Naruto: IY Ch. 29

"Bread is getting more expensive, and so is fish. How are we supposed to survive like this?"

"Yesterday, bread was 100,000. Today it's jumped to 180,000. I can't afford it. Really, I can't."

"Sigh, this is just the fate of a small country like ours. 180,000 is not bad, just be glad Konoha is still willing to sell to us at all."

Rain poured like pillars outside. Inside a small tavern, a few residents of Ame were complaining.

In a quaint, elegantly styled study, a man wearing a special mask sat at a desk, currently practicing calligraphy.

"Hanzō-sama, food prices remain sky-high. If this continues, things might fall apart."

A high-ranking jonin knelt beside him, his tone full of worry.

Upon hearing this, Hanzō's hand trembled slightly. On the rough-edged paper, his once-fluid calligraphy now bore a small flaw.

He shook his head helplessly.

Once feared, his spirit had been worn down by the great nations.

After the Second Great Ninja War, he finally understood why the Five Great Nations always remained the Five Great Nations. Whether it was military or economic power, they completely crushed the smaller nations.

After their defeat in the Second Great Ninja War, the Five Great Nations imposed a full economic blockade on the Land of Rain.

Merchants from the great nations were forbidden from trading with them.

Already plagued by constant rain and an unsuitable climate for farming, now even Konoha had cut off food supplies. There was no path left to survival.

If Yahiko hadn't taken a group of refugees away, Hanzō might've had to consider taking drastic measures, only half the people could survive.

He put down his brush.

Hanzō looked toward the direction of Yoake.

"How many loyal ninjas remain in the village?" he asked his trusted aide.

"Eight hundred," the aide replied.

"Good! Better them than us, we'll just have to make the neighboring friendly village suffer a bit."

---

"If the youth are wise, the village will be wise. If the youth are strong, the village will be strong!"

At school, the new semester had begun.

First graders were now starting their moral education.

Yahiko hoped the children could grow in all areas, morally, intellectually, physically, artistically, and in practical skills.

Class 1-3 was led by Konan.

Yahiko had come to observe the class. He sat in the back row next to Konan.

The teacher lecturing at the front was Umino Ikkaku.

That surname... and that familiar face.

Isn't that Iruka's father? What's he doing in Yoake?

Busy as he was, it was the first time Yahiko had taken a good look at Ikkaku.

An ordinary face. Ordinary ability.

Could it be...

Could Hiruzen have sent a spy to get revenge?

"Follow the rules and the law... Without discipline... there is no freedom. If you want freedom... you must obey the rules..."

Under Yahiko's intense gaze, Ikkaku was seriously stressed. He was stumbling over his words.

"You can do it, Sensei!" shouted Takeshi from the first group of seats.

That's right! I can do this! Ikkaku cheered himself on internally.

Prejudice in people's hearts was vast.

No matter how well Ikkaku taught, Yahiko still believed he had ulterior motives.

"Why are you staring at Ikkaku-sensei so much?"

Daibutsu and Kyosuke, sitting in the last row, turned and asked.

Yahiko smiled without answering. Ninja had sharp ears, no movement escaped them. But that didn't mean he'd tell them.

"Daibutsu! Kyosuke!"

Seeing them distracted, Ikkaku had to discipline them. He used the Body Flicker Technique and lightly tapped both their heads with a book.

Daibutsu and Kyosuke: "..."

They were 14 already! First grade was one thing, but getting hit?

"Just take me away already," Kyosuke said bitterly.

"Haha, finish elementary school first, then we'll talk."

After that, Yahiko ignored them and kept silently analyzing every word Ikkaku said from the podium.

You still want me to believe you weren't sent by Hiruzen? That head-tapping move is identical to your son's! Don't you think you can lure away my precious students!

Beside him, Konan had total control over the pure-hearted Ikkaku. This chunin with a suspicious background especially liked children, so she made sure he had interacted with every first-grade class.

That... was how you built bonds.

"Should we add an art class for the kids?" Konan whispered into Yahiko's ear.

"Why?"

"I heard people who learn to draw are usually kind-hearted."

"Uh..." Yahiko gave her a look that clearly said, "Are you messing with me?"

"Fine, maybe we shouldn't add extra burden on the kids," Konan sighed, giving up on the idea.

Krokk.

Suddenly, Yahiko felt a tug at the hem of his pants.

He looked down.

It wasn't a person, but a toad.

Where did this toad come from?

He almost kicked it on instinct.

"It's me."

"You...oh, Gami."

Yahiko remembered. He had asked the toads from Mount Myōboku to help keep an eye on some of the rowdier students.

"Why are you so fat now? You look... forget it."

Yahiko picked him up and poked at his belly with his index finger. Everyone nearby just silently ignored it.

After all, he was the principal. He had the power here.

"Takeshi feeds me well," Gami said, patting his round belly. Clearly, he was living the good life.

"You came to report something? Did he do something bad?"

Gami thought for a moment and said, "No, not really... it's just that lately, that kid has been talking to someone weird."

"Tell me more." Yahiko lowered his voice.

"That person keeps asking Takeshi and the other kids what it feels like when they poop."

Yahiko: "..."

He didn't even want to guess who.

If, by any chance, that freak wasn't connected to Madara, and if he wasn't somehow scheming in the background before the next war... Then he swore, even executing White Zetsu ten times would still be too light a punishment.

According to Nagato's investigation, two ninjas had been caught in the restroom spying on a kunoichi, likely White Zetsu, and were now so traumatized they couldn't function. One of their wives was even filing for divorce.

Sinful.

Absolutely sinful.

Even with the elders on high alert, they still let White Zetsu infiltrate Yoake?

It turns out that White Zetsu actually got in through the toilet, and ate onigiri?

"And then? What else did he do?"

Yahiko clenched his fists. If anyone tried to corrupt the young minds of his village, he'd twist their head off.

"He asked Takeshi for movie tickets... hmm, asked Kantaro for a chessboard... and asked Gian for a fairy tale book."

"Gian definitely didn't give him anything."

Gami was shocked. "How did you know?"

"Heh, basic deduction. Don't overthink it." Yahiko smirked. With a personality like Gian's, you think he's the kind of guy who shares?

---

Meanwhile, Madara was recently searching for a successor. Among the Uchiha, he had two top candidates in mind.

One was Fugaku, who had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but he was too mature, now at an age where he only talked about benefits, not emotions.

That left only one other choice:

Obito, the seven-year-old who had awakened the Sharingan and was known for his warm heart and kindness.

Based on Obito's behavior, he believed the boy was the easiest type to manipulate.

Also, only an Uchiha with love in his heart could be emotionally triggered into unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan. Those born cold and indifferent... they probably wouldn't even flinch if their own mother died. How could they awaken it?

That was his hard-earned experience.

"Investigate further," he ordered a White Zetsu.

He had heard that Yahiko was close to this kid?

Heh. If the woman he loves and the borther figure he admires both died in front of him... surely he would be utterly disillusioned with the shinobi world?

"Don't worry, Yahiko. In my Eye of the Moon plan, I'll introduce you to Izuna. You two will have so much to talk about."

As he mentioned Izuna, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

"Do you miss Hashirama?"

"Maybe," one of the White Zetsu whispered. "Last time he watched a movie through one of our clones, White Zetsu said he'd steal the film reel and bring it back for him, but Madara wasn't happy. Maybe he wants to wait until Hashirama is resurrected so they can watch it together."

A few White Zetsu chatted quietly on the side.

"Ah! Madara-sama, it's bedtime!" White Zetsu suddenly popped up to remind him.

Madara frowned. But seeing the pitiful expression on the White Zetsu he'd been dealing with for so long... even raising a dog creates some affection, let alone one bred from that man's cells...

"Go, go, go! I can't believe I'm even feeling sorry for you." He impatiently shoved White Zetsu away.

Bathroom this, bathroom that. What kind of creature was this? A "toilet-breed"?

"Ah! Madara-sama, open your ears. I'm going to tell you a bedtime story."

"I don't want to hear it." Madara closed his eyes.

White Zetsu nodded and began with his usual strange voice, "Once upon a time, there was a princess who was very fair, so everyone called her Snow White..."

Seeing Madara unresponsive, White Zetsu continued cheerfully, "But Snow White had an evil stepmother who was jealous of her beauty. So she made her scrub the fireplaces and sweep the ashes. Over time, her face grew smudged with soot, and everyone began calling her Cinderella."

Madara twitched at the corner of his mouth.