In the Land of Birds.
While the rest of the world continued in motion, the Bird Country was currently struggling since Arthur was gone. Not a single figurehead was able to fill his nation's delicate balance.
This was because the Bird Country was a land divided into various villages, each with its own responsibilities and roles. These villages formed a layered system, with the most powerful being the Light Village.
What made everything so hard to maintain for the average Joe was that these villages were only recently constructed.
The Light Village itself acted like a central hub that held significant influence over the entire nation, even if not formally declared. While Fugaku wielded considerable authority, it was understood that Arthur's leadership had held the true power—both hard and soft.
In the ninja world, the ideas of soft power and hard power are just like on earth, but they take on a special flavour because of the unique ninja culture and traditions.
Hard power is all about strength, force, and showing off one's military might. For the Bird Country, this means having skilled Uchiha and Uzumaki clan members capable of using today's weapons.
While they weren't all elite ninjas, they most certainly carried the means to launch a surprise invasion, sabotage enemy plans, or simply scare others into submission.
Such hard power was about making sure everyone knew Arthur's forces were one to be reckoned with.
Soft power, on the other hand, was more about influence, respect, and building relationships. Instead of relying on violence, this particular country would most certainly attract others should word get out that dead clansmen were revived.
Such wisdom, culture, and reputation of said country undoubtedly had perfected certain arts and philosophies that would inspire admiration throughout the ninja world.
Arthur was managing their secrecy well on the surface, which had allowed other unrecognizable clans and villages to see his country's values. So much so that some of them had already wanted to form alliances and learn from him without a fight.
His knowledge of soft power was acquired after his tenure as the feudal lord successor, in which he exercised the importance of loyalty over time through cultural strength and diplomacy.
In truth, the strongest ninja nations were a mixture of both powers; hence why the Leaf Village was still number one.
Compared to the other five main ninja nations, the Light Village would be ranked sixth at best.
They had a suitable army ready to defend themselves (hard power), but they had mainly been focusing on winning hearts and minds—through culture and reputation—for the long run (soft power).
For instance, a ninja village might be feared because of their combat skills, but they would surely attract attention that could spark both internal and external conflicts.
That was technically why the Leaf Village was constantly being destroyed, despite being ranked the best.
So, in the ninja world, it was all about balance. Using force when needed to protect oneself or show strength, but also building lasting relationships and respect through culture and reputation.
Only the smartest ninja leaders, like Arthur, understood that real power was about military strength and influence.
That was how and why his country had lasted so long without attracting so much attention.
When he was present, he dictated not only military actions but also diplomatic moves that helped guide the country. Now in his absence, those responsibilities fell into uncertain hands.
His clones, created to serve as his extensions, continued to operate under his directives. But the problem with that was they were only maintaining the illusion of stability.
Kimimaro, the head of security, was tasked with safeguarding the borders. His role was straightforward: keep the nation protected from external threats. This was a manageable job, as no high-level threats had emerged.
No S-rank ninjas had been seen near their borders, and the threat of invasion seemed distant.
This particular achievement was mainly due to Lars, who had the skills to match almost any opponent. Yet even Lars had his limits.
For instance, he didn't have many techniques to spot spies, meaning he also had to rely on the other former Sound ninjas to prevent such infiltration.
Lars himself was growing restless. His talents could be better utilized elsewhere, perhaps in direct confrontations or more active roles. He rarely voiced his frustration, but Kimimaro reassured him that their current strategy was necessary.
Until they received new orders from the land's lords or Arthur himself, they had to focus on maintaining the country's security.
The real work in all of this lay in the Light Village's soft power.
There were still unclaimed areas within the borders that had yet to be developed or assigned to new villages. These areas needed to be cleared, mapped, and prepared for upcoming settlements.
But without clear orders from the higher-ups—namely, the land's leadership—these tasks were put on hold. The village was in a state of limbo and had no choice but to wait for the right guidance, which would never come unless Arthur returned.
Meanwhile, at the heart of the Light Village, inside Sun Stream Plaza, three figures dressed in white stood in front of an empty throne.
The figures had no choice but to remain there and stand silently unless new instructions needed to be personally given.
The scene was quiet, almost solemn, as they waited for news or orders that might never come.
It wasn't long until Toki, the feudal lord of the country, approached the trio. And with her was a bundle of documents.
She approached with a bow, respectful but nervous, and explained the papers to the figures. Apparently outside nations were seeking alliances. They wanted to establish trade routes and to build connections that could benefit them.
The documents themselves detailed offers from distant villages and countries eager to trade.
Neither of the clones needed to physically look at the papers to know what they stated. They simply used their Tamashii to carefully examine them and read through the details.
The proposals were standard: trade agreements, resource exchanges, and diplomatic ties.
What mainly piqued their interest was that a remote village in the Land of Storms was proposing a trade route. This village was situated in a dangerous region, not far from the territory of the Akatsuki. The idea of engaging in trade with a village so close to their influence was risky.
"My lords," Toki began, "what shall we do?"
"Reject the offer," John flatly responded.
"Close our borders from any trades," Hoshikaze agreed.
"Let countries wishing to trade do so elsewhere," Ryugetsu finished.
Toki was confused; she was unsure about the decision, partly because she understood the potential benefits.
Opening trade routes could bring prosperity, especially with neighbouring nations. Goods could also flow in and out, enriching the land and giving its citizens access to resources they needed.
What she failed to understand were the potential dangers. The Land of Storms was a volatile place, and the Akatsuki's presence made any dealings there inherently risky.
"Excuse me if I sound intrusive, my lords," she carefully began. "But wouldn't it be wise to build up poorer nations? Helping them might make them more favourable to lord Arthur's interests. If we assist them now, perhaps they can become allies in the future."
The three clones listened but did not look convinced. Their stance was clear because they lacked the authority or the directive to make such decisions without Arthur's approval.
What no one quite understood was that their role was to maintain the current order, not to expand or alter it independently.
"Right now," John began.
"Our priority is to secure the borders and wait," Hoshikaze added.
"Lest we risk exposing ourselves to threats we don't fully understand," Ryugetsu finished.
Toki seemed to agree to their reasoning, though she felt a little disappointment. She knew that her idea had merit, but without Arthur's backing, she couldn't push it forward.
Instead, she decided it would be best that she focus on the other immediate tasks at hand in her village.
Her time here, however, wasn't finished. She brought up another territory known as "Biei Village." Located on the border of the Earth Country, Biei was known for its forests, minerals, and fertile land.
"My lords," Toki wondered, "I understand that we'll be shutting all trade routes, but the leaders of this village have already sent an abundance of resources to the village I'm overseeing. Am I to reject them also?"
Upon hearing about the materials sent, Biei Village was indeed a suitable candidate for trade, and the clones recognized its importance. They also knew that Arthur needed those specific resources for his ongoing projects.
"Perhaps," Toki suggested, "we could focus on establishing trade with Biei village. It's closer, safer, and has resources that could benefit us all."
The clones agreed. They saw no reason to refuse such an opportunity, especially given its relative safety.
As such, they decided to proceed with negotiations and ensure that Biei's resources could help sustain the nation during this uncertain time.
After finalizing this decision, Toki prepared to leave the plaza. She was relieved that her efforts would continue, even in Arthur's absence. And she, like everyone else, hoped that the Bird Country would survive.
As she departed, the three clones remained standing in the plaza. They watched her go, knowing that patience was critical.
In each of their minds, they believed that Arthur's return was inevitable, though they couldn't say when or how it would happen. Until then, they held the line to keep his country steady for him to restore the crumbling order.
The next day quickly passed without a single one of them changing stances.
Were they tired and in need of proper nourishment? Absolutely. Yet because of their recent advancement, these clones could sleep standing up without complaint.
Just as the sun rose, another visitor arrived: Sasuke Uchiha. Although the clones could sense him coming from miles away, the young shinobi's presence was only half expected.
He walked confidently toward the three, as if he already knew what he was looking for. The clones, standing still as always, didn't even look in his direction.
"Where is he?" he asked with impatience.
The three clones did not answer.
Little did Sasuke know, their role was to watch, guard, and respond only to important matters. They had also already seen his movements and understood his intent. Plus, he didn't specify who "he" was, so they remained silent.
After a moment of silence, Sasuke's frustration grew.
"Where is he?" he repeated, this time emphasizing his words. "I mean, where is Arthur?"
Still, the clones did not speak. That was because the boy's tone was more demanding than respectful. So when no answer came, he furrowed his brow and pressed further.
"Tell me what's going on. What's going to happen to the Uchiha if Arthur isn't here? I need to know."
Sasuke was acting too eager, perhaps anxious, to find out what was happening. His concern for Arthur and the Uchiha clan was obvious; he wanted reassurance, or at least an explanation from the higher-ups.
But despite the clones knowing this, the silence persisted.
Sasuke's frustration bubbled beneath his exterior. He had grown used to feeling like he was left in the dark, but now it gnawed at him more intensely.
Who could blame him for feeling this way when he loved that his family was back and cherished the return of his once-fallen clan? And if Arthur's presence was the reason for that, he wanted to be sure they wouldn't disappear again.
As he prepared to voice more questions, the doors of the throne room swung open, and a figure stepped inside. The figure wore a flowing white robe that obscured their face, but Sasuke's eyes caught the strands of white hair that were unmistakably familiar.
"Kaito?" the young ninja proclaimed. "What're you doing here?"
Kaito didn't even bother looking in Sasuke's direction. The clone moved with measured strides and headed straight toward the trio standing in front of the throne. His expression was unreadable; his face was hidden behind the white robes, and his eyes, if visible, would have reflected the same calm indifference.
This lack of acknowledgment angered Sasuke further from having been overlooked as if he were some minor character in a big game. And the sense that no one was willing to acknowledge his presence or questions made him bristle.
In a spectacle of defiance, he spat out, "Wait until my father hears about this." Then he turned and stormed out of the room, leaving the silent figures behind.
The others watched him go without even moving their heads.
"Did he forget?" Hoshikaze suddenly asked.
"That we own his father?" Hoshikaze replied, sounding sardonic.
"Surely, the boy is mistaken," Kaito added.
John looked at Kaito with suspicion, asking, "And what reason have you for returning here on short notice?"
His tone made it clear that Kaito's arrival truly was an unexpected one, even for the rest of the clones, who all looked in his direction.