Shisui taking the initiative to reveal his identity to Itachi was something Natsuhiko probably hadn't expected.
But right now, he didn't have the mood to care about something so insignificant.
He likely wouldn't even bother paying attention to Itachi's growing sense of gratitude toward the ANBU.
At this stage, Natsuhiko had already completed many of the things he set out to do. But naturally, new problems had begun to follow one after another.
"Orochimaru has been sent away and settled in the Land of Life. That makes it much easier for me to find him and have him assist with some valuable experiments.
Handing Kabuto over to Orochimaru for training is also the best outcome. After all, I need a messenger, and Kabuto can only truly grow if he follows Orochimaru.
And finally, there's the newly established propaganda department. It may have started on a whim, but considering its value and the possibility of future wars…
Its creation brings more advantages than disadvantages. If managed well, it can even generate extra funds to further expand the ANBU."
The expansion of the ANBU was both a good and a bad thing for Natsuhiko. Everything had to be done in stages.
As the commander of the ANBU, he naturally wanted it to grow stronger. Only then could he secure more resources to deal with people like Danzo.
But from the Hokage's perspective, this decision might not be such a good idea.
If the ANBU grew too powerful to control, it would become a serious problem—one that wouldn't be easy to deal with later.
Still, it was too early to worry about that. Besides, the entire ANBU was currently under Natsuhiko's control. If necessary, splitting it apart in the future wouldn't be impossible.
"So for now, the focus is on building the laboratory and setting up the propaganda department."
The laboratory was still in the planning stage. Finding the right people wasn't easy, but with Kakashi handling it, Natsuhiko felt at ease.
That meant his own energy should be directed toward building the propaganda department.
After all, laboratories weren't exactly rare in this world. The ANBU already had one, and Kakashi could easily use it as a reference.
But a propaganda system like this? That didn't exist here. At most, there were only rough, undeveloped versions of it.
So it was only natural for Natsuhiko to prioritize this. He wanted it to start producing results as soon as possible.
"Therefore, we'll use paper to publish the information we want to release. We'll call this… a newspaper."
Sitting calmly in his office, Natsuhiko spoke to the people in front of him. Now, he needed to explain things in greater detail.
This meeting was very different from the previous one. Everyone present had already been selected to take on this task in the future.
Thinking about it, it was actually quite interesting. The ANBU was originally an intelligence organization that also handled violent operations. For such an organization to lack a propaganda branch was honestly strange.
"A newspaper?" Sora held a pen and carefully wrote everything down. "That's an interesting term. But Commander, how would you define a newspaper?"
"It's a printed publication issued to the public, mainly used to report news and provide commentary on current events."
After a moment of thought, Natsuhiko gave a precise definition.
"Essentially, you can think of it as a medium for mass communication—something that reflects and guides public opinion."
Newspapers—or media in general—were, at their core, tools meant to serve the public.
But because of their influence, they could also be used.
And Natsuhiko was no saint. He had no intention of keeping his newspapers neutral or objective.
What Natsuhiko wanted was simple: to shape how people thought, guide their values, and draw them closer to his side. In the end, all he truly needed was a weapon for the war of public opinion.
"This sounds a bit like a bulletin board," Renge said as she took notes. "When the Hokage's office has policies to announce, they're posted publicly for everyone to read."
"Similar, but what we need goes further," Natsuhiko replied calmly. "We need stronger reach, greater convenience, and much wider coverage."
He laid out his ideas without hesitation, not even bothering to hide his deeper intentions.
"Our goal is to control and influence the audience—to shape their beliefs, thoughts, even their psychology.
Of course, effective public messaging can inspire the people, boost morale, and create strong unity.
But negative messaging can just as easily control their thinking, break their faith, and destroy their will to resist."
Everyone present immediately understood the meaning behind his seemingly contradictory words.
A newspaper, as Natsuhiko described it, could absolutely be something beneficial. If kept neutral and objective, it could even improve the entire ninja world.
But in the hands of someone with less noble intentions, it would become an invisible weapon—one capable of destroying a nation without a single blade drawn.
Fortunately, no one in the room was naïve. Anyone who had made it into the ANBU had long since left behind the luxury of pure kindness.
Even if neutrality might be ideal, controlling it themselves and maximizing its value was far more practical.
"So what are the steps to establish it?" A ninja from the Nara Clan raised his hand. "Commander, you mentioned it briefly yesterday, but a lot of details weren't covered…"
"That's exactly why we're having this meeting today," Natsuhiko said with a faint smile, nodding at him before continuing.
"I don't know your exact roles in the future, but I can tell you this—you're going to change the world.
This newspaper will be called the Ninja World Daily. We'll divide it into different sections.
For example, headline news—these will be the most eye-catching events of the day, like changes within Konoha.
Or developments from the Daimyo's court. During wartime, these must subtly favor Konoha.
Then we have local news, national news, and international news. I don't need to explain those in detail—just focus on interesting topics that draw attention.
Finally, there's entertainment news—like upcoming films.
Or even exclusive interviews with certain shinobi, telling their life stories, including key missions they've taken part in."
At this point, Natsuhiko paused and glanced at the group, all of whom were diligently writing everything down. He couldn't help but shake his head slightly.
In his previous life, newspapers were already on the verge of being obsolete. By his time, people relied almost entirely on the internet.
Compared to the convenience of digital information, printed news had virtually no advantages left.
Yet in this era, everything he was explaining fell completely outside their understanding. The gap between worlds was almost absurd.
Taking a slow breath, Natsuhiko lightly tapped the table.
"Everyone, aside from everything I've mentioned, there's one more crucial point.
No matter how you report—no matter how fair or objective it seems—the core must always align with us.
Only by controlling the narrative can we control everything. Do you understand?"
...
Under Natsuhiko's guidance, the concept of "news media" began to take shape in the minds of the ANBU members.
It did take time. After all, everything had to be built from scratch, step by step, with Natsuhiko personally teaching them.
Even simple drafts had to be refined by him before they were acceptable.
But no matter what, things were finally moving onto the right track.
Natsuhiko was certain that it wouldn't be long before the very first issue of the Ninja World Daily was born.
No matter how you looked at it, this was something worth celebrating. Even though this "first newspaper in the history of the ninja world" still needed to be tested, taking the first step meant everything that followed would become much easier.
After all, they had the ANBU backing them—a massive intelligence network. If there was one thing they never lacked, it was information.
If we release some declassified material, or even outdated intelligence, it'll definitely catch the attention of the shinobi.
Human curiosity was a strange thing. The more hidden something was, the more it sparked interest. Anything that was usually kept secret only made people more eager to uncover and expose it.
Natsuhiko had no problem taking advantage of that. Drawing attention, building interest, and then slowly guiding public opinion—that was how he would achieve his goals.
But for now, they're busy producing and recruiting staff. I can finally get some rest.
Walking through a forest in the Land of Fire, Natsuhiko breathed in the rich, vibrant life around him, a faint smile forming on his lips.
After being busy for so long, he could finally relax for a bit and focus on his own matters.
Ever since dealing with Uchiha Fugaku, he hadn't left Konoha. Now, with things settling down, he finally had some free time.
The atmosphere in the village was no longer as tense as before. With things easing up, he didn't have to keep a constant watch, afraid of missing even the smallest detail.
He walked until he reached several trees, then stopped. Closing his eyes slightly, he sensed the area—and soon confirmed that there was no trace of chakra fluctuations left within them.
That result made him nod quietly.
Of course, the absence of chakra could mean nothing had ever happened.
Like the bone from Kimimaro—he hadn't held much hope for that one. Kimimaro's abilities hadn't fully awakened yet, so this had been more of an experiment than anything else.
But in other cases, no chakra fluctuations could also mean the process was complete.
For example… the White Zetsu body, and the flesh of Hashirama Senju.
"I hope this works."
With that thought, Natsuhiko quickly reached out toward the first tree—the one embedded with a piece of Hashirama's flesh.
The moment his hand touched the tree, the system in his mind reacted.
"Detected special energy. Analyzing…"
"Analysis complete. Intermediate Wood Release seed. Extract?"
Natsuhiko froze for a split second when he heard the system's prompt.
He hadn't expected this at all—he actually got a Wood Release seed!
From what he had previously thought, improving Wood Release would require further development of his bloodline, along with continuous growth in Yang Release, to push it to a higher level.
But now, it seemed he might have been mistaken.
"Then again… not entirely wrong."
Without hesitation, Natsuhiko extracted the seed. Holding the faintly glowing object in his hand, he immediately absorbed it into his body.
His earlier assumptions were based on the limits of Wood Release itself, as well as the system's enhancement of bloodline strength.
But he had overlooked one key detail—
The techniques granted by the system weren't always just about increasing raw power.
This kind of improvement wasn't limited to raw power. It was comprehensive—enhancing his understanding of the technique, how he used it, and even the chakra structure that formed it. All of it would be elevated together.
And with such all-around growth, the final result would naturally be far more terrifying.
An Intermediate Wood Release seed… the fruit it produced wouldn't just strengthen Natsuhiko's Wood Release alone.
It would likely also improve his Earth Release, Water Release, and even deepen his understanding and control of Yang Release.
Thinking about it, Natsuhiko couldn't help but admire how powerful the system really was. At the same time, it gave him absolutely no chance to slack off.
"Once I get the fruit, I'll have to spend time mastering it… and also refine my Earth and Water Release. This is going to be a lot of work."
He complained out loud, but inwardly, he was more than satisfied with this gain.
Intermediate Wood Release combined with Advanced Sage Mode—what kind of result would that produce?
Just thinking about it made him look forward to the future.
Continuing forward, Natsuhiko shifted his gaze to the White Zetsu he had taken from Black Zetsu and Obito. Without hesitation, he reached out and touched them.
After such a great start with the Wood Release seed, he couldn't help but feel hopeful for even more good fortune.
As for what these two White Zetsu would yield, he was genuinely curious.
White Zetsu bodies had incredible value. In terms of compatibility, their modified forms even carried traits from Hashirama Senju.
And for Natsuhiko, that made them almost a perfect match.
Beyond that, he was especially eager to see if that unique fusion attribute would appear again. Right now, what he wanted most was to fuse more chakra natures.
As his chakra stirred slightly, a hint of surprise flashed across his face.
"Detected special energy. Analyzing…"
"Analysis complete. Special fusion power. Extract?"
"Analysis complete. Trace amount of attribute-less special chakra. Extract?"
Natsuhiko froze when he heard the system's voice.
This result… was incredible. No—it was beyond good.
Because once again, he had obtained that special fusion power.
He had already experienced its effects before. The unnamed Kekkei Tōta he created back then—the image of a mountain being split apart by a single strike was still vivid in his mind.
Now that he had acquired this fusion power again, it meant one thing—
He could develop another entirely new Kekkei Tōta.
Of course, the one he had created previously wasn't fully developed yet.
Even though he had carefully studied it while integrating it into his body, he simply hadn't had many chances to use it.
And without enough practical use, there was no way to properly refine it.
Still, he wasn't too concerned. That power had been used through one of his alternate identities. In the future, he would have plenty of opportunities to develop it further.
As for naming it, that wasn't important.
As a transmigrator, Natsuhiko's perspective had long surpassed that of ordinary shinobi.
He understood that for the Ōtsutsuki, naming techniques didn't really matter. In the end, everything was just categorized as a "technique."
His goal was to reach that level—the realm of Kekkei Mōra, the ultimate power.
So there was no real need to give a Kekkei Genkai a specific name.
Of course, he had considered it before. But his thinking leaned more toward the naming styles of his previous world, and he worried it might feel out of place here.
This time, however, things were different.
This power would be used by his true self—Senju Natsuhiko.
That meant he could experiment more freely, try out more interesting techniques, or even replicate proven ones.
"For example… Dust Release."
Natsuhiko had always held Dust Release in high regard.
And more importantly—
He already knew the formula to create it.
Of course, once he started using this power, he would have to be careful of someone like Ōnoki targeting him. After all, this ability originally belonged to the Hidden Stone Village.
There was no way Ōnoki would tolerate seeing his village's signature power displayed in someone else's hands.
Still, Natsuhiko didn't think he needed to worry too much. His identity as Senju Natsuhiko didn't necessarily require him to leave the village.
Besides, if he truly obtained this power, it would greatly boost both his own reputation and Konoha's.
There was no need to rush this decision. He could take his time and choose the best moment.
The fusion chakra was easy enough to understand. What puzzled him was the so-called "attribute-less special chakra."
The system hadn't provided much explanation, leaving him to figure it out on his own.
"A special energy that can act upon all forms of power."
That single line was all the system gave him—and it only made things more confusing.
Act upon all forms of power… did that mean this chakra could merge with every ability he currently possessed?
And after merging?
Would it enhance those abilities?
After thinking it through, this seemed like the only reasonable explanation.
"If that's really the case… then this just got interesting."
Natsuhiko's eyes flickered with thought. If this was true, then he had even more reason to go after Obito again.
At present, aside from Sage Mode, chakra reserves, and elemental chakra, most of his abilities were only at beginner or intermediate levels.
It was an awkward position. Even though his strength was already overwhelming, standing at such a height only made him want to climb even higher.
Humans were greedy by nature, and Natsuhiko had never denied his own.
He wanted to stand at the very top—whether in strength or power.
And he had never stopped moving toward that goal.
"Let's give it a try."
He made his decision quickly. Even if the amount was small, it should still bring some level of improvement.
For his current identity, the abilities he could openly use were limited—ninjutsu, sealing techniques, the Flying Thunder God, Wood Release, Sage Mode, and the Jōgan.
His ninjutsu and Sage Mode were already near their peak. The Flying Thunder God wasn't something the system could enhance—it required his own effort.
Sealing techniques were still at an intermediate level, so they were an option. But he had just obtained a Wood Release seed, so there was no need to invest in that right now.
That left only one choice—
The Jōgan.
Compared to sealing techniques, Natsuhiko knew exactly what he should prioritize. Naturally, it was this "bootleg" eye of his.
"Looks like there's nothing to hesitate about."
Taking a slow breath, he guided the special chakra into his body and directed it toward his eyes.
To be honest, he was somewhat lost when it came to his eyes. He didn't fully understand how to improve them.
All he knew was that they were still in their initial stage—but even so, they were already ridiculously powerful.
"Hm?"
The moment the energy reached his eyes, it flowed in without resistance, merging completely.
For an instant, he felt a subtle change.
It was brief—almost fleeting—but the sensation was incredibly comfortable.
His vision seemed clearer, sharper.
And he could tell—
If he activated them now, his perception would become even more terrifying.
That realization made Natsuhiko impatient. Without hesitation, he opened his status panel—he wanted to see exactly what had changed.
...
Name: Senju Natsuhiko
Gender: Male
Birthday: March 24, Year 34 of the Konoha Calendar
Level: Semi-Kage (System evaluation without using any abilities) (Massive chakra reserves)
(Partially sealed Ryūmyaku chakra)
Dōjutsu: Jōgan (Initial Stage) (Development: 50%)
Bloodline Development: Intermediate (Senju Secret Techniques, Basic Yang Release Techniques), Kekkei Tōta (Unnamed)
Jinchūriki: Nine-Tails (Intermediate, can grow by absorbing large amounts of special chakra; can be cultivated using an advanced Nine-Tails fruit) (Excessive chakra intake, continuously increasing)
Seeds: Basic Three-Tails Chakra (40%), Intermediate Wood Release Seed (1%)
Fruits: Intermediate Fire Release Fruit (2), Intermediate Water Release Fruit (1), Intermediate Earth Release Fruit (2), Special Fusion Power
Mission: Become the true final boss of the ninja world (Unique) (Progress: 29%)
...
Looking at his status pane l, Natsuhiko fell silent for a moment.
The experimental fruits he had been cultivating had already matured, and the Three-Tails' chakra had reached forty percent.
But those weren't the most important changes.
What truly mattered was his Jōgan—
Its development had jumped straight to fifty percent, all because of that tiny amount of special chakra.
The result left him almost unable to contain his excitement. He had never really understood how to further develop his eyes.
But now, he finally had a direction.
He had a goal.
"Obito… you really are a good person."
There was no denying it—Obito was a good person.
No matter how terrible the things he had done might seem, in Natsuhiko's eyes, he was absolutely a "good person."
In fact, he was on the same level as Danzo.
Natsuhiko genuinely felt grateful to both of them, and he meant it from the bottom of his heart.
And he wasn't being sarcastic—not in the slightest.
This wasn't like the twisted logic he had seen in his previous world.
Before transmigrating, Natsuhiko had never understood why people in certain so-called "free nations" acted so irrationally, refusing to listen to their own governments.
Tell them to wear masks, and they wouldn't. Tell them to get vaccinated, and they'd refuse no matter what.
Later, through a friend, he realized something—
In their minds, anything given for free by their government couldn't be trusted.
But if it cost money? Then it must be reliable.
After all, their governments had done plenty of questionable things in the past.
So when they were told to wear masks, they instinctively believed it was useless and ignored it.
But the moment the government said masks weren't necessary, they panicked—and started wearing them on their own.
"It's like asking a girl out, and she tells you there's no need to bring protection… your first instinct is that you'd better bring two."
Even if you hadn't planned to use any in the first place.
"Living in that kind of place really sharpens your instincts, huh…"
Natsuhiko wasn't thinking like that at all.
Danzo had given him the opportunity to rise, even helping him undermine Hiruzen Sarutobi's foundation.
And Obito—
Obito was the one who allowed him to truly grow stronger, pushing him closer and closer to the absolute peak.
Natsuhiko was sincerely grateful to them.
Even if, in the future, he would likely bring them unimaginable trouble.
Good people were still good people—but enemies were still enemies.
Stretching lazily, Natsuhiko let his chakra ripple slightly, and in the next instant, he vanished from where he stood.
This trip had already achieved its purpose, and the gains were more than enough. There was no reason for him to stay any longer.
Even though Kimimaro's bone, as he had expected, yielded no valuable results,
But everything else he had obtained more than made up for it. In fact, it had given him a huge insight—
The value of White Zetsu was far beyond what he had imagined. His desire for it had reached a whole new level.
Still, he needed to hold back for now. At the very least, until he fully absorbed the power he had gained this time, patience was necessary.
...
Deep within a hidden forest in the Land of Fire stood one of Orochimaru's secret laboratories.
He had never told anyone about this place—not even his former teacher.
A man like him understood one thing clearly: everyone needed secrets. No one could predict what path their life would take, just like his own situation now.
Thankfully, Orochimaru had prepared in advance. Otherwise, when things fell apart, he wouldn't have been able to handle it—he might not have even been able to remain in the Land of Fire.
Standing quietly before a container, he watched as the Uchiha body inside underwent constant mutation. A faint smile crept onto his lips.
Clearly, the experiment was going well.
"Although it's only a two-tomoe Sharingan, the subject has held on for quite a long time… there's even a real chance of success."
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"It seems my theory was correct. Even with a conservative approach, the results are promising."
Orochimaru felt a rare surge of emotion. He had prepared for this experiment for a long time back in Konoha, but various limitations had always prevented success.
Now, with sufficient materials at his disposal, he had finally made real progress. How could he not be pleased?
He hadn't dared to start with a three-tomoe Sharingan—those were far too valuable to the Uchiha clan.
Worried about failure, he had begun with a two-tomoe instead.
And now, it seemed he had succeeded.
"It appears that, in a certain sense, the Uchiha and Senju clans truly restrain each other," Orochimaru muttered, licking his lips. "What an interesting discovery…"
"Not that surprising," a voice suddenly echoed behind him. "Otherwise, why do you think the Senju and Uchiha fought for so many years? Everything in this world is connected—and everything restrains something else."
Orochimaru's body stiffened the moment he heard the voice.
But he quickly relaxed.
Turning around slowly, he looked at Natsuhiko, who had appeared without him noticing. Though inwardly shaken, his expression remained calm.
He knew very well—there were two Flying Thunder God markers placed near him. Escaping Natsuhiko's reach was impossible.
"Commander, your visit truly honors this humble place," Orochimaru said with a faint smile, his tongue flicking out slightly. "May I ask what important instructions you have for me this time?"
"Not instructions," Natsuhiko replied, tilting his head slightly. "More like… an interesting task."
His eyes narrowed faintly.
"Tell me—what do you think about resurrection techniques?"
"Resurrection…?" Orochimaru's pupils shrank slightly.
"That's right," Natsuhiko said calmly. "Resurrection. Interested?"
...
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