Uchiha Seiryu [178-180] (Patreon)

Chapter 178: The Black and White Divide

The Rap of the Lightning Country elective was progressing smoothly, and two weeks had flown by in no time.

Thanks to Seiryu’s behind-the-scenes maneuvering, Killer Bee made it into the final four. With Seiryu’s relentless promotion, Killer Bee quickly became the biggest star in the capital. The whole city caught rap fever.

Seiryu’s careful guidance steered the lyrics of Rap of the Lightning Country into ever more explosive territory. Of the top eight contestants, two rapped about underground crime, two flaunted a life of excess, and the remaining four—including Killer Bee—used their verses to criticize prejudice.

But, was there really such deep-seated prejudice in the Lightning Country?

To some extent, yes.

Even if there hadn’t been, after weeks of relentless exposure to rap lyrics and Seiryu’s subtle nudging, a rift between people of different backgrounds began to take shape.

First, Seiryu made a point on the show: “Rap is music born from adversity.” Among the top eight—three of whom were actually White Zetsu in disguise—they all represented a particular style. With Seiryu importing some of the more controversial aspects of his previous world’s rap culture, these artists quickly became cultural icons for many Lightning Country youth, influencing everything from street fashion to slang.

Soon, it was rare to see certain old-fashioned styles on the streets. Even casual greetings changed.

Of course, communication theory tells us that nothing breeds public annoyance faster than relentless repetition.

At first, many in the capital just watched the spectacle with amusement. But as the same themes of discrimination kept saturating every corner of the city, patience wore thin.

Citizens began to wonder: “When did we ever treat you that way?”

Thus, tension quietly began to build.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Raikage, A, finalized his cooperation with Mei Terumi and returned to the Hidden Cloud Village.

Back in his office, A braced himself for a mountain of complaints and planned to head to the Cloud-Thunder Gorge to give Killer Bee a stern talking-to.

However, when he opened the door, he found no complaints waiting for him.

“C, has Killer Bee been causing any trouble lately?” A asked, taking his seat.

“No,” C shook his head. “Lord Bee hasn’t been seen in the village at all these days.”

“Really?” A looked skeptical. In the past, every time he left the village, Bee would sneak in and subject every villager to his music.

“Could it be that he’s finally matured?” A was surprised. “Maybe I should visit the Cloud-Thunder Gorge and actually praise him this time.”

Resolved, A left the building and headed out of the village.

But upon reaching the gorge, he found it unusually quiet—no trace of Bee’s daily chanting.

Has he finally given up music to focus on training? A wondered.

But when he entered Bee’s quarters, he found them deserted. The dust on the table suggested Bee had been gone for some time.

“Where did he go?” A worried. Did Bee sneak out of the village?

A note on the table instantly ignited his temper:

“Big Bro! I’m off to the capital for the rap contest. Don’t be too impressed when I become a star!”

Rap contest?

A was baffled.

“Lord Raikage, look at this!” Just then, C ran in, holding a poster.

A took the poster. At the center was Bee in full hip-hop attire, a massive gold chain around his neck, striking a rap pose. At the lower left was a line: “BIG·8! AKA the Killer Bee of the Clouds.”

“Killer Bee!!!”

A’s furious roar echoed through the gorge. He didn’t know exactly what Bee was up to, but he knew this photo was a disgrace to the Hidden Cloud!

“C, look after the village. I’m heading to the capital right now!” A said, struggling to contain his anger.

…

Meanwhile, in a hotel near the capital, Killer Bee and three White Zetsu (in disguise) were deep in discussion about lyrics.

Bee tried rapping a new verse, telling the story of a child’s struggle against prejudice.

“Awesome lyrics, Bee!” one of the disguised Zetsu praised.

“Yeah, you’re on a whole new level. We can’t keep up,” another added.

By now, all the other contestants and even the mentors were White Zetsu in disguise. Killer Bee was the only one truly striving to improve his rap, unknowingly trapped in a Truman Show of Seiryu’s making.

“Not bad, Bee,” Seiryu entered, applauding. “Your lyrics are growing deeper. With your unique flow, your future is limitless.”

“It’s thanks to your guidance, Chris Brown,” Bee replied, flashing a hip-hop gesture.

“Don’t sell yourself short. Your talent and hard work matter too,” Seiryu smiled. “Tomorrow’s the finals. Are you all ready?”

“Brrrrrr! Of course!” one White Zetsu said. “Even if I can’t beat Bee, I’m ready to light up the stage!”

“We’ll make sure every ticket-holder feels it was worth it!” another cheered.

“Well said!” Seiryu clapped. “That’s the spirit! Respect!”

“Respect!” everyone echoed.

As they rehearsed for the finals, the hotel door was suddenly kicked open. A mountain of a man strode in.

“Sir, this is the contestants’ room. We understand your excitement as a fan, but please—” hotel staff tried to stop the intruder.

“Bee!” A’s anger barely under control—finding this place had cost him great effort. All he wanted now was to show Bee the meaning of elder brother’s discipline.

But Bee, lost in his music, didn’t notice A until he was right in front of him.

Looking up, Bee greeted him out of habit: “Yo, what’s up!”

A: ???

“Do you know what you’re doing?” A punched Bee to the floor, cracks spreading across the room’s surface. The other White Zetsu trembled in fear.

But Bee bounced right back up, grinning: “Chill out, bro! My rap will blow your mind!”

“Pull up your pants and come home!” A scolded, exasperated at Bee’s sagging style.

Just then, Seiryu entered.

“What’s going on? Who’s making trouble?”

“And you are?” A asked, noticing Seiryu’s similar style.

“Bro, this is my guide on the rap path, Chris Brown,” Bee said. “Chris, this is my brother, A.”

Seiryu studied the Fourth Raikage. He hadn’t expected their first meeting to be like this.

After a moment, Seiryu broke the silence, extending his hand: “Hey, what’s up!”

“You bastard! What have you been teaching my brother?” A ignored the handshake, voice full of anger.

“Hey, I just shared some rap techniques with Big·8,” Seiryu shrugged. “And your brother really has talent. I see him leading the rap scene in the future.”

“He doesn’t need to be a rap leader! Bee, you’re coming home with me!” A barked.

Though reluctant, Bee could only obey his big brother.

“You can’t just take Big·8! He has a contract with our label!” one disguised mentor protested.

“Contract?” A turned to Bee, who looked away sheepishly.

“We really value your brother’s talent,” Seiryu said, handing over the contract. “It’s a ten-year deal, with a very fair 70-30 split—Bee gets 70%.”

A read it closely.

“Even top stars don’t get terms like this,” Seiryu added.

“I said, he doesn’t need to be a rap star.” A barely contained his urge to flatten Seiryu.

“Well, if you insist, just pay the penalty,” Seiryu replied.

“Penalty?” A flipped to the last page: four hundred million ryo.

“Four hundred million?! Even the bounty on the Third Hokage’s only son is just 35 million—how is your penalty so high?”

“Can’t compare,” Seiryu replied. “We planned to make him a superstar. That’s the investment.”

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” A’s patience wore thin. Normally, he could pay, but after helping Mei Terumi, the village was stretched thin. He planned to settle this by force if needed.

“What’s your plan?” Seiryu tensed. “Even if you’re a ninja, a contract is a contract. I have friends in the media—wouldn’t want your village’s reputation ruined, right?”

“You…” A was furious.

If it were just between ninja, he wouldn’t care. But this was a civilian contract. If they broke it, their village’s reputation for reliable missions would be at stake.

“…Fine, I’ll pay!” A gritted his teeth.

Seiryu was satisfied. Though he missed out on the finals, he’d already exported the worst of his previous world’s rap culture to the Lightning Country. The divide in the city was already showing; it was just a matter of time before things escalated.

And, best of all, A had just reimbursed all his investment.

After paying the penalty, A tore the contract to shreds and said coldly, “Chris Brown, right? I’ll remember you.”

Chapter 179: Two Years Later

After A dragged Bee away, Tobi emerged from underground.

“Lord Seiryu, what now?” Tobi asked. They’d built an elaborate illusion for Bee, but now the show’s star was gone.

“Wrap it up,” Seiryu said, removing his disguise.

“But… what about the finals? We already sold tickets,” Tobi said. “People bought them just to see Bee.”

“So what?” Seiryu shrugged. “We sold them fair and square. No refunds.”

“As for the explanation…” Seiryu paused. “Just say the show was canceled due to unavoidable official reasons. No need for details.”

“That’s enough?” Tobi asked.

“Yes,” Seiryu said. “Leaving things vague only helps our plan. People will fill in the blanks with their own suspicions.”

“I understand,” Tobi nodded and left.

“Oh, and keep a squad of White Zetsu in the Lightning Country. You don’t have to do much—just occasionally pose as troublemakers. That’s enough to keep things going,” Seiryu ordered.

“Yes!” Tobi replied.

And so, after dominating the country for nearly a month, Rap of the Lightning Country ended abruptly.

Many fans were naturally dissatisfied with the outcome. With the remaining White Zetsu fanning the flames, tensions grew.

For a time, public order in the capital deteriorated—no surprise.

The black-and-white divide had been triggered. Groups of disaffected youth began to gather, singing about crime and rebellion.

The Daimyo, a figurehead under the Raikage’s control, couldn’t stop the unrest from spreading. By the time A realized what was happening, it was already out of control and spreading across the country.

Desperate, A had the Daimyo ban rap music in the capital. But this only forced the culture underground, making it even more rebellious and provocative. The lyrics grew bolder, fueled by White Zetsu’s manipulation.

A was at a loss. He tried old methods, sending ninja to track down the supposed mastermind—Chris Brown.

But Seiryu, safe in Konoha, simply gave Tobi the signal to escalate.

When Chris Brown’s body was found hanging in the capital, covered in sword wounds, the conflict exploded.

That night, disaffected youth gathered, triggering a riot. White Zetsu, posing as locals, led the way.

The division was now out in the open, even impacting the normally closed-off Hidden Cloud Village. Trust between ninja of different backgrounds faltered, reflected in the sudden spike in mission casualties.

After these events, Bee realized he’d been manipulated and tried to counter it by promoting love and peace in his music. But it was too late. White Zetsu spread rumors that he’d been co-opted by the authorities, undermining his efforts.

People believe what they want to believe.

…

With the Lightning Country now in chaos, Konoha entered a period of rapid growth. In just two years, the village’s prosperity surpassed that of the old Fire Capital. Every field flourished. The previously weak military industry, with support from the Land of Waterfall, also developed rapidly.

The newest generation thrived in this rare peace.

Sasuke grew increasingly calm and poised, already showing the air of a young noble. Though he kept a low profile at the academy, he was the undisputed leader of the top study group.

Naruto was the opposite—always cheerful. Unlike the original timeline, Naruto was even more popular with the girls than Sasuke, his sunny disposition winning them over.

The Rookie Nine all found their own paths.

The biggest surprise for Seiryu was Sakura. According to Tsunade, her medical talent was astounding, mastering basic medical ninjutsu in just a few years and showing exceptional chakra control. Tsunade had already made her an apprentice.

But Sakura’s achievements came at a price: dark circles under her eyes and a receding hairline before age 12, proof that medicine was not for the faint-hearted.

Immersed in her studies, Sakura didn’t dwell on crushes like in the original. Her friendship with Naruto was just that—friendship.

Other newcomers like Fu had settled in after two years, forming close bonds with Naruto and the others and losing her desire to return home.

Karin, after some hesitation, asked Seiryu to make her the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, wanting the power to one day repay the man who saved her and her mother.

Deidara had become Yamato’s right-hand man, chief demolitions expert, and a key player in Konoha’s rapid construction and scientific progress.

Another graduation season came. The sixth-year students passed their exams and became official ninja.

In the Hokage’s office, Seiryu placed a Konoha forehead protector on Neji’s head, congratulating him.

Neji was honored to receive it from the Hokage himself.

“Any plans after graduation?” Seiryu asked.

“I’ll follow whatever my teacher arranges,” Neji replied.

“With your skills, you could take the Chunin Exams right away. But it’s tough to find squadmates at your level.” Seiryu said, “Originally, I wanted to pair you with Lee and Tenten, but Tenten joined the Ninja Tool Research Department after graduation. Finding a replacement would drag you down.”

“Tenten’s talent is better suited to research, not frontline combat,” Neji agreed.

“How’s your collaborative strategy with Lee coming?” Seiryu asked.

“With help from the Yamanaka clan, Tenten developed a tool for sharing vision over long distances,” Neji replied.

“I was amazed by it—a game-changer for the battlefield. I never expected something so strategic from an 11-year-old girl,” Seiryu said.

About a year and a half ago, Neji’s struggles with offensive techniques led him to focus on ninja tools. Tenten, always fascinated by them, was a perfect partner.

She developed new tools based on Neji’s needs; he provided feedback from real battles. They worked seamlessly.

Noticing their talent, Seiryu gave Tenten access to all of Konoha’s archives and set up a new research institute. Even the notorious Katasuke Tōno was brought on board to start research early.

But their strategy had a flaw: as ninja, they couldn’t always be prepared for every fight. Tenten could help Neji perform far above his level, but they couldn’t always plan in advance.

Tenten pondered a solution: maintain contact with Neji from afar, sending him the needed tools via summoning.

But the technical challenges were huge: current communication methods couldn’t support real-time sharing of complex battle data, and long-distance summoning of objects was near impossible except for Flying Thunder God and Cloud’s Heavenly Transfer.

Yet Tenten’s talent was extraordinary. With the Yamanaka’s help, she developed a tool for sharing vision over 10 kilometers in just three months.

Seiryu classified the technology as a top secret. With the Hyuga’s all-around vision, it was like giving a battlefield commander a map hack.

If this tech leaked, the Hyuga clan would become even more sought-after.

“All that’s left is the summoning technique,” Neji said. “Tenten can only summon tools within ten kilometers, and I have to help with my chakra.”

“But if you face a real enemy, you might not be able to spare the focus,” Seiryu reminded him.

Chapter 180: You Should Say Thank You

“Right. Sasuke is already strong enough to make it impossible for me to multitask,” Neji admitted.

“Don’t sell yourself short. Sasuke and Naruto are so strong now that even the elite jonin would struggle against them,” Seiryu said. “But yes, this needs to be solved.”

He stood, took a large scroll from his bookshelf, and unsealed it.

“What’s this?” Neji asked.

“The Book of Seals,” Seiryu said, copying a page onto a blank scroll. “The Flying Thunder God technique, developed by the Second, perfected by the Fourth. It should help your research.”

“This… isn’t right,” Neji hesitated. He and Tenten had their eyes on the technique, but it was a forbidden jutsu. Receiving it as a new graduate, even as the Hokage’s student, might raise eyebrows.

“Take it. Consider it a graduation gift for you and Tenten. Your vision-sharing tool is already enough to warrant access to one forbidden jutsu. Flying Thunder God might be a stretch, but it’s fine.”

“And it’s not for free,” Seiryu added. “I’m putting you on a team with Naruto and Sasuke, but they won’t graduate for another year. So for now, you’ll serve in ANBU. Consider it an advance loan: you’ll pay it back with mission achievements.”

Neji twitched at the word “loan.” In the current era, who dared borrow from Seiryu? The last one ended up with all their mines under Konoha’s control.

With age, Seiryu had begun teaching Sasuke and Neji about political strategy. So, even though Konoha maintained a moral high ground, the brothers knew exactly what role their teacher played in the Waterfall-Land and Stone-Land war.

As Neji left with the copied jutsu, the Hokage’s office door was knocked.

“Lord Hokage, Young Master Neji,” Uchiha Inaho entered, greeted them, and said, “Lord Hokage, Iwata Zeki is waiting outside.”

Just as Neji had been thinking about him.

“I’ll take my leave,” Neji said, storing the scroll.

“On your way to the research institute, stop by the police force and call Kakashi. The Land of Waterfall is tapped out; it’s time to end this war,” Seiryu instructed.

“Yes!” Neji replied.

Soon, Kakashi, having received Seiryu’s summons, rushed over.

But at the door, he was stopped by Iwata Zeki.

“Mr. Iwata?” Kakashi guessed what Seiryu wanted—after years of war, the Land of Waterfall was exhausted, and Iwata Zeki was up to his ears in debt. With nothing left to mortgage, Seiryu had cut back support, and a quarter of their land was now lost to the Land of Stone.

Seiryu’s delay in seeing Iwata, instead sending Kakashi, was just a tactic.

“Kakashi!” Iwata, dust-covered and haggard, clung to Kakashi like a drowning man.

“Iwata, Kakashi’s here, and the Hokage is ready. Please, both of you, come in,” Inaho said.

Iwata sighed in relief and followed Kakashi into the office.

Seiryu was making tea.

“Sorry for the wait, I was handling confidential village matters,” Seiryu apologized.

“No problem, I just arrived,” Iwata forced a smile, despite waiting half a day.

After drinking his tea, Iwata couldn’t hold back: “Lord Hokage, could Konoha continue supporting us a bit longer? With your help, we can drive the invaders out.”

But Seiryu and Kakashi fell silent.

Kakashi shook his head inside. Iwata no longer resembled a leader—just a gambler who couldn’t step away from the table.

“Iwata, maybe Konoha should help mediate peace with the Land of Stone,” Seiryu finally said.

Iwata was stunned. “Why? We’re so close to victory.”

“Iwata, to be frank, you’re out of options,” Kakashi said.

In this war, anyone between 12 and 50 with even a hint of chakra had been conscripted. If not for Seiryu’s pressure, even younger children would have been forced into battle.

The Land of Waterfall had lost two generations.

Seiryu added, “You’ve held off the Land of Stone for so long—your country has nothing to be ashamed of.”

“But…” Iwata tried to argue, but Kakashi cut him off.

“You can’t base your hopes on another country’s support forever. Konoha’s patience and resources aren’t limitless.”

Just then, Jonin Captain Nagai Seiichi entered with mission reports.

“Leave them, I’ll look later,” Seiryu said.

“Lord Hokage, are you abandoning us?” Iwata pressed.

Nagai couldn’t take it. “You’re the leader—where’s your formal attire? Is this how you greet the Hokage?”

Iwata looked at his battle gear. “My country is at war. When it’s over, I’ll come in formal dress.”

“Let’s end this war,” Seiryu sighed. “No one will see you as a loser.”

“Lord Hokage, if the Land of Stone isn’t dealt a heavy blow, their next target could be Konoha. If their ambition grows, it’ll mean a Fourth Great War,” Iwata tried to argue.

Kakashi frowned, “Are you threatening Konoha?”

“No—” Iwata quickly denied it.

“Then are you gambling the lives of millions on starting a world war?” Kakashi said. “If so, Konoha will have to reevaluate this war. Your attitude is contrary to Konoha’s pursuit of peace.”

“And Iwata, you should be thanking us. Without Konoha’s support, you’d have lost within two weeks.”

“Enough,” Seiryu interrupted.

The room fell silent.

Seiryu looked at Iwata. “I still recommend peace talks. Rest assured, Konoha will do its best to protect your interests.”

“Think it over,” Seiryu said. “Inaho, see our guest out.”

“Please,” Inaho said.

Iwata slumped in his chair, depleted. After a while, he stood and left, pausing at the door.

“Between Fire and Stone lies our small country. You don’t feel the pain now, but one day you will.”

Nagai looked ready to respond, but Seiryu and Kakashi gestured for him to let it go.

“Maybe. But Konoha will continue to pursue peace,” Seiryu replied.

After Iwata left, Seiryu signed the reports and dismissed Nagai.

Once alone, Kakashi finally spoke. “Even though Waterfall suffered, the Land of Stone didn’t fare much better. Will they agree to peace?”

“You said it. If we pressure them, Onoki will likely accept,” Seiryu shrugged.

“When will these wars end?” Kakashi asked, slumping on the sofa.

“Soon,” Seiryu said, pouring more tea. “Within a few years. And when we’re ready, we’ll end all the conflict in our generation.”

After two rounds of tea, Seiryu sent a communication invitation to Onoki.

Soon, Onoki’s image appeared on screen.

“Lord Hokage, what brings you to me at this hour?” Onoki grunted.

“How’s your special military operation going?” Seiryu smiled.

Onoki’s mouth twitched, barely containing his annoyance. “Thanks to you, still going. Why are you so interested in Iwagakure’s affairs?”

PS: I don’t like racism, so I tone it down.