Preparation

Uchiha Zhuang returned home and sealed all the supplies and equipment he had bought over the past few days inside scrolls, courtesy of Genmu. He filled his ninja tool pouch, surveyed the room to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything, then stepped outside. Taking in the familiar sights of home, he slowly walked out and shut the door behind him. Then he sped toward the forest in the clan's territory.

"Zhuang has set off. I'll be leaving in a few days to carry out a mission for the village, too, so take good care of yourself while I'm gone." "Don't worry. You be careful out there, too. There's no need to rush through missions. Zhuang already has plenty of money; we have enough as long as we can get by." "Mm!" Soon, the bed began to creak rhythmically.

Uchiha Zhuang reached the top of a giant tree and activated his teleportation technique, vanishing from Konoha in an instant. When his surroundings came back into focus, he was already a great distance from the village. After figuring out which way to go, he headed for the border-town base. The night market was still bustling when he arrived in town. He returned to the detached house that belonged to him, its sign reading "Zhuang's Home." The sturdy walls had been raised and widened, and the plants and trees around the courtyard pond had been moved to the edges, leaving a large open training ground in the center, where wooden training dummies, posts, and sandbags stood. The dining room had also been expanded and widened, with enough room for twenty or thirty people to eat at once. He had arrived right at dinnertime. Seeing the house brightly lit, with everyone chatting and laughing as they happily ate, carrying plates of food and sipping soup, warmed his heart. This was what an organization should look like in its early days: warm care and pure friendship. All of it would become nourishment for the organization's growth. He emerged from the shadows and had only taken a few steps toward the house when several children spotted him. The training was clearly working. When they realized it was their leader, Samma, everyone grew respectful and knelt to welcome him to the seat of honor.

Uchiha Zhuang slowly entered and took the seat of honor, looking over everyone. Their former gauntness was gone, and the stubborn ailments caused by malnutrition had gradually faded. Now they were all adorable, innocent little girls, growing up healthy in body and mind after finding friends in this new environment. Watching them reminded Uchiha Zhuang of seeds sown in spring, slowly growing into lush green seedlings by summer, and he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The two older girls, Ootama and Tsugutama, had even begun to mature, their figures starting to show subtle curves. Uchiha Zhuang said with heartfelt warmth, "I'm glad you're growing up healthy and carefree. I've seen children displaced by war and others brutally murdered. I'm nothing like those other clan leaders. I treat you as people. You belong to me, and as long as I'm here, you'll always live under my protection." He paused, then continued, "Of course, I won't keep useless idlers. I'll assign you tasks, and every one of you must complete them with the determination to sacrifice yourself for me. Use the knowledge, ninjutsu, and skills you've learned to succeed. Those who carry out my tasks perfectly will be rewarded. So train hard and study hard! Earn my approval!" "Yes!" Everyone bowed before their leader, Samma.

After enjoying a meal cooked by Delia, whose skills had steadily improved, she came forward to report on what they had accomplished and what had happened during that time. Under Setsuna's brutal training, everyone had continued to improve. The few girls with special abilities had progressed the fastest; under Setsuna's guidance, they had even begun to learn how to refine chakra. As for the slave traders along the border, Delia had, as Uchiha Zhuang had requested, picked out all the promising children. Fifty or sixty of them were now recovering at the second base, looked after by a tutor Delia had hired, a woman named Tanaka Nonō. At the name, Uchiha Zhuang's eyes widened. He knew that Yakushi Nonō, who was devoted to education, had discovered his secret. But that wasn't surprising. In the hands of an exceptional intelligence operative actively searching for it, no secret could stay hidden. The key now was that he couldn't hide from Nonō, so he had to convince her that he was a righteous, compassionate man—a great benefactor who took in war orphans. Perhaps then she would leave his newly established base alone. As for confronting her directly or assassinating an intelligence operative, he didn't know whether anyone in this world could punch a shadow, but Uchiha Zhuang certainly couldn't. Since the enemy was strong and he was weak, he had to keep his head down and build up his strength!

After praising Delia a few times, Uchiha Zhuang took out a black-market gold voucher, its surface gray, and handed it to her. "Of all the servants, you've been with me the longest, and you've worked the hardest. Use this voucher to establish one base on the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Snow, and another in the far north of the Land of Iron. Once they're built, you'll manage both. You know what I expect, Delia." Delia immediately dropped into a full prostration, pledging her loyalty and repeatedly thanking their merciful leader, Samma. Leaving Delia aside, Uchiha Zhuang called Setsuna to bathe with him, then went up to the bedroom. There, he opened his eyes, revealing his two-tomoe Sharingan, and asked, "Do you know what this is?" Setsuna looked astonished. At last, she said, "I read about it in a knowledge scroll from Snow Ninja Village. It's the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan." "That's right. I'm a member of the Uchiha Clan. All of you are the foundation for my future conquest of the world. I need you to train them mercilessly—even harder. I want assassins and servants whose skills are perfect in every way. Can you do that?" He cut off Setsuna before she could respond, speaking firmly. Setsuna shuddered, then lowered her head. "I can only do my best. Besides, this place isn't suitable. We need a larger training ground, real weapons, and other equipment." "Fine. Get it all from Delia and have her help you. Turn the base on the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Snow into a training ground. I'll leave all the training to you, Setsuna." Setsuna kept her head down and said nothing for a long while. Uchiha Zhuang watched her, then said, "Once our organization grows strong, the first thing we'll do is sweep across the Land of Snow and bring peace to your people. I promise you that, Setsuna." "Yes!" Setsuna replied, submitting to him.

Afterward, Uchiha Zhuang fetched paper and a brush and wrote dozens of pages of advice for the organization, all filled with brainwashing phrases about loyalty and obedience. He ordered Ootama and Tsugutama to have everyone quietly recite the first section once in the morning, at noon, and in the evening before they could eat. From then on, they were to recite the whole thing at every major event and holiday, and anyone who joined had to devote themselves wholeheartedly to studying Uchiha Zhuang's teachings. Uchiha Zhuang used advanced techniques from Earth's top maritime academy. Winning everyone over would be no problem.

That night, with Ootama and Tsugutama attending to him, Uchiha Zhuang meditated himself into a deep sleep. In the basement, the girls were studying Uchiha Zhuang's supremacy, Uchiha Zhuang's world, loyalty, obedience, and other so-called advanced "knowledge" with intense dedication.