Outside the shrine that enshrined the meteorite in Seinin Village.
"Star Shadow, I don't understand. You had already promised me to stop the Star Training, right? Why are we restarting it now?" Natsuhoshi asked anxiously.
"Sigh, the situation now is different from two years ago!" The Third Star Shadow sighed. "An organization called Akatsuki has brought chaos. Even the Five Great Hidden Villages can't ignore their existence. The shinobi no sekai is in turbulence, and war has become inevitable. Our village must possess the power to protect ourselves in this chaotic era!"
"But the Star Training will only bring disasters to the village!" Natsuhoshi argued. "To protect the village while letting everyone suffer from illness is unreasonable!"
"We still can't confirm that it's the Star Training causing the disasters!" The Third Star Shadow shook his head slightly. "Without a definite conclusion, the village cannot abandon the meteorite which has been regarded as a treasure!"
"Unless you can find Lord Seiki, who diagnosed you back then, and he personally gives the answer. With his prestige in the ninja world, everyone will believe it!"
"I'll do my best..." Natsuhoshi said with a bitter smile. If she could have found Seiki, she would've gone a long time ago.
The truth was, after leaving Konoha, Seiki's whereabouts had always been unpredictable.
If even people from Konoha didn't know where Seiki was, how could she possibly find him?
At that moment, a Hoshigakure Jonin ran over excitedly.
"Star Shadow, the legendary Ninja God of Konoha, Seiki Shimaseki, the Light of Konoha, is visiting our village!"
Upon hearing this long title, Natsuhoshi felt as if she were in a different world.
Although she had predicted back then that Seiki would definitely become a big name in the ninja world.
Still, within just eight short years, transforming from a new Chunin into the Ninja God, the difference still filled her with emotion.
The Third Star Shadow happily said, "Quickly invite Lord Seiki to the meeting hall. I'm heading there now!"
"Yes!"
After he left, the Third Star Shadow paced excitedly back and forth. "If we can get Lord Seiki to leave the Flying Thunder God Technique Form in Hoshigakure, even if war comes, we'll be able to survive the disaster with this technique form!"
Hearing the words of the Star Shadow, Natsuhoshi hesitated. "Even if Lord Seiki is willing to leave the Flying Thunder God Technique Form, how much energy could he really spare for Hoshigakure if war truly breaks out?"
"Haha, of course I know that!" The Third Star Shadow chuckled while stroking his beard. "But even the mere possibility of calling upon Lord Seiki's arrival is enough to keep most troublemakers at bay! Just his name alone is worth a thousand Jonin!"
"Just a name can protect a ninja village!" Natsuhoshi was deeply moved, her gaze drifting into the distance. "I can't even see your back anymore..."
Inside the meeting hall, the more influential Jonin and elders of Hoshigakure had already gathered.
"Lord Seiki is even younger than I imagined!"
"So young, yet achieving so much—it makes us old fellows envious!"
"I heard that Lord Seiki recently stopped the Akatsuki's plan at the Kage Summit!"
"If our little ones in Hoshigakure could reach even one percent of Lord Seiki's ability, I would be completely satisfied!"
Everyone's enthusiastic admiration wasn't just because of Seiki's strength and status, but also because of his Medical Ninjutsu!
Nearly a third of the shinobi in Seinin Village suffered from chronic illnesses, and Seiki was the greatest medical ninja in the entire shinobi world. Of course, they'd be excited about his arrival!
"I've arrived," Seiki responded politely, without looking down on them for their lower strength.
Just then, someone let out a startled exclamation.
[The Star Shadow arrives!]
The dense crowd immediately parted to create a path. The Third Star Shadow, looking vigorous and energetic despite his age, approached Seiki.
"Lord Seiki, I am the Third..." Realizing that "Star Shadow" was the title of Hoshigakure's leader—a title not recognized by the shinobi world—the Third Star Shadow quickly changed his words to avoid giving the wrong impression, "...Leader of Hoshigakure, Northmiko!"
Seiki bowed respectfully. "Lord Northmiko, it's an impertinent visit that disturbs you!"
"Nonsense! We're delighted that Lord Seiki could visit!" Northmiko laughed heartily, then turned to look at the crowd. "What are you all still standing around for? Go prepare a banquet immediately!"
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
"Please wait a moment!" Seiki called out to the dispersing crowd, then turned to the Star Shadow. "There's no need to trouble yourselves with a banquet. I came today mainly to fulfill a promise!"
Natsuhoshi, standing behind the Star Shadow, couldn't help but look excited as she asked anxiously, "Lord Seiki, could it be about that matter I asked you about eight years ago?"
She dared not ask directly about healing, fearing disappointment for everyone else, and worrying that Seiki might lose face.
Seiki smiled and nodded. "Recently, I obtained a batch of Greer Crystals from the Akatsuki organization. I believe the crystals' life energy can compensate for your drained vitality, so I hurried here to fulfill my promise to eliminate sickness from your village!"
Upon hearing that Seiki had come specifically to cure their illnesses, the crowd couldn't help but cheer excitedly.
"Wonderful! Hail Lord Seiki!"
"I'll always love Lord Seiki forever!"
However, among these excited voices, some concerns could also be heard. "I heard that Greer Crystals are very expensive. Do you think our village can really afford them?"
Hearing such worries, Seiki smiled and said, "These crystals were 'extorted' from the Akatsuki organization as ill-gotten gains. How could I possibly charge you for them? Consider them belated compensation from me!"
Natsuhoshi naturally couldn't allow Seiki to take undeserved blame upon himself, so she hurriedly defended him. "Originally, I should have given you the meteorite according to our agreement for you to research a treatment. It was my failure to obtain the meteorite that made you come late!"
The villagers had already been deeply grateful for Seiki's free medical treatment. But now, hearing from Natsuhoshi that he was taking the blame to spare them from any guilt made them even more moved beyond words, tears streaming down their faces.
"So there truly exists someone as perfect as Lord Seiki in this world!"
"If that's the case, then when Lord Seiki spared the Akatsuki members back then, it was actually for our sake?"
"Damn it! How can scumbags spread rumors that Lord Seiki spared enemies because he was greedy for money!"
"We must raise our voices! Even if Lord Seiki doesn't care, we absolutely cannot tolerate our protector being maligned!"
Lord Seiki accepted everyone's gratitude with perfect composure.
After all, wasn't he just idly tossing the Greer Crystals from one hand to the other? Didn't he go through all this trouble precisely to earn their gratitude?
In his plan, forming the Shinobi Alliance couldn't be a solo effort—he needed supporters who would rise to the occasion.
Among those who would answer, he had specifically chosen Sunagakure and Mist from the Five Great Hidden Villages.
As for the Small Ninja Villages, he had selected Kusagakure, Takumi, and Hoshigakure.
Preparations for the first two villages were already complete. Now, only Hoshigakure remained to be secured!
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