New Arrangements

Late autumn sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting mottled shadows across the courtyard. Golden petals carpeted the ground, swirling into the air with every gust of wind as if performing a silent dance.

Uchiha Sasuke sat cross-legged in the center of the yard with his eyes tightly shut. The scroll of Matatabi lay unfurled before him; the Sealing Tags had been removed, and the black runes flickered in and out of existence under the sun.

His hands were locked in a Contract Seal, his breathing steady and slow. He seemed to have merged with the wind, and a faint, ghostly blue silhouette hovered just above his head.

Matatabi, resembling a giant cat, curled up in the air above Sasuke. Its two tails swayed lazily, and its half-lidded, amber eyes reflected Sasuke's small figure.

The contract between the Beast Tamer and the Tailed Beast had been initially established.

This was not the sealing or suppression used by a Jinchuriki, but a deeper connection—one linked by chakra and shared intent. Matatabi could perceive Sasuke's emotions, and Sasuke could sense Matatabi's thoughts.

On the other side of the courtyard, Karin Uzumaki was engaged in the same process.

The scroll of Kokuō lay before her, white steam seeping from it to form a thin mist around her. Within the haze, the faint silhouette of a white steed could be seen, its hooves treading on empty air and its mane flowing in the breeze.

The Five-Tails was much quieter than the Two-Tails. It did not fuss, cry, or struggle; it stood like a silent statue, quietly guarding Karin—yet the power contained within that silence was more terrifying than any clamor.

Uchiha Naro sat on the veranda, setting aside his book to look at the two children.

"That is enough." He stood up and walked to the center of the courtyard.

Sasuke and Karin opened their eyes simultaneously to look at Naro. Sasuke's Sharingan had already deactivated, his black pupils clear and bright; Karin's emerald eyes sparkled in the sunlight like two gemstones.

"Lord Naro," the two said in unison.

Naro nodded and sat down on a stone stool in the yard.

"Both of you have established a preliminary contract with your Tailed Beasts. While you are not yet at the Kage level, with the support of the beasts, you are now capable of traversing the Ninja World. All you lack now is practical experience and real-world combat."

Sasuke's hands tightened slightly; he guessed what Naro was about to say next.

"You are both very talented, and the things you have both been longing for can now be set in motion." Although Naro had not been by their side every day, his divine sense had occasionally checked on them. "Sasuke."

Sasuke stood up and, under Mikoto's gaze, walked before Naro.

Naro did not rush to speak, instead glancing at Mikoto standing at the courtyard entrance. She leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, her expression as calm as a pool of water, but her fingers, gripping the frame until they turned white, betrayed her emotions.

"Sasuke," Naro shifted his gaze back to the boy. "What is it you want to do most?"

"Kill the traitor Uchiha Itachi and those behind him," Sasuke's voice was low, but every word seemed squeezed out from between his teeth. "Avenge the Uchiha Clan who died in vain."

"And after that?"

"Restore the glory of the Uchiha Clan."

Naro nodded. From the moment he had Mikoto bring Sasuke away quietly from the surveillance of the Konoha Anbu, he had guessed Sasuke would harbor these thoughts, not to mention the constant replays of his clansmen's deaths he had endured to evolve his Sharingan.

"Have you thought carefully about who exactly your targets for revenge are?"

Sasuke fell silent. Since leaving Konoha, the person he hated most was the brother who had protected and cared for him since childhood. He trained incessantly every day, keeping Uchiha Itachi as his imaginary enemy. As for others, Sasuke had never truly given it serious thought.

"Uchiha Itachi was the one who struck the blow, but behind him were Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and their ilk. There were the Root and Anbu members who assisted, and one could even say—the entirety of Konoha. Those who heard the cries for help but did not reach out were accomplices. There are even those hidden deeper still."

Naro's voice was calm, as if he were discussing something trivial. "Have you seriously considered how many people you must kill before your revenge is complete?"

"I don't know." Sasuke's breathing quickened. "But I know who to start with."

Naro looked at Sasuke, whose eyes were filled with hatred, then at Mikoto, who had been watching Sasuke the entire time. Finally, he decided to say no more. He had already altered a portion of Sasuke's fate and given him a chance to choose his own future; the rest would depend on his own development.

"Decide on the revenge yourself. As for restoring the Uchiha glory..." He paused, looking again at Mikoto at the gate. "Your mother will likely choose a wife for you; you need not worry about that."

Mikoto's face flushed slightly, but she did not refute it, while Sasuke's face turned bright red.

"Lord Naro, I—"

"Don't be impatient, I am not finished." Naro raised a hand to stop him. "I grant you freedom. From today on, you and your mother may leave here and act according to your own will. I will no longer constrain you, nor will I assign you any more tasks."

Sasuke was stunned.

"I had an agreement with your mother. I promised her that I would work with her to help you resolve the problem deep within your soul." Naro stood up, walked to Sasuke, and extended his right index finger, tapping it against Sasuke's forehead.

Sasuke felt a surge of warm energy pour from his forehead, flowing through his meridians and into his brain. It was not chakra, nor natural energy, but something gentler and more encompassing. It felt like a pair of hands, softly opening a door within his mind.

Knowledge flooded in.

The principles of ninjutsu, the construction of sealing arts, methods for breaking genjutsu, techniques for physical force... and many other things he could not name.

This knowledge was not chaotic; it was organized, categorized, and clear, like a library where every book was placed exactly where it belonged.

Naro withdrew his hand.

"There is something very ancient living in the depths of your soul. Its name is Indra. He will influence and assimilate you through subtle means. There is no way to deal with him for now; only when the time is right will your mother contact me. When that happens, I will come."

Sasuke touched his forehead. Nothing remained there, but he could clearly feel all the various types of knowledge within his brain. This knowledge was more useful than being handed a weapon.

"Lord Naro, I..."

"No need to thank me." Naro waved his hand and pointed toward Mikoto at the gate. "This is a transaction your mother paid a great price to secure. If you want to thank someone, thank your mother. Go now, she has waited for you for a long time."

Sasuke turned around and looked at his mother at the gate. Mikoto's eyes were red, but she was smiling. There was no sadness or worry in that smile, only pride.

Sasuke walked over and stopped before his mother, bowing his head. "Mother, I—"

"Let's go." Mikoto reached out and stroked his hair.

The two walked out of the courtyard side by side.

When they reached the gate, Sasuke stopped, turned around, and bowed deeply to Naro. Mikoto bowed as well, then took Sasuke's hand and disappeared outside the courtyard gate.

The courtyard fell silent.

Karin stood beside the stone bench, remaining quiet. She watched the direction in which Sasuke had departed, a trace of envy in her eyes, but far more determination.

"Karin." Naro shifted his gaze to the young girl who had endured inhuman torture since childhood.

Karin walked over and stood still before Naro.

"As a member of the Uchiha Clan, Sasuke has his own path to walk. As a member of the now-extinct Uzumaki Clan, you have yours as well."

"Yes." Karin nodded earnestly.

Naro clapped his hands. With two "whoosh" sounds, white smoke rose, and the figures of a man and a woman emerged from the mist, appearing before Karin. "These two are entrusted to you."

The man was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a metal helmet that revealed only his eyes and mouth. He wore heavy armor with a massive iron fan strapped to his waist, looking like a mobile fortress. His gaze was calm—calm as stagnant water, yet hiding a volcano beneath.

The woman was slender with long, silver-white hair draped over her shoulders, her expression cold and her eyes sharp. She wore a white bodysuit under a light blue vest, wooden sandals on her feet, and two short blades at her waist. Her lips were pressed tightly together, as if enduring something.

These two were Han and Yugito, whom Uchiha Naro had brought back after stripping them of their Tailed Beasts.

Karin's pupils shrank slightly; she recognized these two.

No, not recognized—she had heard of them recently. The Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails from Kumogakure and the Five-Tails from Iwagakure. During her recent contact with Kokuō, she had taken the initiative to learn about Kokuō and Matatabi's former hosts, gathering information on these two Jinchuriki from Mikoto's intelligence files.

"They are no longer Jinchuriki," Naro explained to Karin. "I extracted the Tailed Beasts from their bodies while preserving their lives, and I have kept them here. From now on, they will follow you."

"Follow me?" Karin looked at Naro, bewildered.

"Correct, as your protectors." Uchiha Naro stood up, walked to Karin, and extended his right index finger, tapping her on the forehead.

Just as with Sasuke, warm energy surged into her, though the knowledge imparted was more extensive than what Sasuke had received. It contained things Karin could not yet fully grasp: doctrines, organizational structure, codes of conduct, the detailed usage of Sealing Technique: Tongcang, and methods for practicing various daily-life ninjutsu...

"What are these?" Karin kept her eyes closed, digesting the knowledge in her mind. After a while, she opened them, looking at Naro in confusion.

"From this moment on, Shisui is the Sect Leader of the Juexin Sect, you are the Saintess, and Han and Yugito are your Protectors. I want you to start from the Land of Waves by the sea, spread the doctrine, and gather followers."

Karin recalled the memories Uchiha Naro had just implanted regarding the Juexin Sect: "The old gods shroud the sun, the new order stands; we awaken our hearts, lighting lamps to continue the flame; the Vacuum Homeland, the Yellow Heaven awaits us."

"This is the organization's slogan." Naro used his finger to write the twenty-four characters in the air with mana. "The meaning is simple—the old era is about to be swept into the dust. The old gods, the old order, and those who stand high above cannot block the new sun. We awaken our own hearts, light the lamps, and illuminate the path ahead. 'The Vacuum Homeland, the Yellow Heaven awaits us' offers hope to the followers: as long as you perform good deeds, Heaven will protect you while you live, and you will go to a beautiful place after you die."

Karin nodded, continuing to listen as Naro explained everything about the Juexin Sect. Although the information was already in her mind, there was still a distance between knowing it and truly understanding or identifying with it.

"The core of the Juexin Sect's doctrine is to shift the contradictions that cause the 'current state of the Ninja World' onto the reckless behavior of ninjas. It advocates that the fundamental purpose of ninjutsu should be to protect and aid the people, to help and promote the development of the Ninja World, rather than serving as a tool for war between ninjas."

"Everyone can learn ninjutsu and strive for the development of the Ninja World. For every person who makes an effort, their good deeds will accumulate and circulate, earning the love and protection of Heaven and Earth."

"Lord Naro, this..." Karin looked up at Naro upon hearing this.

"What is it?"

"This is completely contrary to the common sense of the Ninja World." Karin said tentatively. "Everyone believes that ninjas are high and mighty, while civilians are meant only to be protected or sacrificed. You say everyone can learn ninjutsu..."

"Why shouldn't they?" Naro countered.

"What is the essence of ninjutsu? It is the application of chakra. What is chakra? It is the combination of physical and spiritual energy. Everyone has a body and a spirit; the difference lies only in the amount they can refine. It is not something only ninjas can learn."

Karin was speechless. Her current understanding of ninjutsu and chakra was still at the stage of learning and application; she had never once thought about the essence of chakra or ninjutsu.

"Of course, this cannot be achieved in a day or two." Naro's voice softened. "It is too early to talk about this now."

"The primary task of the Juexin Sect in the early stages is to win the hearts of the people and spread kindness. Let the civilians know that someone cares about them and is willing to help them. Let them know that ninjutsu can be used to farm, build houses, and heal the sick, not just to kill."

As Naro spoke, he drew a pattern next to the twenty-four-character slogan: two equilateral triangles, one upright and one inverted, overlapping to form a hexagram. Around the hexagram was a ring of intricate runes, resembling a circle of flames.

"This is the organization's symbol, the Hexagram, and the meeting signal, the 'Three Mountains Seal'."

Naro extended his left hand, holding up his thumb, index, and little finger, while curling his middle and ring fingers, palm facing outward.

"When you see one of our own, make this gesture. The other party will return the same. If the signal is wrong, be on guard immediately."

Karin followed suit, her movements standard and precise.

"Sect Leader, Saintess, Protectors, Lujue, Shoutan, Shemo." Seeing Karin listening intently, Naro continued his explanation. "The Sect Leader is Shisui, responsible for the interpretation and inheritance of the doctrine. You are the Saintess, responsible for preaching and managing the followers. The Protectors are Han and Yugito, responsible for security and combat. Lujue are the leaders of each country, Shoutan are the leaders of each town, and Shemo are the most common followers."

"Recognized followers, or Shemo, can learn one daily-life ninjutsu from a Shoutan unconditionally. For example, Earth Release: Soil Loosening Technique, Water Release: Rainfall Technique, and so on. These ninjutsu are not for combat, but for improving life."

Karin was shocked by Uchiha Naro's grand scale. She looked up and asked, "Teach them for free?"

"For free." Naro nodded. "But only daily-life ninjutsu. Offensive ninjutsu, sealing techniques, and genjutsu are only taught starting from the Shoutan level. The higher the level, the more and stronger ninjutsu one can learn."

"Where does the ninjutsu come from?"

"I will provide it in the early stages. Later on, the organization will need to develop and create new ninjutsu that adapt to society." Naro said, summoning the Ghost Soul Banner from his Purple Mansion.

"The Juexin Sect can pass on knowledge through the Ghost Soul Banner. You don't need to carry scrolls around; you only need to establish a Tongcang Sealing Array, and followers can receive knowledge through the array."

Following Naro's words, Karin found the Sealing Technique: Tongcang in her memory: a complex sealing array with a hexagram mark at the center, surrounded by twelve runes.

"Sealing Technique: Tongcang—this is one of the core ninjutsu of the Juexin Sect. It can transcend space and time, connecting to the Ghost Soul Banner to transmit knowledge. Followers can learn ninjutsu within their authority anywhere there is a Tongcang array."

Karin looked at the sealing array, her eyes lighting up. As a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, she was naturally sensitive to sealing techniques. The construction of that array was exquisite, more complex than any she had ever seen, yet its logic was as clear as a straight line.

"It's amazing..." she whispered to herself.

After Uchiha Naro finished explaining the general structure of the Juexin Sect, he patted Karin on the head, his tone tinged with emotion. "When you were young in the Land of Grass, you saw much of the ugliness of human nature. You have seen a more realistic side of the Ninja World than Sasuke. Ninjas bullying civilians, civilians bullying those even weaker—it is a world of the strong preying on the weak, where no one cares if you live or die. Your mother died in such a place, and you nearly died there too."

"I know you have always hated this world. You hate ninjas, you hate those who stand high above, and you hate those who stand by and watch others die."

"Now, I have given you a chance—a chance to change this world. Not through hatred, but through good deeds; not through killing, but through saving lives. Are you willing?"

Karin looked up, her emerald eyes filled with determination: "I will carry the Juexin Sect to greatness. Not to satisfy you, but so that more people like me won't have to live that kind of life anymore."

Naro nodded in approval; he had always known Karin's character, the kind of resilient grass that could survive even in the desert.

"Go. Start with the Land of Waves. It is poor, bitter, and largely ignored. The commoners need hope; they need someone to tell them that living is not just about suffering."

Karin bowed deeply to Naro, then turned and walked toward Han and Yugito: "Two Protectors, let us depart."

Han nodded and followed behind Karin. Yugito glanced at Karin, then at Naro, her lips moving as if to speak, but in the end, she said nothing and turned to follow them.

The three of them walked out of the courtyard.

Karin led the way, her red ponytail like a flame in the sunlight; Han followed behind her, his tall figure like a mountain; Yugito walked at the rear, her long, silver-white hair fluttering in the wind.

Shisui drifted out from the Ghost Bone Banner and stood beside Naro. He watched the direction in which Karin had departed, remaining silent for a long time.

"Six years old, and she has to take on such a difficult task." Shisui's voice was very soft. "Preaching in a place like the Land of Waves, gathering followers, building an organization... even adults might not be able to do it, let alone a child."

"She is no ordinary child, and furthermore, she has you behind her." Naro dismissed Shisui's concerns.

Shisui did not speak again. He looked at the courtyard gate where the sunlight shone on the threshold, and a few leaves stirred up by Karin's departure were still spinning on the ground.

"I hope she succeeds." Shisui finally spoke, his voice tinged with a sigh. "I hope the Juexin Sect can truly change this world."

"It will." Naro turned and walked back under the veranda, picking up his teacup again. The tea had already gone cold, but he did not ask for it to be replaced, simply drinking it as it was. "It is only a matter of time."

Shisui remained at Naro's side, but the sound of Karin's low, whispered chanting continued to echo around his soul, over and over again, like someone reciting a lesson or perhaps making a vow: "The old gods shroud the sun, the new order shall rise, we of the Juexin, light the lamp to carry the flame, the vacuum hometown, the yellow heaven awaits me..."