Late July, Year 45 of Konoha.
One of the Konoha Sannin, the successor of Mount Myoboku, the self-proclaimed Toad Sage Jiraiya, committed fraud in the Land of Whirlpools, involving a huge sum of money...
Once this news broke, it had a significant impact on the ninja world.
After all...
During the Second Great Ninja War, the Konoha Sannin had earned illustrious achievements through their own abilities. Now, they had actually fallen to the point of resorting to fraud.
Immediately, many people began to suspect that the Konoha leadership had mistreated the village's heroes, while also questioning the educational methods of the Third Hokage. For one of the esteemed Konoha Sannin to become a fraudster in another country was simply losing face internationally.
Especially since it was being broadcast everywhere through the large crystals produced by the Land of Whirlpools...
Konoha's face and reputation suffered a heavy blow. Many ninja villages sent congratulatory messages, particularly the other four great ninja villages. During this period, the number of missions posted to their villages increased by five percentage points year-on-year!!!
Seeing this, the Third Hokage quickly issued an official statement, claiming this was a plot by the Land of Whirlpools. He urged everyone not to believe the words of other countries, stating that Jiraiya was an excellent ninja of Konoha who had shed blood and made contributions for Konoha. Konoha had never mistreated any of its heroes. He asked everyone to trust Konoha, to trust him, the Third Hokage...
Konoha would absolutely not let its heroes shed blood and tears!!
At the same time, he sternly condemned the unethical actions of the Land of Whirlpools. No matter what, the friendship between Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools dated back to the time of the First Hokage, it was long-standing and well-established.
How could the Land of Whirlpools do such an unkind thing, slandering Konoha?
Immediately...
Under the influence of the Will of Fire, the entire village of Konoha united as one, with collective determination...
Together, they condemned the Land of Whirlpools!
They believed that Lord Jiraiya was a hero of Konoha, and he must have been arrested by the Land of Whirlpools on trumped-up charges for the sake of Konoha.
Moreover, Lord Jiraiya and his student Lord Minato, for Konoha to suffer such insults...
Truly, a family of loyal martyrs!
However...
A discordant voice suddenly arose...
Rescue Lord Jiraiya, ransom Lord Minato, and welcome Lord Minato as Hokage...
...
"What do you think?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned as he looked at the letter in his hand, sighing emotionally, "Jiraiya also thinks Minato is suitable to be Hokage!"
"Impossible!" Utatane Koharu shook her head, saying seriously, "I still maintain my position. The position of village leader is not something to compromise on just because of external pressure."
"Can't you see it?"
She looked at them earnestly...
"There is definitely the shadow of the Land of Whirlpools behind this matter!"
"Who can guarantee that Jiraiya isn't being threatened?"
"This..." Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his cigarette, stood up sorrowfully, and said, "But what should Konoha do now?"
He never expected that the Land of Whirlpools would transform from a chess piece into a player, even...
to the extent of being able to influence the situation of the entire ninja world!
"Now, people in the village are starting to question me."
He sighed...
"They think I never intended to give up the Hokage's position, that all my assurances are false, hypocritical."
If this continues...
His authority as Hokage will definitely be damaged!
"And I don't believe Jiraiya is that kind of person!"
With his Sage Mode, his resistance to genjutsu is inherently strong. How could just anyone threaten him?
So...
Jiraiya must genuinely want Minato to become Hokage...
"This..." Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance, hesitated, then sighed and said, "Let's wait a little longer!"
"Before the situation becomes clear, I really am not at ease..."
After all...
They are senior advisors of Konoha. They cannot let just anyone become Hokage, even if he has the recognition of the entire village now...
It still won't do!!
They are...
doing this for Konoha...
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen...
After hearing Utatane Koharu's words, he fell silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "I will arrange for people to go to the Land of Whirlpools as soon as possible to investigate Jiraiya's situation."
"If the situation matches, we will immediately ransom Minato and have him assume the position of Hokage!!"
As for Danzo, who had been sulking with a dark expression the whole time...
He was directly ignored by everyone~
...
Daimyo's Palace, Land of Fire...
"Namikaze Minato, huh!" The Daimyo of the Land of Fire looked at the intelligence in his hand, murmuring, "The Fourth Hokage..." He raised his head to look at his ministers, "What do you think?"
"This..." The ministers looked at each other, not knowing what to say. In the past, matters of the ninja village were just that, matters of the ninja village. Apart from legitimizing the next Hokage, they had no other rights. But ever since the Land of Whirlpools abolished the ninja village system and grew powerful...
The Daimyo's mind began to stir with ideas...
After all...
Which Daimyo wants to see the country's military power held by others?
Before, there was no other way. The one-country-one-village policy did bring many conveniences to the country, stabilized internal unrest, and transferred domestic conflicts abroad. But now...
The power of the ninja villages is simply becoming too great!
"Perhaps the Daimyo should meet Namikaze Minato..." An elderly minister stepped forward and proposed, "It wouldn't be too late to make a decision after that!"
For now, they could only resort to vague, non-committal statements.
Otherwise, speaking carelessly could lead to an death!
"In that case..." The Daimyo of the Land of Fire pondered for a moment, then sighed and said, "Let's do as you suggest!"
This was the only option left...
After all, the strength of Konoha's ninja was too formidable, and his own, the Daimyo's...
military power...
was somewhat laughable!
"Secretly arrange for personnel to visit the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools and inquire if a meeting with Namikaze Minato is possible."
"Remember..."
The Daimyo's eyes narrowed...
"Under no circumstances must Konoha find out!"
He sighed helplessly inwardly...
It seems...
the Daimyo's palace should also establish its own ninja force.
...
Meanwhile, in the Land of Snow at this time...
"Captain, the ninja of the Land of Snow are really weak!" A Uzu-nin shivered, chattering through his teeth, "It's just that this place is way too cold."
It was already mid-August.
Yet as far as the eye could see, it was still a vast expanse of white...
"When can we go back?"
He missed the delicious food of the Land of Whirlpools...
"Wait!" The Uzu-nin captain took a drag of his cigarette and said calmly, "The mission isn't complete yet. It's not time to go back."
Currently, their identity in the Land of Snow was that of the Ninja World Peacekeeping Force, here to maintain peace in the ninja world. They were the righteous ones!
Therefore...
"Is anyone willing to stay behind." The Uzu-nin captain looked at the Uzu-nin and said, "After things are settled here, the rest will follow me downstream from here. All these small countries in this region..."
They must bring this entire area under the influence of the Land of Whirlpools...
Only then can they...
bring hope and happiness to the entire ninja world!
...
Year 46 of Konoha. With the Red Doctrine revolution in the Land of Snow, the entire country showed vigorous vitality...
Seeing this perpetually cold country gradually becoming prosperous under the reforms of the Red Doctrine, the Daimyos of all surrounding countries began to ponder this Red system once more...
After all, no Daimyo wished to see their country remain perpetually poor and destitute, never knowing if they would eat their fill!
And the ninja of various countries, witnessing this scene...
saw the coming...
of the ninja's doom!
The former lofty status, controlling the nation's greatest resources, wealth, and power, holding authority over the common people below, all were being swept away in the torrent of the Red Doctrine...
and destroyed...
To protect their own interests, the major ninja villages began to launch wars, rejecting domestic reforms, claiming that the ninja villages were the factor maintaining stability in the ninja world!
The Land of Whirlpools was wrong!!!
Summer, Year 46 of Konoha...
The minor countries fell into chaos. The class conflict between ninja and commoners began to erupt!
As for the Five Great Nations...
Their powerful ninja strength suppressed any reactionary forces. Thus, they still presented a scene of 'harmony' as usual!
However, under the interference of the Land of Whirlpools, the ninja forces in the minor countries gradually lost ground. Forced into a corner, they could only seek help from the Five Great Ninja Villages.
The Five Great Ninja Villages also began to realize the seriousness of the situation. Putting aside their respective prejudices, they once again formed an alliance...
Joining forces with the remaining minor countries' powers, they strongly condemned the Land of Whirlpools for interfering in other countries' internal affairs and demanded that the Land of Whirlpools withdraw its troops. However, the Land of Whirlpools issued an official statement...
We are stationed here at the request of the Daimyos of the minor countries. It is legal. It is righteous!
Just when everyone thought a fight was about to break out...
The entire ninja world entered a period of eerie peace. No fighting occurred.
Thus...
Early in Year 47 of Konoha...
A total of 17 countries successfully underwent revolution, joined the Red Doctrine organization, and established the United Red Nations organization...
They unified currency, unified systems, unified measurement scales, and revised the Konoha calendar. Counting from the day the Land of Whirlpools re-established its political power, it was called Year 1 of the Red Calendar...
Up to now, it is Year 19 of the Red Calendar...
For any country joining the organization, the Land of Whirlpools would provide military, economic, and political aid. Simultaneously, under the development policy of the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative, they would help each country recover and develop, deepen reforms, and achieve common prosperity for the ninja world!
At that time...
The various countries, under the superiority of the Red Doctrine, began to burst with vigorous vitality.
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