Ninja World Situation

After hearing Vegapunk's words, the clan Ninja finally let out long breaths of relief, and eager expressions appeared on their faces.

The awakening of clan Kekkei Genkai had always been a major problem troubling clan Ninja. The more powerful the Kekkei Genkai, the harder it usually was to awaken.

A Kekkei Genkai of relatively low intensity like the Byakugan had become famous throughout the Ninja World and made the Hyuga Clan one of the foremost bloodline clans not only because of its powerful utility and support capabilities, but also because of its absurdly high awakening rate.

Why was the Hyuga Clan the only bloodline clan to develop systems like the Caged Bird Seal, the Main Family, and the Branch Family? Besides the ease of transplanting the Byakugan, another reason was that the other clans simply had too few Kekkei Genkai Ninja!

Among the Hozuki Clan, perhaps only one in ten Ninja awakened their Kekkei Genkai. The Yuki Clan's Ice Release Kekkei Genkai was much the same, while the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku was even worse—perhaps only one out of thirty or fifty could awaken it!

How the hell could they establish Main and Branch Families with so few people? Or rather, Ninja who awakened their Kekkei Genkai were naturally a cut above ordinary clan Ninja. There was no need to use the Caged Bird Seal to distinguish status.

For Ninja who had not awakened their Kekkei Genkai, their status within the clan was roughly comparable to that of the Hyuga Branch Family. However, since this was a result determined entirely by ability and no one controlled their lives and deaths, they did not harbor much resentment.

But if anyone claimed they did not want to awaken their Kekkei Genkai, grow stronger, and attain higher status, that would be strange indeed.

"My lord, is what you said true? Can your research help us awaken our Kekkei Genkai?"

A Hozuki Clan Ninja asked eagerly.

"We'll have to study it first. I can't guarantee it, but I'm at least seventy to eighty percent confident."

Seeing that this group had willingly jumped into the pot themselves, Vegapunk could not help smiling.

While Vegapunk continued his research into Kekkei Genkai, the butterfly effect he had caused continued to ferment throughout the Ninja World.

Konoha, which had only just endured the Nine-Tails Rampage, was now in ruins and awaiting reconstruction. The former Third Hokage had once again taken up his post, but faced with the current mess, even he felt somewhat powerless.

The Third Hokage in his youth might truly have deserved the title of Shinobi Hero, but the Third Hokage who had returned to power had lost his former wisdom and decisiveness. Whenever trouble arose, his first reaction now was compromise, smoothing things over like muddy water.

"Is that so? Kakashi, you've worked hard."

The Third Hokage set down his smoking pipe and spoke to Kakashi with great kindness.

"It's enough if this intelligence can be of help to the village."

Kakashi lowered his head and replied earnestly.

"Then I'll take my leave."

The Third Hokage nodded. Once Kakashi had left the room, a grave expression appeared on his face.

"This intelligence truly is astonishing. Vegapunk, is it? An incredible genius. He really has done something shocking."

Naturally, the intelligence Kakashi reported concerned Vegapunk and his group. In fact, when Kakashi first returned to Konohagakure, he had already submitted a written report detailing his experiences.

At the time, Konohagakure had attached some importance to the report, but only enough to understand its contents.

Although Kakashi had carried out an S-rank mission and the intelligence was theoretically important, Snow Country was simply too far from Konohagakure. Vegapunk had shown some talent in the report, but no one had imagined that he would have any further dealings with Konoha.

Even Kakashi himself, though deeply impressed by Vegapunk, had thought that if they ever dealt with one another again, it would likely be years later. Who could have expected Vegapunk to accomplish something so huge in such a short time, unifying the entire overseas Ninja World?

Although the current Mizukage of the Sea Ninja Village was still Suikazan Fuguki, any village with reasonably well-informed intelligence knew that Vegapunk was the true key figure behind the founding of the new Sea Ninja Village.

Kakashi had other thoughts as well. He felt that the person truly controlling the Sea Ninja Village was likely Vegapunk, not Suikazan Fuguki. But there was no basis for such a claim, so he did not speak carelessly.

After all, back in Snow Country, Kakashi had already seen that Vegapunk was far more mature than a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old child should have been. He also had no reverence whatsoever for daimyo or nobles, making him a truly lawless figure.

Vegapunk had openly done things like putting Kazahana Koyuki on the throne and using that little girl as a puppet, without any attempt to hide it.

"So he was also the heir to a daimyo? Perhaps that was why he had no reverence at all."

After leaving the Hokage's Office, Kakashi briefly thought of Vegapunk before quickly putting the matter out of his mind.

Although he had suffered quite a few setbacks in Snow Country, the final outcome had at least been good, and Kakashi's strength had improved considerably.

More importantly, what Konohagakure truly needed to consider now was not the distant Sea Ninja Village across the ocean, but Kumogakure, which had yet to cease hostilities.

Although the Third Shinobi World War had ended, localized conflicts had not completely ceased. Kumogakure and Konohagakure had never signed a Peace Treaty, but under the deterrence of the Fourth Hokage, the Yellow Flash, both sides had essentially entered a ceasefire.

Unfortunately, the Nine-Tails Rampage and the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice had severely damaged Konohagakure's vitality. Seizing this opportunity, Kumogakure, which had originally quieted down, began waging small-scale Ninja wars against Konoha once more.

Kakashi quickly put this intelligence out of his mind, and even the Third Hokage, who saw the threat within it, could only helplessly file it away.

First, the newly established Sea Ninja Village was far out at sea, and even if Konohagakure wished to do something, it was beyond its reach. Second, Konohagakure had been severely weakened and needed to face Kumogakure's challenge first. It simply had no time to spare for the Sea Ninja Village.

Konoha had no time to concern itself with the Sea Ninja Village. Although Iwagakure and the former Kirigakure, now the Sea Ninja Village, were hereditary enemies, there was not much of a conflict of interests between them. After all, their countries did not even share a border.

Thus, this hereditary enmity mostly remained a matter of words. Besides, Iwagakure was the hereditary enemy of every major Ninja village. Ōnoki had backstabbed Kumogakure, gotten the Third Raikage killed, invaded Wind Country, and still had border conflicts with them to this day. As for Konoha, there was even less need to mention it.

Therefore, regarding the founding of the Sea Ninja Village, Ōnoki merely grumbled a few sarcastic remarks, saying things like how Kirigakure had truly regressed with age and had now even changed its village name. He then instructed the intelligence division to remain vigilant and gather more information, and that was the end of it.

As for Kumogakure, that village overflowing with martial spirit was currently locked in a bitter struggle with Konoha. It had not dealt much with Kirigakure in ordinary times. There had been some minor frictions, but never a true war. Regarding the founding of the Sea Ninja Village, it merely instructed its subordinates to gather more intelligence.