Konoha Year 48, Red Year 20, Early December...
Everyone was shocked by a piece of news.
Konoha...
Had been invaded again!!!
Although, in the end, thanks to the timely return of the Three Legendary Ninja to the village, the losses were not severe. It was just that some newly built houses had to be rebuilt, adding a burden to Konoha's already strained finances due to consecutive disasters. There were no other significant losses.
It is said that now...
Even the Three Legendary Ninja are working on construction sites moving bricks.
However...
No one was concerned about how much Konoha lost.
When people heard this news, their hearts sank, and they quickly ordered their own ninja villages to prepare for war and strengthen defenses.
Because the ones who invaded Konoha were none other than the direct ninja force of the Land of Fire's Daimyo...
The Twelve Guardian Ninja!!!
For a time...
Both nations and ninja villages fell into silence.
Although they had long known that change was inevitable, and that a conflict between ninja villages and nations was bound to happen eventually, they didn't expect it to happen so soon. And the Land of Fire, truly worthy of its former status as the top nation, dared to directly confront Konoha, a major ninja village, with just a few ninja.
Perhaps if the Three Legendary Ninja hadn't arrived in time, the Land of Fire might have really succeeded, but now...
Failure is failure!!!
Just when everyone thought Konoha would demand an explanation from the Daimyo, it seemed as if nothing had happened between the Land of Fire and Konoha...
The entire country remained peaceful, everyone just carried on as usual.
Countless ninja villages waited...
They waited to see how Konoha would resolve this matter, because...
Sometimes, cracks are not so easily repaired. If not resolved, contradictions will inevitably intensify, leading to even greater trouble later.
Furthermore, as the first example of a nation and a ninja village openly clashing, everyone wanted to see how Konoha would handle this situation.
Of course...
While waiting for Konoha to pave the way for the future, these ninja villages were not idle either. They recalled their ninja, rooted out spies, and prepared for potential sudden attacks from their nations.
It can be said that when the conflict between Konoha and the Land of Fire was exposed...
The relationship between nations and ninja villages became increasingly tense. Civil war...
No one knew when it would erupt. Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow!
Either find a way to peacefully resolve the relationship between the two sides, or directly...
Revolution!!!
Use bloodshed to change the current situation...
...
However...
While the outside world was still searching for a path forward, the Red Alliance Nation had already completed the most difficult step of the reform. Therefore, this period could also be said to be the most crucial time for the development of the Red Alliance Nation.
Economy, politics, military...
All saw varying degrees of improvement. At the same time, to deepen the relationship between the alliance nations, Uzushiogakure held the second Red Alliance Nation conference in the capital of the Land of Hot Water...
At this conference, Uzushiogakure mainly proposed three major suggestions. First, it proposed using Uzushiogakure's legal system as a blueprint, with Uzushiogakure sending relevant experts to assist each country in formulating laws adapted to their respective customs and habits. Second, it once again proposed the exchange rate between Uzushiogakure Gold and Ryo, and, with a friendly attitude (forcefully), suggested that alliance nations must use Uzushiogakure Gold in future transactions. Third, establish a Shinobi Alliance Force with the primary goal of maintaining peace in the ninja world, with its commander to be decided through discussions within the Red Alliance Nation, selecting suitable candidates from each country.
And the first commander, in an open, just, and fair election meeting, was Uzushiogakure's Minister of Military Affairs, Uzumaki Komaki, who received the 'approval and agreement' of everyone present.
Truly commendable and congratulatory, commendable and congratulatory!
"Affected by the tense relations between nations and ninja villages, Uzushiogakure Gold is also gradually circulating into other countries," Uzumaki Hibiki adjusted his glasses and said. "And the exchange rate is slowly rising. Some countries are even experiencing a shortage of Uzushiogakure Gold. Lord Kakuzu asked me to consult you on whether we should continue distributing Uzushiogakure Gold."
"Wait!" Uzumaki Jun rubbed his eyes, yawned, and said, "This thing is a beast! The slightest mistake could bring great disaster. Besides, I probably don't understand finance as well as Kakuzu and Gato do. Let the two of them discuss it and, as a project, have the students from the Finance Academy study what to do next."
He looked up at Uzumaki Hibiki...
"The times are changing. Many old ways might not suit us now. So, we must try everything. Don't be afraid of failure. With me here, Uzushiogakure can afford to fail."
If serious problems really arise...
There are so many other ninja villages and nations. Uzushiogakure can just step in to help them reform and transfer the consequences of failure.
So...
With a whole group of people behind us to share the burden of failure, if we don't try now, then when?
As for things like war being shameful, improper, uncivilized, etc...
Sorry, this is all for the peace of the ninja world!!!
If something happens to Uzushiogakure, the entire ninja world will surely fall into chaos.
Therefore, nothing is unforgivable!
However...
Uzumaki Hibiki adjusted his glasses and said with a helpless expression, "Lord Kakuzu said he won't be in Uzushiogakure during this period, which is why he asked me to tell you."
"..."
Hearing Hibiki's words, Uzumaki Jun immediately became alert, paused for a moment, and asked, "What business could he have outside at a time like this?"
Now is the time when every nation and ninja village is dealing with their own contradictions...
"What is Kakuzu going out to do now?"
"Ah, you know," Hibiki spread his hands helplessly and said, "Some time ago, because of the war, a large number of people who took out loans didn't repay them and just disappeared. So, after compiling statistics, Minister Kakuzu..."
Hibiki didn't finish, as it was clear enough. Saying more...
That petty, vindictive, stern-faced guy would definitely hold a grudge!
"I know about that," Uzumaki Jun nodded and said. "But didn't we already send some ninja out?"
He heard that for those who defaulted on loans and couldn't be found, if they had houses, Kakuzu had already seized and auctioned them. And for those who defaulted, couldn't be found, and had no houses...
That night...
Kakuzu came to him with a sword, asking him to help find those people.
Seeing that he couldn't dissuade him, Uzumaki Jun could only introduce Kakuzu to Black Zetsu.
As for what happened after that?
He didn't know.
But...
What does that have to do with Kakuzu now?
"Did they find the people, and Kakuzu went with his sword?"
"Not exactly," Hibiki shook his head, adjusted his glasses, and said. "It's just that some employees from the Finance Ministry, while collecting debts, discovered that most countries are starting to stockpile ninja tools. They thought the batch of outdated ninja tools piled up domestically could be brought out to see the sun, and then..."
You get the idea!!!
"..."
Well, I understand!
Uzumaki Jun nodded in understanding. Last time, the legendary ninja sword scam was exposed, and for a long time, Uzushiogakure's ninja tools couldn't be sold, especially the Infinite Glove ninja tools...
Although they allowed ordinary people to use ninjutsu, their high cost, weak power, and high consumption gradually led to them being phased out by various ninja villages.
So...
It's said that during this period, Kakuzu would look at that batch of goods with a sorrowful expression, pounding his chest, almost going to fight Uchiha Fugaku to the death.
Fortunately, it was discovered in time, and no major mistake was made.
But later, at Fugaku's wedding, he received a red envelope wrapped in newspaper. Who knows if it was from Kakuzu.
He sighed, Uzumaki Jun looked up at Uzumaki Hibiki and said, "Tell Kakuzu to see if he can also sell the batch of wooden ships and airships piled up at the dock."
He stood up, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth, his profound gaze falling on the document submitted by Chiro on the desk...
"The age of steel is coming, and the future..."
"Uzushiogakure's vision can no longer be limited to just the ninja world!"
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