Reason

On the way to the Juvenile Correction Center, Kanna reviewed the entire incident.

It was simply absurd. Were the people of Kirigakure really this arrogant? This method of framing someone was far too low-level, wasn't it?

He had been focusing on his cultivation during this period, not provoking anyone, yet he still managed to get dragged into this?

Frustrating! It was truly infuriating! Kanna now even felt the urge to kill someone.

The chivalrous use martial arts to defy prohibitions; those who practice martial arts, due to their vigorous blood and reliance on their own strength, easily fall into conflicts with others and resort to violence. This was even more true for ninjas, a profession that lived by combat. Although Kanna had not yet earned a reputation, he considered his current level of cultivation to be quite decent. How could he be bullied by just any Tom, Dick, or Harry?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. By the time the two arrived at the Juvenile Correction Center, Kanna's face remained taut, wearing an expression of pure displeasure.

The Juvenile Correction Center was a place specifically used by Kirigakure to educate children. It operated as a separate system, located on the eastern side of the village near the sea, where human activity was sparse.

To temper the character of those unruly children, the kids here had to wake up, rest, and work on a strict schedule. Causing trouble was strictly prohibited, and violating the center's regulations would result in an extended labor sentence.

Kanna met the director in an office—a stern, middle-aged ninja named Gotō Shinnosuke. According to the bespectacled ninja who brought him there, this Gotō Shinnosuke was quite a figure. He had once been an elite Jōnin of Kirigakure, skilled in various sword styles such as Mutōdori, Ittō-ryū, Nitō-ryū, Shingetsu-ryū, Kesa-ryū, and Sōon-ryū. Unfortunately, he had his left arm severed during a mission, and all his teammates were slaughtered, leaving him without his former drive. He had volunteered to become the director of the Juvenile Correction Center. In his own words, "Seeing these children is like seeing my former self." He was the tragic type.

Regarding this, Kanna thought that he had never heard of any of those styles. As for ninjas who specialized in swordsmanship? Sorry, that was already outdated.

Seeing Kanna's sour face, Shinnosuke didn't mind; every child brought to the center wore the same expression.

"Sit." Shinnosuke pointed to a chair, then took a file out of the drawer and asked, "Name? Age? Identity? Family?"

"Kanna, not yet eleven, Genin, my father is Kanna Tokiomi," Kanna replied, calming himself down.

"Oh, the child of the Mizukage's aide?" Shinnosuke seemed a bit surprised and looked at Kanna again. "Does your family know you're here?"

Kanna frowned: "No."

Shinnosuke nodded, quickly finished writing down Kanna's information, and pushed the file over.

"Sign your name, and we will notify your parents. No, which regulation of the village did he violate?"

The bespectacled ninja, No, rubbed his nose and smiled bitterly: "Uh, fighting and brawling. He used chopsticks to snap the proximal and middle phalanges of the right middle finger of Aoki, a Chūnin of the Security Force."

"Hmm." Shinnosuke was silent for a moment, then said: "Then let's make it three months of labor. Also, listen well, Kanna. Our Juvenile Correction Center is directly under the jurisdiction of the Mizukage; even your father cannot interfere. So, here is a piece of advice: do not cause trouble here. Just stay for three months, and you can leave."

"Understood," Kanna replied indifferently.

"Very well. Wait here for a moment; I expect your parents will arrive soon. Once you have seen them, the registration will be officially complete."

Kanna was taken to an adjacent room. Half an hour later, Kanna Morishita Mai arrived.

"I know everything that happened." Morishita Mai maintained her gentle demeanor and did not blame Kanna. "This matter actually has nothing to do with you, but to avoid being drawn into a deeper level of conflict, you need to stay here for a while longer."

"What?" Kanna was stunned. "Stay longer?"

"Yes." Morishita Mai sighed slightly, then lowered her voice and said, "Although your father didn't want you to know, I believe you already have the qualifications and ability to help him share his burdens. The Third Mizukage wants to push for reforms—not just in exams, but in other areas as well. Because of this, the situation in the village has become problematic lately. It will be fine once things stabilize."

Kanna asked in surprise: "What kind of problems does the village have?"

Morishita Mai looked at Kanna seriously and said: "Some clans believe that since the village's system has lasted for so many years, it proves the current structure is correct and needs no change. However, the Third Mizukage does not want to see the village's major affairs controlled by those clans, so he had your father host a major merchant from the Land of Fire, attempting to keep all trade dealings in the hands of the village..."

Hearing this, Kanna already roughly understood what was going on.

Money! Everything was a matter of money!

For Kanna, he didn't have much of a sense of belonging to this world, nor did he have much interest in money, but others certainly didn't think that way.

How did the corrupted Akatsuki grow strong? It was by leveraging the chaos in Kirigakure, taking on a massive number of missions to acquire vast sums of money, which then allowed them to develop numerous peripheral members and support multiple S-rank rogue ninjas.

How did Gato control the Land of Waves? By controlling the country's trade and hiring numerous rogue ninjas, even Momochi Zabuza.

How much was the head of Sarutobi Asuma, son of the Third Hokage and one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Fire Temple, worth? Only 5 million Ryō!

Kirigakure was located overseas and needed to import far too many things. The trade volume brought by someone who could be called a "major merchant" was certainly not a small number. Now that Kirigakure wanted to kick those clans out of the loop, someone was bound to object.

Without money, why would those ninjas work for you? Why would they obey your orders?

If the village had sufficient funds, would it still need to look at the faces of those clans? Would it still be held hostage by the various major families?

It had to be said that the ability and courage of the First Mizukage determined the village's system and situation. Look at Konoha: the First Hokage, Hashirama, used his strength to suppress all ninjas, so the clans and ninjas of Konoha centered themselves around the Hokage. But Kirigakure was different; the Mizukage still needed the support of the various clans, otherwise, he couldn't get anything done!

Therefore, Kanna was completely caught in the crossfire this time. Some clans wanted to attack the Mizukage's aide and, in the process, express their dissatisfaction with the Mizukage. The first shot was fired at him, the son of the Mizukage's aide.

"Is the fighting very intense?" Kanna asked in a deep voice.

Morishita Mai patted his shoulder and comforted him: "The Third Mizukage and your father will resolve it, so don't worry. You can't be of much help in this matter right now, so you'll have to endure staying here for a while."

"I understand." Kanna let out a long breath. "It seems this is actually a good place. It doesn't belong to any other system? That means as long as I don't violate the village's prohibitions before my labor sentence ends, other departments can't touch me, right?"

"That is correct." Morishita Mai smiled. "Senior Shinnosuke is a very good person; you can ask for his help if you need anything here."

Kanna tapped the table and asked: "So, how long do I need to hide?"

"That major merchant will likely stay here for two months. After the inspection is complete, he will return to the Land of Fire, and then the first trade will begin." Morishita Mai said apologetically, "So, it will likely take four to five months."

"Nearly half a year, huh?" Kanna snorted. "Very well! This matter absolutely cannot end like this! Mother, tell me, who exactly ordered the Security Force to arrest me?"

Morishita Mai hesitated and did not speak.

"No need to hide it, Mother. I am not a child anymore; I won't be that stupid." Kanna said calmly. "When I can't beat them, I certainly won't seek revenge. Trust me."

Morishita Mai shook her head and said helplessly: "It isn't just one single clan. Too many people are involved in this. Unless you have the ability to completely break this situation, revenge is just a delusion."

Hearing this, Kanna closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Is that so? I understand. Then so be it. I will find a way to extend my labor sentence."

Kirigakure wanted to consolidate power, while those clans wanted to protect their own interests—who was right and who was wrong?

How could the conflict between the individual and the collective ever be resolved?

Knowing the history, Kanna understood clearly that the situation in Kirigakure could never be solved peacefully.

A system that had persisted for over forty years—how could it be changed so easily?

Morishita Mai left, leaving Kanna alone to sit in his chair, lost in thought.

How could he break free from the whirlpool that was Kirigakure?

Strength! Only with sufficient strength of his own could he shatter every obstacle! Only then would he have the qualifications to pursue freedom!

Stepping out the door, Kanna prepared to find the warden for his final registration when a group of people walked toward him.

"Ringo Ameyuri? You came here too? No, wait, why are you only arriving now?" Kanna was stunned, looking at the person before him, and the words slipped out.

Ringo Ameyuri was also a bit surprised; she huffed and said coldly, "I was just brought over from the Security Force."

Just brought over from the Security Force? That meant Ringo Ameyuri had been detained by the Security Force from last night until now?

It seemed his status as the son of the Mizukage's aide was quite formidable after all; he had been picked up by the Juvenile Correction Center less than half an hour after hitting someone, while Ringo Ameyuri had been forcibly detained for nearly an entire day. Besides, was this Ringo Ameyuri actually under thirteen years old too?

"Is that so?" Kanna's thoughts raced as he stepped forward, blocking her path. "How long are you staying here?"

Ameyuri didn't get annoyed, replying indifferently, "Excessive self-defense, sentenced to six months."

"Six months?" Kanna curled his lip and said, "Those guys are definitely waiting outside to deal with you; isn't six months too short?"

"Hm?" Ameyuri narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing much." Kanna rubbed his knuckles and grinned. "How about it? Want to add a few more months?"

With things put this way, Ringo Ameyuri understood Kanna's intent.

"Interesting." A curve formed at the corner of Ameyuri's mouth as she nodded slightly. "I agree; it really should be extended by a few months."

"Hey, Ringo Ameyuri, and you, kid! What are you two talking about?"

The staff member accompanying Ringo Ameyuri felt more and more uneasy the longer he listened; what did they mean by adding a few more months? What was going on?

"That's good then!" Kanna laughed out loud, then his expression shifted.

"You! I've been annoyed with you for a long time! You bastard! Let's see me flatten you!"

Having said that, Kanna lunged forward, jabbing a finger toward Ringo Ameyuri's forehead.