Under Konoha’s Shadow

Chapter 28: Inner-Bladed Crescent Sword

Hashirama nodded. "I think so too. And under our tutelage, he can definitely become an excellent Hokage."

Tobirama said faintly, "Then there is only one problem left. His dream isn't to be the Hokage."

That's right. Yamamoto Ryusei's dream is to become the strongest person in the ninja world, not the Hokage. If he becomes Hokage, where would he find so much time to train?

Hashirama thought for a moment. "Then we'll find a way to make him want it. Besides, being the Hokage and being the strongest in the ninja world aren't mutually exclusive."

Tobirama nodded. "Then let's have them graduate next year. They're not learning much in the academy anyway. We'll take them on as disciples and let them try their hand at government affairs, then we'll see."

Tobirama took a scroll from his desk and handed it to Hashirama. "This is a letter from the Tsuchikage. They will depart in a month, don't you forget. Also, that pile of documents on your desk needs to be finished today."

Hashirama looked at the pile of documents on his desk, and his mood soured instantly.

As Madara Uchiha walked down the street, he felt a distinct difference from the day before. The villagers still didn't dare to get close, but the look in their eyes was no longer fear, but admiration. This was especially true for the women on the street, who blushed just looking at him, completely unable to resist his handsome appearance.

When he arrived at the Guard's headquarters, the other Uchiha clansmen's eyes lit up when they saw his attire. They all started asking where he had bought his clothes, but no one knew the answer.

Madara patrolled the headquarters and, finding no issues, returned home.

The moment he left, the Guard's headquarters burst into activity.

"The clan head's clothes are so cool! I want a set too!"

"But I don't know where to buy them. I don't dare to say it, and I don't dare to ask."

"Don't you guys feel like the clan head wasn't as scary today as he usually is?"

"It's probably because of the new hairstyle and clothes."

Uchiha Suizan came out of his office and roared, "What are you all chattering about? Is your work finished?"

The hall fell silent at once, and everyone went back to their duties.

"If you want the clothes, just draw them and find someone to make them," Suizan said. "Now get back to work."

"Yes, sir!" the crowd replied.

Then, some of the ninjas quickly drew up designs and took them to be replicated.

Seeing the villagers who were dissatisfied with the Guard, Madara once again thought of the words on the stone tablet: When two opposing forces cooperate, one can obtain all things in nature. This is the only way to manifest the Sage. What did it mean? Was the path to peace on the stone tablet closer and better than the path Ryusei had described? Madara was a little lost.

A few days later, Mito and Miyuki had been wandering the streets in the clothes Ryusei had given them. This caused many women to turn red with envy. Just then, Yamashita Eeko took the opportunity to release these same styles for sale. This led to a mad rush among the women of Konoha. The clothes sold out on the very first day. Seeing the booming business, Eeko signed on another batch of women to make clothes.

Now that the wives of all the major clans had these clothes, Mito and Miyuki stopped wearing them, hiding them away in their rooms instead.

However, in the Senju compound, Mito Uzumaki was now gently pouring tea for Ryusei. "Ryusei, have you designed any new clothes recently? Preferably something that others can't imitate, something one-of-a-kind." Senju Miyuki, standing nearby, also stared at him intently.

Ryusei said with a pained expression, "No, Lady Mito. I've been busy with training lately and haven't had time to design anything."

Mito said, "You need to relax from training, too. I think drawing is a great way to relax. And you can use your shadow clones."

So "relaxing" means designing clothes for you.

Ryusei looked troubled. "My shadow clones have to train too."

Mito thought for a moment. "Since you like training so much, then... do you want to learn sealing jutsu?"

"Really?" Ryusei said excitedly. "Are you willing to teach me sealing jutsu?"

Mito said with a half-smile, "Well, that depends on whether I'm in a good mood or not."

Ryusei said with difficulty, "Lady Mito, there's no such thing as a truly one-of-a-kind dress. Anything we can make, others can too. Unless we can use high-quality materials that others can't get, or use a crafting process that others can't even imagine."

Mito asked, "Are those materials expensive?"

Ryusei nodded. "Of course. Not only are they expensive, but they also have to be rare."

Mito felt this path was not feasible as it would be too costly. "Then what about a process others can't imagine?"

Ryusei spread his hands. "You don't need to ask me about that, because I don't know the first thing about it."

Mito waved her hand in annoyance. "Then you can go back to your business."

Ryusei said carefully, "Then, Lady Mito, about the sealing jutsu..."

Mito went into an inner room, brought out a scroll, and handed it to him. "This is a basic sealing jutsu scroll. Read it first. If you can't even understand this, then you have no talent for sealing jutsu. Also, don't get obsessed."

Ryusei took the scroll. "I understand, Lady Mito. I'll have my shadow clone learn it so it won't interfere with my own time."

After Ryusei left, Mito said to Miyuki, "Miyuki, gather all the weavers of the Senju clan. Let's see if we can develop a special crafting process."

"Yes!" Miyuki replied excitedly and ran off to gather the people.

Ryusei now had many things to learn, so he created seven or eight shadow clones to practice ninjutsu. Komiya Yuki was also training alongside them.

Seeing Ryusei return, Yuki asked, "Ryusei, I just brought lunch over. Let's eat before you train."

Ryusei created another shadow clone, tossed the sealing jutsu scroll to it, and then sat down to eat with Yuki.

The two of them sat on the grass in the shade of a tree, eating the bento Yuki had made. Yuki blushed and asked, "Ryusei, how does it taste?"

Yuki's bento certainly wasn't as good as Liu Maoxing's cooking, but it wasn't bad either. Ryusei nodded. "It's delicious."

Yuki happily placed some of her food into Ryusei's bento box. "Then you should eat more, Ryusei."

Just as Ryusei and Yuki were having their sweet, lovey-dovey moment, Yamashita So came running over in a flurry.

"Big Brother! Big Brother!" So took out a long, semi-circular object. "Look what I forged!"

Ryusei took it and examined it carefully, then praised him, "This scythe is very well made."

So's face turned red as he said in a small voice, "It's a sword."

"What?" Ryusei looked incredulous and pointed to the cutting edge. "But your blade is on the inside curve."

"Ah? Did I sharpen it wrong?" So took back the sickle-sword and began to inspect it.

"Pfft!" Yuki finally couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.

Seeing So's dejected look, Ryusei consoled him, "Don't worry. Just give it a cool name, like the 'Inner-Bladed Crescent Sword.' I guarantee no one will know you bladed it wrong."

Hearing this, So cheered up again.

"But," Ryusei asked, "did Brother Ryota give you permission to forge?"

So said with some embarrassment, "No. I forged this from a piece of scrap iron while Brother Ryota and the others were out to lunch."

Ryusea's face darkened instantly, and his tone became stern. "Yamashita So, you haven't even learned to walk, and you're already trying to run. You haven't even learned the basics, and you're trying to forge. What if something happened and you hurt yourself?"

So lowered his head and honestly admitted his mistake. "I'm sorry, Big Brother. I won't do it again."

Seeing So admit his fault, Ryusei's tone softened. "If you want to forge chakra weapons in the future, you have to study the basics properly. I know it's boring, but the foundation is very important. Look, can you build a house without a good foundation? Can you cast a ninjutsu without chakra or learning the hand seals properly? After you go back, apologize to Brother Ryota and learn from them properly. You can only forge when they let you. Understand?"

"I understand, Big Brother!" So replied immediately.

Seeing that the lecture was over, Yuki said, "Are you hungry? Let's eat first. I happen to have an extra portion."

So immediately sat down and took the bento box. He winked and said, "Thanks, Sister-in-law."

Yuki's face flushed red instantly, and she sat next to Ryusei, taking small bites of her food.

After lunch, So went home. Yuki packed up the bento box and began to practice her chakra control off to the side.