Naruto: IHCS Ch. 122

"Today really is nice weather…"

Kojiro opened the window and sighed. In the distance, the sky was clear and blue, like a sheet of colored paper. He turned and went downstairs, leaving the inn he had been staying at for a long time.

He immediately noticed that something had changed on the streets today.

The eyes of the refugees were filled with curiosity and fear. They all looked in the same direction, muttering under their breath. The shopkeepers nearby all wore dark, grim expressions, as though someone had just taken a lot of money from them.

Seeing their faces black as storm clouds, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Those shopkeepers never expected last night's assassination attempt to fail, did they?

In his mind, four familiar figures surfaced.

His lips curved into a smile, and he quickened his steps toward that direction.

When he arrived, all he saw was a heap of ruins. The inn had collapsed like it was made of paper, and not a single person was around.

He looked around.

Just then, from another inn northeast of the ruins, noise broke out.

His gaze fixed on that inn, someone familiar stepped out.

Yahiko waved at him.

"We're over here!"

Kojiro's face lit up with a smile, and he headed toward the inn.

The innkeeper sat bitterly in a chair. When he saw Kojiro, he glanced up once, then quickly lowered his head again.

Kojiro went upstairs, where Yahiko greeted him on the staircase. As he climbed, a faint smell of blood drifted in the air.

His eyes settled on the ceiling.

It seemed the smell of blood was coming from up there.

"Where's Shiratori?" he asked, ruffling Yahiko's hair.

Yahiko pouted and quickly smoothed it down again, he had just fixed it.

Seeing his expression, Kojiro burst out laughing.

"He's sleeping."

"He was really tired last night, so let him rest properly," Yahiko said with the seriousness of an adult.

Kojiro gave him a look. Just then, the sliding door opened from inside.

Shiratori stood at the doorway, letting out a yawn. He had slept well the night before, and waking up left him refreshed. He had already overheard their conversation.

"Come in," he said to Yahiko and Kojiro.

They sat down in the guest room.

Kojiro went straight to the point: "I'm here to fulfill my promise."

Yahiko's eyes lit up instantly. Of course, he hadn't forgotten what Kojiro had said.

Shiratori extended his hand toward Kojiro. "Welcome to the team."

Kojiro clasped his hand and smiled.

After letting go, Shiratori said, "You're not the only one joining us."

Kojiro raised his brows, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Seeing this, Yahiko puffed out his chest proudly. "Most of the ninjas and samurai who attacked us last night have joined our ranks too."

Kojiro's smile turned satisfied. "To turn enemies into like-minded companions… it seems I made the right choice."

Yahiko grinned as well.

"What do you plan to do next?" Kojiro's gaze finally settled on Shiratori.

Unlike Yahiko, he gave Kojiro the impression of a calm and steady adult.

Kojiro knew that if he asked Yahiko about these matters, he most likely wouldn't get any answers.

"To change the state of Aomine," Shiratori said.

"How do you plan to change it? That's not something so easily done. Do you already have an idea?" Kojiro asked.

Yahiko looked at Shiratori in confusion. He shared the same doubt as Kojiro.

Although they had already gathered quite a few companions, Yahiko hadn't thought at all about what they should do next.

"Confiscate the ill-gotten wealth of the corrupt and aid the starving refugees. Recruit like-minded ninjas, and eliminate the ones who stand in our way."

Shiratori stated it plainly.

Kojiro smiled. "Although the number of ninjas left in Aomine isn't large, their strength is nothing to underestimate. Can you defeat them?"

"I can."

He replied to Kojiro: "No matter the situation, one must never boost the enemy's morale while crushing one's own. Isn't that right?"

After all, Aomine was only the border of a small nation; it wouldn't produce overwhelmingly powerful ninjas.

His crows were already scattered throughout the region.

If an opponent too strong to resist appeared, he would, without hesitation, turn and flee.

Ideals were precious, but life was worth even more.

Kojiro completely agreed with his words.

For a ninja, even if outmatched, one could not lose the will to fight. Anyone who did was nothing but a coward.

"Yahiko, go call Muramasa and the others," Shiratori said, looking at him.

"Got it!"

Yahiko leapt up at once and dashed outside.

Soon after, the sound of many footsteps approached. He returned with a large group of ninjas and samurai.

"Everyone, come in," Shiratori said to them with a smile.

Once they had all entered, the room instantly felt cramped, packed tightly with warriors shoulder to shoulder.

Muramasa and Kojiro sized each other up, then exchanged smiles.

"Muramasa."

"Kojiro."

They shook hands, then both turned toward Shiratori.

Although the blond boy always grew fiery and excited when speaking of ideals, both Muramasa and Kojiro knew the one truly making the decisions was Shiratori.

"We're about to take action. Are you ready?" he asked.

Muramasa looked bewildered, and the ninjas and samurai behind him wore the same puzzled expressions.

Take action… doing what exactly?

What were they supposed to do?

Even Yahiko didn't know what his first step would be.

"First, we go to the most crowded place in Aomine and spread our ideals, see how many people are willing to support us, to join us. These people who support and join us will be the first strength we gather.

Second, we distinguish who is with us, who is neutral, and who is against us. For our own people, we'll protect them, provide food and work, they will be the ones to uphold our cause in the future. For the neutral faction, we won't move against them for now, we'll let them remain as they are. For the hostile faction, we must strike them harshly. We'll take their ill-gotten wealth to give to our own people, imprison them, and re-educate them."

The lessons of those who came before lay clear before him, and as he spoke he was fluent and unhesitating, without a single pause.

"What if they remain incorrigible?"

Muramasa, the eldest among those present, asked.

Shiratori looked at him and smiled slightly. "If they remain incorrigible, then we subject them to labor reform."

"Labor reform?"

A look of confusion appeared on Muramasa's face.

Not only him, everyone in the room, all the ninjas, looked at Shiratori in puzzlement.

"What is labor reform?"

Yahiko scratched the back of his head.

Seeing this, Shiratori explained, "Labor reform means assigning all the hardest, most grueling tasks in Aomine to these incorrigible people, and having ninjas supervise them from morning till night to ensure they complete the work. If they refuse, we use weapons to threaten them. Under such intense, exhausting labor, they will gradually lose the energy to oppose us. Over time, it will also rid them of bad habits and teach them the virtues of endurance and diligence."

After he finished, he noticed that the ninjas and samurai present were staring at him, eyes wide in shock.

"What's wrong?" he asked knowingly.

Yahiko blinked. The light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He actually disliked killing people. But it seemed that the only way ninjas solved problems was by killing. Though he was uncomfortable with it, he couldn't think of a better solution.

And now, hadn't Shiratori just given him the perfect answer?

"You're a genius!"

Yahiko excitedly threw his arms around his neck, grinning broadly.

[Affection detected: Yahiko +1000 points]
[Curse Growth - Love: 52.4%]

In the eyes of Muramasa and Kojiro, a bright light also appeared. They looked at Shiratori with excitement.

Muramasa nodded repeatedly.

"This really is a good method! Not only does it punish the incorrigible, but it also provides missions for ninjas and samurai."

Kojiro also nodded.

"Most importantly, this method aligns with our ideals, resolving conflicts and hatred through peaceful means."

Shiratori continued, "Once we confiscate all the ill-gotten wealth from the merchants, we will redistribute it within Aomine according to the principle of 'more work, more reward.' This way, we can prevent anyone from slacking off and gradually becoming like those merchants."

Muramasa and Kojiro agreed.

"Before taking formal action, we need to compile a roster of personnel and allocate tasks."

Shiratori stood up and addressed the group.

He glanced at Konan. Konan smiled, nodded, and took out pen and paper.

"Now, everyone line up and register your identity."

He stood beside Konan as she held the pen, looking expectantly at the ninjas and samurai before her.

Half an hour later, the registration was complete.

He picked up the roster and held it up for everyone to see.

"We have a total of 30 members, 9 samurai and 21 ninja."

"Now, we will conduct a democratic election. From among these thirty, we will choose captains. The decision will be made by everyone's vote."

His voice echoed through the room.

The ninjas and samurai panicked.

They looked somewhat at a loss.

Voting?

Wasn't it supposed to be Shiratori and his group who chose? Why were they being asked to participate?

They had never done such a thing before.

In the past, whether as missing-nin or wandering swordsmen, they had always followed orders from Kage, elders, ministers, or captains.

The idea of electing captains themselves was something they had never encountered.

Although every village's Kage supposedly had the support of the people, in reality, they themselves never had any real participation or decision-making power.

"I know what you're all thinking."

Shiratori smiled.

His eyes shone with sincerity.

"From the beginning, we've said this, Akatsuki is different from other organizations. Everyone in Akatsuki is a comrade who fights side by side. Since we are comrades, the captains should naturally be chosen by you. If any of you are ready to shoulder the responsibility of captain, you may also volunteer yourselves."

His gaze swept around the room.

Konan distributed a stack of neatly prepared slips of paper to the ninjas and samurai.

The ninjas held the slips curiously, exchanging uncertain glances.

"Write the name of the one you believe should be captain, fold it, and place it on the table. No one will know whom you chose, so follow your own heart."

The ninjas and samurai clutched the slips, excitement welling in their chests. Looking at the people around them, they finally felt something real.

Those beside them were their future comrades. Together, they would move toward a better life. In that moment, countless hearts drew closer.

An hour later, Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko had tallied the final results.

"After a completely open and transparent count, the final results are: Muramasa, twenty-one votes; Genraku, nine votes; Kojiro, ten votes."

"As the one with the highest votes, Muramasa will serve as captain."

Shiratori announced.

Applause filled the room.

The ninjas and samurai weren't even sure why they were clapping, yet they couldn't help but do so. The names they had written on the slips had truly been adopted. This was a captain they had chosen.

This was an election they themselves had taken part in.

Every ninja and samurai carried within them an indescribable excitement and joy.

"Next, we will form the squads," Shiratori continued.

Another hour passed.