Chapter 300: Setting Up The Gambling City Concession, Dark Nine-tails’ Evolution
Lady Tsunade and Miss Shizune stood at the door, gazing complexly at the scene in the courtyard.
Uchiha Mikoto and Gaara also noticed the movement at the door, simultaneously lifting their heads to look over.
A trace of timidity flashed in Gaara’s big eyes with dark circles, and he instinctively jumped agilely onto the veranda, hiding behind Mikoto, his little hand tightly grabbing the corner of Mikoto’s kimono, only half his head peeking out to secretly size up the unfamiliar visitors.
After clearly seeing the visitors, Mikoto’s face revealed a gentle smile. She put down the needle and thread in her hand, gently patted the back of Gaara’s hand to reassure him, then stood up and nodded slightly toward Lady Tsunade and Miss Shizune: “Lady Tsunade, Miss Shizune, you’re here for Kushina and Minato, right? They are busy with government affairs today and haven’t returned yet. If you don’t mind, please come in and wait a moment.”
Her voice was soft and pleasant, her demeanor composed and unhurried, as if merely receiving ordinary guests.
Lady Tsunade took a deep breath and strode inside.
Miss Shizune hurriedly followed while holding Tonton, not forgetting to politely bow: “Pardon the intrusion, Lord Mikoto.”
Entering the courtyard, the fresh scent of grass and trees hit them.
Lady Tsunade looked around, her gaze finally settling on Mikoto and the red-haired little boy behind her.
Her furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and many clues and guesses flashed through her mind in an instant.
“Indeed…” Lady Tsunade thought to herself.
“Kushina and Minato probably got involved in the Uchiha’s plan long ago, and they might even have orchestrated that ‘defection’ to rescue Mikoto in the process.”
At this thought, an indescribable anger and disappointment surged in her heart, directed at the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi far away in Konoha.
The intelligence Miss Shizune brought back from Konoha clearly showed that the official Konoha stance was that Uchiha Fugaku and his wife had tragically died.
How much truth had the old man concealed?
To what desperate situation had the Uchiha Clan been pushed, forcing them to choose clan-wide defection, even allying with an emerging power like the Land of Stars?
Even a ninja as loyal to the village as Uchiha Shisui had chosen to leave…
What exactly had the Konoha High Council done?
In the flash of her thoughts, Lady Tsunade had already walked up to Mikoto.
Looking at the other’s calm face, a thousand words ultimately turned into a complex sigh: “I never thought… I’d see you here, Mikoto.”
Mikoto met her gaze, a trace of sorrow flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and bowed slightly: “Yes, Lady Tsunade. Originally… I should have gone with Fugaku. But Kushina told me many things; she hoped I… could see the children grow up.”
Her voice was very soft, yet carried a sense of relief and determination after experiencing life and death.
“Indeed.” Lady Tsunade nodded, her gaze turning to the red-haired little boy still hiding behind Mikoto, watching her with curiosity and vigilance.
Lady Tsunade had seen this child before; after the battle between Shura and the One-Tails, he had brought back this child and said he was the One-Tails Jinchūriki.
She couldn’t help but ask: “Are you taking care of this child now?”
“Yes.” Mikoto turned sideways, gently stroking Gaara’s head, and introduced: “His name is Gaara, the Jinchūriki of the One-Tails Shukaku, and also the youngest son of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa of the Sand Village.”
“The Fourth Kazekage’s son?” Miss Shizune subconsciously repeated, not quite reacting yet.
She had only known before that this little guy was the One-Tails Jinchūriki.
But when she heard the latter part, her pupils suddenly contracted, her arms holding Tonton unconsciously tightening, making the little pig let out “oink oink” protests.
She exclaimed in shock: “The Fourth Kazekage turned his own son into a Jinchūriki…”
Lady Tsunade’s face also darkened instantly, her eyes becoming extremely sharp.
“Jinchūriki…” she repeated softly, her mind involuntarily thinking of Naruto Uzumaki in Konoha Village, the child who had similarly become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki right after birth.
According to the news Miss Shizune frequently brought back from Konoha, that child’s life in the village was not easy; vicious rumors like “Nine-Tails Fox Demon reincarnation” and “killer of the Fourth Hokage” never stopped.
And who was fanning the flames behind all this, Lady Tsunade knew full well; she just couldn’t understand why the Third Hokage would turn a blind eye, even with an attitude bordering on indulgence, letting the rumors spread.
She suppressed the irritation in her heart, looked at Mikoto, her tone probing: “So, you’re taking care of him now?”
A gentle smile appeared on Mikoto’s face as she explained: “Yes. Recently, Minato has been overseeing the overall situation in the Land of Stars, and Kushina has been busy coordinating post-war logistics and training reserve ninjas, especially the sealing jutsu class, so neither has time. So I often come over to help look after Gaara.”
As she spoke, the courtyard door creaked open, and a slightly fatigued yet still vibrant red figure walked in.
“I’m back! I was exhausted today…” Kushina Uzumaki complained while rubbing her shoulders, but when she saw Lady Tsunade and Miss Shizune in the courtyard, a delighted smile immediately lit up her face.
“Oh! Lady Tsunade! Shizune! What brings you here? Come in, come in! Don’t stand in the courtyard!”
“Lord Kushina, pardon the intrusion.” Miss Shizune hurriedly bowed again in greeting.
“Aunt Kushina.” Gaara also greeted softly, seeming more familiar and close to this similarly red-haired aunt.
“Hey! Gaara is such a good boy!” Kushina Uzumaki laughed and ruffled Gaara’s hair.
The group moved from the courtyard to the spacious and bright living room.
Mikoto handed the mended little bear doll to Gaara; the little guy took the doll, a pure innocent smile appearing on his face befitting his age, hugging the little bear tightly and saying softly: “Thank you, Aunt Mikoto.”
Watching Gaara’s well-behaved appearance, a trace of longing flashed in Mikoto’s eyes, wondering how Sasuke far away in Konoha was doing now…
Kushina Uzumaki deftly washed a plate of fruit and brought it over, then looked mischievously at Lady Tsunade, who had a bored expression, and teased with a grin: “So, how about it, Lady Tsunade? After staying these days in our ‘healthy and uplifting’ Star Capital, don’t you feel… especially ‘peaceful’ and ‘health-nurturing’?”
She deliberately emphasized “healthy and uplifting” and “peaceful health-nurturing,” clearly having anticipated that Lady Tsunade, this gambling addict, would be bored out of her mind.
Lady Tsunade rolled her eyes irritably, grabbed an apple and bit into it fiercely, complaining: “Hmph! The Land of Stars is great in every way, except this gambling ban—it’s downright anti-human! If this continues, my hands are going to waste away!”
Kushina Uzumaki laughed even more happily upon hearing this.
After the joking, Lady Tsunade’s expression turned serious, getting to the point: “I’m here mainly to ask about the specific situation of the western war. I heard the Sand Village and Stone Village both lost? And… in just seven days?”
Even with mental preparation, this speed still made her find it hard to believe.
Kushina Uzumaki also put away her smile and nodded: “Yes, this isn’t any secret anymore; it should be officially announced in a few days.”
She organized her thoughts and briefly said: “On the Sand Village side, their main force was completely routed by us at the Sashin Oasis. Advisor Elder Chiyo was killed in battle, and Fourth Kazekage Rasa was seriously injured and captured. Our army has occupied the Sand Village and is progressively taking over the entire Land of Wind. The original Land of Wind Daimyo and some of his close aides, after the news of defeat reached them, were escorted by Konoha ninjas to flee to the Land of Fire.”
She paused, then continued: “On the Stone Village side, the Third Tsuchikage Onoki personally led over ten thousand troops to attack our eastern border, but outside Tottori Mountain Castle, they were single-handedly routed by Uchiha Hikari. Onoki himself has surrendered and is currently in the Star Capital, where Minato is handling post-war negotiations with him.”
Even though they had heard rumors, hearing these details confirmed directly from Kushina Uzumaki’s mouth still shocked Lady Tsunade and Miss Shizune.
Destroying a country in seven days, Uchiha Hikari single-handedly blocking ten thousand troops…
She had thought Shura’s strength was already terrifying, but there was also Uchiha Hikari, who made ten thousand Stone Ninjas collapse—probably even more terrifying than Uchiha Madara back then!
The strength displayed by the Land of Stars had surpassed the Five Great Nations; even Konoha might…
Lady Tsunade’s fingertips lightly tapped the table, asking the most crucial question: “So, what do you plan to do with the Land of Wind and the Sand Village? And the Land of Earth and the Stone Village?”
At that moment, a mild and clear voice came from the doorway connecting the living room to the veranda:
“On this point, the preliminary plan is: the Land of Wind will be formally annexed by our country, with its territory established as new administrative zones. As for the Land of Earth and the Stone Village, given their size and actual situation, they will become our affiliated country and affiliated ninja village.”
Everyone looked toward the voice and saw Minato Namikaze standing on the veranda at some point, a faint smile on his face.
“Uncle Minato.” Gaara greeted obediently.
Minato walked into the living room, gently patted Gaara’s head, then naturally sat beside Kushina Uzumaki.
“Annexing the Land of Wind… affiliating the Land of Earth…” Lady Tsunade murmured, her face grave.
Annexing the Land of Wind meant the Land of Stars would formally replace it as one of the Five Great Nations, and as an emerging great power with terrifying military strength.
Turning the Land of Earth into an affiliated country was an extremely clever and far-reaching strategy.
This was far more complex and effective than direct occupation; it could avoid huge governance costs, social unrest, and direct intervention from the Land of Fire and Land of Lightning, while gradually assimilating it through economic, political, cultural, and other infiltrations.
The ambition and methods of the Land of Stars made her heart race.
Minato continued: “Additionally, according to the treaty just signed with Tsuchikage Onoki, the Land of Earth has ceded five eastern border prefectures. We plan to lease a coastal city on the Land of Earth’s new border—Aomori City—to establish a ‘special economic zone,’ focusing on developing… the gambling entertainment industry.”
“Gambling industry? Gambling city?” Lady Tsunade was stunned, looking puzzled at Minato: “Doesn’t the Land of Stars explicitly prohibit gambling?”
Minato explained calmly: “Better to guide than to block. An absolute ban would only breed underground black markets, bringing greater security risks and social issues.”
“So our strategy is to confine gambling activities to specific, controllable areas, issuing special operating licenses, establishing strict industry regulations, levying high taxes, and conducting effective oversight to bring it under formalized management. At the same time, setting up this gambling city within the Land of Earth will help attract capital flows from the Land of Earth and even the entire continent, boost local economic development, and subtly spread our country’s management concepts and lifestyle.”
Lady Tsunade listened quietly, a flash of understanding in her eyes.
She had heard of the successful case of the economic special zone port established by the Land of Stars in the northern Land of Snow.
Due to its special business environment and commercial tax rates, it attracted a large number of foreign merchants to venture there, with extremely prosperous trade.
Minato’s words sounded reasonable, but her keen political instincts detected deeper intentions.
She stared straight at Minato, cutting to the chase: “Placing this ‘gambling city’ in the Land of Earth rather than the ceded territory that legally belongs to you… your real purpose isn’t just making money and regulating management, is it? You want to use it as a forward base to do something to the Land of Earth?”
Minato exchanged a glance with Kushina Uzumaki, a appreciative smile on his face: “As expected, we can’t hide it from you. But please rest assured, our purpose is not invasion or destruction. Rather, we hope through economic cooperation and cultural exchange to more smoothly transmit the Land of Stars’ ideals of fairness, justice, and development into the Land of Earth.”
“At the same time, this city with special legal status can, when necessary, provide a relatively safe haven for those suffering unjust persecution within the Land of Earth.”
His words were mild, yet revealed a grand strategic conception of conquering with softness and changing a country from within.
Lady Tsunade was silent for a moment, not pursuing further details.
She understood that behind this must be the Land of Stars’ deeper, long-term plans concerning reforms in ninja world society.
………………
Meanwhile, deep in the Sea of Death within the Land of Wind.
Menma, sitting cross-legged at the highest point of the Sand City ruins, slowly opened his eyes.
In the distance, that enormous Ten-Tails was already on its last breath, like a candle in the wind, its final trace of origin chakra being madly devoured by the dark red little Nine-Tails.
At this moment, Little Nine’s body hadn’t grown much larger, but the chakra emanating from its entire body had undergone a qualitative change!
The dark red chakra roiled like boiling magma, and behind it, beside the original nine tails, a tenth tail had shockingly condensed!
“Roar——!!!”
The Little Nine-Tails threw its head back and let out a heaven-shaking roar, the sound waves sending countless grains of sand flying!
It had successfully absorbed all of the Ten-Tails’ origin, completing its ultimate evolution!
Menma felt the vast chakra within him, closely linked to Little Nine and nearly overflowing, and frowned slightly.
Even with his Uzumaki Clan’s robust physique, he now felt a slight bloating and pressure.
‘Little Nine’s chakra quantity and quality have already surpassed ordinary Tails, reaching the Ten-Tails level… My body is starting to struggle to fully contain it.’ Menma realized in his heart, pondering silently.
‘I must quickly complete the fusion of Hashirama Cells, fully develop the Sage Body, and then advance the fusion with Little Nine to the final stage! Only then can I bear this power and truly step into that legendary—Six Paths Level!’
【PS: Today’s illustration, guess who this long-haired Uchiha beauty is?】
