Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 154: I Have Yet to Reach the Stage Where I Can Stop and Enjoy the Scenery

"You just let go of such a perfect research subject?"

Senju Tobirama stepped into the laboratory, recalling his earlier encounter with Black Zetsu, and asked Hyuga Fuji, "That yin-yang creation is incredibly valuable for research."

"He's the embodiment of Madara's will. Right now, my relationship with Madara is a bit delicate, and letting Black Zetsu return might put his mind at ease."

"..."

Tobirama didn't even know where to begin criticizing this logic.

If Madara found out about everything Fuji had done in the Land of Fire, he would surely be on high alert. Would sending Black Zetsu back really make Madara trust Fuji more?

Up until recently, Tobirama had been kept in the dark about certain details regarding Madara. While most intelligence had been shared with him, information about Madara had been tightly restricted.

It wasn't until not long ago that he learned the most dangerous Uchiha was still alive.

Honestly, after discovering that Madara was alive and had some form of cooperation with Fuji, Tobirama didn't know what to think. All he could do was sigh inwardly.

With someone like Hyuga Fuji as an ally, Madara's future would undoubtedly be "exciting."

Although Fuji didn't seem to be actively setting traps for Madara just yet, Tobirama felt it was only a matter of time.

To Tobirama, allowing Black Zetsu to return was undoubtedly part of some scheme.

Seeing Tobirama's expression shift subtly, Fuji smiled and said, "Instead of worrying about Madara, why don't you focus on your own tasks?"

"You've done a good job with the plans; there's no need to change much. The Land of Snow can continue developing according to your designs."

Tobirama found a chair and sat down, glancing around at the lab equipment. "You've got it easy, pushing all the work onto us while you tinker with that yin-yang creation."

Frankly, he was tired of the kind of administrative work Fuji kept assigning to him. He would much rather study the yin-yang construct Madara had created and get a sense of Madara's "capabilities."

Fuji responded, "A leader sets long-term and short-term goals, makes critical decisions to advance those goals, and coordinates various parties. Subordinates fulfill their duties. This is how things should be."

Tobirama's mouth twitched. He knew Fuji was doing this on purpose and decided to drop the subject.

Yes, technically, this was a normal "division of labor."

But he couldn't shake the feeling that he was fighting himself.

Fuji had been secretly manipulating small countries, gradually uniting them under a single banner. The end goal was clear—unification, the very thing Madara had once sought to achieve.

The only question was: which country would ultimately achieve this unification? Would it be the Land of Fire, which had undergone reforms? Or the coalition of small countries led by the Land of Snow under Fuji's control?

In either case, it would involve former Konoha ninjas, many of whom Tobirama himself had helped empower.

It was like pitting his left hand against his right—utterly bizarre.

This strange situation was largely due to Fuji's attitude. He didn't seem to care who achieved unification in the end.

Fuji's involvement in the Land of Snow was limited to providing funding and assigning a portion of the personnel who had followed him there.

The majority of his powerful forces—his hidden units, Edo Tensei shinobi, and other elite ninjas—remained under his direct command, carrying out various missions on his behalf.

While the forces Fuji had sent to the Land of Snow were enough to support a great nation, he hadn't thrown all his resources behind it.

This left Tobirama puzzled and also gave him hope that the Land of Fire might emerge victorious.

If Fuji were to commit his full strength to the Land of Snow, the Land of Fire's chances of success would be virtually nonexistent.

With this in mind, Tobirama bluntly asked, "What are your thoughts on uniting the nations of the shinobi world? Why not concentrate all your forces in the Land of Snow?"

Fuji didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "In the matter of the Land of Fire, it seems like I gained nothing. Would you agree?"

"You've gained plenty," Tobirama replied with a cold snort. "The collapse of the one-nation-one-village system gives you more resources to fuel your ambitions. I certainly don't see you as a saint."

As a fellow researcher, Tobirama could see through some of Fuji's motives.

The one-nation-one-village system significantly hindered technological progress.

When surrounded by enemies, a nation would naturally want to enhance its military strength. But under the one-nation-one-village system, the direction of military development was dictated by the Kage, and funding was controlled by the daimyo.

If the village didn't perform well, the daimyo might even cut their budget.

In such a scenario, would the Kage invest in new technologies or simply reinforce the existing system?

Unless a nation had a technological advantage so overwhelming that it could dominate others, most would opt to strengthen their current framework.

This created a vicious cycle.

With limited funding, manpower, and constant external threats, shinobi villages had neither the capacity nor the resources to develop new technologies.

But what if these issues were resolved?

Konoha had temporarily resolved them before, and the results had been remarkable.

The abolition of the one-nation-one-village system could directly address two of these problems, profoundly impacting technological development—and Fuji could reap the benefits.

Fuji then asked, "How do you think a unified world would develop?"

"At first, it would advance rapidly, but eventually, it would stagnate," Tobirama replied without hesitation.

He had never seen a unified world, but he could imagine it.

People grow tired and complacent.

Just as someone who has made enough money might wish to spend their days lazing around at home, an entire nation might lose its drive without external pressures.

This stagnation would lead to internal conflicts, division, and corruption, driving the nation toward decline.

Thinking about the word "stagnation," Tobirama frowned and asked, "Do you dislike a stagnant world?"

"Not at all," Fuji said with a smile. "There's nothing wrong with occasionally lazing around, lying in bed, or napping on a cool desk in the summer. But that's only acceptable if you've earned the right to rest. I don't think the shinobi world is at a point where it can afford to pause."

"If I were to throw all my forces into the Land of Snow, it would indeed accelerate unification. But how much progress would the shinobi world make in the process? The talented individuals I've gathered from all over wouldn't have the chance to grow."

Tobirama frowned. "So you're using external pressure to force progress? The reformed Land of Fire, the transformed Land of Snow under your control, the shifting nations, the invaders from the moon, Uchiha Madara... They're all competing, pushing each other forward."

It felt familiar to Tobirama, reminiscent of his own drive to surpass Fuji back when they were rivals.

Like cattle being driven forward, they would constantly strive to improve, becoming stronger and surpassing their former selves.

"Including me," Fuji said with a faint smile. "When everyone else is moving forward, I can't afford to stop. If I do, countless others will devour me completely."

"Right now, I have yet to reach the stage where I can stop and enjoy the scenery along the way!"

Seeing Fuji's smile, Tobirama finally understood what made Fuji so terrifying.

He was always moving forward, never stopping.

(End of Chapter)

To read an advance 200+ chapters

Support me at [email protected]/NahinS77

Change @ to a

Or go to that website and search