Chapter 367: The Wind Rises, Changing the Tide of the Times!

After dinner, Namikaze Minato and his wife left Uzumaki Raiden's house with Naruto and Yoriichi.

With the night breeze blowing, beside the waterfall in the yard, one could sit on the ground and meditate at will. The whirlpool of thoughts stirred as he gazed at the lake before him, letting his mind drift and enjoying this rare tranquility.

"Rustle."

The sound of footsteps stepping on the grass came from behind Uzumaki Raiden. His vacant eyes gradually refocused as he became aware of the presence behind him.

"Master."

"Master Raiden!"

The two voices sounded almost simultaneously. Uzumaki Raiden stood up and turned around, only to see Uchiha Shisui and Kisame Hoshigaki standing quietly behind him, their faces weary from travel. The two had been sent to other countries by Uzumaki Raiden earlier to gather intelligence on Akatsuki in the Land of Rain.

However, due to the Demon incident, which had a significant impact on the Land of Fire, Uzumaki Raiden had secretly ordered these deployed teams to return to Konoha, intending to send them to investigate the situation in Wufang City.

Yet, because of Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions, the investigation of Wufang City had taken place much earlier, and by the time the matter there had concluded, Shisui and Kisame had just returned to Konoha.

Moreover, the two had not entered the village upon their return. Instead, they came straight to Uzumaki Raiden to report. They were well aware that it was Uzumaki Raiden, not the Fifth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, who was truly leading the "cleansing."

"Shisui, Kisame."

"You're back."

Seeing that it was them, a gentle smile appeared on Uzumaki Raiden's face. Lifting his right hand, he used a soft but firm force to raise the two men from their half-kneeling position.

"How was it? Did you find anything useful?"

Although Shisui and Kisame looked travel-worn, their spirits were high, so he asked directly. After being away for so long, Uzumaki Raiden felt they should have gathered valuable intelligence on Akatsuki, and he was eager to hear it.

"Master, we've made some discoveries."

Shisui and Kisame exchanged glances. Kisame gave Shisui a silent nod and remained quiet, leaving Shisui to relay their findings. After a moment of contemplation, Shisui finally spoke in a solemn tone.

Seeing Shisui's demeanor, Uzumaki Raiden gestured toward the mat on the ground, motioning for them to sit and talk. He sat down himself and said gently,

"You both seem to have been through a lot."

"Sit down and tell me everything."

At Uzumaki Raiden's direction, Shisui and Kisame sat down. Kisame removed Samehada from his back and set it aside. Once seated, Shisui carefully chose his words before speaking:

"Kisame and I investigated all the small countries bordering the Land of Rain—the Land of Rivers, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Birds—and we discovered that a force is rising in each of these countries."

"In every country, there are one or several rebel factions. These groups consist of exiled ninjas and civilians who have seized numerous villages and small towns, rapidly amassing power."

"After our investigation, we confirmed that Akatsuki is behind these organizations."

Shisui spoke slowly and deliberately.

"So... a large-scale, organized banditry?"

Uzumaki Raiden wasn't particularly surprised by Shisui's report. In this era, the great nations were constantly at odds, leaving the lands between them rife with lawlessness. There were countless bandits in these areas, operating beyond the protection of a Hidden Village. These groups often consisted of rogue ninjas and criminals.

It was highly likely that Akatsuki was using these bandits to create disturbances for the nations, thereby increasing the perceived necessity of their own mercenary forces. In Uzumaki Raiden's view, this was a fairly predictable tactic.

"Bandits? Master, that's not an accurate term for them."

"They are different from ordinary bandits. These groups do not engage in pillaging or massacres."

"On the contrary, they fight against oppression, protect the weak, and redistribute wealth, gaining immense popularity among the common people."

"People call them Rebels."

"And it's not just the civilians—the rulers and officials of these countries also recognize them as Rebel armies."

Shisui shook his head at Uzumaki Raiden's words, offering a careful explanation. His response made Uzumaki Raiden instinctively sit up straighter.

"Fighting oppression? Helping the weak? Robbing the rich and attacking cities? This approach..."

Uzumaki Raiden pondered deeply before asking with curiosity,

"Are you sure about this? Are these organizations really acting this way?"

He was skeptical. Could there truly be a rebel force in the ninja world?

Though Uzumaki Raiden had not personally suffered under the class system of the ninja world, he understood it well.

In this world, the daimyo stood at the top, akin to monarchs, with a bureaucracy of officials managing the country beneath them. Hidden Villages functioned as independent military institutions, existing in a delicate balance with the ruling class.

The system was rigid. For commoners, there were only two paths to upward mobility: learning ninjutsu and becoming a ninja, thus leaving the "ordinary people" category, or earning the favor of rulers and being granted a position of power.

The existence of ninjas created an enormous disparity between individuals. The lower classes suffered immensely—not only from exploitation by the ruling elite but also from rogue ninjas who had deserted their villages, bringing further disaster upon them.

Yet, despite this suffering, resistance movements were nearly nonexistent. Due to the strength and influence of Hidden Villages, rebellions had no room to grow. Even if a few exiled ninjas joined to bolster a rebel force's combat abilities, they would ultimately be crushed by the Hidden Villages.

Moreover, the daimyos and their allied Hidden Villages had a mutual interest in preserving the status quo. If a rebel army ever gained traction, it would immediately be seen as a threat, prompting swift suppression.

"Yes, these groups have absorbed a large number of exiled ninjas. They are powerful, numerous, and deeply rooted in the masses."

"Now, the Lands of Rivers, Birds, and Grass are all descending into civil strife."

"Recently, Sand Ninjas have appeared in the Land of Rivers, likely because its daimyo has sought assistance from the Land of Wind."

"The Land of Birds and the Land of Grass will undoubtedly see similar developments soon."

"Master, hasn't Konoha encountered any issues?"

"On the way back, Kisame and I even noticed traces of these organizations within the Land of Fire itself. With Konoha's intelligence network, the village should already have some knowledge of this."

Uchiha Shisui looked at Uzumaki Raiden, puzzled. In his view, the scale of these movements was too large for Konoha to be unaware.

"I no longer involve myself in village affairs. I'm the principal of the Ninja Academy now. Even if information like this reaches Konoha, Minato may not necessarily inform me."

"And you're mistaken about something—Konoha's intelligence network has been significantly weakened."

"Due to the Demon incidents, most of the village's intelligence forces have been redirected within the country, focusing primarily on tracking demons."

"It's no surprise that intelligence like this slipped through the cracks."

"But from what you're saying, the influence of this 'Rebel Army' has grown immensely."

"Even trying to influence the Land of Fire, one of the Five Great Nations?"

Uzumaki Raiden narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke aloud. If this was truly the case, these organizations required serious attention. Civilian rebels alone wouldn't be much of a concern, as they lacked the strength to pose a significant threat. However, this situation demanded greater scrutiny.

After all, Akatsuki had the power to destroy entire nations. They could not be ignored.

"Yes, the rebel army has the support of a large population, and Akatsuki is backing them. Master, Konoha must take this seriously," Shisui cautioned.

Uzumaki Raiden nodded at his words, then looked at Shisui and asked,

"Shisui, if these rebels enter the Land of Fire and begin affecting its people, what do you think Konoha should do?"

"Should we send troops to eliminate them? Or should we send envoys to negotiate peace?"

"You realize that a force like this could easily destabilize the current peace."

The moonlight spilled from the sky, illuminating Uzumaki Raiden's face. His expression betrayed neither joy nor disdain as he posed the question.

Uchiha Shisui sat up straight, lowering his head in deep thought. Beside him, Kisame also wore an inquisitive expression, observing the younger man.

To be honest, Kisame had already considered this dilemma. His approach would be simple—these so-called rebels were an unstable factor, and if left unchecked, they would inevitably lead to a large-scale civil war. If it were up to him, he would eliminate them before they could grow into a larger threat.

However, after spending time with Shisui, Kisame had come to understand his nature. While Shisui was ruthless toward his enemies, he was fundamentally a kind and compassionate person.

Since the rebels had yet to commit any heinous acts, Shisui would never agree to slaughter them. This made Kisame curious—how would Shisui respond?

"I..." Shisui hesitated, realizing that his master was testing him. For a moment, he struggled to form a response.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"I would send envoys to negotiate their surrender. So far, the rebels have not crossed any lines. In my view, their actions are just."

"Helping those in need is not inherently wrong. Their only fault is that some innocent wealthy individuals have suffered financial losses, but for them, those losses are negligible."

"If these people are properly guided, the world could change for the better."

"I have seen too many impoverished people during my journey. The political games between great nations are nothing short of disasters for the common people in smaller countries."

"In such an environment, the emergence of a group like this is a good thing."

Shisui locked eyes with Uzumaki Raiden, his gaze firm as he spoke from the heart.

Uzumaki Raiden listened in silence. He neither nodded nor shook his head. Instead, he lifted his gaze toward the sky and let out a soft sigh.

"Shisui, there has never been a bloodless revolution in this world."

"I haven't heard you mention any concrete demands from these organizations. Or their core ideology."

"For a group to reach this scale, they must have an objective. The fact that they haven't stated it doesn't mean they lack one. More likely, their ambitions are so great that openly declaring them would draw immediate attention from the Five Great Nations."

"Right now, they are still in the stage of accumulating power. The friction between them and the daimyo's factions has not yet escalated. But once they amass enough strength, those three small nations will be the first to fall."

"The daimyo of the Land of Rivers is wise to seek aid from the Land of Wind now. The longer this drags on, the worse it will be for those nations."

"The true purpose of rallying the common people is to strike at the ruling elite. These organizations likely seek to overthrow the regimes of these smaller nations."

"Akatsuki isn't playing games this time."

Uzumaki Raiden let out a deep sigh. He could already foresee Akatsuki's next moves—using these organizations to seize control of the actual political power in countries surrounding the Land of Rain. These nations would provide Akatsuki with an enormous population base, fueling its expansion.

The training period for a ninja was relatively short. Generally, it took about 15 years for a talented individual to become a fully qualified shinobi. In times of war, this process could be expedited, with some exceptional ninjas reaching battlefield readiness in under a year.

Prodigies like Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi had begun training at the age of four or five and were already fighting on the battlefield by their early teens.

If Akatsuki's plan succeeded, the Land of Rain could establish a Hidden Village strong enough to rival the Five Great Nations within just 15 years. And that was without considering their high-level combat power.

After all, elite fighters could not be produced simply through population numbers—but for Akatsuki, high-level combat power was the least of their worries.

This shift in Akatsuki's strategy was significant. Their current approach was far more dangerous than before. From Uzumaki Raiden's perspective, Akatsuki could soon become a threat to the entire ninja world.

"Shisui, stay here tonight. There are plenty of vacant rooms and bedding available."

"You and Kisame should get some rest. I need some time alone."

Uzumaki Raiden closed his eyes slightly, gazing at the shimmering lake in the distance, ignoring Shisui and Kisame.

"Understood," they both responded before departing. After their long journey, exhaustion had caught up to them. Kisame, in particular, was eager to see Uehara Akina after being away for so long.

Once they were gone, Uzumaki Raiden remained by the lakeside, lost in thought.

His mind drifted back to his younger self—his first time on the battlefield. In the Land of Rain, he had encountered Iwagakure's aerial strike forces. He had hidden behind a barrier, watching helplessly as the civilians of the Land of Rain pleaded for help outside. In the end, he had secretly saved them.

And in that moment, he had made a vow to himself: "I will change this ninja world."

Yet, after all these years, Uzumaki Raiden had merely upheld Konoha's interests. He had not changed the world. He had only protected his family and his village.

Unlike him, Yahiko and Nagato's Akatsuki appeared to be actively working toward that goal.

And despite his overwhelming power, Uzumaki Raiden had settled for the stability of the present instead of striving for real change.

That night, he thought deeply about it all.

By the time dawn arrived, and the first rays of sunlight pierced through the leaves, casting their glow upon his face—he still had no answers.

(End of Chapter)