Raii's pet house. A bad premonition swept over Raii as he observed Shiraishi's strange behavior.
"What... Father, why do you have a blanket?"
"It's too noisy inside. Please keep quiet here. I'm going to sleep here with you tonight,"
This choice arose from Shiraishi's concern that the house might suddenly collapse in the middle of the night, burying him alive under the ruins.
Yet, Raii's concern went beyond this. The pet house was his territory. This was not an ordinary invasion, it was a takeover of his living space.
Ignoring Raii's dull expression, Shiraishi climbed into the pet house and lay down on the floor.
Only then did Raii realize that Shiraishi was serious about this arrangent.
"Although it's a bit cramped, I didn't expect it to be so peaceful here, with such a lovely night view. You have a comfortable living environnt, Raii,"
Shiraishi said as he stretched inside the pet house, though he couldn't fuly stretch.
"I think you should better return to the house to sleep,"
"It's the responsibility of a son to support his father,"
"I'm not of age."
"What does that matter? You're already a responsible adult."
Raii lay on the ground, utterly helpless about how to counter Shiraishi.
"Heee.. you don't mind if I have a few of bites; I'm a little hungry. I basically didn't eat anything this night, and I'm almost hungry,"
Shiraishi reached for Raii's snacks and munching them with relish.
Raii was speechless.
'Go to Hell!!! Father!!!!!.'
.......,.
Konoha Year 44, Early February.
The Land of Demons embarked on a new year's work surge. The workers had concluded their holidays and were now ardently contributing their energy to the year's work.
With top managent taking the lead and granting sufficient funds, the Land of Demons had entered a highly critical phase of rapid developnt.
Various new industries had sprung up like mushrooms after the rain, and foreign businesses had flocked to learn and invest, propelling economic and industrial growth within the Last Of Demons.
During this period, Shiraishi kept a close eye on the ninja war. It was evident that the major powers reaffird their dominance in the ninja world through war. The smaller nations affected by these war couldn't endure the damage inflicted by the larger powers' wars, resulting in increased desolation and weakness.
For instance, the Land of Rain's daimyo and nobles had shifted allegiance to the Sunagakure and the Land Of Wind respectively, abandoning their commitnt to the country and its people. While the citizens of the Land of Rain bore resentnt and despair, they lacked the ans to overthrow this unjust ruling structure.
Several factors contributed to this circumstance. First, it was rooted in the historical legacy of the daimyo and nobles, who had always occupied a superior position, being considered celebrities in the world and inheriting nobility.
Second, the Land of Rain lacked the power to overthrow this unjust system.
Third, their lack of education. The institutions and organizations dedicated to peace and saving the nation faced challenges due to vague goals and strategies.
The fourth reason lay in the major powers' influence.
A small ninja village like Agakure, which once shone during the Second Ninja World War, boasted a unique geographic position and is ruled by a legendary powerful ninja, Hanzo. In the event that the morale of Agakure isn't weakened during this war, the peaceful developnt of Agakure might pose a significant threat to the larger nations.
Nevertheless, as per the current scenario, Suna's ultimate objective remains Konoha and Land Of Fire.
Since October of last year, the Sunagakure has sent more of their envoys to the Land Of Demons, and their purchase of dical equipnt has grown increasingly extravagant.
With the Land of Rain no longer posing a threat to Suna, the logical next step would be to target Konoha and invade the Land of Fire.
Having access to more information than most, Shiraishi can easily discern the grand strategy of Suna.
There are individuals in Konoha who may have also deduced this strategy, particularly those from the Nara clan. Known for their keen intellect, they have long served as the think tank of the the village, often holding critical positions as Jonin squad leaders.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had imnse trust in the Nara clan due to the long-standing alliance between the Sarutobi clan and the InoShikaCho clans, which dates back to the Warring States Period. To this day, InoShikaCho remains a steadfast mber of the Hokage faction.
Shiraishi could imagine the Hokage faction amassing a wealth of information for the Nara clan to analyze. While the specifics may remain difficult to analyze, Suna's grand strategy and ultimate goals can certainly be deduced.
Shiraishi eagerly anticipated what steps Konoha would take next.
Should Orochimaru's troops face difficulties in the Land of Rain, it could bring about a change in the balance of the five major nations in the ninja world.
In the lounge of the office building—
Shiraishi leaned against the window, gazing out at the clear sky. The window was open, allowing a refreshing breeze to enter.
"Close the window, or you'll get frostbite,"
A lazy female voice sounded from behind, as if they were feeling cold.
Considering it was only February and the snow had recently stopped, but the weather remained quite cold.
"Ah.. Sorry,"
Shiraishi realized his mistake and closed the window.
The room returned to silence, with the cold air now blocked from the outside.
Wrapped in a quilt, a young woman with long black hair sat on the bed. She had a petite face and a youthful appearance, resembling a girl of sixteen or seventeen. She was in the about dressing and held her breasts with her hands.
Her bust, with its size, shape, color, and even firmness, was sothing many won would envy and beco obsessed with.
A faint blush tinted her face, making her even more alluring. The feeling of creating life surpassed her expectations.
In fact, it was about the taste, and she knew that it would drive her to madness, making her unlike her usual self. However, surrendering completely to this man's control wasn't such a bad thing.
Rather she skew this would happen, she had never managed to escape this man's grasp since her childhood.
Shiraishi looked at Ayane with a fascinated expression, his eyes very different from when he looked upon Ruri.
While Ruri projected an outer coldness but unleashed her inner passions during the act, Ayane was the opposite. She appeared flirtatious on the surface but was surprisingly conservative on the inside. Her shy and slightly resistant reactions only served to arouse the desire of n to conquer her.
"By the way, there's sothing you need to do."
"What's that?" Ayane asked, still dressing, her head tilted.
"You will have to cooperate with Iwa,"
"I see,"
"Your mission is to eliminate certain unsightly obstacles."
"If it involves Konoha, I can't guarantee the mission's success. Last ti I fought against Konoha's ninjas, several of my abilities were exposed. They'll likely be more cautious now."
She knew that even if they had information about her, the odds of actually defeating her were different. However, if her information was leaked, then if she attacked Konoha again it wouldn't be smooth as like the last ti.
Because of the profound background of the Konoha clans, various secret jutsus and forbidden jutsus were endlessly. If there wasn't any one to support her, she had to be careful when fighting against Konoha again.
"I'll have Raii accompany you,"
"In that case, it shouldn't be a problem. Even if I'm surrounded by thousands of ninjas, as long as Raii shows his full form, I can escape without any worry."
She had full confidence in Raii's complete sage mode.
"It was, after all, created by
for such situations. With its containnt abilities. As long as you don't et ninjas who use that troubleso space-ti ninjutsu like Minato it could even capture Kage-level ninja." Shiraishi agreed.
Even though Raii's full form had never seen actual combat, Shiraishi was extrely confident in his abilities. He was in perfect synergy with Ayane's Byakugan.
With this settled, Shiraishi ca up behind Ayane, embracing her still-warm body.
"Ah... are about to go again? I just got dressed"
"Relax, you can dress again. After all, we won't see each other for a while, so I'll make it up to you," Shiraishi murmured as he unbuttoned her kimono and ran his fingers along her white knee socks.
Ayane responded to his advances with a hesitant reaction.
What a wicked man. She wished she could be in control, but she found herself unable to resist.
.....
The Land of Rain.
This was a drab, colorless country, devoid of picturesque landscapes.
It rained constantly here.
Surrounded by three nations with formidable military might - the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Wind. The Land of Rain has found itself embroiled in war among major powers on multiple occasions.
For the larger nations, this land serves as a canvas for their reckless exploitation, with little regard for the lives dwelling upon it.
Countless people have lost their parents, their hos, their dignity, and so have even died from hunger and poverty.
Even in a relatively prosperous city within the Land of Rain, the constant rain serves to erode any vibrancy, rendering the city a bleak gray.
"Stop looking around here, if you're not buying, leave!."
The owner of the shop scolded Yahiko sternly, his eyes filled with contempt and disgust.
In his eyes, Yahiko was rely a ninja living in poverty, with a worn-out uniform and a rusty forehead protector, hinting at his inability to pay for the minimal maintenance fee for his ninja headband. He was far from the distinguished guests the shopkeeper wished to entertain.
Yahiko's companions from Akatsuki couldn't help but furrow their brows at the shop owner's harsh words.
"Why are you staring? You must be A ninjas, right? Everyone knows that the ninjas of Agakure live in poverty in this country. If you intend to cause trouble, the ninjas from Sunagakure will co to take care of you. I advise you against using violence in this place."
The shop owner spoke arrogantly. His top-tier ninja tools were designed for Sunagakure, not the poor ghost ninjas from Agakure.
"You're from the Land of Rain too, so why do you speak this way?"
One of Yahiko's comrades retorted, his anger simring beneath the surface.
While their poverty was a reason they couldn't afford such items, being scorned by their fellow countryn left them feeling both angry and sad, as if the very foundations of their country were crumbling. Didn't the shop owner feel a sense of belonging to their shared country?
"Hmph, the Land of Rain? I've grown to hate this weak country. Next month, I'm moving to the Land of Wind, where I can live under the protection of a powerful country."
"What?"
"The daimyo and the nobles only care about themselves, paying no attention to the life or death of the common people like us. Why should I continue to pay taxes letting them eat and drink as much as they like, playing with won everywhere?"
The shop owner uttered these words coldly. He once harbored hopes that the country would improve. Yet, observing the inaction of the daimyos and nobles, who remained hiding in their safe havens, enjoying lavish foods, drinking expensive drinks, and and enjoying companionship of beautiful won, left him feeling disenchanted.
These sentints left the mbers of Akatsuki montarily speechless.
"Leave this country as well. It's already rotten from its very core, with even the daimyo and nobles obedient to Suna's eords. You're still young; there's no need to waste your life here."
Looking at the relatively young faces of Yahiko and his companions, it was evident that they were all under the age of twenty.
At this point, the shop owner let out a sigh and stopped speaking harshly.
"Sorry, but we won't abandon this country," Yahiko stated resolutely.
Even though they could barely make ends et and struggled to feed themselves, their funds were crucial for aiding the poor people teetering on the brink of life and death.
Despite their slightly worn ninja tools, they were not yet beyond use. Their organization could greatly benefit from individuals skilled in repairing and maintaining ninja gear, but such talent typically overlooked their group. After all, the repair and maintenance of ninja equipnt required highly specialized people and were typically the domain of large ninja villages.
"A bunch of fools. This country is beyond saving."
With his arms folded, the shop owner looked at the backs of the youths slowly disappearing in the rain, shaking his head while sighing.
Yahiko and the others left the city with heavy hearts. Although the shop owner's words were harsh, they reflected a another serious problem.
The Land of Rain was on the brink of falling apart, with the daimyo and nobles having lost their credibility, and Agakure remaining silent during the ongoing ninja world war.
A foreboding sense of dread began to take root within Yahiko and the others. If such a corrupt influence was allowed to spread, the Land of Rain would surely descend into chaos, its land soaked corpses and blood.
Running through the rain, their hearts weighed heavy.
"Brother, look over there..."
One of them from Akatsuki pointed ahead, sensing sothing strange.
All of them raised their gazes and, in an instant, their expressions changed dramatically.
The village in front, exposed to the relentless rain, was engulfed in a raging fire, its fire raging uncontrollably despite the downpour.
Thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
"Hurry!"
They hastened their pace, soon reaching the burning village.
On the muddy roads, behind windows, atop rooftops, and clinging to walls, they discovered nurous lifeless bodies.
Elders, won, children..There were no survivors.
This wasn't the aftermath of a battle; it was a massacre, one marked by unequal power.
Yahiko squatted beside the lifeless body of an old man on the ground, cradling a cold child in his arms. He pried open the old man's stiff hand, revealing a few grains of uncooked rice that had tumbled from his grasp.
It was evident that the old man had t a brutal end at the hands of looters desperate to secure this precious source of food.
"Was this the work of bandits?"
"No, it was done by ninjas! There are many young and middle-aged people in this village. Judging by the evidence, the entire battle ended under a minute. After our operations cleaned out the Land of Rain, we effectively eliminated any powerful bandits."
Yahiko's voice was resolute, his fists clenched in anger.
Was it Konoha, or perhaps the Suna? Why had they done such a horrendous act? What had these innocent villagers done to deserve this?
So many questions swirled within Yahiko's mind, and within him, confusion and fury continued to brew.
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