A Divine Weapon with a Beautiful Sword Spirit

The news that Yayoi had an heir quickly spread throughout the Land of Night.

First Nightview City, then the other towns. The people everywhere learned that their general now had a direct heir, further stabilizing the situation in the Land of Night.

However, Yayoi's series of actions left the other countries utterly baffled.

After being stabbed in the back by Konoha the previous year, the Land of Night was one of the few countries that still maintained trade with Konoha.

Most outrageous of all, as the general, Yayoi had not vigorously expanded his armaments or prepared troops to guard against a surprise attack from Konoha. Instead, he focused his efforts on other areas. He had not even stationed ninja or samurai forces along the border to defend against a possible attack from Konoha.

And now, at such a tense time, he had publicly revealed that he had a direct heir... Was that really something worth reporting to the entire country?

Having an heir was certainly important, but shouldn't they be paying more attention to the tense international situation?

The only proper course was to quickly strengthen their forces, form an alliance with the others, and launch an all-encompassing encirclement against the Land of Fire.

Was this man really not afraid of Konoha?

Or had he received some sort of inside information from Konoha?

After all, the Land of Night continued to trade normally with Konoha during this period. The whole matter was deeply suspicious.

The calmer the Land of Night remained, the more foolish the other countries looked.

At this moment, in the Hidden Leaf Village.

The symbol of the Hokage, Hokage Rock—the massive statue of Hashirama—had already appeared on the towering mountainside.

That enormous face could be seen even from a great distance.

Compared to Hashirama's actual appearance, the face on Hokage Rock was undoubtedly more solemn and serious, radiating a majestic aura that inspired awe without anger.

And beneath Hokage Rock, another iconic Konoha structure—the Hokage Building—had likewise been fully completed.

The previous year, only a crude main structure had been built. Now, however, many details and supports had been added, and its colors were far more vivid, making its extraordinary nature obvious at a glance.

Besides Hokage Rock and the Hokage Building, many buildings large and small had also gradually been completed.

Every ninja clan had followed its own customs, building suitable new territory on the land it occupied around the Hidden Leaf Village.

It was not only ninja clans. Thanks to its formidable reputation, the Hidden Leaf Village had also attracted many ordinary outsiders to settle there.

For the first time, the village had gained something new beyond its ninja clans. It had become increasingly lively and full of everyday life, rather than merely being a military institution that nurtured ninja.

Inside the Hokage Building beneath Hokage Rock.

"Gahahaha, this general really is an interesting man. Tobirama, I heard you say he seems to be quite an accomplished medical ninja as well?"

In the office, Hashirama wore the Hokage's ceremonial robe, with a conical hat bearing the character for fire placed before him. When he read the intelligence sent back from the Land of Night, he could not help bursting into hearty laughter, displaying a cheerfulness and openness unlike that of ordinary people.

"Yes. In terms of medical ninjutsu, he might even be comparable to you, Brother."

Leaning against the window and gazing at the clouds in the sky, Tobirama turned his head and answered Hashirama's question.

"That really is remarkable. He's younger than I am now, so perhaps he may surpass me in medical ninjutsu someday."

Hashirama spoke with genuine admiration.

Though he was often humble, he also knew that many of his abilities were beyond the reach of other ninja.

Medical ninjutsu was one of the fields in which he took great pride.

"Perhaps. But that isn't the important part."

"Then what is?"

"The Land of Night's actions over the past few months make it seem as though they have seen through Konoha's pattern of operations. While the other countries are trembling in fear because of it, the Land of Night has shown no such concern at all."

Tobirama frowned in thought.

"Are you saying intelligence from our Konoha High-Level Conference has been leaked?"

Hashirama stroked his chin, following Tobirama's train of thought.

Tobirama shook his head.

"No, it hasn't reached that point. What I mean is that this general of the Land of Night has grasped the crux of the entire matter from Konoha's series of actions. That is why he has continued cooperating with Konoha without putting up defenses... His perceptiveness is somewhat too frightening."

As he spoke, Tobirama's expression could not help turning serious.

"That's what's bad about you, Tobirama. You always use the most malicious assumptions to speculate about other people's thoughts. Maybe he isn't thinking anything that complicated and simply wants to cooperate with Konoha?"

Hashirama waved a hand, feeling that Tobirama was overthinking things.

"..."

Tobirama sighed wearily.

A man who had built a powerful country second only to the Five Great Nations from nothing in little more than a decade, then coldly disposed of every rebel and their families... Simple?

That word should never have been associated with him.

"Tobirama, now that the general has an heir, shouldn't we send him a gift as well?"

Hashirama began considering the matter.

Honestly, Madara's actions in November of the previous year had thoroughly disrupted all sorts of his plans. Many of his ideas had died before they could even begin, causing considerable trouble for both him and Konoha.

As a result, Konoha now needed to gradually dispel the other countries' suspicions by remaining quiet.

Thus, after losing trade with the other countries following November of the previous year, Konoha's development had become far less smooth.

And among those countries, the Land of Night was the only one that still maintained good relations with Konoha.

Thanks to the assistance from the Land of Night, coupled with the convenience provided by the Land of Fire's daimyo, Konoha's development had not stagnated. Instead, it had continued advancing steadily.

To be honest, Hashirama was deeply grateful for the Land of Night's help.

So, upon hearing that Yayoi had an heir, he thought they should send a gift to offer congratulations, as repayment for the other side's support of Konoha over the past few months.

"This..."

Tobirama could not help pondering it as well.

Just as Hashirama had said, no matter what Yayoi's intentions were, the Land of Night's help to Konoha was real.

Now that Yayoi had an heir, it was only right to send a gift in return.

"I remember that you've collected quite a few Chakra Crystals, Brother. Just choose a good one and send it over."

Tobirama recalled that Hashirama's collection contained many uncarved Chakra Crystals. Even the least valuable among them, no bigger than a fingernail, could sell for hundreds of thousands of ryo.

There was even a Chakra Ore unlike any other in the Ninja World. Whether for practical use or collection value, it would fetch an astronomical price at auction—perhaps enough to buy several mountains.

Naturally, they would not be giving away a Chakra Crystal of that grade. But Hashirama also possessed second- and third-rate Chakra Crystals in his collection.

"Those things... Personally, I think perhaps..."

A rare look of hesitation appeared on Hashirama's face, as if he was reluctant to part with them.

Seeing his hesitation, Tobirama said, "Whenever you lose money gambling, you take some out to sell anyway. Rather than doing that, you might as well use them for a proper purpose."

Hashirama: "..."

Could he not mention gambling? He made it sound as though Hashirama was always losing money.

At least show some respect for the First Hokage and Konoha's Gambling God!

Ever since Kicho gave birth to his child half a month ago, Yayoi had been in an excellent mood.

And once the news spread, whether out of sincere goodwill or ulterior motives, congratulatory gifts were sent to the General's Residence from all over the country.

Not only from the Land of Night; many countries beyond its borders had also sent gifts befitting their status in the name of their nations.

Even the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, two of the Five Great Nations, had sent congratulatory gifts in their nations' names.

Likewise, the Hidden Leaf Village and Hidden Rock Village, which represented the military strength of those two countries, had also sent valuable gifts. The names of the senders were listed as the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Mu, the head of the First Tsuchikage's guard.

The gift sent by the First Hokage, Hashirama, was a fist-sized Chakra Crystal that gleamed with an emerald luster.

Although Yayoi did not know the exact value of this Chakra Crystal, considering Hashirama Senju's collection, it was surely no ordinary item.

He knew that in the original story, the necklace Hashirama had passed down to his granddaughter Tsunade had been made from a Chakra Crystal. It was an ore unique in the Ninja World, worth three mountains. During the battle against Pain, it had even displayed the powerful suppressive ability to restrain Six-Tails State Uzumaki Naruto.

As for Mu's gift, it was Chakra Metal, an item on par with Chakra Crystals—and not ordinary Chakra Metal, either.

It was entirely red and emitted an extraordinarily strange sheen. There was also a peculiar energy fluctuation within the metal. When Yayoi lightly touched it with his fingertip, some of the chakra in his body was drawn into the red metal and fused with the energy inside, causing the gleam on its surface to become even more dazzling and brilliant.

The red metal was no small amount, totaling several fist-sized pieces.

Although it contained some impurities, once they were removed, it would become a perfect piece of Chakra Metal. At that time, its amplification effect on chakra would become even more terrifying.

Clearly, Mu had been willing to bring out such a treasure because Yayoi had saved him with medical ninjutsu before.

In terms of both economic and practical value, it surpassed the Chakra Crystal Hashirama had sent.

"Sure enough, it's best to make as many friends as possible..."

Yayoi played with the Chakra Crystal and Chakra Metal, an involuntary smile rising at the corner of his lips.

The friendly relations he currently shared with Konoha and Hidden Rock Village might not last forever. Perhaps in the distant future, conflicts and battles would erupt between countries for various reasons, and even friends might inevitably turn their blades upon each other...

But at least for now, maintaining good relations with these countries brought enormous benefits to both him and the Land of Night.

Besides, expecting countries to remain friendly forever was wishful thinking to begin with.

"If I refine this metal, melt down the Kusanagi Sword, add other precious materials, and then cultivate it with my Active Chakra, I might be able to forge a chakra weapon that surpasses the Kusanagi Sword in performance... Should I give it a try?"

Yayoi thought of the Lightning-Attribute Kusanagi Sword he had obtained after wiping out the Kusanagi Clan the previous year.

This Kusanagi Sword had remained in storage, with no opportunity to be used. He instinctively wanted to melt it down and forge a new weapon.

After all, leaving such an excellent weapon gathering dust in storage was truly a waste.

The thing he disliked most was waste.

Moreover, as the general of the Land of Night, it was rather improper that he did not possess a divine weapon as his sword.

For the moment, however, Yayoi could not think of a feasible plan, so he decided to deal with it later.

Next, Yayoi put away the various gifts on the table one by one.

Aside from the valuable Chakra Crystal and Chakra Metal, most of the gifts sent by others were rather mediocre.

This mediocrity did not refer to their price, but to their lack of usefulness for ninja.

Luxurious gold and silver jewelry and clothing made up a large portion of them, and there were also quite a few baby supplies.

The baby supplies would naturally be kept for the child. As for the gorgeous jewelry and clothing, Yayoi planned to distribute them among Irori, Kicho, Aoi, and Rinko.

"That will be all for today, Irori."

Although it was not yet dark outside and only evening, Yayoi intended to finish work for the day and return to rest.

Well, he mainly wanted to see his child, which was why he had been ending work early every day lately.

"Please take care, Lord Yayoi."

After what had happened that day, the knot in Irori's heart had completely disappeared, and her complexion had improved considerably. No, rather than that, it was as if she had been reborn—radiant and brimming with energy.

Occasionally, Yayoi noticed a slight change in the way Irori looked at him. On the surface, she was still as gentle and considerate as before, yet there was now an aggressiveness that had not existed in the past.

(*I want to give the protagonist a sword, but there aren't many suitable candidates at the moment.

Since the sword is only secondary. The beautiful sword spirit inside it is the real star.

After all, a divine weapon without a beautiful sword spirit doesn't deserve to be called a divine weapon!*)