NOVEL NEXT Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Uchiha Konohamaru?
Chapter 110: Uchiha Konohamaru?
By the time Uchiha Kagami returned to the Leaf Village, several months had passed.
During that time, he had been wandering through the Land of Fire, much like an undercover inspection tour.
He had made a habit of doing this for a few days every year.
Kagami was well aware that he wasn't skilled at governance. He could set a general direction, but implementing it was a different matter.
Kagami enjoyed fighting but disliked pointless killing. He still hoped for a peaceful place to live.
It wasn't realistic to expect the entire Land of Fire to prosper within just a few years.
But compared to the wartime years, people no longer lived in constant fear, and the oppressive noble clans were gone.
Complete equality was laughable in a world with extraordinary individuals.
Achieving relative fairness was already a great accomplishment.
People no longer had to hand over eighty percent of their crops to the nobility; instead, they only paid twenty percent as land rent.
This was something the common folk of the Land of Fire had never dared to dream of.
Even the nature of ninja missions was changing.
Previously, villagers or merchants would pool money to hire ninja for tasks.
Now, mission payments came directly from the Hokage's allocation of national funds.
Even the Daimyō was reduced to a mere financial officer under the Hokage's control. The ministers? They were hardly worth mentioning.
The current officials remained in place only because there weren't enough trained replacements yet. A sudden purge would create chaos, and the new appointees might not be any better.
Once there was a sufficient talent pool, most of the current officials would be removed.
...
Merchants on major trade routes no longer needed to hire ninja escorts. Ninja ensured the safety of the roads, and caravans simply paid a toll.
Only those venturing into unstable regions would need to request ninja protection.
The new system didn't reduce the number of ninja missions; in fact, it increased them. There was a constant shortage of manpower.
Most tasks now came directly from the Hokage, including infrastructure projects and border defense.
If you wanted to be more descriptive,
Minato was now the Land of Fire's Chancellor, while Sakumo Hatake was its Chief Military Officer.
Ninja also served as regional defense leaders.
If not for their exceptional physical resilience, these two would have long since collapsed under the intense workload.
Kagami typically stayed out of decision-making. It was better to leave professional matters to the professionals.
His role was to be the Land of Fire's mobile deterrent—a living, breathing nuclear weapon.
He was the foundation of the Land of Fire's stable development.
Outside forces knew that their geographical constraints made it impossible to surpass the Land of Fire.
But with Uchiha Kagami around, they didn't dare make a move.
...
After months of inspections, Kagami was pleased to see that things were steadily improving year by year.
Perspective shaped attitude.
In the past, all he cared about was the Leaf Village. Now that the entire Land of Fire belonged to the Uchiha, it was only natural to protect his own assets.
"Kagami, is this really okay?"
Sukuna's deep voice echoed.
"This country… If you keep going, you'll stabilize the entire ninja world…"
"Have you thought about what that means for us? Our energy comes from the world's intense negative emotions. If those emotions vanish, and Otsutsuki Isshiki's energy runs out, we'll lose our path forward."
Kagami's lips curled into a smile.
"Are you worried about losing your job? How diligent of you. I'll make sure you stay busy."
"This world… It still holds plenty of treasures to be unearthed."
...
With that, Kagami joined the crowd entering the Leaf Village.
His identification badge was just an ordinary Leaf resident's, ensuring he didn't receive any grand welcomes upon arrival.
He found those clichés too tiresome.
If someone wanted to see him show off, they'd at least need to be a Jōnin-level ninja.
Dressed in plain clothes, his hair tied in a small ponytail, Kagami looked like a handsome young man.
To those who didn't know him, he was just another face in the crowd, far removed from the legendary Uchiha clan leader.
Wandering through the village streets, Kagami suddenly had a craving for barbecue.
Thanks to his mastery of yin-yang release, medicine no longer affected his body.
Even regular exercise had little impact.
Having suppressed his appetite for years, he decided to treat himself.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a toad-shaped wallet.
This had been "borrowed" from Jiraiya.
Ever since Jiraiya had blamed him and Kakashi for peeking into the women's bathhouse, Kagami had made it a habit to empty Jiraiya's pockets whenever they met.
Using Jiraiya's manuscript fees to indulge himself felt more justifiable than letting them fund Jiraiya's escapades.
...
When it came to barbecue, the Akimichi family was the obvious choice.
The internal conflict from years ago had left many ninja dead or injured, but the Akimichi clan hadn't been wiped out.
Minato's negotiations allowed the clans to keep a foothold, though they had to surrender their secret techniques.
Kagami lifted the shop curtain.
"Welcome!"
"M-Master Kagami!"
The barbecue restaurant, a significant source of income for the Akimichi family, was managed by an elder who immediately recognized Kagami.
"Three full sets to start, please," Kagami said, casually taking a seat.
This was his first time dining at an establishment outside the clan's compound.
He hoped the clan's private chef wouldn't feel too disheartened.
The Akimichi staff, though nervous, personally supervised the kitchen to ensure only the finest cuts were served.
...
As the fresh meat sizzled on the grill, the tantalizing aroma of fat dripping into the flames filled the air.
The sight of the beef changing from red to a caramelized brown, with the edges curling slightly, made his mouth water.
Grabbing a perfectly grilled slice, Kagami took a bite.
The rich flavor spread across his palate, the meat tender and juicy, with just the right amount of chew.
It had been far too long since he'd enjoyed such simple, delicious satisfaction.
Kagami hadn't come during peak hours, but by his seventh round, the shop began to fill with customers.
Some patrons, noticing the constant flow of fresh meat plates to Kagami's table, couldn't help but marvel.
Despite his lean frame, this young man had quite an appetite.
The bustling kitchen could no longer focus on presentation, hurriedly cutting and sending out plate after plate.
The important thing was speed; presentation didn't matter to someone like him.
A small crowd gathered to watch him eat, but Kagami didn't mind.
People observing him casually dining was a sign of a safe environment.
On a battlefield, such onlookers would be courting death.
"Hey… Is that Kagami?"
A familiar voice caught his attention. Kagami looked up.
It was a man who bore a striking resemblance to a young Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Shinnosuke? Long time no see," Kagami replied, only to raise his head again moments later.
Standing beside Sarutobi Shinnosuke was a woman with gentle features and a faint blush, the kind of embarrassed look people get when caught on a date.
"Y-Ye… Tsuki?" Kagami stammered.
Uchiha Yetsuki, mother of Uchiha Izumi and the kindly proprietor of his favorite breakfast shop.
Shinnosuke scratched his nose sheepishly.
"Yetsuki and I met at the hospital. We're, uh… dating!"
As he spoke, Shinnosuke raised their clasped hands in a bold declaration, causing Yetsuki to turn away bashfully.
...
Years ago, following a major battle, the reconstruction efforts saw the participation of Uchiha clan members.
Seriously injured in the conflict, Shinnosuke met Uchiha Yetsuki while she volunteered at a temporary hospital.
A cheerful, earnest man and a gentle widow…
One thing led to another…
Kagami rubbed his temples.
In the shinobi world, dating often meant a serious commitment aimed at marriage.
And according to clan rules…
Uchiha Shinnosuke?
Uchiha Konohamaru?
It was almost too surreal to believe.
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