On the third day after the Hoshigaki Clan pledged allegiance to the Land of Night, a team from the Uzumaki Clan, led by the clan elder Uzumaki Kano, finally arrived safely in the Land of Night.
"I'd heard that the capital of the Land of Night was an exceptionally magnificent city, but I never expected it to be this spectacular."
Upon entering Nightview City, Uzumaki Kano and the Uzumaki Clan ninja accompanying him were all stunned by the city's grandeur and prosperity.
As Uzumaki Clan ninja, it was not as if they had never seen large cities before. However, a city where steel and timber-and-earth construction were so thoroughly integrated was extremely rare in this era.
Even the capital of the Land of Fire, one of the few megacities in the Ninja World, was mostly built from wood and stone.
Looking at this city felt like witnessing an inevitable future trend in urban development firsthand.
As an old man from the Warring States Era, Uzumaki Kano naturally understood what the emergence of this city truly represented.
The Land of Night might not match the great nations in mineral resources, land area, or population, but its resource extraction and smelting technologies... had undoubtedly reached new heights.
On the way here, he had continually raised his estimation of the Land of Night's general, yet even now, he had still underestimated the man.
This newly risen power, born only ten years ago, was advancing at a terrifying speed.
What a nation brimming with vitality...
Uzumaki Kano could not help thinking of the Land of Whirlpool founded by the Uzumaki Clan. Compared to this place, it seemed little different from the countryside.
Only Uzushiogakure, the national capital, was somewhat more prosperous. Most regions of the Land of Whirlpool were extremely poor.
Uzumaki Kano became increasingly convinced that forming a marriage alliance with the Land of Night had been an incomparably correct decision.
Such formidable national strength could provide the Land of Whirlpool with support far beyond anything the Hidden Leaf Village could offer.
And this was only the capital.
On the way here, he had passed through other towns in the Land of Night. Though they were not as magnificent or prosperous as Nightview City, they could still be called stable.
At the very least, basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing, and transportation had begun to spread across most of the country.
Under the guidance of the reception staff, the other Uzumaki Clan ninja were temporarily accommodated at the State Guesthouse.
It was a place specifically meant to house foreign diplomatic personnel. It was divided into many living areas, each with dedicated staff in charge.
Besides the Uzumaki Clan, diplomatic delegations from other countries were also staying there.
"You must have had a difficult journey, Elder Kano."
Unlike his treatment of diplomatic delegations from other nations, Yayoi naturally chose to personally receive the Uzumaki Clan delegation at the earliest opportunity.
Setting aside the marriage alliance the two sides had agreed upon, the purpose of the Uzumaki Clan's visit was to train more medical ninja for the Land of Night and establish a medical system... Either reason alone was enough for Yayoi to take it seriously.
"Not at all. This journey hardly counts as tiring. Still, seeing truly is believing. General, you are indeed young and accomplished."
After shaking Yayoi's hand, Uzumaki Kano let out this heartfelt remark.
In his eyes, Yayoi was younger than some of his own children, yet he was already a powerful ninja who had founded a nation.
Even the nation he had founded had become one of the strongest powers beneath the Five Great Nations.
If the facts were not right before him, he would have found such a thing somewhat unbelievable.
After exchanging pleasantries in a small reception room within the Tenshu Tower, the two spoke briefly about everyday matters.
They mainly gained a simple understanding of the differing customs and cultures of their two countries.
Uzumaki Kano was very interested in the changes within the Land of Night. Many of his questions struck directly at the heart of the matter, and his words carried a clear desire to learn.
Yayoi also had a favorable impression of this Uzumaki Clan elder. The man did not rely on his seniority to act like an overbearing elder before him.
Naturally, Yayoi was also interested in the Land of Whirlpool—or rather, the Uzumaki Clan.
"I never expected you to be so passionate about the history of the past, General."
Uzumaki Kano was somewhat surprised. Generally speaking, most ninja did not seem particularly enthusiastic about exploring history.
Even within the Uzumaki Clan, there were very few who studied and sought out historical truths.
"History can serve as a mirror. I believe that looking into the past can reveal many different truths. Especially the myths and legends passed down from ancient times—they seem to have always reflected the Ninja World of today."
Yayoi nodded, never hiding the enjoyment he found in exploring ancient history.
At the very least, he knew that some seemingly absurd myths were likely records of real events, preserved and passed down by ancient people in the form of legends.
If he could thoroughly understand those things, perhaps the secrets of the entire Ninja World would open themselves to him.
As an ancient and prestigious clan, the Uzumaki Clan had existed longer than many great nations.
Yayoi held an exceptionally strong interest in the various historical documents preserved by the clan.
Since it was their first day here, Yayoi did not discuss any serious business with Uzumaki Kano. Their conversation soon shifted from history to culture and geography, and he could even speak fluently about literary works currently popular in the Ninja World.
Uzumaki Kano discovered that the Land of Night's general truly possessed a bewilderingly broad range of knowledge.
If he had not been certain that the other man was a ninja, he might have suspected that Yayoi, sitting across from him, was a scholar devoted to cultural studies.
"I believe ninja of the future should not focus solely on cultivating martial strength. Cultural development must also keep pace with the times. Civilize the spirit, temper the body—ninja, too, need diversified development. If they cannot achieve that, ninja will ultimately be nothing more than knives used to stab others. If we remain forever where we are, the era will not progress. That is not a good thing."
But aren't ninja supposed to be knives that stab people?
Uzumaki Kano wanted to retort.
This general's ideas were a little too unconventional.
Some of his thoughts and concepts were so far beyond the norm that even an old man from the well-traveled Warring States Era could barely keep up. His head was buzzing.
After talking for more than two hours, when the sun set, Yayoi personally hosted a banquet at the General's Residence to welcome the Uzumaki Clan ninja who had come from afar.
For the next three days, Yayoi likewise did not mention any serious matters. He simply allowed the Uzumaki Clan members to first familiarize themselves with life in Nightview City.
It was not until the fourth day that Yayoi brought Uzumaki Kano and two other Uzumaki Clan ninja to the main building housing the Medical Division.
Though the building was impressive and lacked neither equipment nor medicine, it was lacking in one thing above all else... people.
Uzumaki Kano finally understood why Yayoi had invited the Uzumaki Clan to guide the Land of Night in Medical Ninjutsu.
This department looked little different from an empty shell.
Medical ninja were practically as rare as mythical creatures here, and half of them were only half-trained.
For the Medical Division to build a proper framework, it would be almost the same as starting from scratch.
"What do you think, Elder Kano?"
Yayoi turned and asked.
"...It's passable."
Uzumaki Kano's mouth twitched twice before he finally offered an extremely tactful evaluation.
However, this also allowed Uzumaki Kano to see another side of the Land of Night.
Though the nation was developing at high speed and was prosperous overall, many areas remained entirely blank, such as this Medical Division.
Unlike ordinary civilian doctors, medical ninja were extremely difficult and time-consuming to train.
In terms of battlefield emergency treatment, medical ninja were also far beyond the reach of ordinary doctors.
"Keika, from now on, stay by Elder Kano's side and assist him with the Medical Division's affairs."
Yayoi's gaze swept toward the female ninja standing respectfully to one side.
She was around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, dressed in a female ninja uniform with a white coat over it.
Her long wavy hair had been dyed honey-colored, giving her a very fashionable appearance.
She was Keika, the head of the Medical Division.
She was a veteran jonin who had voluntarily joined during the war that founded the Land of Night, and besides Yayoi, she was the second ninja in the Land of Night proficient in Medical Ninjutsu.
She had originally been born into a samurai family, but her family had fallen apart during her childhood. She became an orphan and was taken in and raised by an elderly shrine maiden.
She had learned her Medical Ninjutsu by studying at the shrine maiden's side.
After the shrine maiden who had adopted her passed away, she began wandering from place to place, occasionally treating people for free.
That habit had continued even after she joined Yayoi's team.
"Yes, Lord Yayoi."
Keika nodded seriously and respectfully bowed to Uzumaki Kano, an elder skilled in Medical Ninjutsu.
After Elder Kano had briefly demonstrated his Medical Ninjutsu just now, she knew that he was a medical expert who could be called a master in the field, someone the current her could not compare with.
"Hehe, we can simply learn from each other from now on."
Kano smiled kindly, his attitude gentle and benevolent.
With Yayoi and Keika assisting him, Kano would naturally find the coming work much easier to handle.
The only thing he needed to resolve was how to train more medical ninja.
Compared to the self-taught Land of Night, the Uzumaki Clan possessed a relatively complete system for training medical ninja.
Though it was not large in scale, it could greatly accelerate the Land of Night's medical development.
After giving a few instructions, Yayoi left the Medical Division.
With the full support of the Uzumaki Clan, this department would surely undergo a complete transformation within a few years.
Before leaving, Yayoi also asked Kano about Uzumaki Hisana.
However, he did not learn anything specific. He still only knew that she had a large appetite and was skilled in Sealing Jutsu.
"Next, I should find the Seven-Tails and practice some Sealing Jutsu."
Yayoi recalled that after learning Sealing Jutsu, he had not practiced it even once. Now that the Medical Division's troubles had been eased, it was time to train with the Sealing Art: Seven-Star Seal he had just learned.
Thus, Yayoi headed toward the underground levels of the General's Residence.
Afterward, he practiced Sealing Jutsu on the Seven-Tails to his heart's content.
By the end of it, Yayoi was so exhausted he nearly collapsed, drenched in sweat.
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