Chapter 182: The Deal
Chapter 182: The Deal
Yugakure Leader's Office
After a brief wait for notification, Tonari and Kawano Taro were allowed into the office of Yugakure's leader.
The leader was an elderly man with white hair, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties. Despite his age, his skin had a youthful glow, likely attributed to the abundant hot springs in Yugakure, which seemed to make everyone look younger.
Upon entering the office, Tonari maintained the respect due to a leader of a shinobi village, even a minor one.
"Honorable leader, under the command of the Third Hokage, I have successfully completed the mission of escorting Kawano Taro back to Yugakure," Tonari said, bowing slightly with calm composure.
The Yugakure leader, Majika, was indeed an old-timer, estimated to be at least in his fifties. In terms of generational hierarchy, he might even surpass Hiruzen Sarutobi and could only be matched by legendary figures such as Hashirama Senju or Tobirama Senju.
Having lived through the era of the "God of Shinobi," Majika had witnessed Konoha's most glorious days—when Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had dominated the ninja world. Inspired by those times, Yugakure's previous leader had firmly aligned with Konoha, a legacy that Majika continued.
Thanks to the leader's peaceful policies and Yugakure's unique geography, both the village and the country had maintained decades of tranquility.
When Majika saw Tonari, he greeted him with a radiant smile, though his expression darkened slightly upon noticing the crimson scythe strapped to Tonari's back.
Tonari observed this shift but said nothing.
"Thank you for your hard work, shinobi of Konoha," Majika said warmly, his gaze shifting briefly to Kawano Taro.
The brief interaction between Majika and Kawano Taro surprised Tonari. The lack of enthusiasm from Majika toward the researcher was unexpected, given his status.
Still, Majika turned his attention back to Tonari, smiling as he asked, "How is the Third Hokage? Is he still in good health?"
Tonari responded politely, "Thank you for your concern. Hokage-sama is doing well."
They exchanged pleasantries for a while longer.
Majika's gaze eventually fell on the crimson scythe Tonari carried. "It seems your journey here wasn't uneventful."
Tonari raised an eyebrow. Majika clearly recognized the scythe and what it represented.
Unsheathing the weapon, Tonari gave it a few test swings. The sharp sound of air being sliced reverberated through the office.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The commotion drew immediate responses. Three masked shinobi appeared in the office, surrounding Tonari with cautious stances.
Tonari smirked at their reaction, glancing meaningfully at Majika. The elderly leader coughed awkwardly and waved off his guards, who hesitated but ultimately vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
"My apologies for the misunderstanding, Tonari-kun," Majika said, offering a sheepish smile.
Tonari waved dismissively, then asked, "It seems you recognize this scythe—or perhaps the group it represents?"
Majika's expression grew complicated. He glanced at Kawano Taro, who gave a subtle nod, before finally speaking.
"You must understand, Tonari-kun, that Yugakure has long been known as the 'Village That Forgot War.' Our people, both citizens and shinobi, cherish peace above all else.
"However, peace and prosperity often give birth to ambition. About seven or eight years ago, a prominent clan within Yugakure, the Kawano Clan, began pushing for change. They proposed that I declare myself the First Yugakage, hoping to elevate our village to the level of the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
Hearing this, Tonari's expression turned incredulous as he glanced at Kawano Taro.
A "Kage" title?
The title "Kage" was reserved for the leaders of the Five Great Shinobi Villages—Fire's Hokage, Wind's Kazekage, Earth's Tsuchikage, Water's Mizukage, and Lightning's Raikage. The title symbolized unparalleled authority and power.
Even Hanzo of the Salamander, the leader of Amegakure and a man feared across the ninja world, refrained from calling himself "Rain Kage."
To adopt the title without sufficient strength was tantamount to challenging the existing balance of power, an act that could lead to annihilation.
Majika seemed to understand Tonari's reaction. He sighed. "Yes, it sounds ridiculous now. I immediately rejected their proposal.
"But the Kawano Clan didn't stop there. Soon after, strange things began happening in the village. People started disappearing, and rumors of a cult worshiping a so-called 'Jashin' began spreading.
"When we investigated, we discovered that the Kawano Clan had been conducting secret human experiments. At the center of it all was Kawano Taro."
The mention of human experimentation made Tonari's eyes narrow.
Indeed, in this world, the pursuit of power often justified the most heinous acts. Whether it was Konoha's dark secrets or Orochimaru's twisted research, Tonari was no stranger to such things.
"Why is Kawano Taro still alive?" Tonari wondered silently, his eyes scanning the man.
"Jashinism changed everything," Kawano Taro interjected, his voice steady. "I was the chief researcher for the Kawano Clan's experiments. My father is the current clan head.
"At first, I thought it was about advancing science and strengthening the village. But when the Jashin cultists emerged, they brought doctrines soaked in blood. I couldn't allow my daughter, Yuko, to grow up in that environment."
Majika nodded solemnly. "When Taro defected and provided evidence of the clan's crimes, we acted swiftly to suppress them. The Kawano Clan's influence has since diminished."
Tonari remained skeptical. "So you claim. Yet the Jashinists are clearly still active."
Majika and Taro exchanged a glance but said nothing.
---
After some further discussion, Majika offered his gratitude and bid them farewell.
As Tonari and Taro left the office, Majika watched from the window, his face etched with a mix of relief and melancholy. "Perhaps it's time to let go of ambition and entrust the future to the next generation…"
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Taro led Tonari to the ruins of an old Kawano Clan estate. The once-grand property had fallen into disrepair, its walls crumbling and its grounds overgrown.
"This was once my family's home," Taro said. "My father used to call this place the future of Yugakure. Now, it's nothing but a reminder of our failures."
After navigating through hidden passageways, they arrived at an underground laboratory.
Tonari's eyes widened at the sight before him.
Rows upon rows of glass cylinders filled the massive chamber, each containing a suspended body. Pale, lifeless faces stared back, their lips curled into unsettling smiles.
"These were the results of our experiments," Taro said, his voice heavy. "And this is why I left. I couldn't bear the thought of Yuko ending up like this."
He opened a hidden compartment, producing a stack of documents. "These are the complete research notes. They contain everything the Jashinists are after."
Tonari accepted the files, flipping through them briefly. "Fascinating… Your work might surpass Orochimaru's in some aspects."
Before Taro could respond, a deep, aged voice echoed through the chamber.
"Well now, young man, perhaps you'd be willing to hand over those documents? Lord Jashin would surely reward your contribution."
The shadows stirred as a figure emerged from the darkness, draped in a black robe.
(End of Chapter)
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