Watching from the Shadows

Watching from the Shadows

"Most of the time, it's not that you're smarter than everyone else—it's that you started from a different point."

Having explained the reason, Chiyo let her nature show a little and teased Senra and Sasori.

Senra and Sasori were geniuses—or at least, that was what they believed. They had always been several steps ahead of others.

In their eyes, they were true geniuses, which was why Sasori dared to question it.

Those Civilian Ninja would never question it. All they knew was that Lord Kazekage would not harm them, so there was no need for them to doubt him.

Or rather, since there was no established training system and everything had to be explored by trial and error, they might as well follow Lord Kazekage's methods.

With Lord Kazekage vouching for the training system, even if there were problems, they would not be too serious.

"Sasori, you think too highly of yourself.

How old are you? How dare you question Lord Kazekage like this?

Questioning things is good, but you must remember that you need strength to back up your doubts."

Chiyo patiently explained it to her grandson.

Chiyo was afraid—afraid that her grandson would destroy himself through arrogance. So many geniuses had ruined themselves because of their pride, and Chiyo remembered every name on that list.

Their names could now exist only in the memories of the elderly.

Arrogance led people to court death, and courting death meant walking along the edge of it.

Those who often courted death had only two possible endings: one was death, and the other was becoming a big shot.

Chiyo certainly did not want her grandson to court death every day out of arrogance, only to be beaten to death in the end.

In the ninja world, the person who loved courting death most was a man named Orochimaru. He truly stirred up trouble everywhere, yet still survived in the end.

Inside an underground cave, Madara Uchiha was flipping through a thin book. Yin-Yang Face Black and White Zetsu stood respectfully before him, while Tobi sulkily drew piles of poop in the corner.

"Hmph, so this is the book written by that Third Kazekage."

With his Rinnegan open, Madara Uchiha quickly finished reading it at a glance and snorted coldly.

"Yes, Lord Madara."

Zetsu answered respectfully. He very much wanted to hear the evaluation of Madara Uchiha, one of the great figures of the ninja world.

His strength came from Kaguya Otsutsuki. As a special lifeform, he could not grow stronger, nor was his understanding of ninjutsu particularly profound. Madara Uchiha was different—he had truly honed himself bit by bit.

His words were the ultimate authority.

"To be able to write this book, he can be considered a Hero. Once I recover a little more, I'll go make contact with him.

How is the Uzumaki Clan doing?"

Having turned to conspiratorial methods, Madara Uchiha had become extremely cautious. Even if he did not always leave himself a way out, he made several preparations in advance.

"A large number of Uzumaki Clan members have moved to Sunagakure. No matter what, we need to make contact with the Third Kazekage."

Zetsu said in a gloomy, troubled voice.

He was helpless as well. The Uzumaki Clan possessed enormous Chakra reserves and powerful vitality, making them the best vessels for nurturing the Rinnegan.

Madara Uchiha's brow suddenly twitched. He felt as if he were being schemed against. Why was it that no matter what he did, he could not avoid that Third Kazekage?

"Go to the Land of Whirlpools and select a suitable Uzumaki descendant. If you can't find one, search the ninja world. The Land of Whirlpools could not possibly have sent away all its elite descendants."

Madara Uchiha said gravely.

Black and White Zetsu both looked at Madara Uchiha in confusion, unable to understand his decision. Was he, the Ninja Asura, really not confident that he could take down a mere Kazekage?

Why search the entire ninja world for a backup plan?

"Lord Madara, isn't that too troublesome? Can't we just go to Sunagakure directly, or use the Third Kazekage himself?"

Thinking of how difficult it would be to find someone across the entire ninja world, Black and White Zetsu still gathered his courage and asked.

Madara Uchiha frowned and glared fiercely at Zetsu. You damned fool, why did you have to ask? Couldn't you just obediently carry out the order?

For the sake of completing the mission properly, and for the future, Madara Uchiha still offered an explanation.

"Train according to this book, and as long as you have sufficient talent and material resources, reaching Kage-level is guaranteed.

The person capable of writing this book is no weaker than Hashirama and I were in the past."

Once Madara Uchiha finished speaking, Zetsu and Tobi were both stunned. For the proud Madara Uchiha to say such words could only mean that the Third Kazekage's strength had truly surpassed the vast majority of people and reached the so-called cheat-powered Beyond Kage-level.

Black and White Zetsu silently left without saying anything. If he could investigate someone at Beyond Kage-level, that already proved his concealment abilities were exceptional. If he foolishly went looking for trouble, he might truly die.

This was Sunagakure, after all—a Ninja Village that was also exceptionally skilled in Sealing Technique.

P.S.: The author believes Sunagakure's Sealing Technique is the strongest, or at least the best utilized, among the five great Ninja Villages. Its Sand Sealing Series, inherited from Shukaku, is nearly widespread throughout the village. Konoha merely possesses many extremely powerful Sealing Techniques, but only a few people know how to use them. In Sunagakure, however, many people can use them.

Black Zetsu had yet to fulfill his mission, so it was better not to court death.

He, Black Zetsu, was the greatest survivor in the ninja world. He had outlived the Sage of Six Paths, outlived Hamura, outlived Asura and Indra, endured the chaotic Sengoku era, and finally managed to wait for Madara Uchiha, an Uchiha descendant with the Rinnegan. Had it been easy for him?

Since it had not been easy, of course he had to keep enduring and keep surviving. He had no desire to court death.

Throughout the ninja world, the nobles and wealthy merchants who had spent everyone's money buying houses in Sunagakure, and whose children attended the Ninja Academy, all gradually came across this book written by the Third Kazekage.

Of course, ordinary people like them couldn't understand it. But just because they couldn't didn't mean others couldn't, nor did it mean they had no way of finding someone who could.

Kage-level experts were hard to find, but Quasi-Kage ones were still attainable. Those Quasi-Kage with a discerning eye could still be found, one or two at a time.

What's more, in the Ninja World, there was a Bounty Hunter who would do anything as long as you paid him—moral, civilized, and principled: the Ninja World's (fake) Gojo Satoru, Kakuzu.

Who hadn't put out an assassination contract before?

In a dimly lit room, two people sat facing each other in the shadows.

"What's the job?"

"Check a book."

After a long silence, he said, "Fine."

A thin book was handed over.

After flipping through it for a while—

"Good book. Follow what it says, and with sufficient aptitude, becoming a Jonin won't be a problem. You may even glimpse the Kage-level."

"Thank you. Here is one million taels as payment."

A voice filled with wild joy rang out.

Kakuzu watched the departing figure and wordlessly picked up the banknotes.

That had been way too easy.

"Writing books makes this much money? Should I write books too?

"I heard Sunagakure pays pretty well. Should I find a side job there?"

After putting away the banknotes, Kakuzu pondered as he walked.

Kakuzu also knew why that person had been so excited, even paying fifty percent extra.

How could anyone not be thrilled by a book that could cultivate an Elite Jonin?

What Kakuzu failed to notice was that just as he stepped out of the negotiation room, a Red-haired figure was watching him from the sky.