After encountering the mystery of pure chakra, Tamura Hao smiled. He raised his hand to cover the upper half of his face, exposing his left eye between his fingers, and began to laugh louder and louder.
"Hahaha…"
After all this time, it's finally my turn—Tamura Hao… no, Tamura Ritian—to rise. My parents really chose the right name.
At this moment, I, Tamura Hiten, am reborn!
From today onward, I'll use the most efficient, methodical… no, the most patient method to surpass all of you—or die trying!
"Xiao Haozi, did you eat a dead rat? Why are you laughing so loud?"
Just as Tamura Ritian was basking in his delusions of grandeur, a lion's roar from upstairs startled him so much he almost leapt out the window.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Ruth. I just got too excited over a novel I was reading. I'll keep it down!"
Tamura Hao quickly apologized and shut the window tightly.
I need to stay humble. Can't draw too much attention yet. Tamura Ritian is too flashy—Tamura Hao will do for now.
After calming down, Hao mentally connected the broken jade fragments, consuming his mysterious power—"the power of destiny"—to deepen his comprehension. He focused on refining chakra, seeking insight and mastery.
Chakra in this world is unlike the "internal energy" or "true qi" systems of his previous life's wuxia novels. There's no "dantian" to store it. Chakra must be refined continuously from the body's physical energy and spiritual energy.
Refining chakra requires a precise balance—physical stamina and mental focus in a 1:1 ratio.
There are exceptions, of course. For instance, the Uchiha clan's Sharingan draws heavily from spiritual energy. But Tamura Hao possessed neither a kekkei genkai nor special elemental affinities—just basic lightning-nature chakra.
Still, his dual-lifetime soul gave him unusually strong spiritual power, far beyond most children his age. This allowed him to refine chakra with higher efficiency and greater control. He had already mastered chakra threads, tree-climbing, and water-walking—all exercises even academy graduates sometimes struggled with.
Now, his goal was to refine and improve the chakra training methods using his comprehension ability as a cheat.
Meanwhile, far across the village, in the Raikage's office, the Third Raikage flipped through a thick stack of personnel files—and a separate, neatly boxed stack of erotic novels. His face contorted between disbelief and rage.
Tutai, standing to the side, tried to appear as small and irrelevant as possible. He focused his gaze on a distant spot on the wall, pretending not to exist.
As for A—Yugito's elder brother and the Raikage's son—no one knew where he'd gone. But one thing was certain: he wasn't about to show up in front of his father today.
"Is it too late to regret?"
The Third Raikage finally muttered, covering his face with a large hand. He felt his legacy slipping through his fingers.
No wonder that brat only told me the truth after I agreed to take him as a disciple. What a schemer.
Tutai remained silent. Some things a man had to reckon with on his own.
"…Is it profitable?"
The Raikage's tone softened, though his expression still twitched. He glanced at the erotic books again. How could such vulgar filth earn this much?
Seeing his chance, Tutai spoke up: "According to recent surveys, his novels span multiple genres and appeal to a wide demographic. Readers range from teenagers to veteran shinobi."
"His output is extraordinary—about 100,000 words per month. Each volume sells for 10,000 ryō. Due to his top-tier author contract, he receives 90% of the profits."
"Based on internal estimates, around 70% of Hidden Cloud's ninja population are fans of his work. About 30% of the civilian population reads him too. We assume similar numbers in other villages."
"Even some nobles and high-ranking officials from the Land of Lightning buy his books."
"Cumulatively, his earnings are nearing 2 billion ryō—and the royalties continue to grow."
Tutai paused. Even he was shocked when he saw the numbers.
And those were just domestic numbers. His books were especially popular in Konoha—likely due to the frequent appearance of names that paralleled real clans in the Leaf.
"…You mean to say one boy makes more money than the village?"
The Raikage's voice trembled with disbelief.
Tutai nodded. "It's… a way to process stress. Shinobi walk a dark path. These books offer them an outlet. A moment's escape from bloodshed."
"Even I feel clearer after reading them. No distractions, no cravings. They help me meditate on strategy."
"…He's only ten. Five years ago, he was five. How could he write this filth?"
The Raikage's tone was half-accusation, half-bewildered awe.
Tutai cleared his throat. "Well, we have… theories. According to intel, the Third Hokage once used the Transparent Escape Technique to spy on bathhouses."
"And his student, Jiraiya of the Sannin—he's known for being a shameless peeping tom. He clashed multiple times with the Uchiha police for voyeurism."
"When Tamura Hao arrived here, he was six or seven. He slipped into women's bathhouses, claiming to be 'collecting material.' He even worked in Kabukichō for a while."
"He reads extensively—history, clan records, ninja village profiles… He's studious."
Tutai finished with a shrug. "It all adds up. Strange, but logical."
The Raikage's brow twitched.
Should I cut ties? Clean this up before it ruins our image?
After much thought, he gritted his teeth and made a decision.
"Classify his identity and history as S-rank confidential—on par with the two Tailed Beast secrets."
"And assign Fukai as his squad leader. That brat's talent is undeniable—and he's good for the village. His skills and money-making are valuable."
"If it's for the village, I'll swallow my pride. That's what being a Kage means."
"But keep it discreet. I don't want the whole world laughing at us. I'm not Sarutobi Hiruzen—I have some shame left."
Tutai nodded in understanding. "We'll fabricate a plausible cover story. But Shimura Danzō won't be easy to fool."
At the mention of Danzō, the Raikage's expression darkened. That man… was a true viper.
"The leak about the 1 billion ryō might already be out. But we can control the fallout. Eliminate the identified spies. Quietly."
Tutai's tone was confident. In Kumo, such operations were routine.
This was Hidden Cloud—not Konoha.