Fire Province.
Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace.
In the blink of an eye.
Half a month quietly passed.
Chiba leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest.
Tap.
Tap.
Footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
Shikaku Nara, the Empire's Minister of the Administrative Department, entered the great hall carrying a stack of Scrolls.
He stopped beneath the steps and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
"The number of powerful individuals in each province has been fully compiled."
Chiba raised a hand slightly.
"Read it."
Shikaku Nara unrolled the first Scroll.
"Following extensive investigations and screenings, along with a new round of combat assessments."
"The number of registered Kage Level experts in the Empire has far exceeded expectations."
"First and foremost is Fire Province, which has a full thirty-two Kage Level experts!"
"..."
Chiba's expression did not change in the slightest after hearing this.
Fire Province had originally been expanded from the former Konoha.
It possessed deep foundations and produced talented individuals in abundance.
Furthermore, over the past three years, he had not only opened up a vast number of Ninjutsu Repositories, but Orochimaru had also poured resources into it regardless of cost.
Potion enhancements, bloodline activation, scientific training.
Veteran experts such as Kakashi, Might Guy, and Asuma Sarutobi had long since stabilized their strength at the Kage Level.
Among the younger generation, Uzumaki Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, and the others had also caught up one after another.
Not to mention the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, both of which possessed terrifying foundations.
Several Uchiha clan members alone had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Thirty-two Kage Level experts was nothing strange.
Very soon.
Shikaku Nara swallowed and opened the second Scroll.
"Next is Lightning Province."
"There are currently eight registered Kage Level experts."
The people of Lightning Province were fierce and valiant