Kapitel 48: Chapter 48

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The Land of Rivers has always been a 'major power' in the production of metal ores. Besides its rich metal resources, it's considered a typical small country in other respects.

During the Second Shinobi World War, the battlefield in the Land of Rain saw Hanzo's ambitions to extend his influence into the Land of Rivers, aspiring to rise as the sixth great ninja village. However, his plans were detected by Konoha and Suna, leading to a joint confrontation in the Land of Rain. The ensuing war quashed Hanzo's ambitions.

Surrounded by the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Rain, the Land of Rivers, despite its rich metal ore resources, lacks its own ninja village. Although protected by samurai guards and ninjas hired by the Daimyo, they are far from being organized on a large scale.

The Cloud River Iron Mine, recently discovered, is said to be the largest iron mine in the Land of Rivers.

The revelation of such a mine stirred both the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, each keen on claiming a share of the bounty.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, married to the niece of the Land of Rivers' Daimyo, sought to leverage this familial connection for a larger share. However, his repeated propositions were denied by the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, resulting in the former's frustration and anger.

Consequently, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire turned to Konoha for assistance, proposing they deal with the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers and eliminate two of his heirs. This would allow his wife's nephew to ascend as the new Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, thereby securing a greater share of the Cloud River Iron Mine for him.

Given the mine's potential to generate an annual revenue of one to two hundred million, it's no wonder the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was enticed.

This prompted Hiruzen to dispatch Homura for direct negotiations with the Daimyo, recognizing the necessity of Konoha's involvement. However, he also felt that the Daimyo's palace shouldn't stint on next year's budget considering the task at hand.

With the ninja world becoming increasingly unstable and the delicate peace forged post-Second Shinobi World War teetering on the brink, Hiruzen found himself compelled to take additional precautions.

Meanwhile, Danzo, within the Root organization, pondered the implications of the Cloud River Iron Mine.

He harbored an unyielding grudge against the Uchiha and remembered the Second Hokage's policies towards them. The Uchiha, despite having members like Uchiha Kagami who were loyal to the village, represented a volatile element within a largely stable clan.

"Such instability, a clan detrimental to the village, should be isolated and closely monitored, or even eradicated," Danzo thought, his anger reignited by the humiliation he faced at the hands of the Police Force. The loss of dozens of clan members, millions in assets, and the disgrace of being stripped of his position as the Hokage's aide fueled his resentment.

"Hatake Sakumo."

Thinking of him, Danzo seethed with rage, convinced that Sakumo must have seen through the fabricated evidence but still chose to side with the Uchiha.

Should Sakumo succeed in his upcoming mission, his prestige within the village and the favor of the Daimyo would be unmatched...

"Inform our operatives outside to preemptively infiltrate the Land of Rivers... and make contact with the spy in the Sand Village."

"Yes!"

A Root ninja promptly disappeared using the Body Flicker Technique. Although Hiruzen had briefly handed Root's control over to the Anbu, it was soon returned to Danzo.

Only Danzo could manage Root's unique mode of operation effectively. Without him, the organization would be directionless.

Danzo, his eyes gleaming coldly, muttered, "Only I can lead Konoha to eliminate the threat of war."

---

**[Seizing an Opportunity]**: Gain the ability to steal once daily through physical contact, allowing the theft of any item from the person.

Yoichi carefully reviewed this new ability, which appeared quite formidable and devoid of 'side effects', making it potentially useful in combat scenarios.

Imagine, during a skirmish, if an enemy's weapon could be made to vanish upon contact, it would undoubtedly be a game-changer.

"It's worth a try."

Yoichi looked out the window; it was already deep into the night, yet Mina appeared to be still awake. Leaving his bedroom, he headed downstairs to the living room.

Mina was indulging in a late-night snack in the living room, with a pot of ramen, three sushi rolls, and a plate of sashimi, quite a feast by any standard.

Noticing Yoichi's descent, Mina's face flushed with a hint of embarrassment as she explained, "Lord Yoichi, I didn't eat enough tonight, so I made myself some snacks."

Despite her internal turmoil over the appropriateness of eating such a meal late at night in the open, she felt somewhat relieved and grateful for Yoichi's understanding and concern for her dietary needs, highlighting the need for substantial nourishment due to their chakra usage and rigorous training regimen.

"By the way, Mina, come here and shake hands with me."

"Shake hands?"

Despite her confusion, Mina complied, reaching out her hand. Yet, as soon as their hands touched, she felt a sudden drain, leaving her weak and barely able to stand, signaling Yoichi had successfully tested his new ability on her, stealing a portion of her chakra.

Apologizing, Yoichi explained his actions as a test of a new technique, advising Mina to rest and recover the lost chakra. Mina, understanding and still respectful of Yoichi's position and intentions, accepted the situation with grace, despite feeling physically depleted.

Yoichi, reflecting on the potency and potential of his new ability, considered the strategic advantages it could offer in future encounters, marking a new tool in his arsenal for the challenges that lay ahead.

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Kapitel 49: Chapter 49

After a good night's rest, Mina woke up feeling mostly refreshed, though still a bit hungry. After getting up, she ate quite a bit.

Yoichi, on the other hand, left home early for training and called upon Gates for assistance.

Gates's Gravity Technique was very helpful for Yoichi's training. While physical weights could only train muscles and bones, gravity could enhance every part of his body, including internal organs and even cells. However, Yoichi could currently only train under double the normal gravity, far from Gates's maximum of ten times the gravity.

His training regimen included weighted punches, kicks, handstand jumps, sit-ups, and push-ups. After these, Yoichi would have Gates attack him with rock formations using Earth Style magic, allowing him to practice his swordsmanship against an onslaught of rocks and protruding stone pillars, which he would slice through with his ninja sword.

Yoichi's morning routine was intensive, yet he didn't feel burdened by today's training.

The chakra he had received from Mina the previous night continued to aid in his recovery and fatigue elimination during training, acting like a source of energy.

He even noticed bruises and minor injuries healing much quicker, as if he were constantly drawing on Mina's chakra.

"The effects are truly remarkable. Perhaps I could try it on someone else. Using it on allies still seems a bit risky," Yoichi pondered after completing his morning training. Despite his intense regimen, he only felt slightly tired, a testament to the threefold increase in his training volume. His clothes were soaked with sweat, yet his fatigue was minimal.

"If only this chakra boost was permanent, it would be amazing. But that's just wishful thinking. If it were, I could become a Biju-ninja within a month," Yoichi mused.

After tidying up, Yoichi prepared to return home for lunch, with Gates slowly following behind and letting out a roar.

"Alright, next time you help me train, you'll get double the meat!" Yoichi promised.

Gates roared in agreement.

"Don't worry, I'm also looking for energy-rich food for you. There's bound to be some," Yoichi reassured, knowing the Shinobi World had many energy-rich animals, especially in the three great lands. However, capturing them was another matter.

With Gates's current strength, attempting such a feat might end up with them being the prey instead. Nonetheless, the Shinobi World was home to large creatures like wild boars that could grow up to three or four meters in length and even larger beasts teeming with rich energy.

Upon returning home, lunch was ready. Previously, Mina was responsible for preparing meals, but with the addition of Gates and the increasing food requirements, they decided to hire someone to prepare lunch and dinner.

The Uchiha clan's collection of sealing techniques was limited, but Yoichi managed to obtain some from the clan's second elder, Kenji, enhancing Mina's control over sealing techniques.

If Mina could awaken the Adamantine Sealing Chains, her strength would significantly increase, allowing her to break free from the "support" ninja stereotype. This sealing technique was versatile, capable of sealing chakra, blocking various ninjutsu, and even restraining tailed beasts.

Mina's substantial chakra reserves, coupled with combat awareness and the Adamantine Sealing Chains, could make her a formidable Jonin on the battlefield.

However, for Mina, this was still a distant goal. Yoichi's current hope for her was to master medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques, excelling as a support ninja.

"Yoichi-sama, are you there?"

While Yoichi was having lunch, Mina suddenly returned. Upon seeing him, she cheerfully entered the house.

Noticing Yoichi's glance, Mina felt pleased inside. She had noticed his interest in her white stockings the previous night, indicating his preference. Thus, she decided to wear them again and even removed her outerwear before coming home.

When Mina approached, Yoichi diverted his gaze and asked, "Mina, what brings you here?"

Mina replied with a smile, "Ikemoto-sensei has finished preparing the three medicines you requested. He asked when you would be available to visit the Leaf Hospital to check them."

"Let's go today then. Elder Kenji's arrangements are almost done. If Ikemoto-sensei's medicines are fine, we can start production soon," Yoichi responded, relieved at the prospect of securing a food source for Gates.

Despite acquiring a Giant Earth Bear recently, Gates's appetite was a concern, with the daily cost reaching up to 200,000 ryō for basic meals and nearly 400,000 ryō for training days. Although selling the Shimura family's goods helped financially, Yoichi knew they couldn't sustain this expenditure without additional income.

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At the Hatake residence.

"Father, are you going on a mission again?" Kakashi asked, noticing his father, Sakumo, preparing his ninja tools. He couldn't help but feel like the village was entrusting all its missions to his father, given how soon he was leaving again.

"Yes, this mission is very important. Kakashi, you'll need to continue your training at home for now. I'll spend more time with you once I return," Sakumo replied with a gentle tone, comforting yet firm.

"It's not that I mind training alone; the sword techniques you taught me recently are enough to keep me occupied for a while. It's just that..." Kakashi hesitated, then continued under his father's encouraging gaze, "I was wondering if I could join Yoichi on his missions? It seems like there aren't any teams available for me right now."

"Uchiha Yoichi? I don't think he's currently taking on missions either. And do you have enough members to form a squad? You know we can't take on B-rank missions without a four-man team, and C-rank missions wouldn't be much of a challenge for you," Sakumo pointed out, referring to the village's regulations.

After a moment's thought, Kakashi responded, "Yoichi mentioned that the Uchiha clan has its own set of missions. He said I could join him if I wanted, and it would be just like official missions except for the lack of village records. I just don't know if it would cause any issues for you."

(End of Chapter)

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