"Otousan, Otousan." It was a peculiar way of addressing someone—one that evoked a unique feeling upon hearing it.
"Lord Kakuzu, your daughter is calling for you again." Ni gently cradled young Hinata in her arms as she approached Kakuzu, smiling as she spoke.
Kakuzu could only sigh in resignation.
When Hinata was first brought here, she had been just over three years old—nearing four. That was the age when a child's memories truly began to take shape. As she grew older, her way of addressing Kakuzu naturally settled into this affectionate term.
"So, how does it feel being a father for the first time?" Ni asked teasingly while holding Hinata.
"It's fine. If she wants to call me that, so be it. There's nothing wrong with it." Kakuzu stood up, taking Hinata from Ni's arms and holding her close, gently playing with her.
Hinata was an obedient and sweet child—the very image of what most parents would consider ideal. Unfortunately, her biological father, Hiashi Hyuga, never seemed to appreciate that.
Thinking back to the original timeline, the Hyuga Clan was bound by rigid traditions. Hiashi had imposed strict training on Hinata from an early age, expecting her to mature quickly and take on the role of the clan's heir. Her childhood had been anything but happy.
Taking her in at this moment might actually give her a different path in life—perhaps a better one.
Kakuzu turned his gaze toward the sky.
'Hyuga Tennin...'
He hadn't forgotten that name. The thousand-eyed Byakugan he now possessed had awakened because of that man.
'You once asked me to carry on your will—to witness the future for you. You also entrusted me with looking after the Hyuga Clan in times of crisis. Perhaps that time has finally come. Some may not understand my actions now, but this is an opportunity. I believe the Hyuga Clan will find its own way forward.'
With those thoughts lingering, Kakuzu turned his attention back to Ni.
"How are things progressing?"
"Lord Kakuzu, everything is underway. The ninja academy's construction is nearly complete. Before long, the Land of Dragons will have its own proper ninja school."
Hearing this, Kakuzu nodded.
Even decades into the future, a ninja academy would still be relevant. Establishing one was undoubtedly a worthwhile endeavor.
...
Half a year later.
The construction of the ninja academy was finally finished, and the first batch of students had already enrolled. Many individuals from other countries had also arrived to congratulate the Land of Dragons.
Among them, two figures stood out.
"Lord Kakuzu, Yahiko and Konan have arrived." Nagato led the two guests forward, his face full of excitement.
Upon seeing them, Kakuzu smiled.
"It's just an opening ceremony for a ninja academy. I didn't expect the leader of the Land of Rain to come in person. That's quite an honor."
"Lord Kakuzu, you jest." Konan chuckled. "If we hadn't met you back then, who knows where I, Yahiko, and Nagato would be today?"
Yahiko nodded in agreement, stepping forward to stand beside Konan. The two exchanged a glance, and in that brief moment, a flicker of emotion passed between them.
Then, Yahiko turned his gaze back to Kakuzu and took Konan's hand.
"Lord Kakuzu, we have another piece of news to share. Konan and I are getting married."
Marriage!
The sudden announcement left everyone momentarily stunned. For a brief second, they didn't know how to react.
The only ones unsurprised were Kakuzu and Nagato.
"It's been half a century since the Warring States period ended. On the surface, the days of endless fighting among ninja seem to be behind us, but in truth, conflict still lingers in the shadows. Few people have the chance to find love and settle down in such turbulent times."
Kakuzu stepped forward, taking their other hands and clasping them together firmly.
"Congratulations."
Yahiko scratched the back of his head with a hearty laugh, while Konan shyly lowered her gaze. The moment finally sank in, and the surrounding people erupted into applause, celebrating the couple's union.
The upcoming wedding, along with the opening of the ninja academy, filled the Land of Dragons with an air of joy and excitement.
"Lord Kakuzu," Yahiko continued, "since Konan and I are already here, we plan to hold our wedding in the Land of Dragons. Also, I have a gift for you."
Saying this, Yahiko let go of Konan's hand and retrieved a scroll from his robe. He spread it out on the ground, revealing its contents little by little.
It wasn't a ninjutsu scroll nor a sealing contract—it was a map of the ninja world.
Yahiko first pointed to the location of the Land of Rain before tracing a path diagonally upward, stopping at the Land of Dragons.
"Lord Kakuzu, this is my gift to you."
Following Yahiko's finger, Kakuzu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Oh? The Land of Grass?"
He mentally sifted through his knowledge of the Land of Grass, recalling that Karin had originated from there. Beyond that, he didn't remember much.
"Lord Kakuzu, the Land of Grass is practically the central hub of the ninja world. It borders not only the Land of Rain and the Land of Dragons but also three of the Great Nations: the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Fire. Unfortunately, their leadership is... less than admirable. They often resort to stealing intelligence from other nations, exploiting information gaps to make a profit."
...
"At one point, they even infiltrated the Land of Rain." Yahiko's tone darkened, and Kakuzu could already guess what had happened next.
Yahiko possessed an innate charisma—a leader's presence that allowed him to unite allies and expand his influence. But he was also decisive and ruthless when necessary.
Yahiko and Konan had personally led a squad into the Land of Grass.
"You two certainly took a bold risk. Weren't you afraid of being ambushed?" Kakuzu asked.
Yahiko sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Lord Kakuzu, as they say, speed is the essence of war. Besides, at the time, you were stationed in the Land of Water, so I couldn't contact you quickly. I had to make the call myself. I figured that if something went wrong, you'd have my back."
"Oh? I'd have your back?" Kakuzu smiled and leaned in slightly, causing Yahiko to hastily wave his hands in defense.
"Lord Kakuzu, listen to the whole story first! Fortunately, everything turned out fine. The ninja of the Land of Grass were no match for Konan and me. We even met with their daimyo. It turns out that under the oppression of their own ninja, the daimyo wasn't in a great position either."
Yahiko pulled out another scroll.
"This is an agreement I made with him. As long as the Land of Dragons provides him with financial support each year, the Land of Grass will cease to exist on the map. The Land of Rain, too, will no longer be an independent entity. They will merge under one banner—becoming a single nation: the Land of Dragons."
With these words, the unification of the ninja world had officially begun.
However, there was still one important question Kakuzu needed to ask.
"Yahiko, you were born in the Land of Rain."
In a world so deeply bound by allegiances, where a single phrase like 'for the sake of the village' could dictate a person's fate, Kakuzu wanted to hear Yahiko's true beliefs.
Yahiko paused briefly, then met Kakuzu's gaze with unwavering determination.
"Lord Kakuzu, I haven't forgotten your teachings. True peace can only be achieved through unity, not by maintaining fragile balances. People have tempers, and one day, they will break those balances. But if everyone lives under one nation, one system, then conflicts can be resolved through laws or other, more constructive means. That is the only real way to end strife."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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