Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 326 Changes in the Ninja World

Time flies like an arrow. In this year, Hyuga Kanan devoted himself entirely to establishing the foundations of the ninja world's tradition. As time passed, all his efforts paid off. The training grounds were now completely transformed, unlike anything before. They were brimming with life and vitality, radiating an atmosphere of vigorous development.

All sorts of knowledge spread rapidly through the training grounds, invaluable treasures never before seen in the ninja world. People immersed themselves in it, absorbing the wisdom and power of Taoist culture. It was as if they had opened a door to a new world, developing a strong interest in Taoist culture and beginning to study and explore it in depth.

This new knowledge encompasses not only Taoist philosophy and practices, but also many practical skills and techniques. By learning this knowledge, people continuously improve their abilities and strengths. At the same time, they gradually grasp the profound philosophical principles inherent in Taoist culture and understand the importance of concepts such as harmony, balance, and nature.

In this process, Hyuga Kanan saw hope for Taoist culture to take root and flourish in the ninja world. He firmly believed that as long as Taoist culture was promoted and passed down persistently, it would one day become one of the mainstream cultures of the ninja world, gradually replacing ninja culture and leading people towards a higher level of spiritual pursuit. As an advocate and promoter of Taoist culture, he would continue to work hard and strive tirelessly to achieve this goal.

The changes in the training grounds did not spread outwards. It wasn't that Hyuga Kanan didn't want the Taoist tradition to spread quickly throughout the ninja world, but rather that the ninja world was still under the control of the Sage of Six Paths. Without defeating the Sage of Six Paths, Hyuga Kanan didn't want the nascent Taoist tradition to be stifled by him. Furthermore, the ninja world was still in the era of ninja villages, which was also unfavorable for the spread of Taoist culture. The ninjas of those villages wouldn't willingly allow their rule to be replaced by other Taoist traditions; after all, they were beneficiaries of the ninja era and wouldn't refrain from suppressing Taoist culture simply because of its perceived advancement, allowing it to erode their power.

In their eyes, life is as insignificant as an ant. Even the years of war and devastation in the ninja world, with countless deaths, cannot compare to their power to rule it. If they truly cared about life and peace, the ninja world wouldn't have been so easily manipulated by the Sage of Six Paths, plunging into endless war. However, the reality is quite the opposite; they are willing to sacrifice countless lives to seize that supreme power. This indifference and selfishness is chilling and disheartening. Perhaps only when true peace arrives can people be freed from this endless slaughter.

Since his encounters with Hiruzen Sarutobi and other high-ranking Konoha officials, Hyuga Kanan had come to a deep understanding of the true nature of these rulers: selfish, ruthless, and cold-blooded. Even skilled ninjas from the same village, if they posed a threat to their power, would be suppressed without hesitation, sometimes even resorting to massacres. Hyuga Kanan was no longer surprised by this. Taoist culture, as a completely new ideology and power system, was entirely different from traditional ninja culture; it had the potential to fundamentally alter the entire ninja world's structure. If Taoist culture were to spread widely, it could have a significant impact on the existing ruling order, something those rulers would undoubtedly find intolerable. Therefore, Hyuga Kanan knew that before he possessed sufficient strength to challenge the existing foundation of rule, he must not easily expose Taoist culture to the public, otherwise it would only bring endless trouble. After all, he didn't want the Taoist tradition he had painstakingly cultivated to be wiped out without a trace.

Orochimaru, the Hyuga clan, and others also warmly welcomed Taoist culture. They knew that the introduction of Taoist culture would bring unprecedented changes to the ninja world, changes they had long awaited.

Taoist culture emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature, advocating peace and tranquility. This philosophy resonates with their deep-seated aversion to war. Over the years, they have witnessed countless bloody battles and the fragility and impermanence of life. Now, the emergence of Taoist culture offers them new hope, a path to end war and achieve peace.

The arrival of Taoist culture could not only change the landscape of the ninja world, but also allow people to re-examine their values ​​and lifestyles. It teaches people to respect nature, pursue inner peace, and resolve problems harmoniously. These are things they yearn for, and what they believe the ninja world needs.

They firmly believe that only an advanced system like Taoist culture can truly change the face of the ninja world. By spreading Taoist thought and cultivating more ninjas with a Taoist heart, perhaps the entire ninja world can gradually get rid of violence and conflict and move towards a truly peaceful and stable future.

While the training grounds are undergoing transformation, the ninja world remains rife with endless battles and carnage. Conflicts in missions, probing at the borders, and struggles for power prevent the ninja world from achieving true peace.

Under Tsunade's leadership, Konoha Village took a series of measures to enhance its strength and status. One important measure was to send the village's elite ninjas to garrison the border. This decision not only demonstrated Konoha Village's determination but also sent a clear signal to other ninja villages: Konoha Village would not compromise easily but would resolutely defend its interests.

When other ninja villages attempted to test Konoha, the border garrison responded with overwhelming force, demonstrating Konoha's firm stance. This tough attitude made the other ninja villages realize that Konoha was not weak and could not be bullied; any attempt to infringe upon its territory or challenge its authority would face severe consequences.

Furthermore, the strength displayed by Konoha's border garrison instilled a sense of awe in other ninja villages. They were well aware of the potential losses and risks of conflict with Konoha, and therefore dared not easily provoke war. At the same time, due to the unknown true strength of Konoha, other ninja villages were uncertain whether Konoha possessed any hidden forces, making them even more cautious in their actions and hesitant to act rashly.

In short, Konoha under Tsunade's rule successfully mitigated external threats by strengthening border garrisons and demonstrating a tough stance.

However, just as Konoha needed to remain vigilant and continuously improve its strength to cope with potential future challenges, internal turmoil once again erupted within the village. Tsunade dispatched her personal ANBU ninja to the border garrisons to deter the restless ambitions of other ninja villages, gradually restoring external stability. But having lost most of her personal ANBU forces, Tsunade's power within Konoha was reduced to its weakest point, leaving her with virtually no personnel at her disposal.

Upon realizing this situation, Danzo Shimura was secretly delighted: "This is truly heaven-sent!" How could he easily let go of such a golden opportunity? This was the rare chance he had dreamed of—to become Hokage! If unrest broke out in the village, and Tsunade was unable to effectively maintain stability, he could use these events to impeach her for the position. Moreover, although the Konoha high-ranking officials had lost power after Tsunade took office, they had long held important positions in the village, possessed many henchmen, and had already infiltrated every corner of the village. Given this opportunity, they would not miss the chance to regain power and would undoubtedly give him their full support in becoming Hokage.

The atmosphere in Konoha Village became tense, with worry and fear etched on people's faces. On the streets, some people huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, their expressions serious and anxious.

In this situation, some former Konoha high-ranking officials exploited public sentiment, instigating a storm against Tsunade. They knew that Tsunade was powerful, but her strength was also limited. Currently, most of her forces had been deployed to the border to support the garrison, leaving Tsunade with very little power to maintain order within the village.

"We can no longer remain silent!" A voice rang out from the crowd, drawing the attention of those around. The speaker was an elderly man, a former important figure in Konoha. "Tsunade disregarded the safety of the villagers, sending our loved ones to the battlefield, yet she couldn't protect them. We must take action!"

The old man's words resonated with the crowd. Many echoed his sentiments, expressing their dissatisfaction with Tsunade. They believed that as Hokage, Tsunade should have focused on protecting the village, rather than allowing their loved ones and friends to perish in the war.

Amidst the clamor of the crowd, some powerless ninjas also stepped forward to express their discontent. They had once held a certain status and power, but were now marginalized. They hoped to seize this opportunity to regain their former position.

"We can no longer let someone like Tsunade rule our village!" a ninja shouted. "We need a more capable and responsible leader to guide us out of this predicament!"

As more and more people joined the protests, the situation in Konoha Village became increasingly chaotic. People were agitated, and their behavior gradually spiraled out of control. Some began vandalizing public facilities, smashing shop windows, and looting food and supplies. The entire village descended into chaos.

Meanwhile, former Konoha high-ranking officials, including Shimura Danzo, watched from behind the scenes. They were secretly delighted, knowing this chaos was exactly what they desired. If Tsunade could be forced to step down, they could regain their former power and gain even more benefits. Moreover, Tsunade currently lacked the power to suppress the village's unrest; even with her immense strength, she couldn't possibly quell the turmoil alone.