Hope of the Ninja World 3

"Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto."

Tsunade's pupils contracted sharply. She had already accepted what Uchiha Naro had just said, and now she heard something concerning Konoha. She immediately spoke up. "What did you say? Sasuke and Naruto?"

"I found a problem deep in Sasuke's soul." Naro nodded. "A power that didn't belong to him was lying dormant in his soul, awakening as he grew. Later, after looking through a lot of records, I finally confirmed what it was—Indra's soul. The Sage of Six Paths' eldest son, and the progenitor of the Uchiha Clan."

Orochimaru's eyes lit up. "Indra's reincarnation? Then Naruto is..."

"Asura's reincarnation," Naro said. "The Sage of Six Paths' second son. Their souls have reincarnated from one generation to the next, and each time, they've opposed and fought one another. It looks like fate, but no matter how I look at it, it doesn't seem like a normal cycle of reincarnation. It seems more like someone arranged it on purpose."

"Someone arranged it?" Nagato finally spoke. "Who?"

"I don't know." Naro shook his head. "Maybe the master of the Pure Land, or perhaps some being even higher up. But one thing is certain—the current Ninja World is twisted."

He looked at the three of them, his gaze calm.

"Civilians are exploited by nobles, shinobi are bound by their villages, the dead are imprisoned in the Pure Land, and reincarnation is controlled by someone. From top to bottom, from life to death, nothing in this world is normal."

The clearing fell utterly silent.

The sea breeze swept through the ruins, sending dead leaves whirling through the air before they landed at Naro's feet.

Tsunade remained silent for a long time. She thought of Nawaki, Dan, and all the comrades who had died on the battlefield and never returned. Were their souls still in the Pure Land? Trapped there, unable to reincarnate for all eternity?

Orochimaru was thinking, too. He studied forbidden techniques and pursued immortality because he didn't want to die. He didn't know what lay beyond death. Now Naro was telling him that the dead were trapped in the Pure Land, under someone's control. That only strengthened his resolve to live forever.

Nagato lowered his head, the light in his Rinnegan flickering. He wasn't thinking about himself. He was thinking about Yahiko. Was Yahiko's soul in the Pure Land, too? Trapped there and controlled by that so-called "master"?

"Why are you telling us all this?" Tsunade looked up at Naro. "You've said so much. You must have a reason."

Naro smiled. He walked to the center of the clearing, faced the three of them, and spoke with a hint of hope in his voice. "Because I want to give you a chance."

"What chance?"

"A chance to give the Ninja World a new future."

"After I created the Luck Cultivation System, I began to truly understand the Ninja World. I realized that the current Ninja World is completely twisted. It needs better guidance and a better path forward. Shinobi and nobles shouldn't trample civilians into the dirt. Everyone should have a chance to live."

"So I chose you." He held out his hand and gestured toward the three of them.

"Us?" Orochimaru had never believed in free handouts. "Why us?"

"Because there are prerequisites for cultivating luck," Naro said. "When someone first begins cultivating, they must already possess a decent amount of luck of their own. The three of you meet that requirement."

Uchiha Naro looked first at Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, you're Senju Hashirama's granddaughter and the heir to Shikkotsu Forest."

Then he looked at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, you're the heir to Ryūchi Cave."

Finally, he turned to Nagato. "Nagato, you're the heir to Mount Myoboku. You never directly practiced Senjutsu, but Jiraiya taught you, so he was your teacher. That makes you an heir to Mount Myoboku, too. Jiraiya would've been the best choice, but that Great Toad from Mount Myoboku has led him astray. He's completely fixated on that so-called 'Child of Prophecy,' and pays no attention to the people around him or the truth of the Ninja World. He's a strong man who relies on others and has no will of his own."

When Tsunade and Orochimaru heard Naro mention the Three Great Sage Regions, they'd wondered why Jiraiya wasn't there. But after hearing what Naro said and thinking back on Jiraiya's actions, they had to admit he was... a bit of an idiot.

"The Ninja World's Three Great Sage Regions—Shikkotsu Forest, Ryūchi Cave, and Mount Myoboku—have inherited the legacy of the old Yin-Yang Way," Naro said. "From the way luck flows, they've inherited the last of the Ninja World's Yin-Yang Way luck. As heirs to the Three Great Sage Regions, the three of you can transfer that luck to yourselves and embark on the path of the Method of National Fortune."

Tsunade stared at Naro for a long time before speaking. "I still don't completely believe what you've told us. But since you've said so much, let me ask you this: how exactly does the Method of National Fortune work? What does it require?"

Naro nodded and began to explain.

"The foundation of cultivating luck is gathering it. Aside from the luck a cultivator possesses naturally, other sources of luck come from establishing a village, a clan, or a country. By establishing a village, clan, or country, the luck of its people can be gathered in the hands of the village chief, clan head, or ruler. But a village chief or clan head can't pass that luck on to those beneath them. There simply isn't enough. Only a ruler can lead an entire country in cultivation."

"So you have to establish a country first?" Orochimaru asked.

"Right," Naro said. "But establishing a country isn't enough. The key is whether you can earn the recognition and faith of the people you govern. Only when the people are behind you can their support gather into powerful luck. If you build a country but no one accepts it or follows you, it's just an empty shell with little luck to speak of."

"Once you have the people's support and their luck, what comes next?" Tsunade asked.

"Then you need something to protect the country," Naro said. "A newly established dynasty needs a powerful object or spirit to guard its national fortune, secure its foundations, and defend against foreign enemies. For example, a divinely bestowed item or a spirit of the Ninja World—something like a Tailed Beast."

"A Tailed Beast?" Nagato's gaze shifted.

"Right." Naro looked at him. "Choosing a spirit has one advantage: it will protect the country it's bound to of its own accord. You don't need to spend time managing it. It'll safeguard the national fortune on its own."

Nagato said nothing, but he was thinking—if a Tailed Beast could protect a country, then his plan...

"What about the cultivation method?" Orochimaru asked eagerly. "How does it work, exactly?"

Uchiha Naro held up three fingers.

"There are three core principles to cultivating luck."

"First, a ruler can continually increase a dynasty's influence by developing the economy, strengthening the country, winning the people's support, and waging war against other countries. That attracts and accumulates more luck. The ruler can use the vast amount of gathered luck to empower himself. It'll be as if the gods are helping you: you'll face no bottlenecks in cultivation, your comprehension and aptitude will improve tremendously, and your strength will continue to break through."

"Even if you want to cultivate a Kekkei Genkai, your odds of success will be much higher than anyone else's. The clearest example is the Kage of the various villages. Was Sarutobi Hiruzen lacking in talent? Did Konoha lack knowledge of ninjutsu? Then why could the Kage of the other villages develop their own signature techniques, while Konoha couldn't?"

"Because he didn't have the people's support. Many people claimed to obey him, but most of those relationships were based on exchanges of favors. The other villages' people truly believed in and supported their Kage, and their Kage truly wanted to help their villages prosper." Tsunade learned quickly, and soon understood what Uchiha Naro meant. She even drew her own conclusions. "Konoha, on the other hand, has been tearing itself apart with internal power struggles over the years, driving people further and further away."

"If that's really the reason, can't we use the luck that already exists to accomplish what we want, whether or not we cultivate your Method of National Fortune?" Orochimaru licked his lips and pointed out a flaw in Uchiha Naro's argument.

"We can use the luck that already exists to accomplish certain things." Naro smiled and nodded, agreeing with Orochimaru. But then he changed tack and continued, "Without my method, though, you have no way of knowing whether you're truly the one gathering that luck, nor can you directly control or use it. Wouldn't you agree, Orochimaru?"

"And the second?" Tsunade sneered when she saw Orochimaru stumped.

"Second, the ruler can grant luck to subordinates, providing them with cultivation resources and empowering them with luck. One person's strength is limited, but the strength of an entire country is limitless. Share your luck with your subordinates, and as they grow stronger, they can help you build the country in return, creating a virtuous cycle."

"And the third?"

"War." Naro's voice remained calm. "War is one of the fastest ways to gather luck. By defeating or even annexing other countries and forces, you can seize their luck and 'sustain war through war,' accelerating the growth of your own power."

"Isn't that just going to war? How is it any different from what we have now?" Tsunade frowned.

"It's very different," Naro said. "Wars today are fought by nobles and shinobi for their own benefit. When the fighting ends, civilians have gained nothing. The dead died for nothing, and the living continue to suffer. But the struggle for luck is different. The land you conquer belongs to the people, and the luck you seize belongs to the whole country. Every citizen can benefit."

Tsunade fell silent for a while, then asked the question that mattered most to her.

"What do I stand to gain from all this?"

"There are two benefits. First, you can fulfill the dream of peace in the Ninja World that your grandfather, Senju Hashirama, spent his life pursuing while you're still alive. Not with empty words about 'mutual understanding,' but through real power. Once a country becomes strong enough to crush every opponent, peace will come naturally."

A flicker crossed Tsunade's eyes.

"Second..." Naro paused. "The people you miss—Nawaki, Dan... You can bring them back to your side, as spirits like Shisui. That's better than leaving them in the Pure Land, where they remain under someone else's control."

Tsunade's eyes reddened. She said nothing, but her hands trembled. She had to admit it—he'd convinced her...

Orochimaru waited a moment, then asked, "What about immortality? Can it make you immortal?"

Naro looked at him and smiled. "Of course."

Orochimaru's eyes lit up.

"Once you cultivate luck to a certain level, you can break through your own limits. Why are you pursuing immortality now? Because you're afraid of death, afraid of your consciousness fading away, afraid of being forgotten. But if you cultivate the Method of National Fortune and become a country's ruler, your life won't belong to you alone anymore. The fate of an entire country will rest on your shoulders. Even if you want to die, your luck won't let you."

Uchiha Naro paused.

"And I can tell you this: at least four or five people in the Ninja World have lived for over a thousand years. You can investigate who they are yourself, Orochimaru. If cultivation sounds like too much trouble... you can also choose to become an independent spirit like Shisui and remain in the human world forever."

Orochimaru paid little attention to what Uchiha Naro had said about spirits. He fell silent for a long time. "Lived for over a thousand years... Fascinating. Truly fascinating."

Nagato hadn't said a word. Naro turned to him.

"What about you, Nagato? Anything you want to ask?"

Nagato was silent for a moment, then said, "No."

"No?"

"What you've said is clear enough." Nagato's voice was low. "The Method of National Fortune can establish a country, win the people's support, and seize luck... I understand all that." He lowered his head and looked at his hands. They were pale and slender, with prominent knuckles.

"When Yahiko died, I thought my life had nothing left in it but pain. Later, I thought I could change the world through strength. But now..." He looked up at Naro.

"Maybe there's another way."

Uchiha Naro nodded, understanding what Nagato meant. Nagato was actually a lot like Jiraiya. They both seemed to live for other people, but at least Nagato had his own desire to change the world.

"Have the three of you made your decisions?"

The three of them looked at one another.

Tsunade spoke first. "I'll think about it. But what you've said... I'll give it serious consideration."

Orochimaru licked his lips. "I'm very interested in this Method of National Fortune. It can lead to immortality and let me break through my limits... I can't find a reason to refuse."

Nagato said nothing, but he didn't leave either.

Naro smiled and held out his right hand. Three faintly golden runes appeared at his fingertips. Their light was gentle, but when you looked closely, countless patterns flowed within them as if they were alive.

"These are the Inheritance Runes for the Method of National Fortune," Naro said. "Accept them, and you'll know the cultivation method."

He lightly flicked his fingers. The three runes drifted toward them and hovered in front of each person.

"Lady Tsunade." Naro looked at her. "You taught me Medical Ninjutsu on the battlefield all those years ago. Now I've taught you the Method of National Fortune. That settles what we owed each other."

Tsunade froze for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. "You little brat... You certainly keep track of what's owed."

"Orochimaru, Nagato." Naro turned to the two of them. "I don't owe either of you anything, so you'll owe me a favor. I'll come to collect in the future."

Orochimaru smiled. "All right. I'll be waiting for you to come collect."

Nagato nodded without a word.

The runes drifted toward the three of them and sank into their foreheads.

In an instant, a vast amount of knowledge flooded into their minds... The principles of the Way of Luck, how to establish a country through luck, how to see luck, how to control it, how to gather it, how to grant it to others, how to cultivate through luck...

The knowledge seemed engraved in their minds, clear and unmistakable.

Tsunade closed her eyes and absorbed the information. What she saw wasn't cold, lifeless text, but scene after scene: a country rising from nothing, luck gathering, the people united behind their ruler, the ruler becoming like a god...

Orochimaru's eyes brimmed with excitement. He saw the possibility of immortality, the possibility of breaking through his limits, and an entirely new world he'd never encountered before.

Nagato stood quietly, the light in his Rinnegan brighter than before. He thought of Yahiko, Konan, and the people of the Land of Rain struggling through the fires of war. Maybe... there really was another path.

Naro stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"All right, I've given you the information and said what I needed to say. Take some time to absorb it. I won't keep you."

He turned and headed deeper into the ruins, with Shisui following behind him. After taking a few steps, Naro stopped and spoke without looking back.

"By the way, the hardest part of starting to cultivate the Method of National Fortune is gathering that first spark of luck when you have nothing. None of you are ordinary people, and you already possess a decent amount of luck, so you should be able to overcome that hurdle. Once you're past it, the road gets easier."

He waved a hand and disappeared behind a broken wall in the ruins. Shisui's silhouette vanished after him.

Only Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Nagato remained in the clearing.

Tsunade opened her eyes and stared in the direction Naro had disappeared, saying nothing for a long time.

"Do you believe him?" Orochimaru asked.

"No," Tsunade said. "But what he gave us... It's real."

"Isn't that enough?" Orochimaru laughed, turned, and walked back the way they'd come.

Nagato sat on a paper figure in silence for a long time, then floated up.

"Konan, let's go."

Konan glanced at him but didn't ask anything. She followed behind him.

Tsunade stood where she was, looking at the ruins. Shizune approached carefully, carrying Tonton.

"Lady Tsunade... Are you all right?"

"Let's go find somewhere to stay. I need time to think."

She turned and headed north. Shizune followed behind her, glancing back now and then toward the place where Naro had disappeared.

The sea breeze swept across the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, lifting a few dead leaves.

"Master, where are we going next?"

"To the Land of Lightning... Mikoto and the others failed. We need to bring something back with us."