Chapter 22: Chapter 22 : Kumogakure's Response!!
No one is born with knowledge.
Just as ninjas are not born; they become ninjas.
Are they born powerful?
Definitely not.
Ninjas begin training from a young age, learning various skills including ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, to achieve their current strength.
Well, if they can learn to be ninjas, why can't they learn to govern?
You see, this is the limitation of the times.
If no one had pointed this out, Senju Tobirama would never have imagined that ninjas could learn these things, right?
[Okay, I reiterate my point once again at the end of the video.]
[The Ninja World desires peace. Externally, it needs unity. Internally, it needs to eliminate old officials and nobles like the Daimyo, and promote agriculture to increase food production.]
[If you still don't understand this, think of the entire Ninja Continent as the Land of Fire during the Warring States Period.]
[When Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha founded Konoha and attracted many ninja clans to join, did that mean there would be no more wars in the Land of Fire?]
[Similarly, once the Ninja World is unified and a large Konoha Village is established, will there be no more wars in the Ninja World?]
[Officials like Daimyo must be abolished.]
[A country does not need two leaders.]
[Others can give opinions, but only one person can make decisions.]
[Okay, that's my understanding of how peace can be established in Naruto World.]
[If you have any good insights, feel free to leave a comment, and we can discuss it together.]
[Don't forget to press and hold to like; you can like three times with one click.]
[See you in the next video.]
This video is short, but it contains a lot of information for Senju Tobirama and others.
The light screen dissipated, leaving Utatane Koharu and the others with numerous questions for Tobirama-sensei.
However, Tobirama was in no mood to entertain them at the moment.
"Hiruzen, Danzo, handle the others. I need time to ponder this," he stated firmly.
"Okay, teacher."
That night, Senju Tobirama contemplated deeply.
He grasped some of what Hayashi Sora had expressed, yet certain aspects eluded him entirely.
Why must they abolish the feudal lord system to unify the ninja world?
Isn't the current system beneficial as it is?
And after unification, where would these shinobi direct their energies in the absence of hostile nations?
These were issues Tobirama needed to resolve within himself.
Even for someone of his intellect, there were limits.
For a while, he struggled to comprehend Hayashi Sora's words and come to a decision.
Fortunately, having rewritten his own 'history' of death, he now had ample time for contemplation.
Thus, he felt no rush.
With the deaths of the Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and Raikage, the First Great Ninja War that engulfed the entire shinobi world had concluded.
The Hidden Cloud Village had successfully ascended someone new to leadership, its third Raikage now reigning. Ai seethed with anger as he listened to the missive from Konoha read aloud by his subordinates.
"What is Konoha planning? Are they provoking another war with us?"
Tobirama's intentions in the letter were starkly clear.
Either uphold the promises of the Second Raikage.
Or else, both villages would plunge once more into conflict.
There was no feigning ignorance, no room for further negotiation.
These were the only choices.
Whether to battle or seek peace rested solely with the Third Raikage.
This alone incensed Ai further.
Because the Hidden Cloud Village is currently at its weakest point in history.
Not only have we lost the second Raikage, but all our elite troops led by Kinkaku and Ginkaku were also defeated.
We simply can't afford another conflict with Konoha.
"Lord Raikage, what should we do next?"
What should I do?
Ai also wanted to know what steps to take.
Things are different now compared to before.
Back then, he was just another ninja in the village, and his words held little sway.
But now?
He is the Third Raikage of the village.
Every decision he makes will determine the future fate of the village.
Under such immense pressure, he had to choose carefully.
"You draft the letter. My sole intention is to buy time."
"To delay?"
The secretary didn't quite grasp the Third Raikage's meaning.
"It's about stalling. Inform Konoha that we're financially strained and unable to meet their demands immediately. Suggest extending the deadline. If we can repay in installments over four, five, six, seven, or eight years, that would be ideal."
The secretary wiped an imaginary bead of sweat from his forehead. "But what if Konoha refuses?"
"That's why I said delay. Let them grow impatient. When they do, we'll offer small payments to ease their concerns. With these payments, they'll calm down and avoid rash actions. Do you understand?"
The secretary nodded, this time fully comprehending.
If the compensation owed by the Hidden Cloud Village amounts to a hundred ryo.
Then, when Konoha becomes impatient, we'll give them a few ryo to pacify them.
After they settled down, the village continued to procrastinate until impatience arose once more, prompting the village to offer them a few or even a dozen pieces again.
By repeating this process over and over, they managed to buy a considerable amount of time.
As long as there was this buffer time, it wouldn't hinder the village's progress.
Realizing this, the secretary gazed at the Third Raikage with newfound admiration.
Others had claimed the Third Raikage was merely a reckless man.
Aside from his immense strength, he seemed thoughtless.
Now, it appeared that most of these rumors were unfounded.
If he didn't have a sharp mind, could he have developed his strength to such a high level?
If he lacked intelligence, could the Third Raikage have devised this strategy?
"Handle it yourself if you understand clearly. I'm going to train now."
"But Lord Raikage, there are numerous documents awaiting your approval."
"No rush, they can wait until I return."
"Lord Raikage."
The secretary had just concluded that the Third Raikage wasn't reckless, but he immediately disregarded document approvals and headed for training.
"Oh well, I better do my part."
Several days had passed by the time Tobirama received the letter from the Hidden Cloud Village.
During these days, the situation in the ninja world had become more stable.
Though no peace treaty had been signed between Iwagakure and Kirigakure, their ninja forces had withdrawn far from their borders, suggesting no imminent conflict.
Meanwhile, the Sand Village continued its covert development.
In essence, it wouldn't be long before the First Ninja World War would be officially declared over.
"Sensei, has there been a letter from the Hidden Cloud Village?"
"Yes."
Tobirama handed the letter to Hiruzen generously.
After Hiruzen finished reading, he asked, "What do you think Kumogakure is planning?"
"They complained in the letter, but didn't mention compensation at all. Are they trying to default on their debt?"
Tobirama shook his head and replied, "They can't deny the debt. They should know that. Knowing they can't deny it explains why they sent such a letter."
"Then sensei means..."
"Yes, they probably want to delay and postpone the payment as much as possible."
"So sensei, what should we do?"
"How should we proceed?"
Tobirama sneered and said to Hiruzen, "Go and inform the heads of each ninja clan to come here for an immediate meeting."
"Understood, sensei!"
****
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