Dawn arrived as always.
Still in that same forest.
After confirming the enemy's withdrawal, the surviving ninja of The Fireflies organization began cleaning the battlefield, collecting the bodies of the fallen.
Lists of casualties kept being delivered to Yūshin's hands.
Kansen Morinaga, Ryūnosuke Hayasaka, Gorō Fūma, Akimichi Keigetsu, Nara Kenji, Wutong...
"How many do we have left?"
Fūma Chi, serving as guard nearby, said:
"Fewer than thirty people, but some are in missing status. Cases like Lord Akimichi Ninharu being protected by Lady Shichimi are also counted among the missing."
Yūshin nodded. That was true, but the problem was—when exactly would those sent to the future return to which future time point?
Their Akimichi Ninharu and Uchiha's Uchiha Orikawa hadn't died on the battlefield, but no one knew the specific time of their return to the present world... They might wake up just in time for the Fourth Shinobi World War for all anyone knew.
What Yūshin didn't know was that when the battle first began, Shichimi indeed couldn't control her Mangekyō Sharingan, but afterward she gradually mastered her dōjutsu power.
Within just one day, seven more ninja returned to the organization.
Calculating this way, The Fireflies organization lost more than half its ninja in battlefield combat. But purely calculating casualty ratios, the difference between enemy and ally wasn't even that great, because the enemy also left behind nearly thirty corpses.
Lan had always been highly lethal, while Nara Hideyuki achieved astonishing growth during the war. These two alone accounted for more than half the kills.
Yūshin temporarily didn't know the effectiveness of Senju Clan's attack on Hagoromo Clan, but no matter what, he couldn't expect Senju to completely annihilate Hagoromo in one strike.
One day later, the pursuit squad returned.
All survivors, wounded, and deceased of The Fireflies organization returned to Kikyō Castle.
In the main hall on the first floor of the keep, the bodies of the fallen were laid out one by one.
Yūshin placed his damaged arm guard into Gorō Fūma's coffin—he would never need this thing again.
Then he looked up at Fūma Chi and said:
"Clan Leader Gorō was once my right-hand man. Now Fūma Clan depends on you."
"Yes, Lord Yūshin." Fūma Chi was very young. Yūshin's words excited him greatly, though he still couldn't hide the sorrow in his eyes.
"Go, let me stay quiet for a while."
After Fūma Chi left, only Yūshin and Lan remained here.
They came to another coffin where Shichimi's remains lay peacefully.
"Uchiha Clan..."
Before Lan could finish speaking, Yūshin interrupted her.
"Don't touch Uchiha. They're useful."
Shichimi's Sharingan whereabouts were unknown. Yūshin suspected that just like Uchiha Tajima's eyes, her Mangekyō had also been stolen by Black Zetsu.
Shichimi's Mangekyō could connect present and future, but whether it could connect present and past was unknown. Since her death had temporarily become established fact, this possibility could basically be ruled out.
Regardless of what specific method Black Zetsu used to introduce Indra and Ashura chakra, allowing the pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan in its hands to evolve into Rinnegan... in any case, it definitely couldn't be separated from Uchiha Madara.
Both future pairs of Rinnegan were connected to Uchiha Madara, meaning Madara was bound together with "Rinne Rebirth Technique."
In this situation, Yūshin's most correct choice was to ignore Uchiha Clan and let Black Zetsu manipulate them.
Not just Shichimi—this time's fallen might all have chances to return to the present world.
Yūshin decided to preserve Shichimi's remains properly.
"Then it's Hagoromo Clan."
Lan's hatred was no less than Yūshin's. She felt this matter shouldn't end here.
"That's definitely possible."
Yūshin suddenly understood why Hagoromo Clan would perish in the chaotic times—it would be strange if they didn't perish.
After temporarily handling organizational matters, Yūshin went to meet the daimyō again.
"I heard about your battle results this time. To contend with such a powerful ninja clan and ultimately even drive them back—this can't be considered a defeat by any measure."
Knowing the organization's casualty rate was high, Shimizu Kiyosuke even comforted Yūshin.
Drive back?
Previously driving back Hagoromo Clan didn't rely on The Fireflies organization. Hereafter, when Yūshin faced Hagoromo Clan, he wouldn't seek any "drive back" combat objectives either—that was too narrow.
So he shook his head and said:
"Lord Daimyō, after experiencing a great battle, I understood one thing... People must ultimately accept their own ordinariness."
Considering too many future matters was useless. Ending the current shinobi world chaos was the goal at the realistic level.
Uchiha and Senju needed to achieve convergence.
"What does this mean?" Shimizu Kiyosuke was somewhat baffled. Yūshin didn't look disheartened either.
"It means I'm just a second-rate ninja, while you're a first-rate daimyō. In the future, you'll definitely become the master of Land of Fire."
"Land of Fire? Second-rate? You don't need to be so self-deprecating."
It wasn't self-deprecation but fact. There were only two first-rate ninja in this era.
"Of course, the fire of Fireflies. After the chaotic times end, you'll possess the entire continent."
"..."
Something was wrong—nine parts out of ten were wrong. How are you turning around to sell me dreams?
But no matter what, the daimyō felt it was good that Yūshin hadn't lost his fighting spirit.
The Fireflies organization hadn't been destroyed and could even drive back Hagoromo Clan. Although it suffered tremendous losses, cooperation between the organization and daimyō would continue.
"Also, Lord Daimyō, through this incident, I understood that ninja shouldn't live mixed together with civilians. Otherwise, once accidents occur, civilians will suffer tremendous damage..."
"I plan to establish a shinobi village in the forest east of Kikyō Castle, then relocate the organization there."
"Apart from dispatching dedicated guardian ninja to Lord Daimyō's side, the organization will try not to interfere in internal political affairs anymore."
Making this decision was partly because Kikyō Castle had indeed suffered undeserved disaster, and partly because Yūshin already had relatively deep trust in Shimizu Kiyosuke.
"Shinobi village? The one-clan-one-village type of shinobi village?"
"...Probably maybe perhaps not quite the same."
...
The organization stabilized again, beginning to shrink back and slowly lick its wounds.
Although they hadn't completed clearing surrounding forces, under the illustrious reputation of driving back Hagoromo Clan, no force dared attempt fishing in troubled waters.
Nara Hideyuki temporarily left the organization. He took Nara Kenji's remains and returned to Nara Clan's village.
In such a short time, one of the two dispatched ninja had died in battle. Clan Leader Nara Naoyuki even began doubting his own decision momentarily.
Until Nara Hideyuki explained his and the organization's experiences during this period.
"Hideyuki, I roughly understand. So you mean..."
"The organization is now in a temporarily weakened state. No matter what, this is our best opportunity to join." Nara Hideyuki spoke very firmly.
A clansman had died, yet he still wanted to persuade the entire clan to join that organization? Nara Naoyuki didn't suspect Hideyuki had been brainwashed into betraying clan interests.
"Aren't you afraid of Hagoromo Clan's subsequent retaliation?"
Nara Hideyuki shook his head: "They should be the ones worried. In the near or distant future, if one side must perish, it will definitely be Hagoromo."
This conviction left Nara Naoyuki stunned. After a while, he said: "Hideyuki, come with me. Let me test your strength."
And then?
Then the clan leader was quickly defeated.
Just one night later, Nara Naoyuki weighed gains and losses, ultimately accepting Hideyuki's view... If you're going to bet, you must bet heavily. Life requires the determination to go all-in sometimes.
"Clan Leader, just like when the three clans merged before, what if there are stubborn clansmen who don't accept your decision?" Nara Hideyuki was very happy the clan leader accepted his judgment, but immediately raised another doubt.
"Don't accept? Who exactly is the clan leader? Then let each go their own way... I'll explain this matter to the daimyō. If the daimyō is willing to migrate west, we definitely won't lose noble status. Would they feel comfortable staying beside the old regime?"
Three days later, a large group mixing civilians and ninja began quietly migrating west.
But not long after leaving, they encountered another slightly smaller group. Caught off guard, both sides nearly clashed.
Looking carefully—oh well, it was actually Yamanaka Clan. Their own people.
Damn it, everyone was secretly acting on their own without informing each other?
Both sides mutually complained in their hearts, but regarding such major clan matters, extreme caution was appropriate.
Almost simultaneously, Yūshin, overseeing relocation matters in Kikyō Castle, also encountered something strange. Subordinates suddenly told him that a ninja clan claiming to have "drifted half a lifetime without meeting a worthy lord" had specifically come to surrender.
Yūshin had been concentrating on internal organizational affairs these past days, so he hadn't realized that after driving back Hagoromo Clan, The Fireflies organization's reputation was no longer what it used to be.
Saying it spread throughout the shinobi world might be somewhat exaggerated, but The Fireflies organization's name was definitely no longer limited to remote frontier regions.
"What ninja clan?" Yūshin asked somewhat curiously.
With the organization's greatly reduced numbers, as long as there were no major problems or betrayal history, Yūshin didn't care about their original strength. If they seemed suitable, he could accept them.
"They don't have many people. Their leader claims to be Aburame."
"...Good name," Yūshin still had that somewhat judgmental attitude, but immediately stood up, making a "welcoming talent" gesture, saying, "Where are they? I'll go welcome them."
Intercepted!
Could only say Nara Clan and Yamanaka Clan moving with their entire families still weren't fast enough. They got up early but arrived at a late gathering.
...
Regret was Akimichi Shenyu's most profound emotion during this recent period. After the battle ended, he had been tormented internally.
Big Brother Ninharu had disappeared. Although according to Lord Yūshin's explanation, he knew his big brother would return sooner or later, his second brother had truly died in battle.
Of the three brothers, only he remained.
If he hadn't been pretentious before and had directly accepted that secret technique, would his strength have been greater? Would the outcome have changed somewhat?
But reality has no "ifs."
After Nara Hideyuki returned, the "secret technique implantation" matters originally managed by Gorō Fūma were handed to him. So Akimichi Shenyu came before him.
"Are you certain?"
Nara Hideyuki asked, because Nara Clan had missed becoming the "first uprising" role through bad timing, he was somewhat unhappy at this time.
So while inquiring, he transformed into "Cursed Grudge Fear form," tentacles writhing chaotically, frightening Akimichi Shenyu until his face was pale and his body trembled uncontrollably.
"I'm certain."
However, his answer didn't change.
...
The shinobi village's location was chosen deep in that tranquil forest.
The ninja had already developed a campsite. Yūshin didn't stay long in Kikyō Castle and came directly here.
He could only temporarily live in tents, and because too many new members had joined, there always seemed to be endless work.
That evening, while busy, he suddenly glimpsed Little Shichi wandering near the tent... After the battle ended, he hadn't sorted out his feelings yet, so he momentarily hadn't paid attention to Little Shichi.
Little Shichi was as consistent as always. Yūshin couldn't help showing a smile.
However, when Little Shichi looked toward him, he immediately froze... He saw a pair of crimson Sharingan in Little Shichi's eye sockets.
Shichimi's eyes weren't with Black Zetsu but with Little Shichi?
Yūshin had seen Little Shichi merge into other summoned beasts and take away chakra more than once. Could this ability be used on people?
But this didn't seem strange. What essential difference was there between ninja and summoned beasts?
Only, what it could take away wasn't just chakra—it could even be other organs?
What exactly was Little Shichi?
Seeing Little Shichi seemed to be signaling Yūshin to follow, he stepped out of the tent.
After telling the guard at the door "I'm going for a walk, you don't need to follow," Yūshin followed behind Little Shichi.
Little Shichi walked all the way into the forest depths. About an hour later, it finally stopped... This place was truly deserted.
At this time, Yūshin saw the three-tomoe Sharingan in Little Shichi's eye sockets slowly change into Mangekyō shape.
Next, space-time seemed to fluctuate violently in the direction it was gazing.
As if something was about to be born.
"What is... this?"
After several minutes of buildup, the white fox shed two lines of bloody tears. Immediately after, the space-time passage suddenly opened.
A human figure fell out from within.
Due to violent space-time displacement, this person swayed unsteadily, unable to stand properly, with their brain seemingly in a crashed state.
Black shoulder-length hair, slender build, pale skin, and...
A long coat with red clouds on black background.
Yūshin suddenly understood—Shichimi had left this pair of eyes for him.
"Are your... expectations of me somewhat too high, Shichimi?"
Although Uchiha Shichimi didn't know about Ashura, she seemed to hope Yūshin could become someone like Ashura.
Unite all forces that could be united, then pacify the shinobi world and achieve lasting peace.
For this, she feared Yūshin lacked sufficient support and even brought him powerful assistance from the distant future—the peaceful era as she saw it.
Unfortunately, Little Shichi's paws were a bit too bold, directly pulling the "biggest deal" right from the start.
"Uchiha... Sasuke..."
Yūshin called out the name of the summoned person.
At least it was Uchiha Sasuke who had already finished the Pacific War.
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