Half a day later, Shisui arrived at the Daodao Community's base. He slipped inside undetected, eting only with his subordinate, Nanshi. It took a full day of ticulous work to cleanse Nanshi's body of the "Parasite Corruption."
Shisui remained at the base for several days to observe.
Nanshi had managed the organization exceptionally well; the group had achieved a level of discipline where orders were executed without question.
It seed Nanshi had taken Shisui's casual remarks on military organization to heart and implented them strictly.
Upon inspection, Shisui noted that while most mbers possessed chakra levels only around the Genin rank, about a dozen had reached the Chunin level.
Their combat effectiveness was impressive; by seamlessly weaving practiced swordsmanship with basic ninjutsu, they could utilize nearly 80% of their theoretical chakra potential.
While they still trailed behind the Great Shinobi Villages, they were already far superior to the forces of smaller hidden villages.
Before leaving, Shisui established a small-scale insect hive within the base and left behind a collection of basic Five-Elent Ninjutsu and Fūinjutsu scrolls.
He instructed Nanshi to cease further expansion and maintain the force at a steady three hundred mbers.
As he was preparing to depart, he witnessed a destitute teenage boy and his younger sister seeking refuge.
They knelt at the gates, pleading to join the Daodao Community. The guards, used to dealing with Ronin and wandering ninjas, were visibly confused.
To facilitate rapid growth, most mbers were recruited from the ranks of wandering samurai or "rogue" ninjas with fragnted training.
Others were disillusioned warriors poached from various Daimyo's retinues—n who were either bored of diocrity, socially isolated, or disgusted with the status quo.
Though Nanshi had broken their spirits and weeded out the weak, these n still carried the rough air of bandits. A pair of helpless children was a first for them.
The guards initially tried to drive them away, but the siblings refused to budge. Unwilling to simply slaughter children, the guards eventually sought Nanshi's guidance.
Nanshi approached the boy. "Why do you want to join us?"
As he spoke, Nanshi glanced toward the crowd where Shisui was hidden. Shisui shook his head slightly, indicating they weren't spies and that Nanshi should handle it.
"We want to live," the boy cried. "We want to beco strong and kill the villains who murdered our parents—and the nobles who protect them!"
"A common dream fueled by pure hatred," Nanshi replied, shaking his head. "If that is all, I cannot let you in."
The Daodao Community existed to clear banditry, collect experintal materials, and monitor intelligence. They needed imdiate combat assets, not a nursery.
Despite seeing potential in the boy's eyes, Nanshi knew this was no place for children.
"It's not just... not just hate," the boy stamred. "I don't know what your goal is, but since you appeared, life here has beco stable.
But there are still so many people suffering. I want to join so that one day, my ho won't be so poor and wretched."
The boy's obsession was simple and rustic. He knew nothing of grand philosophies; he perceived the world's morality through his own survival. Such children, fueled by hot-blooded ideals, were often the easiest to manipulate by grand ideologies—eventually paying with their lives.
Nanshi was moved. He looked back at the crowd for Shisui, only to find the spot empty. Shisui had already departed for Takigakure.
Shisui didn't care whether the children were accepted or not. He only knew that if Nanshi disobeyed his core directives, the man would eventually die a miserable death, buried alongside his unrealistic fantasies like a moth drawn to a candle.
In a mundane world, such an organization might change history. But this was not a mundane world.
This was a world of bloodlines and overwhelming individual power that could eventually level mountains and part the heavens. Without absolute strength, Shisui sought only one thing: a comfortable, quiet life where he could adapt in peace.
Three days later, Shisui returned to the village and dispelled his Shadow Clones, absorbing their mories.
The village had been quiet. No major incidents had occurred, though a few Jonin had contemplated fleeing with their families.
After being visited by an "Insect Clone" in the dead of night, they had completely abandoned such thoughts.
So had lost their spirit entirely, becoming lethargic husks of their forr selves. The average villager and ninja, however, remained fine—they went about their daily lives with a mild lack of enthusiasm, but free of worry.
Sitting in his ho, Shisui contemplated. The ninjas who knew the truth seed to be suffering from a form of persecution mania, constantly wary that he would harm them or their loved ones.
"Sigh. It seems I need to be clearer with them. I'm not out to get them."
That night, Shisui visited the Togo Shrine. The High Priestess, Ziying, was kneeling in prayer. When she heard the door creak, she turned and trembled violently.
"My... my Lord, why are you here?"
"I don't know what peace of mind you're seeking from that statue," Shisui said. "I've been here for nearly half a year. I told you from the start: I ca here to join this village, to live here. Why are you all so terrified, as if I'm a plague?"
"No... no, Lord," Ziying stamred, though her heart raced.
How could they not be? To realize their ho was controlled by a powerful monster that consud its own kind and purged dissenters—it was a miracle they hadn't all gone mad already.
"Tell them: they have no reason to fear ," Shisui said calmly. "As long as you don't plot against or try to resist, I will do nothing to you. I am a mber of Takigakure now.
I will not lift the village lockdown, and I will be modifying the barrier further. The war outside is chaotic; I simply don't want any of you running out and disrupting the rhythm of my life."
With that, Shisui turned and left. He sighed softly into the night air. He hoped they would believe him—after all, he was telling the truth.
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