Can't Adapt

That night, Shiba Seika ultimately did nothing to Uzumaki Kayo. He merely practiced some medical ninjutsu insights on her body before urging her to go rest.

Early the next morning, the group woke up, packed their things without pause, and hurriedly left the town.

Though they still had plenty of supplies unsold, they could no longer afford to care about that now.

At this moment, it was more important to withdraw from the Land of Grass as quickly as possible and safely bring Uzumaki Kayo back to the Akatsuki Organization!

On the way back, Shiba Seika yawned several times in a row, drawing a pang of guilt from Konan beside him.

"This trip has been hard on you, Seika. You must rest well when we get back."

Shiba Seika toils so much for Nagato, for us—and I actually doubted him before. I'm such a fool!

Konan silently scolded herself in her heart.

Behind them, Uzumaki Kayo was being carried on Nagato's back as they traveled. Watching Konan show concern for Shiba Seika, her feelings unexpectedly grew complicated.

On one hand, Konan's words deepened her gratitude toward Shiba Seika.

On the other, she felt a touch of melancholy.

Was it because, in comparison, I'm too old, not young enough—was that why he was so restrained last night? Kayo thought to herself with self-pity.

Shiba Seika had no idea that his few yawns had sparked such a flood of inner drama in those around him.

He was simply tired from lack of sleep, nothing more.

But the next moment, Shiba Seika's expression suddenly shifted as he ran.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Konan rushed up to walk beside him, asking with urgent concern.

"Nothing." Shiba Seika shook his head.

It had nothing to do with those around him.

His sudden shock came from casually checking the system, only to find that his destined outcome had changed yet again.

The probability of dying of old age remained unchanged, still 0.6%.

But the probabilities of dying at Konoha's hands a few years from now had all shrunk to varying degrees.

In other words, his odds of not surviving even a year and a half had greatly increased!

What's going on? Why is this happening?!

What had he done wrong recently?

Could it be because he saved Kayo? But that makes no sense!

In the original story, Uzumaki Kayo and even her daughter Uzumaki Karin had no connection to the Akatsuki whatsoever. There's no reason saving an unrelated person would drastically accelerate the crisis, right?

For the rest of the journey back, Shiba Seika racked his brain, ultimately confirming that none of his recent actions could have caused such an impact!

Then there was only one answer!

If it wasn't his problem, it had to be something within the Land of Rain itself!

Could it be that Yahiko had done something stupid again?

So, as soon as he returned to the Akatsuki's base, Shiba Seika immediately rushed off to see Yahiko in a fluster.

Unexpectedly, the other party was also looking for him and, upon seeing him, urgently sought his help.

"Seika? You're back—thank goodness. There's been a tricky matter lately, and I need your advice."

So it really is you causing the trouble!

With the mystery solved, Shiba Seika actually calmed down and said, "Go on, what happened?"

"Recently, whenever we try to recruit wandering ninja, we keep running into obstruction from other Rain Ninja, both openly and covertly. Some members have also reported being robbed and extorted by other Rain Ninja, leaving everyone unsettled."

"Other Rain Ninja?" Shiba Seika suddenly understood. "Hanzo the Salamander's men?"

"Yeah." Yahiko nodded obediently.

"Why are they suddenly targeting us? What have you been doing lately?" Shiba Seika pressed further.

Yahiko looked innocent. "We haven't done anything extra—just the usual: helping the neighbors, spreading our ideals, taking in wandering orphans and refugees."

To be fair, Yahiko was truly a good man, one who practiced what he preached and handled everything himself—not at all like those detestable hypocrites of later generations.

But unfortunately, they were living in a time of war, and Shiba Seika quickly caught his mistake.

"Wait, you've been giving aid all this time? How many supplies have you used up these past few days?"

An awkward expression crept onto Yahiko's face.

"Not much, just... about a quarter of the warehouse."

Shiba Seika's eyes went wide.

How much?!

That secret warehouse Ando had stocked was filled with enough supplies to shake the prices of the entire Land of Rain!

In just a few short days, Yahiko had given away a quarter of it!

No wonder Hanzo's men had come to rob and extort them!

Anyone else would have done the same—who wouldn't covet a fat sheep like that?

Shiba Seika sighed. "Stop immediately, Yahiko. Pull back—the area outside is full of Rain Ninja."

Then he tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers, organizing his thoughts, and asked again, "Do you usually keep in touch with Hanzo the Salamander?"

Yahiko's expression grew even more awkward. "Occasionally. I send letters."

"How occasional is 'occasionally'?"

"I wrote one two years ago..."

Good grief—how many years had it even been since you founded the Akatsuki Organization?

Now Shiba Seika was starting to feel more and more that in the original story, this kid's death really wasn't undeserved.

Having good intentions and drive was all well and good, but Yahiko was far too ignorant of the ways of the world.

The nominal ruler of the Land of Rain had always been Hanzo the Salamander!

In its early days, the Akatsuki Organization was nothing but a low-tier civilian ragtag group—fine, no need to report in then.

But now that it had grown to this scale and recently reaped such huge benefits, still not even sending a greeting—what ruler could tolerate that?

Thinking back to the words he'd used to mock Minato Namikaze not long ago, he never expected them to boomerang back and hit them so fast—

You won't even call him Demi-God; you show him no respect at all.

Once he understood this, Shiba Seika immediately knew what to do.

"Stop your money-throwing right now, Yahiko—you're drawing hatred to the Akatsuki!

Also, take half the supplies you've used these past few days, seal them in scrolls, and send them as tribute to Hanzo the Salamander.

And give me the channel you used to write letters before—I'll write a letter to Hanzo myself."

Then he turned to one of Yahiko's nearby follower ninja. "How's the copying of Minato Namikaze's statement that I asked you to do earlier coming along?"

The man glanced at Yahiko. Seeing even the leader too cowed to lift his head, he had no choice but to answer truthfully. "We've copied over a hundred copies as you instructed."

Shiba Seika nodded. "Good. Spread those copied statements to the surrounding towns soon.

Emphasize that this concession was made by Konoha's next Hokage out of respect for Lord Hanzo's strength—that Lord Hanzo has once again protected the Land of Rain!

You must say it exactly like that, understand? Also, mobilize the refugees we've been aiding to spread this news—get it across the entire Land of Rain as fast as possible."

Yahiko's follower looked troubled and reluctant, glancing at Yahiko several times.

But Yahiko was so overwhelmed by the recent conflicts that he couldn't think of a solution. Even he had to rely on Shiba Seika's wisdom, so how could he back up his men?

"Do as Seika says. His wisdom is indispensable to us now."

That was all Yahiko could do to comfort his follower.

Shiba Seika chuckled lightly. "What an honor. Rare to hear you praise me like that."

Yahiko's cheek twitched stiffly. He didn't want to admit it, but he had no way to refute it.

What stung Yahiko even more was that the next moment, Nagato and Konan pushed the door open together and both congratulated him.

"Great, Yahiko—you've finally decided to trust Seika's wisdom!"

Konan was one thing, but after going out, even Nagato had turned like this?!

Yahiko's mood at that moment was beyond words.

How had the world around him changed so fast? He couldn't keep up!