Hope of the Ninja World 3

"It is Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto."

Tsunade's pupils constricted sharply. She had already accepted the truth of what Uchiha Naro had just said in her heart, and now, hearing that it concerned Konoha, she immediately spoke up: "What did you say? Sasuke and Naruto?"

"I discovered a problem deep within Sasuke's soul," Naro nodded. "There is a power that does not belong to him, lurking within his soul, awakening as he grows. Later, I researched many records before confirming what it was—the soul of Indra. The eldest son of the Sage of Six Paths, the progenitor of the Uchiha Clan."

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

"Asura's reincarnation," Naro said. "The second son of the Sage of Six Paths. The souls of these two individuals have reincarnated generation after generation, opposing and fighting in every era. It looks like destiny, but the way I see it, it is not a normal cycle of reincarnation; it looks more like something deliberately orchestrated."

"Orchestrated?" Nagato finally spoke up. "By whom?"

"I do not know," Naro shook his head. "Perhaps the master of the Pure Land, or perhaps an existence even higher than that. But one thing is certain—the current ninja world is malformed."

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

"Commoners are exploited by nobles, ninjas are shackled by villages, the dead are imprisoned in the Pure Land, and reincarnation is manipulated by others. From top to bottom, from birth to death, nothing in this world is normal."

The clearing was deathly quiet.

The sea breeze swept across the ruins, swirling dead leaves into the air until they landed at Naro's feet.

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

Orochimaru was thinking as well. He studied forbidden arts and pursued immortality precisely because he did not want to die. He did not know what lay beyond death. Now that Naro told him that one would be trapped in the Pure Land and controlled by others after death—this only strengthened his resolve to achieve eternal life.

Nagato kept his head lowered, the light in his Rinnegan flickering. He was not thinking of himself, but of Yahiko. Was Yahiko's soul also in the Pure Land? Trapped there, controlled by that so-called "master"?

"Why are you telling us all this?" Tsunade looked up at Naro. "You've said so much; there must be a purpose."

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

"What kind of chance?"

"A chance for a new future for the ninja world."

"After I created the Method of National Fortune, I began to truly understand the ninja world. I discovered that the current world is completely malformed. It needs better guidance and better development. Ninjas and nobles should not trample commoners into the mud; everyone should have a chance to survive."

"That is why I chose you." He reached out and pointed at the three of them.

"Us?" Orochimaru never believed that pies fell from the sky. "Why us?"

"Because the Method of National Fortune has a threshold," Naro said. "When beginning this practice, one must possess their own inherent, significant fortune. The three of you happen to meet this condition."

Uchiha Naro first looked at Tsunade. "Teacher Tsunade, you are the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama and the successor of Shikkotsu Forest."

He then looked at Orochimaru. "Senior Orochimaru, you are the successor of Ryūchi Cave."

Finally, he looked at Nagato. "Nagato, you are the successor of Mount Myoboku—although you did not directly practice sage arts, Jiraiya taught you, making him your teacher, and you are considered a successor of Mount Myoboku. Ideally, Jiraiya would have been the best choice, but he has been completely hoodwinked by those giant toads of Mount Myoboku. He is obsessed with some 'Child of Prophecy,' completely ignoring those around him and the reality of the ninja world. He is a man who relies only on others and lacks the heart of a true powerhouse."

Upon hearing Naro mention the three great holy lands, Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had been wondering why Jiraiya wasn't included, reflected on Jiraiya's actions and realized that, indeed, he was a bit... foolish.

"The three great holy lands—Shikkotsu Forest, Ryūchi Cave, and Mount Myoboku—contain the remnants of the ancient Yin-Yang Way in their traditions," Naro said. "In terms of the flow of fortune, they inherited the last of the ninja world's Yin-Yang fortune. As successors of these three holy lands, you can transfer this Yin-Yang fortune to yourselves and embark on the path of the Method of National Fortune."

Tsunade stared at Naro for a long time before saying, "I still don't fully believe what you're saying. But since you've said so much, let me ask you: how exactly does one practice this Method of National Fortune? What are the requirements?"

Naro nodded and began to explain.

"The foundation of this practice is the gathering of fortune. Beyond the fortune one naturally possesses, other sources come from the establishment of villages, clans, and nations. By establishing these, one can gather the fortune of the people into the hands of the village head, clan leader, or sovereign. However, village heads and clan leaders cannot bestow this fortune upon those below them because it is too sparse; only a sovereign can lead a nation in this practice."

"In other words, we must first establish a nation?" Orochimaru asked.

"Correct," Naro said. "But establishing a nation is not enough. The key lies in whether you can gain the recognition and faith of the people you govern. Only when the hearts of the people are with you can you gather powerful fortune. If you build a nation but no one recognizes it or follows you, it is just an empty shell with no fortune to speak of."

"And if we have the hearts of the people and the fortune, then what?" Tsunade asked.

"Then you need a guardian of the nation," Naro said. "A newly established dynasty requires a powerful object or spirit to guard its national fortune and stabilize its foundation against external enemies. For example, heaven-sent artifacts or the spirits of the ninja world—things like the Tailed Beasts."

"Tailed Beasts?" Nagato's eyes flickered.

"Yes," Naro looked at him. "Choosing a spirit has one advantage: the spirit will autonomously guard the nation it is bound to. You don't need to spend energy managing it; it will protect the national fortune on its own."

Nagato did not speak again, but he was thinking—if Tailed Beasts could be used to guard a nation, then his plan...

"What about the practice method?" Orochimaru asked impatiently. "How exactly do we cultivate it?"

Uchiha Naro held up three fingers.

"The Method of National Fortune has three cores."

"First, the sovereign must continuously increase the dynasty's influence by developing the economy, strengthening national power, winning the hearts of the people, and waging war against enemy nations, thereby attracting and accumulating more fortune. In this process, the sovereign uses the vast fortune collected to bolster themselves—you will feel as if you have divine assistance; your cultivation will have no bottlenecks, your comprehension and aptitude will be greatly enhanced, and your cultivation level will continuously break through."

"Even if you want to cultivate a Kekkei Genkai, your success rate will be much higher than others. The most obvious example is the current Kage of each village. Is Sarutobi Hiruzen's comprehension poor? Is Konoha lacking in ninjutsu knowledge? But why can the Kage of other villages develop their own unique specialties, while Konoha cannot?"

"Because he lacks the hearts of the people. Many people obey him on the surface, but it is mostly a transaction of interests. In other villages, the people truly believe in and support their Kage, and the Kage truly wants to lead their village toward development." Tsunade, being a quick learner, understood Uchiha Naro's meaning and could even draw inferences. "On the contrary, in Konoha, the Kage's constant internal friction over the years has only caused others to lose faith and drift away."

"If that is the real reason, can we not use the existing fortune to achieve our goals regardless of whether we practice your Method of National Fortune?" Orochimaru licked his lips, pointing out a loophole in Uchiha Naro's words.

"You can indeed use existing fortune to achieve some things," Naro nodded with a smile, acknowledging Orochimaru's point. However, his tone shifted as he continued, "But without my method, you have no way to determine if you are truly a gatherer of fortune, nor do you have the ability to directly manipulate or utilize it, would you agree, Senior Orochimaru?"

"What is the second?" Tsunade sneered, mocking Orochimaru for being stumped.

"Second, the sovereign can distribute fortune to their subordinates, providing them with cultivation resources and the blessing of fortune. One person's power is limited, but the power of a nation is infinite. When you distribute fortune to your subordinates, they become stronger, which in turn helps you build the nation, forming a positive cycle."

"And the third?"

"Third, war," Naro's voice was calm. "War is one of the fastest ways to gather fortune. By defeating or even annexing other nations and factions, you can plunder their fortune, achieving 'nurturing war through war' and accelerating the growth of your own power."

"Isn't this just war? How is it any different from what we have now?" Tsunade's brows furrowed.

"The difference is massive," Naro said. "Current wars are fought by nobles and ninja for their own interests. When the fighting ends, the commoners have nothing; the dead die in vain, and the living continue to suffer. But a struggle for National Fortune is different—the land conquered belongs to the people, and the fortune plundered belongs to the entire nation. Every single citizen benefits from it."

Tsunade fell silent for a moment, then asked the question that concerned her most.

"What you've said—what is in it for me?"

"There are two benefits. First, the peace in the ninja world that your grandfather, Senju Hashirama, pursued his entire life is something you can help him achieve in your lifetime. Not through empty words like 'mutual understanding,' but through tangible power—when a nation's strength is enough to crush all opponents, peace arrives naturally."

Tsunade's eyes flickered.

"Second," Naro paused, "those you miss—Nawaki, Dan... you can bring them back to your side. Like Shisui, they can become 'Spirits.' That is far better than them being trapped in the Pure Land."

Tsunade's eyes reddened. She didn't speak, but her hands were trembling; she had to admit, she was persuaded.

Orochimaru waited a moment before asking, "What about immortality? Is immortality possible?"

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

Orochimaru's eyes lit up.

"When cultivation of National Fortune reaches a certain level, one can break through their own limits. Why do you seek immortality now? Because you fear death, fear the dissipation of your consciousness, and fear being forgotten. But if you cultivate the Method of National Fortune and become the lord of a nation, your life is no longer just your own—the fortune of the entire country is tied to you. Even if you want to die, the fortune itself won't let you."

Uchiha Naro paused.

"And I can tell you that in the current ninja world, at least four or five people have lived for over a thousand years. As for who they are, Senior Orochimaru can investigate that yourself. If you find the cultivation too troublesome... you can also choose to become an independent 'Spirit,' like Shisui, and remain in the mortal realm forever."

Orochimaru paid no mind to what Uchiha Naro said about "Spirits." He remained silent for a long time. "Lived for over a thousand years... interesting. Truly interesting."

Nagato had remained silent the entire time, so Naro turned to look at him.

"Senior Nagato, what about you? Do you have any questions?"

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

"None?"

"What you said just now is clear enough." Nagato's voice was low. "The Method of National Fortune can build a nation, gather the hearts of the people, and plunder fortune... I understand these things." He lowered his head, looking at his own hands. They were pale, thin, and bony.

"When Yahiko died, I thought my life was left with nothing but pain. Later, I thought I could change the world through power. But now..." He looked up at Naro.

"Perhaps there is another path."

Uchiha Naro nodded, understanding what Nagato meant. Nagato was actually very similar to Jiraiya; both seemed to be living for others, but at least Nagato had his own ideas about changing the world.

"Have the three of you made a decision?"

The three exchanged glances.

Tsunade spoke first: "I will consider it further. But what you said... I will think about it seriously."

Orochimaru licked his lips: "I am very interested in this Method of National Fortune. To be able to attain immortality and break through limits after cultivation... I cannot find a reason to refuse."

Nagato didn't speak, but he didn't leave either.

Naro smiled and extended his right hand. At his fingertips, three illusory runes emerged, emitting a faint golden light. The light was soft, but upon closer inspection, countless patterns flowed within it, as if they were alive.

"These are the Inheritance Runes for the Method of National Fortune," Naro said. "Once you accept them, the cultivation methods will naturally reveal themselves to you."

With a light tap of his fingers, the three runes drifted toward them, hovering in front of each person.

"Teacher Tsunade," Naro looked at her, "back on the battlefield, you taught me medical ninjutsu. Now that I teach you the Method of National Fortune, the karma between us is settled."

Tsunade was stunned, then gave a wry smile. "You brat... you certainly calculate things clearly."

"Senior Orochimaru, Senior Nagato," Naro turned to the two men, "I don't owe you anything. Therefore, this favor must be repaid. In the future, I will come to collect."

Orochimaru laughed: "Fine, I'll be waiting for you to come collect."

Nagato nodded without a word.

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

In an instant, a vast amount of knowledge flooded their minds—the principles of the Way of Fortune, the methods for forging a nation, how to perceive fortune, how to control it, how to gather it, how to distribute it, and how to cultivate using it...

The knowledge felt as if it had been carved into their brains, clear and unmistakable.

Tsunade closed her eyes, digesting the information. She didn't see cold text, but rather vivid scenes—a nation rising from nothing, fortune gathering, the hearts of the people united, and the sovereign standing like a god...

Orochimaru's eyes were filled with excitement. He saw the possibility of immortality, the possibility of breaking through limits, and a brand-new world he had never touched before.

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

Naro stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.

"Alright, the items have been given and the words have been spoken. The three of you should digest this well; I won't disturb you any further."

He turned and walked into the depths of the ruins. Shisui followed behind him. After a few steps, Naro stopped and spoke without looking back.

"By the way, at the beginning of cultivating the Method of National Fortune, the hardest part is that first wisp of fortune when you have nothing. None of you are ordinary people; the fortune you carry is not weak, so you should be able to cross this hurdle. Once you pass it, the road ahead will be easier."

He waved his hand and disappeared behind a broken wall in the ruins, Shisui's silhouette vanishing along with him.

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

Tsunade opened her eyes, looking in the direction where Naro had disappeared, and remained silent for a long time.

"Do you trust him?" Orochimaru asked.

"I don't believe it," Tsunade said, "but the things he gave... they are real."

"Isn't that enough?" Orochimaru smiled. He turned and walked back along the path he had come.

Nagato sat on the paper figure, silent for a long time, before he began to float upward.

"Konan, let's go."

Konan glanced at him, asked no further questions, and followed behind him.

Tsunade stood where she was, looking at the ruins, as Shizune walked over cautiously, holding Tonton.

"Lady Tsunade... are you alright?"

"Let's go, find a place to stay. I need to think this through."

She turned and headed north, with Shizune following behind her, glancing back from time to time in the direction where Naro had disappeared.

The sea breeze blew across the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, swirling up a few withered leaves.

"My Lord, where are we going next?"

"To the Land of Lightning... Mikoto and the others failed, and we need to bring something back."