Land of Waves, Umbrella Corporation Reception Room.
Hanzo the Salamander sat on the sofa, his face obscured by a breathing mask, his body covered in strange fissures. He was deeply engrossed in the documents in his hands, his expression growing more and more captivated with each page.
Only after flipping to the last page did he finally let out a long sigh. "In all my decades of living, I've never met someone who could dissect the shinobi world with such clarity. 'The essential condition for peace is for the great villages to abandon their self-serving schemes'—now that is a masterstroke."
"I'm honored to receive such praise from the man once called the 'Demi-Godi,'" Yuto replied with a smile from his seat at the head of the table. Behind him sat Uzumaki Rina, dressed in a sleek black pantsuit—her official title in the Land of Waves was "Chief Secretary."
"Shameful, really," Hanzo muttered, lowering his head. "I'm no longer the proud demigod of my youth. Just a withered old man clinging to his delusions."
"Self-awareness is a rare virtue," Yuto said, his lips curling slightly. "The fact that you recognize your current state means you still have the potential to change."
"Lord Yuto," Hanzo lifted his gaze to meet the young man's eyes. "What you're attempting… it would truly reshape the entire shinobi world. But this path won't be easy to walk."
The greatest obstacle to such upheaval was the very system that sustained the current order—the Kage of the villages, the daimyo, the nobility, and all those in power. They would never surrender their privileges without a fight. Which meant the Land of Waves would soon find itself standing against the entire world.
Was victory even possible?
"True, it's a road paved with thorns and blood," Yuto admitted without flinching. "So, Lord Hanzo… would you be willing to walk this path with the people of the Land of Waves and see the dawn at its end?"
Hanzo fell silent for a long moment before finally bowing slightly. "Then I shall place myself in your care…Leader"
"Welcome aboard, Hanzo," Yuto said warmly. "For the sake of our phased plans, you'll need to serve as the long-term public face of this 'Umbrella Corporation.'"
"Understood." Hanzo nodded without hesitation.
*Click.*
The door closed behind Hanzo as he left the reception room.
Yuto leaned back in his chair, eyes shut, contemplating the Land of Waves' next steps.
The academy district was already completed, and compulsory education policies were in full swing. The industrial zone's factories were still under construction, with production likely two months away. Without proper facilities, mass-producing equipment was impossible. Even if he had already pioneered technologies like networked communications, widespread adoption remained out of reach.
Then there was the issue of raw materials—the Land of Waves' current funds wouldn't last much longer. True, they had inherited a fortune of five billion ryo from Gato, but most of it had already been poured into infrastructure.
The Land of Waves' foundation was just too weak. Without large-scale construction, none of their plans could take off.
Spending money had been easy. Now came the suffering.
'Where do we get more funds?'
Yuto massaged his temples, a headache brewing.
Just then, a pair of soft, delicate hands gently cupped his head, thumbs pressing rhythmically against his pressure points. A faint scent of jasmine drifted into his nostrils.
"How's this pressure?" Rina's voice was tender.
"Not bad. Very professional," Yuto replied, opening his eyes with a smile.
"I also know some…less professional techniques. Would the Leader like to try them?"* Rina whispered by his ear, her breath warm.
"Ahem. Let's… save that for another time," Yuto said, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he awkwardly changed the subject. "It's getting late. Maybe you should rest first?"
"Of course." Rina, ever the understanding woman, didn't push further—though she did lightly brush her fingers against his cheek. "If the Leader ever needs me… I'm always available~"
With that, she stood and left.
*Click.*
The door shut behind her.
"If the Leader ever needs me… I'm always available~!"
No sooner had Rina left than Kushina abruptly phased out of Yuto's body, mimicking her voice with exaggerated flair. "Tsk tsk tsk, being the Leader must be exhausting! Not only do you work all day, but you also have to endure your secretary's unprofessional massages at night—"
"That never happened," Yuto retorted, his eye twitching. "You know exactly what I do every day."
"Do I?" Kushina tapped a finger against his chest, her tone dripping with implication. "Mikoto and I also fell for your 'Mirage of the Blossoming ' genjutsu. If you wanted to sneak around at night without us knowing, it'd be way too easy. Right, Mikoto?"
"I'm staying out of this," Mikoto's voice floated from the Spirit Pearl, though her refusal to participate didn't stop her from watching intently, her face flushed.
"But there is one thing I'm curious about,"Kushina murmured, looping her arms around Yuto's neck and straddling his lap. She leaned in, her lips brushing his ear. "Can the great Leader even handle those…unprofessional techniques in his current state?"
*Hiss—*
The sheer audacity of her actions sent a jolt through Yuto.
Kushina's cool hands slid down his chest like a mischievous little fish, venturing lower—
Knock knock knock!
A sudden, urgent rapping at the door shattered the moment.
Kushina froze, then vanished back into the Spirit Pearl in a flash—only now realizing just what she had been doing, her heart pounding, face burning.
Yuto, equally flustered but far better at masking it, cleared his throat. "Come in."
"Leader, you have a visitor."
Standing in the doorway was Yakushi nonō, who stepped aside to reveal a figure in a black cloak adorned with red clouds—Konan.
"Nee-san?" Yuto's face lit up with surprise.
"It's been a while, Yuto."
Konan's usually cool expression softened into a faint smile—like a white lotus blooming atop a snowy peak, pure yet striking. "I'm here on Nagato's behalf. He's invited you to… Hm? Why is your face so red?"
"Ah, the room's a bit stuffy," Yuto replied smoothly.
Nonō, standing beside Konan, arched a brow. 'Stuffy? The window's wide open behind you!'
But with a guest present, she wisely kept her thoughts to herself.
Konan, less perceptive than Yoroi, simply nodded. "Nagato wants you to join the Akatsuki. He's willing to step down and let you take over as leader."
"Joining the Akatsuki is fine, but I'll pass on the leadership," Yuto said after a moment's thought. Smiling, he added, "I think it's better if I start as an…intern."
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