"It looks like it's time to announce my return to this world!" Uchiha Sora swept out a hand and told the subordinate beside him, "Gather the village's senior officials! We're holding a meeting!"
"Yes, sir!" the subordinate replied.
Moments later, all of Kusagakure bustled with activity as its senior officials arrived at the Leader's Mansion one after another.
They included Pakura and the other Ninja brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, as well as some of Kusagakure's original elite. There were also many unfamiliar faces.
Those unfamiliar faces belonged to elites who had risen through Kusagakure's ranks over the past year or had newly joined the village.
Uchiha Sora looked over the courtyard full of people, men and women of all ages, and smiled faintly. "Not bad. It seems the village has been developing well, even in my absence."
His original intention in taking over Kusagakure had merely been to establish a powerful intelligence-gathering hub. Yet his efforts had borne unexpected fruit: the village gathered more and more strength, and after incorporating the Land of Waterfalls into its territory, it had unwittingly become a force comparable to the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Uchiha Sora.
Some were seeing him for the first time. At the sight of Uchiha Sora's youthful face, they could not help whispering among themselves.
"Leader Sora is so young! And so handsome, too! He's practically the man of our dreams!"
"Yes! They say Leader Sora holds titles like White Death and Golden War God. He may be young, but his strength is already renowned throughout the Shinobi World!"
"I joined Kusagakure because I admired Lord Sora's strength! I'd love to see his power with my own eyes!"
"Me too. They say Leader Sora's Space-Time Ninjutsu is incredibly powerful. If only he'd take