Putting aside the fact that Sunagakure had dispatched the Kage-level powerhouse known as the "Sand Execution Demon," Asakura Kira—
On Yoru's side, after returning to the base, life became somewhat calm again.
Ever since Yoru had annihilated the Sand elite squad, the battlefield had entered a strangely quiet phase.
Sunagakure had pulled its forces back entirely. Konoha's smaller squads could no longer accomplish much.
At the same time, Konoha's high-level fighters also did not dare to advance too deeply into the battlefield, fearing that the Sand Village might have laid some kind of trap, resulting in losses among their elite forces.
After all, even for a powerhouse like Konoha, there were only so many peak Jonin-level experts.
If one died, that was one less.
And to cultivate a peak Jonin-level powerhouse required an astonishing amount of time and resources.
As for Yoru, his daily training had been divided into two phases.
He called this method—
"Three Training Sessions, One Zen Session."
As the name implied, it meant training the limits of his body for three days, then spending one day cultivating under the "Zen" state.
This was the most suitable training method Yoru had concluded after many attempts and repeated experimentation.
If he pushed beyond three days, then the swelling increase in bodily strength would require even more time to control.
So for now—
This was the most efficient way for him to train.
And during Yoru's current training period, there was now an additional ninja standing guard at the entrance.
He had red hair and delicate features.
That's right—
It was the Uzumaki clan orphan Yoru had ordered people to find within the Land of Rain—
Uzumaki Yemon!
To Yoru—
Uzumaki Yemon served an extremely important purpose!
As a genius of the Uzumaki clan, Yemon's chakra was somewhat special.
Although it was not as exaggerated as Kushina's—
It was enough.
That's right—
Yoru intended to make Uzumaki Yemon the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
According to information sent from the Senju clan, Uzumaki Mito did not have much longer to live.
And Kushina had originally been sent to Konoha precisely so that she could become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
But Kushina was Yoru's precious treasure.
How could he possibly allow a monster like that to be sealed inside her body?
At the same time—
Yoru was also extremely tempted by the power of the Nine-Tails.
That was a terrifying monster beyond even the Kage level!
The Nine-Tails possessed seemingly endless chakra.
If Yoru could control such a force—
Its usefulness would be enormous!
Thus, Yoru had already ordered the Senju clan to constantly monitor Uzumaki Mito's condition.
The moment her life became unstable—
Yoru would take Uzumaki Yemon and return to Konoha, forcefully ensuring that Yemon became the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
With Yoru's current prestige and status within Konoha—
Hiruzen Sarutobi likely would not dare force Yoru's woman to become the next Nine-Tails host.
After all—
Yoru had already prepared a suitable candidate.
That was already giving everyone a way out.
As for those old elders—
If they failed to appreciate the gesture—
Then Yoru would make them understand that the title "Konoha Crimson Demon" was not something earned for nothing.
Of course—
There was still one more crucial issue that had to be resolved.
If this issue were not handled properly, then those damned elders—especially Danzo—would never agree to let Uzumaki Yemon become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
But as for this matter—
Yoru had already made preparations.
Uzumaki Yemon stood outside Yoru's tent, guarding the entrance.
However, chains were fastened around his hands and feet, and as he stared toward Yoru's tent, his eyes were filled with hatred.
That's right—
Yoru had deliberately trained Uzumaki Yemon to be like this.
If Yemon were a fanatically loyal subordinate devoted to Yoru—
Then Konoha's politicians, and especially Danzo—who wished to become Hokage—would never allow such an important war asset as the Nine-Tails to fall into Yoru's hands.
But an Uzumaki Yemon who hated Yoru—
Danzo might very well give him a push and strongly support the idea!
After all—
Who did Danzo hate most right now?
Of course—
Yoru!
As the saying went—
The enemy of my enemy is my friend!
With a Yemon who harbored such hatred toward Yoru, Danzo might think he could pull him into his own camp.
And once he controlled the terrifying monster that was the Nine-Tails—
The position of Hokage would no longer be out of reach!
When Yoru had first proposed this plan, Uzumaki Yemon had been so frightened that he immediately dropped to his knees, banging his head on the ground over and over.
To Yemon—
Yoru was his heaven itself!
If Yoru told him to die, Uzumaki Yemon would not even frown.
If Yoru gave the order, then even if he had to be shattered into pieces, Yemon would not hesitate in the slightest. On the contrary, he would feel heartfelt joy at being able to serve Yoru-sama.
But being told to hate Yoru—
That was even more cruel than being cut into a thousand pieces!
After two full days and nights of persuasion, Yoru finally managed to talk sense into this stubborn fool.
Yemon had also figured it out.
Since this matter was so important to Yoru-sama—
Then even if it meant showing some disrespect to Yoru-sama—
He had to do it!
His soul had long since been dedicated to Yoru-sama!
And so—
This scene had come into being.
An Uzumaki Yemon wearing hand and foot restraints, glaring at Yoru's tent with hatred in his eyes.
Some Konoha ninjas could not bear to watch.
After all—
This was a member of the Uzumaki clan!
The symbol on the backs of Konoha ninja uniforms was the crest of the Uzumaki clan—
A symbol of the eternal friendship between the two villages!
Because of this matter, Senju Xuanluo had even come to Yoru's tent.
As a man of genuine temperament, he simply could not bear it.
After speaking with Yoru for a while—
Senju Xuanluo walked out with a complicated expression.
After coming out, he looked at Uzumaki Yemon, patted him on the shoulder—
And then left.
Once the other Konoha ninjas saw that even the Senju clan—the family with the closest ties to the Uzumaki clan—had stopped saying anything, they naturally had no further objections either.
After all—
Yoru's prestige was simply too high.
He must have done something unforgivable.
That was what the Konoha ninjas thought.
After all, Yoru-sama had always been gentle toward Konoha's people.
If even someone as great as Yoru-sama had punished this Uzumaki clansman so severely—
Then he must have committed some truly unforgivable crime!
Otherwise—
How could someone as noble as Yoru-sama possibly punish him like this?
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the Konoha base—
Unknown eyes had witnessed this scene.
Subtle emotional fluctuations stirred—
Then vanished once more into the darkness.
Inside the tent—
Yoru, who was cultivating in the "Zen" state, suddenly opened his eyes.
His gaze was deep and unreadable.
His Observation Haki had already detected those hidden eyes.
Soon after, Yoru ignored them.
After all—
This scene had been put on specifically for those rats to see.
With that thought, Yoru paid them no more attention, closed his eyes again, and resumed training.
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