Chapter 94: The Survival Logic of Small Nations

Chapter 94: The Survival Logic of Small Nations

"I ran into a lost old lady on the way… so I'm late."

When Tonari finally reached the village gate, Tsunade and the other two were already waiting.

If he had simply apologized, the situation might have blown over. Instead, his excuse immediately made Tsunade, Uchiha Yoshinari, and Nara Yoshino collectively develop dark expressions.

The truth was, if he had come straight from the Hatake residence, Tonari would have been the first to arrive. However, this was his first mission, and since Tsunade had mentioned it was a B-rank mission, he had made sure to thoroughly prepare.

Taking no chances, he packed essential supplies, some self-crafted tools, and even visited Orochimaru's lab before leaving.

As one of the few allowed free access to Orochimaru's lab, Tonari felt it would be a waste not to make use of the privilege. He had spent extra time grabbing some of the more useful gadgets Orochimaru kept there.

This detour was why he was late to the meeting point.

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"This mission," Tsunade began, "as I've mentioned before, is B-rank. This means there's a real possibility of combat with enemy ninja.

"Based on the intel we've received, the most likely threats are genin-level opponents, so this should still be manageable for you three."

Tsunade briefly explained the mission. Their objective was to escort a merchant from the Land of Grass, along with his caravan of goods, back to his homeland.

The Land of Grass, like the Land of Rain, was a small nation sandwiched between larger ones—namely, the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth. Unlike the Land of Rain, the Land of Grass had built a reputation for diplomatic finesse. Their relationships with both Konoha and the Land of Earth were amicable, allowing them to extract benefits from both sides.

This diplomacy set them apart from the more turbulent Land of Rain.

Even so, Tsunade knew the political landscape of the Land of Grass was precarious. With the Second Great Ninja War now officially over, the small nation would soon have to choose sides between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.

While the team's primary mission was escorting the caravan, Tsunade had her own objectives. She needed to assess the Land of Grass's current stance and gather intelligence on their military strength.

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Under Tsunade's guidance, the team left Konoha and joined the merchant's caravan.

The caravan's pace was naturally slower due to the cargo it carried. Along the way, Tsunade took the opportunity to explain more about the Land of Grass and its unique position in the ninja world.

This served as a crash course for the younger shinobi, imparting knowledge they wouldn't have learned in the academy. It was part of a teacher's role to pass on such insights, ensuring their students grew not just in strength but in understanding.

"Sensei," Uchiha Yoshinari spoke up, his tone tinged with indignation, "if the Land of Grass is so spineless and opportunistic, why does Konoha even bother maintaining friendly relations with them?

"A country like that should be shown our strength!"

Tsunade smiled at his naivety but didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Tonari.

"Tonari, care to explain?"

Tonari sighed, shooting a tired glare at Yoshinari. "What's your problem? I was hoping to get some rest after last night..."

With no choice, Tonari reluctantly began.

"Alright, Yoshinari. Think about this: If the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth are so powerful, why haven't they annexed smaller nations like the Land of Grass or the Land of Rain? Wouldn't that boost their resources and reduce conflicts?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Nara Yoshino chimed in, just as confused.

Tonari smirked. "If the Land of Fire were to annex the Land of Grass, what do you think would happen next? They'd find themselves directly bordering the Land of Earth. With no buffer zone, border skirmishes would escalate into full-scale conflict.

"These smaller nations act as natural buffers, preventing direct confrontations between larger powers. It doesn't matter whether the Land of Grass leans toward the Land of Fire or the Land of Earth; either way, it serves the same purpose.

"But if they favor the Land of Fire, then we gain an ally and an extra layer of defense. Isn't that beneficial?"

Yoshinari and Yoshino fell silent, deep in thought.

"Then why did the Land of Rain become the flashpoint for the Second Great Ninja War? Instead of easing tensions, it seemed to escalate them," Yoshinari asked, his tone still laced with doubt.

"Because the Land of Rain," Tonari explained, "chose to defy the natural order.

"Most small nations accept their role as buffers. But the Land of Rain produced a powerhouse—Hanzo the Salamander.

"Hanzo wasn't content to be a pawn between greater powers. He wanted the Land of Rain to stand on equal footing with them. He provoked the major nations, hoping to carve out a place for his country.

"Hanzo had the strength to back his ambitions, but he overlooked a key factor: the Land of Rain itself couldn't support such aspirations. The nation lacked the resources and unity to withstand the inevitable backlash.

"This led to internal dissent and the rise of anti-Hanzo factions within the Land of Rain, many of which were fueled by external powers like the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.

"In the end, even someone as strong as Hanzo was forced to submit to the realities of the ninja world."

Tonari's impassioned explanation left Yoshinari stunned. For someone so young, his perspective on the intricacies of the ninja world was surprisingly mature.

Yoshino, meanwhile, gazed at Tonari with newfound admiration.

Tonari didn't just excel in battle; he had the wisdom to navigate the complexities of international politics.

Even Tsunade was impressed.

Though this knowledge wasn't a secret among the higher-ups of Konoha, hearing such insights from a child under ten was astonishing.

"Tonari," Tsunade said, smirking, "you'd make a great politician someday. I wonder what goes on in that little brain of yours?"

Before Tonari could respond, Tsunade playfully flicked his forehead, leaving him wincing in mock pain.

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(Chapter End)

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