The war had earned Yoru a staggering sum of system points—but it had drained Kirigakure of something far more valuable: manpower.
Kirigakure, already the most underpopulated of the Five Great Hidden Villages due to years of the Blood Mist Policy, had lost over a thousand shinobi on the battlefield. Now, only a handful of stationed forces remained back in the village.
This wasn't something that even becoming the Fourth Mizukage tomorrow could fix. Reform? Innovation? Dispelling the blood mist? None of it could replenish what was lost.
It would take decades—a full generation of peace and growth—just to begin to recover.
Until then, Kirigakure would remain weak, stretched thin, and vulnerable.
Unless…
Unless the dead themselves could return to fight again.
No, not something as crude as Reanimation Jutsu. Yoru had no interest in puppeteering souls with filthy chakra bindings.
What he envisioned… was to grant the dead a second life—a true revival.
His system's item library held technologies unlike anything in the shinobi world: Artificial Bodies, Soul Stabilizers, Soul Harmonizers—tools capable of anchoring a soul in the world and even surpassing its former strength.
But every one of these required immense point expenditure. Even with his current balance, Yoru could barely afford to construct one or two prototypes.
Hence—
Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he can feed a village.
If he could recreate the system's tech using chakra science and local knowledge… he wouldn't need to rely on the system forever.
"Merge natural energy with physical form... stabilize it through chakra resonance..."
"Fill soul deficits using pure, untainted spiritual energy..."
"Perhaps... even generate new souls from condensed spiritual essence…"
Endless data flowed into his mind. Yoru's brain felt like it was firing on all cylinders. He chuckled to himself.
Maybe even this bruiser is starting to develop a brain.
He exhaled slowly, the gleam in his eyes sharp and calculating. Gone was the innocent, clueless look of a college undergrad transmigrator.
Twenty thousand points for this tech dump?
Worth it.
"In the end, it all comes down to the balance between four forces: natural energy, chakra, soul, and self."
"If I can manipulate these four, I could push a soul toward a 'Shinigami-like' transformation..."
"Maybe even achieve a living transformation akin to a Quincy by altering a person's internal balance."
"But first—I need to stabilize souls. Anchor them to this plane. Reconstruct them if necessary."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Soul Engineering..."
"Yoru, dinner's ready~!"
Mei Terumi's cheerful voice pulled him back from his whirlwind of inspiration.
Rubbing his temples, Yoru let out a long breath.
Note to self: I need a real R&D team for this. Someone like Orochimaru would be perfect...
Unfortunately, there was no chance of recruiting the Snake Sannin now—not while he remained loyal to Konoha.
Maybe after he defects.
For now… I'll see what Yuumi can make of it.
Shaking off his thoughts, Yoru headed downstairs.
Waiting at the table, wearing a pure white apron that did little to hide her figure, Mei Terumi leaned against the counter, beaming at him.
"Come and taste this princess's... cuisine~!"
Yoru's eyes drifted to the plate—and immediately his stomach dropped.
Sitting dead center on the rice was the glazed, wide-eyed head of an eel, mouth agape, staring directly at him.
Who the hell serves grilled eel with the whole head just—there?!
So this is my first post-war meal, huh?
Instant ramen it is.
"Hey! What's with that look? It looks delicious!" Mei huffed, pointing at her creation.
"Oh, absolutely," Yoru replied dryly. "It looks... full of personality." He quietly boiled water with chakra and poured it into a cup of instant ramen. "Just... craving something lighter today. Want some too?"
Mei groaned. "Ugh, you're so annoying, Yoru… Fine! One for me too."
Before they could keep bickering, a polite knock came from the door.
"Yoru-sama!"
The voice was unmistakable—Yuki Kiri.
But she wasn't alone.
Behind her stood a hunched, elderly woman—frail, but emanating quiet authority.
Yoru's brow furrowed. Even Mei's posture stiffened. She quickly swept the horrid eel dish off the table and straightened her outfit.
Once granted permission, the elderly woman entered, supported by Kiri.
Her sharp eyes scanned the room—then landed on Mei.
"Ah… I remember you," the old woman said with a weathered smile. "From the Terumi Clan. Your name's Mei, isn't it? I met you once when you were just a child."
"Yes, ma'am. That's me." Mei bowed respectfully. "It's an honor, Lady Yuki…"
No one in the village would dare speak over this woman—not even Mei's father, the Terumi Clan's head.
This was Yuki Setsu, clan matriarch of the Yuki Clan, and a living relic of the Warring States Era—a woman who had served alongside the Third Mizukage.
A living monument of Kirigakure itself.
"Yes, yes… very promising. The future of the village lies with your generation…" she muttered as she sat, her frail limbs carefully lowering onto the sofa.
Yoru remained silent, sipping his noodles. Mei quickly stepped in to host.
The elder made idle talk at first—lamenting age, rambling about the old days. Then she slowly pivoted the conversation toward the battlefield.
"The war… I didn't expect it to spiral like this. Konoha remains as mighty as ever."
"Even back in our day, we were always outmatched by them. Even with Lord Byakuren leading us…"
She glanced at Yoru.
"This time, it was thanks to you, wasn't it? If not for you, the Yellow flash and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki would've been on our doorstep by now."
Yoru didn't respond.
He just enjoyed his ramen in peace.
The old woman chuckled softly. "Elders do get a bit chatty, don't we?"
She wasn't offended by his silence. She had expected it.
After all, the Yuki Clan had once turned their back on Yoru and his mother. And if they could exile him back then—they should be prepared to be ignored now.
Still, she chatted with Mei a little longer. Then, unexpectedly, she turned to Yoru.
"Yoru... what do you think of Kiri?"
"…?"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin