XX-level Hokage

Yoruichi looked at her sleeping face, a gentle smile on her lips, and slowly closed her eyes as well.

The night outside the window remained deep, and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks seemed to be the prelude to the approaching storm.

Side Story: The Believer and Her Tears

In the afternoon in the capital, sunlight filters through dappled leaves and falls upon the tranquil residence of the Kurama clan.

Unlike the deafening roar of martial arts techniques in the heart of the imperial city, this place was so quiet you could hear a speck of dust settling on the ground. A faint scent of ink and the distinctive oily smell of paint filled the air.

The paper door to the studio was gently pushed open, and a slender hand entered carrying a tray with two cups of steaming black tea on it. "Are you still painting, Shinju?"

The girl who spoke had a signature head of black curly hair, and her magnificent red eyes, like rubies, were strikingly similar to her mother, Kurenai Yuhi. She wore a pale purple kimono, exuding a gentle yet mysterious aura; she was none other than Kurenai Yuhi's daughter, Rui Yuhi.

Before the canvas, the girl named Kurama Nobuyo did not turn around. She had long, smooth brown hair and a slender figure. If you only looked at her from behind, she would even seem a little thin.

At this moment, he held a paintbrush in his hand, the tip of which hovered above the canvas, hesitating to bring it down.

“This…is not right,” the believer murmured to herself, her voice as soft as if she were dreaming. “The colors are wrong, and the feeling is wrong too.” Sui Ri Lei quietly walked behind her, and the light fell on the canvas.

It was a landscape painting depicting the coastline at the edge of the empire, with waves crashing against the rocks and a massive bridge connecting the Ninja Kingdom and the Ocean Kingdom in the distance.

The painting technique is impeccable. The handling of light and shadow and the structure of perspective are enough to make many famous painters blush with shame. However, in the eyes of the believer, this painting seems to be a failure.

“I think it’s already perfect,” Rui said softly, placing her teacup on the small table beside her. “You’re too hard on yourself, just like Aunt Yakumo.”

“No, Tears, can’t you see?” The believer turned her head, a flicker of anxiety flashing in her somewhat lifeless brown eyes. “It’s dead.” The sea her father saw wasn’t like this. The world her father described, filled with enormous sea kings and raging currents, shouldn’t be such a calm, lifeless thing.

Nobunaga put down her paintbrush, slumped back into her chair, and wiped her hands with her paint-stained apron. "That girl, Ya, was complaining about her allowance again today, wasn't she?" Nobunaga suddenly changed the subject.

Tears smiled slightly, and under the gaze of those red eyes, it was as if all secrets were laid bare: "Hmm, I heard from Chun-nee that Mei felt unfairly treated at the dinner table because she had less pocket money than you. Aunt Tayuya also seems to be having a headache."

"Hmph, that idiot." The woman picked up her red tea, took a sip, and a faint sneer curled at the corner of her lips. "Did she think that Father gave me so much money so I could buy pretty clothes or eat, drink, and have fun?"

She pointed to the huge studio and the mountain of expensive art supplies piled up inside.

"The price of 'controlling fear' and 'truth' is very high." The believer stood up and walked to the window.

In the distance, the sounds of explosions from the battle between Senju Manka and Uchiha Miko could still be faintly heard.

Fang Hua inherited Tsunade's monstrous strength and Wood Release; Miko inherited Izumi's Sharingan and the Uchiha clan's; not to mention Guan Chen, who possesses the unique divine power of the Otsutsuki clan. "Nobunaga's voice lowered," she continued, "Among my father's many children, everyone thought I was the weakest. No need to go to the ninja academy, no need for taijutsu training, I just hid in my room drawing..."

But my kinsman once said that you are the most special. Tears interrupted her, her eyes resolute, "I think so too."

As the daughter who inherited Kurenai Yuhi's illusionary powers, Rui Yuhi knew better than anyone the terror of the Kurama clan's bloodline limit. (Manipulation of the five senses.)

Turning illusion into reality.

If the power of the other sisters is "destruction," then the power of the believer is "creation" and "rewriting."

Because this power was too uncontrollable and too strong, Mashiro and Yakumo forbade Nobunaga from undergoing regular ninja training, instead having her practice through painting.

To stabilize one's mind and control the mental energy that may overflow at any moment.

"Is it special?" The believer looked at her palm. "Sometimes I feel like a monster. Last night I dreamt that it snowed heavily in my room, and when I woke up..."

She pointed to the corner of the wall.

A puddle of water still remains there. "There really was snow in the room."

Tears paused for a moment, then stepped forward and took the believer's hand: "That's why your father made you paint, to confine those uncontrollable imaginations into the canvas. This is your spiritual practice."

"Let's go, it's not good to stay cooped up inside all the time. I'd like to buy some new incense. Would you like to come with me for a stroll in the streets?"

The woman hesitated for a moment, glanced at the unfinished painting, and finally nodded: "Alright. My ultramarine paint is almost used up anyway." The streets of the capital were exceptionally bustling.

As a hub connecting the two worlds, this place not only has traditional ninja tool shops and dango shops, but also shops selling products from the One Piece world, and even shellfish specialty shops from Skypiea.

The believer and the tears walked side by side on the street, their good looks attracting the attention of many passersby.

Although their royal status is public knowledge at school, in the city, they are more like young ladies from some noble family.

"Have you heard? It seems there's a major flood in the Ocean Kingdom." "Yeah, it seems some ancient weapon or something went out of control..."

"Fortunately, His Majesty the Emperor is here." The sound of idle chatter drifted into my ears.

Father hadn't been back for a long time. The woman stopped in front of an art supply store, a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "Actually, I envy Ruri. I heard..."

She can converse with enormous sea monsters; that kind of vitality... must be beautiful.

"Sister Liuli must have her troubles too, after all, there's a difference in body size." Lei teased with a smile, "At the last banquet, she accidentally broke a pillar in the palace and cried for a long time."

Just as the two were choosing paints, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead on the street. "Run! A horse has sprung up!"

A horse-drawn carriage carrying goods appeared to be startled; the horses pulling it were bright red and were running wildly through the street.

Passersby scattered in panic, while right in front of the carriage, a little girl holding a balloon stood frozen in fear, about to be trampled by the horse's hooves.

"Danger!" Lei reacted extremely quickly, her red eyes narrowing instantly as she formed hand seals. "Magic Illusion: Tree Binding Kill!" Although it was a simplified version, it was enough to plunge the horse into a momentary illusion.

However, the horse seemed to be more than just startled; it appeared to be imbued with some kind of violent chakra, which allowed it to break through Lei's genjutsu and increase its speed instead of decreasing!

"What?!" Lei's face changed, and she wanted to rush over to save the person, but it was too late. At this critical moment...

The surrounding air suddenly became thick. "It's so noisy."

The believer stood still, without even forming a hand seal, but her brown pupils instantly became incredibly deep, and she lightly drew a line in the air with her paintbrush.

"The World Within the Painting: Stillness." A bizarre scene unfolded.

The galloping horse, along with the dust it kicked up, seemed to transform into a two-dimensional drawing in that instant.

The colors became vibrant yet solidified, and the originally three-dimensional horse instantly turned into a "piece of paper" floating in the air before gently landing on the ground.

The little girl didn't even realize what was happening; she just stared wide-eyed at the carriage that had suddenly transformed into a giant canvas. The surrounding passersby were dumbfounded.

"What... what kind of ninjutsu is this?"

That's the Emperor's daughter! Lord Tears and Lady Believer?!

Lei breathed a sigh of relief, walked to Xin Nu's side, looked at the still slightly trembling "drawing paper" on the ground, and whispered, "You directly reduced a three-dimensional object to a two-dimensional image... Xin Nu, your abilities have become stronger again."

"I just don't want to see blood splattered on my new dress," the believer said calmly, flicking her finger lightly. With a soft thud, the drawing paper expanded again, transforming back into a horse and carriage.

But the horse had completely lost its ferocity and was lying limp on the ground, foaming at the mouth. It was clearly terrified by the strange experience it had just had.

The patrolling security team (mostly members of the Uchiha clan) quickly arrived to handle the situation.

The believer tugged at her tear-stained sleeve: "Let's go, there are too many people now, I don't like being stared at."

The two arrived at a high point on the outskirts of the city, where they could overlook the entire capital as the setting sun painted the city in a golden-red hue.

"That move just now, if you wanted to use it, could you turn Sister Manka and the others into paintings too?" Tears sat on the grass, asking curiously. "It's not that easy." Shinjo took out her sketchbook and began sketching the sunset. "Sister Manka's chakra reserves are terrifying; my canvas can't handle it."

Such powerful energy.

"Even Miko-neechan's Sharingan can see through illusions, as for Guan Chen-neechan... she's an exception."

As the woman painted, she said, "I don't want to fight. I just want to draw what's in my mind. But... there are always strange sounds and strange images in my mind. Sometimes it's a burning world, and sometimes it's a giant beast from the deep sea."

"Are those my father's memories?"

“Perhaps.” The believer paused her writing. “Tears, why do you think Father had so many children? Was it really because we needed to inherit the empire?” Tears thought for a moment, then said gently, “I think Father was just too greedy. He wanted to keep all his kin. Each of us is a part of her and Mother’s…”

Dear friends, you are proof of my love, you are the continuation of Aunt Yakumo's dream, and you are proof of reality.

"The true proof is that the believer chews on this word."

Just then, a familiar voice rang out behind them.

"Speaking ill of your father here secretly will get you punished." The two turned around in surprise.

Suddenly, Mashiro appeared under the tree, carrying two exquisite paper bags. She still looked as young and beautiful as ever, with her emerald green hair flowing in the wind.

"Kiss-sama!?"

"Father? When did you return?" Xin Nu and Lei quickly stood up.

Mashiro walked over with a smile and handed them the paper bag in her hand: "I just came back from the Ocean Kingdom and brought you some gifts along the way. This is rainbow paint, a specialty of the Sabaody Archipelago, for Nobunaga. These are cloud shells and sound shells from Sky Island, for Rui."

The believer took the paint, her eyes lighting up instantly: "This is the legendary rainbow paint that can paint the colors of dreams?"

"Hmm. I think you'll like it." Mashiro reached out and ruffled Nobunaga's hair. "That move of 'dimensional reduction attack' on the street just now was beautiful. If Yakumo..."

I understand, I'll definitely be proud of you.

The believer blushed slightly: "I just... did it casually."

“You don’t need to compare yourself to your sisters.” Mashiro seemed to see through Shinonome’s inner unease. She lowered herself down, her gaze level with Shinonome’s. “Manka is power, Miko is skill, Tenchū is god, and you, Shinonome, are the heart. Your paintbrush can create the world, something only the creator god can do.”

Mashiro then looked at Rui: "I must thank Rui for keeping this awkward child company all this time." "It's what I should do, Father," Rui replied respectfully and affectionately.

Mashiro stood up, looked at the sunset in the distance, and stretched: "Alright, let's go home for dinner. Tonight is a rare family reunion dinner. I even brought some Sea King meat; we'll be having a whole fish feast tonight."

"If we get back late, those two little gluttons, Sachi and Mei, will probably steal it all." "Father, what color is the flesh of a Sea King?" Nobunaga suddenly asked.

"Hmm...it's probably a red like a burning sunset. I'll draw it when I get back."

"Okay, once you're done, I'll hang it in the most prominent spot in your study." In the setting sun, the shadows of the three people stretched long.

The believer, clutching the paint in her arms, looked at the tall figure walking ahead, and the gloom in her heart vanished.

Perhaps she really didn't need to shatter the ground with a single punch like Sister Wanhua, nor did she need to be as proficient in fire control as Sister Yuzi. All she needed to do was hold her pen tightly.

Because she is Mashiro's daughter, the one who can turn illusion into reality—Kurama Nobuyo. Oh, and Father, Mei complained again today that she didn't have enough pocket money.”

"Next time, I'll have her come to me, give her a task, and pay her after she completes it."

"Father's biased!" "No way!"

Side Story: The Other Side of the Sea (Part 1)

Location: Ocean Kingdom, New World Sea Area, Mobile Imperial Capital, White Whale - On the vast and boundless blue sea, waves surge.

Unlike the peaceful ninja kingdom, the ocean kingdom is always characterized by wildness and freedom. Even fifteen years after Mashiro unified the world, this sea is still full of unknown challenges.

Especially recently, the climate of the New World has become even more unpredictable due to the aftermath of the "heavenly flood".

However, amidst these turbulent waves, a colossal, golden-hued ship of unparalleled luxury is cutting through the water.

This is not just a ship, but a mobile city on the sea. It is one of the economic hubs of the Ocean Kingdom and a mobile base that Mashiro gave to his daughter.

Inside the highest command center on the bridge.

"Take 15 degrees to port! Raise the No. 3 wind shield! That's a cumulonimbus cloud, hiding a high-pressure thunderstorm. If it damages my ship's paint, the repair costs will be exorbitant!"

A clear yet authoritative voice resounded throughout the command room.

The one giving the orders was a girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old. She had dazzling long orange wavy hair, which was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head. She was wearing a smart sleeveless nautical outfit and had a three-section staff made of an unknown metal hanging from her waist.