Ryun Uchiha looked around at the reactions, which varied. Some people were deep in thought, while others wore expressions as if they had just eaten something disgusting. They were all different, especially the clan representatives who could no longer listen and were preparing to leave their seats.
Right at that moment, the voice of the Fourth Raikage rang out. "No one is allowed to leave. All of you, stay where you are." He walked from behind the scenes to the front of the stage, his face dark. He was no longer the impulsive, rash young man known as A from before.
He had now become the Fourth Raikage, bearing the future of Kumogakure on his shoulders. He had his own understanding of sound advice. He was willing to try and learn any method that could make Kumogakure stronger. If anyone tried to stop him, he would prove his resolve with action.
The current Kumogakure needed everything rebuilt. The old systems were no longer suitable. Only by burning their boats and reshuffling everything could they become strong again. The Fourth Raikage was determined to see this through. Now, taking advantage of Ryun Uchiha's speech, he would carry this out to the end.
The Fourth Raikage walked from the backstage to the front. His hands were clad in golden metal arm guards. His tall figure stood on the stage, commanding authority without anger. He swept his sharp gaze over the crowd, causing the protesting clan members to instantly fall silent. Darui waved his hand, and Anbu shinobi leaped out one after another. They held kunai in their hands, blocking the essential paths to leave the venue.
The faces of Kumogakure's clan representatives turned pale with anger. They had clearly supported the Fourth Raikage's ascension. How could he turn on them and prepare to damage their interests as soon as he was about to take power. This was not how you treated your allies after crossing the river.
The Fourth Raikage's lips curled upward. He looked at Ryun Uchiha and inquired carefully, "Hokage-sama, please elaborate in detail. How can this situation be resolved."
Ryun Uchiha looked at him deeply. His impression of the Fourth Raikage, A, changed once again. He believed there were very few people in the ninja world who, upon hearing such a plan, would immediately put it into action. After all, clan culture had permeated the ninja world for over a thousand years. Even when Hashirama Senju proposed the village system, with major clans uniting to live together in one village.
Their habits and perceptions were not so easy to change. Back when Ryun Uchiha carried out reforms, although the Uchiha clan supported him, there was still twenty percent opposition. And this was the Hokage's own clan. Let alone other clans like the Hyuga, the Uzumaki, and the rest.
"Of course. I just wonder if the Raikage can persist and carry out these matters fairly." Ryun Uchiha smiled.
Samui also looked at the Raikage now. Although she did not know exactly what Ryun Uchiha and the Fourth Raikage, A, were discussing, she knew it was something complex, sharp, and would bear immense pressure. But once successful, the benefits for Kumogakure would be enormous, potentially even revitalizing the village entirely.
Now this opportunity had appeared, right before them. It was just a matter of whether the Fourth Raikage could seize it. Seizing it could lead to success, with Kumogakure bursting with new vitality, or failure, causing Kumogakure to fall into decline from which it could not recover.
The Fourth Raikage, A, chuckled. "Of course. The current Kumogakure has declined to who knows what extent. At this juncture, only bold and sweeping reforms, only this, can make us strong again. For this, I am willing to pay any price, even my life. Please, Hokage-sama, tell me."
Ryun Uchiha smiled slightly and began to speak.
"One. Revoke all special privileges of the shinobi clans.
Two. Make all C-rank ninjutsu publicly accessible.
Three. Everyone is equal. Shinobi are no longer allowed to discriminate against or look down upon civilians. Offenders will be publicly executed.
Four. ..."
Ryun Uchiha listed ten points in total. With each point he stated, the faces of the clan members grew darker. Some even looked at Ryun Uchiha with hatred in their eyes. This was digging up the very roots of their clans.
Their clans had not reached this day easily. They had accumulated their wealth, ninjutsu, and status step by step through family savings. Ryun Uchiha wanted to erase all that, to make everyone equal. Why? On what grounds?
The Fourth Raikage's eyes grew brighter the more he listened, but his heart also grew heavier. These points targeted the clans, but for Kumogakure's civilians, they were good news. After Ryun Uchiha finished speaking, he clenched his fists. "By my order, strictly implement Hokage-sama's ten points of advice."
The clan members felt their vision darken. Some became unsteady on their feet, their breathing grew heavier. Seeing this, Darui had the Anbu escort them back home and ordered shinobi to surround all the clan compounds.
Ryun Uchiha smiled. "Can I step down now, Raikage?" Ryun Uchiha now looked at the Fourth Raikage with appreciation. This path was destined to be extremely difficult, yet the Fourth Raikage was taking it. Those who dared to defy popular opinion and bravely advance were respectable.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." He imitated the etiquette that had become popular in Konoha, bending at the waist and cupping his hands in a salute to express his gratitude. Ryun Uchiha only cupped his hands in return without bowing.
Some might ask at this point, why would Ryun Uchiha give the reform contents to Kumogakure and other villages.
Because here, his words would spread throughout the ninja world within a week. For Kumogakure, it was fine. They decided to implement the policy on the spot. But what about other countries. If they implemented it, it would take at least ten years, maybe twenty, just to reach Konoha's current level. And would Konoha not progress in the meantime.
Moreover, if some hidden villages did not implement these, would their civilians not become dissatisfied. Faced with civilian dissatisfaction, could those Kage simply eliminate them all. If they did, who would grow the food. Who would run the service industries. If they did not kill them, and the civilians protested, went on strike, halted markets, would the economy not regress.
This move was an open scheme. Those who learn from me will thrive, those who merely imitate me will die. Before, no one proposed such theories because they were not strong enough, not because they were unaware. Now, Ryun Uchiha's words had torn off the fig leaf covering the class relations in the ninja world. If civilians wanted to rise, to secure a bright future for their descendants, they would definitely protest.
Then the pressure would fall on these Kage, giving them plenty of headaches. Moreover, dealing with these things required time. Their Konoha could take advantage of the situation to develop and grow stronger. Perfect. Ryun Uchiha looked at the crowd with their varied expressions and the calm faces of the Mizukage, Tsuchikage, and Kazekage. They probably had not yet realized the implications.
A pity. Luming was not by his side. Otherwise, he would certainly understand the reason for doing this. Ryun Uchiha felt quite pleased with himself.
"No problem, no problem. I'll step down first, A. I look forward to your success." After speaking, Ryun Uchiha handed the microphone to Samui. Samui hurriedly took the microphone and bowed to Ryun Uchiha. Ryun Uchiha nodded and walked off the stage. The three Kage stood up to offer him their seats. He waved his hand. "I have some private matters to attend to."
The three Kage nodded upon seeing this and sat back down. Ryun Uchiha looked toward Minato's table and snorted coldly.
Minato also looked at Ryun Uchiha at this moment and swallowed hard. He chuckled, signaling for mercy. Ryun Uchiha shook his head and headed straight for Namikaze Minato.
Namikaze Minato smiled bitterly. He was really in a tough spot. If only he had not been so impulsive earlier. Now that Ryun Uchiha had his eyes on him, he felt rather uncomfortable.
Just as he was lamenting, Ryun Uchiha's large hand grabbed his neck, seizing the throat of Minato's fate. "I heard you were jumping around quite happily earlier."
"Te, teacher, I..." Namikaze Minato wanted to say something, but Ryun Uchiha interrupted him. "Tea what tea. Am I that old." He sneered. The others, Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara, also restrained themselves. Sakumo Hatake moved closer to his son. The two were discussing the mysteries of the Hatake sword style.
They completely pretended not to see Ryun Uchiha's actions. Namikaze Minato felt despair. The next moment, Ryun Uchiha sneered. "Look at me, you brat." Minato raised his head to look at Ryun Uchiha. The next instant, Ryun Uchiha's pupils transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan. In just one second, Minato fell into a genjutsu without even letting out a sound.
Genjutsu World
When Namikaze Minato regained his senses, he regretted it immensely. Why had he been so obedient as to look directly into Ryun Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. He could not help but feel chagrined. He observed his surroundings and found himself standing on water. The surface was as smooth as land. Opposite him stood Ryun Uchiha.
"My good disciple, it's been a long time since we sparred. Let me see how much you've improved." Ryun Uchiha sneered. After saying this, he raised his hand and threw a punch toward Namikaze Minato. Since it was a spar, the pain sensation, speed, and everything were perfectly combined with reality.
So fast. Namikaze Minato's pupils constricted. He immediately threw out over ten Flying Thunder God kunai, preparing to dodge and shift positions. Ryun Uchiha waved his hand grandly. Universal Pull activated, pulling Minato's hand to the side for an instant.
Namikaze Minato failed to notice for a moment. His hand seals were broken. Bad. He looked at Ryun Uchiha. Ryun Uchiha's iron fist had already arrived at his face. Then followed a series of screams. "Ah. Teacher, I was wrong, I was wrong. Don't hit the face. Damn it, why is the pain in this genjutsu space so realistic."
Once Ryun Uchiha got close, if you, Namikaze Minato, could use any ninjutsu, including the substitution technique, then I lose. Ryun Uchiha sneered coldly. He threw punch after punch. Anyway, you could not die in the genjutsu space, so he would beat him to within an inch of his life.
After who knows how long, Namikaze Minato was beaten until his face was covered in large lumps, even his eye circles were purple. He was suffering immensely now. If only he had not been so impulsive earlier. Now it was done. He got a beating for no reason. Although it was the genjutsu space, his teacher had adjusted the pain sensation to be exactly like reality.
This feeling of being injured, Namikaze Minato did not know how long it had been since he last experienced it. It was only Ryun Uchiha who could beat him up like this. It must be said, his teacher's skills were truly bizarre and shameless. Like that gravitational pull move earlier. He was caught off guard for a moment, and all his hand seals were wasted.
Ryun Uchiha seemed satisfied. He smiled. "After we get out, don't speak carelessly. Otherwise, you can expect a daily genjutsu from me."
Namikaze Minato nodded. He swore he was not compromising just to avoid a beating. He simply felt he should respect his elders.
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