"Leader, the price of toxins and poisons on the black market has doubled again this week. Rare poisons, in particular, have skyrocketed several times over. The village has made a significant profit by discreetly selling toxins unique to the Land of Grass. My brother plans to use this revenue to establish a formal shinobi academy in Hidden Grass Village. He requests your permission!"
Ryuzetsu, as usual, reported the intelligence gathered by Hidden Grass Village to Karin on a weekly basis.
Initially, Ryuzetsu had been skeptical of Karin, a leader her own age. But after bounty organizations targeting Hidden Grass Village, both openly and covertly, were mysteriously attacked and withdrew from the Land of Grass one by one, she became fully convinced of Karin's capability.
For the beleaguered Hidden Grass Village, a powerful leader who could protect the village was the greatest source of stability.
"A shinobi academy, huh…"
Karin recalled her painful experiences in Hidden Grass Village.
The village did have institutions for training shinobi, but they were akin to Hidden Leaf's Root, where trainees had no freedom whatsoever.
Thus, upon hearing Ryuzetsu's proposal, she didn't hesitate long before instructing, "Let Ryuzetsu handle it as he sees fit."
"Thank you!"
Ryuzetsu beamed with joy.
Karin quickly added, "Don't thank me yet. How's the task I assigned to Ryuzetsu progressing? If that hasn't been handled well, put the shinobi academy plans on hold!"
Ryuzetsu hurriedly replied, "Please rest assured, Leader. Brother is already making preparations for your orders. However, the village suffered heavy losses before, so training personnel will take time."
Karin emphasized, "This is the village's top priority right now. Tell your brother to expedite it!"
Ryuzetsu could only nod. "Yes!"
The task Karin had assigned to Ryuzetsu was straightforward: plant spies in the major shinobi villages to gather intelligence.
This wasn't something Uchiha Shinji could accomplish alone.
Only by mobilizing the resources of an entire village could a vast intelligence network spanning the shinobi world be established.
This was why Shinji had covertly seized control of Hidden Grass Village.
Though the Land of Grass war had left Hidden Grass Village's strength a shadow of its former self, intelligence gathering was a highly specialized task. Combat prowess wasn't the sole measure of a spy's competence. So, while the weakened Hidden Grass Village might struggle with other tasks, planting spies and collecting intelligence was still within its capabilities.
Shinji's goal was simple: he didn't need Hidden Grass Village to provide combat support, only funds and intelligence to keep him informed of the shinobi world's movements.
After dismissing Ryuzetsu, Karin went to Shinji's secret laboratory to report the intelligence Ryuzetsu had provided.
"Toxin prices are still rising…"
Shinji mused thoughtfully.
Others might not glean much from this intel, but as a member of Tsunade's research team, he instantly understood that the continued surge in toxin prices indicated that various factions' research on demons had yet to yield significant progress.
After pondering, Shinji instructed, "Have Hidden Grass Village keep monitoring toxin prices. Also, if any village suddenly halts toxin procurement, have them report immediately!"
"Yes!"
Karin nodded.
Shinji then studied Karin briefly. "How have you been feeling these past few days?"
Karin thought for a moment before replying, "Very good. My dojutsu power is steadily increasing, and my chakra reserves are growing again."
Shinji asked a few more questions, which Karin answered earnestly.
"Alright, go rest for now."
Shinji waved a hand.
"This subordinate takes her leave!"
Karin bowed to Shinji and exited the laboratory.
Once Karin was gone, Shinji meticulously recorded her condition.
If Karin successfully awakened the Rinnegan, these records would allow him to track the process and provide data for his own eventual Rinnegan awakening.
A week passed in a flash.
During this time, Shinji extracted Sasuke's chakra every two or three days to ensure Karin received a steady supply of All Creation Power nourishment.
Due to the frequent chakra extractions, Sasuke's condition remained poor, even alarming the village. Kakashi eventually took him to the hospital for Tsunade to examine.
However, even Tsunade found nothing amiss.
Since Shinji was only using Wazunagi to drain Sasuke's chakra without doing anything else, no matter how thoroughly Tsunade examined Sasuke, the only conclusion was severe chakra depletion.
With the lure of revenge dangling before him, Shinji wasn't worried Sasuke would snitch to the village.
On Kimimaro and Neji's end, Shinji confirmed through Jikibi monitoring that both had been diligently storing chakra this week.
Feeling the time was right, Shinji privately summoned Karin and Neji and headed to the Land of the Moon once more.
As before, Karin used the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu to create an opening in the barrier generated by the giant Tenseigan, allowing Shinji and Neji to slip through.
On the moon, Shinji raced toward the temple housing the giant Tenseigan, saying to Neji beside him, "The last war already alerted the Otsutsuki branch family. We can't come too often, or they'll catch on."
"Indeed, we should be cautious."
Recalling the sudden meteor during the Land of Grass war, Neji couldn't help but feel lingering fear.
Shinji added, "We could be discovered by the Otsutsuki branch family at any moment, so every chakra absorption might be our last. You must seize this chance and absorb as much as possible."
Neji nodded firmly. "Yes!"
Soon, they reached the outskirts of the Otsutsuki branch family's castle.
Familiar with the route, Shinji carefully navigated past teams of Tenseigan puppets, leading Neji back to the temple enshrining the giant Tenseigan.
"Go!"
Shinji pointed at the radiant, star-like giant Tenseigan in the temple, waving Neji forward.
After previous attempts, he'd learned that approaching the giant Tenseigan himself triggered its instinctive alertness. To avoid raising suspicion, he stayed far back during recent visits, letting Neji approach alone to siphon its chakra.
Neji took a deep breath and stepped swiftly to the giant Tenseigan, attempting to resonate with it.
Soon, resonance was achieved, and the Tenseigan chakra emanating from the giant began flowing into Neji's body…