The Flowing River Region and the Flying Bird Region

"Actually, I'm willing to believe in the existence of gods and Buddhas, too. But when someone is at their lowest, no matter how desperately they pray, the gods and Buddhas still sit high above, looking down on all living things..."

"Their miracles are nowhere to be seen. They watch helplessly as one vibrant life after another fades away, while those left behind sink into an abyss of suffering." Souya's gaze was distant, as if he were recalling something from a long time ago.

"How am I supposed to believe in gods and Buddhas like that?"

"Master, I think you're far greater than those gods and Buddhas. If you hadn't taken me in all those years ago, who knows which wild wolf might have carried me off!" Souya abruptly changed the subject, grinning as he buttered up the old monk.

"You... To see things so clearly at such a young age... I'm nowhere near your equal in that regard..."

"But you're far too devoted to the power of force. Even Senju Hashirama, mighty as he was as the God of Shinobi, couldn't put an end to war." From the old monk's tone, it seemed he had witnessed Hashirama's power firsthand in his youth.

"Then his approach was wrong..." Souya replied. "Force can't solve everything, but it's the prerequisite for everything."

"If we aren't strong enough to protect even our village, if our villagers are left to suffer the ravages of war, then how can we protect all living things?"

"Would bringing a Buddha statue to the battlefield really make the enemy stop invading our country?"

"Do what you can, as best you can!"

"At the very least, I can definitely protect you, Master!" Souya said with a grin.

"You... I was worried you might go astray, but it seems you've already recognized your true heart and formed an unwavering conviction. That's rare..." The old monk sighed.

"Don't worry, Master. How could I go astray? I wouldn't dare do anything that violated the precepts!"

"You've nearly run out of that barbecue sauce you made. Find some time to make another vat..." The old monk squinted, his pale eyebrows nestled above his eyes.

"Sure, no problem! Tell the other uncles to take it easy. A monk shouldn't eat food that's so heavily seasoned..."

Early the next morning, Souya slung a sealed Gold Dust Rod over his shoulder and ran along the river, beginning the routine workout he never skipped in his free time.

After all, unlike those red-haired people, he didn't have a body with an abundance of Chakra. His own Chakra would only increase noticeably through long, arduous training.

Fortunately, his body still had untapped potential. After exercising each day, once his cells were active, meditating to refine his Chakra proved far more effective.

The Gold Rod on his back now weighed over two hundred jin. It wasn't that sealed, solidified Gold Dust could only weigh that much. It was because Souya's body couldn't handle anything heavier...

After all, Sunagakure had no Taijutsu experts, and lacked training methods for both Taijutsu and Nintaijutsu...

So, like Rock Lee training in the Eight Gates, Souya could only wear weights and train constantly to unlock more of his body's potential.

But after several years of this, Souya had realized that although it worked, he was still nowhere near Rock Lee's level during the Chunin Ninja Exams.

The biggest reason, naturally, was that Souya lacked the training method for the Eight Gates...

Training in Lightning Release was another way to improve his physical abilities.

The problem, once again, was that Sunagakure's meager collection of ninjutsu didn't even include a decent scroll on Lightning Release nature transformation.

After all, using Lightning Release Chakra to stimulate every cell in the body was delicate work that required guidance from an expert. Making Chakra turn into lightning and run through your own body wasn't something to take lightly. If anything went wrong and left you with lasting damage, you'd regret it for the rest of your life.

"Ha! Ha!"

Souya struggled through push-ups on the riverbank, sweat dripping from his chin and soaking the ground like rain.

His arms shook more and more, but he kept going, maintaining proper form as he pushed himself up and slowly lowered himself again.

"Hyah!"

With a low shout, Souya abruptly pushed himself up from the ground. It felt as though a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind. His body suddenly froze, and a wave of weakness washed over his arms. Both gave way; his body tilted, and he collapsed onto the ground.

The sun slipped behind the clouds, its previously glaring rays now gentler.

"Haah! Haah!"

Souya gulped in air. A sense of euphoria began to seep into his mind, and his body felt light as a feather, as though he'd just done something even more intense.

"This might be the moment the First Gate opens... What a shame I don't have the training method for the Eight Gates..." Souya lamented again.

The Eight Gates were a technique that pushed the body's potential to its limits through strenuous, high-intensity training, then released power beyond those limits by opening the body's self-imposed restrictions—the "Eight Gates."

Souya felt that this workout had brought him to the threshold of the First Gate. But without the "key" to opening it, he couldn't access that power yet.

After resting for quite a while, he felt his strength gradually returning and began training another part of his body.

A ninja needed strength throughout their entire body. They couldn't just train their arms; leg strength mattered, too. After all, dodging attacks and running at crucial moments depended on their legs.

Life continued peacefully for a while. After Sunagakure occupied the two countries of Rivers and Birds, it dispatched a large number of ninja to defend them.

They built various fortifications and surveyed the resources, acting as if they already considered these lands part of the Land of Wind.

"Souya, we've received word from the Flowing River Region in the Land of Rivers. The civilians there seem to have a lot of complaints about our rule. Go investigate and deal with the problem directly." The Third Kazekage sat behind his desk, a few traces of irritation crossing his face.

The Third Kazekage was clearly frustrated that he hadn't managed to take the Land of Stone, even after going there in person.

Unfortunately, the Third Tsuchikage's Kekkei Tōta, Dust Release, was far more powerful than the Third Kazekage's Kekkei Genkai, Magnet Release. If the Iwagakure ninja hadn't clearly had other motives, it wouldn't have been so easy for the Sunagakure Ninja to withdraw from the Land of Stone.

Under Sunagakure's development plans, Bird River Region was a strategic location they couldn't afford to lose.

Besides preventing invasions by other countries, maintaining stability in the area was also important.

"Teacher, the river surveys for the two regions are finished, right? How are the canal plans coming along?" Souya asked. They were the only two people in the office, so he called the Kazekage "Teacher" directly.

At Souya's mention of it, the Third Kazekage managed a faint smile.

"It's entirely feasible! Both the Flowing River Region and the Flying Bird Region in the Land of Birds have mighty rivers flowing out of the Land of Rain. They carry an enormous volume of water and flow all year round. Diverting them here will surely create vast stretches of oasis!"

"This is what will truly benefit our country!" The Kazekage's voice was unmistakably excited.