Chapter 237: Akatsuki-Style Bullying
"Only seven days of rest per week…" Uchiha Madara was somewhat speechless. "Could she possibly make it so people could rest for eight days a week?"
"She can," White Zetsu replied with a deadpan expression. "The speed of thought in the mind can be accelerated. Just like how Jinchuriki can have long conversations with their Tailed Beasts in the mental space, while only a short amount of time passes in the real world."
"Once the mind and soul are placed into the Tsukuyomi world, theoretically, the time experienced can be multiplied several times. One week in the real world could become two weeks in that space. After all, Tsukuyomi itself is a technique that can manipulate time. These are the exact words of Yunu."
At this, even White Zetsu fell silent.
In the world of Tsukuyomi, all factors—including time, location, and mass—are controlled by the caster.
If the caster desired, three days in the Tsukuyomi world could pass in less than an instant in the real world. So, let alone resting seven days a week, one could rest an entire lifetime in there if desired.
However...
"That's unsustainable." Uchiha Madara's eye twitched briefly as his gaze lingered on the single-lens glasses worn by everyone, then he calmed down. "Creating a Tsukuyomi space for the masses is already the limit. Extending time individually is beyond Uchiha Hikari's capability."
After all, it was different from Infinite Tsukuyomi. Uchiha Hikari wasn't casting Tsukuyomi on each person individually but was instead creating a virtual Tsukuyomi space and pulling people into it.
Allowing them to experience their fantasies was challenging enough; extending time on a mental level was impossible.
"Exactly. Even if it were possible, the mental fatigue on the recipients would make them notice something was off."
Hearing White Zetsu's observation, Madara asked, "Don't other nations care about this place?"
Previously, inter-nation conflicts could be ignored, but now the nations had formed alliances and united.
Ideal City wasn't small, and its residents were mostly former rogue ninja. With the technology to access a virtual world, wouldn't other nations want a piece of it?
From Madara's understanding of the nations, at the very least, the Land of Lightning would have already tried to take it by force.
White Zetsu cast a complicated glance at Madara, realizing he needed time to comprehend this increasingly twisted world. So, he led Madara to the entrance of Ideal City's hospital and pointed at the people sitting inside on wooden chairs.
"They're either spies from small nations or ninja who recently defected from the larger nations."
White Zetsu pointed to the direction where ninja uniformly put on single-lens glasses, their faces breaking into serene smiles.
"Ideal City, I'm back again!"
"This place is so wonderful that I forget my home, haha."
"My world, ruled by me."
Undoubtedly, their mental states were excellent, so good that they could easily secure a spot in a mental hospital…
Oh, it seemed they had already secured their spots in the hospital.
"…"
Watching one ninja after another don their single-lens glasses, their eyes reflecting only their personal world, Madara's feelings were indescribable.
Clearly, this limited version of Infinite Tsukuyomi was very similar to the real Infinite Tsukuyomi, and everything about Ideal City mirrored his aspirations. Yet, walking through it, Madara found himself not joyful but rather oddly conflicted.
Would those trapped in Infinite Tsukuyomi become like these "mental patients"?
Lost in thought, the two did not disturb the "patients" and proceeded toward the center of the town. As they walked, White Zetsu continued explaining, "Many people who experience everything in the virtual space can no longer distinguish reality from illusion. They prefer to take the illusion as their reality, which turns them into what you see now."
What are nations? What are ninja? To those who have tasted bliss, nothing in the real world matters anymore.
"Of course, there are some spies with strong wills who don't get immersed in the virtual space, but it doesn't matter. They come to steal technology, but the Tsukuyomi space is essentially Uchiha Hikari's dojutsu, so they can't find anything useful."
"Moreover, Yunu has already collaborated with other nations regarding the use of the virtual space, selling the single-lens glasses across various nations. With the intellectual property laws set during the ninja world alliance, no one can force us to hand over the technology without the approval of the three great nations."
"Now, Ideal City has become a semi-official force for detaining rogue ninja and criminal drifters, with the tacit consent of the nations. They won't interfere, nor do they need to, because those who enter this place never return to the ninja world."
As White Zetsu spoke, he silently marveled at the situation.
Who would have thought of a cleanup operation like this?
A village led by rogue ninja turned into a semi-official force. If someone had told him this before, he would have thought they were crazy.
But reality was stranger than fiction.
"…"
Using White Zetsu's intel, Madara roughly outlined the situation of Ideal City.
Uchiha Hikari provided the Tsukuyomi space, and Yunu provided the technology to create a virtual space for everyone to enjoy, akin to Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Yunu collaborated with various nations, selling access devices for the virtual space, seemingly making concessions but secretly accelerating chakra collection.
The nations turned a blind eye to Ideal City's history, allowing it to develop freely and become a haven for criminals and rogue ninja—essentially a de facto prison.
"Interesting," Madara finally commented.
Yunu had done well, leveraging the original rogue ninja gathering spot of Ideal City to manage it efficiently.
With the virtual space and the tacit approval of the nations, it attracted many rogue ninja who couldn't survive in the ninja world, forming a considerable force when necessary.
This arrangement also benefited the nations. Rogue ninja and criminals voluntarily gathered here, so when the nations remembered them, they could easily contact Akatsuki to deal with them without much effort.
As Madara pondered, a creaking sound interrupted his thoughts.
Looking up, he saw a young girl wheeling a chair at breakneck speed down the path, brushing past him.
Madara noticed her face lit up with a bright smile, and on her lap rested a brand-new single-lens glass.
A new resident, perhaps? It didn't surprise him. Even if this was a gathering place for rogue ninja and criminals, how could it not attract those living in hardship? But it still required nutrient fluids. People couldn't live in a fantasy world forever.
Infinite Tsukuyomi was still the best solution.
The two didn't linger, heading straight to the center of Ideal City, stopping in front of a building labeled "Light Jade."
A white-haired middle-aged man with a blank expression approached, glanced at the ring on Madara's left hand, and said calmly:
"Seiryu, come with me."
The speaker was Shino, the head of the Sky Ninja and one of the three lower-ranked members of Akatsuki.
In Akatsuki, he was the lowest in rank, the one everyone agreed did all the dirty work—the bottom of the food chain.
Remembering Shino's intel, Madara coldly walked past him without any acknowledgment.
Shino's eyes narrowed, staring deeply at Madara. He suppressed his anger and followed him inside.
At the moment, Madara had used Transformation Jutsu to disguise his identity and his Edo Tensei body, so Shennong didn't recognize him.
Over the years, Shinno's spirit had been worn down by Akatsuki's members. Before understanding Seiryu's strength, he wouldn't act rashly.
(End of Chapter)
***
If you wish to read all the chapters of this fic till chapter 381 (where it ends) and support me.
You can go to patreon. com /NahinS77