Idle Talk and the Current State of the Mist Ninja

Uchiha compound.

Feeling the information relayed by his shadow clone, Uchiha Makoto drew a sharp breath. Orochimaru had now been brought under his command, and Fearful Reverence had been successfully planted as well.

The plan had been executed perfectly. Everything was going smoothly.

Uchiha Fugaku, seated across from him, noticed something unusual in his expression. Though he knew that Uchiha Makoto had recruited Orochimaru, he still could not help asking.

"Makoto, I don't understand. Why did you insist on recruiting Orochimaru?"

Uchiha Fugaku was deeply puzzled. Orochimaru's strength was only about equal to his own, so why pay such a great price to recruit him at this sensitive time, with the ninja war about to erupt?

If the goal was to show weakness to the Hokage and secure support for the Mist ninja front, Jiraiya was clearly the better choice.

Uchiha Makoto rubbed his throbbing temples and asked in return, "Brother-in-law, have you heard of the forbidden technique, Impure World Reincarnation? The forbidden technique invented by the Second Hokage."

Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned solemn. Under Uchiha Makoto's gaze, he nodded and answered, "I have. Legend says the Second Hokage created it to pair with another forbidden technique, Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags. But before he could perfect it, he died in battle."

Uchiha Makoto nodded repeatedly as he listened. It was good that Fugaku knew; it would make things easier to explain.

"That's right. According to the records, the complete Impure World Reincarnation envisioned by the Second Hokage could display strength nearly equal to what the dead possessed in life."

"Our Uchiha Clan is seeking profit in this ninja war. Calling it snatching chestnuts from the fire would not be an exaggeration!"

"But we only have fifty Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Trying to take complete control of the situation with that is truly a stretch!"

Uchiha Fugaku fell somewhat silent as he listened. That was indeed the current situation. Their plans required too many hands, and the Uchiha could only barely keep things under control.

"You mean..."

Uchiha Fugaku asked tentatively. From the implication in Uchiha Makoto's words, he had the distinct feeling that the Uchiha ancestral graves were about to be in danger.

"In the Battle of the Netherworld Abyss more than a decade ago, nearly twenty years ago, we lost four Mangekyō Sharingan users and dozens of Three-Tomoe users. There was also Senior Kagami, who died after exhausting his ocular power. We need to let them see how much further the Uchiha have come!"

"They'll definitely be happy about it too."

Uchiha Makoto wore an expression of reverent remembrance for his ancestors, making Uchiha Fugaku's right eyelid twitch furiously.

Well then. From now on, even in death, they would have to contribute to the clan!

After all, under Impure World Reincarnation, no matter how badly someone had been injured in life or how old they had been, once reincarnated, they would still be in their prime!

Why sleep long after death? Get up and work for another ten thousand years!

Uchiha Fugaku covered his face. The picture was too beautiful; he dared not imagine it!

In the end, Uchiha Fugaku moved his lips and said stiffly, "Makoto, if we disturb the dead like this, won't it..."

"Don't worry. With the Sword of Totsuka and the Yata Mirror, even if they come back to life, they still won't be able to beat me!"

Looking at Uchiha Makoto grinning broadly and revealing a mouthful of neat white teeth, Uchiha Fugaku unconsciously clenched his fists. Those dead might not be able to beat Uchiha Makoto, but they could beat him, Uchiha Fugaku!

Seeing the indignant Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Makoto also felt helpless. Recruiting Orochimaru had been a necessity.

He had too few points!

Although the system had deduction cards that could complete the incomplete Impure World Reincarnation at any time, the system had only issued two missions since its appearance. How many points he would obtain in the future was entirely unknown.

He could only cut through the mess quickly and bring Orochimaru under his command now, resolving all these potential problems before they became actual ones.

Especially now that the system shop had been upgraded to level five. The things inside made his mouth water, so he did not dare spend even a single one of his pitiful points!

"Enough, let's not talk about this. Let's discuss the Mist ninja instead."

Uchiha Makoto waved his hand, ending the topic.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded and began explaining the Mist ninja as he understood them.

"The Mist ninja are the shinobi of the Land of Water, an island nation composed of more than a hundred islands."

"In some years, nearly one hundred and fifty days are foggy there. This has also produced Mist ninja whose five senses are the sharpest in the ninja world."

"In recent years, they've become especially famous for their many romantic encounters."

At this point, Uchiha Fugaku took a sip of tea, spat out the tea leaves in his mouth, and explained.

"Ever since the Third Mizukage implemented the Blood Mist Policy in the Hidden Mist Village, most Mist ninja have become cruel and bloodthirsty. Bloodline-limit ninja among them have suffered particular persecution, and the local residents have grown distant toward those with bloodline abilities."

"For the continuation of their families, over time, the smaller bloodline clans naturally began setting their sights on elite shinobi and bounty hunters who came to visit."

"In other words, they preserve their bloodlines by borrowing seed."

"This is the current state of most ninja clans in the Hidden Mist Village, aside from the three largest clans: the Hozuki Clan, the Kaguya Clan, and the Yuki Clan."

Listening to Uchiha Fugaku's explanation, Uchiha Makoto clicked his tongue in amazement. The Hozuki, Kaguya, and Yuki Clans were comparable to Konoha's three great clans—the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan, and the Hyūga Clan—and their respective status and treatment were quite similar as well.

The Hozuki Clan was practically a Mizukage-producing clan. Aside from the current Third Mizukage, the other two Mizukage had both come from this clan.

Once members of the Kaguya Clan awakened their bloodline limit, they tended to go mad and become battle-crazed lunatics. Worse still, their combat power was absurdly high.

The Yuki Clan, meanwhile, possessed the Ice Release bloodline. In a country like the Land of Water, with its abundant water resources, they enjoyed uniquely advantageous strategic superiority. Ordinary Water Release ninja were utterly countered by them.

The greatest difference between Konoha's three great clans and the Mist ninja's three great clans was perhaps that the Kaguya Clan, close relatives of the Hyūga Clan, occupied a position among the Mist ninja similar to that of the Uchiha.

That was also why Uchiha had worked so hard to secure support from the Hyūga Clan in the conference room.

The Kaguya Clan was on the other side of the Mist ninja front, while the Hyūga Clan was on Konoha's side.

Both sides were family, so everyone could settle down a little!

"During the Second Ninja War, our Uchiha Clan fought the Mist ninja in the Land of Water as well. Even while outnumbered, we nearly accomplished the feat of one clan suppressing one village."

As Uchiha Fugaku spoke, a faint nostalgic smile appeared on his face.

"But we suffered devastating losses too, didn't we?"

Uchiha Makoto said coldly.

Uchiha Fugaku's mood sank at once.

By then, it had already been the late stage of the Second Ninja War. Konoha had been worn down after facing the relentless assaults of three ninja villages, while the Mist ninja offensive only grew fiercer.

Under those circumstances, Konoha deployed the one force that had been conserving its strength for a long time—the police force.

The Uchiha Clan had not disappointed expectations. With the strength of one clan, they withstood the Mist ninja's final madness.

But the price had been terrible. Due to chakra nature disadvantage, nearly thirty Uchiha jonin died in battle. Among them were Uchiha Fugaku's father—the former head of the Uchiha Clan—and Uchiha Makoto's grandfather—the former elder of the Uchiha Clan. Both had died at that time!

"But it won't happen now! Will it?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at Uchiha Makoto with blazing eyes.

"That's right. It won't!"

Uchiha Makoto took a sip of tea and nodded. At some unknown point, his eyes had transformed into Mangekyō Sharingan.