Naruto: Fate System

The success of the war bond campaign was due to multiple factors.

The streets of Ame buzzed with activity as citizens lined up at the bond offices.

Some citizens of the Land of Rain contributed out of heartfelt gratitude and support for Akatsuki. They were deeply thankful for the better lives brought about by the organization and were willing to give their all in return.

At one of the crowded collection points, a market vendor counted out his savings.

"You gave us hope," he said, pushing forward his contribution. "The least we can do is support them."

Next to him, a factory worker nodded in agreement. "My children can eat properly now. How could I not help?"

Another group, primarily composed of businessmen, acted based on rational analysis and judgment. They gathered in small groups outside the financial district, sharing information and calculations.

Many had recently visited Rōran for on-site inspections and were optimistic about the future prospects of the factories invested in by Akatsuki.

Hearing that Akatsuki had also captured two mines at the frontlines, securing critical mineral resources, they became confident in Ame's bright future.

As a result, they were eager to invest heavily by purchasing war bonds. Their enthusiasm spread through the business community like wildfire.

Lastly, there was a smaller group motivated by fear.

These were the aristocratic defectors previously marked as targets by Kakuzu. In their elegant mansions, they counted out their contributions with shaking hands.

Better to give willingly than face that greedy collector, one noble thought as he prepared his bond purchase.

Fully aware of their precarious position in the Land of Rain—constantly at risk of being exploited—they decided it was safer to voluntarily offer money as a way to buy peace of mind.

The aristocrats gathered in their private places, sharing worried glances as they discussed their "investments."

They understood that the old rules and order meant nothing to Akatsuki's leader. Voluntary contributions seemed the only option to protect themselves.

All these factors combined to create the miracle of raising 600 million in just two days.

The bond offices worked through the night, clerks frantically recording the endless stream of contributions. Ultimately, however, the root cause was Shin's consistent willingness to share the benefits of victory with Ame's people.

In other regions, ninjas despised war because they saw no value in their battles. Whether they won or lost, the outcomes seemed unrelated to their lives. The Great Ninja Wars had raged for years without altering the fundamental structure of the shinobi world.

Ninjas never shared in the profits of war, only its pain and suffering.

But Ame was completely different.

Every victory by Akatsuki visibly and tangibly improved the lives of its people, making it clear that things were genuinely getting better. Along with Shin's propaganda efforts, this environment enabled such an astonishing achievement within just two days.

Even Kakuzu, who had remained behind, was genuinely impressed with him. Shin's ability to generate wealth was something he could spend a lifetime trying to learn.

---

Seeing the war bond campaign's success, Konan, who had temporarily returned, assigned Kakuzu a second task: recruiting more ninjas.

While Akatsuki had won the recent battle and dealt a significant blow to Konoha, they had also suffered considerable losses themselves.

They needed to gather more troops.

As long as there was money involved, he was always motivated!

Moreover, Shin had already laid the groundwork: a military merit reward system, a comprehensive martyr compensation plan, and extensive positive propaganda about expansion efforts.

All these systems were in place before he left.

On top of that, the frontlines had achieved a victory, even defeating Konoha's invincible Yellow Flash, creating an abundance of promotional material to use in the short term.

From Kakuzu's perspective, this task posed no difficulty; he was confident it would be easily accomplished.

In fact, Konan's focus wasn't on urging him to complete the task, and said, "Make sure you don't cut corners on promotional spending. This is a direct order from Shin. Everyone in the rear must understand the purpose of our battles."

Kakuzu's expression darkened even more.

Compensation payouts couldn't be skimped on, military rewards couldn't be reduced, and now even recruitment propaganda couldn't be cheapened...

"Do any of you even understand the concept of saving money? You're the most wasteful leadership I've ever worked for!" he complained, pacing the room in agitation. "Ninjas are supposed to be prepared to die. Why waste so much money explaining the meaning of their battles?"

In my day, we fought because we were ordered to. No one cared about our feelings.

"Ninjas are human too. And humans, no matter how strong, will eventually grow tired. They need emotional support. Inner strength is a ninja's advantage, but it's not an obligation."

"We shouldn't expect those fighting on the frontlines to endure both bloodshed and heartbreak. They deserve understanding and support—and must have it."

For a moment, Kakuzu felt frozen in place, as if paralyzed. Memories from years ago flooded his mind—when he had fought and bled for Taki.

Back then, no one had ever said such things to him. Everyone had taken his resilience and sacrifices for granted.

If, before he had left to assassinate Hashirama, someone in the village had told him this—if they had acknowledged that he was a person too, not just a pawn meant to sacrifice everything for the village—would things have turned out differently?

Would he still have wandered the world for so many years?

But there are no "what ifs" in life. The past was the past. No use dwelling on it now.

After a brief moment of distraction, he turned his head away, masking his lapse in composure with a cold snort.

"Got it. I'll take care of the propaganda and recruitment efforts in the rear."

Konan smiled lightly, pretending not to notice the fleeting vulnerability of this hardened veteran.

"Good. Also, I'll leave the frontlines' supply logistics to you as well. Shin promised to award you a bonus at the end of the year."

"As if I care about that measly bonus of his!" Kakuzu crossed his arms, trying to look indifferent.

"…"

"So, uh… how much is the bonus?" He shifted uncomfortably. "Just… asking in advance, that's all." Not that I care, but it's always good to know the numbers.

Konan chuckled. "He promised that as long as you work hard, you'll earn first-class merits, and the bonus will be given at the highest standard."

Kakuzu pursed his lips in feigned disdain, but his actions betrayed him. Without hesitation, he began moving, even using Body Flicker and a ninja sprint to quicken his pace.

Konan's smile deepened as she watched him go. Some things never change... but maybe that's not so bad.

Soon after, she returned to the frontlines in Kusa from above, her paper wings carrying her swiftly through the rain-heavy clouds.

Upon hearing Konan's report, Shin was astonished. "The war bonds sold that much?" He leaned forward in his chair, genuinely surprised for once.

He hadn't expected such an outcome. Initially, he had aimed for a modest 200 million, just enough to ensure proper funding for compensation, military rewards, and frontline supplies.

Though ninja warfare was less reliant on logistics than traditional battles, it's still an expensive endeavor. Outposts constantly torn down and rebuilt, ninja tools, scrolls, explosive tags, medical supplies, and rations all required significant funding.

The income from the newly captured mines would take time to materialize, so he had devised the war bonds as a short-term financial solution.

"An unexpected windfall, indeed. Maybe you should head back and arrange—"

Before he could finish, Konan cut him off, anticipating his instructions.

"With the income from the bonds, I've already allocated funds to the research institute. The experimental locomotive project has been restarted." She pulled out a scroll, checking off items as she spoke. "Additionally, I've arranged for roads from Ame to the frontlines to be repaired and expanded."

"I've also ordered increased production at the airship factory, with funds earmarked for its operations, ensuring that airship capacity continues to rise."

"Lastly, I've contacted Hiruko. He's already on his way to the border and will oversee the construction of a new airship docking station at Kusa's border. This aerial route will eventually connect directly to Rōran, enabling a steady transport of ore to the factories there."

Konan rattled off her actions in a single breath, then turned to Shin with a teasing expression.

"Anything else you'd like to assign, Shin?"

Shin was momentarily taken aback, then smiled with relief and pride.

"No, that's everything. You've really grown. You're becoming more and more like a proper logistics commander."

Konan immediately arched her brows and glared at him, feigning anger as she leaned in closer.

"So, are you saying I wasn't a competent logistics commander before?"

Shin hurriedly raised his hands in a mock salute. "No, no, I didn't mean that! Konan, I swear I'm innocent!"

---

A few days later, a new batch of recruited Akatsuki ninjas arrived at the frontlines.

Though fresh recruits, their average strength was surprisingly decent, but their backgrounds were incredibly diverse.

Shin observed them from the command post, noting the way they naturally separated into small groups based on their origins.

Among them were former Ame ninjas who had once served under Hanzō.

Wandering rogue ninjas who had begged for survival in the Land of Rain stood apart.

Even defectors from small ninja villages nearby was among them, having fled to the Land of Rain, unable to endure the suffering of war.

Shin couldn't help but stifle a laugh when he saw them.

"Kakuzu really knows how to send in talent, doesn't he?"

However, Shin quickly reconsidered. The Land of Rain's own Ninja Academy had only been fully operational for less than a year. Expecting it to provide a new generation of ninjas in such a short time was unrealistic.

Given this, the current situation wasn't all that surprising.

But now the problem that Kakuzu had solved was thrown right back at Shin.

He had originally assumed the reinforcements would be blank slates—"white sheets of paper" ready for him to quickly shape and mold. Yet the reality was far from that.

Most of these individuals were seasoned ninjas with combat experience.

The upside? They were far more capable in battle than rookies.

The downside? Getting them to break old habits and follow new military regulations and training routines was going to be a significant challenge.

The trouble started right away—on day one of their arrival.

"You can't fool me!" A harsh voice cut through the training ground. "I've been a ninja for over ten years! I was killing with kunai when I was seven!"

"Never in my life have I heard of ninjas having to follow so many rules in combat! Don't think you can bully me just because you have seniority! A mere chunin acting all high and mighty in front of me—what a joke!"

The speaker was a nearly thirty-year-old one-eyed ninja with a scar running from his brow all the way down to his jaw.

One look at him was enough to tell he was a hardened fighter.

A quick check of his background revealed he was even a former jonin.

"These days even Jonin are wandering drifters?" Shin asked the ninja responsible for registering the newcomers.

The man sighed in exasperation, shuffling through his papers. "No idea. I heard he fled from the Land of Earth."

"Does he have any ties to Iwa?" Shin narrowed his eyes.

The registrar shook his head, flipping through more papers. "Doesn't seem so. Apparently, he used to be a ninja hired by the Land of Earth's daimyō, but something happened, and he ended up fleeing to the Land of Rain."

"But there are rumors about a failed mission and some noble's son..."

"What was he doing in the Land of Rain before joining this war?" Shin pressed further, watching as the one-eyed ninja continued his tirade, gathering a small crowd of similarly disgruntled veterans.

The registrar's face became oddly complicated, almost embarrassed. "He's skilled in Earth Release, so he was working construction in Ame for a few months. Helped rebuild the eastern district, actually."

"…"

Seven years old and killing, now twenty-seven and laying bricks... The allure of the construction life, huh? Shin couldn't help but mentally joke.

On the bright side, it was a esult to the progress he'd spearheaded in rebuilding the Land of Rain—people would rather work construction here than return to their war-torn homelands.

That was a win, in its own way.

Still, there was a problem to deal with. The crowd around the one-eyed ninja was growing, and their murmurs of agreement were getting louder. If this wasn't handled properly, it could spread like wildfire through the ranks.

Shin stepped into the training ground. "So, you think a chunin isn't qualified to command you?"

Until that moment, few had noticed him standing at the edge of the field. The instant he spoke, every head turned toward him.

The whispers died instantly, replaced by a heavy silence. Many immediately recognized who he was.

In a single second, the group of followers who had been hyping up the one-eyed ninja scattered like leaves in the wind. Each of them took a decisive step back, exposing the one-eyed ninja at the front.

Some even tried to pretend they'd been heading to other parts of the training ground all along.

A name carries weight, and so does reputation.

Shin was no longer the obscure upstart pretending to be part of the Shimura clan. With Akatsuki's recent triumphs over Konoha and the forced retreat of Minato, his name now echoed across the shinobi world.

And here, among those trying to make a life in the Land of Rain, who dared challenge him?

The one-eyed ninja found himself standing alone, facing Shin's sharp gaze. Sweat began to drip down his face. The scar tissue around his missing eye twitched nervously.

But there was no turning back now. "It's... it's true that chunin commanding jonin wasn't how things used to be. I... I was just speaking factually. What's that saying…"

The one-eyed ninja scratched his head, struggling to find the words, but his lack of education failed him. His remaining eye darted around, searching for support that was no longer there.

Shin guessed he was trying to say, "It's not personal; it's about principles."

He chuckled internally. I liked your arrogant defiance better earlier. At least it was honest.

"You should have been informed before coming here that Akatsuki has a new command system and strict rules of engagement. If you're here, you will follow them."

"That said, I want you all to submit willingly. To make it clear, we'll organize a demonstration." His eyes swept across the gathered recruits, noting who stood tall and who shrank back. "How many jonin are among you new recruits?"

The one-eyed ninja glanced around, perhaps finding some comfort in numbers, and finally answered, "There are twelve of us."

Twelve? Shin was slightly surprised. The construction sites in the Land of Rain were apparently teeming with hidden talent.

But his plan remained unchanged.

"Very well. I'll have one of our jonin join the match, and the rest will be chunin. A total of 120 from our side against the same number from yours." He paused. "My team will show you why, under this system, a chunin can command a jonin."

Akatsuki had six battalions, so twenty per battalion were enough to assemble the 120-person team. Shin had absolute confidence in his seasoned troops.

In smaller skirmishes, individual ninja prowess mattered more. But as the number of combatants grew, the value of multi-line coordination and an advanced command system became paramount.

Unless a ninja reached Kage-level, this principle held true. And looking at the gathered veterans, he saw no one approaching that level of power.

The one-eyed ninja didn't realize how outmatched he was. He smirked, thinking the twelve jonin on his side gave him the upper hand, already planning how to showcase their individual skills.

Soon, the new recruits had assembled their team.

To avoid disrupting existing squads, Shin even allowed them to field two extra members, making it 122 against 120.

The veterans gathered in loose groups, each jonin automatically taking command of those around them without any real coordination.

On Shin's side, the team was precisely 120.

They stood in perfect formation, each squad positioned exactly where they needed to be.

Had it not been necessary to appoint an experienced commander, Shin might have sent an all-chunin lineup to ensure the opposition's utter defeat.

Before the match began, he noticed the smug confidence on the other side and felt reassured.

The one-eyed ninja was arranging his forces like he would for a small skirmish, completely missing the point of large-scale combat.

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