The Kato Clan
Naraku looked at the letter in his hand, somewhat annoyed. The only way to develop soul ninjutsu, besides the Scroll of Sealing, was to try and find a solution from the Yamanaka Clan, the Kato Clan, or Orochimaru.
Naraku sent a letter of invitation to the Yamanaka Clan, but the Yamanaka Clan refused.
We're all from the same ninja clan, it was just a friendly visit, but Naraku didn't expect the Yamanaka Clan to be so disrespectful.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio are staunch supporters of the Hokage. While the Hokage and Sarutobi couldn't directly embarrass the Uchiha, their subordinate clans were far more ruthless.
Naraku ignited flames in his hand and burned the letter; Naraku again.
Kato family
Kato Taro, the head of the Kato Clan, was waiting for something at the entrance of the clan's territory.
Kato is one of the smaller clans in Konoha, and their clan territory is located in an area where many smaller clans live together.
Previously, the Kato clan had a famous Konoha Jonin Dan Katō from Konoha, who was skilled in the Spirit Transformation Technique and had killed countless enemies on the battlefield, making him very famous in Konoha.
At the same time, Dan Katō was Tsunade's first love, which further boosted the fame of the Kato family.
However, with the death of Dan Katō in battle, the Kato clan gradually declined, and now there are only a few Chunin in the clan. At the same time, no one in the Kato clan's Spirit Transformation Technique.
This generation's Kato Taro was a retired Chunin, in his fifties, who managed clan affairs and the ancestral hall for the Kato Clan. The other Kato ninjas supported this clan leader.
This is an old man who witnessed Konoha's rise from its founding to its prosperity. He vividly remembers the chaos of the Warring States period and, while Konoha wasn't exactly peaceful, he generally approves of its relatively tranquil environment.
At this moment, the Kato clan chief, Kato Taro, was standing at the entrance of the clan's territory with a young child, looking around anxiously.
Finally, the person he was waiting for appeared on the main road.
The newcomer was dressed in a black robe embroidered with rice ears, over which was a purple open-fronted shirt. A Gunbai symbol was embroidered on the back of the robe. It was none other than Uchiha Nara.
"Master Dalang."
Naraku greeted the Kato clan chief, an elder of Konoha. Although Naraku of noble status, he still had to show respect to the elderly.
"Naraku, please come in!"
The Kato clan chief was very polite and respectful, welcoming Naraku into the clan's territory.
Kato's clan estate consisted of only about ten houses, a small and declining clan. The clan head took the visit of Naraku, the strongest clan in Konoha, very seriously.
At the appointed time, wait at the entrance to welcome Naraku.
Seeing the attitude of the Kato clan chief, Naraku breathed a sigh of relief.
If they were like the Yamanaka Clan, then Naraku would really be in trouble.
Naraku followed Kato Taro and lived in the Kato clan's head house. A servant boy beside Kato Taro served Naraku tea.
"Naraku's visit is truly an honor for my Kato Clan!"
Kato Taro had some guesses about the purpose of Naraku's visit. What could the Kato Clan, a small and insignificant family, possibly have that would interest Naraku?
If Kato can get on Naraku's good side, his future life will be much better. Unlike the Naka-dai clan, the Kato clan is small in number.
If they displease the people in front of them, ostracize them, or use their authority as Military Police Force to harass them, they probably won't be able to survive in Konoha.
However, if they could align themselves with Naraku and join the Military Police Force, the Kato clan would stop their decline and even experience a resurgence.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Taro. The Konoha Military Police Force is currently short of personnel and is looking to recruit some ninjas who can serve Konoha."
Kato Taro was pleasantly surprised to hear this. If he couldn't understand this hint, then Chief Kato would have lived in vain.
"Lord Naraku, my Kato clan fought for Konoha, and many of our members perished in the ninja war. Please consider whether this situation meets the requirements!"
"Hmm, not bad. I've heard that Dan Katō, Jonin from the Kato clan, is highly skilled in Ninjutsu and sacrificed his life for Konoha. Presumably, his clan members all meet the requirements."
Naraku scratched his teacup and pointed to Dan Katō's name.
Kato Taro was quite perceptive; he knew Naraku wouldn't have any other requests besides Ninjutsu. He didn't understand why Naraku had taken a liking to the Spirit Transformation Technique.
The Spirit Transformation Technique is an S-rank Ninjutsu. In the Kato clan, only one person, Dan Katō, has successfully mastered it in decades, making it extremely difficult to learn. It's truly something that's neither enjoyable to use nor worth discarding.
If this difficult-to-master Ninjutsu could be used to improve the future of the Kato clan, then the Kato clan would definitely not lose out.
The Spirit Transformation Technique has already been offered to Konoha, and there is a copy in the Scroll of Sealing. Now, a copy is being given to the powerful Uchiha clan. It's a mutual exchange of benefits, and it's not something to be ashamed of.
Thinking of this, Kato Taro took out a small scroll that he had prepared beforehand from his pocket.
"Naraku, this is the S-rank ninjutsu, Spirit Transformation Technique, the very Ninjutsu that Dan practiced. However, Lord Naraku, I have one request: this Ninjutsu must not be widely circulated in Konoha."
"This is an S-rank Ninjutsu, extremely difficult to master. A slight mistake could be life-threatening."
Kato Taro slowly recounted that the decline of the Kato Clan was not unrelated to this Spirit Transformation Technique. Ninjutsu involving the soul, which touches upon the soul level, is bound to be extremely dangerous.
"I understand, Lord Taro, you are very kind. I am somewhat interested in this Ninjutsu and will not allow it to Konoha Style."
"In that case, I can rest assured!"
Kato Taro handed the scroll to the page, who then passed it on to Naraku.
Naraku opened it and glanced at it briefly. The handwriting was dense and complex, no wonder it was an S-rank ninjutsu.
Naraku was overjoyed; he hadn't expected the trip to go so smoothly, and his mood immediately improved.
"The Military Police Force is recruiting ten to twenty people. Do you think you have enough people in your tribe?"
"Yes, ma'am. Twenty people, plus my friend from the Kato Clan, is sufficient."
Kato Taro looked up at Naraku, considered his words carefully, and replied.
His Kato Clan only has less than ten ninjas in total. He should ask Naraku how many people he'll give them so that Kato Taro can collect some benefits and send people in.
"Hehe, if we can fill twenty positions, that would be ideal. I'll leave the recruitment to you."
"No, no!"
Kato Taro was beaming with joy at that moment.
Naraku understood what Kato Taro was thinking. His Kato Clan only had about ten members, and fewer than ten ninjas.
He could recruit a team of twenty people from nearby ninja clans or commoners, charging them a small fee, acting as a middleman to bring them in.
Naraku now uses his own money to support the Police Force. Adding twenty or thirty more people is no big deal for him, and the Police Force also needs more small and medium-sized families.
"With the Kato Clan in the Police Force, it might rise to even greater heights. Let's stop here for today; the Military Police Force awaits your clansmen."
"Yes, thank you Naraku!"
Having acquired the Spirit Transformation Technique, Naraku didn't want to linger. He could go back and study it, figuring out what aspects of the Spirit Transformation Technique he could learn from it regarding the soul.