Next Bonus Chapter, 200!
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Manji left Mount Myōboku in a flash and returned to the shinobi world.
He had his reasons for bringing both the Hyūga Clan and the Ōtsutsuki Clan to Mount Myōboku.
First, both clans were large and had particular strengths. They could help manage Mount Myōboku's growing industries and support its future, turning the mountain from a secluded place into a self-sustaining power.
In the future, Konoha would have a Hyūga Clan.
Mount Myōboku would also have a Hyūga Clan.
Manji did not know whether Hyūga Neji, Hyūga Hinata, and the others would still be born in Konoha as before, or on Mount Myōboku instead.
Second, Manji realized the toads alone could not stand against threats that might come from beyond their world.
In the past, he had made the same mistake as Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
Kaguya had trusted the White Zetsu army to protect her from her own clan. Manji once thought the toads of Mount Myōboku could do the same for him.
Looking back, he realized that was just wishful thinking.
If he wanted real security, he needed his own loyal military force, strong enough to follow his orders. Bringing the Hyūga and Ōtsutsuki clans to Mount Myōboku was part of that plan.
Just like in his past life, having only nuclear weapons was not enough. A country needed more than that.
..............
"The purge is over. Next comes the rebuilding of the shinobi world's order."
Manji gazed out over the world's mountains and rivers.
He could not let the shinobi world fall apart. The struggle between Asura and Indra was still going, and it needed a place to play out.
But this time, Manji would set the borders himself.
From now on, that fight would stay within the shinobi clans. It would not spill over to ordinary people or drag the innocent into war.
The stage was now smaller.
Manji brought his hands together and said, "Summoning Jutsu."
A formation appeared beneath him. White light flashed, and over a dozen figures dropped from the air, landing on their knees with fear and respect on their faces.
"Sage!"
These were mortal officials Manji had chosen himself during the purge of the old order. They did not rely on shinobi clans or use the chaos for personal gain. They were honest and hardworking, caring for the people, keeping their integrity in a corrupt time.
That alone made them rare.
Manji looked down at them and said calmly, "The purge is complete, and the age of chaos is over."
"Today, I will divide the lands and grant you formal titles. From now on, you will become daimyō of your territories. Guard your lands and protect your people."
The officials stood frozen.
Then disbelief and joy spread across their faces.
They had spent much of their lives poor and honest, working to protect people during the chaos. None of them had ever dreamed of such a reward. Now, it felt like their good deeds were finally being repaid.
After so much hardship and good work, their virtue was finally rewarded.
The Sage of Six Paths would not mistreat anyone.
Manji tapped his Six Paths staff on the ground with a soft hum. A huge map of the shinobi world appeared in the air, clearly showing mountains, rivers, and borders. The territories were already divided.
"The borders are set. Draw lots and choose your lands."
He waved his sleeve, and dozens of blank scrolls floated up. Each scroll held the name of a country.
One official stepped forward, took a scroll with shaking hands, and opened it.
The words Land of Fire appeared before him.
His face lit up with joy.
"The Land of Fire... I drew the richest land!"
"From now on, you are the daimyō of the Land of Fire," Manji said. "Your authority is granted by divine mandate. Govern it well."
The other officials stepped forward one by one to draw their territories. Some were overjoyed, others stayed calm, but all accepted their roles with awe and bowed to Manji.
When the enfeoffment was done, Manji looked over the new daimyō and spoke in a deeper voice.
"Remember this. Nations may never go to war with one another. You may not gather armies to invade another country, may not bring disaster upon ordinary people, and may not reopen the age of chaos."
He paused before continuing. "As for the shinobi clans, they are part of the old order. There is no need to abolish them by force."
"You may rely on shinobi clans to maintain order, settle disputes, and handle local conflicts. As long as you do not start wars between nations, the rest is yours to manage."
With those words, Manji set the new rules for the shinobi world.
Nations of ordinary people would no longer go to war. Conflicts would be handled by shinobi, and the struggle between Indra and Asura would continue within that smaller setting.
This way, the shinobi world could avoid war, but the reincarnations of Indra and Asura would still have space to compete.
"The Sage's judgment is sound!"
The new daimyō bowed together, their voices full of respect and gratitude.
Manji stayed calm. He looked up and swept his gaze over them.
An invisible pressure settled over the room. The lively mood vanished at once, and every daimyō held his breath, afraid to make even the slightest careless move.
Manji's tone changed. "I grant you these titles because you were clean officials who served the people. I am not giving you power so you can grow greedy."
"From now on, govern your lands, settle the people, and do your duty."
"Do not seek more power. Do not fight one another in secret. Do not test the rules I have set. And do not think that because you rule in the mortal world, you may act however you like."
"If your descendants ever develop ambitions beyond their place, I will intervene."
The daimyō held his breath.
They still remembered what happened to the major shinobi clans.
Those once-mighty clans had been proud and untouchable. The heads of the Uchiha and Senju clans were among the strongest people in the world.
And now?
Where were they?
Manji saw they understood. Only then did he let the pressure fade and give them one last warning.
"Remember this: there are gods above your head. No matter what position you hold, you must keep fear in your heart."
His message was simple:
Do not think I cannot find you.
I will always be watching.
"WE OBEY!" The daimyō bowed in fear and accepted his command.
Manji nodded and stayed silent.
With this, he laid the groundwork for the future Five Great Nations and the smaller countries around them.
From this moment, history changed. The Sage of Six Paths' enfeoffment shaped the world's future.
Divine right had entered the shinobi world.
The old era of warlords, private armies, and endless conquest was over.
A new era had begun!!
..............
Time passed, and five years went by quickly.
During those five years, the shinobi world slowly healed from the chaos and entered a time of peace and stability.
Manji traveled in disguise through the Five Great Nations and the smaller countries. In the fields, farmers worked the land. Waves of rice grew in the paddies. Smoke rose from village homes, chickens and dogs filled the lanes, merchants called out in busy markets, and temples to the Sage of Six Paths burned incense.
The daimyō he appointed obeyed his orders. None allowed ambition to take root. They ruled prudently, cared for the people, lowered taxes, and kept their domains in order.
The world was at peace.
"Matatabi has revived..." One day, Manji sensed her nearby.
He decided to go meet her himself.
He vanished through a portal, heading for the remote forest where Matatabi had appeared.
At the same time, far away in a quiet forest, the trees were lush and a clear stream ran through the woods. The old desolation was gone.
A small cat wrapped in pale blue flames walked across the fallen leaves. It was only the size of a regular house cat, and the flames around it were gentle.
This was Matatabi, newly revived and not yet back to her full strength.
She walked through the forest, her bright eyes taking in everything. After being gone so long, she saw the shinobi world had changed completely. It was peaceful now.
'Teacher must have acted and rebuilt the world...'
Matatabi followed the forest path until she heard water. As she got closer, she saw a clear river and a rough fishing boat stuck in the shallows, its hull tilted against the bank.
A man in a straw hat sat at the bow with his back to her. He was quiet and still, as if his boat had run aground and left him stranded.
Matatabi was kind by nature. Seeing him like that, she ran over right away.
"Old man, is your boat stuck? Do you need me to help push it back into the river?"
The man in the boat stayed silent.
After a moment, he finally moved.
He slowly turned around. As he did, the brim of his straw hat lifted, showing a handsome, calm, and painfully familiar face.
As soon as Matatabi saw him, she froze.
Then her eyes lit up.
"TEACHER!"
She cried out with joy, not expecting to meet Manji here.
Her joy lasted only a moment before she remembered something. Her cheeks puffed up, and her tone turned annoyed. "Teacher, you really came to see me? I thought your favorite thing was hiding from everyone!!"
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