Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu diverted enemies' attention by overlapping sound and vision during activation, making it difficult even for the Sharingan to detect. Since her father, Yuhi Makoto, had not died during the Nine-Tails' attack, he had passed on all his genjutsu skills to her.
Asuma's genjutsu ability was mediocre at best. Lacking talent, he only studied how to break illusions, not how to create or counter complex techniques. Against Kurenai's genjutsu, he fell instantly with no resistance.
Though he broke free after a few seconds, in a real battle those seconds would have cost him his life.
"Kurenai, that's a bit much. Asuma is still our comrade from the same village," Kakashi Hatake sighed, stepping forward. He meant no offense, only that striking a comrade felt wrong.
Kiyo Hyuga took half a step forward, his voice cold. "I don't think it's excessive at all. If you're truly comrades, you should respect each other, not cling and pester again and again. Especially when the weak hound the strong—do you expect the rules of Konoha, which forbid striking comrades, to protect you?"
His words were heavy, but Kiyo had little connection with Kakashi and the others. After two years at the Academy, he graduated into team missions, and once the war ended, he no longer regarded Kakashi as a rival. Now their positions were worlds apart.
Head of the Hyuga Clan and Captain of the Guard Force, Kiyo outranked Kakashi, even if the latter still led an ANBU squad.
Besides, Asuma's behavior just now was disgraceful. Even if Kurenai retaliated, it could be dismissed as a drunken impulse.
The others had no right to speak. Privately, they might side with Sarutobi Asuma, but in front of Kurenai, silence was the only option.
"Forget it, Kiyo. Let's go."
Kurenai had vented a little and regained her composure, though she didn't regret it. She had warned Asuma clearly before; if things came to a head, that was his fault.
At her words, Kiyo shot Asuma a glance and left with her. If Asuma persisted, she would simply use her Guard authority to lock him up for a few days.
The Sarutobi clan was troublesome, but the Fifth Hokage now held power.
After Kurenai and Kiyo left, Kakashi, Guy, and the others followed in silence. Even Aoba Yamashiro patted Asuma's shoulder in comfort before leaving.
The sweets they had ordered went uneaten. As for the person Kurenai had referred to earlier, they could all guess who it was, which was why none dared to advise Asuma further.
Back home, Kurenai reflected alone on the information she had received from Kiyo. Unlike him, she had no clan backing. All she could rely on was her own strength.
With the ninja world edging toward peace, even A-rank missions offered little challenge. What she needed most was to grow stronger, not trivial pay or shallow experience.
Becoming a squad leader wasn't a whim. Training demanded time, and fresh Genin saved her that time. Otherwise, as an elite Jonin, she would be buried under endless postwar assignments. With new graduates under her, she could even skip B-rank missions.
Kiyo already had clear goals and plans—she couldn't afford to lag behind.
She recalled her father mentioning genjutsu clans. Beyond the Uchiha, the Kurama clan's inherited genjutsu surpassed even her family's techniques.
"The Kurama clan… I remember they have a child of age who never attended school."
Kurenai bit her lip. She would have to catch up through sheer effort.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, Ōnoki, Mei Terumi, and the Raikage A were all summoned by their respective daimyō. For Ōnoki, this was unusual; previously, the Land of Earth's lord had avoided him when he came seeking funds. Now, because of the Sand Federation, he was invited directly.
Ōnoki didn't openly refuse. He intended to secure the funding first, though he had no desire to start a war.
Talk of a Four-Nation Alliance was easy, but hatred between Iwa and Kumo ran deeper than their grievances with the Federation. Iwa also held grudges against Konoha. The Second Tsuchikage and Second Mizukage had perished together. Under such history, how could the villages unite?
Iwagakure had barely six thousand registered shinobi, most of them Genin. More than half were tied up with border defense and domestic missions. The Land of Rain campaign had cost them a thousand ninja in one stroke. Another war was impossible for now.
The daimyōs' first attempt to pressure the villages failed. Each hidden village had its own difficulties, and forging an alliance against the Sand Federation in a short time was near impossible.
In Kumo and Kirigakure's eyes, the Federation was just Sunagakure expanded—backed by commoners, nobles, and minor villages. Even strengthened, it was still the weakest of the Five Great Villages. Hardly worth a grand coalition.
The Fifth Kazekage had personally led troops yet failed to capture Kikyo Castle. That gave the others a clearer picture—the Federation remained essentially the same old Sand Village.
Of the four great villages, only Kumo sought intelligence on Konoha, while Kiri wanted extra funds. Konoha and Iwa had no interest in joint war.
Hyuga Mirai, upon hearing of this, didn't care at all. He ignored Tsunade's attempt to use it as leverage for more special sake—such intelligence wasn't valuable enough.
Meanwhile, cooperation between the Federation and the Land of Rain was nearly complete. Cumulonimbus clouds had been relocated, watering forty percent of the border desert. With careful control, the rain would soon spread across the entire wasteland.
Konan noticed rainfall decreasing in the Land of Rain. Aside from Amegakure, which remained under Nagato's constant Rain Tiger control, precipitation elsewhere had become manageable.
Keiko Trading also delivered the promised new grain seeds, along with twenty instructors.
Ame shinobi shadowed these instructors a few times and quickly mastered cultivation techniques. Keiko even studied various local environments, providing free seeds of fruits and vegetables as gifts beyond the contract.
They also promised to establish purchase stations in the Land of Rain. Farmers unwilling to ship produce abroad could sell locally at ten percent above market price.
"This covers the next stage of cooperation, Konan-san. If you have no objections, our representatives will strictly follow the agreement. If there's anything to adjust, I'll report it to the Federation leadership," Keiko Shinichi said formally, handing her the contract.
Konan read it carefully. From planting to selling, Keiko had arranged everything seamlessly. As long as the people worked, they could live without worry.
Her shinobi caution made her reread every word several times, but the contract truly favored the people. Even Amegakure couldn't have provided such support.
Seeing her frown, Shinichi asked, "Konan-san, is there something unsatisfactory?"
She shook her head. "No. Let's proceed."
With diligence, five years would bring prosperity. To Konan, that was enough. At last, the dream she, Yahiko, and Nagato once shared was close to reality.
Akatsuki's goals continued, but she still made time to care for the people.
Once the deal was confirmed, Shinichi departed for the Federation. Beyond road construction, he no longer needed to remain in the Land of Rain. Many matters awaited him back home—tasks really meant for Number 18 to handle through him.
The Land of Rain and the Federation began promoting the new crops simultaneously, though the Federation's progress was slower since it first needed to establish oases.
The Federation now displayed two extremes.
Its central towns thrived, but remote areas resembled the Land of Rain—or worse. Next, local officials aimed to reform poor regions, lifting the diligent from subsistence to wealth.
As for the lazy and cruel, they would be sent to dig or build roads. Such people didn't deserve to call themselves citizens of the Federation.
Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had enrolled in school, immediately competing for top rank. Yet in their fourth year, Gaara still outshone them. In practical combat, he ranked first, stronger even than Naruto. In academics, he also held first place, making him the undisputed top student.
The three already met Genin standards, but the Federation's academy taught more than killing skills. History, geography, government, even literature electives—all were required for graduation.
Even in weak subjects, every student had to learn. Future wars would differ, and demand for shinobi would gradually decrease.
Only top graduates would be trained as elite forces. The rest, in their final year, would study procedures of various federal departments. After graduation, they'd serve two-year internships. Passing meant official posts; failing meant a guaranteed path into the military.
This system, refined through debate, had been approved by Pakura and was now enforced throughout the Federation. Admissions expanded yearly, with plans to open branch schools in a decade.
Following this path, the Federation would only grow stronger. After witnessing Sasori's new puppet combat system, Pakura and the leadership ordered a complete overhaul of old puppets. Even the retired Chiyo and Ebizō returned to train as the first students, ready to pass knowledge onward.
Meanwhile, Hyuga Mirai, having obtained the chakra of the Six-Tails and Seven-Tails, began cultivating the God Tree's second stage.
Once it absorbed the chakra of the Four through Seven-Tails, it would grow into a small tree a hundred meters tall in just over a month. The final step would be fusing the Eight and Nine-Tails' chakra, producing a Ten-Tails—but only one-third the strength of the true beast.
"Almost there…"
After confirming the growth plan once more, Mirai prepared to head out.
Ayaka Uzumaki, hearing this, shyly approached. "Lord Mirai, may I come with you?"
"Stay here and master your perfect Jinchuriki form. You're not allowed out until you succeed," Mirai said, pushing her head back with one hand.
"I'm just going to Kumo to collect some Eight-Tails chakra. I'll be back soon. Behave at home, and when I return, I'll take you all on a mission."
"Oh, and head directly to the Federation. I'll meet you there afterward."
He would also summon Naruto, Sasuke, Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari—letting the next generation broaden their horizons early, to feel the edge of war.
Though the mission was only frog hunting, those leaping creatures were trickier than most shinobi.
(End of Chapter)