Chapter 118: Yun Xuan’s Analysis of the Naruto World

The battle between the Hidden Leaf Village and the Hidden Sand Village spread across the entire ninja world instantly. The loss of 1,782 personnel from the main force of the Hidden Sand Village left the other three major ninja villages in a state of shock—this was not warfare; it was a slaughter. Even during the Third Great Ninja War, the various villages had refrained from using weapons of such overwhelming power, as doing so was considered inhumane.

The tragedy of the Hidden Sand Village's near-total annihilation caused the Land of Fire to develop serious grievances toward the Hidden Leaf. While assassination and ninja-versus-ninja combat were accepted, this method of aerial bombardment left the Five Great Nations in deep trepidation. With the Hidden Leaf in possession of such power, even the Daimyo of the Land of Fire grew anxious.

Yun Xuan was promptly sent back to the Hidden Leaf. After consultations between the Third Hokage and the Hyuga clan, the Hyuga clan temporarily compromised, reaching an "Aerial Defense and Protection Plan" with Yun Xuan. The Hidden Leaf was forced to sign, for if they failed to clarify that Yun Xuan was merely a mercenary, their reputation across the ninja world would be irreparably damaged. Once the agreement was signed, the Hidden Leaf immediately announced Yun Xuan’s status. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who had originally intended to place a bounty on Yun Xuan’s head, was so terrified by the details of the Aerial Defense and Protection Plan that he was left completely unnerved.

The Hidden Sand Village also entered a temporary truce with the Hidden Leaf on the front lines. Chiyo, upon receiving the news, sent scouts to hunt for Yun Xuan, only to find that the Hidden Sand Village had already signed the Aerial Defense and Protection Plan with him. Though they hated him and wished for nothing more than to kill him a thousand times over, the nightmare of their main force being decimated in less than a minute hung over them like a shroud. Yun Xuan received ten A-rank ninjutsu and twenty B-rank ninjutsu from the Hidden Sand, while he paid 100,000 ryo as a gesture of reconciliation. The Hidden Sand accepted the compensation and watched as Yun Xuan flew into Research Institute No. 258 and departed; the acting Kazekage’s face was filled with murderous intent.

...

"Congratulations to the host for completing Main Mission Two. Reward: 500 exchange points."
"Congratulations to the host for completing Main Mission Three. Reward: 1,000 exchange points."
"Congratulations to the host for completing Main Mission Four. Reward: 5,000 exchange points."
"Congratulations to the host for completing Main Mission Five. Reward: 10,000 exchange points."
"Main Mission Six: Learn 100 ninjutsu, at least B-rank. Reward: 50,000 exchange points. Completion will trigger subsequent missions."

Yun Xuan glanced at the virtual screen. He had reached the sixth main mission; the previous five had all involved defeating or killing ninjas. "It seems only force can bring peace to the ninja world. In that regard, the Akatsuki organization is right," Yun Xuan thought as the mobile Research Institute No. 258 flew toward the Hidden Mist Village.

The Aerial Defense and Protection Plan had to continue; it was the only way to secure more benefits. If the Hidden Mist refused to cooperate? That was simple: he would flatten them with electromagnetic cannons. Yun Xuan did not believe the Hidden Mist would be unafraid. As for the danger? Risk and reward were inextricably linked; the greater the profit, the higher the risk.

Yun Xuan felt no confusion in his mind. When he thought about it, wasn't the ninja world just an anime world? Even though he had killed many, the truce between the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Sand had ultimately prevented more deaths. He was not a cold-blooded monster, but neither was he a saint. He acted according to his own will; once one begins to feel lost, one loses their path.

He thought of those who would be sacrificed to the Infinite Tsukuyomi in the future. If he became strong enough, perhaps he could save the ninjas who would eventually die in the Fourth Great Ninja War. "Perhaps Uchiha Madara's ideals are not so different from mine," Yun Xuan mused with a bitter smile. The bosses of the ninja world were almost all pursuing peace. The strongest among them, Uchiha Madara, sought to trap everyone in the world of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, thereby eliminating hatred and conflict. Conversely, the Allied Shinobi Forces had suffered countless casualties, only to ultimately serve the glory of Naruto alone. A hero who saves the world is often one who treads upon a mountain of corpses.

Some might say Yun Xuan’s thinking was flawed, but if one looked closely, the alliance of the Five Great Ninja Villages had initially been formed only to protect their own interests. As for the later salvation of the world and the peace between the villages, that was the credit of Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha. If those two had not been strong enough, there would have been no alliance at all. It was precisely because of their existence that the other four villages could form a pact with the Hidden Leaf. This was the darkest part hidden beneath the light. Naruto and Sasuke were like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha in their time; if not for their combat prowess—with Madara dead and the First Hokage dying of illness—would the other four villages have dared to challenge the Hidden Leaf? The answer was a resounding no.

...

Hidden Mist Village.

"The Aerial Defense and Protection Plan?" the Third Mizukage asked, looking at Yun Xuan. The Hidden Mist had identified Yun Xuan quickly, but the Mizukage had not expected him to arrive so soon, with Research Institute No. 258 already hovering in standby above the village.

"Lord Third Mizukage, the Aerial Defense and Protection Plan will spare the Hidden Mist from being bombarded. The Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Sand are already participants. If you choose not to join, do not blame me if I accidentally aim my electromagnetic cannons at your village," the voice of Yun Xuan echoed from the power armor sitting opposite the Mizukage.

"Very well, I agree," the Third Mizukage stared intently at Yun Xuan. He could not sense a shred of life force. In other words, there was no one inside the power armor!

How could it move without a pilot? The Third Mizukage did not understand the technology, but he noticed the explosive tags attached to it. As an elite Kage-level ninja, his perception was precise. Yun Xuan’s conditions were simple—ten A-rank ninjutsu and twenty B-rank ninjutsu—which would not significantly impact the Hidden Mist.

"Farewell." Taking the scroll, the power armor soared into the sky.

High above, the power armor returned to the energy chamber. Yun Xuan opened the ninjutsu scrolls, confirmed they were authentic, and instructed Zi to monitor the armor for twelve hours. The armor could act autonomously, but Yun Xuan lay in his virtual pod to remotely control it. This significantly reduced the risk and was a method unique to the Naruto world. In his own post-apocalyptic world, signal-jamming devices could instantly hijack the armor, making self-destruction impossible. But the ninja world lacked such technology; even if the Third Mizukage struck, the armor would immediately switch to full-fire mode and flee after dropping explosive tags.

"Next stop, the Hidden Stone Village," Yun Xuan looked at the map. Once these villages signed the agreement, he could finally depart this world. He had obtained Fire Style from the Leaf, Wind Style from the Sand, Water Style from the Mist, and would now pursue Earth Style from the Stone and Lightning Style from the Cloud.

The Third Tsuchikage signed the agreement reluctantly, and even the hot-headed Third Raikage held his temper. Once the agreement was signed, if Yun Xuan attacked them again, the Five Great Ninja Villages would unite to kill him first. As for the smaller, mid-sized villages, Yun Xuan spared none of them, extorting wealth that was converted into 50,000 more exchange points.

"It is time to leave," Yun Xuan mused as he departed the Hidden Waterfall Village, soaring through the clouds.

(PS: Wealth obtained in this manner is considered a transaction, and thus can be converted into exchange points.)