"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 hold myself back from making a move."
It was another day of impersonating each other. When no one else was around, Uchiha Mikio could not help complaining to Feng.
Among those who had come to investigate today were the Root rats Uchiha hated most. Uchiha Mikio had practically bitten through his liver before suppressing the urge to attack.
"Compared to Konoha, we are the weaker side right now. That is why hiding and temporary patience are necessary.
But Tea Country's current situation has already proven that my method works.
Now, what matters most is building up our strength. Only then can we continuously bring 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 little town in Tea Country, free for us to manipulate however we please."
Feng replied casually without even looking up.
He was intently studying the unawakened Impure World Reincarnation subject before him, feeling it over as he researched how to further strengthen his control.
The Impure World Reincarnation subject Feng was examining for research was none other than Rin Nohara, whom he had previously awakened once before sealing her 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 the present.
"Heh, I know. That's why I didn't do anything.
Stop fiddling with that useless corpse already. Just accept your fate—we don't have the talent for researching ninjutsu.
It's been nearly 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, draped one hand over 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 after researching Impure World Reincarnation alongside Feng, he finally understood that he was no genius at all.
It was merely research into strengthening control over Impure World Reincarnation, yet he and Feng had spent nearly half a year on it without producing anything worthwhile.
And this difficult Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu was only one of the many forbidden techniques Tobirama Senju had created from nothing, despite once being someone Uchiha Mikio despised.
So what kind of genius was he supposed to be? 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, who had defeated and killed their ancestor Madara Uchiha?
Wait, Hashirama Senju, the First, seemed to be called the God of Shinobi, while their ancestor Madara Uchiha was called the Asura of the Shinobi World.
By that logic, those below the Asura of the Shinobi World were monsters, and those below monsters were geniuses. That seemed perfectly reasonable.
So it was not that he was not talented enough—it was that Tobirama Senju was a monster!?
At that thought, Uchiha Mikio suddenly understood. He was merely a genius, while Feng was even worse than him: an idiot who needed half a day just to learn a C-rank ninjutsu.
A genius and an idiot 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, why not find someone else to learn the Dead Demon Consuming Seal!?"
Uchiha Mikio gently patted Feng's shoulder and tried to persuade him.
"Find someone else? That would not be much easier than researching this.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal is no ordinary sealing technique. The Uzumaki..."
Feng replied casually, his hands never stopping their work.
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 possibly learn.
Otherwise, after the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed by the combined forces of multiple nations and the Uzumaki were thoroughly plundered, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, which could trade one life for another, would have become widespread long ago.
But in reality, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal remained a forbidden technique. Few knew of it, and even fewer could use it.
When Feng mentioned the Uzumaki, he suddenly remembered: ordinary people might not be able to learn it, but what about an exceptionally gifted Uzumaki?
Surely they could not fail to learn it too, right?
That was clearly impossible—unless the Dead Demon Consuming Seal was not an Uzumaki technique at all.
As for the Uzumaki being wiped out after the Land of Whirlpools fell, leaving only scattered survivors across the Ninja World who were difficult to locate, let alone one with exceptional talent—
Feng knew where to find such a person. And she was weak, had leverage against her, and would be easy to control.
She had only been mentioned by a few people in the anime. She had 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, the fifty-second year of Konoha, Karin—who was the same age as protagonist Naruto Uzumaki—was only one year old. No matter how mature children in the Ninja World might be, she could not possibly live and grow up on her own.
Moreover, considering her status as a living blood pack in Kusagakure, if one-year-old Karin had already been bitten every day for her blood, she could never have survived to adulthood.
Yet in the anime, Karin had successfully grown up and taken part in the Chunin Ninja Exams in Konoha's sixty-fourth year.
From that, it was easy to understand who could care for Karin during this period and prevent her from becoming a living blood pack.
It could only have been her mother—the living blood pack of Kusagakure mentioned by some people in the anime.
In the future, Karin, who possessed the same constitution as her mother, could 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 have been as capable, the difference could not have been too great with the same constitution.
As long as Feng could rescue the mother and daughter from Kusagakure, then for Karin's sake, Karin's mother would certainly learn and use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal as Feng wished.
Even if Karin's mother truly lacked the talent and could not learn the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, surely she could at least learn the Four Symbols Seal.
Then they could simply reverse the order. Let the reincarnated Kushina use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to release the Yin Nine-Tails, and have Karin's mother use the Four Symbols Seal to seal the Yin Nine-Tails inside Feng.
"Senior Mikio, you are right. We should change directions.
But I need your help to bring two people out of Kusagakure."
Having thought it through, Feng looked at Uchiha Mikio and smiled happily.
"Fine. Kusagakure, right? Once we deal 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 rather go alone and pick a fight with Kusagakure.
"Mm... no, go within the next few days. You and the samurai instructor will go together.
Konoha's people came today. Based on their pattern, it will be some time before they come again.
And the people I need you to find cannot wait long.
Once you reach Kusagakure, look for their so-called living blood packs. They are famous, so they should be easy to learn about.
They are actually an Uzumaki mother and daughter with the Uzumaki's distinctive red hair."
Uchiha Mikio had wanted to wait, and Feng had originally intended to let him decide, but he suddenly changed his mind and urged him to act quickly.
That was because, as they talked about Karin Uzumaki, many more memories about Karin emerged from the depths of his mind.
If Feng did not interfere, then according to the plot, Karin would probably lose her mother when she was four or five years old. Her mother would be bitten to death after being drained of blood.
At this point in time, Karin's mother was not dead yet, but after being bitten and drained day after day, year after year, she was already close to the end.
If they did not hurry and rescue her, then even if they found her later, she would probably be useless and unable to help.
And the longer they delayed, the greater that possibility became.
Therefore, for the sake of his Yin Nine-Tails, Feng had to rescue Karin and her mother as soon as possible.
"?? It's that urgent?
What if Konoha sends more people after I leave?"
Uchiha Mikio was greatly 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.
That is why the people of Kusagakure treat them as blood packs for recovery, biting them and drinking their blood every day.
If we arrive too late, we may only find two corpses.
So please, Senior. Take that reincarnated samurai with you. The two of you must bring them back as quickly as possible.
As for Konoha, do not worry. At worst, we will be exposed, but I am confident I can preserve my life.
Even if we lose Tea Country, we still have the means to control a daimyo. At worst, we can repeat it in another country.
But if the person who can help use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is gone, we may never find another.
Then improving my strength will remain a distant dream. Without sufficient strength, the Uchiha's plan to control the Ninja World will be nothing but a castle in the air, ready to collapse at the slightest touch."
Feng frowned and explained using the gravest consequences he could think of.
"?? That mother and daughter are that important!?" Uchiha Mikio was somewhat startled by this.
As a dead man, he did 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 was something he could not ignore.
Reviving the clan was his only remaining obsession. Otherwise, he would have long since released his Impure World Reincarnation state and returned to the Pure Land with no attachments left behind.
"Yes, they are extremely important!" Feng answered decisively.
"Fine! I'll leave immediately." Uchiha Mikio's voice turned cold.
He had seen a future in Feng where the Uchiha could control the Ninja World. He would not allow anyone to obstruct or affect that future. Forget going to Kusagakure to find two people—even if he had to return to the clan and begin a massacre, he would do it.
That night, Uchiha Mikio left alongside the reincarnated Iron Country samurai who served as an instructor, heading for Kusagakure.
Both had Jonin-level strength. Moreover, both were in Impure World Reincarnation bodies, requiring neither food nor drink, sleep nor rest, able to regenerate endlessly and possessing nearly limitless chakra.
Feng believed that a mere Kusagakure could not hold the two of them back.
As for himself, although he had prepared for exposure, he certainly would not sit around and wait for Konoha's people to investigate as they pleased.
After all, gaining control of Tea Country had taken more than half a year and considerable effort from Feng. If possible, it was better to remain as the power behind the throne than become a wandering ninja outside.
For that reason, Feng began making preparations to deal with Konoha.
First, as before, his public identity could not be exposed. Uchiha Mikio had left, but Feng still had the reincarnated Rin Nohara.
He did not think he could control Tobirama Senju, so he had not awakened him. But Rin Nohara...
Feng could control the reincarnated Rin into eighteen different poses. If "Uchiha Obito" saw it, he would be so ashamed and furious that he would 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. It would not be necessary for long anyway.
Second, Feng arranged for someone to negotiate with the Land of Fire's daimyo in the name of Tea Country's daimyo.
They strongly protested that Konoha of the Land of Fire had repeatedly and without cause investigated Tea Country's daimyo without authorization. Its intentions were sinister, and it was trampling upon the sacred status of the daimyo.
Feng could do nothing to Konoha, and Tea Country was no match for Konoha. If Konoha wished, it could crush Tea Country with a casual flick.
But Tea Country was still a country, and while the title of daimyo meant nothing to Feng—
In the eyes of everyone else in the Ninja World, daimyo were the most noble and sacred figures, inviolable rulers destined by birth to govern their nations.
Therefore, Feng's righteous public protest directly pushed Konoha beneath the scrutiny of every daimyo.
After all, if Konoha dared to harm Tea Country's daimyo today, could it not harm the daimyos of other countries tomorrow? Could it even attack its own Land of Fire daimyo the day after that!?
In any case, if Konoha could not explain this matter clearly, it would likely become the enemy of the entire world.
And Konoha indeed responded quickly, stating that it had never taken any action harmful to Tea Country's daimyo.
Its activities in Tea Country had been to investigate the daimyo's husband, the suspicious General Sekito.
In response, Feng issued another protest in Tea Country's daimyo's name.
Konoha was merely making excuses—nothing but excuses.
General Sekito was not only Tea Country's general but also the daimyo's husband. He spent every day with the daimyo. Konoha claimed it was investigating Sekito, but how was that any different from investigating the daimyo?
Thus, Tea Country stubbornly insisted that Konoha's conspiracy had merely been exposed, and its claim of investigating the daimyo's husband was only an excuse. Its ultimate objective had certainly been to harm their daimyo.
One side desperately explained, while the other refused to listen.
Under such circumstances, the matter naturally reached a deadlock.
And Tea Country suffered no losses from this. At most, it had to waste a few words from time to time.
Moreover, until Konoha clarified the matter, it was practically unable to send anyone else to investigate Sekito.
Otherwise, Konoha truly would be unable to clear its name.
That made things extremely uncomfortable for Konoha.
Using this as an excuse, the Land of Fire's daimyo, Konoha's nominal ruler, directly cut twenty percent of Konoha's annual funding.
He also issued a severe warning: if Konoha could not prove that its actions in Tea Country had not targeted the daimyo—
Then not only would this year's funding be reduced by twenty percent, but future annual funding would also be cut by at least twenty percent.
Just as Feng secretly rejoiced over causing Konoha such trouble and guessed that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others must be overwhelmed—
He never expected the situation to become far more serious than he had imagined.
Not long after the Land of Fire's daimyo issued his warning, the daimyos of the four great nations of Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Water, as well as those of the various smaller countries, all followed by issuing warnings to Konoha.
Konoha had to explain and prove that it had not taken any action against Tea Country's daimyo.
Otherwise, the nations would form a united army, restart the ninja war, and destroy Konoha.
Clearly, Feng, who was not native to this world, could not understand that for the daimyos of every nation, ninja had always been nightmares.
Although they all appeared calm on the surface and seemed composed whenever ninja-related matters arose, inwardly, every one of them remained on guard at all times, fearing that the ninja might one day rebel.
After all, daimyos were only noble in name. They were actually ordinary people. When facing ninja who could fly through the sky, burrow through the earth, breathe fire, and unleash water, the daimyos knew they had no means of resistance.
And to prevent such a situation, regardless of how fiercely the daimyos fought one another to the death, generation after generation, they had always done the same two things.
First, they endlessly indoctrinated the public over and over again:
"The daimyo families are the noblest families in the world, born to rule their nations;
Anyone without daimyo blood who becomes a nation's ruler will offend heaven's will and suffer divine punishment..."
Second, they strangled every possible sign of ninja rebellion in the cradle, ensuring that ordinary people like the daimyos would never have to face those all-powerful ninja techniques.
And the dispute between Tea Country and Konoha made the daimyos believe that such a sign had appeared.
Thus, with unspoken understanding, the daimyos of nearly every country in the Ninja World joined together to warn Konoha.
They did not care what the truth was. Even if Konoha had truly only been investigating the mysterious General Sekito—
Sekito was Tea Country's daimyo's husband, and it was difficult to say whether Konoha's actions might affect her.
Even if that possibility was only one in ten thousand, the other daimyos would still act together without hesitation to preserve their own sacred and inviolable status in the eyes of the world.
After all, if even one daimyo had the nobility and sanctity of the daimyo's status undermined by ninja, the rest of the daimyos would soon be finished as well.
Before you continue