Patterns and Two Young Women

"It seemed I needed to train properly as well. If I fell too far behind, I felt like I would no longer be able to stand beside you, my lord husband. I had hoped that one day, I could fight shoulder to shoulder with you."

After hearing Yayoi's earnest words, Kicho's heart filled with the desire to grow stronger.

As a genius of the Hyuga Clan, she had also felt immense pressure during these six months since coming to the Land of Night.

Recently, she had devoted much more time to training, and her strength had steadily improved. But when she thought of the gap between herself, Yayoi, and Irori, she felt she still needed to work even harder.

"You can take things slowly. Your strength is already excellent, Kicho, and I will help you as well."

Yayoi was not lying. Kicho was only seventeen this year, yet she had already caught up to Kakuzu before he fused with Earth Grudge Fear. Her strength was roughly close to Kakashi Hatake during the Land of Waves arc. However, her chakra reserves should have surpassed Kakashi's.

Ninjas with Kekkei Genkai were born with powerful chakra.

If she maintained this pace, then ten years from now, Kicho might be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with Kakuzu after he gained Earth Grudge Fear.

A ninja of that level was already among the top echelon of the Ninja World.

Most ninjas were not actually as powerful as imagined. They could only be said to possess some skill, but on the battlefield, they were still merely background scenery for powerful ninjas.

"Take this technique and train with it, Kicho. With your current strength, you should have reached the minimum requirement to practice it."

Under Kicho's curious gaze, Yayoi took a black ninjutsu scroll from the ninja tool pouch he carried with him.

Kicho accepted it. The moment she touched the material of the scroll, she knew this technique was anything but ordinary.

That was because the scroll had been made from special chakra paper.

Without the proper sequence of hand seals, the contents displayed on the scroll would become an incorrect method of cultivation.

If someone rashly practiced it, it would directly damage their chakra pathway system. In serious cases, it could even lead to death.

"This is an 'activated' chakra technique I developed based on my own Active Chakra. I named it the Living Chakra Technique. Though it is called a technique, it is actually a special Chakra Refinement Technique. It can make the user's chakra 'come alive,' comprehensively increasing the power of taijutsu, genjutsu, and ninjutsu. Their resistance to damage and recovery speed from injuries will also improve significantly."

Yayoi explained.

The chakra refined through this technique could be considered an inferior version of his own Active Chakra.

Even so, it was still an important technique capable of laying the foundation for a ninja clan.

Kicho was no fool. After hearing Yayoi's explanation, she instantly understood that this was a precious treasure that could trigger a bloodbath the moment word of it leaked.

As a ninja born into a powerful clan, Kicho knew very well that a technique used to strengthen a ninja's basic foundation was far more valuable than a completed technique.

The Chakra Refinement Technique sounded simple and inconspicuous, as though every ninja knew it, but it was one of the most fundamental secrets of a ninja and a ninja clan.

Once it was exposed, enemies could use it against them or devise countermeasures.

That was because every ninja clan's Chakra Refinement Technique was different.

Normal chakra refinement combined physical energy and spiritual energy to create chakra.

However, there were special cases. Many ninja clans could create chakra using only physical energy or only spiritual energy, then use it to perform special secret techniques different from conventional elemental attributes.

For example, the Aburame Clan that had joined the Land of Night used a special refinement technique to create special chakra for controlling insects.

That was precisely why the ninjutsu scroll Yayoi had given her was so precious.

Yayoi's activated chakra technique, which outsiders could learn and use, was fundamentally similar to the special chakra refined and used by secret technique ninja clans.

This was a foundation sufficient to support the rise of an entire ninja clan.

(In the original manga, during the Sasuke Retrieval arc, it was mentioned that Tayuya of the Sound Four created chakra through spiritual energy alone. The chakra used by the Nara Clan was also different from the chakra refined by most ninjas; it was special chakra used to perform secret techniques.)

"I understand, my lord husband. I will train this technique properly."

Kicho did not put on airs. She merely resolved to work hard and learn this Chakra Refinement Technique as soon as possible, so she would not disappoint Yayoi.

"Speaking of which, I bought a rather special outfit a few days ago. Tonight... would my lord husband like to admire it?"

Kicho blushed shyly, lowered her head slightly, and cast down her gaze.

She looked like a delicate little bird, as though she had already prepared herself to be plucked at his pleasure.

Unable to repay him in any other way, she could only let her body enjoy itself to the fullest... no, work hard for him.

Yayoi had originally wanted to tell Kicho that this activated chakra refinement technique was merely a low-grade template of his Active Chakra. Even if others learned of it, they could never reverse-engineer his fundamental secrets from it.

Besides, at his level, even if his Chakra Refinement Technique were exposed, things like weaknesses would already find it difficult to affect the outcome of a battle.

The reason exposing a Chakra Refinement Technique could create risks was because most members of a ninja clan were weak.

Only the weak needed to battle with intelligence. The strong... only needed their left fist to deal high damage and their right fist to deal even higher damage. They could simply crush everything in their path.

However, upon hearing Kicho mention a "rather special outfit"... Yayoi's words immediately caught in his throat, and he could not say them.

Forget it. He would talk about it tomorrow.

Ah, Kicho, you were truly making things difficult for your husband.

Tonight, it seemed he could only tire out his little brother first.

◎

"Is this... clothing?"

Inside the Inner Court of the General's Residence, Hyuga Aoi and Hyuga Rinko were washing clothes. They were responsible for cleaning the garments Irori had sent over.

Hyuga Aoi picked up a white female ninja outfit from the basket... Hm? Why was it so see-through?

The hem was so short, and it felt so light it was almost weightless.

And this flimsy material... Would it not tear apart with just a little force?

Why did Lady Kicho wear such an unsteady ninja outfit?

"What strange clothing. And this should be called stockings, right? They are a fashionable new product that recently arrived from other countries."

Rinko picked up two long strips of white fabric. They felt very comfortable to the touch.

The two spent quite some effort washing the clothes that had been sent over, then placed them in the corresponding drying room to air out.

It had been nearly half a year since they moved into the General's Residence.

The two young women from the branch family had long since become accustomed to life here.

Rather, compared with the Hyuga Clan, their days here could be called carefree and worry-free.

They neither had to go to the battlefield nor perform heavy labor. Their daily tasks consisted of washing clothes, delivering meals to Kicho and Yayoi at fixed times, keeping the main residence clean, and so on. All of it was easy work.

It did not take much time, either. In total, they only worked three or four hours a day. As ninjas, they were highly capable with their hands, worked faster than ordinary people, and no household chore could trouble them.

After subtracting seven hours of sleep, they could freely use the rest of their time if there was nothing special to do.

They could leisurely drink afternoon tea in the Inner Court, space out, sleep, or train. If they felt bored, they could also go outside to shop and buy whatever they liked. Their monthly allowance was extremely generous, an amount they had never dared imagine before.

They had even developed a habit of saving money that they had never possessed in their former clan. Or rather, they had never had much money in the clan to begin with. Most of it had to be handed over as tribute, then distributed by the clan head and elders. As marginal figures, the amount they received every month had naturally been pitifully small.

Now, they saved the money they could not possibly spend. Every day, watching the money in their piggy banks grow, the two felt incomparably happy and content.

Several piggy banks had already been filled to bursting.

"Lady Kicho, lunch has been delivered."

Aoi and Rinko arrived at the master bedroom.

One carried the meal, while the other carried after-meal desserts and fruit. They placed everything on the dining table.

Then, they opened the windows and allowed more sunlight from outside to shine into the room.

They turned back and glanced at the bedding laid out over the tatami. Yes, just as expected, it was truly a mess.

"Ah, you're here. Can you help me up? I can't get up by myself."

Kicho weakly poked her head out from the bedding. Her beautiful black hair, cut in a princess style, was somewhat disheveled in places and spread across the bedding and floor like seaweed fully unfurled.

"Lady Kicho, are you injured?"

Rinko walked over and asked in confusion.

Aoi followed her over as well, heading to the other side and preparing to help Rinko lift Kicho from the bedding.

"It is nothing serious. My lord husband was in high spirits last night, and I accidentally threw out my back."

Kicho's earth-shattering words instantly made Aoi and Rinko blush bright red, their bodies freezing in place.

Th-th-th-th-threw out her back!?

With the powerful physique of an outstanding ninja, what kind of tricks had Lady Kicho played along with the General last night? How intense had the battle become for her to throw out her back?

Aoi and Rinko imagined the scene slightly, and their fair faces grew even redder, as though blood might drip from them.

Their heads spun, and their bodies swayed along with them, as though they might faint at any moment.

Lady Kicho was far too terrifying, far too indecent!

"Oh my, you two are not thinking about anything rude, are you?"

The moment Kicho saw the two girls' innocent, white-flower-like blushing faces, she knew exactly what improper scenes they had imagined in their minds.

Kicho could only say that they were severely underestimating this genius young woman of the Hyuga Clan.

What she had done last night was only more indecent than anything the two could imagine.

"N-no."

Aoi and Rinko shook their heads frantically. Still blushing, they helped Kicho get up and dress.

Only then did they discover that Kicho had been wearing nothing beneath the bedding, save for a pair of wrinkled white thigh-high socks on her legs.

How shameless!

Afterward, Kicho put on the kimono she usually wore and finished grooming herself. Her beautiful princess-cut hair was once again arranged without a single strand out of place.

She once more became the dignified and elegant General's wife she appeared to be before outsiders.

"Come to think of it, you two have been at the General's Residence for so many days, but it seems you have never attended him in bed, have you?"

As though she had suddenly remembered something, Kicho tilted her head slightly. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at Aoi and Rinko, who were behind her arranging her hair and clothing.

"Ah, at-at-attend him in bed!?"

Rinko's body stiffened, and the wooden comb in her hand fell to the floor in fright.

Aoi's hands, which had been arranging Kicho's clothing, also stopped moving.

"Of course. You came here with me as the General's concubines. Since I threw out my back, from today onward, you will go attend him in bed."

Kicho's tone was full of utter certainty.

She did not have the sort of mindset that insisted on monopolizing Yayoi for herself.

As the ruler of a nation, how could he have only one woman?

The future of the Oda Clan was not borne by her husband Yayoi alone. As the General's wife, she also carried the Oda Clan's future upon her shoulders.

"B-but..."

Aoi and Rinko stammered, unable to say anything coherent.

"The Oda Clan cannot grow stronger with me alone. My lord husband needs more outstanding women to bear children and expand the family. This is not for the sake of satisfying personal desires; it is a responsibility that a ruler of a nation must have. If my lord husband does not have enough descendants, the nation will become unstable. You do not want the country to fall into turmoil because he has too few heirs, do you?"

The moment Kicho said this, the match was instantly over.

"So, you should start calling me Sister Kicho."

Kicho found the sight of their flushed faces rather amusing.

Aoi and Rinko hemmed and hawed, not daring to raise their heads.

But since neither of them refused, that meant they personally had no objections.

◎

The office area on the highest floor of the Tenshu Tower was a vast space spanning several hundred square meters.

Today, Yayoi was the only one handling official affairs here. Irori was still outside dealing with the matters of foreign refugee ninjas. Whether suppressing them or recruiting them, both tasks required time.

Occasionally, civil officials came over to discuss matters with him, or brought processed documents and materials for him to conduct the final review and make the final decision.

After all, it was impossible for Yayoi alone to handle all the affairs of an entire nation. Even if he worked himself to death, he would not be able to finish them all.

(Come to think of it, Naruto in Boruto was truly ridiculous. He had to personally deal with every trivial little matter, exhausting himself like a dog in the end while achieving poor results. It felt far too self-centered, like he was raising Konoha as a giant baby.)

"Jonin, Chunin, Genin... it seems the ninja rank system has begun to appear."

An intelligence document from the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire was delivered into Yayoi's hands. He glanced at the contents, which revealed that the Hidden Leaf Village had decided through a high-level meeting to divide ninjas into detailed ranks for management.

That was right. In this era, ninjas did not actually have any so-called rank classifications.

Whether a ninja was strong or weak, whether their rank was high or low, they had to fight first before anyone knew.

Even weak ninjas could rely on bizarre abilities or ninjutsu to defeat stronger ninjas under certain circumstances.

And now, this ninja rank system had finally appeared.

If nothing unexpected happened, it was most likely a system invented by Tobirama Senju.

Before Konoha introduced this ninja rank system, although Yayoi possessed the advantage of foresight, he had not popularized the system.

That was because its influence was neither especially great nor especially small. It would be better for the strongest Hidden Leaf Village to introduce it.

Only the Hidden Leaf Village possessed the ability and influence to classify the ranks of ninjas throughout the entire Ninja World.

"Clarifying the ranks is also a good thing. It will allow work assignments to be made with greater precision."

Yayoi nodded and took out another file.

It recorded one Land of Night ninja and samurai after another, all elites whose strength could be given the title of "Jonin."

There had originally been fewer than twenty of them, but after the Aburame Clan joined and several declining small ninja clans were absorbed, there were also some Jonin-level ninjas among them.

At present, nearly fifty ninjas had reached the Jonin level. Of those, the Aburame Clan alone had more than ten Jonin.

However, they only met the standard in terms of strength. Whether they met the standards in other aspects remained unknown.

After all, Jonin, Chunin, and Genin were not strictly strength ranks, but administrative ranks.

It was merely that in most cases, Jonin represented an average ability far surpassing that of Chunin and Genin.

Starting from Chunin, whether one possessed a calm and composed mind as well as the talent to lead a team would also become an important standard in ninja evaluations.

If they could not meet that requirement, even powerful ninjas would be classified as lower-ranked ninjas.

"Besides the ninja rank system, things like forehead protectors should also take the stage along with it."

Yayoi chuckled. This feeling of witnessing the era gradually move closer to the original story was truly quite entertaining.

After reading these, Yayoi also reviewed the other intelligence reports.

For instance, the ninja villages of the other four great nations had, after several dozen days, developed respectable prototypes.

To catch up with Konoha as quickly as possible, they would likely swiftly determine their candidates for "Kage" the moment their villages were officially established, then begin exchanges with Konoha on equal footing.

That day was not far away. At the latest, next month, the first generation of Kage would begin appearing one after another.

The great nations' ability to act was plain to see.

Besides the movements of the great nations, certain small nations and ninja clans also fell within Yayoi's attention.

That was the distant relatives of the Senju Clan—the Uzumaki Clan.

After refusing to join the Hidden Leaf Village, they established Uzushio around their clan territory in the southeast of the Land of Fire and actively began building a nation.

At their current pace, the Uzumaki Clan could complete the prototype of a nation before the first half of the year ended. However, for it to truly get on track, they would need at least several years.

A ninja village and a nation were ultimately different types of organizations.

(After a while, I can go seek marriage alliances with clans like the Uzumaki and Uchiha, gathering more Kekkei Genkai. By then, the Land of Night will be a "Little Konoha.")