Chapter 551: Immigration to the Moon
When Uchiha Izumi saw Ishiro arrive, she didn't relax. Her "little brother" Sōkai was currently being suppressed by Uchiha Shisui, and as his protector, she didn't dare lose focus for a second.
She simply nodded at Ishiro and returned her attention to the fight.
Ishiro didn't mind. He walked up beside her and watched.
Sōkai was more resilient than Ishiro had expected. He had deftly handled several crises, and although Shisui's wooden sword had tagged him a few times, none of the hits were critical.
As time went on, the seals on Shisui's body began to reactivate. His chakra was suppressed, and his strength and speed began to fade rapidly. Soon, he was defeated by Sōkai.
Sōkai, however, was unsatisfied with this victory. He ran over to Izumi and said, "Izumi-san, next time! Next time I'll definitely beat him!"
Uchiha Izumi smiled and wiped the sweat from his brow, saying nothing.
Ishiro had no desire to watch this. His own girlfriend was far away, and he couldn't stand seeing others being so affectionate.
He walked over to Shisui and began to inspect the seals on his body.
Ishiro was still very wary of Shisui. This man had a "kind" persona, had his eyes gouged out, and was being used as a sparring partner. Yet, he hadn't given in to despair. Instead, he had trained his combat instincts to the point where he no longer needed his eyes.
This was classic protagonist-level suffering.
If Shisui ever escaped, Ishiro would truly regret it.
Therefore, Ishiro not only had the Barrier Team regularly check the seals, but he would also personally inspect them whenever he remembered.
However, Shisui rarely tried to escape. He had tried at the beginning, but he wasn't familiar with the seals and was quickly recaptured. Since he hadn't killed anyone during his escape, Iwa hadn't done anything to him.
After a few attempts, Shisui seemed to have resigned himself to his fate and never tried again.
Ishiro worried he was just waiting for the right opportunity, so Shisui's security level remained extremely high. The seals would never be more than halfway released unless a Kage-level shinobi was present.
After checking the seals and finding no problems, Ishiro had the ANBU take Shisui away.
He returned to Uchiha Izumi. "Izumi, you needed to see me?"
Uchiha Izumi said, "Lord Tsuchikage, while you were away, I received a message from Nekomata."
Ishiro's brow raised. "The 'Cat Matron' who looks after the Uchiha ninja cats?"
Izumi nodded. "So you know of her, Lord Tsuchikage. After our clan was... destroyed... Nekomata and the cats were put under surveillance by Konoha. Konoha has tried to get other ninja to form contracts with the ninja cats, but Nekomata has always refused, using the excuse that the Uchiha clan still has survivors."
"They probably considered that Sasuke is still alive, and the ninja cats have many Jonin and even Elite Jonin-level members. So Konoha has been polite and hasn't used force. Now, Nekomata has secretly sent me a letter. She wants the ninja cats to join Iwagakure and once again serve the Uchiha clan."
Ishiro asked, "How did she get the message out?"
"It was actually sent out a while ago, during the chaos of Konoha's operation against Danzō. But it took a long time to reach me."
Ishiro nodded. "This is a good thing, but we can't be hasty. It won't be easy for the ninja cats to leave Konoha's territory. We'll wait. When Danzō makes his move, we'll act."
Uchiha Izumi gave him a questioning look. She felt there was a hidden meaning in his words. She suspected Ishiro had struck some deal with Danzō, but she had no proof.
Ishiro didn't linger on the topic. "How is the analysis of the Moon data coming?"
"Not finished," Izumi said. "The files don't contain a direct 'how-to' for fusing the Byakugan. But there are hints in the records. The intelligence department is still analyzing. Also, the mind of the man whose body you brought back... it has a lot of intel. The Intel Division said his mind has no seals, so they are carefully searching his memories. They might find something, but it will take time."
Ishiro nodded. "Stay on top of it. Let me know if you find anything."
Izumi nodded. As the new Head of the Tsuchikage Assistant Team, this was now part of her job.
Ishiro then asked, "By the way, were there any Mangekyō Sharingan among those eyes?"
"We haven't had time to test them yet."
Ishiro said, "Hurry up. The Susanoo and genjutsu of a Mangekyō are strong, but once you reach a certain level, they're manageable. Unless you can advance to an Eternal Mangekyō and unlock higher forms, they aren't decisive in a Kage-level fight."
"However, the unique dōjutsu of a Mangekyō are different. Each one is an ability that touches the level of the Sages. Used well, they can change a battle. For me, Susanoo isn't an absolute defense, and its attack power is just... okay. But dōjutsu like Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, Obito's Kamui, or Itachi's Amaterasu... those I must be wary of."
"I understand, Lord Tsuchikage," Izumi replied.
Ishiro then looked at Sōkai. "Sōkai, you've improved a lot. It looks like you've really become Kage-level. Congratulations."
Sōkai scratched his head and grinned foolishly. Izumi, beside him, also looked happy.
As his teacher, Ishiro pointed out a few more flaws in Sōkai's fight with Shisui, and then he left.
A few days later, an unbelievable piece of news spread through the shinobi world.
Iwagakure had found a way to the Moon. And the Moon was habitable.
At first, everyone treated it as a joke.
Live on the Moon? Has Iwa gone crazy? The Iwagakure Bi-Weekly is getting more and more unreliable.
With Iwa's growing influence, their newspaper was now distributed across half the shinobi world. Many smaller nations, under pressure from Iwa, had begun to align with them, which included selling the paper.
Even in hostile nations like the Land of Fire, the paper was sold in many places. They weren't reading it to hear how great Ishiro was; they were reading it to monitor the Iwa-centric economic sphere.
But this time, everyone looked at the special edition's headline with disbelief.
They all dismissed it as a joke. Even though the paper included photographs of the Moon, they still didn't believe it. Who knew where those photos were really taken?
However, while the front page was nonsense, the second page—the gossip column—was still very popular.
"This story about the Sage of Six Paths is pretty good."
"Yeah, so he defeated an alien..."
"It's a story, but it feels so real... the Rabbit Goddess was an invader?"
"What? This is obviously just a story Iwa made up to justify their 'Moon landing' lie."
"Exactly! And the Sage has a brother? Who's ever heard of that?"
"A brother who lives on the Moon? You've got to be kidding me!"
"Haha, Iwa is insane! They must take us for fools."
The Iwagakure Bi-Weekly had spread the news, but it only caused a stir among civilians and low-ranking ninja. The high commands of the other villages paid it no mind.
But just as the chatter was dying down, another piece of news spread like wildfire.
"What? The Land of Earth is immigrating to the Moon? Are they addicted to this lie?"
"Not just the Land of Earth! The Land of Snow, Land of Demons, Land of Bears, Land of Waterfalls, Land of Hot Water, and even the Land of Wind are all sending people!"
"Oh my god... can you... can you really live on the Moon? Did Iwa really find a way?"
"This has to be a performance, right? A trap set by Iwa for Konoha to fall into. This has his signature all over it."
"You're right. The Fox of Iwa... Lord Fox... would definitely do something like this."
"No... I heard officials from all those countries went to the Moon. They all said it's habitable."
"I heard that too! They say the land is as fertile as the Land of Fire!"
"Really? As fertile as the Land of Fire? If a place like that exists, I'd immigrate!"
Many civilians were tempted. Especially the civilians in the Land of Wind.
The Land of Wind was the most barren in the world. To go from the most barren place to the most fertile... they would laugh in their sleep.
After the Land of Wind's Daimyō confirmed the news was true, they all rushed to their local officials, volunteering to pioneer the new land.
The number of volunteers from the Land of Wind alone nearly met Ishiro's total immigration target.
Now, the other great villages could no longer sit still.
In Konoha, even Kakashi, who had been focused on his Wood Release, was dragged into a meeting.
After listening to Shikaku Nara's report, Kakashi rubbed his head.
Kakashi had recently been studying space-time ninjutsu theory (he'd ordered Genma Shiranui and the others to teach him the basics). His head was already full. He asked Shikaku, "Shikaku-senpai, what's your take? Is this real or fake?"
Shikaku said, "It's probably real. Several countries are already arranging the logistics. Our intel suggests the passage is in the northern Land of Snow. The Land of Snow is moving the fastest, as if they're afraid someone will steal their piece of the pie."
Kakashi forced himself to focus. "So... the stories about the Sage and his brother fighting Kaguya, and the brother moving to the Moon... that's all real?"
That was the critical part. Immigration wouldn't threaten Konoha in the short term. It just meant more military funds for Iwa, and Iwa already had more money than them.
But if the Sage of Six Paths was real, then anything related to him was a major issue.
What if Iwa found some treasure or special jutsu on the Moon related to the Sage or his brother?
The consequences were unimaginable.
Shikaku gave a bitter laugh. "I can't say. The only source for that is Iwa's newspaper. Any real intel is locked down by Iwa's high command."
Kakashi sighed. "Does the council have a counter-plan?"
"The most direct method is to destroy the passage," Shikaku said. "But that's difficult. We don't know what it looks like or how to destroy it. And the Land of Snow is too far. We'd have to cross Iwa territory, which is too dangerous. Iwa will certainly have it heavily guarded. We'd have to send multiple Kage-level shinobi, and even then, we might fail."
Kakashi frowned. "Sending Kage is impossible. We don't have that many to risk. If this is a trap, we'd be finished. We might not get a single one back."
Shikaku nodded. "Kiri and Kumo will feel the same. So, destroying it is out. That only leaves... sending spies to infiltrate the Moon."
"But... how would they send intel back? The Tsuchikage is only publicizing this because he knows that's the hard part. It's probably easy to get to the Moon, but impossible to get back. We don't even know if summoning jutsu will work from that distance."
He paused. "The Intel Division has one idea. If they get in... they'll try to... throw rocks from the Moon back to Earth to send signals. But... we don't know if that's even possible. If not, they'll be on their own. We'll have to give them full autonomy."
Kakashi was silent. "Do it. You'll arrange it, Shikaku-senpai."
This news gave Kakashi a renewed sense of urgency. He decided to start practicing space-time ninjutsu immediately after the meeting.
Just as he was about to dismiss them, an intel ninja entered. "Lord Hokage! Another report from the port. Danzō attacked again. This time he brought many Root ninja. They cleaned out the entire port's storehouses."
The room groaned. Danzō, again! Can't he just stop?
Kakashi looked at the report. "Your thoughts on the 'many Root ninja' part?"
Chōza Akimichi said, "Danzō killed all his Root ninja. These... must be Iwa ninja. Iwa has broken the treaty and is colluding with him again."
Kakashi looked at Shikaku.
Shikaku said, "Danzō has used Edo Tensei. It's possible he reanimated his old subordinates. But... the most likely answer is Iwa. Danzō has no use for that many supplies. He's selling them to Iwa."
He paused. "Lord Hokage, we must be wary of Danzō recruiting our own ninja."
Shikaku was well aware of the growing class divide in the village.
Kakashi waved his hand, dismissing the concern. He wasn't aware of how bad it had gotten. What normal ninja would willingly follow Danzō?
Shikaku, seeing this, could only suppress his anxiety. After all, his own clan was part of the problem. As a beneficiary of the corruption, he didn't know how to bring it up.
Besides, Hiashi Hyūga was giving him a pointed look with his Byakugan. Shikaku got the message and shut up.
They had no solution for Danzō, so they moved on.
Shikaku dismissed the meeting. Kakashi rushed off to train.
Shikaku quietly told the other clan heads, "Be more discreet. Don't give Danzō an opening."
His words had little effect. Most of them just brushed him off. Hiashi Hyūga didn't even bother to pretend.
Shikaku sighed. He knew he couldn't even get his own clan to stop. It's easy to grow accustomed to luxury, but hard to give it up. They wouldn't stop until they were full... and maybe not even then.
A coastal town in the Land of Fire.
It had recently become the main trade hub and was bustling with activity.
Today, it was dead quiet.
The port, once overflowing with goods, was now empty.
The goods had been taken by Iwa ninja disguised as Root. The civilians and Konoha guards had been rounded up and forced to watch the entire robbery.
After the last pirate ship set sail, the "Sixth Hokage" Danzō walked up to the Konoha ninja.
He said coldly, "Tell Kakashi... I will be back for what is mine."
Then he and his "loyal Root" left.
Among them, three figures, noticeably shorter than the rest, glanced back curiously at the Konoha ninja before they disappeared.
After Danzō left, the Konoha ninja conferred, then sent a few members back to the village with the report.
They didn't seem particularly upset.
Danzō hadn't killed them. He had, however, killed the clan ninja who had been their supervisors—the ones they couldn't stand.
They elected a new Jonin as their captain and... continued their "guard duty."
Though there was nothing left to guard, they were laughing and joking, more relaxed than before the attack.
Aono Shinichi, Shizuka Minamoto, and Rion had, of course, noticed the Konoha ninjas' strange reactions.
Back on the ship, they took off their masks and began to analyze the situation.
They quickly deduced the internal class conflict in Konoha, a fact that even Iwa's high command was unaware of.
But their discussion was cut short. Danzō summoned them.
He needed to exchange these goods for cash immediately, so he could go back to Konoha and recruit.
Aono Shinichi and the others steeled themselves for their second negotiation with Danzō.
Perhaps because they now had experience, or perhaps because they were used to his grim face, or perhaps because they sensed his desperation, this time, they held their ground.
They argued, and they finally managed to get a new price, one even lower than the first.
After dropping the goods at the Iwa branch, Danzō took his few remaining true Root members—and his three Iwa "assistants"—and headed back to the Land of Fire.
He wasn't going to raid this time. He was going to use his "cash ability" to take back Konoha.
His first stop: the very port he had just robbed.
The ninja who had stood by and watched him kill the clan ninja without resisting... they would be his first recruits.
(End of Chapter)
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