Next morning, Hosai clan meeting room.
"What's the situation with the Hoki and Netsudoku clan?" asked Mashiro.
Nori answered, "All parties are in agreement, so we can start the construction of their lands near our clan."
Some elders scoffed and some let out a displeased sigh. Like most of their clansmen, many of the elders wanted full control over the Hoki and the Netsudoku clan, planning on integrating the two clans to create a minor power in the central Land of Wind.
With the addition of the Hoki and the Netsudoku clan, the union grew to 1,134 clansmen, with over 800 being ninjas. And with the loyalty of the two clans, the Hosai clan officially became a minor power in the Land of Wind, only below the major clans.
The major clans in the Land of Wind had more than 5,000 ninjas, and the most powerful clan had nearly 7,000.
[Author's note: These numbers are bullshit btw. I'm pretty sure most clans only had a little below 1k, since the Uchiha didn't even have that many. I'm basing this off the Raikage vs 10k ninjas, I'm just assuming that most of those are from clans. This isn't really a big deal, but I'll make sure to make the big clans have HUGE numbers like the Senju clan.]
Mashiro nodded, "Good. How much will the construction cost?"
Nori sighed, "The Hoki clan grounds alone would cost us 30 million ryo, and combined with the Netsudoku clan, it'll be around 50 to 60 million ryo."
Everyone gasped, and one elder asked, "Where exactly are we gonna get that sort of money? Our treasury only has 10 million ryo, and I doubt the two other clans have more."
Taro, who had been quiet the whole meeting, spoke, "That's where my proposal comes in. I'd like us to build a merchant guild and sell goods for cheaper prices than the market. I want to monopolize the food industry in the Land of Wind."
Nori nodded, "Yes. Taro and I discussed this last night. For this to be successful, we need to make our presence known in the borders of the Land of Wind, so our identities won't be revealed. As for the team surrounding this merchant guild, we'll need an elite squad to guard and maintain the guild."
Taro added, "Not only that, once the guild produces more income, it's best we hire strong shinobis to join the guild, without revealing who we really are. After all, we wouldn't want the Daimyo's attention, let alone the big clans."
Mashiro asked, "And who do you have in mind leading this guild?"
"I suggest Toji, a fairly unknown young ninja in our clan. He can be trusted, and is one of the grandsons of Elder Fuji. He has a promising future and isn't greedy by nature," said Nori.
Fuji nodded, proud of his grandson, "That's right! He is my grandson, after all! Bahahahahaha!"
Many elders rolled their eyes, and Mashiro asked, "How many people would you need? We can't use too many resources on this team of yours, since we're preparing for war."
Taro sighed, "That's the only problem, Father. We need a considerable amount of men, more specifically, elite men. I have already asked the Hoki clan and the Netsudoku clan for assistance, and they agreed to send six squad leader ninjas, three from both clans."
Taro paused and handed over a piece of paper, "Those are the names I want in this team. I hope that's fine with you."
Mashiro looked over the names and said, "You can have them, but not Jiren and Daiki, they're valuable."
Taro nodded in agreement, "Then with that, the team officially has twenty members. Ten squad leader ninjas, three elite, and seven clansmen."
Elder Doken raised his hand and asked, "When exactly are they departing? And when can we receive the money? We need money for this war effort, and the construction of the Hoki and Netsudoku clan grounds."
Nori answered bluntly, "It'll take around a month to get everything ready, and another two months for the money to finally arrive. For now, we can postpone the building of the clan grounds and focus on the war."
Mashiro asked, "About that. Will the two clans be joining us in this war with the Hebidoku clan?"
Doken interrupted, "I suggest we don't involve them too much, after all, people don't know we've united the three clans. Let them send some of their elites, while we can do most of the fighting."
Everyone agreed and the discussion soon shifted to the development of the clans. New ninjutsus and plans were laid out on the tables, with one ninjutsu in particular stirring the pot, the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"You made this?" Shazo asked.
Shazo was the current elder who deals with ninjutsu and history. He holds the history and ninjutsu of the clan, and whoever had enough merit and wanted to learn a ninjutsu would have to go through him.
Taro nodded, "Yes, and I have a few more jutsus in my mind. However, I would need to experiment first, then write them on scrolls for the clan. Would you mind sending me some unused scrolls, Elder Shazo?"
Shazo's eyes lit up, "No, no! I'll send you thirty scrolls today!"
Shazo was particularly excited, as the ninjutsu library was only for show. The building was grand, but it only held over 100 ninjutsu, when the building could hold 150,000 books.
The meeting soon concluded, and Taro walked up toward Elder Fuji, who was getting ready to leave.
"Elder Fuji, could you send Toji to the cave?"
Fuji turned around, "Taro? Oh yeah, I'll do that."
Taro smiled and looked at his system window.
[Quest: Looming Threat
Completed.]
[System Rewards:
5 Bronze
2 Silver Cards
5 Golden Cards
1 Blue card.]
Taro returned to the cave, eager to open the cards.
When he returned, he immediately opened the cards all at once, with the five bronze cards being useless once again.
The five bronze cards were just three duplicates of ryo, a hairpin, and wine. However, the two silver cards were fairly useful, with one of them being a speed increase, and the other a chakra boost.
Taro quickly used the chakra boost on himself, and saved the speed increase for later. The five golden cards were all just "Buff Me Up" cards, which Taro has eight of now.
Finally, Taro received the blue card.
[Blue Card: Eight Inner Gates
Description: The Eight Gates exist in order to limit the flow of chakra within an individual's body. Normally, individuals can use no more than 20% of their body's full potential, the brain's way of protecting the individual from harming their body through overexertion.]
Taro chuckled, "So, the system rewards are really not random."