The first thing Jugo learned about the wood style was wood cloning. He admits it was worth learning just for that cloning technique.
Unlike the shadow clone and other clone techniques, the wood style clone has much more resistance, which means that even if it takes a few hits, it can hold its own.
Furthermore, combined with the wood style, the wood clone can pass through plants, for Jugo this is just an addendum, but he himself could now hide inside a plant and not even the werewolve's sense of smell or Karin's perception could detect him.
Thus, he admits, he underestimated the value of wood.
Jugo even managed to create an ice-style clone with similar power, slightly weaker, but they can also pass through ice, combining very well with his large-scale ice style.
After learning some jutsus from a wood-style scroll with the help of clones, Jugo quickly set off on his mission, taking his two loyal Anbu, Guren and Suigetsu, with him.
Suigetsu is still just a 13-year-old brat and Guren is 18. Speaking of age, Kin is about to turn 18, so Jugo decided to wait before going after her.
He used to not care about things like age, but the further he progressed in the sequence, the more he felt his morality returning, at least his intrusive thoughts were getting under control, so he felt that even if he waited a few months, it would be worth it.
The fact that Jugo was underage (now 15 years old) didn't bother him. But sleeping with a girl under 18, even though the morals of that world still dictated that a woman could marry after menstruation, still seemed strange to him.
It's interesting how, not long ago, he felt he didn't matter at all, but now he can feel that some moral values he had abandoned are returning.
The next problem was Guren, she's incredibly beautiful, even more so than Kin, but she didn't seem interested and he didn't intend to force anything, so he didn't do anything to her.
But in any case, they stopped at one of the many rice paddies first, the group of civilians seemed incredibly restless, clearing the fields of dead plants. They would be lucky if they didn't starve to death this year.
But Jugo didn't approach, instead, he turned to Suigetsu. -Go, explain the situation and ask for rice seeds.
-Tsk... why me? Why don't you send that old hag? - Suigetsu spat, behind him was Kubikiribocho, Jugo had sent a clone to fetch her to make the boy agree to be his subordinate.
He dressed very similarly to his Shippuden counterpart, except for the fox anbu mask on his face with the symbol of sound.
Guren stared at Suigetsu from behind her mask and Suigetsu felt a chill. He had fought Guren before, and even using Jugo's new cursed seal, he was no match for her. So he cleared his throat and charged towards the village.
Jugo gave a soft chuckle, earning a look from Guren as well.
Guren, on the other hand, chose to stay because she didn't know that Orochimaru had been brainwashed by the werewolf curse.
She agreed to become an Anbu for Jugo, but she didn't really respect him as much as Orochimaru did. Jugo wasn't worried, as long as she obeyed.
The fact is that Jugo had already fought against all of her direct subordinates, Guren among them, the woman suffered a tremendous defeat and even saw Orochimaru get completely beaten, ending up frozen in the end.
Even Kimimaro, who was stronger than her, was completely beaten. Not even when they all fought together did Jugo just make a few clones and... they got beaten.
Thus, although Guren did not have deep feelings for Jugo like she did for Orochimaru, she knew how to lower her head and respected Jugo's strength.
Jugo still preferred a simple guy like Suigetsu, all he had to do was promise the boy the ninja swords, that was it.
It wasn't that difficult, he had already sent some Dosu and Kin to retrieve the Kiba twin swords and there were clues about the others. Jugo just had to wait.
Except for Samehada with Kisame and Hiramekarei still in possession of the mist, the others were scattered throughout the ninja world.
Speaking of ninja beings scattered throughout the world, Jugo recently received news of the sighting of the six-tailed beast, Utakata.
Jugo thought it would be a good idea to keep one of the bijuu with him, so he could maintain better control over the Eye of the Moon plan. The biggest problem would be bringing Utakata openly without angering the mist to the point of starting a war.
Of course, even if a war started, with his current strength, he wasn't afraid at all. Just using the eternal winter once is enough to transform the unfavorable climate into a favorable one.
Suigetsu soon returned, with the civilians looking fearful, but seeing the Sound headband on Jugo's arm and the Sound mark on Suigetsu and Guren masks, the group finally calmed down.
An old man stepped forward, swallowed hard, a little startled, before saying. -Ninja-sama, what do you need the grain for?
-Cultivate, you won't go hungry this winter, now bring the grain, I don't have much time.- Jugo said calmly.
He had separated hundreds of wooden clones and sent them to various villages, yet the number of small villages in that country reached into the thousands, it would still take some time to complete everything.
The man swallowed hard, his eyes reluctant, but fearing the ninjas, he still brought the grains.
Jugo knew exactly what he was thinking, he feared that they would loot the grain and leave them in even more misery. Unfortunately, they are just civilians, trying to deny a ninja is the same as signing your death warrant.
-Yes, ninja-sama. Kata, Jim, go fetch the grains.- The old man turned to two men with strong physiques, who clenched their fists, looking at Jugo with anger and fear, but in the end obeyed.
None of the three cared, Jugo didn't even need Guren and Suigetsu for this mission. He only brought them along to improve their relationship. Suigetsu was very loyal once he accepted someone and Guren wasn't without empathy either, so he kept them around.
Soon the grains were brought in while Jugo separated some shadow clones, who picked up the grains and began scattering them across the circular rice paddies.
The group of civilians hadn't left, and seeing this, they almost shouted in anger. -What kind of planting is this? They were just wasting good grain!
But the boss managed to calm them down.
Jugo kicked Suigetsu to help, thinking it would do the temperamental boy good.
Suigetsu shouted angrily. - Why me?! Keep that old woman!
-You can use the water style to help.- Jugo said lightly, casually finding an excuse.
Guren wasn't angry with Suigetsu this time, instead, she let out an amused snort, making a gesture as if shooing away something disgusting.
Suigetsu was so angry that he wanted to draw his sword and cut the annoying woman, but looking at Jugo smiling slightly at him, he swallowed his anger and quickly ran to help.
He didn't want to experience being frozen again.
It didn't take long with Suigetsu's help, the speed really improved, a few dozen clones could barely keep up with Suigetsu's speed as he used Water Style to move the grains into the correct positions.
It wasn't about speed, but about efficiency.
Jugo almost wanted to appoint Suigetsu as the Minister of Rice Planting, just to see his face, but he felt the boy would explode with anger, so he decided against it.
Finally, under the heavy eyes of the civilians and Suigetsu's resentment, the job had been done.
The fields, spanning dozens of hectares, were all filled with grain.
In the next moment, Jugo used the Wood Style, upon the shocked eyes of the spectators, even Suigetsu and Guren, the rice paddies grew in a few seconds from simple grains to a fully laden crop.
The rice paddies bathed in Yang chakra were extremely healthy and twice their normal size.
The group of civilians stood with their mouths open, wiping their eyes with their fists, too shocked to believe it.
Jugo turned to them and spoke. - I am Jugo, leader of the Hidden Sound Village, remember my name.
Yes, Jugo was making a statement, not only for the people of the Land of Rice to recognize the new leader, but also for the ninja world.
The objective? First, it was to separate Orochimaru from leadership, after all, the Hidden Sound Village was no longer a laboratory, but a real village. Orochimaru is a criminal and separating them is best for both of them.
A man can happily search within the village without revealing himself.
The second was that once he used that move, there was no going back, he attracted attention by openly using wood style. If he's going to attract attention, at least he'll leave the people of Soundland with a positive impression of their new leader.
He hopes to transform the sound village into a real village with residents in the future, which will make it easier for civilians to migrate.
Unfortunately, Jugo didn't want to reveal himself so soon, but he wouldn't let the people of the Land of Sound go hungry just because he wanted to remain anonymous.
Once that happened, Jugo decided it was time to stop holding back, he would take Madara's body and bring Utakata back to the village.
May the Village of Sound become the Sixth Great Ninja Village!