Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 264 The Desolate and Ruined Land of Hot Springs

The sky over Yu-no-Kuni is always sunny, with steam rising from the hot springs and clouds swirling around it. It looks so peaceful, as if it shouldn't be tainted by any other colors.

Aburame Shisei landed on the mountain ridge outside Tangren Village. It was dusk, and the clouds in the sky had turned red.

Even the sandy ground had turned a golden-red color, and this was the battlefield of yesteryear. Although it had been cleaned up, one could still faintly smell the blood.

Ten kilometers away from here, underground insect swarms were restless, their nests intact.

Given the distance, it's clear that Hideyoshi had no intention of using the insect hive at all.

Although he didn't explicitly say so before leaving, he had already handed over the method of controlling the nest to Hideyoshi. While he couldn't control it precisely, he could still ensure that some insects would protect him and not harm him.

Clearly, he didn't do that, nor did he intend to rely on anyone. For a moment, Aburame Shisei didn't know whether he considered him a friend or not.

"Well, whether my identity is exposed or not isn't as serious as you think. At most, it just means I'll be facing more enemies and it'll be a bit more troublesome."

After all, compared to Shisei Aburame, other Jonin and Kage wouldn't dare to overturn the table.

"But if we really had to flip the table, the happiest person would probably be Black Zetsu."

Yellowish-brown insects emerged from his sleeve like clay, quickly merging into the ground and dispersing in all directions.

Soon after, a white creature was driven out of the ground and poked its head out from the surface.

"Oh dear, please don't kill me! Lord Jue asked me to deliver a message to you."

The white Zetsu leaped out, shaking off the insects from its body, and said, "Lord Zetsu said that the person behind him is someone you can't even imagine. They're currently working on something for world peace. He also said that if you join his plan..."

"Ouch..." White Zetsu's body was half eaten away by insects, leaving him crawling on the ground with only his two hands. However, he wanted to write the word "misery" before he died.

"Testing and winning people over? This tactic is a bit boring. Sigh... If you're going to win people over, why don't you offer some useful secrets, like the Otsutsuki's secret to longevity, or how to use the seal, or some kind of Yin-Yang technique?"

Aburame Shisei looked down at the White Zetsu. In fact, during this time, the scientists of the Land of Snow had also obtained some White Zetsu tissue.

Furthermore, using a high-magnification electron microscope, they discovered that white blood cells actually contain chlorophyll, and many mitochondria contain fungal genes, indicating that they can actually perform photosynthesis.

This might explain why they don't eat or defecate, because they lack a digestive system and an anus.

So they are more like mushrooms or lingzhi that grow from the sacred tree.

Aburame Shisei scanned his surroundings, cleaned up all the remaining items with insects, and then walked towards Tangren Village.

Because of the battle with Kumogakure, the Land of Hot Springs went from a neutral country to a war-torn country. This country, forgotten by war, was finally remembered by war.

The world-famous hot springs here no longer hold such appeal, and merchants and nobles from various countries no longer come to visit. The country of hot springs, which relies on tourism as its economic pillar, is doomed.

In less than a month, the economy collapsed and the population dwindled dramatically. Several once-prosperous towns were now mostly empty. It could be said that almost everyone with the means and money had left.

Sure enough, the previous immigrants from the Grass Country set a good precedent for these wealthy merchants and well-off middle-class people, letting them understand that a tree dies when transplanted, but a person thrives.

Aburame Shisei walked along the streets of Yunin Village. Compared to its former glory, the once bustling streets of Yunin Village were now deserted.

The streets are lined with all sorts of shops, and the few that are still open mostly sell daily necessities.

Regarding entertainment accessories, all shops selling unnecessary luxury goods have been closed.

It can be said that the air in the Land of Hot Springs has lost the warm fragrance of the steaming hot springs of the past, leaving only a desolate chill.

Following the direction in his memory, Aburame Shisei walked to the hot spring resort, a century-old establishment where he had once rested with Hideyoshi.

The gate was ajar, and the wooden sign hung crookedly on the door frame. There was no one guarding it.

Yu Nu Zhicheng climbed over the courtyard wall and looked inside. The hot spring, which used to be filled with steam and bustling with people, had long been occupied by animals and had become murky because it was often neglected.

Clearly, this old shop, which had supported Tangren Village for countless years, could not withstand the desolation brought about by the war and was completely abandoned.

Exhausted from the journey, Aburame Shisei had hoped to relax in the hot springs, but upon seeing the dilapidated scene, he abandoned his plan and turned to walk deeper into the village.

The deeper you go, the more the deathly silence is broken by a faint yet resilient aura.

There were still people moving around at the site of the old ninja school in the village.

A group of children, ranging in age from eleven or twelve to thirteen or fourteen, were gathered in an open space, intently refining their chakra.

Most of them were emaciated and dressed in simple or even tattered clothes. It was easy to tell at a glance that they were all orphans who had been homeless since the war.

In the center of the arena, Mihoko stood tall and straight in her light and sleek armor, her waist ornaments shimmering softly.

She held a three-star scythe in her hand and patiently instructed the children on postures and the secrets of chakra flow.

Besides these children, there were also many women, elderly people and middle-aged people left behind in the area. Some were turning over the land to cultivate vegetables, while others were carrying simple timber. Although their movements were slow, they never stopped.

Although Ryuji Ida's shop provided supplies, these people were unwilling to rely solely on charity. They preferred to cultivate their own land and grow vegetables, using the food they produced to support the few remaining ninjas and the hope for the future in the village.

Yu Nu Zhicheng walked slowly closer.

Mieko sensed the unfamiliar chakra almost immediately. She turned around abruptly, and when she saw who it was, surprise flashed in her eyes. She quickly sheathed her scythe and rushed to meet them.

"Strategist Shiraki, have you come to see Hideyoshi?"

Aburame Shisei looked at her, then at the children training on the playground, and suddenly asked, "Why don't you leave with us? With your skills, you should be able to get a good position in Taki no Kami?"

Mieko held the three-star scythe horizontally in her hand, her face contorted, and she forced a smile: "This is my home. I've lived here since I was a child. Except for a few times when I was a teenager and had to leave for missions, I've never left since."

"This is my root, this is my home. Strategist Bai Mu, if your home were invaded, would you rather leave it here and let it disappear, or stay and defend it against the enemy?"