Seeing the somewhat intense reaction from the crowd, the Asura Path allowed them some time to compose themselves. Kayaba Shuto and Mizuno Otoko, besides their outstanding research abilities, also possessed considerable management skills, making them well-suited to independently lead large-scale research projects. While the research capabilities of the others were by no means poor, they were clearly more suited to leading small teams with their own disciples. Of course, it wasn't out of the question that some others might also be capable of leading large projects like Kayaba and Mizuno; after all, in a sense, he himself had only just arrived.
Once the researchers had calmed down, the Asura Path continued: "Due to the overly chaotic management of previous departments, Mr. Kayaba, Mr. Mizuno, and I have discussed and decided to establish the following divisions..."
The Aerial Fortress Research Institute, Information Technology Research Institute, Life and Medical Sciences Research Institute, New-Style Ninja Tool Research Institute... About a dozen large and small institutes were demarcated. Some, like the Aerial Fortress Research Institute, had twenty-three members, while smaller ones, like the Crop Research Institute, had only a mere two or three.
The personnel shortage was quite severe...
Looking at the list in his hand, the Asura Path sighed inwardly. But there was nothing he could do about this situation. If it were combat units, he could create a dozen Jonin-level individuals with ease. But these were research units; his only recourse was to have the Dragon Heritage personnel intensify their efforts to scout and recruit—or even entice away—talent.
...Land of Dragons. Daimyo's Office.
"The Akatsuki's extraction of Tailed Beast chakra is reaching its final stages. If nothing unexpected happens, the Fourth Shinobi World War is about to begin," Naruto said, arms crossed, fingers tapping lightly. "According to the latest intelligence from the Naraka Path, Orochimaru, who has mastered the Impure World Reincarnation technique, has already found them and proposed cooperation."
"Given the Gold and Silver Brothers, who contain Nine-Tails chakra, Nagato won't refuse Orochimaru's offer to cooperate." Naruto continued, "Then there are the Hundred Thousand White Zetsu controlled by the Naraka Path. Currently, Black Zetsu has not yet discovered the fact that Uchiha Obito has been turned into a puppet, so the Hundred Thousand White Zetsu are still nominally under the Naraka Path's command. He needs these White Zetsu to deplete the viable forces of the Five Great Shinobi Villages as much as possible during the Fourth Shinobi World War."
"Honestly, with your current strength, you're fully capable of carrying out a decapitation strike and achieving forced unification directly. Why go through all this trouble?" the Deva Path asked with keen interest, putting down his pen. Because Naruto had granted his puppets considerable autonomy when creating them, he and the Deva Path could be said to be one and the same, yet also two extremely similar individuals.
"It's better to let them gather and deal with them all at once," Naruto replied. "If the front line is stretched too thin and it takes longer, uncertain variables are more likely to arise." His gaze shifted to the window, and through the twinkling starlight, he seemed to perceive another world hidden within the celestial veil. "The Sage of Six Paths in the Pure Land... I'm not entirely confident he won't intervene."
As his power had steadily increased, his sensory abilities had also been continuously enhanced. He had now pinpointed the location of the Pure Land, which had once seemed ethereal and elusive. The Pure Land wasn't an alternate dimension like Kara's bases, but rather a satellite, similar to the moon. The reason it remained undiscovered by people was that it was hidden on the other side of this planet, orbiting along its own unique trajectory. Just like the dark side of the moon, unseen by the world.
The existence of the Sage of Six Paths was a distant concern; the development of the Land of Dragons continued apace. The various departments, with their newly redefined functions, entered a state of intense activity. And the people of the former Land of Rivers, whose initial anxiety had been palpable, gradually grew excited as time passed. After all, the former noble lords of the Land of Rivers would never have distributed land to them. Moreover, they had heard that the ruler of the Land of Dragons intended to implement a new education system, allowing all their descendants to learn ninja skills free of charge.
Light and darkness always coexist. Those nobles from the former Land of Rivers who had managed to escape the Land of Dragons were now secretly plotting how to rise again and reclaim their aristocratic status within a nation. A considerable number of assassination attempts by ninja against officials began to occur sporadically. However, under Dragon Heritage's forceful suppression and systematic purges—tracking down culprits by following every lead—various organizations gradually withdrew their bounty missions related to the Land of Dragons.
"My Lord, all Five Great Shinobi Villages were involved in these recent assassinations," Zabuza reported after bowing, presenting the findings of their investigation.
Naruto carefully reviewed the mission scroll: Konoha – one Jonin, four Chunin; Sunagakure – five Chunin; Kumogakure – one Tokubetsu Jonin; Iwagakure – one Tokubetsu Jonin, one Jonin; Kirigakure – three Chunin. This was only what had been confirmed. Considering the casualties during this period, the actual numbers were undoubtedly higher.
"Based on the list of Land of Dragons casualties during this time, retaliate with double the number of assassinations against the Five Great Nations and any smaller nations involved in this." Naruto handed a scroll from his desk to Zabuza. Do those bastards think I'm now tied down by the Land of Dragons, that I've become a second Hanzo of the Salamander, afraid to make a move against the Five Great Nations?
"A mission of this scale will lead to manpower shortages on the border defenses," Zabuza pointed out.
"I will have the Yomi Army fill the gaps," Naruto said coldly. Towards such attempts to test his limits, Naruto had only one response: sever the hand that dared to probe.
"Yes, sir!" Zabuza's expression turned grim. In all the time they had worked together, this was the first time he had seen Naruto so enraged.
After Zabuza left, Naruto continued to review documents. He had initially planned to go to the Five Great Shinobi Villages himself to hold them accountable. But on second thought, if he had to handle everything personally, what was the point of establishing this nation? The purpose of founding the Land of Dragons was to support his plans, not to create additional burdens out of thin air. Still, the fact that the remnants of the Land of Rivers' nobility had such ample funds... what a waste.
...Under the leadership of Zabuza and other Jonin-level powerhouses, the Land of Dragons' retaliatory assassinations began to unfold in numerous countries. The situation in the shinobi world instantly reached a freezing point.
"Damn it! Is that Uzumaki Naruto trying to start the Fourth Shinobi World War?! Iwagakure could bury the Third Raikage with thirty thousand ninja, and we can do the same to him!" Looking at the Land of Lightning Daimyo's letter of complaint on his desk, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, grew angrier each time he saw it.
"Lord Tsuchikage, a reply from the Land of Dragons." An ANBU operative placed an envelope on the desk and vanished.
Onoki suppressed his fury, resisted the urge to lash out, and opened the envelope. The content was simple, just one sentence, but that single sentence nearly sent his blood pressure soaring.
"Compensate; or, I will make you compensate."
"They still dare to demand compensation? Very well! Notify Kitsuchi! Push the Land of Dragons' defense line back ten kilometers!" Onoki was so angry he laughed, directly issuing the order to Kitsuchi's border forces.
Similar situations unfolded in other countries, all sharing one commonality: they had all accepted missions to assassinate Land of Dragons officials.
"Lady Tsunade, what should we do?" Shizune asked cautiously, observing the furious Hokage.
"Compensation?! Tell the ninja forces on the Land of Dragons' border to attack! Keep attacking until the Land of Dragons pays up! Even Hanzo of the Salamander wouldn't dare to offend all Five Great Shinobi Villages simultaneously! Who does Uzumaki Naruto think he is? The second God of Shinobi?!" Tsunade roared.
"Lady Hokage!"
"What is it?" Tsunade's gaze snapped towards the ANBU operative who had suddenly appeared in her office.
"Kirigakure... has been annihilated."
"Huh?!!!"