"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique."
Splash.
The thoughtful Kisame gave the bridge a good cleaning.
The bridge was as good as new.
Watching this scene, Tazuna, the "escort target," trembled and dared not speak.
He could still play the old man and morally blackmail the Konoha ninja.
But facing this group of rogue ninja killers?
He wasn't suicidal enough to do that.
"Haku, you and Zabuza should know where Gato's stronghold is, right?
Go ahead and secure it first, to prevent any of those who ran away from being bold enough to go there and try to play 'search and retreat.'"
Bai Mo walked back and said to Haku.
"Yes."
After responding, Haku immediately set off, heading to the other end of the bridge.
Haku did not ask Zabuza for his opinion again.
During Bai Mo and the others' conversation just now, Haku had not uttered a word, but he had heard everything and kept it in his heart.
They wanted to change the current situation of their homeland, the Land of Water.
Zabuza had also agreed to join.
Even Zabuza had to obey Bai Mo's command.
Given this, as Zabuza's tool, it was perfectly normal for him to follow orders.
While Haku went to deal with Gato's legacy, Bai Mo and his group, led by Tazuna, arrived at his village.
According to Tazuna, the village was so poor that it couldn't even afford a B-rank mission, hence the nickname "poor B."
In reality, it wasn't that poor.
If it were truly that poor, the bridge couldn't have been built, and people wouldn't have survived until now.
Bai Mo walked around the village to understand the situation, and after Bai Mo stopped, Tazuna stated that other parts of the Land of Waves were similar to theirs.
"Understood."
"Zabuza, from now on, you will establish a branch here, the Wave Ninja Village, although the name sounds a bit misleading."
Bai Mo stroked his chin and said to Zabuza.
"Establish a ninja village? Ninja sirs, do you mean..."
Tazuna's eyes widened.
"It's not wrong to attribute the cause of your poverty to Gato.
Exorbitant protection fees, restrictions on external trade—you just told me all of this.
But, old man, do you think that by building a bridge, you can break free from Gato's monopoly?
A bridge can only break the monopoly on a physical level, but it cannot resolve the greed in people's hearts.
Even if Gato dies now, without a ninja village to protect you, can you guarantee that another Gato won't emerge?
You saw Gato's subordinates, those worthless small fry, before; Kisame's one ninjutsu could take them all out.
If next time a Jōnin-level rogue ninja comes, wanting to take Gato's place, and completely monitors and isolates the Land of Waves like Kirigakure, what will you ordinary people do?
At that point, you wouldn't even be able to escape to other ninja villages to seek help or issue missions."
Bai Mo's words instantly made Tazuna realize the truth, but he also had some worries: what if they sent away the wolf only to welcome a tiger?
Bai Mo naturally saw the old man's concerns.
To be honest, the old man's worries were useless.
Even if Bai Mo and his group truly intended to continue exploiting them, could they resist?
"Actually, Gato was really stupid. Even Kakuzu understood that sustainable development could earn more money, yet this guy was here squeezing every last drop of value.
Zabuza, after you establish the ninja village, find talented children in these villages and teach them ninjutsu.
Delegate other management chores to others, like this old man.
Don't use the old ninja village system created by the First Hokage and Second Hokage; that's long outdated.
The specific details are all written in this scroll."
Bai Mo threw a scroll to Zabuza.
"Ah?"
Tazuna was stunned by Bai Mo's words.
The other party actually intended to let an ordinary person like him become an official?
And even planned to train ninja among them?
Was such a good thing possible?
"Let me be clear, we are all rogue ninja who kill without batting an eye. If you mistake our leniency for indulgence and do something that no one wants to see, then don't blame us for being cruel.
Conversely, if you protect the Wave Ninja Village as your home, then the village, the country, and you can achieve common prosperity."
Bai Mo's classic carrot-and-stick approach made Tazuna nod frantically, and he stated that if given half a day, he could immediately send people to spread this news to all the villages in the Land of Waves.
"I didn't expect you, strategist, to also be a talent in internal affairs?"
While Zabuza was examining the scroll, Itachi also glanced at it a few times. Many of the reforms were indeed spot-on, making him sigh with emotion.
How great it would be if Bai Mo were a Konoha ninja.
In reality, Itachi was overthinking it.
The reason Bai Mo had just given Tazuna the "let me be clear" speech was precisely because of the Konoha ninja.
Most people might think that the Konoha villagers bullied Naruto, even though Naruto was the son of a hero, his identity was hidden, and he was discriminated against and bullied—how pitiful.
But that's not the case.
Konoha villagers were all bullies, equally discriminating against and bullying anyone they wanted to pick on.
Obito, Might Guy, Naruto, and even Hinata, the young lady of the Hyūga Main Family, as well as the son of a certain rich man during the Boruto era, all experienced bullying.
Oh, and Kushina too.
In Konoha, a childhood without bullying was incomplete.
"I wouldn't call myself a talent; I just understand change. Do you, Itachi, think it's normal for the Hokage's desk to be piled high with trivial low-level matters every day, pretending to be busy all day long?"
Bai Mo did not accept Itachi's compliment this time.
He knew his own capabilities.
His ability to persuade all Akatsuki members relied on almost perfect intelligence, meticulous logical reasoning, and a bit of creative thinking.
But internal affairs are not that simple.
He could propose these changes entirely because the original system was too rotten, rotten to an outrageous degree.
For example.
As Bai Mo asked Itachi in return, when the Third and later the Fifth Generation were Hokage, a large number of low-level missions, documents for catching cats and dogs, all required the Hokage's signature and seal.
Was this really necessary?
Aside from looking busy, it had no practical significance whatsoever.
By the time of the Seventh Hokage, Naruto, it became even more absurd.
Naruto not only had to sign and seal but also personally had to do these low-level missions, such as helping old ladies buy groceries or helping people find cats and catch dogs.
The dignified Hokage, with his massive chakra, would create multiple Shadow Clones to frantically perform these low-level tasks, to the point of being drained, unable to even maintain a Shadow Clone to celebrate his daughter's birthday, dropping the cake on the ground.
You've seen Spider-Man being a friendly neighborhood hero, doing good deeds every day, and there's nothing wrong with that.
But have you seen Iron Man or a president going out every day to do good deeds, dealing with robberies and shootings?
Moreover, those weren't even life-threatening missions.
Bai Mo had merely corrected these absurd and outrageous errors, so he naturally didn't deserve Itachi's praise.
Otherwise, it would always give him the feeling that "the intelligence of the entire ninja world has dropped by a hundredfold, while I remain unchanged."
As for whether delegating power would lead to being sidelined, there's no need to worry about that.
Being sidelined is something that happens in a world of ordinary people without superpowers.
Although it is said that one cannot become a Hokage simply by being strong, but by gaining recognition.
However, the Hokage of each village is basically the strongest person in that village.
This means that even if power is delegated, it can always be taken back at any time.
Zabuza's strength is absolutely sufficient against ordinary ninja.
If an unexpected situation arises, he still has the Akatsuki Organization at headquarters to back him up.
....
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