Patterns and Two Young Girls

"It seemed I needed to train properly too. If I fell too far behind, I felt like I wouldn't be able to stand beside you, my husband. I'd even hoped that one day, I could fight shoulder to shoulder with you."

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

As a genius of the Hyuga Clan, she had also felt immense pressure during the past half year since coming to the Land of Night.

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

"Take it slowly. Your strength is already outstanding, Kicho, and I'll help you too."

Yayoi had not been 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 comparable to Kakashi Hatake during the Land of Waves arc. However, her chakra reserves should have surpassed Kakashi's.

Ninja with Kekkei Genkai were born with powerful chakra.

If she kept up this pace, Kicho might be able to stand alongside Kakuzu after he gained Earth Grudge Fear in ten years.

A ninja of that caliber was already at the very top of the Ninja World.

Most ninja were not actually as powerful as people imagined. They could only be said to possess some skill, but on the battlefield, they were still little more than background figures for the truly powerful.

"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 that this technique was anything but ordinary.

The scroll had been made from special chakra paper.

Without the specific sequence of hand seals, the contents displayed on the scroll would reveal an incorrect training method.

Attempting to practice it recklessly would directly damage the practitioner's meridian system. In severe 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's called a technique, it's actually a special Chakra Refinement Technique. It can make the user's chakra 'come alive,' comprehensively increasing the power of Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Ninjutsu. It also significantly improves resistance to damage and recovery speed from injuries."

Yayoi explained.

The chakra refined through this method was essentially an inferior version of his own Active Chakra.

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

Kicho was no fool. The instant she heard Yayoi's explanation, she understood that this was a priceless treasure that could stir up bloody turmoil if word of it got out.

As a ninja born into a prestigious clan, Kicho knew all too well that a technique used to strengthen a ninja's fundamentals was far more valuable than a completed technique.

Chakra Refinement Techniques sounded simple and inconspicuous. It seemed as though every ninja knew them, but they were among the most fundamental secrets of any ninja and any ninja clan.

Once leaked, they could be exploited and countered by enemies.

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

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

But there were special cases. Many ninja clans could create chakra from physical energy alone or spiritual energy alone, then use it to perform special secret techniques unlike ordinary elemental techniques.

For example, the Aburame Clan that had joined the Land of Night used special refinement methods to produce 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 clans with secret techniques.

It was a foundation capable of supporting 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 also differs from that refined by most ninja; it is special chakra used to perform secret techniques.)

"I understand, my husband. I'll train this technique properly."

Kicho did not put on airs. She simply made up her mind to learn this Chakra Refinement Technique as quickly as possible and not disappoint Yayoi.

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

Kicho blushed shyly, lowering her head and dropping her gaze.

Looking delicate and obedient, she seemed to have prepared herself for him to pluck at will.

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

Yayoi had intended to tell Kicho that this activated chakra refinement method was merely a low-end template based on his Active Chakra. Even if someone learned of it, they would never be able to reverse-engineer his fundamental secret from it.

Besides, at his level, even if his Chakra Refinement Technique was exposed, weaknesses or anything of the sort would already find it difficult to influence the outcome of a battle.

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

Only the weak needed to battle with intelligence. The strong... only needed a powerful left fist and a powerful right fist. They could simply crush everything in their path.

However, when he heard Kicho mention a "rather special outfit"... Yayoi's words caught in his throat, and he did not say them.

Forget it. He would discuss it tomorrow.

Sigh, Kicho, you really were making things difficult for your husband.

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

◎

"Is this... clothing?"

In the Inner Court of the General's Residence, Hyuga Aoi and Hyuga Rinko were washing the clothes 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 almost weightless to the touch.

And this flimsy material... wouldn't it tear apart with just a little force?

Why did Lady Kicho wear such fragile ninja clothing?

"What strange clothes. And this should be called stockings, right? They're a novel, popular item recently brought over from other countries."

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

The two girls spent quite some effort washing all the clothes that had been delivered, then placed them in their respective drying rooms to dry.

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

The two branch-family girls had long since grown accustomed to life here.

Rather, compared to the Hyuga Clan, their days here were practically carefree.

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

It did not take much time either. Altogether, they only worked three or four hours a day. As ninja, they were highly capable with their hands, and they worked faster than ordinary people. No household chore could stump them.

Setting aside seven hours for sleep, they could freely use the rest of their time as long as nothing special came up.

They could leisurely drink afternoon tea in the Inner Court, daydream, sleep, or train. If they got bored, they could go shopping outside and buy things they liked. Their monthly allowance was extremely generous, an amount they would never have dared imagine before.

They had even developed the habit of saving money, something they had never possessed in their former clan. Or rather, they had never had much money to begin with. Most of it had to be handed over, then distributed uniformly by the clan head and elders. As peripheral members, the amount they received each month had naturally been pitifully small.

Now, they stored away the money they could not possibly spend. Each day, watching the money in their piggy banks increase made them incomparably happy and content.

Several of their piggy banks had already overflowed.

"Lady Kicho, lunch has arrived."

Aoi and Rinko arrived at the master bedroom.

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

Then, they opened the windows and let more sunlight from outside pour into the room.

They glanced back at the bedding on the tatami floor. Well, as expected, it was truly a mess.

"Ah, you two are here. Could you help me up? I can't get up by myself."

Kicho weakly poked her head out from the bedding. Her beautiful black princess-cut hair was messy in places, scattered across the bedding and floor like fully spread seaweed.

"Lady Kicho, are you injured?"

Rinko walked over and asked in confusion.

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

"It's nothing serious. My husband was particularly enthusiastic last night, and I accidentally threw out my waist."

Kicho's earthshaking words instantly made Aoi and Rinko's faces turn scarlet, their bodies freezing in place.

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

With the powerful physique of an outstanding ninja, just what kind of positions had Lady Kicho played with the General last night, and how intense had the battle become for her to throw out her waist?

Aoi and Rinko imagined the scene for only a moment, and their fair faces turned even redder, as though they might drip blood.

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

Lady Kicho was far too terrifying, far too lewd!

"My, you two aren't thinking of anything improper, are you?"

The moment Kicho saw their blushing, innocent expressions, pure as little white flowers, she knew exactly what indecent scenes they had imagined.

Kicho could only say that this was simply underestimating her, the genius young woman of the Hyuga Clan.

What she had done last night had only been more indecent than anything those 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 when Kicho emerged from the bedding, she was wearing nothing at all except a pair of wrinkled white thigh-high socks on her legs.

What a shameless creature!

Soon afterward, Kicho put on her usual kimono and finished tidying herself up. Her elegant princess-cut hair was arranged without a single strand out of place.

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

"Come to think of it, you two have been at the General's Residence for so many days, but it seems you still haven't attended my husband in bed, have you?"

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

"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 clothes, also stopped moving.

"Of course. You came with me as the General's concubines. Since I've thrown out my waist, starting today, you'll attend him in bed."

Kicho's tone made it sound perfectly natural.

She had never held the notion that she had to monopolize Yayoi all to herself.

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

The future of the Oda Clan did not rest solely on her husband Yayoi's shoulders. As the General's wife, she too carried the future of the Oda Clan on her shoulders.

"B-but..."

Aoi and Rinko stammered, unable to produce anything coherent.

"The Oda Clan cannot grow stronger by relying on me alone. My husband needs more outstanding women to bear children and expand the family. This is not for satisfying personal desires; it is a responsibility a ruler of a nation must bear. If my husband does not have enough descendants, the country will become unstable. You don't want the country to fall into turmoil because my husband lacks heirs, do you?"

With those words, Kicho decisively ended the match.

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

Kicho found 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 Tenshu Tower was an enormous space spanning several hundred square meters.

Today, Yayoi was the only one handling official business here. Irori was still outside dealing with foreign refugee ninja. Whether suppressing or recruiting them, the work required time.

Occasionally, clerical staff came over to discuss matters or brought processed documents for his final review and decision.

After all, it was impossible for Yayoi alone to handle the affairs of an entire country. Even working himself to death would not be enough.

(Come to think of it, Naruto in Boruto was truly ridiculous. He had to personally handle every tiny trivial matter, eventually working himself like a dog with poor results to show for it. It felt far too self-centered, as though he were raising Konoha like a giant baby.)

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

An intelligence report from the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire reached Yayoi's hands. He skimmed its contents and saw that the Hidden Leaf Village had decided in a high-level meeting to implement detailed classification and management for ninja.

That was right. Ninja of this era did not actually have any formal rank divisions.

Whether a ninja was strong or whether their rank was high, they had to fight first and talk afterward.

Even weak ninja could use strange Ninjutsu to defeat stronger opponents under certain circumstances.

And now, this ninja ranking system had finally appeared.

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

Before Konoha introduced this ninja ranking system, although Yayoi possessed the advantage of foresight, he had not promoted the system himself.

That was because its influence was neither particularly great nor particularly small. It was better for the strongest ninja village, Konoha, to propose it.

Only the Hidden Leaf Village possessed the ability and influence to classify ninja ranks across the entire Ninja World.

"Clarifying the ranks is a good thing. Work assignments can be made more precise."

Yayoi nodded and took out another file.

It recorded one ninja and samurai after another from the Land of Night, all elites whose strength could earn them the title of Jonin.

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

At present, nearly fifty ninja had reached Jonin level, and the Aburame Clan alone accounted for more than ten of them.

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

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

It was simply that, in most cases, Jonin represented an average level of 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 assessments.

If they could not meet that requirement, even powerful ninja would be classified as low-ranking ninja.

"Along with the ninja ranking system, things like forehead protectors should make their entrance as well."

Yayoi chuckled. Witnessing the era gradually draw closer to the original story truly brought him considerable enjoyment.

After reading those reports, Yayoi looked over the other intelligence as well.

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

To catch up with Konoha as quickly as possible, they would probably swiftly decide upon their Kage candidates the moment their villages were officially completed, then begin interacting with Konoha as equals.

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

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

Besides the actions of the great nations, some smaller nations and ninja clans were also within Yayoi's attention.

One of them 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 framework of a nation before the first half of the year ended. But for it to truly get on track, they would need at least several years.

A ninja village and a country were ultimately different kinds of organizations.

(In a while, I can seek marriage alliances with clans such as the Uzumaki and Uchiha, gathering more Kekkei Genkai. By then, the Land of Night will be a "mini Konoha.")