Who should he choose?
First, it had to border the Rain Village, possess a certain level of combat strength, and be controllable by Leaf. If he raised an ingrate, that would not be what Haru wanted to see.
Haru sat in his chair, his fingers tapping against the desk in a steady rhythm, producing a soft tick-tick-tick sound. After thinking carefully, it seemed there was only one ninja village that met those conditions.
The Grass Village!
The Grass Village lived up to its name. It was a blade of grass swaying whichever way the wind blew. Its internal situation was so chaotic that even now, they still had not chosen a leader capable of commanding everyone's respect.
One of its factions was friendly toward Leaf, so Haru could consider supporting that faction, then wipe out all the remaining factions.
The Grass Village was nothing like the Rain Village.
The Rain Village had a powerful leader in Hanzo. Internally, he had swept away the corrupt elements in the country. Externally, he had sent ninja out to loot everywhere. The entire country and village had been twisted into a single rope by Hanzo, and it was currently in an upward phase. It was only in the next few years that his ambition grew too great, causing his brain to short-circuit and provoke three great ninja villages, resulting in a joint encirclement campaign.
Dealing with an internally chaotic Grass Village would be child's play for Leaf. It would not take much effort at all.
"Shikato, what do you think of Leaf supporting the Grass Village to contain the development of the Rain Village?"
"The Grass Village?"
"As far as I know, the Grass Village is internally chaotic, filled with factions that all fight on their own. A ninja village like that clearly isn't enough to contain the Rain Village."
Shikato frowned. After thinking it over carefully, he felt the Grass Village was useless.
During the First Ninja World War, it had wavered everywhere. Not only did it steal techniques from various ninja villages, but it also sold war intelligence everywhere. The problem was that the information it sold was not even guaranteed to be true. Real and fake information were mixed together and sold as one package.
Shikato obviously had no good impression of trash like that.
However, Leaf had always pursued peace. Toward a wavering, begging ninja village like the Grass Village, Leaf had shown great tolerance. As long as it did not follow other villages into war against Leaf, Leaf let it do whatever it wanted.
"The Grass Village's internal chaos is exactly what gives Leaf an opening. If the Grass Village were as united as the Rain Village, Leaf would need to think twice before making a move against it."
"We can take this opportunity to support the faction inside the Grass Village that leans toward us, then eliminate the other messy factions and twist the Grass Village into a single rope, turning it completely into Leaf's vassal."
"The Grass Village's geographic position is extremely important. Controlling that area is very necessary for Leaf."
Haru explained his reasons. The Grass Village's geographic position was far too delicate.
The Rain Village, the Stone Village, and Leaf all bordered it. Its internal factions were already chaotic and disorganized, and its geographic position was so important. The number of spies from the three villages inside the Grass Village was so large that one could grab a handful at random.
Now that the First Ninja World War had only recently ended, the Stone Village was still recovering and had no energy to focus on the Grass Village. Leaf had to seize this golden opportunity and take the Grass Village. Once the Stone Village recovered in a year or two, moving against the Grass Village would not be so easy anymore.
"Since Lord Hokage has decided, what reason will Leaf use to interfere in the Grass Village?"
"Should we directly send ninja to clear out the opposing forces?"
Shikato agreed with Haru's view. The Grass Village's geographic position meant it was destined to be a chaotic ninja village, but if Leaf could completely take the Grass Village and turn it into a loyal vassal, the benefits were self-evident.
However, Leaf was the embodiment of peace and justice. If it directly sent troops to interfere in the Grass Village's internal affairs, what would that look like if word got out?
"Who said we have to send troops directly?"
"We, Leaf, are the embodiment of justice and fairness!"
Haru shook his head. These people always thought about fighting and killing. If something could be handled with money, then just spend money and handle it.
From top to bottom, the Grass Village was nothing more than a group of poor ghosts who dreamed of eating bananas every day and occasionally having meat twice.
The Grass Village and the Land of Grass had always been poor. The Grass Village was so poor it could even kill its own healer.
For example, Karin's mother had been sucked dry while still alive.
As ninja, if a team had a healer, they would practically beat the ground and cry that their great-grandmother had blessed them. They would definitely treat that healer like a treasure.
Yet the Grass Village would rather suck Karin's mother dry alive than use her sustainably. Of course, this could not be blamed entirely on the Grass Village being inhuman. Everyone knew an old hen could lay eggs, but someone starving to death would not care about that. The poverty of the Grass Village was obvious.
Anything that could be solved with money should simply be solved with money. It was not like Leaf would receive no benefits either.
For example, the Grass Village's specialty: bananas!
Once fruit like bananas ripened, it would quickly rot. Considering the difficulty of roads and transportation, as well as the difficulty of storing bananas, the Grass Village's bananas were currently very hard to sell. Even if they ate them themselves, thirty to forty percent would still go to waste.
Bananas could be both fruit and staple food. There was no shortage of market demand in Leaf. It would also benefit the factory workers. The cafeteria would have another staple food option.
Leaf could provide technology and a market, helping the Land of Grass escape poverty and become rich. Those Grass ninja were so poor they could sell chakra. Serving anyone was still serving. If kneeling down and serving Leaf let them eat their fill, Haru imagined they would not mind.
"Lord Hokage truly is kindhearted. You can't bear to see ordinary people suffer from poverty."
"However, this speed is a little too slow, Lord Hokage."
Shikato casually flattered Haru. It was still the same familiar formula and familiar flavor, using economics to control a ninja village and even an entire country.
It was just a little slow.
It would take at least a year or two to show results. Right now, they needed to cut through the mess quickly and deal with hostile forces first. Otherwise, with the Land of Grass in chaos, even the business environment would be a serious problem.
Doing something well was difficult, but sabotaging something was far too easy.
"That is indeed a problem. After going around in circles, we still have to first cleanse the Grass Village internally. We need to find an excuse to kill those pieces of trash."
"A reason... Ah, I've got it!"
"The Land of Grass possesses weapons of mass destruction!"
Haru thought of the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the Sage of Six Paths treasure tool that appeared in the Naruto movie. It was said to be able to fulfill any wish of the one who opened it, practically comparable to the Dragon Balls.
Of course, that was all bragging. Whether the Box of Ultimate Bliss was currently in the Land of Grass was another matter.
But that was not important. If Haru said the Land of Grass had it, then it had it.
"However, Lord Hokage, can weapons of mass destruction really serve as a reason to send troops?"
"The other four great ninja villages all possess weapons of mass destruction too, such as the Tailed Beasts."
Shikato did not quite understand. Using such a poor excuse as a reason to send troops was far too sloppy.
"Shikato, the Grass Village will get beaten precisely because it does not possess weapons of mass destruction!"
"If it did, Leaf would not be targeting it."
"Oh, Lord Hokage, I understand!"
Shikato suddenly understood.
Lord Hokage really was filthy. No, Lord Hokage really was wise!
That was how the ninja world worked. Weak ninja villages were lambs waiting to be slaughtered from birth.
Now that the reason had been found, the next step was to find ninja in the Grass Village willing to become Leaf's dogs, then coordinate from inside and outside to eliminate the ninja who were unwilling to become dogs.
In the long term, if the Land of Grass leaned on Leaf, ordinary people there would definitely live much better than they did now.
"If some people are willing to save face, let them save face. As for those unwilling to save face, we can only send them to meet the Sage of Six Paths."
"From beginning to end, we, Leaf, have always loved peace. We only want ordinary people in the ninja world to live good lives where they can eat their fill. Those evil people who fail to understand the situation should disappear completely."
Haru spoke with righteous conviction.
Letting the ordinary people of the Land of Grass live good lives was the goal. If a few people died in the process of achieving that goal, it was nothing more than a little wind and frost.
When that day arrived, scholars would naturally argue in Leaf's defense!
"Shikato, go handle this matter. If you need manpower, I'll have Tomiya cooperate with you."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Shikato nodded. The burden on his shoulders had grown heavier again.
Forget it. He was used to it.
He would just stay up late and make another plan.
What had Lord Hokage said again?
Working overtime was a blessing. Earn that overtime pay hard!
Shikato left the office. Only Haru remained inside again.
Time to slack off.
"Welcome... Oh, it's you, sir. Are you ready to redeem the reward?"
The card shop owner was sitting on a chair in the shop, drinking tea out of boredom. When he saw Madara arrive, he immediately stood up.
"Yes. I plan to take a child with me to meet the Hokage. There won't be a problem, will there?"
The shop owner looked troubled. According to Haru's instructions, only the person who collected all the cards could meet him.
The owner did not know whether bringing another person to meet Haru was allowed or not. He was just an employee and had no right to make decisions for the real boss behind the scenes, especially when that boss was Leaf's Hokage.
"In principle, that is not allowed, but I can help you ask Lord Hokage. If it is not possible, please understand."
The shop owner neither directly refused nor directly agreed.
"I understand. I believe the Hokage will agree."
Madara did not make things difficult for the shop owner.
In principle, it was not allowed?
Heh. If Haru dared refuse, Madara would later find an opportunity to let him know whose hands principles truly rested in.
What was wrong with the ancestor's hands itching and wanting to spar with an outstanding junior?
He would merely be a little heavy-handed.
Inside the office.
Haru was leisurely slacking off when there was a knock on his office door. After receiving his permission, the shop owner walked in.
"Lord Hokage!"
"It's you. Instead of doing business in the shop, why did you come here? Don't tell me someone has already collected all the cards?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"Just yesterday, someone already collected all the cards."
Haru became interested. He had personally designed this card set. Collecting the full set required spending quite a lot of money.
Spending so much money just to meet him and get his signature? It was probably one of his fanatical supporters.
"Then follow the rules. Have the person who collected all the cards come this afternoon. I'll specifically set aside time this afternoon to receive him."
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I'll notify him. However, Lord Hokage..."
"Speak. You know I don't like people stammering."
"The person who collected all the cards wants to bring one child with him to meet you."
"I see. Since he is the first person to collect all the cards, this time, he may bring one extra person. But this is not to happen again."
Haru was not unreasonable. The first place always deserved some preferential treatment. Meeting one person was a meeting, and meeting two people was also a meeting. Letting him sneak in one more person was fine.
"Then I will thank Lord Hokage on his behalf!"
The shop owner looked pleased. After saying that, he prepared to go back and inform Madara of the good news.
"Don't leave yet. You still haven't told me the name of the person who collected all the cards."
Haru stopped the shop owner. He wanted to know the name of this fanatical supporter of his.
"Lord Hokage, that person's name is Madashira."
Haru was slowly about to take a sip of tea. When he heard the name Madashira, he was so startled he nearly dropped the cup in his hand.
"Say that again. What is that person's name?"
For a moment, Haru suspected that something was wrong with his ears and quickly made the shop owner repeat it.
"Madashira."
After hearing it, Haru's expression changed. His whole body felt unwell.
Madara had not left.
He still had not left!
He was still staying in Leaf!
He was coming for me. He really is coming for me!
"Lord Hokage, is there something wrong with this person? Should I..."
The shop owner looked surprised. Who exactly was this old man? He had actually made Lord Hokage reveal such an expression.
The shop owner was a businessman and extremely sensitive to people's emotions. Lord Hokage had shown fear.
"Postpone the time for now. I'll inform you in a few days. I've been very busy recently!"
Haru waved his hand and soon calmed down.
Blessings were not disasters, and disasters could not be avoided. But if he could avoid it for one day, then one day it was.
If he was going to meet Madara, he had to make complete preparations.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
The shop owner had too many questions in his heart, but he very tactfully left without asking anything stupid. Curiosity could kill people. He understood that very well.
He was just a shop owner. He would not get involved in matters between important figures like Haru.
"Drink tea. Drink tea. It's nothing serious."
Haru took a sip of water to calm himself, his mind spinning rapidly.
Madara had not left Leaf. He had to be targeting Haru, because Haru was the biggest variable in this world.
Madara had left that underground cave without sunlight, even temporarily setting aside something as important as awakening the Rinnegan.
Haru's attraction was truly great. It was not as if he were Hashirama!
However, Madara's method of meeting him was certainly unique. He had actually used this kind of method.
It seemed that this old ancestor did not want to expose his identity.
If he did not want to expose his identity, that meant Madara did not want to use force against him yet.
If Madara wanted to prove his truth through force, he would directly drive the Susanoo and charge at Haru.
As long as he did not make a move, things were manageable.
Madara currently wanted to hide his identity. If he wanted to rely only on words to convince Haru, then Haru could still maneuver around Madara and debate with him.
At worst, Haru could kneel quickly. Twenty years later, he would still be a fine man.
Admitting defeat to Madara was not shameful. Who told him to have the bigger fist?
Haru had a family and responsibilities. Madara was a lonely old man. Going all-in against him was not worth it!
Haru was still young. Sooner or later, he would outlive him!
He would not go to Mount Myoboku this afternoon. First, he would go find that old bastard Tobirama and discuss a countermeasure!
(End of Chapter)
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