Land of Valleys
The artificial Divine Tree was growing rapidly, even faster than Yoichi had anticipated.
The Kamui clone, thanks to its ocular abilities, excelled at surveillance. No barrier could block the infiltration of Kamui's powers.
In the event of danger, the Kamui clone could have the Tenseigan clone hidden within the Kamui dimension unleash a Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, using a spatial rift created through the Kamui clone's eye to attack enemies.
This unpredictable move gave the Kamui clone an overwhelming edge, as no one would expect it to harbor another person within its dimension.
Currently, however, the Tenseigan clone wasn't in the Kamui space. It had been stationed near the Ryūmyaku (Dragon Vein) in Roran to train. Despite being able to activate the Tenseigan Chakra Mode, the clone lacked the Kamui clone's chakra reserves, necessitating extended training to build its strength.
"Ahhh!"
"Help! Ahhhh!"
The artificial Divine Tree devoured death row prisoners brought to the Land of Valleys one by one. While its outward appearance showed little change, instrumentation confirmed its steady daily growth.
At this rate, the tree's energy peak would be reached within months.
Victor, overseeing the operation, couldn't suppress his delight. If this artificial Divine Tree succeeded, he would have the means to cultivate more. With a supply of such trees, he envisioned himself rising to prominence as the most powerful figure in the shinobi world.
"Hahaha!"
Victor's laughter was cut short when space behind him twisted, and the Kamui clone emerged, interrupting his jubilation.
"What are you so happy about?"
Victor's face darkened as he turned, recognizing the Kamui clone. Internally, he cursed but maintained a composed demeanor.
"How did you get in here?"
The Kamui clone casually took a seat. "You're a shinobi, right? Why would you think spatial ninjutsu could be blocked by a few barriers? In this shinobi world, aside from the Pure Land, is there anywhere I can't go?"
Victor gritted his teeth but masked his anger, calmly asking, "What do you want?"
"You've been careless. Konoha's shinobi have already noticed your attempts to steal Hashirama's cells. It's likely they've dispatched a team to investigate."
The Kamui clone continued, "Based on my intelligence, Konoha shinobi are heading to the Land of Silence. With their abilities, it won't take long to trace the bounty hunters back to you, Victor. If you can't fool Konoha, how will you deceive Kara?"
"Perhaps the members of Kara's Inner Circle have already noticed your actions."
"Impossible!" Victor's expression shifted before he regained composure. "I'll handle it. This matter is under control."
"Don't kill them. Deceive them instead. The shinobi coming are high-ranking members of Konoha. If you kill them, you'll be hunted across the shinobi world."
The Kamui clone stood, preparing to leave. "Besides Konoha, another group is also investigating you. If you're confident, deal with it yourself."
With a spatial ripple, the Kamui clone vanished.
Alone, Victor snapped his cane in frustration. "Damn it! One problem after another!"
Thinking of the growing artificial Divine Tree, Victor pondered the power of money. In the past, he'd overlooked its value, entranced by ninjutsu's might. But now, he realized that against shinobi bound by rules, money could be even more effective.
After deliberating, he summoned an assistant and instructed, "Send a commission to the Cloud Village. Tell them our company's research was stolen by bounty hunters in the Land of Silence. Request their elimination."
Victor planned to strike first, leveraging the Cloud Village's proximity to the Land of Silence to wipe out the bounty hunters before Konoha could act.
...
Konoha
During peacetime, Konoha was tranquil.
After refining a pill, Yoichi examined its quality and nodded in satisfaction. "A fifth-grade Rejuvenation Pill. No woman in the shinobi world can resist this, except perhaps those two with the Strength of a Hundred Seal."
Having finished his work, Yoichi decided to take a stroll. It had been three days since his intense night with Ino, and she hadn't visited since. It was time for him to take the initiative.
Passing by a ninja tool shop, Yoichi paused and stepped inside. The store was quiet, with its owner, Tenten, dozing at the counter.
A knock on the counter woke her.
"Hmm? A customer?" Tenten blinked at Yoichi. "What can I do for you?"
"Are all the tools here for sale?" Yoichi asked.
"Of course! Take your pick. As a fellow traditional ninja tool enthusiast, I'll even give you a discount!" Tenten said enthusiastically.
Traditional ninja tools? Yoichi smirked inwardly and pointed to the Six Paths tools displayed nearby. "What about those?"
Tenten glanced at the tools and quickly shook her head. "Those aren't for sale. They're display-only."
"A shame. They seem to be made using Yin-Yang Release. With some modifications, they could be even stronger," Yoichi remarked, waving as he left.
Tenten stared after him, her curiosity piqued. "Who is he? Modifying Six Paths tools?"
...
Yamanaka Flower Shop
Today, Sakura visited Ino at the flower shop to chat. Having some free time after her latest project was canceled, Sakura had decided to stop by.
Accepting a cup of tea, Sakura noticed Ino's complexion and studied her closely.
"Ino, your skin looks amazing lately. Are you using some new product?"
Ino froze but quickly waved her off with a laugh. "No, same as always. You're imagining things!"
"No way. You're glowing!" Sakura insisted. "If you've found some secret, spill it!"
Ino denied it, though her thoughts drifted to her night with Yoichi. Could it really be true that a woman flourished with proper attention?
Before she could dwell on it, a voice came from the front of the shop.
"Someone's here!" Ino seized the opportunity to escape the conversation. "I'll go help them."
When she reached the front, she was startled to see Yoichi.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered, her voice tinged with panic.
"Apologies, Ino-san. You didn't come to see me, so I came to see you. Affection is hard to suppress," Yoichi said openly, his words causing Ino's heart to race.
"Ino?"
Sakura's voice from behind startled her further. Turning, she saw her friend step into the shop.
"Oh, Yoichi-san! Here to buy flowers?" Sakura asked cheerfully.
Yoichi nodded, smiling. "Yes, I'd like a bouquet of cosmos flowers, please."
Ino's breath hitched, her face flushing. This man is too bold!
"Cosmos flowers?" Sakura tilted her head, puzzled. "That's an unusual choice for a gift."
Yoichi's gaze lingered on Ino as he replied, "They're perfect for the person I have in mind."
Ino's hands trembled as she began preparing the bouquet, her heart a whirlwind of emotions.
(End of Chapter)
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"Sakura, what are you thinking?"
Ino returned to the back of the flower shop, her face slightly flushed. Seeing Sakura resting her chin on her hand in thought, Ino's heart skipped a beat. Had Sakura seen what happened earlier? Or perhaps guessed something?
Earlier, to get Yoichi to leave, Ino had been pinned against the counter and kissed for several seconds. Doing such a thing in the flower shop was both thrilling and nerve-wracking for her.
She had quickly pushed Yoichi away, glaring at him furiously before he left. Only after closing the door behind him had Ino calmed herself down and retreated to the back room.
"Well, Ino," Sakura said, breaking the silence, "don't you think it's strange? The owner of the pharmacy hasn't been in Konoha for long, yet he already seems to have someone he likes. Do you think he plans to settle down here in the village?"
Sakura chuckled and continued, "If the person he likes is a Konoha ninja, he might end up becoming one of us someday."
Ino's expression stiffened. The thought of Yoichi settling in Konoha made her feel uneasy. It seemed inevitable that she might have to make certain sacrifices for such a thing to happen, but she was determined to avoid it.
Moreover, before leaving, Yoichi had given her a small, ornate bottle of medicine. However, with Sakura still present, Ino refrained from taking it out to inspect it, knowing she couldn't explain it away.
After chatting about other topics for a while, Sakura finally got up to leave. Ino felt a wave of relief but also a pang of guilt. They had been close friends for over twenty years, yet today, she found herself hoping Sakura would leave early.
As they walked to the front of the shop, Sakura suddenly stopped and pointed to a bouquet of cosmos. "Ino, isn't that the bouquet Yoichi-san ordered? He didn't take it with him?"
Caught off guard, Ino quickly fabricated an excuse and laughed. "Oh? It is! Haha, that guy is so forgetful. I'll send it to him later."
Sakura smiled. "Leaving behind a bouquet for someone you like? What a careless guy." With that, she waved goodbye and left the shop.
Once Sakura was gone, Ino finally exhaled deeply, clenching her fist. "It's all that guy's fault. Too bold!" she muttered, her face flushed. She touched her lips, the memory of that impulsive kiss still vivid. Shaking her head, she turned to the bouquet of cosmos, placed it in a vase, and decided, I'll return it tonight, along with that mysterious medicine.
Ino pulled out the ornate bottle and the note Yoichi had given her. Reading it, she was shocked.
"A level-five secret medicine? It can restore one's appearance from ten years ago and last for 30 to 40 years? Is this real?"
Initially intending to return it, Ino hesitated. Such a rare medicine was too tempting to disregard. She knew how difficult it was to acquire a level-five secret medicine. The last one she heard of had the power to make an ordinary person stronger than Sakura. Even Konoha's resources wouldn't be enough to trade for such a treasure.
"Forget it. I'll deal with this tonight," she decided after much deliberation. Being married, she knew the events earlier were a mistake that couldn't continue. Resolving to end things, she planned to return both the bouquet and the medicine to Yoichi.
Meanwhile, Yoichi was experimenting with his ability [Divine Punishment and Blessing], which granted treasures at the cost of calamities. After activating the power, he frowned. "This time, the scope affects the entire world?"
Using his ability's roulette wheel, Yoichi discovered that the summoned monsters and treasures weren't something he could control.
"Three days until the next summon. Maybe I should inform someone in Konoha about this—starting with Ino."
Thinking further, Yoichi began devising a larger plan. While Konoha's technology had advanced significantly, mobile communication remained rudimentary, with only landlines and basic devices. Even Denki, a recent graduate in a few years, only used a small laptop for internet access.
"I could use my Tenseigan clone to establish a mobile communications company across the shinobi world. That would significantly enhance intelligence gathering."
Satisfied with his idea, Yoichi began preparing for this venture, choosing the ability [Research Assistant] from his roulette. This ability allowed him to make logical deductions from known information, accelerating technological development.
With his shadow clones handling the learning, he could focus on other tasks like researching Yin-Yang techniques and building the communication network.
Later that evening, as Yoichi expected, Ino came to visit.
At around 9 PM, Yoichi sensed her chakra entering the first floor. Smiling, he opened the door after a few knocks. "Ino-san, welcome."
"Inside. Now," Ino demanded, her tone firm as she stormed in. After ensuring the door was closed, she jabbed her finger at his chest, scolding, "You're unbelievable! Coming to the flower shop like that—you almost got us caught by Sakura!"
Before she could continue, Yoichi pulled her into an embrace. His apology, paired with heartfelt words, made Ino's defenses crumble. Memories of her romantic past surfaced, and despite her married life, she found herself swept up in Yoichi's charm.
"You can't... not at the shop," she murmured, her voice softening as she turned her face away.
Yoichi leaned closer. "Ino-san, it's been three days, but it feels like three years to me." His words struck a chord, and before long, her resistance faded entirely.
Hours later, both lay on the bed, catching their breath. Yoichi smiled at the umbrella on the floor—it had seen plenty of use tonight. Though tempted to continue, he decided to pace himself. For now, he handed Ino a glass of warm honey water.
"I need to go home. I have to make breakfast for my family tomorrow," Ino said, trying to regain her composure.
"Wait, Ino-san," Yoichi interrupted, pulling her closer. "I have something important to discuss with you."
Her curiosity piqued, Ino stayed. Yoichi explained his vision—a dangerous prophecy of monsters and treasures appearing throughout the world.
"This isn't something I can handle alone. Konoha's network will be essential for gathering intelligence. I planned to tell Naruto about it, but you're a Konoha ninja too, so I'm sharing it with you first."
The gravity of his words left Ino silent, her hand gripping his tightly.
(End of Chapter)
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