Chapter 18: Chapter 17- I AM THE KAZEKAGE
[ a week later]
The Chinoike clan walked through the vast desert, the blistering heat of the sun bearing down on them relentlessly. Sweat dripped down their faces, their clothes sticking to their skin as they pushed forward, determined but worn out. The desert was unforgiving—shifting sands, scorching winds, and, more than once, the distant sounds of predators lurking just out of sight. Snakes slithered near their path, and scorpions scuttled across the dunes, their venomous tails a constant reminder of the dangers surrounding them.
Kijo walked ahead with the clan leader, her Ketsuryūgan scanning the area for any potential threats. They had heard stories of the desert before their journey, but living it was something else entirely. The Chinoike, used to their cold, shadowed valley, had never encountered such an extreme, hostile environment. Every step felt heavier, the sand dragging at their feet, the heat sapping their energy.
"This place is… insane," one of the younger members muttered, shielding their eyes from the sun as they stumbled forward.
Kijo gritted her teeth, glancing back at them. "Keep moving. We've survived worse."
But even she could feel her resolve shaking. What kind of leader was Shiba, to bring them through such an inferno? Could they thrive in a place like this?
Then, just as hope began to dwindle and the heat seemed unbearable, they saw it.
The Chinoike clan couldn't hide their amazement as they saw Suna. The village was a far cry from what they had expected—a harsh desert landscape. Instead, what greeted them was a thriving, green oasis. The massive Adam Tree towered in the center of the village, its thick branches spreading wide, providing cool, shade over the entire village. Vibrant flowers and lush plants filled the streets, fruit trees dotted the landscape, and a soft breeze carried the scent of rich scent of flowers.
"By the gods…" the leader whispered, his voice filled with awe.
Kijo, the clan leader's daughter, stared at the towering tree, unable to suppress a smile. "Is this real?" she whispered, her crimson eyes wide with disbelief.
The clan's weariness melted away as they moved forward, their steps quickening, energized by the vision of the village ahead. The scorching desert, the deadly creatures, the endless heat—it was all forgotten as they walked through Suna, the Adam Tree promising safety, life, and something more profound: hope.
For the first time in ages, they could see a future beyond mere survival.
As Shiba led the clan through the streets, watching their reactions with satisfaction. They had made the right choice to follow him to Suna, the cool shade of the Adam Tree washed over them, instantly rejuvenating their bodies. The air was different here—fresh, sweet, and filled with the scent of fruits from the surrounding trees. Lush greenery lined the streets, and the people of Suna moved about with an ease that contrasted sharply with the harsh desert outside.
The Chinoike clan stood in disbelief, taking it all in.
"This is… paradise," Kijo said softly, her eyes scanning the village. She couldn't believe the contrast between what they had endured and what lay before them.
Shiba, walking alongside them, watched their reactions with a smirk. "Welcome to Suna," he said, his voice filled with pride. "This is your new home."
He led them through the village, pointing out the empty compound that had been specifically prepared for their arrival, as though he had known from the start that they would come. It was spacious, well-built, and provided more comfort than they had ever imagined.
The clan leader, an older man with deep-set eyes, turned to Shiba. "You… knew we were coming?" he asked, surprise lacing his voice.
Shiba gave a small smile. "I had a feeling."
Once they were settled, the leader, Kijo, and the elders decided to seek out the Kazekage to properly express their gratitude—and, perhaps, to confirm that their new future was in the hands of a capable leader.
When they arrived at the Kazekage's office, they were greeted with yet another surprise: Shiba himself, seated behind the desk, wearing the robes and hat of the Kazekage, a casual smirk on his face as he awaited their reaction.
"You're the Kazekage?" Kijo asked, stunned.
Shiba stood up, straightening the robes and flashing a grin. "That's right. I am the Kazekage. And now, you're part of Suna."
The room was silent for a few moments, the Chinoike elders exchanging stunned glances.
The clan leader regained his composure first, clearing his throat. "Forgive us, Lord Kazekage. We didn't realize…"
"You didn't think it was possible for someone as young as me to be the Kazekage?" Shiba said, leaning forward with a grin. "I get that a lot. But trust me, everything you see here—this village, the Adam Tree, the prosperity—it's all part of my plan. And now, with the Chinoike clan here, it's only going to get stronger."
Kijo finally found her voice, her surprise giving way to a smirk of her own. "So, you were holding back when we fought, huh?"
Shiba chuckled. "Maybe a little. But it's good to keep people guessing."
The clan leader stepped forward, bowing his head slightly in respect. "We're honored to be part of this, Lord Kazekage. Your village is… unlike anything we could have imagined."
Shiba nodded, his expression softening. "I promised you something better than the Valley of Hell, and I don't make promises I can't keep. Your clan has a place here in Suna, and together, we're going to make this village the strongest in the world."
The clan leader, Kijo, and the elders exchanged glances, their initial skepticism now replaced by a newfound respect for the young Kazekage. They could see it now—the potential, the vision that Shiba had for Suna
As the elders left to settle the rest of their people, Shiba leaned back in his chair, taking a deep breath. He had pulled it off. The Chinoike clan was now part of Suna, and the village was stronger because of it.
[Ding!]
A sudden sound in Shiba's head caught him off guard, his eyebrows shooting up. "What the hell?" he muttered. He opened his system interface and saw the notification flash across his vision.
[Hidden Mission Completed: Convince the Chinoike Clan to join Suna]
Shiba blinked, a smirk slowly forming on his face. Hidden missions were rare, and the rewards for completing them were always insane. With a mixture of excitement and curiosity, he opened the rewards tab.
[Rewards: 5 Enchanted Golden Apples(from Minecraft), Advanced Seals Experience Book, 5 High-Level Anbu Ninjas, 5 High-Level Root ninjas]
Shiba's eyes widened as he scanned the list. "Wait…what the fuck?!" He blinked again, double-checking to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. "No way. This is… this is insane!"
He immediately summoned the items into his inventory. In his hand appeared five glowing golden apples. They shimmered with a pink aura on top of their skin, like something ripped straight out of a DnD. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, shit… now I've got six of these bad boys," he muttered, remembering he already had one stored away from another quest. "If I eat one of these, I'll be unkillable for a bit. How broken is this system?"
Shiba sat down, flipping open the Advanced Seals Experience Book. Knowledge flooded into his mind, detailing complex fuinjutsu techniques that made his head spin. Sealing jutsu had always been an art form, but this… this was next-level. The possibilities were endless, from powerful barrier techniques to trapping even the most dangerous opponents. "Damn… I'm gonna be a fuinjutsu master at this rate," he chuckled to himself.
And then, the kicker.
In front of him, five high-level Anbu ninjas materialized, kneeling silently. Each of them had an intimidating presence, their masks concealing their identities, their chakra levels almost suffocating the room. These weren't your run-of-the-mill Anbu. These guys were top-tier.
But that wasn't all.
Another five appeared behind them—Root members. Even more ruthless, more efficient, and more deadly than the Anbu. Shiba couldn't help but shake his head.
"This system went full send," he muttered, barely containing his excitement. "I was trying to produce high-level ninjas like this, but it was taking forever. Now, I've got a whole damn squad handed to me. Talk about plot armor!"
The Root members and Anbu remained still, waiting for orders, their silence almost eerie. Shiba stood up, grinning like a madman. "Alright, first things first. Both of you will go to the mainbase to train the other ninjas and don't try ti kill them ."
The ninjas vanished in a blur of speed, their loyalty and power firmly at Shiba's disposal.
As soon as they left, Shiba sat back down, rubbing his temples. "Man, this system is straight-up broken," he muttered. "But I'm not complaining."
A sudden thought crossed his mind, and he couldn't help but snicker. "Heh, I should've known something was up the moment I heard that 'ding'. Now I've got 10 elite-level killers in my pocket, six enchanted golden apples, and the knowledge of seals that could probably rival Uzumaki-level stuff. What's next? flying Nimbus, bit gonna lie that would be cool?"
AN: more power stones = more chapters
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone