Gospel Hospital.
Toji looked at the report in his hand. It showed that the number of wounded patients admitted to Gospel Hospital had increased significantly recently.
He looked past the surface to the underlying truth.
Toji understood that this meant the friction between Konoha and the surrounding shinobi villages was intensifying.
As for the reason, news of Hashirama Senju's "disappearance" had probably gotten out.
Hashirama Senju leaving the village had been classified information. Everyone involved in the meeting had been a village higher-up, so in theory, there should have been no possibility of a leak. But the problem was that Hashirama was usually too approachable and often appeared on Konoha's streets. Having gone nearly a month without showing himself, rumors had naturally begun to spread outside.
The Four Great Nations noticed that Hashirama was absent from the village and immediately became restless. Along the border, small-scale clashes and frictions had already become incessant.
The Warring States Period had only just ended, and they had enjoyed seven years of peace. Seeing Hashirama disappear, the ambitious ones could no longer restrain themselves...
Worse still, after Hashirama returned to the village, not only did he fail to become vigilant, he still clung to fantasies of peaceful negotiations.
Seeing Hashirama return, the Four Great Ninja Villages would temporarily rein themselves in, creating the illusion of peace. But once they confirmed Hashirama's death, they would immediately launch the First Shinobi World War.
The seeds of disaster had already been sown.
He needed to make preparations early as well.
Toji suddenly sensed a faint disturbance from his heart and immediately knew that Uchiha Yan was trying to contact him through Type Zero and Type One.
Sitting in the director's chair at Gospel Hospital, he slowly closed his eyes.
Connecting to a parasite's five senses was also a strange experience for Toji.
Through the connection between the Parasite Seed and Earth Grudge Fear, he could ignore spatial distance and directly take control of the parasite's body. Most absurdly, there was no delay in control.
Perhaps this was what the Sage of Six Paths had envisioned: [Chakra would become a bridge connecting people.]
Though it was somewhat hellish, they were indeed connected.
Toji could be considered an inheritor of Ninshu now.
Type Zero slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling on the person before her—Uchiha Yan.
More than a year had passed since they last met, and she looked more mature now.
The dark resolve revealed in her eyes had also become ever more pure.
Controlling Type Zero's body, Toji spoke stiffly. "Long time no see, Uchiha Yan."
Uchiha Yan clicked her tongue, examining Type Zero's body with curious eyes. "This body... if I remember correctly, it was the thirteenth experimental specimen sent over, right? What's going on now?"
"I took control of her, and Type One as well."
"They are no longer experimental subjects, nor are they members of the rogue ninja corps from before. You can order them around as you please."
At that, a trace of wariness flashed through Uchiha Yan's eyes.
Using genjutsu to control a Chunin was not difficult. She herself could do it easily.
But controlling two Chunin at once, even controlling their words, actions, and behavior, was not something ordinary genjutsu could accomplish.
That faceless freak in the bird-beaked mask was also a top-tier genjutsu expert.
Toji paid no mind to her thoughts and said, "Report on your situation first."
"Mm." Uchiha Yan nodded. "Actually, before Type Zero and Type One brought back the intelligence, I had already established an Akatsuki Ninja Corps."
"Wait." Toji interrupted her. "You established what?"
"Akatsuki Ninja Corps. What's wrong?" Uchiha Yan raised a hand and pointed outside the cave at the sky that was about to dawn. "I subdued several Sound Release shinobi. It happened to be nearly daybreak that day, so I casually chose that name."
"Akatsuki..."
Toji had not expected Uchiha Yan to snatch Akatsuki's trademark first. After processing that information, he said, "Continue."
"I couldn't find the Libra Clan you asked me to search for. However, I found several shinobi capable of using the Sound Release Secret Technique. They were ordinary villagers from the Land of Rice Fields who learned that secret technique to protect their village. I found them somewhat special, so I recruited them into the ninja corps."
"Right now, I am active in these villages and the nearby towns. The funds you gave me have also been used on the Akatsuki Ninja Corps."
"Sometimes, we directly eliminate rogue ninja corps harassing the villages. When we find suitable specimens, we send them to you."
Toji had spent ten years going from the deep mountains around Takigakure to the great backing that was Konoha; Uchiha Yan had spent more than twenty years going from the great backing that was Konoha into the deep mountains of the Land of Rice Fields.
Yet judging by her expression and tone, she held no dissatisfaction toward such a life. Instead, she was delighted by this hard-won "freedom."
An Uchiha's life would not be defined by others.
"Not bad." Toji commented. "Establishing a ninja corps was a wise move. You haven't exposed your identity as an Uchiha, have you?"
"No. I've been wearing a mask the whole time."
"These shinobi who can use the Sound Release Secret Technique can be cultivated properly. In the future, using them as a foundation, it may even be possible to expand the ninja corps into a shinobi village. The Land of Rice Fields is still an undeveloped Pure Land, and no shinobi village has gained a foothold there yet."
Toji paused, then continued, "Keep searching for the Libra Clan. Have the Akatsuki Ninja Corps act together and expand the search range."
"I understand all that." Uchiha Yan stared straight at him, her tone displeased. "But I've been laying low for so long. You promised me back then that you'd give me greater power. When exactly are you going to fulfill that promise?"
"The time has not come yet."
"You aren't playing me, are you?"
Toji's tone remained flat. "If I wanted to, I would have taken your eyes directly after you awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. I would not have given you the chance to obtain the freedom you have now."
"..."
Uchiha Yan was rendered speechless for a moment. She pouted and fell silent in a sulk.
Only after seeing her temper subside did Toji continue.
"You will get what you want someday, but you need patience. Right now, your location has been exposed. The Uchiha Clan discovered that you are in the Land of Rice Fields and has sent a squad led by the Jōnin Uchiha Bing to pursue you."
"Uchiha Bing..."
Hearing that name, Uchiha Yan's expression shifted uncertainly, her tone brimming with hatred.
"That coward still dares to come capture me!"
"If not for his proposal back then, Yusuke, Masayuki, Taku, and the others would not have died. But in the end, he was also the first to kneel before Uchiha Chiri!"
"He should disembowel himself!"
"I have no interest in your family's grudges." Toji coldly interrupted. "The Uchiha's power must not be underestimated. The intelligence has already told you enough, so conceal yourself properly. If necessary, suspend specimen shipments for the time being."
Uchiha Yan clenched her fists, unwilling to accept it.
After more than a year of laying low, her strength had stabilized at the Jōnin level.
But no one knew a younger brother better than his older sister. Uchiha Bing was her older brother, and she knew exactly how strong he was.
Even facing him now, she would still have little chance of victory.
Moreover, the Uchiha pursuit squad had more than one Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
And she was alone, without any help.
She hesitated before speaking. "Say... doesn't our Passion Organization have any other powerful people?"
That was a good question.
"Of course."
"Then have them come help me."
With his hands behind his back, Toji said indifferently, "Every member has their own mission."
Before you continue