Merit based purely on strength had always been one of Uchiha Soren's core principles.
In a world ruled by extraordinary power, a supreme powerhouse capable of suppressing everything was the most direct and unanswerable strategy.
Without hesitation, Soren made his decision.
"The Deputy Governor of Heaven Province will be Yuki Haku."
Then his gaze shifted toward Nara Rokumei and Renner.
"If you still have plans, you may apply through Governor Haku and report it to the Konoha Secretariat."
"Yes, Supreme Leader."
The two replied and returned to their seats.
Renner's delicate and pure face still carried a faint smile, as if she felt no disappointment from losing the position.
Jircniv glanced at the people he had brought—Fluder and "Ghost Spear" Leinas.
Both of them possessed Morning Star–level strength.
In the past, they would have been considered formidable.
But within the shinobi world, where talented individuals filled the upper ranks, they were far from enough.
Stay calm.
Even if we cannot compete for the governor position, we must secure several important cities for the Empire.
Jircniv silently calculated.
Soon the meeting moved forward, and the governors and deputy governors of each province were determined.
Fire Province — Deputy Governor: Uchiha Zhilli
The position of Director of the Konoha Security Bureau would be vacated and taken over by a newly advanced Morning Star–level Uchiha.
Water Province — Deputy Governor: Genji, former Fourth Mizukage.
Earth Province — Deputy Governor: Rōshi, former Fifth Tsuchikage.
Wind Province — Deputy Governor: Chiyo, former leader of Sunagakure.
Lightning Province — A region formed from the destroyed Land of Lightning and Kumogakure, chaotic yet orderly.
Governor: Uchiha Hikari, principal of the Advanced Ninja Academy.
Rain Province — Deputy Governor: Hanzō of the Salamander, former First Amekage.
After the six provinces of the shinobi world were finalized, the territories of the Magic Continent were decided as well.
Heaven Province — Deputy Governor: Yuki Haku, commander of the Frost Dragon Knights.
Earth Province — Due to its border with the Central Continent, Uzumaki Mito would serve concurrently as Governor, supported by the sacred summoning land Ryūchi Cave.
Mystic Province — Governor: Antilene, the awakened divine-blood warrior known as Zesshi Zetsumei, formerly of the Black Scripture.
Yellow Province — Deputy Governor: Yagura Karatachi.
With that, all the major provincial authorities of the Shinobi Empire had been appointed.
Future development would now depend heavily on these governors.
Meanwhile, the talented administrators cultivated in Konoha over the past years would finally have the chance to prove themselves in practice.
As time passed, the conference finally came to an end.
Uchiha Soren's true body remained beside his beloved wife.
Meanwhile, one of his clones entered the underground research facility of the Academy of Sciences.
Under arrangements made by Root, the clone lay inside a large cultivation tank.
Nearby stood Orochimaru and Hiruko, their eyes wide as they observed the experiment.
Under Root's supervision, the dragon blood refined from the Dragon Emperor's claw flowed through tubes.
The liquid glowed with a brilliant golden color.
Through a syringe, it entered Soren's body.
Immediately—
A violent bloodline rejection reaction erupted.
The monitoring equipment flashed alarming red signals.
Hiruko couldn't help but speak anxiously.
"Lord Root… the Golden Dragon blood hasn't even undergone proper testing."
"Injecting it directly into Teacher Soren's body—even if this is just a clone—is far too dangerous."
"Don't speak, Hiruko."
Orochimaru stopped him with a hand.
His golden snake-like pupils gleamed with eerie determination.
"Teacher Soren and Lord Root are not reckless people."
"If they are doing this, there must be a reason."
"Just watch carefully, boy."
Root glanced at Hiruko calmly.
"Whether this experiment succeeds or fails, we possess resurrection magic."
"We are already standing in an undefeated position."
"Besides—"
"The one lying in that tank is the strongest man in the world."
"For the Supreme Leader, nothing is a miracle."
"Everything happens naturally."
"…That actually makes sense."
Hiruko looked at Soren's body.
The flesh had begun to split open.
In some places, white bone was already visible.
He opened his mouth but ultimately fell silent under Orochimaru's confident gaze.
Nervously, he continued watching the experiment.
In his mind, countless ideas surfaced about his own Bloodline Fusion research.
If bloodline fusion inevitably caused violent conflicts—
Then perhaps the Dragon blood could provide new breakthroughs.
Endless inspiration erupted in his mind.
All he lacked now was sufficient theoretical support.
Perhaps conducting experiments while recording observations… would be the best path.
Even Teacher Soren personally participates in experiments.
And resurrection magic exists.
Why shouldn't I try it as well?
My body is nowhere near as valuable as Teacher Soren's.
And by experimenting on myself, I could better understand the conditions of bloodline fusion.
Unaware of the profound impact he had just left on Hiruko's mind, Uchiha Soren's consciousness had already transcended the physical body.
From the perspective of his soul, he observed the violent chaos within his body.
The Golden Dragon blood had nearly transcended the limitations of flesh.
It had become a higher-level magical energy.
The fusion process was essentially a battle—
A high-level magical energy devouring a lower-level one.
The lower-level energy resisted instinctively.
At the same time, it attempted to erode the higher-level power.
The direct result of this clash was obvious.
Soren's clone body could no longer withstand the strain.
The lower-level energy was continuously shattered by the higher-level one.
It could no longer protect the flesh it relied on.
"Just one more trigger…"
Soren calmly watched the tank that had already turned into a pool of blood.
The light of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan flickered in his eyes.
He stared at the two energies locked in conflict inside his body—
And waited silently.
"The life signals are about to stop."
Orochimaru stared at the monitor.
His heart rose and fell with the fluctuating line.
Unconsciously, he grabbed Hiruko's hand.
Hiruko rolled his eyes internally.
"Teacher Soren will never fail."
Remembering the overwhelming power Soren had displayed before, Orochimaru gradually regained confidence.
But this time—
It was only a clone undergoing the experiment.
Whether a clone could succeed…
Even he wasn't sure.
"Both of you, stop talking and watch!"
Root suddenly spoke.
Just like the previous Frost Dragon bloodline fusion, at the critical moment—
A tiny fusion percentage appeared on the monitor.
And instantly began rising sharply.
Inside the cultivation tank, the blood began to boil.
Bubbles burst violently across the surface.
Under the astonished and delighted gazes of Orochimaru and Hiruko—
Soren's body began reforming at a visible speed.
There was no warning.
No prelude.
It was as if—
Since fusion had begun, success was inevitable.
So natural.
So obvious.
The sight nearly caused Root's brain to explode.
"This is complete nonsense!"
Completely unscientific.
Yet strangely mystical.
Root glanced at Orochimaru and Hiruko, who were filled with excitement.
He could already imagine what would happen when these two scientists looked back on today's event in the future.
Their entire worldview might completely collapse.
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