Taro Myōwa never dreamed that one day, he—a perpetual genin who couldn't even secure a mission—would rise to become the leader of a civilian organization with nearly ten thousand members!
As the war intensified, the situation in the ninja world grew increasingly dire, triggering a second wave of refugees. The Land of Rain, located at the crossroads of three major nations and backed by the wealthy Hourglass Group, naturally became the first choice for displaced people. For a time, Amegakure was overwhelmed, bursting at the seams with the influx of refugees.
Large groups of displaced individuals and unemployed wanderers loitered along the Shule River, desperately hoping to find work and earn a meal. However, unlike in previous years, the Hourglass Group did not open its doors for mass recruitment. Instead, it expelled a group of "slackers" from its factories.
These displaced workers joined forces with the refugees, causing disturbances and staging protests outside the factory gates. They shouted slogans like "We want food!" and "We want jobs!" Their loud demonstrations created a sense of unease among the factory workers, making it hard for them to focus on production.
After much deliberation, Yura devised a solution: setting up two relief stations on either side of the industrial zone—one in the east and one in the west—to provide free aid to the refugees. Though it was just two bowls of thin porridge, it was enough to keep them alive.
This move dispersed most of the refugee crowd, leaving only a few hundred expelled troublemakers. These individuals posed no real threat, as the Hourglass Group's Factory Defense Force was not to be trifled with. After a round of rough treatment, the troublemakers scattered like birds.
It was in this environment that Taro Myōwa reached the pinnacle of his life's career. Previously, he survived by making sarcastic remarks and ranting about the world in ramen shops and taverns, earning just enough for a meal. But now, his speeches found a much larger audience—not just in small establishments but on streets and squares, drawing crowds of thousands! Each wave of applause and each cheer fed his vanity immensely.
One evening, after finishing a speech, Taro collected tips from nearby shops and decided to treat himself to a good meal as a reward. Just then, a man approached him, introducing himself as Mr. Higashi Iwa and inviting him to dine at the finest restaurant in Amegakure. Thinking this man was a fan, Taro, following his principle of never refusing a free meal, gladly accepted. Little did he know, this dinner would change his life forever.
Mr. Higashi Iwa, half-masked and appearing to be a ninja, bore no headband identifying any village. At first, he showered Taro with praise, quickly earning his goodwill. But as the drinks flowed and the atmosphere grew warm, the conversation took a sharp turn.
"Sir, with your talents, are you content to scrape by, earning a few coins from shopkeepers and tavern owners?"
Taro was taken aback, unsure of what he meant.
"The Land of Rain is in turmoil. With powerful enemies like Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha and Jinghang of Sunagakure, and with Kanashige Kongō weak and ineffective, you, my friend, are now a well-known figure in Amegakure. Why not seize the moment and achieve greatness?"
This question was like a window opening in Taro's muddled life. For once, the eloquent Taro was at a loss for words, managing only to stammer, "Please, guide me."
Mr. Higashi Iwa laughed heartily and said, "You should use your influence to establish an organization! Build a structure, recruit members, and when the time comes, you could hold the reins of power in the Land of Rain!"
He then laid out a detailed plan, explaining the current geopolitical landscape of the Five Great Nations, the ongoing war between the Lands of Earth and Lightning, the history of the Land of Rain, and its current predicament. Taro listened intently, nodding repeatedly, utterly captivated.
Next, he discussed how to build an organization, draft a manifesto, recruit members, and plan actions. Taro's eyes sparkled with excitement, his ambitions soaring.
"All it takes is a small amount of funding, and this endeavor is bound to succeed," Mr. Higashi Iwa concluded.
Hearing this, Taro deflated like a punctured balloon. He didn't even know where his next meal would come from. The "small amount of funding" Mr. Higashi Iwa mentioned was undoubtedly an astronomical sum to him.
Noticing Taro's embarrassment, Mr. Higashi Iwa laughed heartily.
"Money is but a trifle. I have sufficient resources and am willing to invest everything to help you achieve your grand ambitions!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Taro prostrated himself before Mr. Higashi Iwa.
"If this succeeds, I will serve you as a father for the rest of my life."
The next day, an organization named Akatsuki was born. The name carried a profound meaning—"dawn," symbolizing the breaking of darkness and the arrival of light.
From then on, Taro's speeches were no longer confined to marketplaces and commercial districts. He ventured into refugee camps and slums. After each impassioned speech, he distributed food and supplies to the needy. In no time, Taro gained immense fame across the Land of Rain, attracting followers like clouds.
Taro welcomed all followers with a smile, incorporating them into the Akatsuki organization. He provided them with black cloaks and established strict rules and discipline. Their uniformity in movement and behavior rivaled even the ninja forces under Kanashige Kongō. This quickly earned them the favor of Amegakure's citizens.
Moreover, the Akatsuki members often performed voluntary services for the populace, such as fetching water or unclogging sewers. This won them widespread admiration. Whenever the black-cloaked members of Akatsuki walked through the streets or markets, they were met with cheers from the citizens.
Initially, Akatsuki's members were primarily refugees and workers expelled by the Hourglass Group. Later, ordinary citizens and small business owners joined. Eventually, even some lower-ranking and mid-level ninja from Amegakure became part of the organization. By the time Jinghang declared war on Iwagakure, Akatsuki had grown to nearly ten thousand members, becoming a force capable of influencing Amegakure's political landscape.
This development did not escape the sharp eyes of Yura, who had experience on the battlefield. Such a disciplined and uniform group was unmistakably ninja-like—not ordinary mercenary ninjas but military-grade ninjas.
The sudden emergence of such a force at this critical juncture was highly unusual. However, since this was their territory, Yura had no grounds to act against them. Instead, he strengthened the Factory Defense Force's security and instructed Yashamaru to organize meetings with respected veteran workers to prevent Akatsuki from infiltrating the factory workforce.
As for Kanashige Kongō? Let him sleep. That muddleheaded man was hopeless and unreliable.
Amidst this undercurrent of tension, the Battle of Seven Wind Passes erupted. Shortly afterward, the Kazekage declared war on Iwagakure. This brought a flood of military supply orders and a directive to deploy part of the Factory Defense Force. This left Yura in a difficult position.
The orders were manageable; with the factories' current capacity, they could meet the deadlines. If manpower fell short, they could always rally temporary workers at the gates.
The real challenge was the deployment of the Factory Defense Force. This unit was Yura's greatest asset in Amegakure. Don't underestimate these 120 regular ninja. In a village with barely a thousand ninja, this force was a significant power.
The previous operation against Kirigakure bandits was a testament to their strength. While 800 Amegakure ninja struggled for over two months with little success and even lost their commander, the Factory Defense Force's three regiments captured the Kirigakure leader in just fifteen days. Their combat prowess left Amegakure's people in awe.
Now, the mobilization order required two of the three regiments to be deployed, leaving Yura with a severely reduced force. How should he handle the challenges ahead?
New Chapter live! updated to Chapter 130
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