Chapter 83

Looking at the Poké Balls in the system inventory, Toki felt a mix of emotions.

If you called it a loss, these 100 Poké Balls were worth only 10,000 family reputation points, and he essentially got 2,000 extra for free.

But if you called it a gain, damn it!

He had essentially exchanged a Six Paths-level Rayquaza for 100 Poké Balls. Why did this feel so uncomfortable? It would've been better if the system had just refunded the 10,000 family reputation points outright.

Toki rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If first-level beasts represented Six Paths-level Pokémon, then wouldn't second-level beasts like Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, Raikou, Entei, and Suicune represent the Super Kage level?

Compared to behemoths like Rayquaza and Arceus, which were bloated to insane proportions, second-level beasts seemed much more manageable.

With his current setup of five Mangekyō Sharingan users, plus the special techniques that came with those eyes, it might actually be possible to defeat a second-level beast, right?

Although, judging by Charizard's earlier performance, these Pokémon still seemed to fall short when compared to the elite ninjas of the same rank.

Still, a Super Kage-level entity was a Super Kage-level entity. In the entire ninja world, only Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had achieved such a level. Even the weakest Super Kage could effortlessly dominate the strongest Kage-level ninja.

If Toki could capture a few of them and keep them as guardian beasts in the Uchiha clan's territory, even an attack from the entire ninja alliance would be futile.

Uchiha Madara had single-handedly crushed the Five Kage and the ninja coalition. If not for the intervention of the Sage of Six Paths, the entire ninja world would have been destroyed.

Toki grinned. Looking at the remaining 30,000 family reputation points, he decided to go all-in.

"System! Give me twenty rounds!"

The system responded with a flurry of notifications as new Pokémon species were unlocked one after another in the breeding center.

However, as time went on, Toki's face grew darker and darker. When the final result turned out to be a Farfetch'd, Toki snapped.

After the twenty rounds ended, Toki slammed the scroll onto the ground in frustration and cursed:

"Damn it, not even a single guarantee?! System, do you even have any shame?!"

Ding!

[Small spending makes you happy. Overspending harms your health. Excessive spending leads to ruin. Please be rational in your spending and say no to gambling.]

Toki: "...I RNMMP!"

Left with only 10,722 family reputation points, Toki was practically fuming, unsure of how to vent his frustration.

When he glanced at the family buildings, he noticed that the Uchiha Ancestral Temple, which was said to boost clan cohesion, was ready for an upgrade. Sighing, he decided to let it go.

"Fine. System, upgrade the Uchiha Ancestral Temple."

Ding!

[The Uchiha Ancestral Temple has been successfully upgraded to Level 2. The family log function has been added. The host can now monitor the clan's status through the family log. Resolving clan issues in a timely manner will increase cohesion and earn small rewards.]

"A family log?"

Toki was confused. "Are there rewards? Is this some kind of side quest?"

He opened the system panel and found a new log interface under the Uchiha Ancestral Temple page.

When he clicked on it, a list resembling a friend list appeared, with the names of clan members arranged from top to bottom based on their strength.

At the very top was Uchiha Fugaku, the long-dormant former clan leader.

Toki's eyelids twitched as he clicked on Fugaku's entry.

[Uchiha Fugaku: Mood value 30. The former leader of the Uchiha clan seems to be depressed and irritable due to certain unresolved issues. Helping him resolve his troubles might lead to unexpected rewards.]

Toki's expression darkened. Solve his troubles? What, fix the mess from usurping his position and taking over his wife?

Yeah, no. That problem could only be solved by Fugaku himself.

Toki clicked the "×" button without hesitation.

"Amitabha, may the dead Daoist prevail, not the poor Daoist. Fugaku, you're on your own."

Next, he clicked on Uchiha Shisui, the second name on the list.

[Uchiha Shisui: Mood value 70. Currently the third-ranking member of the Uchiha clan. Shisui is out of contact but appears to be in a good mood lately.]

Toki raised his eyebrows in surprise. "In a good mood? Wasn't this guy captured? Did he escape?"

He felt a pang of annoyance. He had been worried about Shisui's safety all this time, and now it seemed like Shisui was living just fine.

Toki closed Shisui's log, more confused than ever about the situation.

He quickly skimmed through the logs of other clan members and found that this feature functioned like the logs for sect NPCs in cultivation games he used to play. It displayed the current emotions and needs of the clan members.

By addressing these issues, Toki could potentially improve clan cohesion and loyalty. Depending on the success of the intervention, the system would also grant rewards.

Toki wasn't sure what those rewards might be, but he planned to test it out with a random clan member when he had some free time.

But for now…

Toki looked at the pile of Poké Balls on the ground and smiled crookedly.

---

Time flew by.

As it was summer vacation, Toki organized an intensive, month-long training camp for the clan members, completely isolating them within the Ninja Academy grounds.

Meanwhile, news about the academy reforms and the expansion of its admissions spread across Konoha through the village newspaper.

The announcement of the "Gambling Battle" between civilian ninjas and clan ninjas sparked heated discussions.

Among civilian ninjas, opinions were particularly scathing:

"How could a civilian possibly defeat a clan ninja?"

"The gap is too big. Clan ninjas already refine chakra before starting school, and they inherit superior techniques from their families. How can we compete?"

"Lord Toki is just using us civilians to appease the clan ninjas, isn't he?"

"They said we'll undergo special training for a month. What's the point? We might be able to refine chakra, but it won't be enough."

"There's no other choice. Clan ninjas are too powerful. Even ten of us civilians might not be able to beat one of them."

"They have ninjutsu, secret techniques, and bloodline limits. If it weren't for the Third Hokage providing us with opportunities in the ANBU, most civilians wouldn't even dream of reaching Special Jōnin level."

"Now that ANBU is gone, who knows what future civilian ninjas have?"

Despite the Third Hokage's downfall, his influence among civilian ninjas remained strong.

Toki's failure to provide clear pathways for civilian ninja promotion only exacerbated their resentment. Without war, the wartime merit system had disappeared, and even during war, clan ninjas claimed the lion's share of the rewards due to their superior techniques, tools, and experience.

This disparity ensured that clan ninjas grew stronger and wealthier, while civilian ninjas remained expendable cannon fodder. Only a rare few civilian families, like the Moonlight Clan, Uzuki Clan, and Kato Clan, managed to elevate themselves to ninja clan status.

Now, just as these families had completed their transition, Toki's reforms were forcing them back into the shadows.

They were naturally unwilling to agree to it.

In the past, Sarutobi Hiruzen had used the strategy of assigning elite jōnin mentors to attract many young ninjas from clans to join the Ninja Academy, ensuring their loyalty. Even smaller ninja families, who lacked any jōnin-level members, were lured in by the prospect of their clan members being trained by an elite jōnin.

This created a system where only three or four elite jōnin were available each year to mentor. Consequently, ninja clans sent just one or two of their most promising young members to compete for this prestigious mentorship, knowing it could elevate their clan's status.

However, this left civilian ninja students at a distinct disadvantage. For them, being assigned to a standard genin team and working mundane missions to earn a living was the norm. The gap in training, resources, and opportunities between civilian ninjas and ninja clans widened further, creating long-standing resentment.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had garnered much of his popularity by championing the civilian ninjas, advocating for their development, and balancing the power dynamics between civilian ninjas and the great clans. Now, with Toki forcing a confrontation between civilian children and the heirs of ninja clans, it felt to many like a cruel joke.

During the month of intensive training at the Ninja Academy, this divide between civilian and clan ninjas only deepened. Resentment toward Toki grew, particularly among civilian ninjas who felt they were being set up for humiliation. The tension between the two groups resembled a powder keg waiting to explode.

A month later, the day of the promised competition arrived.

Crowds flocked to the venue, filling the stands with anticipation. The event was highly publicized, drawing in villagers, clans, and even merchants. Many clan leaders stood in their designated VIP areas, their faces brimming with confidence. They were convinced that their young prodigies would crush the civilian children.

Among the clan leaders, Uchiha Setsuna stood out. He glanced at Nara Shikaku, smirking.

"Chief Nara, why didn't your clan send anyone to participate? Don't you want to join the fun?" Setsuna teased.

Nara Shikaku sighed, rolling his eyes. "Toki doesn't act recklessly. If he set this up, there's definitely something we're missing. I'd rather not risk embarrassing my clan."

Setsuna chuckled but did not argue.

Meanwhile, in the VIP area, Tsunade and Shizune watched the scene unfold.

"Tsunade-sama, do you think these kids can put on a good show? Or are they just being thrown to the wolves?" Shizune asked, her tone uncertain.

Tsunade frowned, her face darkening. "Toki didn't tell me anything. That bastard disappeared after the last council meeting. I haven't seen him for weeks." She clenched her fists, visibly annoyed.

Her irritation stemmed not just from Toki's absence but also from his sudden shift in priorities. As the Uchiha clan leader and Konoha's defense minister, he spent his days mediating clan disputes, comforting widows, and acting like a community elder. The rumors of him being overly friendly with married women only added fuel to Tsunade's simmering anger.

"If I see him again, I swear I'll punch him into next week!" she muttered through gritted teeth.

Back at the arena, Uchiha Setsuna stepped forward to address the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming today. You're here to witness a historic moment!" he announced confidently.

The audience murmured in confusion. What historic moment? This was just a fight between children, hardly worth the fanfare.

From one of the passages, a group of children wearing clan uniforms marched out. Though they were only six years old, their steady strides and disciplined demeanor gave them an air of maturity beyond their years.

The clan leaders watching beamed with pride. They began to praise one another, using the moment as an opportunity to network and showcase their families' talent.

"Your clan's child is so impressive—already showing the composure of a jōnin," one leader remarked.

"You're too kind. Your heir's mastery of ninjutsu is already leagues ahead of others his age," another replied, clearly pleased.

The clan leaders were already calculating how this event could enhance their clan's reputation. The prospect of attracting wealthy merchants and securing prestigious contracts was too enticing to pass up.

When the ninja team had assembled, Setsuna motioned toward another darkened passage. A chorus of chaotic voices began to echo from within.