On the training ground the next day, in stark contrast to the noisy crowd around her, Amane held a book in her hands, occasionally drawing strange looks from others.
Before long, amidst the whispering, Amane's situation became known to everyone. Most people withdrew their strange looks, replaced by a spontaneous feeling of admiration.
However, the eyes of some people still revealed hostility.
They likely felt that Amane was cutting off the livelihood of those who preferred a more relaxed path.
But Amane didn't care about the gazes of others at all. One of her purposes for coming to the training ground today was simply to accompany her two teammates, while also showing everyone that she was being obedient.
As for another purpose, Amane was indeed interested in the book in her hand.
The History of the Ninja World.
In the original work, the basic history mentioned was that Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and Isshiki came to the human world and subsequently planted the God Tree. During this process, Kaguya ambushed Isshiki, consumed the Chakra Fruit, and then launched the Infinite Tsukuyomi to create the White Zetsu army in preparation for future Ōtsutsuki enemies.
This period was indeed recorded in history, though it was a completely different version.
In ancient times, demons ran rampant across the land. The Goddess U descended from the heavens, wiped out the monsters, and earned the faith of the people. Later, the Goddess U and her subordinate, the Daidarabotchi, were corrupted by the lingering thoughts of the demons and sought to destroy the human world. Fortunately, with the help of the Six Paths Sage, the Goddess U was defeated, and peace was restored to the land.
Afterward, the Six Paths Sage granted power to the children of men—what later generations would call Chakra and Ninjutsu—and named it the "Ninjutsu Sect." The Sage led the people to use this power to clear the wilderness, build bridges, divert waterways, and irrigate fertile fields, allowing the people to live in peace.
However, even the Sage had a lifespan, alas. Fortunately, there was the Sage's son, named Ashura, who inherited his mantle and led the world. But the good times did not last long; his elder brother, Indra, out of dissatisfaction... Reading up to here, it was already very close to the history told by the Six Paths Sage in the original work. After Ashura and Indra passed away, it wasn't immediately the Warring States Period dominated by various clans.
Instead, after losing their leaders, people developed independently, which was when the so-called Daimyo were born. Only after this did development reach its limit, leading into the Warring States Period, and then Hashirama and Madara ended the chaotic era.
One had to admit it was quite interesting, a classic example of myth seamlessly transitioning into real history.
[But calling it a myth isn't quite appropriate either.]
After all, this world truly possesses supernatural powers, which is why it was written directly into the history textbooks.
Closing the book, she mentally reviewed the contents she had just read.
[I remember everything. As expected, this body is truly excellent. But why wasn't I born with all Chakra natures?]
A clearly greedy thought popped up. Born with the red hair of the Uzumaki bloodline, followed by the successful transplantation of Hashirama cells, excellent memory and learning ability, Sealing Jutsu, three Nature Transformations, the Rasengan, and even mastering the Cursed Seal Technique through lateral thinking—all of this within less than half a year.
[Hmm, I really want to fight a bit to confirm exactly what level I'm at now...]
This was something Amane had been very concerned about all along, aside from the Tongue Binding Seal.
After all, unlike a cultivation world setting where there are significant changes for each realm, there are no objective means of verification other than actual combat.
"Everyone, come over here!"
Amane, who had been lost in thought, lined up with the others as their instructor called out to them.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three figures suddenly descended next to the instructor, one of whom Amane and the others recognized.
"It's that Jonin who tested me. I think his name was... Shirakawa Shunji. But what is he doing here?"
Yoru whispered the name.
"Next, Shirakawa-Jonin and two Special Jonin will conduct intensive training for everyone."
A glint flashed in Amane's eyes, and she continued to listen silently.
"As you all surely know, the current situation is unfavorable for us. Just yesterday, Lord Hohzuki Mangetsu, who had been an undercover agent for us within the village, and Lord Suikazan Fuguki have passed away."
As soon as these words were spoken, the many children on the field became noisy. One could faintly hear constant remarks like 'impossible' or 'it must be fake'.
To the children of Kirigakure, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were so high and mighty, with a status second only to the Mizukage.
Now, suddenly hearing that two of them had died was naturally hard to believe at first, but after seeing the serious expressions of the adults around them, they gradually had no choice but to accept the fact.
The instructor nodded to the several Jonin, and then Shirakawa Shunji, who had previously been in charge of the assessment, stepped forward.
"This is the oral instruction from Lord Gensui. Next, we will prepare to select candidates for the new generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. This intensive training is prepared for that purpose. The three of us Jonin will formulate the rules and judge the results. Everyone must participate. Those who pass the selection will be personally assigned a Jonin for one-on-one guidance by Lord Gensui."
After he finished speaking, a look of longing appeared in the eyes of most of the children.
Amane couldn't help but look at Ringo Yuriko's expression at this moment.
Their eyes met, and Amane felt her face heat up slightly. She quickly returned to her position, pretending as if nothing had happened.
[There was no such scene back on Blue Star in my previous life,] Amane thought helplessly.
Originally, Amane wanted to see from Ringo Yuriko's expression whether she was excited or something. She didn't expect that she would actually feel awkward instead.
She forcibly shook off that feeling; after all, now was a good time to fish in troubled waters.
Ever since Ding had relayed the contents of the meeting yesterday, Amane had made two assumptions in her mind.
Whether Mei Terumī would take action or not.
If she didn't take action, Amane would continue to stay put honestly for a while. But if she chose to act, she would likely do as she said and lead a small number of elites for a surprise attack.
The reason was simple: the Hidden Mist Village was short on talent, and any normal leader would avoid a large-scale armed confrontation unless the situation truly reached a point of no return.
Therefore, the protection of the rear base would be of paramount importance, and these children were the "assets" that needed to be protected with the highest priority.
The people on the field had already begun to move under the leadership of the three Jonin, and Amane naturally followed along.
[Let's begin. Sealing, Release!]
A hand hidden inside her clothes quietly formed a seal. In the bathroom of Amane's home, with a 'bang', a wooden bucket was instantly overturned, and three Amanes appeared there simultaneously.
These three Shadow Clones were no ordinary ones; they were the result of Amane creating one while at full capacity and then immediately Sealing it in the bathroom.
So, they each had half of Amane's total Chakra stored within them!
"As expected, no one is monitoring this empty house right now, but it's not yet certain whether Mei Terumī took Ding with her or left him to guard the base."
This Shadow Clone had only been created last night, so it possessed the latest intelligence.
The Kagura Minds Eye scanned for an instant and was immediately deactivated. Ever since being detected by Orochimaru, she had to be cautious in this regard.
"So, what are the instructions? Little sister."
Another Shadow Clone looked at the last Shadow Clone—the Amane who had just been called "little sister"—with a playful smile.
"Now is a good opportunity to act. One of the three of us will hide here to gather intelligence; I'll leave that task to Big Sister. As for Second Sister and me, we will cooperate to leave the base now."
Also with a smile, Amane accepted the title of little sister and immediately began assigning tasks as if she were in character.
After speaking, the three of them couldn't help but smile at each other and then immediately began their operation.
Although the guards had become much tighter and the number of sensory experts had increased, by taking turns using the Kagura Minds Eye, even when encountering counter-surveillance, they only spent a bit more time than usual to reach the outside of the base.
By this point, the Chakra within the two Amanes had been consumed by a quarter.
"And then? Little sister."
"Then you prepare to head to the Hidden Mist Village. If there's really no way past the external sensory Barrier, you can stay outside and wait. The ultimate goal is to see if you can find a way to get the scrolls recording Ninjutsu."
The little sister's shocking statement made the second sister's eyebrows twitch slightly, but she immediately followed it with an excited smile.