Chapter 103

"Hatake Sakumo's strength has surpassed Kage Level."

Inside the Kazekage's Office, Hitoshi sat behind the desk, with Ebizo and Chiyo on the sofa, Bunpuku in a chair opposite Hitoshi, and Shamon standing by the window. Yasuke and Pakura stood beside Hitoshi.

Bunpuku spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Then, when he goes back, he should make a choice. As it stands now, he's caught in the middle, influenced by different factions. Today, I'm afraid he can't stay neutral. I've heard that his son is also a genius."

Ebizo's voice followed, resonating with Bunpuku's words.

"Sarutobi is not a good person. When he first came to power, he killed many of his own people," Chiyo sneered, showing her resentment towards the older generation.

Shamon chimed in quietly, "In times of crisis, one must resort to ruthless means to secure their position and protect what's important."

"Hatake Sakumo is not a complete fool. He must realize that the Sannin cannot surpass him in a short period of time, so he will need to react. If that happens, Sarutobi Hiruzen's influence and power will expand even further," Hitoshi said casually, displaying his indifference towards the situation.

Ebizo glanced at the others in the room and spoke with a sense of helplessness. "Bloodline Limit, Secret Jutsu, environment, natural resources, population... both Konoha and Kirigakure have the best conditions. Kirigakure is isolated overseas and faces numerous restrictions. It's easier for them, but it's mainly because Konoha is too confident."

Ebizo's words hung in the air, weighing heavily on the minds of those present. The statement contained profound implications that required careful consideration.

"Our development speed is already quite fast, but it's not enough. Transforming the land doesn't happen overnight. If we give it another twenty years, we won't have to worry about any Shinobi World conflicts," Shamon emotionally remarked while gazing out the window at the bustling crowd, noting the smiles on people's faces.

Time was short, and the transformation of nature was a process that couldn't be rushed. Moreover, their foundation was weak.

"Kaminari no Kuni and Tsuchi no Kuni are also undergoing land transformation, although their progress is slightly slower than ours," Ebizo added.

After Ebizo's comment, silence enveloped the Kazekage's Office as everyone pondered deeply.

"Each of the Five Great Countries is not easy to deal with. Those old foxes have keen insight and ruthless tactics," Hitoshi sighed inwardly. There wasn't much he could say or do. The transformation of land and the improvement of Shinobi resources were being approached differently, and he wasn't alone in this endeavor. Shinobi were unpredictable and didn't adhere to traditional thinking.

In the midst of the silence, Ebizo exchanged a knowing look with Chiyo, prompting her to speak.

Clearing her throat, Chiyo began, "Ahem, Hitoshi, if we go to war with Konoha, what will you..."

"Don't worry. When I encounter Nawaki, killing him won't be a problem. I won't hold back," Hitoshi interrupted Chiyo, answering the question she had yet to finish. Hitoshi's response mirrored the thoughts and questions on everyone's minds.

"It's not about right or wrong, the situation, or the distance. It's solely about our positions. I am the Sandaime Kazekage, and he is the envoy of Wood Release from Konoha. When we meet on the battlefield, life and death will be determined by fate," Hitoshi declared flatly, glancing at each person present.

He didn't know how others handled such situations. Whether it was by love or by constantly helping each other, he couldn't do it. All he knew was that he was the Kazekage, and his position required him to be responsible for Sunagakure.

"Exactly," Shamon, Chiyo, and Ebizo all chimed in with a sense of relief. Hitoshi's response satisfied them. A Kazekage who understood the weight of his position was a good Kazekage.

"Yes, I feel the same way," Shamon, Chiyo, and Ebizo expressed their contentment with smiles on their faces. Hitoshi joined in with a smile as well.

If Hitoshi truly cared about Nawaki's life and death, he would have ordered Bunpuku to secretly escort them. If he truly cared, several Jonin wouldn't have gone missing from their forces. If he truly cared, their travel plans wouldn't be as predictable as they seemed. All he could do was try not to be the mastermind and instead be an accomplice.

"What is Senju Nawaki's potential?" Chiyo asked Hitoshi, her curiosity piqued. She didn't put much stock in family background, as she believed more in one's own abilities.

"His innate talent is exceptional. I haven't seen anyone like him in Sunagakure. However, his greatest advantage isn't just his innate talent but his family background," Hitoshi sighed, contemplating the topic.

These kinds of individuals were naturally irksome.

"What do you mean?" Chiyo asked with interest. She wasn't concerned about family backgrounds; she believed in her own abilities.

"He has inherited Senju Hashirama's abilities. As long as he continues to train and develop his body, following the path of Senju Hashirama, surpassing him is impossible for most people—better than 99.9% of them," Hitoshi explained, sighing once again. He couldn't help but lament the whims of fate.

"Senju Hashirama? Such an annoying but admirable name. If it weren't for you, Hitoshi, I'd be consumed by envy," Chiyo remarked with a laugh, her face filled with a kind smile.

To be honest, she never believed that one person could possess the power to shake the heavens and earth. Now, she believed it because she had someone sitting in front of her who could do just that.

When she wasn't qualified to stand on the stage of history, Senju Hashirama roamed freely through the world. When she finally became qualified, Senju Hashirama rarely made an appearance. Every time he did, he never displayed his full strength. Naturally, she didn't understand.

Now, all she could do was sigh. Fate had been kind to Sunagakure by granting them Hitoshi.

"Do I have any significance? Well, I suppose I should sigh too, for being born in Sunagakure," Hitoshi admitted, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

When he thought about Sunagakure in the original work, he could only describe it as miserable.

"Ahem, alright, elder sister, Kazekage-sama, let's stop chatting and discuss what we should do next. We have formalized everything, but what we lack is time," Ebizo interjected, interrupting the personal conversation and bringing up an important question.

Now that they knew Hitoshi's determination, everyone refocused on the next issue at hand—how to buy time. This was the crux of the matter.

Productivity and consumer demand in Sunagakure had already reached their limit. It was impossible to stimulate growth in a short period of time. They could only wait.

Whether it was Sunagakure's reforestation efforts or other tasks, they all required time and gradual progress.

"Waiting, preparing for war, seeking peace through military strength... There is no perfect solution," Hitoshi concluded, rubbing his temples. In his previous life, he had never focused on economics or management. At this point, he was content to have come this far, despite not having a solution.

There was no other choice but to choose war, much like the events of World War I and the Second Shinobi World War.