Ranking

"Third Tier Magic - Minor Wound Healing ~"

A warm, magical aura filled the carriage. The female warrior Sukama, who was lying on the ground in a horse-like posture, slowly turned her head and looked at the priestess Lilynet, who was casting a spell and whose body radiated a "pure and flawless" glow.

She glanced at Uchiha Takeyasu, who was still up to no good, and let out a coquettish sigh.

"Young Master Takeyasu, please don't use the priest's healing magic on this!"

A Minor Wound Healing spell that also restores some physical strength.

As the magic permeated her, Sukama, whose physical strength had been replenished, slowly sat up from the floor of the carriage, one hand covering her chest and the other brushing away the strands of hair that were stuck to her mouth.

The Female Warrior's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes revealed a satisfied yet tired expression, after all, she had just gone through a fierce battle.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered with a lustrous light, reflecting the Goddess Official's figure.

The Earth God Holy Seal, representing faith in the gods, which had been on Lilinet's snow-white neck, had fallen to the floor of the carriage.

Sukama's lips curled slightly, and she spoke in a clear tone that was different from her usual heroic and spirited manner, with a cloying trailing tone.

"You lowly priest who disgraces the dignity of the gods! If the Earth God knew of your despicable behavior, he would surely punish you severely!"

"Nonsense, Lord Earth God... If His followers could see and skillfully utilize... the healing... magic He bestowed upon them, they would surely... ah~"

She tilted her head, which was covered in sweat, and looked at Sukama with her watery eyes. Then she turned her head to look at Uchiha Takeyasu behind her, and said with a smile.

"Young Master Takeyasu, do you think Lilinet is prettier, or am I prettier?"

"Of course they're all beautiful."

After some time, Uchiha Takeyasu waved his hand, and the magical light of [First Tier Magic - Cleanse] appeared in the carriage, erasing all traces inside. Only the Female Warrior and the Goddess Official still had blushes on their faces.

At noon, Sukama, full of energy, took the driver's seat, gripped the reins tightly, and drove the carriage toward the next city.

Sunlight and a gentle breeze fell on her face, bringing a look of contentment to her face, but it quickly vanished.

Along the way, they encountered several groups of powerful individuals dressed in smart military uniforms. These people moved by as swiftly as ghosts, causing Sukama to feel a chill.

Her years of adventure had given her a keen sense that some of these powerful individuals harbored ill intentions.

However, when their gazes fell upon the carriage, they simultaneously looked away and sped away from the spot.

"The upper half is red, and the lower half, including the Gunbai, is white. The two parts are not connected... Hmm, does this pattern have any special meaning?"

Sukama glanced at the Gunbai banner fluttering in the wind at the front of the carriage, and couldn't help but recall the respectful way the two powerful Toad addressed Uchiha Takeyasu. Some thoughts began to form in his mind.

Her fingers gently traced the strong yet resilient reins as she watched the eight galloping horses, a slight smile playing on her lips as she enjoyed the leisurely afternoon.

Inside the carriage, Lilinet, exhausted from physical exertion and the depletion of her magic, collapsed onto the small bed, her breathing gradually becoming steady.

Her beautiful figure sank deeply into the soft bedding, her nostrils flared slightly, and her face showed a hint of weariness, but her brows revealed a captivating charm. Even in her sleep, her little mouth was making soft smacking noises.

This Goddess Official must have been a succubus in her past life, someone who only knew how to attract attention.

On the other side, Uchiha Takeyasu, who had already transformed into an avatar, sat in his seat in the carriage, intently opening his system interface.

--Uchiha Takeyasu

Class: Elemental Mage - Fire (LV10); Elemental Mage - Lightning (LV2);

Skills: First and Second Tier Magic;

Overall combat strength level: LV12 (Gold Rank Adventurer, strength of top-tier human nation's troops);

Ascension Points:... (continuously increasing);

(It's rising so slowly.)

A barely perceptible hint of helplessness flashed in Uchiha Takeyasu's eyes.

The [Elemental Mage - Lightning] class level increased by one yesterday, but will have to wait until tomorrow to level up again.

In the Ninja World, the power to enhance one's body is basically related to Chakra, and the power of the Gelel Stone is extremely exclusive.

For this body, which has transitioned to a magic-based system, it will undoubtedly be a difficult task to leverage its power in the Ninja World.

Uchiha Takeyasu lifted one of the curtains, and the warm sunlight immediately streamed into the carriage. His gaze fell on the rapidly passing scenery, and his thoughts raced.

(The frontline troops have already conquered 90% of the Re-Estize Kingdom's territory, leaving only the last fortress city [Ye-Lantir]. I remember there are quite a few powerful Magic Beast in the Great Forest of Tob north of the city.)

(In the original story, the "Wise King of the Forest," that giant hamster, should be living in the forest, ruling over an area.)

Considering the research capabilities of [Root], the leader of the Science Academy' second basement level, Uchiha Takeyasu decided to have someone capture that giant hamster.

There's no need to kill them, just draw some blood.

After all, it's quite interesting to keep a cute hamster that gets shy when its head is stroked and has emotions like a girl.

Hamsters are also frank and simple in nature, and possess a sense of gratitude that many humans lack, so their loyalty can be guaranteed. They would make good playmates for children in the future.

As for the other ugly Magic Beast, keep only the number that can reproduce to ensure species diversity and the possibility of future genetic mutations; the rest are irrelevant.

(Further north of the Great Forest of Tob lies the Azerlisia Mountains, where a Frost Dragon King resides. Its strength should be around the Kage Level, making it a perfect tool for enhancing this clone.)

Just like common sense, among all the true dragon species, the weakest is the white dragon, and the same is true for this continent.

The White Dragon, also known as the Frost Dragon, is the weakest dragon species, lacking both intelligence and strength compared to other dragon species.

But all Uchiha Takeyasu needs is the blood of the dragon. As long as his bloodline changes and he has the Ascension Points, even the weakest can become the strongest.

(Other beings of decent strength, such as powerful non-human creatures like the Frost Giants, can also serve as good fodder.)

(Also, I wonder if the power of the Frost Dragon and the Ice Release of the Yuki Clan Kirigakure will create some unexpected sparks?)

(For example, the Frost Dragon Knight?)

Uchiha Takeyasu stroked his chin, lost in thought.

As the sun and moon revolve, time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it is already the sixth day after the Ninja World Tournament.

Black Horn Domain, Unraikyo Gorge.

This place brings together the four major forces: Kirigakure), Sunagakure), Iwagakure), and the Ninja Alliance.

There weren't many ninjas standing in Unraikyo Gorge this time, but they were all representatives of various forces and high-ranking officials in the village.

Uchiha Takeyasu, unusually, used his true form to get down to business this time. He stood on a high platform built with Earth Release and had a Flying Thunder God Kunai stuck in it. Beside him was Mito Uzumaki from the Military Affairs Department.

The two teleported there using the Flying Thunder God Technique, immediately becoming the focus of everyone's attention, Uchiha Takeyasu also opened his eyes to look.

The Kirigakure side is led by the Fourth Genji.

Beside him were Karatachi Yagura, who had just become the Three-Tails Jinchuriki yesterday and whose strength had jumped to the Kage Level, as well as the Clan Head of the three bloodline secret technique families: Hozuki, Yuki, and Kaguya. The three Clan Head heads were just one step away from entering the Kage Level, and their aura was impressive.

The Sunagakure was ruled by the Third Generation Chiyo, Chiyo, and her assistant, Ebina. The older sister's strength could barely be considered Kage Level, while the younger brother's strength was rather weak. Together, they were probably only slightly stronger than the three clan Clan Head: Hozuki, Yuki, Kaguya.

Beside them was a powerful figure dressed as a monk, whose aura was sometimes gentle and peaceful, and sometimes violent and ferocious. Everyone guessed that the monk's body contained the only Tailed Beast of Sunagakure, the One-Tail.

At the head of the Iwagakure) group stood a tall man wearing a straw hat, a red mask, and red armor. He was the current Fifth Generation, Han, who had sealed the Five-Tails. He was accompanied by several Elite Jonin, making the group appear rather shabby.

The Ninja Alliance teams were divided into two camps: one was Hanzo of the Salamander of the Amegakure, the Strong Kage of Amegakure, and the other was Kakuzu, the Kage Level shinobi of Takigakure, who wore a black robe and had a cold and imposing aura.

After Madara Uchiha destroyed the resistance forces of Takigakure and took the Seven-Tails, the situation in the Ninja World gradually stabilized. Underground gold exchange shops went bankrupt one after another. Kakuzu, a former Rogue Ninja from Takigakure, had no choice but to return to Takigakure to make a living.

They then formed an alliance with Hanzo of the Salamander, uniting with other small ninja villages to fight against Iwagakure.

"Apart from Konoha, the other ninja villages are too weak."

After looking around, Uchiha Takeyasu's slightly disdainful words drifted across the stage. Everyone looked embarrassed, but no one dared to utter a word in rebuttal.

Especially those from Iwagakure and Sunagakure, were secretly cursing in their hearts—it's all because of you, you [Butcher of Humans], who killed too many people during the Second Shinobi World War!

The entire Kage Level force of Iwagakure was wiped out, and they also lost the Four-Tails, which they had bought at great expense from the First Hokage of Konoha. They still haven't recovered.

The Second and the Third Generation of Sunagakure were also wiped out, and the veteran Jonin heavy casualties, which allowed the young Chiyo and Ebina to rise to power.

"To be honest, even if we take the Uchiha and Senju out of Konoha, the remaining power is enough to give us a run for our money."

Uchiha Takeyasu's statement is a bit of an exaggeration. Two-thirds of Konoha's Kage Level come from these two clans. The remaining six or seven Kage Level are not enough to support Konoha's overall situation. If another Ninja World War, Konoha would have to deploy child soldiers.

The audience remained silent, their faces showing complete conviction.

The Military Affairs Department has kept the complete list of Combat Ninja (Ninja World excluding Kage Level ninjas) in the Secretariat Department as classified documents; only the number of Life Ninja has been released to the public.

Eighty thousand Life Ninja, accounting for one-third of the entire Ninja World, a number that would leave the other ninja villages speechless.

Uchiha Takeyasu's gaze swept over everyone—the ninjas below the stage. Some lowered their heads, some clenched their fists, their hearts filled with helplessness and anger, but even more so with deep awe for the powerful strength of Konoha.

"Enough with the unnecessary words, Madam Mito. You will now present the rankings of each ninja village in the Black Horn Domain by the staff."

With little interest, Uchiha Takeyasu handed the seat to Mito Uzumaki, whose beauty remained Senju as she stood before them, serene and composed.

Her stern expression immediately silenced the entire scene, filling the air with a solemn atmosphere.

Mito Uzumaki nodded slightly, her voice deep and intellectual. She wore a white kimono printed with plum blossoms, exuding a mature charm.

"Ranked first is Kirigakure, second is Sunagakure, third is Iwagakure, fourth is Amegakure, and fifth is Takigakure. The rankings after that are not included."

Under Uchiha Takeyasu's mocking gaze, a commotion erupted in the Ninja Alliance's territory. Hanzo of the Salamander and Kakuzu felt a chill in their hearts and turned to reprimand the leaders of the various small ninja villages who had spoken out.

Han Ze of Iwagakure was overjoyed. His eyes were fixed on Chiyo of Sunagakure and the One-Tails Jinchuriki. He was calculating their strength and gradually forming a new plan.

Chiyo and Bunpuku noticed the ill-intentioned looks from the Iwagakure and responded with a similarly firm attitude.

"Mito-sama, I have a question."

After silencing the commotion within the group, Hanzo of the Salamander raised his hand. "Why did the Military Affairs Department separate smaller ninja villages like Amegakure and Takigakure? We belong to the same faction."

If the Ninja Alliance is not regarded as a whole by Konoha, the subsequent Kage Level battles will be extremely difficult, and even Takigakure will regard Amegakure as an obstacle.

Even Takigakure) sees Amegakure) as an obstacle.

Kakuzu is purely a mercenary; it's not surprising that anyone would oppose him if they had money or a way to make more money.

"Oh?"

Mito Uzumaki chuckled, glanced at the Ninja Alliance's position, and pointed with one hand, "The different Forehead Protector from your various ninja villages all indicate your true allegiance."

"In the chaotic battles of the Black Horn Domain, alliances are commonplace, but in the rankings, they are all calculated independently. Otherwise, if the other ninja villages also adopted this system, and Kirigakure and Sunagakure formed a [Sand Mist] alliance, wouldn't this ranking become a joke?"

Mito Uzumaki's cold yet reprimanding words left Hanzo of the Salamander speechless, but he clenched his fists, determined not to accept defeat.

"Kakuzu, would you be willing to come to my Amegakure, where we can be equals?"

Such a tempting offer made Kakuzu's eyes twitch.

But at this moment, he sensed the gazes of Iwagakure and Sunagakure —while feeling smug, he was also calculating the gains and losses.

Clearly, the now independent Takigakure has become a favorable factor in the balance of power.

(Now is the time to hold out for a good price.)

Kakuzu, who didn't have much affection for Takigakure, wore a mask that revealed no extra emotion on his face.

He bowed respectfully to Mito Uzumaki on the high platform, then spoke to Hanzo of the Salamander in a rather indifferent tone.

"Chief Hanzō, let's hear what Mito-sama has to say."

Hanzo of the Salamander frowned deeply, said nothing more, and turned his gaze to the stage.

Mito Uzumaki's voice also rang out at the opportune moment.

"For forces dissatisfied with their ranking, they can continuously challenge the one ranked above them. The challenge method is limited to a duel between Kage Level powerhouses. The duel method is not limited; it can be a one-on-one duel or a group battle. After losing once, they will no longer be allowed to initiate a challenge."

"However, this is, after all, an internal battle within the Ninja World. I hope everyone will be mindful of their actions. The Ninja World is vast, but the other continent is even larger."

Mito Uzumaki's final words of advice eased Sunagakure 'Chiyo tense expression slightly—with Mito Uzumaki's words, as long as she was careful, her life was still safe.

(But that guy from Iwagakure is really annoying!)

(Isn't third place enough for him?)

As Chiyo of Sunagakure muttered to herself, Han of Iwagakure stepped forward, his eyes, visible only to the outside, now brimming with boundless ambition.

"Mito-sama, may I ask how the territories should be divided after the ranking of strength?"

This was also a major concern for the others, but they also knew that if the differences weren't significant, Konoha wouldn't have bothered ranking them.

If the difference is small, Han decides to solidify his third-place position, preserving the Shadow title and the continental teleportation array that will soon be placed in the village.

If the difference is significant, then for the future development of the village, we must give it our all!

With Sunagakure as their ally, only Kirigakure remained untroubled. Karatachi Yagura, relaxed and at ease, smiled at Ebina, his eyes seeming to say, "Good luck."

(Still a bit too young and impetuous.)

This small action caught the Genji, who glared angrily at Karatachi Yagura, who involuntarily lowered his head.

Ebina of Sunagakure remained expressionless, inwardly resenting his own weakness.

Under the tense gazes of everyone, Mito Uzumaki spoke slowly.

"The entire Ninja World Continent will undergo a reshuffling of power, and apart from the Konoha Alliance, the land will be divided into ten parts."

"30% goes to the top-ranked ninja village, 25% to the second-ranked ninja village, 20% to the third-ranked ninja village, and the remaining 25% is distributed among the other ninja villages according to their respective population proportions."

The leaders quickly began to ponder the matter.

The Ninja World Continent is divided into six parts, with Konoha, the Black Horn Domain, and its allies occupying about two-fifths of the total.

The remaining three-fifths, or 20% of the total area, is slightly smaller than the former Land of Lightning.

Among those that suffered the most losses were undoubtedly the numerous small ninja villages, including Sunagakure with the largest land area, which is mostly desert.

Even if we start planting trees now, we won't feel the pinch.

Only Kirigakure, ranked first, would receive a sizable piece of mainland territory, which instantly excited Kirigakure that is mostly composed of islands.

The Fourth Genji couldn't help but ask, "Mito-sama, are all the newly acquired territories located in the Black Horn Domain?"

"This is a question we should have told you about later, but since you've been asked, it's fine to tell you now."

Mito Uzumaki composed herself and spoke loudly.

"Konoha has successfully conquered a vast, fertile, mostly plains-based indigenous Re-Estize Kingdom on another continent. The Re-Estize Kingdom covers an area of approximately 275,000 square kilometers and has a population of about eight to nine million."

(As expected of Konoha!)

Everyone was shocked. Only six days had passed since the discovery of the alien continent, and they had already taken over a piece of land that was no less than that of a great nation.

"Therefore, Konoha can guarantee that as long as any ninja village is willing to give up all its land on the Ninja World Continent, it will gain territory on another continent that doubles in size. The abundant resources on that land will not disappoint you."

Upon hearing this, all the leaders of the ninja villages began to feel uneasy. Facing the behemoth that was Konoha, the great ninja villages were no different from the small ninja villages.

They had absolutely no idea what the future would hold if Konoha forced them to leave the Ninja World.

"Rest assured, Konoha is fair, and so is His Leader. The exchange of territory is entirely voluntary, and Konoha's various policies will ensure you have no worries about the future."

Seeing that the group wasn't very interested, Mito Uzumaki changed the subject and started talking about the current business.

"Once the rankings are finalized, Konoha's Life Ninja will naturally accompany you to survey the new territory."

"Now everyone can get ready, we need results today!"

After Mito Uzumaki finished speaking, she was taken away by Uchiha Takeyasu. Two members of the Military Affairs Department's staff were then teleported in as witnesses.

"Kakuzu, what are your thoughts?"

After Uchiha Takeyasu and Mito Uzumaki, who had put pressure on them, left, Hanzo of the Salamander walked up to Kakuzu.

"Only the Amegakure is willing to show the utmost sincerity!"

If he becomes the third-ranked Amegakure will achieve a great leap forward and qualify as a Kage village. From then on, outsiders will call him Amekage instead of the leader of any ninja village.

"Come on, Kakuzu, let's create the future of Amegakure together!"

"From now on, the financial power of Amegakure will be entirely in your hands."

Hanzo of the Salamander stretched out his hand, his fervent tone causing Kakuzu to gleam—such conditions would undoubtedly allow him to merge Takigakure into Amegakure on the spot. With his previous subordinates as a foundation, he wasn't afraid that Hanzo of the Salamander on his word and sideline him.

As for joining Amegakure now and then leaving later, this act of toying with Konoha is only because Kakuzu has a few more hearts due to his secret technique, not because he has a few more guts.

At the same time, such generous conditions put some pressure on the nearby Sunagakure and Iwagakure.

"Kakuzu, before agreeing to Amegakure, why not listen to Sunagakure's conditions?"

Chiyo of Sunagakure, who was being eyed covetously by Iwagakure, was well aware of her own true strength. If Han of Iwagakure could maintain his rationality and Tailed Beast Transformation, she and Bunpuku, who had barely sealed One-Tail, might not be able to defeat Han.

If all the Kakuzu were there to assist, it would undoubtedly secure second place and prevent the country's land area from decreasing.

Actually, second and third place weren't what Chiyo was most worried about.

She feared that after being defeated by Iwagakure, the exhausted Sunagakure might not be able to maintain its third-place position under the Amegakure!

The ranking battle is a test of a village's overall strength at the Kage Level, its prestige, and even the decisiveness of its decision-makers.

(Is this what the Ninja World Head of State is thinking?)

(This is something I find difficult to learn now!)

Chiyo, who admired Uchiha Takeyasu's strength, now also felt a sense of awe for Uchiha Takeyasu's deeper thoughts and ideas.

She said to Kakuzu, "Sunagakure is willing to offer Kakuzu the position of Finance Minister, so I believe that a well-established and powerful ninja village like Amegakure can provide Kakuzu with far greater benefits than the up-and-coming Amegakure."

The people present gradually came to their senses, and even the Genji from Kirigakure frowned.

If we really have to count, the only ones they can actually fight are him and Karatachi Yagura. If they get into a series of matches, it's hard to say who will win first place.

(You only have one day. If you get injured, you'll be targeted.)

(The best approach now is to stabilize Sunagakure and let them act as the gateway to Kirigakure.)

(Or perhaps they won't have the energy to sprint towards first place.)

Unable to remain carefree and composed, the Fourth Genji approached Kakuzu and spoke gently.

"Kakuzu, if you are interested, you are welcome to visit Kirigakure. The benefits and treatment there will be similar to those in Sunagakure."

Everyone was shocked, never expecting that Kirigakure with the strongest overall strength, would personally step in to recruit Kakuzu.

(Damn it, I still didn't think things through and wasn't prepared enough!)

A perfectly good ally had been poached by another force right before his eyes. Hanzo of the Salamander was so angry he wanted to curse, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly.

In the end, he merely glanced at Kakuzu, gradually losing hope in this powerful figure who valued money above all else.

(However, as long as Kakuzu join Iwagakure, I still have a chance!)

Hanzo the Jinchuriki, Hanzo of the Salamander from Iwagakure and Strong Kage, is confident he can give it a shot.

(It would be best if Kakuzu joined Kirigakure!)

(If Iwagakure wants to advance further, they'll have to defeat Sunagakure, allowing Sunagakure to take advantage of their weakness. That would be even better.)

The Hanzo of the Salamander in his mind as he pondered this.

(What an unnecessary thing for an old man.)

Chiyo felt a surge of anger. Among all the ninja villages, Kirigakure had the greatest advantage. If Kakuzu were to seize Kirigakure, Sunagakure would have to act as a bridgehead.

(However, as long as Kakuzu fall into Iwagakure, everything else is negotiable.)

Chiyo's thoughts were vaguely noticed by Iwagakure, and Han looked at Kakuzu.

"Iwagakure Kakuzu. Having inherited the Will of Stone Iwagakure through the ages, I will resolutely safeguard the interests of Iwagakure."

"Therefore, I will not relinquish any of the top three positions, even if it means dying in Unraikyo Gorge!"

The ruthless fear the stubborn, and the stubborn fear the reckless. Today, the Fifth Generation of Iwagakure will be the reckless one!

"If Kakuzu is willing to join Iwagakure, the Iwagakure will gladly welcome him."

Han first made a subtle threat, then extended a sincere invitation. With his tall and upright figure and deep tone, no one present doubted the sincerity of Iwagakure.

"You all really think highly of me."

Amidst the envious and jealous gazes of many smaller ninja villages, Kakuzu, after much deliberation, headed towards his goal— Kirigakure!

By joining Kirigakure, the strongest Kirigakure in the area, the upcoming great war can be completely avoided.

Sunagakure doesn't have the strength to challenge for first place. Even if Iwagakure defeats Sunagakure, they'll still have to stop at second place. If Amegakure were stronger and could injure or defeat Han, today's rankings would come to an end.

Han from Iwagakure and Hanzo of the Salamander from Amegakure exchanged a glance. The latter sat to the side and began to adjust his state.

(If I can't defeat Chiyo from Sunagakure and the One-Tails Jinchuriki, my third-place position will definitely be taken by Amegakure.)

(Should we play it safe, or take a gamble?)

Han then looked at Chiyo from Sunagakure and grinned under her tense gaze.

"Come and fight, Sunagakure!"