Uchiha's personal opinion

But the premise is that you should not use your own people for human experiments—that is an absolute taboo.

Therefore, whether Orochimaru claimed to be using monkeys as experimental materials or capturing civilians from outside for experiments, Jiraiya didn't really care.

However, after staying at Orochimaru's residence for a month, Jiraiya found through public channels that there had been no cases of villagers going missing in recent years. This also shows that even if Orochimaru conducted human experiments, he was not so insane as to randomly arrest people in the village.

Orochimaru's expression was somewhat gloomy, but he didn't say much, only lowered his eyes slightly.

“I know you’re still upset about your teacher’s death, but…”

Jiraiya had only spoken half a sentence when Orochimaru's cold gaze silenced him.

Spending a month together under the same roof allowed the two, who initially had many disagreements, to gain more mutual understanding.

Both of them harbored resentment over the death of their teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and believed that as the current Hokage, they should not be humiliated in this way by a junior who had defied his superiors; but what could they do?

After dismantling the family forces of the four former ruling elites, Uchiha Tokumitsu was already considered magnanimous for not continuing to purge the former Hokage's associates. If he still wanted to overturn the verdict, he would simply be courting death.

Moreover, the recent purge has clearly shown everyone what the consequences will be for anyone who tries to challenge the Uchiha clan's implicit ruling authority in Konoha.

"You'd better watch yourself..."

After packing his things, Jiraiya draped the bag over his shoulder and prepared to leave.

Has Mount Myoboku contacted you recently?

Just as Jiraiya was about to leave, Orochimaru asked him a question from behind.

"No, not at the moment. Why?"

Jiraiya turned around, somewhat puzzled, and asked in return.

"...Don't take those otherworldly ramblings to heart, and don't waste too much energy on so-called saviors. Your strength has stagnated for a long time."

Orochimaru said.

"I'll know what's good for me, but you'd better pray for yourself! Also, remember to calm down and don't stay stuck in the quagmire of hatred!"

Jiraiya waved and pushed open the door to leave.

Orochimaru stood there, lost in thought, for a long time before finally uttering a sentence through gritted teeth:

"...Only the dregs need to settle!"

……

With the Chunin Exams, held almost simultaneously in the north and south, taking this opportunity, the positions of the five great ninja villages were determined, and the situation in the ninja world gradually became clear.

Although there is a clear division and mutual hostility, apart from the ongoing war between Iwagakure and Sunagakure, the overall situation in the ninja world is stable and improving, moving towards peaceful confrontation and prosperous development.

—The above is Sakumo Hatake's official response to the recent deep concern of the esteemed Jonin members of both houses of parliament regarding the situation in the ninja world, made during a plenary session of both houses.

In other words, although I know you are full of malice towards me, you also know that I still covet you. I just pretend not to know your malice towards me, and you pretend not to know my covetousness towards you. Although I know you are on guard against me, you also know that I am indeed planning to fight you, but you can't beat me and I don't plan to fight you for the time being, so let's just leave it at that.

Even the caravans under the United Corporation continued to roam freely within the Land of Lightning. However, since Killer Bee went south to take command of the border troops, some quick-money smuggling routes have been blocked. Overall, though the situation is developing in a positive direction, there are just some unpleasant noises around.

"The Land of Thunder refuses to accept gold yuan notes?"

Inside the office of the Nakagawa Stock Exchange, Uchiha Tokumitsu frowned as he flipped through a report sent by the joint venture.

"Yes, according to reports from the accompanying ninjas at the front, the circulation of gold coins has begun to be privately resisted within the territory controlled by the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, who claims that gold coins are worthless paper that cannot be exchanged for gold coins."

The clan leader of the Shiranui clan, who was serving as the business representative for the joint venture, immediately stood up and answered.

"Notify the caravan ahead that all goods sold to the Land of Thunder will be subject to a 20% markup if the payment is made in Land of Thunder currency! If the payment is made in gold yuan, then a 5% discount will be given."

Uchiha Tokumitsu turned to his attendant ninja and said, "In addition, have General Himon's border troops strengthen the defenses of the Land of Grass and the Land of Rice, for example, by closing the borders for a month and conducting special military exercises."

"As ordered!"

The attendant ninja immediately vanished in an instant.

"Besides this, increase the procurement of raw materials in the Land of Lightning. Don't worry about the price; as long as we can spend the gold coins, that's fine."

Uchiha Tokumitsu then gave instructions to the Shiranui clan leader.

"...I obey your command!"

Although the Shiranui clan chief didn't understand why they were doing such a losing business, he immediately got up and agreed.

Uchiha Tokumitsu then gave some instructions and dismissed the Shiranui clan leader.

"The Northern Alliance..."

After putting down the official documents and reports in his hand, Uchiha Tokumitsu felt a little sore in his eyes, so he closed his eyes and pressed his temples.

It wasn't that he was willing to tolerate the flirtatious exchanges and collusion between Kumogakure and Iwagakure, but rather that after swallowing Kirigakure, the power of the Uchiha clan and its affiliated ninja clans had been dispersed to the extreme.

If they choose to continue expanding, even if they can defeat the ninja armies of Kumogakure or Iwagakure in direct combat, they will not be able to gain actual control over their territories or ninja villages.

A simple defeat, aside from fueling deeper hatred, serves little purpose.

This contradiction between a limited population and an excessively vast area under control cannot be resolved in the short term.

Furthermore, the Uchiha clan needed sufficient time to assimilate Kirigakure, and even more time to cultivate a new generation of Kirigakure ninja and integrate them into the Shogunate's system.

"time……"

Uchiha Tokumitsu felt a bit of a headache.

Although he has time, time is also the most precious thing.

Moreover, Madara Uchiha, who was seriously injured and fled, has never been seen alive or dead. The Uchiha ninja army had secretly searched the areas related to Kannabi Bridge and other places in his past life's memories many times, but they had not found even the slightest clue, and they did not know where Madara Uchiha's secret base was hidden.

Moreover, after experiencing the effects of the "divine particles" made from highly concentrated White Zetsu cells, Uchiha Tokumitsu wanted even more!

Furthermore, if other members of the Uchiha clan could also receive a portion of the "divine particles" injection, the overall strength of the Uchiha clan would increase exponentially!

The problem is that the White Zetsu that were captured have been exhausted, and it is difficult to find a new source of this valuable strategic resource, which is a major headache for Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"Shortcuts are always fraught with luck..."

After his thoughts drifted for a while, Uchiha Tokumitsu slowly shook his head, abandoning all sorts of unrealistic ideas.

After quickly tidying up the documents on the table, Uchiha Tokumitsu got up and prepared to go to the training ground for self-training.

"A ninja, after all, still needs to rely on self-cultivation..."

Chapter 295 The Ninja Cat's Secret Report

Since signing a summoning contract with Uchiha Tokumitsu, the Two-Tails Matatabi has been sleeping in the empty ruins of the Ninja Cat Clan when he is not being summoned to fight.

To prevent the Two-Tails Matatabi's tailed beast chakra fluctuations from revealing the hiding place of the Ninja Cat Clan, Uchiha Tokumitsu specially summoned sealing ninjas from the Uzumaki Clan to set up an enhanced shielding barrier, allowing the Two-Tails Matatabi to move freely within the Void Realm.

"Meow~"

One afternoon, after waking up from a nap, Two-Tails stretched and then yawned, meowing like an ordinary big cat.

Immediately afterwards, a group of respectful ninja cats carried a group of plump and strong beavers over to present today's food to the esteemed Master Matatabi.

"The beaver meat was a bit too tender today. Next time, we need to give them more exercise so it will be chewier..."

Two-tailed Matatabi devours a beaver in one bite, and even while his mouth is full of grease, he still finds time to offer his critique.

"Yes Yes Yes!"

A group of ninja cats nodded repeatedly, filled with trepidation. "Lord Takanashi, we will definitely improve our breeding techniques next time!"

Although Matatabi received the promised beavers as payment after being defeated by Uchiha Tokumitsu, a mere twenty or thirty beavers a month was hardly enough to satisfy the mighty Matatabi.

Therefore, under the secret instigation and temptation of the ninja cat clan, the two-tailed Matatabi, in order to satisfy his cravings, also reached some deals with the ninja cat clan.

"Very good~ Attitude is the most important thing! I'll reluctantly let this go this time, but remember to keep improving next time!"

With a touch of affected manner, Two-Tails Matatabi mimicked the tone Uchiha Tokumitsu usually used when he was manipulating it, saying, "Come on! Line up and receive my reward!"

Upon hearing this, the group of ninja cats were overjoyed and immediately lined up obediently, their eyes, filled with hope and admiration, gazing at the tall and majestic Master Youlv.

The Two-Tails, Matatabi, exhaled a ball of blue chakra flame and carefully withdrew the Tailed Beast's will from its chakra, then handed it to the ninja cats present one by one.

This is the deal between the Two-Tails Matatabi and the Ninja Cat Clan—trading beavers for tailed beast chakra!

That makes perfect sense!

For the Two-Tails Matatabi, a little bit of chakra is nothing at all; the amount of chakra it consumes to spit out a single Rat Fire Ball is enough for it to exchange for beavers for a month.

However, for the ninja cats, the attributes and high-level power secrets contained in the tailed beast chakra are enough for them to comprehend for a long time, which is very helpful for the growth of the ninja cats' strength. Although buying a beaver does cost a lot, they can also coax the Uchiha ninja they have contracted to exchange for money, so in fact they are not losing out.

In this way, a perfect cycle of triangular trade was established in the Void.

The Two-Tails, Matatabi, can satisfy his cravings with just a little chakra. The ninja cats traded beavers for the rare and precious tailed beast chakra. Granny Cat recouped the funds from the ninja cats by selling beavers. It's a win-win-win situation!

As the Uchiha ninjas, who had been tricked out of their money by the ninja cats, found their wallets increasingly thin and had to work hard to earn more income, Uchiha Tokumitsu, as the leader, naturally also gained higher profits from the surplus value of the clan's labor!

This is absolutely incredible!

Therefore, when Uchiha Tokumitsu learned of what his contracted tailed beast had done in the Void Ruins, he turned a blind eye and let the Two-Tails, Matatabi, do whatever it wanted.

Even though many Uchiha ninjas entrusted Ninja Cat to exchange for a small amount of Tailed Beast Chakra for his research, Uchiha Tokumitsu only privately instructed them to keep the Tailed Beast Chakra safe and not let it fall into the hands of outsiders, and then let it go.

"All the cats here are so nice, they talk so sweetly, and they're so cute. I love it here..."

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, the Two-Tails, accompanied by a group of ninja cats that followed it around the Void Ruins to digest its food. Then it returned to its luxurious cat den, stretched out its limbs, and drifted off to sleep without any guard.

This was the most comfortable period that Two-Tails Matatabi had experienced since the rise of ninjas.

It doesn't have to worry about being spied on by ninjas, nor does it have to work hard to catch prey. It can eat its fill and then sleep, and when it wakes up, it can eat again. There's also a large group of obedient cats who are always flattering it, just for the tiny bit of chakra it gives it. As for its insignificant master, he will occasionally take it out to fight and stretch its muscles. This kind of life is something that it could never have imagined when it was sealed in the dark and sunless body of the Jinchuriki.

Although as a chakra life form, the Two-Tails Matatabi theoretically does not need to consume food to sustain its life, it is still an intelligent life form and it is normal for it to have some desires. It's just that in the past, when tailed beasts were generally regarded as "natural disasters," no one cared about the needs of the tailed beasts.

……

However, as the Tailed Beast Chakra of the Two-Tails Matatabi gradually spread among the ninja cat clan and the Uchiha clan, they actually managed to make some progress in their research.

Uchiha Tokumitsu's contracted ninja, Cat Cat, then took the initiative to find Uchiha Tokumitsu and explained the results of her recent research on tailed beast chakra.

"You can sense the existence of natural energy now?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu held the cat demon with great interest, stroking its soft fur while sensing its internal condition.

"Yes, Lord Tokugaku~"

The cat squinted and drawled in response.

As Uchiha Tokuko's chakra was injected, the cat felt its body warm and comfortable, and its forked tail swayed gently.

The combination of natural energy and chakra is what is known as Sage Mode energy; this is knowledge brought by Uchiha Tokumitsu's memories of his past life.