The Uchiha clan demonstrated their sincerity by assembling a formidable team: four Jonin with three-tomoe Sharingan and four Chunin with two-tomoe Sharingan. Unlike individual combatants, these shinobi excelled in coordinated squad tactics, making them far more effective than lone fighters.
None of them were officially registered, meaning their departure from Konoha would go unnoticed by all but a select few within the Uchiha, who would never betray their whereabouts.
"As expected of a clan that has endured for nearly a thousand years—summoning such a force so effortlessly." Keikou Sanmoku expressed his admiration as he addressed Uchiha Tekka. They had crossed paths many times before and were well acquainted.
Rather than sever ties after discovering Keikou's connections to Sunagakure, Uchiha Fugaku had strengthened their alliance, deepening their cooperation.
Given the possibility of encountering members of the Akatsuki, Keikou had declined the bodyguards offered by Pakura and instead sought the Uchiha's assistance.
"By the way, Tekka-san," Keikou suddenly smiled and asked, "once the mission is over, would you be interested in visiting the Suna Federation Republic? It would only take a few days, but I'm not sure if Clan Leader Fugaku would approve."
The Suna Federation Republic.
The name had begun to spread throughout the shinobi world. It was said that Sunagakure had chosen to break free from the traditional limitations of a ninja village, embracing the term "federation" to signal its openness to all professions. "Republic" reflected their commitment to peace and opposition to war.
This philosophy was actively promoted among the village's existing residents and new recruits. With their population nearly doubling, internal conflicts were inevitable. The solution was to instill a new ideology while expanding economic opportunities, reducing the likelihood of internal strife.
As for whether Fugaku would allow them to visit the Suna Federation Republic, Tekka was almost certain that he would. If given the chance, their leader would undoubtedly send them to gather intelligence.
"After the mission, that shouldn't be a problem."
Tekka offered a vague response, though he had already decided to consult Fugaku for approval.
"Keikou, why are you heading to Amegakure all of a sudden? Don't they have... history with Sunagakure?"
"Bad blood, you mean?" Keikou feigned contemplation before replying, "Well, I believe my lord put it best: between the sword and the one who wields it, I'd rather take revenge on the wielder. After all, a sword can still be put to good use, but a swordsman consumed by hatred has no further value."
"The shinobi of Amegakure are naïve and full of potential. Their usefulness far exceeds that of the daimyo of the Land of Wind. As for grudges… a strategic shift in hostilities can't eliminate hatred entirely, but it can minimize it. And the former Sunagakure ninja remain unaware of this arrangement."
"You've probably heard about the recent events, haven't you, Tekka-san? Two noble families from the Land of Rivers who pledged allegiance to the Federation were slaughtered by bandits, only for their entire estates to be confiscated by the Land of Rivers' daimyo.
"Right now, the Federation lacks sufficient manpower, so we're considering securing a few more 'swords'—just in case."
Keikou paused briefly, then smiled. "Forgive me, Tekka-san. I may have spoken too much."
Tekka pushed aside his surprise, shaking his head. "Not at all. Your insights are enlightening, Keikou-san. Now, let's focus on the mission. The Uchiha name does not tolerate failure."
"I'll be counting on you, Tekka-san."
With that, Keikou gave a slight bow before boarding the carriage.
"As expected of the Keikou family..."
Tekka mused to himself. Over time, he had come to understand Keikou's ways—his impeccable etiquette, his sharp mind, and his ability to navigate delicate situations effortlessly.
Spending time with him never felt uncomfortable; if anything, their conversations always seemed to end too soon.
With the construction of the Federation's cities nearly complete, Keikou now had time to focus on other matters.
The next phase of the Suna Federation Republic's development revolved around two key aspects: food production and military reform.
Food security was a critical issue. With the Federation adopting a unified political system, it had a responsibility to provide for all its citizens. Implementing new agricultural methods would be no small feat.
The Federation had to take the lead in demonstrating the benefits of their policies, convincing villagers to embrace the changes willingly.
At present, governance within the Federation operated through two primary means: authority and incentives. When it came to agriculture, coercion would only provoke resistance, as even a minor crop failure could mean life or death for a family.
Unlike the Land of Fire, fertile land within the Federation was scarce.
Pakura had considered large-scale state-run farming, but arable land was limited. The only truly viable territories were those formerly owned by nobles from the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers.
However, the nobles from the Land of Rivers who had defected to the Federation had met an unfortunate fate, leading to a significant loss of territory that should have belonged to the Federation.
Keikou's visit to Amegakure was, in part, an effort to negotiate with the Akatsuki.
A massive mountain range stood between Amegakure and the Suna Federation Republic, acting as a barrier to the humid air currents from the surrounding great nations. As a result, while Amegakure experienced near-constant rainfall, the Federation suffered from extreme drought, with only a few rainy days each year.
Keikou's first priority in Amegakure was to propose a cooperative effort to flatten or tunnel through the mountains, redistributing rainfall between the two countries. This would decrease precipitation in Amegakure while increasing it in the Federation—a mutually beneficial arrangement.
However, removing this natural barrier would expose Amegakure to new threats.
Previously, their defenses were concentrated around a few key checkpoints. If the mountains were removed, the Federation would have unrestricted access to Amegakure's borders, surrounding them on three sides.
Many within the Federation doubted that Amegakure would agree to such a drastic proposal.
But Hyuga Mirai thought otherwise.
He saw far more opportunities for collaboration with the Akatsuki beyond this single issue.
And this was just the beginning.
(End of Chapter)