The Lanxiang Gate continued to operate across the ninja world—taking on dangerous missions while gathering intelligence for the Nanmo Ninja Village.
Because Nanmo had expanded less than half a year ago, it was in dire need of skilled people. Hyūga Shigeo had therefore issued a secret directive to Lanxiang Gate:
If they encountered exceptionally capable shinobi, anyone wishing to join Nanmo, or even children who could already mold chakra, they were authorized to bring them to the village.
That evening, a small boat arrived via the waterways near Nanmo. Bathed in the orange light of sunset, it drifted quietly into the village.
In the hidden Anbu base behind the mountains, more than ten blindfolded individuals sat against the cave walls, tense and silent.
Each of them wore chakra-suppressing seals bound around their wrists.
At that moment, they were completely powerless—if their captors chose to kill them, they could do nothing to resist.
Shigeo entered the cave. The Anbu members saluted respectfully.
"Shigeo-sama, eighteen recruits have been brought in this time. Their profiles are here."
Those who sought to join Nanmo were not like the Demonic Duo—Shigeo didn't intend to force them into submission.
The first requirement was sincere loyalty. Only those with genuine conviction would be accepted.
Some were mediocre, some mere genin, and some simply wanted a safe place to live.
Shigeo glanced through the files, then raised his head, his Sharingan flaring to life as he examined each person's chakra.
"That one—no chakra potential. Remove him. And that one too…"
"Yes, sir."
The reason they were blindfolded was simple: they had entered Nanmo through secret tunnels. The village's routes and entrances could not be exposed.
It was also a precaution in case any spies from other villages tried to infiltrate.
"Please, Shigeo-sama! Let me stay—I'll work hard!"
A voice spoke up among the selected. It was a young woman's voice, clear and determined.
Shigeo checked her profile.
Name: Miko
Age: 18
Chakra Nature: Suiton (Water Release)
Notes: Limited chakra capacity. Former freelance kunoichi from the Land of Rivers, genin level.
He also read that she'd heard rumors of Nanmo's secret recruitment and applied through her sister, who worked with Lanxiang Gate.
"If you can endure hardship, you may stay and try," Shigeo said.
Recently, he reviewed dozens of applicants every day.
Those with great talent were often arrogant, complaining about being blindfolded, shouting in outrage.
No matter their ability, he refused such people.
But those with weak chakra who showed humility and obedience—those who sincerely wanted to serve—he accepted, even if their strength was lacking.
He wanted everyone in Nanmo to see the village not as a battlefield for boasting power, but as a home—a place where dreams could be built together.
And so, when that girl spoke with determination, Shigeo allowed her to stay.
He handed the documents to his aide and turned to leave.
The accepted recruits were escorted out of the tunnel and into the village proper.
"Was that… the Shadow of Nanmo?" one of them whispered.
"Yes," the escort replied quietly.
The group followed behind Shigeo toward the administration building. Among them, a tall girl with flowing white hair and violet eyes kept her gaze fixed on the young man ahead.
Once inside, Honglin handled the assignments. Some were sent to the ninja academy, others to the advanced training division.
The stronger ones—mostly chūnin—were placed into administrative schools or immediately dispatched for missions.
The Advanced Training Division was both feared and revered among Nanmo's shinobi.
Feared—because the training was brutal.
Revered—because their instructor was none other than the village's own shadow, Hyūga Shigeo.
Every afternoon, Shigeo spent one hour there, training chūnin personally.
The rule remained the same: thirty fighters per group—whoever could last thirty minutes under his hand would graduate as a jōnin.
To outsiders it looked like training; to Nanmo, it was a rite of passage—an honor bearing the Shadow's expectations.
The training field lay in the northern district, a massive sand pit surrounded by barracks for the trainees.
This was their battleground. Their homes were elsewhere in the village, but they lived here during the cycle of intensive drills.
As the village grew busier, many missions called shinobi outside. Only during rest periods could they return to join group training.
Even so, the field never lacked participants.
Every day, around a hundred ninja trained—some recently back from missions, others assigned to defense duty within the village.
The latter earned less pay, but enjoyed more stability.
Training began—thirty-person teams charging forward.
Close combat, long-range, ninjutsu, shuriken…
Even with revised formations and better tactics, the first group lasted less than five minutes—
and that was without Shigeo using Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) or Sage Chakra.
Then came the second wave. Then the third.
After thirty minutes, every group had fallen short.
But Shigeo still pointed out each ninja's improvements precisely, his insight alone enough to motivate them all.
"I believe with enough effort, you will succeed," he told them.
"And if any of you prefer a solo challenge—last five minutes against me, and you'll also pass."
It was the same every day. Some challenged him. Others continued practicing.
Another hour passed swiftly.
As training ended, Shigeo took the towel Jinshi offered and wiped the sweat from his face, preparing to leave.
Just then, a soft, teasing voice called out:
"Shigeo-sama, I'd like to challenge you…"
A figure stepped forward from the crowd—a tall woman with an elegant, curving figure.
Her long white hair flowed in the breeze, violet eyes gleaming as she smiled faintly.
Her tone carried both charm and provocation.
"I wonder… would Shigeo-sama grant a humble woman such an honor?"
Jinshi blinked in surprise.
"Wait—you're Miko, aren't you? You only arrived this morning! You should be at the academy… how did you end up here?"
(End of Chapter)
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