Naruto: From Capturing the Main Clan to Becoming the Mastermind

Chapter 85 It's not that the enemy is strong, it's that we are divided.

"I hope so."

Nara Shikaku sighed.

"Yu, you were also born into a ninja clan. There are some things that the Hizashi clan chief should have told you. We're in our current positions, so we should just play it safe."

"Is this the Nara clan's long-held philosophy? I understand." Hyuga smiled slightly. "However, Shikaku-sensei's willingness to implement a divide-and-conquer policy suggests he's not just someone who wants to protect the interests of the ninja clan."

"..."

Nara Shikaku remained silent for a moment, then looked at Hinata Yu with a dark expression.

"I am ultimately a member of the ninja clan. I can be willful and help the Fourth Hokage secure his power. But my bloodline, secret techniques, knowledge, and so on all tell me that I am not in this position because of my own abilities, but because of the power given to me by my clan. I cannot ignore the Nara clan!"

The plan to divide and conquer had a limited impact on the Nara clan, and might even have been slightly beneficial, but it undermined the one-country-one-village system...

"Squad Leader Shikaku, governing a country is different from governing a village. Governing a country requires more talent, and the wisdom of the Nara clan will play a greater role in it. Your status will not be lowered; in fact, it will rise accordingly."

Hyuga Yu's voice was calm, "For the Nara clan, who have always sought stability and have no ambition for the Hokage position, the benefits will be substantial. Why use benefits as an excuse?"

"I can see that." Nara Shikaku's expression was complicated, and he said with a wry smile, "To be honest, I'm still young, and I don't want to be constantly mired in political struggles. I also want to realize my own ambitions."

If the Fourth Hokage were to actually have that kind of idea because of the people below him, the situation in the Land of Fire would change drastically.

This is different from before. Minato can no longer have an absolute advantage. Someone like Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage and the princess of the Land of Fire, may not stand behind Minato again, but may instead become an obstacle.

The Uchiha clan rose to power because of Minato. If Minato loses power, they might be reduced to their original state and would most likely choose to support him.

After all, the Uchiha clan has always been fearless, and they don't care about any daimyo...

It's hard to say what the stance of many people is.

However, there is no doubt that the power gap between the opponents and the supporters will not be large at that time, and neither side will have an absolute advantage.

If neither side wants to severely damage Konoha, they can only keep it a secret from the Daimyo and engage in internal power struggles until one side gains the upper hand.

Or, because of the involvement of a powerful figure, it could escalate into a bloody war.

"Konoha is in a good position right now. There is no need to move toward an unknown future, to make the Fourth Hokage face an invincible enemy, and to cause Konoha to weaken itself."

Nara Shikaku said seriously, "Maintaining the status quo is the best option. At this time, the older generation of Konoha's strongest members include the Third Hokage and others, the middle-aged Sannin are at their peak, and the younger generation includes the Fourth Hokage and you."

"After that, there are geniuses like Kakashi and Shisui from the new generation of the Uchiha clan who can become strong. If we develop for another ten years or so, Konoha might even be able to sweep through the Five Great Nations."

"Therefore, I will not allow Konoha to fall into that kind of future, and I will eliminate all factors that could lead to it."

The conflict between the Hokage and the Daimyo was one in which both sides were able to maintain restraint, and the Fourth Hokage was even able to yield a little.

But those below might still strike first. The cause of a war is not always decided by those at the top.

As in the previous case, if he hadn't suppressed the voices of the common ninja and allowed the smaller ninja clans to act on their own, and the daimyo had discovered something amiss and thought Minato was about to take action, the situation would have spiraled out of control.

With this in mind, and looking at Hyuga Yu, whose expression remained calm, Nara Shikaku solemnly advised:

"Yu, you and the Fourth Generation can accomplish most things together, but in this matter, I hope you will listen to my advice and stabilize the situation."

Hinata Yu left a good impression on him; he possessed both orthodox and unorthodox methods, unlike Danzo.

However, since the other party is from the Hyuga branch family, they may not have the self-awareness expected of a high-ranking member of a ninja clan. In addition, given their close relationship with the Fourth Hokage, they might directly support the Fourth Hokage in becoming the daimyo in this matter.

Hyuga Yu looked at the empty teacup and slowly said, "You said the Fourth Hokage's enemies were strong? You're wrong. It's not that the enemies got stronger, it's that we've split up internally!"

Shikaku opened his mouth, then nodded helplessly.

"That's right, we've split up."

He sought stability and was unwilling to allow the fourth generation to provide the support needed to propel him to the position of daimyo.

Tsunade might object.

Fugaku might support it.

Three high-ranking officials, three different opinions.

The resistance hadn't actually increased; it was still the same ninja clan that the Fourth Hokage had defeated once before. But the problem lay within their own ranks. Previously, they had been able to unite against external threats, but now they were divided on this issue.

If there's no internal division... it won't be that difficult for the fourth generation to win.

"I need to prepare for my meeting with the Fourth Kazekage in two days, so I won't be involved in this matter," Hyuga Yu said calmly. "You've stabilized the situation; the rest is up to you."

After saying that, he disappeared from the spot, seemingly off to attend to official business.

Upon hearing Hinata Yu's tacit agreement, Shikaku breathed a sigh of relief and got up to leave.

Once you've persuaded this person to stay, everything else will be much easier.

In the shadows, a pair of eyes watched him leave, heading towards where Hinata Yu was.

……

"Your strength recovers very quickly, Yokura, to the point that you were able to do it without Nara Shikaku noticing."

Yekura, whose appearance had changed from the past, looked at the man before her and said respectfully, "It is all thanks to Lord Yu who created this body."

As she spoke, her heart was filled with emotion.

I thought that being resurrected by Edo Tensei and having the opportunity to take revenge on that bastard Fourth Kazekage was already a stroke of luck, but I never expected to be able to experience this feeling of truly being alive.

Unlike the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he didn't rebel but instead volunteered to serve as Hyuga Hare's subordinate. He didn't make the wrong decision...

"Your body was made from the cells of your original body. Apart from making some changes to your appearance, your physical energy is also very different from your peak. It is thanks to your own efforts that you have recovered to this level in such a short time."

Hinata Yu looked at Yekura's face, which only resembled her original appearance by about 40%, and nodded.

The Split Technique is like a form of cloning. He gained many insights from that ninjutsu and eventually created the technological cloning technique.

This refers to the forbidden technique he and Tsunade had discussed before.

This technology is not yet complete, or to put it bluntly, it is a scientific version of the splitting technique.

It requires the complete body of the cloned object, even a complete corpse would do. Cultivating a body identical to the original from a single cell is still a challenge it needs to overcome.

The limitations are significant, but that's okay. Technological breakthroughs always take time, and isn't the purpose of creating shadow clones for learning and research?

When the technology was born, he naturally tried it out, and he happened to have the right person at hand.

He created a living, but unconscious body from Yekura's original corpse. Then, using his soul transfer technique, he transferred Yekura's soul into this body, thus giving her a new life.

Moreover, because it is a technological means, it is possible to make some changes to the appearance during the body manufacturing process.

Even people who know her well will only think she looks somewhat similar when they see her.

(End of this chapter)