80 - Test of Worth

The problems with Konoha have always existed; they were merely overshadowed by the miraculous victories in the original storyline that concealed all the ailments within the village.

Victory at Kannabi Bridge.

The annihilation of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.

The great triumph at Kikyō Pass.

Whenever these victories were mentioned, even the genin on the Konoha front line would subconsciously puff out their chest with pride. But now, in this time of weakness, their chests were hollow with fear.

Before such victories, even the most disloyal ninja clans would find their resolve solidified.

Unfortunately, these victories have yet to happen. At this current juncture, Konoha found itself in the deepest darkness before dawn. Naturally, this meant that every issue was exposed with glaring sharpness.

Taking advantage of this perfect moment when the enemy's vulnerabilities were revealed, Akatsuki successfully captured their designated target—the open-pit mine they had marked—on just the third day of their offensive.

This rate of progress exceeded even Shin's most optimistic pre-battle predictions.

Initially, the mine owner and his family misunderstood Akatsuki's methods, assuming them to be just another ninja group, bound by rules and discipline, and unlikely to harm them.

"You ninja should fight your wars elsewhere! If you damage the equipment here, don't expect me to give you any more commissions!"

The mine owner's foolish son gestured casually as he spoke, coincidentally pointing directly at Shin, who stood at the front of the group.

"You there. The pretty boy—yes, you. You look like you're in charge. Everyone listens to you, right? Take your ninja and set up camp outside the mine—don't come in!"

"Later, give me your ninja village's address. I'll bring money there in the future to commission tasks. But for now, take your people and leave. Don't make me repeat myself!"

Beside him, a group of missing-nin armed with senbon and bearing unruly gazes stood guard.

And behind him were impoverished, trembling miners, forcibly dragged into servitude, clutching shovels and pickaxes.

At that moment, Shin couldn't help but laugh. We're not here to beg for missions. We're here to take control.

Ignoring the mine owner's son's empty threats, he turned to Konan and said, "Do you see this? This is the pathetic state of the shinobi—winning wars, shedding blood, and fighting for survival in the shinobi world, only to be thrown scraps like beggars."

"Even then, they must drag their injured bodies to serve people like this because what they're given isn't a simple reward—it's the so-called mission commission fee."

Hearing this, Konan also laughed.

What once seemed normal now felt absurd after days of guidance and teaching from him. Ninjas had been disciplined for so long, they had devolved into pitiful beings.

Before Shin could respond further, an Akatsuki member in the group spoke up, "Hasn't anyone here heard of Akatsuki? You're not far from the Land of Rain, after all."

The mine owner's foolish son remained arrogant, hands on his hips, retorting, "Why should I care about ninja wars? I have money! I can post commissions anywhere I want. Your stupid ninja war could turn into a bloodbath, and it still wouldn't matter to me!"

Shin stepped lightly toward him. The guards tensed, but their reactions were too slow.

Smack!

He slapped the young man's face with the back of his hand, making his jowls tremble. The sound cracked through the air like a whip.

"Sorry to say, it matters now."

The mine owner's son was about to erupt in anger when he witnessed something unforgettable—the missing-nin, supposedly guarding him, remained staring blankly ahead as if blind.

In the next instant, wind blades sliced through the air, severing their throats before they could even blink. Blood sprayed in thin arcs as the invisible blades cut through flesh and bone, leaving them dead without even a chance to react, let alone fight back.

Genjutsu and precise Wind Release techniques allowed him to easily eliminate all the guards the mine owner's son had spent years hiring.

Their bodies crumpled to the ground in perfect unison, necks opened cleanly as if cut by the finest blade.

"You—!" The mine owner's son finally felt the creeping dread, his face draining of color as he stumbled backward. The bodies of his guards hadn't even stopped twitching.

But Shin was done listening.

"Where are your account books? And do you have any accountants or stewards who manage your finances?"

Using genjutsu and hypnosis, he easily acquired the information he wanted. The young man's mind was weak, unprotected—like most civilians who'd never faced real shinobi.

He then stepped forward, his right hand coursing with wind chakra so concentrated it was barely visible—just a slight distortion in the air around his fingers.

With a casual motion, he drove his index and middle fingers straight through the man's chest. The wind-enhanced strike pierced his heart with such precision that the fool didn't even feel pain.

For a heartbeat, their eyes met—one pair widening in realization, the other cold and indifferent.

Then, as his body finally registered its death, the mine owner's son collapsed into the dust. As the body settled on the ground, Shin offered one final piece of advice.

"Next time, pay attention to the political landscape of nearby nations. Intelligence is important." He paused, looking at the corpse. "Though I suppose there won't be a next time for you."

He then turned his attention to the group of bedraggled miners. They huddled together, some still clutching their tools like shields.

"Those who wish to keep working can stay. Your salaries will align with those in the Land of Rain moving forward. There will be no deductions—this is Akatsuki's promise to you."

"As for those unwilling to work for us, you may leave once the conflict is over."

He didn't sugarcoat his words. His tone carried an unmistakable threat, reinforced by the brutal execution of the mine owner's son moments earlier.

Terrified, most of the miners shrank back. But a small, sharp-eyed miner stepped forward with hope in his gaze.

He approached Shin and asked, "How much are the wages in the Land of Rain?" His voice trembled slightly, but his eyes remained steady, fixed on Shin's face.

Looking at the boy's patched, faded clothes and bloodied hands, Shin hesitated for a moment before gently patting his head. Behind the boy, other miners leaned forward slightly, straining to hear the answer.

"Don't worry. It'll be more than what you're getting now. Enough to fill your belly, keep you warm, and support your family." And enough for you to work for me until you die.

The boy's eyes lit up. "Alright! Then we'll mine for you from now on!" He turned to his fellow miners. "Did you hear that? No more half-rations! No more working through the night!"

Before Shin could reply, Konan's voice rang out. "Changing the world isn't as hard as I thought." She watched as hope spread through the crowd like ripples in a pond.

This was the first step in Akatsuki's march out of the Land of Rain and into the larger world. And it seemed far less daunting than Konan had imagined.

Shin smiled but reminded her, "Believing in ideals is good, but don't get complacent. The real challenges are only beginning." He glanced at the mine entrance.

Konan looked at him. Behind them, the miners had begun to whisper among themselves.

After washing his hands clean of blood with a water jutsu, Shin tucked a stray lock of hair behind Konan's ear before speaking.

"Capturing one mine is just the start. The war isn't over. Next, we'll have to defend this place under the pressure of both Konoha and Iwa." He gestured to the surrounding terrain.

Konan watched as the small miner enthusiastically became Akatsuki's unofficial spokesperson, spreading Shin's promises to his peers with unbridled hope.

After a moment, she smiled. "But we'll win, right? We're doing the right thing. Even against Konoha, we'll win. Won't we?"

Shin sighed internally.

He wanted to say that doing the right thing doesn't guarantee victory, and that those who declare "we'll win" often don't.

But he couldn't bring himself to dampen her spirit. The hope in her eyes mirrored that of the miners—fragile, precious, and necessary for what was to come.

So he replied, "Yes, we'll win. Whether it's Konoha or the Five Great Shinobi Villages, none of them are invincible." 

The miners had already begun returning to work, their movements more purposeful now, less fearful.

Since Shin uttered the words, "We'll win," he had become even more cautious over the following week. Afraid that fate might take another strange turn.

Of course, beyond these mysterious influences, there were practical reasons for his prudence as well. Each patrol report, every scout's observation had to be double-checked, triple-checked.

The smallest oversight could unravel everything they'd achieved.

The real test of war was just beginning.

After taking the mine, the offensive and defensive roles between them and Konoha were about to reverse.

With the mine secured, they now had to establish their own supply and transport lines, opening and defending the route from the mine to the Land of Rain.

This meant that they temporarily became the strategic defenders, while Konoha regained its turn to attack.

Ninjas held the strategic advantage in warfare due to their exceptional mobility. They had minimal logistical needs, able to sustain themselves on a single meal for every 100 kilometers.

Now, it was their turn to defend. The mine's value lay not in its capture, but in holding it against the inevitable counterattack.

To prepare for the coming defensive phase, he had been intensively coordinating and strategizing.

A week later, he successfully established contact with the Iwa command.

That day, an envoy group from Iwa arrived at the mine.

Leading them was an old acquaintance: Kitsuchi.

This time, however, he was accompanied by two individuals—a teenager and a child.

"Kitsuchi. It's been a while," Shin called out, studying the newcomers with careful interest.

"Indeed. The situation has changed considerably since our last meeting."

The older one looked to be in his early teens, only slightly younger than Kitsuchi.

The younger one, no older than five, was just a small brat. He had spiky blonde hair, resembling a hedgehog in both appearance and attitude—fearless and prickly.

Upon meeting Shin, he immediately started boasting and making a scene.

"Hah! It took you nearly three months after declaring war to make a move, and your first action was in Kusa, which we'd already secured. Akatsuki sure is impressive!"

Naturally, Shin wasn't about to argue with a kid. Instead, he turned to Kitsuchi and asked calmly, "And who are these two?"

"These two are disciples my father took under his wing. This one's Akatsuchi, now my bodyguard, and the brat here is Deidara. He's a bit... explosive, so don't mind him," Kitsuchi explained as he scratched his head.

Then, he cast a warning glance at the young blonde.

Hearing this, Shin glanced again at the fiery blonde brat, surprised to encounter yet another future Akatsuki member from the original storyline.

The next moment, Deidara's arrogance was swiftly silenced by Kitsuchi's heavy punch to the head.

"Be polite in front of our allies!"

Poor Deidara didn't even get to show off for three seconds before being forcibly corrected. He sulked, clutching his head, and glared at his mentor.

The bump on his head was already starting to swell.

"Why'd you hit me? I was just standing up for you! Didn't they—"

Before he could finish, Kitsuchi landed another blow, this time subtly enhanced with Stone Fist.

The impact sent Deidara stumbling backward, his eyes watering from the pain.

Shin could only sigh internally: Deidara truly hasn't changed a bit. Straightforward, simple-minded, and completely lacking tact.

What Deidara had just said was practically rubbing salt into Kitsuchi's wound, reminding everyone of the time Iwa's forces were captured by Akatsuki in the Land of Rain.

Still, Iwa and Akatsuki were now allies, united against Konoha.

He tactfully pretended not to hear, smiled, and steered the conversation toward the details of their cooperative defense strategy. "Shall we discuss our mutual interests? The situation requires careful planning."

Deidara was left alone, nursing his bruised head and fuming silently. He kicked at loose stones, each one flying off with more force than necessary. At least his antics had some unintended benefits.

Not long after, Kitsuchi, likely inspired by Deidara's earlier recklessness, casually asked, "Why did you choose Kusa for your first strike after three months of inactivity? It's a region we've already fortified. My father specifically wanted me to ask this question."

Thanks to Deidara's earlier blunders, the atmosphere had become more relaxed, avoiding outright hostility between them.

"Our actions were intended to stabilize the front lines and prevent Minato's plan from taking root," Shin replied calmly.

"Oh? Are you saying that you've foreseen his next moves?" This information was crucial for them. 

In truth, Iwa had already suspected Minato was planning something big. Ōnoki wasn't naive.

The Yellow Flash's prolonged absence from Konoha and delay in taking up the Hokage position hinted at larger ambitions. Every scout report pointed to something brewing.

However, Iwa couldn't figure out what his ultimate goal was. The idea of a surprise assault on the Kannabi Bridge was far too unconventional, with enormous risks—almost suicidal.

It was understandable they couldn't deduce it.

This was exactly the leverage Shin needed.

Behind them, Deidara had finally stopped sulking and was watching the exchange with poorly concealed interest.

"Of course. If we hadn't anticipated Minato's major offensive, why else would we take such bold actions?"

"Then you know what he is planning? Where did you get this intel? Did you capture another Root spy?" Kitsuchi's questions came rapid-fire, his eyes darting between Shin and the map still spread between them.

Thanks to Danzō, Shin didn't even need to fabricate a story. Iwa had already handed him the perfect excuse.

"Exactly. You know how often we've clashed with Root. We've gained considerable experience and even managed to break their seal." The lie slipped out smoothly, wrapped in enough truth to make it believable.

"As expected!" Kitsuchi exclaimed, clearly excited. His fist came down on the table, making the map jump. "So, what is he planning?!"

With the bait taken, Shin calmly continued, adjusting the map that had been disturbed by Kitsuchi's enthusiasm. "Want to know? If so, help us bear some of the defensive burden. Konoha's target lies in Kusa. Defending it is critical for both of us."

At last, he revealed his true aim. He intended to use the intel as leverage to tie Iwa into sharing the burden of defending Kusa. There was no way he would defend the Kannabi Bridge alone. This was a shared battlefront, not a solo act.

As Kitsuchi wavered, Shin thought his plan had succeeded. He could see the man's resolve crumbling.

However, Kitsuchi suddenly backtracked, thanks to his sharp-witted father.

"My father predicted you'd say that. But he instructed me not to agree so easily," he said innocently as he scratched his head.

Behind him, even Deidara perked up, sensing the shift in the conversation.

Shin frowned. That old fox is still as shrewd as ever.

"What else did the esteemed Tsuchikage say?"

Kitsuchi relayed the message faithfully, straightening his posture as he delivered his father's words. "He said cooperation is possible, but you must first prove your strength is worthy of a true alliance with one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations!"

"Your past successes look impressive, but you've yet to face a real trial."

"What kind of trial?" Shin asked.

Kitsuchi answered with a single name.

"Minato."

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