Naruto: Escape From Konoha

Chapter 122: 118: Road to the Land Of Demons (1)

After being discovered by Miyoko, Shiraishi felt like he wanted to find a hole and disappear like thin air, evading form everyone.

Even though he usually had a thick skin, this time he couldn't help feeling somewhat shy and awkward.

Ayane calmly got herself from Shiraishi, smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes. She caughed and said, "Hello, Auntie. It's not what you might be thinking. Shiraishi-kun had some sand in his eye, and I was just helping him get it out."

After finishing speaking, she looked at Miyoko sincerely with her innocent and bright eyes.

"Oh, I see."

Miyoko sighed in relief, patting her chest. "I was worried that Shiraishi might might be doing something that might offend Ruri."

"No, nothing like that, you're joking auntie. It was just a minor issue with some sand in his eye, right, Shiraishi-kun?"

Ayane slightly pursed her lips and chuckled.

"Yes." Shiraishi agreed, following Ayane's lead.

Curiously, Miyoko looked at Ayane, this girl who was about the same age as her own daughte. She felt the girl was extraordinary.

"And who might you be?"

"I'm Hyuga Ayane, Ruri's best friend."

Ayane replied with a natural smile that gave an impression of sincerity.

"Ah, then you two must be quite close." Miyoko said.

"Absolutely." Ayane affirmed. "We have been comrades in arms since we were young, facing life and death together. Our relationship has been good, so our bond is very strong."

Ayane's tone was still sincere.

"That child Ruri must have caused you a lot of trouble."

"Not at all." Ayane responded, "I've caused Ruri a lot of trouble, and she has to take care of many things."

Under Shiraishi's surprised eyes, Ayane and Miyoko continued chatting on the sofa, both of them sat there gracefully, displaying the elegance of noble women.

'What's going on here?' Shiraishi initially expected Ayane to follow her usual pattern: satisfy her desires and then leave, showing little interest in anything else.

However, what he witnessed was more like two close friends or even sisters engaging in conversation.

Their discussion ranged from hobbies and interests to favorite colors and local foods – typical topics among women.

They seemed completely oblivious of his presence.

"Auntie Miyoko, would you like to join me at the hot springs later? I recently found a fantastic hot spring hotel here." Ayane sent out an invitation.

"Sure, I have nothing planned for today. Let's do it. We can even have dinner there." Miyoko accepted Ayane's invitation after a moment of consideration.

Before heading to the hot springs with Ayane, Miyoko left the examination papers she had brought on Shiraishi's desk.

"Shiraishi-san, here are the materials you requested. I'll leave them here." she said, as though the earlier incident had never occurred. She then chatted and laughed with Ayane, eventually leaving Shiraishi's office.

Once the two women had left, Shiraishi finally breathed a sigh of relief. His entire body had been tense while they were there.

Fortunately, nothing catastrophic had occurred. However, it was good that they left so he could tidy up.

As he picked up the documents provided by Miyoko, Shiraishi recognized their contents. They contained confidential information about the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Shiraishi was deeply interested by the Mangekyou Sharingan, a more advanced form than the regular Sharingan.

With eagerness, he opened the document folder, retrieved the information files inside, and began reading.

When he first read the conditions for unlocking the Mangekyou Sharingan, Shiraishi's eyes widened, and an unprecedented seriousness filled him.

—Killing a loved one or witnessing their death.

This was the recorded condition for unlocking the Mangekyou Sharingan.

What kind of twisted method of awakening was this? Suddenly, Shiraishi felt he had an insight into something.

"So... Ruri left the Uchiha clan because of this, right?" Shiraishi speculated. If the record was accurate, he could understand Ruri's decision.

Obtaining power through such a method was undoubtedly a dark and twisted path. Given Ruri's character, she would never resort to such heinous means to evolve her Sharingan into the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Thinking about the Uchiha clan members and their families who had followed Ruri, Shiraishi's heart grew heavy.

This corrupt method of awakening must never be revealed, especially to the Uchiha clan.

He couldn't be sure whether the Uchiha who followed Ruri had hidden elements of extreme worship power.

Shiraishi continued reading, discovering the unique abilities of the Mangekyou Sharingan.

—Each user possesses an exclusive unique doujutsu.

Every Mangekyou Sharingan wielder develops their different doujutsus. Among these, he found the exclusive jutsu of the pair of Mangekyou Sharingan eyes that Miyoko had handed over to him.

The left eye's ocular technique was called 'Celestial Fire Clarity,' while the right eye's was named 'Inferno Lord's Fiery Forge.'

At the end, a warning to 'use with caution' was provided.

"Celestial Fire Clarity... Inferno Lord's Fiery Forge... These abilities were incredibly powerful....."

Seeing the abilities of the two pupil techniques, Shiraishi also blushed, and his expression became slightly silent.

Once someone was touched by these abilities, the consequences could be catastrophic.

The left eye's 'Celestial Fire Clarity' could incinerate the physical body, while the right eye's 'Inferno Lord's Fiery Forge' could produce flames that consumed the soul.

Injuries inflicted by these two ocular jutsus, whether to the body or the soul, were nearly impossible to heal, even with the most advanced medical ninjutsu.

Hence, due to the immense power of these jutsus, there were numerous limitations on their use, hence the 'use with caution' warning.

This was no ordinary jutsus, and the user needed to exercise extreme care when employing it.

Looking down, there was a forbidden jutsu called 'Susano.'

This was also a forbidden jutsu that only ninjas who had unlocked the Mangekyou Sharingan could perform.

It involved gathering an immense amount of Chakra, transforming it into a giant-like figure that enveloped the user's body, combining offense and defense.

It was virtually invincible and could be referred to as the God of Destruction, capable of annihilating anything. It possessed the ultimate defense and destructive power.

::::[Lol..... Isshiki Laughs]

However, Shiraishi couldn't quite grasp the specific power of Susano by merely reading about it. The strength of the Mangekyou Sharingan usually lied in its unique and deadly abilities, which allowed Shiraishi to intuitively understand its power of the Mangekyou Sharingan.

But this Susano... it appeared somewhat ordinary. Perhaps it was because he hadn't directly experienced it, thus lacking a complete understanding.

Nevertheless, being a forbidden jutsu that could only be activated in the state of the Mangekyou Sharingan, it was undeniably a formidable jutsu. Shiraishi reckoned.

Lastly, there was some restricted information regarding the Mangekyou Sharingan. Despite granting these powerful ocular jutsus, it imposed a significant burden on the user's vision and physical health.

Excessive use could lead to blindness in both eyes and a decline in physical capabilities. Hence, the warning 'use with caution' was reiterated.

"Once emotions run too high, once you lose it, you fall into rampage ... These eyes are truly cursed."

Shiraishi reflected.

The most painful aspect for humans wasn't the initial lack of something, but rather the emotions associated with gain and loss. Understanding love and then losing it led to powerful negative emotions and a descent into darkness.

The deeper and darker the abyss, the greater the power.

Although Shiraishi hesitated to label these eyes as "cursed." he couldn't find a more suitable description.

Shiraishi sniled wryly. He hadn't anticipated the existence of such a dreadful taboo within the Uchiha clan.

What should he do?

Shiraishi began tapping his fingers on the table as he was in thought. Frankly, even he, after reading all of this, considered the ninjas of the Uchiha clan as extremely dangerous symbols.

Thinking of Shimura Danzo, the leader of the Root, it wasn't unreasonable for him to target the Uchiha clan in this manner.

But the problem had been laid bare, and eliminating individuals wouldn't solve the underlying issue; it would merely address the symptoms and not the root cause.

The real challenge was to guide the Uchihas to learn how to control their negative emotions, to let these emotions out rather than keeping them bottled up inside. Most importantly, it required sharing this burden collectively.

After all, the Uchiha weren't inherently evil; with proper guidance, the situation could improve significantly.

"In the end, it all comes down to education." Shiraishi concluded.

From his drawer, Shiraishi retrieved a sealed scroll bag and extracted a file labeled

'The Sixth Konoha Working Ninja Psychological Observation Record.'

This record contained information on a hundred ninjas, which Shiraishi had meticulously observed during his time in Konoha.

It included his personal observations and interactions with them, as well as records from Konoha Hospital concerning the treatment of ninjas with psychological issues. He had compiled this information into a reference document to facilitate observation and identify patterns.

These one hundred individuals were the most typical and notable cases. They shared common issues: they were easily frustrated, distressed, and prone to bloodlust.

Often, they struggled to control their emotions, with some even winding up in Konoha's interrogation center as dangerous criminals due to their severe emotional instability. Konoha's higher-ups had handled them as prisoners.

For example, their mood was so violent that fights could break out just because of little food, and they wouldn't hesitate to kill their colleagues.

Shiraishi wasn't surprised by any of this. "With the education system in the ninja world, it's no wonder that children under the age of ten can freely kill. Rarely without any psychological problem."

He firmly believed that the distress and bloodlust exhibited by these ninjas were normal yet distorted reactions, arising from a prolonged exposure to violence. It took a substantial amount of time to nurture correct and positive life values, but a single moment could lead to a loss of control.

To completely revolutionize a country's ideology, education couldn't overlook this fundamental problem. Unfortunately, Ninja Villages symbolized a nation's military might, training nothing more than a group of killing tools.

Shiraishi had no interest in controlling power; he simply wished for his new country, the Land of Demon to thrive.

Ninjas in the ninja world, this phenomenon is common.

Therefore, education reform is imperative.

In other countries, Shiraishi couldn't guarantee the implementation, but in a neutral country far away from war, such as the Land of Denon, the implementation has a great success rate.

Most nobles and commoners in the Land of Demon followed the priestesses's teachings faithfully, obediently following her orders. Financial resources weren't a concern either.

During times of war, the world's attention wouldn't fell on the Land of Demon, a neutral nation that usually remained unnoticed. The timing was opportune.

The world needed a fresh perspective to break free from this cycle, not a continual debate on peace and war, a question that could never be resolved satisfactorily.

For Shiraishi, the outbreak of the ninja war was merely an extraordinary event that inevitably occurred in the course of human history.

War was the continuation of peace, and peace was the continuation of war. The world was stuck in this cycle. What the ninja world required was a new ideological revolution to break free from this stalemate.

.......

Ruri returned much sooner than expected, single-handedly wiping out all the bandits in the Land of Demon within a mere three days.

Faced with Ruri, who could hold her ground against ninjas of Five Kage caliber, the bandits stood no chance whatsoever; their resistance crumbled after a single encounter. Ninjas wielded absolute power over regular people.

In a mansion within the capital of the Land of Demon, night had fallen.

"Ruri, don't go to sleep just yet. I intend to discuss the Uchiha issue with you." Shiraishi said.

In the bedroom, Shiraishi produced a bottle of warm sake and settled cross-legged across from Ruri.

Despite the chilly February weather, the room remained cozy thanks to a heater. Ruri, in her pajamas, joined Shiraishi, pouring herself some sake and taking a sip.

"What's on your mind?" she inquired.

"It's about Sharingan." Shiraishi replied, his expression growing grave.

"Sharingan?"

"To be precise, it's an comparison of the emotions and personalities of Uchihas before and after awakening their eyes."

Shiraishi hadn't studied this topic specifically in detail, as he was exceedingly familiar with it himself.

After all, he had spent many years in the Uchiha clan, where he had witnessed the transformations in many Uchihas before and after awakening their Sharingan. He remembered it all vividly.

As Shiraishi concluded his explanation, Ruri's expression subtly shifted. She recalled the taboo carved into the stone tablet she had seen at Naka Shrine before leaving Konoha.

"With pain and negative emotions, the Sharingan involuntarily awakens. Have you experienced this in the past?"

"What do you intend to do about it?"

"I don't have any ulterior motives. I simply believe that since this issue exists, it should be addressed and resolved. Instead of keeping a backlog there, deliberately pretending not to see it and waiting for their emotions to spiral out of control."

Shiraishi smiled comfortingly.

The cursed power of the Uchiha Sharingan was an established fact. Even if they used forceful methods to suppress their emotions, they would eventually erupt, leading to dire consequences.

"I believe the right approach is to channel their emotions properly. The Sharingan acts as the catalyst. Prior to awakening their eyes, Uchihas are no different from ordinary people."

Shiraishi had seen numerous instances of Uchiha ninjas awakening their eyes, transitioning from dark and cold pupils to the cursed red eyes.

This was the drawback and cost of maturing prematurely. Their immature outlook on life, coupled with the influence of various negative elements in the world, inevitably led to problems.

The most direct impact was stepping onto the battlefield and witnessing the horrors of war.

Wars in the ninja world occurred with alarming frequency. When major powers like the Five Kage participated, their actions rippled throughout the ninja world.

Refugees and bandits were produced in batches during the outbreak of the Five Great Powers War.

While the citizens of the Five Great Nations might endure hardship, they could still manage. However, the smaller nations like the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass experienced hellish conditions. Murder, theft, lawlessness, moral decay, and even their own leaders prioritizing self-preservation over their people's lives were commonplace.

These cruel, nightmarish scenes of suffering, especially for children, could traumatize even psychologically healthy adults when witnessed firsthand. It led to a desire to escape, timidity, and fear.

Yet these children, who called themselves "ninjas." had to bear this pain and distortion. They used their weapons to tear through enemies, immersing themselves in this whirlpool of bloodshed.

The Uchiha ninjas, in particular, were susceptible to various negative influences that triggered the awakening of their Sharingan. This sudden surge of power, born from twisting and distorting, could easily foster darkness and pessimism.

There were too few Uchihas who can still uphold their hearts after opening their eyes.

"What's the specific plan?"

Ruri inquired. While she didn't have a deep understanding of the issue, she acknowledged that it was a problem for all ninjas, but the problem of the Uchihas was more serious.

This was because they possessed an extra pair of Sharingan compared to regular people, allowing them to use various dark aspects of the world to stimulate their eye awakening. This twisted power could easily generate darkness and despair.

"For now, you've taken care of the bandits in the Land of Demon. The next step is to construct roads that link every part of the Land of Demon into a unified whole, enabling more effective governance. Following that, we need to establish schools. Every small town and village must have one. In the capital, we must establish a new ninja academy."

"A new ninja academy?"

"Yes, as things stand, ninja academies in various villages offer six years of education. If students have excellent grades, they can graduate early. However, I plan to remove this option and add three more years of education to the base curriculum."

Despite their natural talents, early graduation would be disallowed. So with the original six years plus three years.

"Of course, geniuses can finish theur studies ahead of schedule, I also plan to open a more special educational institution to select those gifted students and gather them in one place to teach them more profound knowledge and power."

So, instead of six years, it would be a mandatory nine years of education.

Those geniuses won't be allowed to graduate till they're at the age of 15.

"Necessary ninja skills don't require such an extended period to learn." Ruri frowned.

When she was at the ninja academy, it took her half a year to master basic ninja abilities. Even with normal qualifications, six years is enough to complete their studies, but nine years is too long.

"This is exactly what I want to explain. Do you think it's healthy for these children to learn various killing methods at such a young age?"

Shiraishi pushed a document toward Ruri.

Ruri opened it to inspect its contents.

"This is..."

"The mental health survey data of Konoha ninjas reveals that when these ninjas are alone, they frequently experience anxiety, suffering, and irritability. Some even lose control and harm their comrades during missions. The common denominator among them is... witnessing brutal battles and learning to wield weapons at a very young age. The reason I'm adding those three years is to instill life values in them, not merely to teach them how to use ninja powers."

Ninja training should be just one aspect of their lives, not the entirety of it. These children were living beings with thoughts before they became ninjas. They weren't mere instruments of war.

If circumstances permitted, Shiraishi even thought about delaying graduation to eighteen years of age.

Ruri studied the document with great seriousness. Each record was meticulously detailed, documenting time, location, individuals involved, and psychological symptoms.

The more she delved into it, the more alarmed she grew, and her expression turned increasingly grave.

Ordinary ninjas faced such challenges, so Uchihas with Sharingan were even more susceptible to being swayed by the negative emotions in the world, plunging into a darkness.

"I never paid attention to these issues before."

Ruri admitted, sighing. She wasn't alone; in all likelihood, nobody had paid much heed to such problems.

In Konoha, the preferred solution was to use coercive means, including imprisonment and violence, to "resolve" problematic individuals rather than address the psychological and personality disorders underlying these issues.

Prevention and guidance were not prioritized.

Ninja academies, for instance, didn't include such topics in their curriculum. What they learned there primarily focused on ninja knowledge, combat skills, and killing.

"In those additional three years, I plan to introduce courses on critical thinking and counseling for psychological issues. I believe that a healthy ninja must not only master formidable power but also use strong principles and mature thinking to control that power." Shiraishi explained.

"Can this really make a difference?"

Ruri asked, her hope evident. She genuinely wished that Uchihas could break free from those emotions when they awakened their Sharingan.

"There are no guarantees, but at the very least, when they face frustration and distress, they'll have the cognitive tools and judgment to apply mature thinking in evaluating their self-worth. This is far better than becoming engrossed in ninja power and the temporary pleasures of escaping reality, which can lead to irreversible mistakes."

Shiraishi responded honestly.

He acknowledged that everyone had different learning capabilities, psychological resilience, and other attributes. What he could offer was the ability for them to use more mature thinking when they found themselves in moments of confusion, rather than sinking into unproductive thought patterns, extremism, self-harm, or harm to others.

"Furthermore, all students entering the new academy will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement." Shiraishi added.

"A non-disclosure agreement?" Ruri questioned.

"Ninjas represent a country's military power and must not divulge their secrets easily. I intend to disseminate the method for using natural energy in the new ninja academy. This 'confidentiality agreement' is, in reality, a sealing jutsu. I have entrusted the Uzumaki clan with studying it. Signing this agreement won't infringe upon their personal freedoms, but it will prohibit them from revealing any secrets about natural energy."

Shiraishi explained. He understood that the method for harnessing natural energy was a closely guarded secret.

If it were to leak, dire consequences would follow. Until one's own strength was formidable enough, such knowledge would only be shared with trusted insiders.

Ruri nodded, understanding the deeper implications.

"Another point: have you noticed any difference between natural energy and chakra?"

Shiraishi asked, a hint of a smile on his face.

"Difference?" Ruri questioned.

"Recall your experiences with practicing natural energy. What kind of emotions did you feel at the time?"

Following Shiraishi's line of thought, Ruri recollected that she had experienced a sense of mysterious sense of emptiness in both body and mind at that time. A remarkable feeling of unity with the world.

"A sense of inner peace." Ruri responded, describing the mood she had felt.

"That's right. It's not just us; individuals within the organization who've practiced natural energy report a similar state. This calm, peaceful state of mind is conducive to emotional relaxation and boasts a strong self-regulation function. I believe that if the Uchihas were to practice this energy, even with their Sharingan awakened, their emotions would become significantly more stable, making them less prone to losing control." Shiraishi explained.

Shiraishi believed that, with Uchihas using natural energy, supplemented by prolonged psychological guidance, it was possible to resolve the negative issues that arose from awakening the Sharingan.

The discussion had nearly concluded, and it was getting late. With too much drinking, Ruri's cheeks had a rosy blush.

How to describe this unusual allure and charm?

Although it wasn't the first time Shiraishi had seen Ruri blush slightly from drinking, every time he saw it, he would have a different wonderful feeling.

He gently embraced Ruri from behind.

"You suck."

Ruri playfully retorted, though she struggled for a while soon waned as she vacillated between reluctance and eagerness.

"I've made you work so hard these past few days, Ruri. Now, it's your time to relax."

Shiraishi said. Slowly, he unbuttoned her pajamas and placed his hand inside.

A faint, alluring fragrance wafted from her dark hair.

Intense emotions, kisses, and embraces intertwined as they devoured each other's presence.

"Pause for a moment..."

Ruri paused, her face deeply flushed.

"What's wrong?" Shiraishi asked, his movements slowing.

"While I was away, did that woman with the Byakugan try to seduce you?" Ruri asked.

"Why would you ask that?" Shiraishi's demeanor shifted.

"My intuition tells me she wouldn't be so honest." Ruri replied.

Before Shiraishi could respond, their positions had reversed, with Ruri now on top.

Ruri's dark eyes bore into him.

"I'm in a bad mood tonight; you'll be at the bottom." she declared with a flushed face.

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