Chapter 495: Kurama Yakumo
After Ishiro and Chiga returned to Iwagakure, he didn't send her directly to the Land of Bears for missions. Chiga had learned a great deal from her experience with the Cult of Jashin and needed time to properly process it all.
Ishiro, on the other hand, took the vast wealth plundered from Yugakure to Bella.
After tallying everything, Bella had only one thing to say: "Robbery really is the fastest way to make money."
The Land of Hot Water was the wealthiest of the medium-sized nations, rivaling even a great nation like the Land of Wind. Although the ninja of Yugakure were not strong in combat, the wealth their village had accumulated was substantial. After conquering the village, the Cult of Jashin hadn't diminished the treasury; instead, they had moved their own years of accumulated assets into it, including the military funds they had recently received from the Daimyo.
The result left even Bella, the "Goddess of Wealth" who had seen it all, utterly astonished.
Aside from the reparations received after winning major wars, this was Iwagakure's single largest haul in years. The previous takeovers of Takigakure and the Star Ninja Village in the Land of Bears didn't even come close.
Afterward, Ishiro told Bella about the two new items Kajiyama Ri had traded from Danzō: the Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags technique and the Inuzuka clan's ninken breeding methods.
The latter was simple to handle. Currently, the only ninken in Iwagakure was Dango's family. Ishiro gave the document to the cat-nin owners and had them each make a copy. The Giant Panda and the sharks were considered summoning animals, whose breeding methods were different; this was useless to them.
What Ishiro wanted to discuss with Bella was the Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags.
"Senior Bella, how are the village's exploding tag reserves?" Ishiro asked.
Hearing him mention exploding tags, Bella's face lit up with delight. "We have plenty! The village's original production line has been completely shut down. From now on, the task of producing them will be entirely handed over to Kanako."
"However, we haven't yet implemented your idea of selling them externally. There's something I need to discuss with you. I plan to arrange for a warehouse guard to 'defect' with a large quantity of tags, but there's a problem."
"The village doesn't have any super-large-capacity storage scrolls. One of our scrolls can't hold that many. Even if a guard wanted to steal them, he couldn't steal much. We can't have him carrying a huge bag of scrolls for the trade; that would look too fake. So I need you to find a way to get us a super-large-capacity storage scroll."
Ishiro scratched his head. "That's not easy. I had that very item on the trade list I gave to Danzō, but he refused to give it up. Something like that has strategic value; Konoha is very protective of it. Let's wait and see if there's an opportunity in the future."
"For now, take out a portion of the tags. I want to prepare the Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags jutsu. This technique is perfect for us. In the future, every ninja who knows the Clone Technique can learn it."
"I've looked it over. It's not difficult to learn. There are only two problems. First, it's easy to injure yourself, but we can use clones as a substitute. Second, it requires a large number of exploding tags. In the past, even if we had this jutsu, we couldn't have promoted it. But now, it's perfect."
Bella thought for a moment. "No problem. I'll clear out a warehouse for you. As for arranging the training, I'll discuss it with Ikura."
Ishiro was overjoyed and quickly agreed. It was great not having to worry about it himself.
Bella shot him a look.
After Bella had prepared a dedicated storage room for the jutsu, Ishiro practiced it on animals and death row prisoners. Just as he had told Bella, the technique was indeed simple to use.
Afterward, he flew to the Takigakure branch and found Shiden's squad stationed there.
After greeting Shiden, his gaze fell on Riori Uzumaki.
Seeing him look over, the simple-minded girl said, "Teacher Ishiro, I've learned both the jutsu you taught me last time!"
With that, she ran to an empty space and demonstrated them for him.
Ishiro nodded in satisfaction. "Riori, that's amazing. You really are a genius at learning ninjutsu! Come, come, Teacher will teach you another one!"
Riori Uzumaki: ...
Shiden rubbed her temples, speechless at Ishiro's antics.
A short time later, as Ishiro was guiding a miserable-looking Riori through learning the Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags, an intelligence ninja ran over.
"Lord Tsuchikage, this is an urgent report from the village," the ninja said, handing him a scroll.
Ishiro was puzzled. Didn't I just leave the village? What's happened now?
He opened the scroll. A smile spread across his face as he murmured, "Kurama Yakumo?"
That's right. The report contained information about a girl from Konoha's Kurama clan, the only one to have awakened their Kekkei Genkai: Kurama Yakumo.
The intel was from Kajiyama Ri. One of his tasks was to gather information in Konoha, not just about their military readiness, but about all sorts of things, including the movements of certain key individuals. Kurama Yakumo was one of the people Ishiro had told him to watch.
Ishiro put the scroll away. "I understand. Tell the village I'm making a trip to Konoha. I'll be back soon."
"Yes, sir." The ninja left.
Shiden asked, "Ishiro, you're going to Konoha again? Will it be dangerous?"
"Don't worry, Captain Shiden. I'm just going to the edge of the village to pick someone up. I won't be going inside."
Shiden nodded and didn't press further. He was the Tsuchikage; she couldn't stop him.
Ishiro said, "I'll leave Riori's practice to you. Remind her never to use the Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags with her real body."
"Don't worry, I will."
After giving his instructions, Ishiro didn't linger. He used his Light/Heavy Boulder Technique and flew straight for Konoha.
He hadn't lied to Shiden. Kurama Yakumo indeed did not live inside Konoha, but in a forest on its outskirts.
The intelligence from Kajiyama Ri didn't give her exact location, only a general area. Kajiyama Ri knew about Ishiro's panoramic perception ability and was confident that a general area was all he needed.
And he was right. After arriving in the designated area, Ishiro just needed one quick scan with his Mind's Eye to lock onto his target.
Konoha's leadership clearly had expectations for Yakumo's future. This was evident from her living quarters. Although she lived in a forest, her house was a mansion—a two-story, exceptionally spacious villa that could comfortably house a dozen people, let alone just one.
She was alone inside, but outside, there were two full Anbu squads.
Ishiro carefully bypassed the Konoha patrols on the road. After getting close to the villa, he first took out the eight Anbu.
Then, he walked to the front door and knocked politely.
The knock wasn't loud, but it clearly reached Yakumo's ears on the second floor.
Through his Mind's Eye, Ishiro could sense her confusion. She listened curiously, and only after he knocked a second time did she confirm that she hadn't misheard.
She waved her brush, making a few quick strokes on her drawing board, and the door in front of Ishiro opened.
"Turning illusion into reality. The Kurama clan's Kekkei Genkai is truly impressive," Ishiro said as he walked inside.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ishiro, the Fourth Tsuchikage of Iwagakure. I have come to invite Miss Kurama Yakumo to our village."
As he spoke, he had already arrived at the door of her room on the second floor.
He looked inside. The windows were closed and the curtains were drawn, making the room rather dim despite it being broad daylight.
A single little girl sat with her back to the door, surrounded by a chaotic pile of drawing boards. The one in front of her depicted the open door downstairs.
Yakumo was stunned by his words, but she didn't turn around. She just asked faintly, "The Tsuchikage? Why are you interested in me?"
"Naturally, I value your talent. The Kurama clan's ability to manipulate the five senses and convert illusion into reality is of great interest to me."
After a pause, he added, "That is the public reason. If you choose to come with me in the end, I will tell you the real reason."
Yakumo tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "Lord Tsuchikage, if I join Iwagakure, can I become a ninja?"
Ishiro nodded, whether she could see him or not. "Of course you can. Otherwise, why would I be looking for you? But you're still young. You'll have to graduate from the Ninja Academy first."
Only then did Yakumo turn around.
Her method of turning was strange. She simply drew a picture of herself facing the door. The moment she finished, she and her chair naturally turned to face him.
Ishiro marveled at the sight. "Actually, although your body is not suited to being a ninja, with an ability like this, it won't affect you at all."
"Your Hokage was probably just concerned for you, which is why she didn't want you to walk the path of a ninja."
Yakumo looked at him and shook her head. "It's not that I insist on becoming a ninja. It's my family. The Kurama clan has declined. Our bodies are already weaker than normal ninja, and the clansmen without the Kekkei Genkai are becoming less and less suited to being shinobi."
"It has come to the point where I am the only one with any hope of becoming a ninja."
"Originally, everyone was happy for me when I awakened the Kekkei Genkai. But who would have thought? My body is as extreme as my genjutsu talent is weak. Not only am I unfit to be a ninja, I can barely even live a normal life. I have destroyed the hopes of my entire clan."
Ishiro was surprised. He hadn't known she thought this way. "The Kurama, the Uchiha, the Hyuga... to be honest, as someone of common birth, I can't really empathize with your obsessions with family honor."
"I don't know if you've heard, but I stole a child from the Uchiha clan and one from the Hyuga clan from your village. Like you, they also can't let go of their families. Although they have willingly joined Iwagakure, a large part of the reason is that they hope to make their families better."
Yakumo nodded. "I know you took Neji Hyuga. We are the same age. He was a genius of the Hyuga clan, famous among the great clans from a young age. My parents also once told me that they hoped I could surpass him one day and restore the prestige of our clan."
Ishiro was taken aback. "Is that so? Then is that why you've been willing to speak with me so calmly since I introduced myself?"
She nodded. "Lord Tsuchikage, because of Neji Hyuga, I looked into your deeds. Your ability to teach disciples is very strong. Most of the disciples you take have average talent, yet you are able to guide them to become excellent ninja. I have also regretted that our Konoha does not have a teacher like you."
Ishiro smiled faintly. "Then does that mean you agree to join Iwagakure?"
Yakumo nodded. "I am willing. Since Konoha cannot give me the chance to restore my clan's honor, then I will seek it in Iwagakure. However, my clansmen are still in Konoha. I hope that after I become a ninja, I will not have to fight against them."
Ishiro smiled. "I can promise you that, as the Tsuchikage. However, would you like me to find a way to bring your clansmen to Iwagakure as well?"
She shook her head. "They are not like me. Although they also wish for the clan to be strong, Konoha holds their honor. They will not leave."
Ishiro nodded. "Then let's go. On the way, I will tell you the real reason I sought you out."
Yakumo nodded and struggled to stand up.
But Ishiro just smiled faintly and waved his hand. A large amount of mud materialized, forming a porcelain platform under her chair and lifting her, chair and all, into the air.
Yakumo grabbed the chair and carefully peeked over the edge of the platform, her voice filled with excitement. "Lord Tsuchikage, you really can fly! I wish I had this ability!"
Ishiro smiled. "After we get back to Iwagakure, I will teach you a ninjutsu. Then you will be able to fly too."
Yakumo was surprised. "A ninjutsu? Isn't this a Kekkei Genkai?"
"What I'm going to teach you is not Porcelain Release, but a ninjutsu that is cast through drawing, called the Super Beast Scroll. I believe that, besides your own clan's jutsu, this is the most suitable one for you."
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