Naruto: Heaven Rewards Diligence

Tsunade slipped quietly into the crowd. She blended in well enough, unnoticed by most since all attention was fixed on Tanaka Shingo, who was speaking with an almost feverish passion.

Only Shizune caught sight of her teacher. With a small glance, Tsunade signaled for silence, and the two of them remained still, listening.

"Those who excel will be rewarded generously by the organization," Shingo declared. "We will even help you build a finer home!"

He raised his voice, letting his enthusiasm carry into the crowd.

"You will have houses, you will have wealth! As long as you dedicate yourselves and contribute to the organization, one day you can live in your own grand home. Do you remember Hoshino Gen, the wealthy man? You too can have a house as luxurious as his!"

The villagers stirred at the mention of Hoshino Gen. Though he was little more than a small landlord, within ten miles he was considered a rich man. Outside that radius, no one knew his name—but to these people, the comparison meant everything.

The crowd began to murmur excitedly. "Shingo, is this true? Can we really live in such houses?"

Tanaka Shingo smiled in satisfaction. His mentors in the organization had taught him well: if you want others to work with you, you must not only speak of benefits but also paint a grand vision for the future.

Though some of his promises were exaggerated, the basic rewards were real. A select few could indeed rise to elite status and live in fine homes.

For the rest, even ordinary folk could, with years of saving and effort, achieve a better life than being endlessly exploited by landlords and nobles.

"And think of your children!" Shingo pressed on. "They will learn in better conditions, grow stronger, and even have the chance to become shinobi!"

At this, the villagers' excitement only deepened. Shinobi were rare compared to the masses, and their power commanded awe.

"Everyone, why would I lie to you? It's all true," Shingo reassured them. "But remember this—our leaders are willing to guide us out of poverty, but we must work hard in return. If they extend their hand, we cannot repay it with ingratitude!"

His words balanced promise with warning, making the crowd both hopeful and cautious.

In the days that followed, Tsunade and Shizune shadowed Tanaka Shingo in secret. They watched him tirelessly spread the Umbrella Ideology.

At first, Tsunade was skeptical. But the more she observed, the more she realized—this organization was not ordinary.

The Umbrella Ideology itself startled her. It was bold, radical, and strangely compelling.

She also learned of the Umbrella Organization's membership hierarchy: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Purple.

From her observations, nearly every villager had joined, most as Purple members—the lowest rank. She could not yet see why Umbrella bothered with so many ordinary people, especially since it seemed only Indigo members were given any meaningful responsibilities.

And yet, she saw Shingo's sincerity with her own eyes. He genuinely cared for the villagers, and his kindness reminded Tsunade of the very ideals she once believed in. Though not a shinobi, he had a heart worthy of respect.

This only deepened her curiosity toward the mysterious Umbrella.

...

Land of Waves.

Uchiha Shisui convened a meeting with Uchiha Yu, Momochi Zabuza, and other key figures.

"How is our expansion progressing?" Shisui asked.

Under Naruto's policy and the steady leadership of Shisui and the others, both the Seven Colors Trading Company and the Umbrella Organization were extending their reach across the land.

Zabuza reported first, his tone gruff but calm.

"Progress is steady. Some regions are responding well, but others are more resistant. Many commoners still don't trust us. Recruiting shinobi has also slowed. The ones we're training ourselves aren't ready yet."

When he finished, Uchiha Yu rose with a pleased smile.

"My side is thriving. Membership has surged, and we've secured several skilled recruits in mechanical arts. In fact, in some areas, our ideology is already being hailed as a light of hope!"

He leaned back with a self-satisfied grin.

"And we've gained two especially valuable assets—Shizune and Kato Shizuka. Both are medical-nin, proficient in the Mystical Palm Technique."

Yu smirked at Zabuza as if to say, See? I'm outperforming you. Zabuza, however, wasn't interested in his rivalry and looked away, making Yu shrug.

"Have their backgrounds been thoroughly checked?" Shisui asked sharply.

His eyes narrowed—medical-nin trained in the Mystical Palm Technique were rare, even in the Five Great Nations. To stumble upon two wandering specialists at once was suspicious.

Yu waved a hand. "They look like drifters. My men only just brought me the report—I haven't had time to vet them properly."

Shisui's expression hardened. "Then leave them to me. I'll test them myself."

For advanced membership in Umbrella, strict vetting was mandatory. No spy from another hidden village—or from any rival faction—would be allowed to slip through.

The Umbrella Organization's structure itself reflected its name: layered, meticulous, and absolute in hierarchy. At its very core sat the central command, with Naruto—"Naru"—as its unquestioned authority.

From there, the influence spread outward in careful rings. Each level of membership knew little beyond its own circle. Countless small bases had been established across the nations, funded quietly through the Seven Colors Trading Company.

The purpose was not to absorb every person into Umbrella, but rather to spread the Umbrella Ideology—reshaping thought little by little, until minds and loyalties shifted on their own.

For Tsunade, this was deeply frustrating. She had intended to infiltrate Umbrella in order to discover the mastermind behind such a world-shaking vision, someone capable of seeing through the very nature of the shinobi system itself.

In her heart, she imagined a sage—perhaps a learned elder, a scholar who had studied for decades. Yet the higher echelons remained hidden from her.

Even those who served faithfully knew nothing of their superiors. Orders came down through single-line contacts, never revealing the hand that guided them. All communication was conducted with secret ciphers, leaving no trace.

This secrecy left Tsunade unsettled.

Any common villager could be Umbrella—and unless that person stood out, no one would ever know. It was a network that spanned the shinobi world like a silent web. And when that net was finally drawn tight, it would unleash a power beyond imagination.

As Tsunade wrestled with the implications, Shizune's perspective was softer. Beyond her unease, she saw how Umbrella's presence genuinely helped common people—providing hope, dignity, and opportunity.

Both of them, however, could not ignore one discovery: Umbrella, though discreet, had a subtle but undeniable link to the Seven Colors Trading Company. The connection was faint, almost hidden, yet it was there—like a shadow behind the light.

...

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