A Small Matter That Stirred Up a Great Storm in Konoha

"Feng, I have to say, your caution was right.

At least two groups of Konoha ninja came to investigate today, and several of them were familiar faces.

Heh, if it weren't for the family's future, I almost couldn't stop myself from making a move."

It was another day of impersonating each other. When no one was around, Uchiha Mikio couldn't help complaining to Feng.

Among those who had come to investigate today were the Root rats Uchiha hated most. Uchiha Mikio had practically clenched his liver into pain before suppressing the urge to attack.

"Senior, compared to Konoha, we are the weaker side right now, so hiding and temporary patience are necessary.

But the current situation in the Tea Country has already proven that my method works.

Right now, the most important thing is to build up our strength. Only then can we continue bringing more countries under our control.

When that time comes, the Uchiha Clan will become the most powerful and influential clan in the Ninja World.

And Konoha will be like some small town in the Tea Country, left for us to manipulate as we please."

Feng replied casually without even looking up.

He was focused on the unreanimated Impure World Reincarnation subject before him, feeling it over as he studied how to strengthen his control further.

And the Impure World Reincarnation subject Feng was handling and using for research was none other than Rin Nohara, whom he had awakened once before and then sealed away again.

It was fortunate that Uchiha Obito did not see this. Otherwise, the Fourth Shinobi World War, which was not supposed to begin for another sixteen years, might have been brought forward to now.

"Heh, I know, which is why I didn't act.

And stop fiddling with that damned corpse already. Just accept reality—we don't have the talent for researching ninjutsu.

It's been almost half a year, and we haven't made the slightest progress. Isn't that enough to make you face reality?"

Uchiha Mikio pursed his lips, placed one hand on Feng's shoulder, scratched his head with the other, and spoke helplessly.

Back then, he had considered himself something of a genius. He had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his twenties and had been a renowned genjutsu master in both Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village during the Third Shinobi World War.

But only after researching Impure World Reincarnation alongside Feng did he realize what kind of genius he was supposed to be.

They had spent nearly half a year merely trying to improve the control of Impure World Reincarnation, yet neither of them had managed to get anywhere.

Yet the incredibly difficult Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was only one of the many forbidden techniques Tobirama Senju, whom he had once despised, had created from nothing.

So what kind of genius was he? If he was a genius, then what was Tobirama Senju?

A monster?

And if Tobirama Senju was a monster, then what was their ancestor Madara Uchiha, who had beaten Tobirama Senju senseless?

And what was the First Hokage, who had defeated and killed their ancestor Madara Uchiha?

Wait, Hashirama Senju's title seemed to be the God of Shinobi, while their ancestor Madara Uchiha was known as the Asura of the Shinobi World.

By that logic, someone inferior to the Asura of the Shinobi World was called a monster, and someone inferior to a monster was called a genius. That seemed perfectly reasonable.

So? It wasn't that he was not talented enough—Tobirama Senju was simply a monster!?

At that thought, Uchiha Mikio suddenly understood. He was merely a genius, while Feng was even worse than him—a fool who needed half a day just to learn a C-rank ninjutsu.

A genius and a fool trying to research and improve a ninjutsu invented by a monster—this had been impossible from the start.

"Feng, forget it. Stop researching this. The two of us can't compare to that monster Tobirama Senju.

I think we should change directions. For example, how about finding someone else to learn the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?"

Uchiha Mikio lightly patted Feng's shoulder and tried to persuade him.

"Find someone else? That wouldn't be much easier than researching this.

The Dead Demon Consuming Seal isn't an ordinary sealing technique. It belongs to the Uzumaki..."

Feng answered casually, his research continuing without pause.

But when he mentioned the Uzumaki, his voice gradually trailed off.

He had wanted to say that the Dead Demon Consuming Seal was one of the Uzumaki's most powerful sealing techniques, something ordinary people could never learn.

Otherwise, after the Land of Whirlpools had been jointly destroyed by several nations and the Uzumaki had been thoroughly looted, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, a technique capable of taking an enemy down with its user, would have long since become widespread.

But in reality, as a forbidden technique, few people even knew of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, and even fewer could use it.

And when Feng mentioned the Uzumaki, he suddenly remembered something. Ordinary people could not learn it, but what about an exceptionally gifted Uzumaki?

There was no way they could not learn it too, right?

That clearly could not be the case, unless the Dead Demon Consuming Seal was not an Uzumaki technique.

As for how the Uzumaki had been exterminated after the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, leaving only scattered survivors throughout the Ninja World who were difficult to find, much less a gifted Uzumaki...

Feng knew where such a person was, and that person was weak, had leverage against them, and would be easy to control.

That person had only been mentioned by a few characters in the anime, never appeared on screen, and did not even have a name, yet she was one of the important supporting characters.

That ninja was Karin Uzumaki's mother.

At this point in time, Konoha Year 52, Karin, who had been born in the same year as protagonist Naruto Uzumaki, was only one year old. No matter how mature children in the Ninja World were, she could not possibly live and grow up on her own.

Furthermore, considering her status as a living blood bag in Kusagakure, if one-year-old Karin had already been bitten every day and had her blood sucked, she certainly would not have survived to adulthood.

Yet in the anime, Karin successfully grew up and participated in the Chūnin Exams in Konoha Year 64.

From this, it was easy to understand that at this stage, the only person who could care for Karin and prevent her from becoming a living blood bag—

Could only be her mother, the living blood bag of Kusagakure mentioned by some characters in the anime.

In the future, Karin, who possessed the same constitution as her mother, would awaken the Uzumaki's unique Mind's Eye of the Kagura and Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Even if Karin was an exceptional case who surpassed her mother, and her mother might not be as capable as her, the same constitution could not be much worse.

As long as Feng could rescue the mother and daughter from Kusagakure, Karin's mother would surely learn and perform the Dead Demon Consuming Seal as Feng wished, for Karin's sake.

Even if Karin's mother truly lacked the talent and could not learn the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, she could at least learn the Four Symbols Seal.

Then they could simply reverse the order. Have the reanimated Kushina use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to release the Yin Nine-Tails, then have Karin's mother use the Four Symbols Seal to seal the Yin Nine-Tails into Feng's body.

"Senior Mikio, you were right. We should change directions.

But I'll need your help to bring two people out of Kusagakure."

Having figured it out, Feng looked at Uchiha Mikio and smiled happily.

"Fine, Kusagakure, right? Once we're done dealing with Konoha's investigations for the time being, I'll go.

Just tell me who they are when the time comes. In my current Impure World Reincarnation state, no one in Kusagakure can stop me."

Uchiha Mikio immediately nodded in agreement.

Clearly, compared to researching the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, he would much rather charge into Kusagakure alone and pick a fight.

"Mm... no, go within the next few days. You and the samurai instructor should go together.

Konoha's people came today. Going by the pattern, it will be some time before they come again.

And the people I need you to find cannot wait.

Once you reach Kusagakure, look for their so-called living blood bags. They're famous, so they should be easy to inquire about.

They are actually an Uzumaki mother and daughter, with the Uzumaki's signature red hair."

Uchiha Mikio had wanted to wait, and Feng had originally intended to let him, but he suddenly changed his mind and told him to act as quickly as possible.

That was because, after mentioning Karin Uzumaki, many more memories about Karin surfaced from deep within Feng's mind.

If Feng did not interfere, then according to the plot, Karin would lose her mother when she was around four or five years old. Her mother would be bitten to death after having her blood drained alive.

At this point, Karin's mother was still alive, but being bitten and drained day after day, year after year, meant she was already close to running dry.

If they did not rescue her quickly, then even if they found her later, she would most likely be useless and unable to help.

And the longer they delayed, the more likely that would become.

Therefore, for the sake of his Yin Nine-Tails, Feng had to rescue Karin and her mother as soon as possible.

"?? Why the rush?

What if Konoha sends people again after I leave?"

Uchiha Mikio was thoroughly confused.

"It has to be urgent. That mother and daughter have a special constitution. As long as someone drinks their blood, they can recover chakra and injuries.

Because of that, the people of Kusagakure treat them as blood bags for recovery, biting them and drinking their blood every day.

If we arrive too late, we may only find two corpses.

So please, Senior. Bring that reanimated samurai with you, and the two of you must bring them back as soon as possible.

As for Konoha, don't worry. At worst, we'll be exposed, but I'm confident I can protect myself.

Even if we lose the Tea Country, we still have our method for controlling daimyo. We can just switch to another country and start over.

But if this person who can help perform the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is gone, we may never find another.

Then my strength will have no hope of improving anytime soon. Without strength to support it, the Uchiha's plan to control the Ninja World will be nothing more than a castle in the air, ready to collapse at the first touch."

Feng frowned and explained the consequences as seriously as possible.

"?? That mother and daughter are that important!?" Uchiha Mikio was somewhat frightened by his words.

As someone who was already dead, he would not care if Feng said it would affect him personally.

But Feng had said it would affect the Uchiha's plan to control the Ninja World, and that made him panic.

Reviving the clan was his only remaining obsession. Otherwise, he would have long since released his Impure World Reincarnation state on his own and returned to the Pure Land without a care in the world.

"Yes, they're extremely important!" Feng said without hesitation.

"Fine! I'll go right now." Uchiha Mikio's reply was icy.

He had seen a future in Feng where the Uchiha could control the Ninja World, and he would not allow anyone to obstruct or affect it. Forget going to Kusagakure to find two people—even returning to the clan and slaughtering everyone would have been acceptable to him.

That very night, Uchiha Mikio left with the reanimated Iron Country samurai serving as an instructor, heading for Kusagakure.

Both had the strength of jonin, and both were in an Impure World Reincarnation state. They did not need food, drink, sleep, or even the bathroom, could regenerate endlessly, and had nearly limitless chakra.

Feng believed that a mere Kusagakure would not be able to hold the two of them.

As for himself, although he had prepared for the possibility of exposure, he would certainly not sit still and wait for Konoha's people to investigate at will.

After all, controlling the Tea Country had taken more than half a year of effort and considerable thought. If possible, he would rather remain here as the power behind the throne than become a wandering ninja outside.

With that in mind, Feng began making preparations to deal with Konoha.

First, as before, his identity outside could not be exposed. Uchiha Mikio had left, but Feng still had the reanimated Rin Nohara.

He did not think he could control Tobirama Senju, so he had not awakened him. But Rin Nohara...

Feng could make the reanimated Rin perform eighteen different poses under his control, enough to make Uchiha Obito see red with shame and change the Eye of the Moon Plan into the World Destruction Plan.

So having Rin use the Transformation Technique to fool people outside should not be a problem. In any case, it would not be for long.

Second, Feng arranged for someone to negotiate with the Land of Fire's daimyo in the name of the Tea Country's daimyo.

They lodged a stern protest against Konoha of the Land of Fire repeatedly investigating the Tea Country's daimyo without cause or authorization. Its intentions were sinister, and it was trampling upon the sacred status of the daimyo.

Feng could do nothing to Konoha, and the Tea Country was no match for it either. If Konoha wanted to, it could crush them with a flick of the hand.

But the Tea Country was still a country, and though the title of daimyo meant nothing to Feng—

In the eyes of everyone else in the Ninja World, daimyo were the most noble, sacred, and inviolable people, the natural rulers of their nations.

Thus, Feng's righteous public protest immediately pushed Konoha beneath the scrutiny of every daimyo.

After all, if Konoha dared to harm the Tea Country's daimyo today, would it harm the daimyo of other nations tomorrow? Would it directly attack its own Land of Fire daimyo the day after?

In any case, if Konoha could not explain this matter clearly, it might end up becoming the enemy of the entire world.

And Konoha did indeed respond quickly, stating that they had never taken any action against the Tea Country's daimyo.

Their actions in the Tea Country had been to investigate the suspicious identity of General Sekito, the daimyo's husband.

In response, Feng issued another protest in the name of the Tea Country's daimyo.

Konoha was simply making excuses—pure excuses.

General Sekito was not only the Tea Country's general, but also the daimyo's husband. He spent every day with the daimyo. Konoha claimed to be investigating Sekito, but how was that any different from investigating the daimyo?

Therefore, the Tea Country stubbornly insisted that Konoha had merely been exposed and was using the daimyo's husband as cover for its excuses. Its ultimate goal had certainly been to harm their daimyo.

One side desperately explained, while the other stubbornly refused to listen.

Under such circumstances, the matter naturally reached a stalemate.

And the Tea Country suffered no loss whatsoever. At most, it had to waste some words from time to time.

Moreover, before Konoha explained itself clearly, it was practically unable to send anyone else to investigate Sekito's situation.

Otherwise, Konoha truly would have no way to clear its name.

This was extremely uncomfortable for Konoha.

As Konoha's nominal sovereign, the Land of Fire's daimyo used this as an excuse to directly cut twenty percent of Konoha's annual funding.

He also issued a stern warning: if Konoha could not prove that its actions in the Tea Country had not targeted the daimyo—

Then not only would this year's funding be cut by twenty percent, but every future year's funding would be reduced by at least twenty percent as well.

While Feng secretly rejoiced at having caused Konoha such trouble and guessed that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others must be overwhelmed—

He never expected the situation to develop far more seriously than he had imagined.

Not long after the Land of Fire's daimyo issued his warning, the daimyo of the four great nations of Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Water, along with those of every other small nation, also began issuing warnings to Konoha.

Konoha had to explain and prove that it had not taken any action against the Tea Country's daimyo.

Otherwise, the nations would form a coalition army, restart the shinobi war, and destroy Konoha.

Clearly, Feng, who was not native to this world, could not understand that for the daimyo of every nation, ninja had always been a nightmare.

Though they all appeared calm and composed when dealing with ninja-related matters, every one of them was constantly on guard internally, afraid that ninja would rebel one day.

After all, daimyo were only nominally noble. In truth, they were ordinary people. Faced with ninja who could fly through the skies, burrow through the earth, breathe fire, and spew water, the daimyo knew they had no ability to resist.

And to prevent such a situation from arising, all daimyo, no matter how fiercely they fought one another to the death, had done the same two things generation after generation.

The first was to tirelessly brainwash the world again and again:

'The daimyo's families are the noblest families in the world, born to rule their nations;

Anyone without daimyo blood who becomes a national ruler will be rejected by heaven and punished by the heavens...'

The second was to crush every possible sign of ninja rebellion, ensuring that daimyo like themselves, mere ordinary people, would never have to face all-powerful ninjutsu.

And the matter being argued between the Tea Country and Konoha made the daimyo feel that such a sign had appeared.

Therefore, with unspoken understanding, the daimyo of nearly every nation in the Ninja World united to issue warnings to Konoha.

They did not care what the truth was. Even if Konoha had truly only been investigating the mysterious identity of Sekito—

Sekito and the Tea Country's daimyo were husband and wife, so it was difficult to say that Konoha's actions would not affect her.

Even if the possibility was only one in ten thousand, the other daimyo would still act together without hesitation to preserve their own sacred and inviolable image and status in the eyes of the world.

After all, once even one daimyo had the nobility and sanctity of the daimyo's status damaged by ninja, the good days of every other daimyo would come to an end.