Test

Land of Iron, Forging Blades Workshop Merchant Association.

When Shin'yu handed the Hundred Hands Style Swordsmithing Rare Book to Niwa Maya, the gray-templed president could not help but weep. His gaze toward Shin'yu was filled with gratitude, and even profound reverence.

"Helmsman, this is..."

"I once made an agreement with someone that neither of us would interfere with the Merchant Association's operations. Since that person is dead, the agreement naturally no longer exists," Shin'yu said. "So it is long past time to reclaim what originally belonged to my Forging Blades Workshop."

Niwa Maya wiped away his tears with his sleeve and sighed. "Back when the Merchant Association was falling apart, it was thanks to the Helmsman that we turned the tide. And now you have recovered the swordsmithing arts as well. Your kindness toward the Merchant Association is no less than giving us a new life..."

"There is no need to say more thanks. My motives are not entirely pure either. You understand that," Shin'yu said calmly.

"Please rest assured, Helmsman. This old man will certainly continue passing down the Hundred Hands Style and will not betray your great kindness!" Niwa Maya declared firmly. "When that time comes, the Merchant Association's profits will surely soar, and we will be making a fortune!"

"Oh, Shin'yu-kun, you're here!" Niwa Yukino spotted Shin'yu and approached with graceful steps, her beautiful eyes gentle. "It has been a year since we last met. You seem even more spirited than before..."

"Call him Helmsman." Light glared coldly at her. "And do not get so close. Some people should mind their boundaries."

Shin'yu could only sigh helplessly and head to the Merchant Association's Finance Department with Light and Kakuzu. After all, this was the true purpose of his trip.

As usual, he collected his share of the past year's earnings. When Shin'yu took possession of a full 360 million ryo in hard cash, Kakuzu... his eyes went wide.

Light, on the other hand, was already used to it. She crossed her jade legs and sat to the side, leisurely drinking tea. Her world really was that simple.

"What happened this year? The profits have doubled from last year." Even Shin'yu was somewhat surprised.

"Ah." The young woman from the Finance Department blushed and hurriedly explained, "Perhaps it is because of the cross-border export business and policies the president introduced last year..."

"Cross-border? I remember that everything used to be sold domestically."

"Yes, the Helmsman is correct..." The girl did not dare look directly at Shin'yu's face. It could not be helped; his natural features were simply too exceptional. His contours were sharp, his nose high and straight, and even with his eyes covered, he remained strikingly handsome—handsome enough to make women jealous.

Just look at that skin: smooth and delicate, fair as jade, making those pale pink lips appear exquisitely sensual. Especially with his eyes covered, it left far too much to the imagination...

The young woman unconsciously bit her lip. Pink bubbles seemed to appear above her head, growing larger and larger, each one flashing with scenes unsuitable for children.

"And then?" Shin'yu tilted his head.

"Ah, Helmsman, you may not know this, but ever since this policy was implemented, we have established branches overseas as well..." She suddenly snapped out of it and answered in a soft voice.

Shin'yu stroked his chin. At present, both the Five Great Nations and the smaller countries were recuperating. The war six years ago had consumed far too many resources, but the Land of Iron was different. It had remained far from the flames of war, possessed abundant mineral resources, and had superb craftsmanship. With the promotion of cross-border business...

Well, even if the Forging Blades Workshop became renowned across the world one day, it would not be surprising.

Shin'yu asked curiously, "Who are the clients placing these orders?"

"The Five Great Nations, as well as the surrounding smaller countries, all have orders..."

Shin'yu felt more and more that his decision to get involved with the Forging Blades Workshop back then had been incredibly wise.

With the serious business finished, the three of them simply stayed at the Merchant Association for several days. It was as if Kakuzu had discovered a whole new world. He plunged headfirst into the Marketing Department, trying to understand the Merchant Association's market operation system. At Shin'yu's instruction, Niwa Maya naturally told him everything he knew.

As their conversation deepened, the two actually began discussing economics. They found each other increasingly agreeable, both feeling that the other was a talent.

Shin'yu was naturally delighted by this. He had already witnessed Kakuzu's business acumen. If he could provide him with a platform, then given enough time, he might well become a business magnate.

If his subordinates were capable, then as their boss, he would naturally benefit as well.

As for Light, she seemed to dislike this place very much. Moreover, after coming here, she became extremely clingy, barely leaving Shin'yu's side. Only at night would she reluctantly return to her own room, then first thing in the morning, she would stand guard outside his door.

Come to think of it, ever since that night beneath the Underwater Starry Sky, their relationship had clearly grown closer. Yet neither of the two tsunderes was willing to pierce that thin veil. In front of Madara, they tacitly continued acting as though they disliked each other.

This gave Old Madara an enormous headache.

One morning.

Inside Shin'yu's room, a slender Ninja Cat finished delivering its intelligence report before turning into White Smoke and vanishing.

"Hmm... he did not hand it over?" Shin'yu sat by the window drinking tea, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the tabletop.

Ever since he had given the secret scroll of the Spiritualization Technique to Uchiha Nen that day, he had begun using the Cat House's intelligence network to observe him in secret.

In the Hidden Leaf Village, especially within the Uchiha Clan Territory, cats could be found everywhere—along the streets, in corners, atop rooftops... The Cat House's greatest strength was that Ninja Cats could not only speak the language of Humans, but also communicate with ordinary cats. This was what gave the Cat House such formidable intelligence-gathering capabilities.

Using cats to monitor a six-year-old child was absurdly easy, and the information was highly reliable. After all, ordinary people would never suspect some little cat by the roadside.

Under the cats' surveillance, Uchiha Nen had behaved as usual over the past few days. Aside from going alone to that abandoned training ground every day to cultivate, there had been nothing unusual about his movements.

In truth, Shin'yu teaching him the Spiritualization Technique had been a test.

If he handed the Secret Technique over, it would mean that he still held the Hidden Leaf Village in awe. Even after suffering so miserably, he bore no resentment whatsoever and still relied on and trusted the village and the Uchiha Clan. He would be a useless wimp with no backbone.

As an Uchiha, yet lacking even the most basic tendency toward extremity, such a person would be of little use.

If that were the case, Shin'yu would choose never to acknowledge him. He would let the true cause of Kagami's death remain buried forever, secretly protect Uchiha Nen's safety, and allow him to live out an ordinary but prosperous life.

But... although several days had already passed, Uchiha Nen had chosen to conceal the matter. He neither confessed it to the village nor showed it off to children his age, as though it had all been a dream.

This Great Nephew... was quite interesting.

Shin'yu's lips curved upward into a meaningful smile.

Yet he was in no hurry to approach Uchiha Nen. He still chose to observe him through the Ninja Cats. The road ahead was long, and who knew what changes might arise.

Perhaps this test had been unfair from the very beginning, because it was filled with uncertainty. Shin'yu had not decided either the duration of the test or its outcome. For the young Nen, it was deeply unfair.

But life itself was an unfair test, whether for him, his father Uchiha Kagami, or... Uchiha Shin'yu himself.

Time passed little by little amid peaceful days.