The morning sun rose over the sea in streaks of orange and silver, illuminating the coastal village that had begun to bend under my subtle influence. From my balcony, I watched the roads and pathways, the workers, the guards, and the occasional wandering travelers. My territory, small and seemingly insignificant, was beginning to hum with order. Every footstep, every movement, every whisper was now a thread I could pull if I chose.
I sipped my tea and thought about the next phase. Protection was established. Loyalty, purchased and secured. Information flowing, however modestly. But survival in this world was not merely about guarding your own door; it was about expanding influence, gathering power quietly, and ensuring no one could ever threaten you.
Today, the plan was simple: recruit more skilled individuals, particularly shinobi, and expand the intelligence network.
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Recruitment Strategy
I began with the coastal villages, sending discreet envoys to identify anyone with martial skill, knowledge of ninjutsu, or even just courage and cunning. Villagers who could throw a spear, navigate forests, or maintain secrecy were noted and observed. Kina worked alongside me, her quiet efficiency ensuring no misstep went unrecorded.
I instructed her to focus on potential defectors from nearby minor clans—those dissatisfied with their lords or seeking opportunity. They would not come willingly at first, but gold and protection were persuasive. With my Ability, resources were limitless, but I had to maintain appearances: no obvious displays of wealth that would attract attention from more powerful daimyō. Everything had to seem natural, as if the coastal land was merely thriving through hard work and fair leadership.
By mid-morning, reports began trickling in: a young genin from the west seeking a stable place to work, a chūnin-level wanderer willing to serve for coin, and an older man claiming to be a former mercenary with knowledge of explosive talismans and basic traps.
These individuals were perfect. Not only could they enhance my guard force, but they could also act as trainers, creating a multiplier effect: one skilled individual could train five to ten recruits, rapidly expanding capability without drawing attention.
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First Meetings
I summoned each candidate to the estate, carefully controlling the impression they received. Gold coins and a modest meal were placed in front of them, enough to imply the opportunity without revealing the limitless wealth I actually controlled.
"You will serve under me," I told the first genin. "Protection, pay, and instruction. In return, loyalty above all. No exceptions."
The boy's eyes flickered with excitement. "I… I understand. I'll serve."
The older mercenary, Daigo's former associate, smirked. "I serve those who can pay and protect me. Do you?"
"I do," I said. "But this isn't about me. This is about survival. And control. I will show you how to survive in a world that would otherwise chew you alive."
By the end of the morning, three more recruits had agreed to join. I now had a pool of ten trained individuals—or individuals capable of learning fast. These men and women would form the core of my personal ninja network, the first operational unit that would ensure both intelligence gathering and defense.
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Network Expansion
Kina had already been coordinating observers, messengers, and villagers willing to spy for a coin. Today, we took it one step further. I ordered her to:
Map all minor clans within a fifty-kilometer radius.
Identify movement of trade caravans, including potential shipment contents.
Record known mercenaries, wandering shinobi, or exiled clan members in the area.
Her eyes glimmered with excitement as she nodded. "It will take time, but we can cover most routes within a week."
Good. I needed a network that could provide early warnings of danger, track movements of those with ill intent, and perhaps even offer opportunities for profit without direct confrontation. Knowledge, once again, was my greatest weapon.
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Organizing the Force
By afternoon, the recruits had undergone their first coordinated training session. I observed from the balcony, detailing everything in my mind: formations, reaction time, ability gaps, and loyalty cues.
Sano drilled the guards in combat readiness while Riku focused on weapons handling. Kina continued to teach silent movement and observation. I provided strategic input: where to place sentries, how to structure patrols, and the protocols for reporting unusual activity.
Even simple routines were layered with rules to ensure efficiency:
Each patrol covered overlapping zones for redundancy.
Messengers carried coded reports.
Recruits rotated between guard, labor, and observation duties to maintain flexibility.
I realized that within a month, this small coastal force could rival minor clan units in both speed and precision. And yet, it was subtle enough to avoid drawing attention from larger powers like the Senju or Uchiha in distant lands.
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Personal Reflection
Sitting alone in my room later that evening, I allowed myself a moment of contemplation. My Ability remained unused for most of today's operations, yet its presence was a comfort. Infinite copies, infinite space, infinite lifespan—it was a silent assurance that no matter the challenge, I could overcome it, adapt, and prepare.
I considered the larger picture. This coastal land was small, a stepping stone, but it was mine. No one had yet contested my authority, and the neighboring clans were more concerned with their own rivalries. The Land of Tea was stable enough that, if managed carefully, I could consolidate power quietly.
In another life, I would have sought glory, recognition, and expansion. Here, survival was paramount, and the best survival often required patience, strategy, and careful manipulation of every resource—including people, information, and perception.
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The First Test
Even as I rested, a small incident occurred that tested the foundations I had built. A wandering merchant approached the harbor, claiming to carry rare goods. Sano, overseeing the dock patrols, notified me immediately: the man's behavior was suspicious.
I ordered Kina to gather intelligence while I prepared a small team. Within minutes, we discovered the merchant was attempting to smuggle a minor amount of explosives disguised as trade goods. The network had worked. Information reached me in real time, allowing a controlled interception without alerting the villagers.
I confronted the merchant myself, allowing him to kneel in fear before presenting the ryo bribe. Half a day's gold, and he departed, never speaking of what he had attempted. The villagers remained unaware; their trust intact. My personal force had prevented a potential disaster without bloodshed—a demonstration of the system's effectiveness.
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Strengthening the System
The incident reinforced my resolve to expand both the intelligence network and the military structure. Orders went out to recruit another five individuals capable of handling specialized tasks: sabotage, infiltration, and advanced reconnaissance.
I also began training Daigo and the chūnin-level recruits to create mini-units capable of independent action. Each unit would have autonomy but report directly to me through coded messages. The structure mirrored a modern organization in principle: hierarchical but with decentralized operational efficiency.
By evening, the first iteration of the Shadow Division operational protocol was complete. Kina had her team. The guards understood their zones. Recruits had basic combat coordination. Supplies were inventoried and stored. Plans were drafted for contingencies ranging from natural disasters to hostile clan incursions.
The coastal land, once insignificant and vulnerable, now hummed with latent power.
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Future Plans
I sat in my room, reviewing maps and scrolls, plotting the next phase. My immediate goal was consolidation: establish dominance over the territory, integrate intelligence operations, and ensure no clan or bandit could interfere. Beyond that, I planned recruitment trips to neighboring minor clans, gathering skilled individuals under the guise of employment or protection.
All the while, my personal funds—the infinite wealth from my Ability—remained hidden. Every gold coin, every silver ingot, every rare jade or precious material had been duplicated and secured in hidden compartments, ensuring both readiness and secrecy.
The ultimate aim was not conquest, at least not yet. It was stability, security, and the accumulation of power behind the scenes. Once my position was unassailable, influence could spread quietly, and the coastal territory would serve as a model for control and organization.
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Evening Reflection
Night fell, blanketing the village in darkness save for the lanterns along the roads. I stepped outside to observe the quiet movement of my guards, the gentle flicker of light in villagers' homes, and the subtle rhythm of the ocean.
The life I had chosen in this world—strategic, cautious, patient—was beginning to take shape. I thought of the distant lands, the minor clans, and the inevitable rise of powerful families yet unborn. Fifty years remained before the founding of Konoha, decades before Hasirama and Madara would enter the scene. Time was on my side, but only if I continued to plan, act, and remain unseen.
I whispered to the sea once more, a mantra to solidify my purpose: Survive. Protect. Expand. Control. Behind the scenes, always.
The waves replied in their eternal rhythm, a reminder of the delicate balance between calm and storm, and of the unseen currents beneath every surface.