Realizing the vast gap in strength between himself and Karin, Ryuran decisively conceded.
Karin said nothing, releasing the 'Adamantine Sealing Chains.'
Even without the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan in her eyes, her mastery of Wood Release and the Uzumaki clan's secret techniques was enough to overwhelm most Jonin.
Ryuran wasn't weak. Even Jonin from the Hidden Leaf or other major shinobi villages, without sufficient intel, would fall to Karin in a similar fashion.
After stretching his body slightly, Ryuran stared at Karin with a complex expression, deep in thought.
He knew her age. To defeat him so easily at such a young age meant Karin's future potential was limitless. Moreover, according to Mitsuzawa, she was deliberately sent to the Hidden Leaf by the elders for special training, making her a Grass shinobi. Entrusting the village leadership to her was justifiable both emotionally and legally.
"Sigh!" After a soft exhale, Ryuran said, "Karin, I… I'm willing to nominate you as the village's next leader."
Karin nodded lightly. "Thank you!"
Mitsuzawa let out a long sigh of relief.
When the ramen shop owner had first suggested vying for the leadership, Mitsuzawa thought he was crazy. Yet, somehow, their plan had actually succeeded!
Ryuran proposed, "In that case, Karin, come back to the village with us!"
Karin shook her head. "I need to stay in the Hidden Leaf for now."
"What!?"
Ryuran frowned.
If the newly elected leader didn't stay in the village, Grass Shinobi Village would become a laughingstock in the shinobi world.
Karin explained, "There's still much I need to learn. If I return to the village now, my growth will stall."
"But…"
Ryuran hesitated.
But upon reflection, he realized Karin's words made sense. At just ten years old, she was at a critical learning stage. Studying in the Hidden Leaf, the foremost shinobi village, was clearly better than returning to Grass Shinobi Village.
Karin said calmly, "So, I want you to act as the leader in my place for now!"
Before Ryuran could respond, Mitsuzawa blurted out, "Karin, what are you talking about?"
Karin glanced at Mitsuzawa, then swept her gaze over Jonin Masahiko and Yoshino before settling on Ryuran. In an undeniable tone, she said, "Publicly, you'll take on the role of leader and handle the village's daily affairs. I'll continue training in the Hidden Leaf, aiming for greater strength. Only then can Grass Shinobi Village survive!"
Ryuran was visibly surprised and fell silent.
Karin continued, "Masahiko, Yoshino, Mitsuzawa—from now on, you're promoted to elders, tasked with assisting Ryuran in managing village affairs."
"Yes!"
Masahiko and Yoshino immediately agreed.
For them, whether Karin or Ryuran was the leader didn't matter much. Securing an elder position was enough to satisfy them.
Mitsuzawa was reluctant but, seeing Masahiko and Yoshino nod, grudgingly followed suit.
After weighing the matter, Ryuran said, "Alright. But, Karin… Leader, when will you officially return to the village?"
Karin replied, "It won't take many years!"
After discussing some details, Ryuran, Masahiko, and Yoshino left the cave together.
Once they were gone, Mitsuzawa approached Karin. "Karin, Ryuran is from the 'Flower of Grass' faction. If you let him act as the figurehead leader for too long, I'm afraid things might spiral out of control!"
Karin shot Mitsuzawa a cold glance. "Then who should be the leader? You?"
"This…"
Mitsuzawa was at a loss for words.
Karin continued, "I've already made you an elder. If you want to climb higher, you'll need to prove yourself with results! Investigating the 'Box of Ultimate Bliss' is the opportunity I've given you. Seize it, and I might consider letting you take the leadership role!"
With that, Karin said no more and vanished from the spot.
Just moments ago, in front of Ryuran and the others, she had assigned the task of tracking down the 'Box of Ultimate Bliss' to Mitsuzawa.
After Karin left, Mitsuzawa, alone in the cave, wore a grim expression.
He had thought he could manipulate Karin to seize the village's highest authority, but things had not gone as planned.
This ten-year-old girl was clearly not as easy to fool as he had imagined.
A few days later, the Grass Shinobi Village's leadership election meeting officially began.
With the combined efforts of Ryuran, Masahiko, Yoshino, and Mitsuzawa, the meeting concluded smoothly. Ryuran was put forward as the public face, officially becoming the new leader of Grass Shinobi Village.
The news quickly spread throughout the shinobi world, landing on the desks of the leaders of the major shinobi villages.
Ryuran's name was now officially recognized by the major villages and daimyo as the legitimate head of Grass Shinobi Village.
As the village's public leader, Ryuran kept his word, following Karin's instructions. He allocated a portion of the funds for rebuilding Grass Shinobi Village to secretly establish a hidden underground laboratory near the Hidden Leaf Village.
The laboratory was built to extremely high standards, at great expense.
Ryuran privately met with Karin, attempting to persuade her to reduce the laboratory's budget, but she firmly refused.
Fund allocation was the leader's prerogative, and Ryuran ultimately had to comply.
To ensure secrecy, the laboratory's construction—from fund transfers to equipment procurement, site selection, and building—was conducted with the highest level of confidentiality.
Each stage's overseer was responsible only for their specific task, with no overlap. Even Ryuran, the public leader, didn't know the laboratory's exact location or purpose!
Outside the laboratory's underground complex.
Shinji surveyed the surroundings, nodding in satisfaction.
Though close to the Hidden Leaf Village, the location was in the mountains, rarely visited—an ideal hidden spot.
Stepping into the underground passage, Shinji soon arrived at the laboratory.
Gently running his hand over the equipment and instruments, painstakingly sourced from across the shinobi world at great cost to Grass Shinobi Village, a look of delight spread across his face.
Compared to this, his private lab in the medical team was laughably crude.
Shinji smiled. "With this laboratory, many of my plans can proceed more smoothly and discreetly!"
This was why he had gone to such lengths to ensure Karin seized the leadership of Grass Shinobi Village.
The financial resources of a shinobi village, even one recently ravaged like Grass Shinobi Village, far surpassed anything Shinji could muster alone.
And once Grass Shinobi Village was fully operational, funds would continue to flow in steadily…