Hearing Kechi's brazenly confident words, the disdain in the Yugakure leader's eyes intensified.
He became even more convinced that Kechi was some powerful person's kept woman who'd come to Yugakure specifically to have fun.
But he couldn't be too harsh with his words.
"Ahem... miss, it's not that I don't believe you!"
"But do you even know how high the quality of Konoha ninja is?"
Konoha was the number one ninja village in the shinobi world.
Whether in the number of ninja, their quality, or even the grade and variety of jutsu, they far surpassed other major villages.
Their foundation was unfathomably deep.
Konoha's special-jonin could already serve as jonin and personal guards in small villages like Yugakure no Sato.
They'd even have the qualifications to compete for village leadership.
And now someone was claiming that in half a month, she could return an elite force no worse than Konoha ninja?
Keep in mind, small ninja villages' ranking systems were already arbitrary.
To save face, they'd promote chunin to jonin.
The water content in those ranks was obviously massive.
Was she here to joke with him?
If this were anyone else, the Yugakure leader would've already had them thrown out.
Facing his skepticism, Kechi maintained that confident smile on her face.
"Leader, what would I gain from lying to you?"
"If I dare say this, it means I can definitely do it."
"Shinobi don't deceive fellow shinobi!"
"..."
The atmosphere in the room grew somewhat delicate due to Kechi's words.
Sunlight streamed through the window onto the wooden floor, but couldn't dispel that faint tension.
The Yugakure leader narrowed his eyes slightly. After a moment of silence, he slowly stood up.
Looking at Kechi again, his eyes still held doubt, but with an added touch of scrutiny.
"You say you can do it. Then explain how you plan to build such a force in half a month?"
"You should know that training as a ninja isn't something that can be done overnight!"
"Even a ninja with exceptional talent needs long periods of training and real combat experience to mature."
Kechi lifted her chin slightly, her gaze firm. "Naturally, I have my methods."
"Half a month isn't very long... is it? Don't tell me you can't even wait that long?"
The Yugakure leader sat back down in his chair, fingers lightly tapping the armrest as he fell into thought.
Half a month truly wasn't long, but fifty ninja, for Yugakure's current situation...
That was too many!
After all, most ninja were deployed outside. Those remaining all had their own tasks.
Time passed second by second. The room fell so quiet that only the sound of fingers tapping the armrest and occasional wind from outside could be heard.
After a long pause, the Yugakure leader raised his head and looked at Kechi.
"Fine. I'll give you half a month, but the number is reduced to twenty ninja."
"Let me be blunt up front, if you can't deliver on your promise, I'll have to ask you to leave Yugakure No Sato."
Seeing him agree, Kechi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face.
"Just watch and see!"
The Yugakure leader nodded slightly. "We'll start tomorrow. How's that?"
"No problem!"
"Then please, go ahead. Lodgings have already been arranged for you."
"Thank you!"
After speaking, Kechi left the room with the three ninja, heading toward the accommodations prepared for them.
Along the way, her mind constantly worked through the upcoming plan.
Twenty ninja was less than expected, but close enough.
As for whether she could complete the task? She'd never even considered that.
This was getting something for nothing from the start. Having anything at all was already good, what right did she have to be picky?
How to train the ninja she'd conned...
She'd already thought that through, too.
Just have them drink potions.
Although she didn't know if the potions would conflict with the chakra system, trying wouldn't hurt.
If people died, she wouldn't feel bad. Worst case, she'd just move somewhere else.
...
In the lodgings, Yugakure arranged for Kechi's group.
The room's decoration wasn't luxurious but showed refinement everywhere.
An exquisite Japanese-style screen painted with elegant landscape scrolls cleverly divided the room into different areas. Tatami mats on the floor emanated fresh grass fragrance, soft and comfortable.
Kechi sat at a low table while the three ninja respectfully gathered around her.
The room's lighting was soft and warm, illuminating everyone's solemn expressions.
"Rin!" Kechi called out.
"Yes!" Rin immediately answered.
"While it's still light out, go see if there are any shops for rent. If they're not too expensive, rent one. Doesn't need to be big."
"Understood!" Rin responded with a serious expression.
Kechi nodded slightly and pulled out some money from her luggage, roughly two million ryo.
Not much, but enough.
She only had three million ryo total anyway.
Tsunade had given her two million, while the other one million came from those six wandering ninja.
All confiscated and appropriated.
Rin respectfully accepted the money from Kechi's hands.
"Oh, and hire a ninja for the renovation work. Speed is important!" Kechi continued instructing.
"Understood, Kechi-sama!"
After Rin left the room, Kechi looked up at the other two ninja.
For a moment, she really couldn't think of what use they had right now.
"As for you two... uh... go guard the door!"
"Yes!" ×2
The two ninja gazed at Kechi with infatuation before taking positions on either side of the entrance, vigilantly watching passersby.
...
The next morning, Kechi had just woken from sleep when a knock sounded at her door.
"Kechi-sama, someone from the Yugakure leader is here for you!"
The voice of one of the door-guarding ninja came from outside.
"Have him wait a moment."
Kechi responded casually and walked to the mirror, simply fixing her hair to ensure she looked presentable.
Her fingers lightly brushed across her cheek.
That familiar yet somehow strange outline made her fall into brief contemplation.
She'd been in the ninja world for over half a year now.
Though her personality had changed during Sequences 9 and 8, those changes were nothing compared to what happened in the half month since advancing to Sequence 7.
She felt like she wasn't even herself anymore.
Can I really change back?
Before long, Kechi opened the door to see a Yugakure messenger standing outside.
The messenger bowed slightly. "Kechi-sama, the leader requests you visit the training grounds."
Kechi nodded. "I understand. I'll head over now."
When she arrived at the training grounds, sunlight already bathed the entire area.
Some ninja were conducting their daily training.
The Yugakure leader stood to one side of the grounds. Seeing Kechi arrive, he raised his hand slightly to signal her over and smiled.
"You're here. I've already prepared everyone for you."
He pointed at the dozen or so ninja in the field.
"Don't say I didn't take care of you!"
"These people were all carefully selected, every one of them has been to war."
"Five chunin total, and fifteen genin!"