The Land of Earth, in the wake of the Allied Shinobi Forces, was filled with wails and cries.
However, everything changed three days later.
Officials from various nations entered, bringing with them food supplies.
These officials were indeed nobles, but none of them were nobles from the Land of Earth.
And officials who could enter first at such a time were not after a small gain in front of them; the Land of Earth was merely the place where things happened, while the real game was played out in their respective countries.
The people of the Land of Earth experienced a journey from heaven to hell, and then from hell to heaven, in just three short days.
Why is it heaven now? Because the Land of Earth has no more nobles!
Even some strong-willed nobles who chose not to report to the Pure Land were now no different from the rest of the Land of Earth's people.
People are always more concerned with inequality than with scarcity!
The officials were far-sighted, knowing that to turn these people into their own, they would eventually have to throw out some bones.
They employed various methods, some offering tax exemptions, others distributing land; in short, all sorts of measures to pacify the people were put into action.
The effect was naturally immediate, and everyone cheered with joy; the area behind the Allied Shinobi Forces became a sea of happiness.
The Shinobi Alliance was indeed saving the Land of Earth!
Even the Six Paths Sage himself could not deny it.
Besides food, the nobles also brought seeds, farming tools, and all necessary daily supplies, which would continue to be provided until the people could sustain themselves.
As for why the nobles were so generous, a portion of the supplies would be replenished by the Shinobi Alliance.
That is, a part of everything the Allied Shinobi Forces plundered would still be given to the nobles; this was unavoidable.
If he could, Tomoki would have wanted the Shinobi Alliance to completely occupy the Land of Earth and prevent any nobles from interfering.
Unfortunately, while Ninja could fight, they were barely qualified to manage a small Village, let alone a vast country and its population.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, whom Tomoki thought highly of, would be utterly bewildered.
Furthermore, even if Tomoki himself were to manage it, it would be fraught with difficulties.
Therefore, the Ninja gained mineral resources, and the nobles gained population and land resources; although the two sides began to drift apart, they still participated together in this grand feast.
The shift in the people's sentiment in the Land of Earth also affected Iwagakure.
The once disheartened surrender faction began to resurface, quickly surpassing their previous peak.
At yet another bickering meeting, the three factions still failed to convince each other.
Just then, a furious shout came from outside.
"You scoundrels! Did Ōnoki really lead you to become such cowards?"
Iwagakure, without anyone to take charge, held large meetings, the kind that were destined to fail to reach a consensus.
There were quite a few Ninja present, and soon some looked in the direction of the voice, and after seeing who it was, exclamations constantly broke out.
"Lord Roshi!"
"It's Lord Roshi, he's back!"
....
Accompanied by cheers, Roshi arrived at the center of the meeting hall.
"All I've heard on my way here is'surrender.' Do you really have no backbone left?"
Roshi's words silenced the scene for a moment, but only for an instant, a Ninja from the escape faction spoke up.
"Roshi, you renegade Ninja, why have you come back? To mock us?"
The Ninja's words immediately reminded everyone present that Roshi was indeed a renegade Ninja.
Everyone seemed at a loss; Roshi's prestige in Iwagakure was actually very high, and he had many loyal followers.
Roshi did not make things difficult for the person who spoke but instead scanned everyone in the meeting hall and said.
"Renegade Ninja? Ridiculous. A Village without a Kage or a leader, where would a renegade Ninja come from? Who declared him a renegade Ninja?"
"Roshi, don't quibble! The Tsuchikage-sama said your actions were equivalent to defection!"
Someone immediately retorted.
"Then tell Ōnoki to come and tell you himself!"
Roshi roared at the person who spoke.
"Even I heard the news and rushed back to the Village, but now the Village can't even make up its mind. What, without Ōnoki to spoon-feed you, do you plan to starve to death?"
After speaking, Roshi's Tailed Beast Cloak appeared, demonstrating his power.
"Stop discussing these meaningless things. Ōnoki is not here now, perhaps he's dead, perhaps not, it doesn't matter. In any case, Iwagakure no longer has a Tsuchikage."
As his words fell, Roshi's Tailed Beast Cloak turned into lava, clearly having entered the Lava Release Chakra Mode.
"Now, whether you think I'm staging a coup or that I'm driven by greed, in any case, I, Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure, want to become the Fourth Tsuchikage. Those who are willing to trust me, stand behind me!"
"We are willing to support you, Lord Roshi!"
Naturally, Roshi's original supporters were the first to step forward, clearly showing their allegiance by standing behind Roshi.
"Lord Roshi, may I ask, once you become Tsuchikage, which faction will you choose to support?"
This was why Roshi was disgusted with Ōnoki; he always created factions within the Village, and whenever a major event occurred, the Village would fall apart.
"Do you think I'm Ōnoki? I'm telling you, you can choose not to support me and continue arguing here until the Allied Shinobi Forces arrive, or you can support me and follow my orders, instead of asking this and that!"
All those waiting for Roshi's answer showed disappointment after hearing his reply.
But only for a moment, many people's eyes were filled with fervor when they looked at Roshi.
Iwagakure, as it was now, desperately needed a backbone who dared to take responsibility!
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