"Unify the shinobi world!"
Hearing Uchiha Yuan's words—
Uchiha Daishi showed a fervent, almost fanatical expression.
Meanwhile, Ye Cang grew visibly tense, even instinctively taking a guarded stance.
Noticing her hostility, Yuan turned around calmly.
"The root of this twisted, chaotic world lies in the Five Great Nations."
"Only by eliminating them and unifying the world—can true, lasting peace be achieved."
Ye Cang had been raised to serve her village and the Wind Country's daimyo.
So hearing this—
Shook her to the core.
"Your ambition will never succeed."
"You're making an enemy of the entire world."
Yuan smiled faintly.
"You say that only because you don't understand what true power is."
She hesitated.
His confidence—
Was unsettling.
Yuan continued:
"Decades ago, the world was still in the Warring States era."
"Clans fought endlessly for all kinds of reasons."
"Then came Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha."
"They suppressed the entire world."
"They united the clans and founded Konoha."
"Other nations followed, forming their own hidden villages."
"The result?"
"Internal clan wars stopped."
"Peace was achieved—for a time."
"But after that—"
"Each nation centralized military power into villages."
"And ambition grew."
"After Hashirama died…"
"The First Shinobi World War began."
"And it was even more brutal than the Warring States era."
Yuan's voice deepened.
"What I'm doing…"
"Is simply going one step further than Hashirama."
"He united clans."
"I will unite the entire world."
Silence.
Ye Cang couldn't refute him.
Her resistance—
Wavered.
Then Yuan added:
"Eighty percent of the Wind Country is desert."
"But if the world is unified—"
"I can divert rivers from the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain into it."
"That would completely change its environment."
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"That's an amazing idea!"
"We should inform the daimyo and the village immediately!"
Yuan laughed.
"Naive."
Her expression darkened.
"Do you think Konoha and Iwagakure would allow that?"
"If the desert is solved—Sunagakure grows stronger."
"And that's exactly what they don't want."
"First—small conflicts."
"Then escalation."
"And eventually—another great war."
Ye Cang's expression changed drastically.
She tried to argue—
But in the end…
She could only sigh.
Looking at Yuan again—
Her perception had changed.
From a reckless ambitious man—
To a visionary.
"I need time."
"I'll give you my answer tomorrow."
"Rest well."
"Your injuries still need time."
Yuan turned and left.
Inside the room—
Ye Cang sat alone, staring out the window.
The fishing village was quiet under the night sky.
Outside—
Yuan and Daishi walked along a stone path.
"Daishi, has everyone been slacking in training?"
"No, big brother."
"Thirteen more have reached the second stage of the stance method."
"And you?"
"How's your breathing technique?"
Daishi stopped.
"Please take a look."
Crackle! Crackle!
A series of popping sounds erupted from his body.
A layer of red chakra, like flames, wrapped around him.
Yuan observed for a moment, then nodded.
"Good."
"You've been training seriously."
"Takuno and Qiren have also mastered the second stage."
As they continued walking—
Yuan asked:
"Anything new in the village?"
Daishi frowned.
"There is… something related to you."
"The village assigned another squad to guard the gates."
Yuan stopped.
"The clan head agreed?"
"Yes."
"He said it's to ease tensions with the village."
"After all… you cut off an elder's arm."
"And—"
"The village allowed his son, Itachi Uchiha, to join the ANBU."
Yuan's eyes narrowed.
"The clan head is too naive."
"If the village fears us—"
"They'll definitely monitor Itachi."
"An ANBU is just a tool."
"They don't have access to high-level decisions."
"Instead—"
"He may become the village's spy."
Daishi was shocked.
"That… can't be."
"He's the clan head's son!"
Yuan gave a cold smile.
"Itachi Uchiha… is not simple."
"I can't see through him."
"Should we monitor him then?"
"No."
"He's too strong."
"You'll only expose yourselves."
"Stay away from him."
"Yes."
Soon—
They arrived at a campsite outside the village.
A large bonfire burned at the center.
Under its light—
Familiar faces looked toward Yuan with excitement.
"Leader!"
A group of young Uchiha stood up together and bowed.
Daishi had left the village under the pretense of a merchant caravan.
Along with him—
Were more than a dozen Uchiha youths.
Their departure—
Had attracted no suspicion.
After all—
It was just a simple supply mission.
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