A few days had passed since the graduation ceremony. The newly graduated students had officially left the academy, and with the arrival of fresh recruits, a new semester had begun.
As for Black Zetsu… Gaara never expected him to be so reluctant to leave. The way he had clung to the academy during the ceremony, practically lamenting his departure, had been almost comical. It was no wonder he had earned the title of the most devoted son in the ninja world. What a loyal and sentimental kid, truly a model of gratitude.
After the festivities, life gradually returned to normal, and people began to leave the village for their respective duties. Nagato departed once more to guard the borders of the Land of Grass. Before leaving, however, he made sure to ask about his mother's due date, promising to return in time for the birth of his younger sibling.
No one in the family knew whether it would be a boy or a girl, but Nagato secretly hoped for a little sister.
Meanwhile, Konan had resumed her work with Kakuzu, diving back into the world of finance. The Grass Ninja Village had also been steadily strengthening its partnership with the production base in the Land of Waves, further expanding their economic reach. Behind the scenes, progress was quietly being made.
After all, compared to the production capabilities of the Grass Ninja Village, the Land of Waves' manufacturing base had already expanded its market reach to Konoha, the Stone Village, and the Cloud Village.
Grass Ninja's manufacturing had established agents in Konoha years ago, built on a foundation of camaraderie. However, ever since Konoha closed its borders and the Land of Waves' production base emerged, Grass Ninja's market share within Konoha had declined significantly.
Conversely, the Land of Waves' production base had flourished, increasing its market presence within Konoha. Despite the village's isolationist policies, essential goods and unique products could still be acquired from outside sources, though entry and exit were tightly regulated.
As for the Stone Village and the Cloud Village, Grass Ninja Manufacturing had yet to gain a foothold in those regions. However, this wasn't a major concern, it was simply a matter of adjusting distribution strategies and shifting products accordingly.
Since the demand for products from the Land of Waves production base was so high, Grass Ninja Manufacturing decided to rebrand their own products with the 'Land of Waves production' logo. After all, it was practically the same, the goods all came from the same production line, so why not?
Back at home, Karin had entered the sixth grade. Thanks to her lessons with Kushina-sensei, she had quickly become a little tyrant at the academy, following in Black Zetsu's footsteps. Black Zetsu's brief reign as the academy's 'Big Bro' lasted barely a month before it became little more than a distant memory.
Black Zetsu, of course, couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia when he gazed at the moon. It was hard to believe how quickly the people of the ninja world could forget. He knew he couldn't go back to the academy; twelve years of study had passed, and it was time for him to graduate. There was no reason to stay any longer.
At Black Zetsu's graduation, Obito had attended the ceremony, watching with a look of satisfaction on his face. Twelve years. Twelve long years since Black Zetsu first joined the academy. If this kept up, Obito would start to question whether Madara-sensei's will, the very will that had been passed down through those books, wasn't completely mad after all.
Madara-sensei had been a genius. How could his ideas have been held back for so long? Even now, Madara's writings were still being introduced into the academy. Having lived through the Ninja World Wars and seen ninety years of history unfold, Madara's insights and philosophies still carried weight. It seemed his ideas had more merit than many had ever realized.
Since the goods from the Land of Waves production base had become so popular, Grass Ninja Manufacturing could easily rebrand their products with the 'Land of Waves Production' logo. It was almost the same, after all, it all came from the same production line.
Back home, Karin had moved on to the sixth grade. Under the guidance of Kushina-sensei, she had become something of a little tyrant at the academy, quickly following in Black Zetsu's footsteps. His once-proud title of 'Big Bro' only lasted just over a month, quickly fading into history.
Black Zetsu, of course, felt a twinge of nostalgia as he gazed at the moon. The people of the ninja world had such short memories. He couldn't help but feel a bit melancholic. But there was no reason to return to the academy. After twelve years of study, it was time to graduate, there was nothing left to stay for.
During the graduation, Obito had attended, watching Black Zetsu's ceremony with a look of satisfaction on his face. Twelve whole years had passed since Black Zetsu first joined the academy. If this continued, he might start to question the wisdom of Madara-sensei's teachings, the very ideas passed down in those books.
Madara-sensei had been a genius. How had the will of his books managed to remain relevant for so long? Even now, his teachings were being introduced in the academy. Having lived through the Ninja World Wars and seen nearly a century's worth of change, Madara's ideas still had a certain validity, even if some of his methods were... questionable.
Still, the decision to include Madara's teachings in the academy's curriculum had to be made carefully. Yet, Obito couldn't hide his excitement. As the inheritor of Madara-sensei's ideology, he felt a deep sense of pride seeing those great works officially recognized.
Having studied Madara's philosophy extensively, Obito even entertained the idea that, if Madara's teachings became an academic subject in the future, he could take on the role of a researcher. The thought filled him with anticipation.
Meanwhile, news of this decision had spread beyond the village, reaching the ears of notable figures such as Elder Hanzō, Advisor Chiyo, and Advisor Ebizo. Upon hearing that the academy had chosen to include the writings of one of the most legendary figures in ninja history, they were left stunned.
After all, during their time, Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had stood at the absolute peak of power in the ninja world. Together, they had founded Konoha, marking the beginning of the ninja village system. However, their ideological differences had eventually driven them apart, culminating in a legendary battle at the Valley of the End, now a historical site revered throughout the shinobi world.
In the end, Senju Hashirama had emerged victorious, and Uchiha Madara had fallen. Yet, no one could have predicted that the man who had once destroyed entire villages with a single thought would leave behind a collection of written works. And now, those very books had found their way into the hands of Grass Village. What kind of ideas could a ninja like Madara possibly share in his writings?
Intrigued, Elder Hanzō, Advisor Chiyo, and Advisor Ebizo spent over a week carefully studying Uchiha Madara's work. When they finally finished reading, they were struck by an unexpected silence. They had not anticipated that Madara, of all people, would have such profound thoughts.
Elder Hanzō, his voice filled with respect, was the first to break the silence. "This man's vision for peace in the ninja world surpasses that of most." His words were met with a firm nod of agreement from Advisor Chiyo.
It was a rare moment of consensus between the two. But, as often happened, their agreement was short-lived. The debate soon flared up once more. Still, the underlying question lingered, why had Madara, a man with such seemingly enlightened ideas, still chosen to engage in a deadly battle with Hashirama, the very 'God of the Ninja World'?
After all, Senju Hashirama was widely recognized as the greatest advocate for peace in the ninja world. Even if he and Madara had their disagreements, it was difficult to understand how such ideological differences could have escalated into a battle to the death, especially considering the ideals Madara had expressed in his writings.
Of course, Akihiko chose not to explain. After all, Madara's so-called 'great work' had been written in his nineties, long after his years of battle had ended. He had spent decades hidden away in an underground cave, listening to lectures and contemplating the state of the world. It had taken him years to put his thoughts into words, thoughts shaped by time, solitude, and reflection.
…
At the same time, as the due dates for Mikoto and Fuso's babies drew closer, the atmosphere at home grew increasingly tense. Sasuke, in particular, seemed unusually restless. Even when the holidays began and Naruto repeatedly invited him out, he chose to stay home, keeping a close watch on things. After all, he was about to become a big brother.
It was an odd feeling, he had spent his childhood looking up to his own older brother, and now, he was stepping into that role himself. But despite this impending change in his family, Sasuke's mind remained fixated on a deeper, unresolved issue. He was determined to uncover the truth behind the Uchiha clan's past and his brother Itachi's actions. Obito, as the current clan leader, had offered to intervene, but Sasuke had refused. This was something he needed to face on his own. And so, while waiting for his sibling's arrival, he trained relentlessly, sharpening his skills for the inevitable confrontation.
Meanwhile, at the research institute, advancements in various fields had led to rapid expansion. Numerous new branches had been established, each dedicated to specialized research areas, pushing the boundaries of innovation in ways few could have anticipated.
For instance, after successfully establishing signal base stations, they faced a significant challenge, while signals now covered the Land of Grass, they had yet to reach the entire ninja world. It was then that Elder Yoshinori proposed a bold idea: launching signals from the sky to discreetly extend coverage across the entire continent.
To accomplish this, they founded the Chakra Signal Research Institute. If their efforts succeeded, the other ninja villages wouldn't immediately realize what was happening. Instead, they would likely assume that the Grass Village's mobile phones were simply an incredibly advanced form of scientific ninja equipment, rather than a networked system spanning the entire world.
However, like Elder Hanzō, Elder Yoshinori was growing old. In his later years, he often spoke to the younger generations about the history of the Uzumaki clan, ensuring that their legacy would not be forgotten.
Meanwhile, within the Grass Ninja Village, a strong doctrine was being reinforced, all ninja clans within the Land of Grass were part of one united family. Any efforts to create division, stir conflicts between clans, or foster discontent were swiftly and decisively dealt with. This principle had become a cornerstone of the village's stability, ensuring that unity remained above all else.
Despite his advancing years, Elder Yoshinori still spent most of his time immersed in research at the lab. His hair, though silvering, was still a soft red, a reminder of his youthful vigor. He had been with Grass Ninja Village since its early days, dedicating his life to its growth and prosperity, especially after the fall of the Uzumaki clan.
Much of the current technological progress in Grass Ninja Village was thanks to his tireless work. Not only had he contributed to scientific ninja tools, but he had also played a pivotal role in education, a field where his legacy was undeniable. After all, he had served as the first principal of the village's academy, shaping its early years and laying the foundation for future generations of students.
Today, Akihiko had specifically come to visit the research institute, eager to see the expansion of the facility. Under Elder Yoshinori's guidance, he toured the state-of-the-art labs and workshops, impressed by the institute's growth. The institute was no longer just a place for Grass Ninja Village's research; it had become a hub for collaboration, with experts from Sand Village and Rain Village contributing to its success. It was a testament to the peaceful cooperation between the villages, something that had become more common over time.
However, after a brief but enlightening tour, Akihiko didn't linger. He excused himself quickly, leaving with Elder Yoshinori as he received an urgent message. The news was significant: Konoha was reopening its village.