*Chapter 244: Everyone Else Already Has Multiple Wives*

Nara Shikamaru sat on a tree branch, yawning. The ninja academy used to be incredibly boring.

But now, it's genuinely exhausting. Besides physical training, they have to practice ninjutsu, learn the Six Powers of the Navy, navigation skills, and even swordsmanship, firearms, and mechanics, which are now offered as subjects in the ninja academy.

Nara Shikamaru felt the pressure. Even though his father didn’t expect him to be extraordinarily wealthy or powerful, he did want the Nara clan of the past three generations to at least gain a firm foothold in Dressrosa.

The Nara clan members that returned from Konoha were all eager to make their mark in Dressrosa.

Competition in Dressrosa was fierce now, and everyone was trying to find their way!

Those who originally followed Raijin over here received the best treatment. The newcomers, however, couldn’t enjoy the same privileges until they had proven their worth.

“This is such a drag. Not only do we have to study forbidden jutsu, but we also have to learn mechanics and conduct biological research with Orochimaru. We’re just a bunch of seven- or eight-year-old kids—what does Dressrosa take us for?”

Nara Shikamaru picked up a book hanging from the branch, his face full of distress.

He understood that the kids in the ninja academy matured early, but wasn’t all this a bit much?

“Shikamaru? You’ve got dark circles under your eyes,” Yamanaka Ino remarked in surprise. Despite the heavy course load, it didn’t seem like enough to cause someone to lose sleep!

It looked like Nara Shikamaru hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep.

“Oh! My dad came home late last night, and his clothes were even torn. He was thrown into the alley, and after my mom found him, they argued all night. She thought he’d been up to no good and hadn’t even paid, which is why he ended up like that.”

Nara Shikamaru spoke with a helpless expression.

“Your family is really a handful!” Yamanaka Ino couldn’t help but twitch her mouth. She hadn’t expected Nara Shikaku’s life to be such a mess.

Her own family, however, was different. It was harmonious, at least when she was around. Sometimes, she’d see her father come home with a bruise on his face, and she’d know what had happened but pretended not to see.

“Well, that’s just how it is. Dressrosa’s policies allow ninja clans like ours to have multiple wives and children. They even provide wives, which is why my mom’s been worried.”

Nara Shikamaru knew the cause of the tension at home. After all, several of the Nara clan members who came with his father now had at least three wives each. This goal, unattainable in the ninja world, was realized on the seas!

His mom was afraid his dad would abandon her, so there were frequent quarrels. When Nara Shikaku came home, he’d undergo a thorough inspection of his clothes and body.

This couldn’t be blamed on Uchiha Raijin either. Originally, these benefits were intended to encourage the Uchiha clan, but giving them only to the Uchiha didn’t seem fair, so everyone got them. No one had much to say about it.

In fact, many families were experiencing similar situations.

Except for the Hyuga clan, of course. Their leader was on the battlefield, and he might already have a second wife. Whether he would remarry upon returning was another matter.

Nara Shikaku wasn’t particularly interested in women. As for a monstrous woman like Charlotte Linlin, just thinking about sleeping next to her made him want to die. That would be a nightmare!

“My mom’s a bit worried too. After all, both my dad and Uncle Shikaku hold important positions in Dressrosa. I’ve heard that quite a few women are throwing themselves at them. It’s disgusting!” Yamanaka Ino said with a look of disdain.

“But Lord Raijin is so handsome. I wonder if he’d be willing to wait for me to grow up. I think the revival of the Uchiha clan should involve someone like me!”

But just as quickly, her face turned to one of admiration, with a hint of infatuation.

Nara Shikamaru was speechless. What nonsense was she thinking? And saying something like this at the ninja academy? Uzumaki Karin would probably punch her to death!

There were countless beauties in Dressrosa with the same thoughts. Although it wasn’t a secret that Raijin wanted to expand the Uchiha clan in Dressrosa, you’d at least need the looks of a Pirate Empress, right?

Nara Shikamaru glanced at Yamanaka Ino and thought that even if she grew up, she wouldn’t measure up. Not in any aspect.

“Shikamaru, there you are!” A chubby boy ran over, panting heavily. Akimichi Choji, despite undergoing special training with Zephyr, still carried his body fat. It didn’t stop him from eating, and he’d even been granted extra food to replenish his energy.

The Akimichi clan’s physique and ninjutsu, in Zephyr’s eyes, were akin to the power of a giant. After witnessing the raw power of Akimichi Choza, Zephyr had begun to focus on developing Choji’s potential.

The strength of the giants was immense, but they lacked intellect. The Akimichi clan, however, perfectly compensated for this weakness.

Zephyr planned to see how strong Choji could become once fully developed.

“What’s up? Is Zephyr-sensei back?” Shikamaru asked lazily. He doubted Zephyr would be teaching today—his father had taken him away yesterday, and Shikamaru’s father got beaten up later that night. It must have had something to do with Zephyr.

“No, but there’s a fight going on near the training ground. Shouldn’t we get Zephyr-sensei to stop it?” Choji asked, concerned.

Choji was a straightforward person, so it made sense for him to be worried.

“No need! They’ll calm down eventually. Besides, it’s almost lunchtime. They’ll stop fighting when it’s time to eat,” Shikamaru replied, unconcerned.

Fighting at the ninja academy was too common, especially since there were powerhouses like Uzumaki Karin and others. Back at the old academy, only ninja duels occurred. But here, they were encouraged to develop their fighting spirit, which made discipline harder to maintain.

It required both strength and charisma to truly lead.

“Is this the ninja academy you spoke of, with that child of the Uzumaki clan bloodline?” A young girl arrived at the academy gate with a woman. The woman bore a striking resemblance to Karin and had an air reminiscent of Uzumaki Kushina.

But the girl called her "Little Kushina," clearly showing her seniority—this was Uzumaki Mito.

“Of course, according to Raijin, after the fall of Uzushiogakure, only a few Uzumaki bloodlines remained. The only one left is now with Uchiha Raijin in Dressrosa,” Kushina explained to Mito.

“From now on, you should call him ‘Lord Raijin.’ Haven’t you seen how even your grandmother calls him that? This is no longer Konoha, and we are no longer Jinchuriki. There’s no rank or status. Be respectful when you meet people! And Tobirama, you’d better watch your words here too.”

Uzumaki Mito patted Kushina’s head with a kind smile but turned sternly toward Tobirama, who stood nearby.

She knew her husband’s brother all too well—no one could rein him in except her husband.

"That’s when you’ll truly see what cruelty looks like.

'It looks like a fight is breaking out over there.'

Kushina Uzumaki's eyes lit up. She didn’t expect to see such a good show right after arriving.

Back in Konoha, she loved excitement the most!

And it was no different here!~

'Let's go check it out then.'

Mito Uzumaki followed behind her, heading toward the training ground of the Ninja Academy.

Just as they approached the training ground, they saw a red-haired girl unleashing a powerful chakra, trapping a green-haired guy in midair.

Then, with a punch, she slammed the ground beneath three people!

'Boom!'

The ground shook violently!

The land in front of them cracked into pieces.

And the impact sent several boys flying away.

'Karin-senpai, this isn’t my fault.'

'Those two guys came up and challenged me. I’ve been keeping a barrier up just to protect myself.'

Bartolomeo's face showed a trace of fear when he saw Karin Uzumaki raise her fist.

Man!

If that punch landed on his face!

His skull might be shattered.

He couldn’t even bear to imagine such a terrifying scene.

'I'll let you off today, but you better behave yourselves at the Ninja Academy from now on!'

'Master Raijin comes to the academy every now and then, and if he catches you, he’ll definitely get a bad impression of the place!'

'And when that happens, he’ll break every bone in your body!'

Karin Uzumaki said fiercely.

Seeing this scene, Mito Uzumaki had a strange look on her face.

Was there something wrong with the Uzumaki clan?

Why did every girl in the clan seem to have such violent tendencies?

'Hahaha, this reminds me of my time at the Ninja Academy,' Kushina Uzumaki said with an awkward smile, recalling how she used to be invincible during her academy days.

It wasn't just similar.

It was identical.

Even the way her red hair flared up when she was angry.

It was like looking at another Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.

'Heh heh!'

Mito Uzumaki chuckled.

'Master Raijin, are you really going to just sit here and watch these kids fool around?'

Mito looked toward a tree nearby.

From behind the tree, Raijin Uchiha had been suppressing his presence, quietly watching the whole scene.

Yet he hadn’t intervened in the fight.

'I’m just here to check on how Garp’s grandson is doing and see if there’s been any change with our Uchiha clan’s children, or Karin.'

Raijin walked out openly, clearly not here to sneak around.

However!

Orochimaru really understood men.

Now there was Mito Uzumaki, with her long legs, wearing a robe from her Konoha days, her hair tied up behind her, and a gentle smile on her face.

She gave off a sort of...housewife vibe.

If Orochimaru didn’t work with Jiraiya, it was his loss.

If the two of them teamed up, they could probably make a fortune with Jiraiya's books.

'Master Raijin!'

Karin Uzumaki noticed Raijin and blushed, running over to throw herself into his arms.

For the past few months, Raijin had been busy and hadn’t even come to visit her at the academy.

And it had taken months to return to the ninja world.

Only in the past few months had he had the time to give her some ninja training.

But his visits to the academy had been scarce.

He had only come a few times when the academy first opened.

'Looks like you’ve become the strongest in the academy! Even the Uchiha clan’s kids can’t match up!'

Raijin glanced at Sasuke with a look of disdain.

It was as if he was silently saying:

You think you can surpass me?

With your current strength, you can’t even beat a girl.

Stop embarrassing yourself.

'Damn it!'

Sasuke, his Sharingan activated, was filled with frustration and unwillingness.

He couldn’t believe that even after undergoing special training, he was still this weak.

Before, it might have been fine.

But!

This time, Raijin Uchiha himself had come to the academy.

And Sasuke had vowed to kill Raijin Uchiha.

To become the new leader of the Uchiha clan.

But right now, he was still so weak."