Chapter 18

(3rd POV)

All eyes lock on Hiruzen as every single clan head and village elder stare daggers at the profusely sweating Hiruzen. With a loud cough Hikaru diverts their attention and Hiruzen gives a grateful smile.

"I'd like to discuss what use the ships will be used for. Unlike before the land of Water no longer has a monopoly on the sea. This clearly marks a turning point in our economy."

Hikaru spreads a large map of the world out onto the table before he takes a ruler and points at several ports along the border of the land of Fire.

"We can make a trade route by sea through the land of Waves and the land of Noodles to export whatever we want to several countries including, the land of Waves, the land of Noodles, Nagi Island, Ouza Island, the land of Hot Water, the land of Frost, the land of Tea, the land of Lightning and the land of Water."

The ruler points to a tiny section of the land of Fire southeast that faces the sea between the land of Noodles and the land of Waves.

"Of course there is another option on the southwest of the land of Fire close to the Fire Temple that is also very suitable as it gives us a trade route to the land of Tea, the land of Rivers and the land of Wind. It also give us the option to attack Sunagakure by sea in case we ever decide to invade the land of Wind."

The room is silent for a few seconds before Shikaku speaks up against such a provocative action.

"Doing this to the east would anger Kirigakure, after all the ships we have now are all stolen from the land of Water."

Hikaru nods but still has a eager expression as he speaks with passion.

"That is true but it's not like we can just give back these ships, that would show weakness to the other nations. On the other hand building a giant village on the shores of the south will frighten the Daimyo of the land of Water and make them think twice before angering us."

Hiruzen sighs at this but slightly considers it for a moment as Danzo speaks up.

"This plan of your's Hikaru...what makes you think that it'll work?"

Hikaru smiles brightly pointing at the other four great nations.

"Sunagakure's war faction is already forcing the wind Daimyo into agreeing with their obsessive demands and can't threaten us by sea since they have no fleets. Iwagakure is simply not connected to us through water and can't do anything about it if we do decide to go through with it. Kirigakure has taken a massive hit to their navy and now their desperately rebuilding villages along the coast so they can't spare any man power to stop us. The only problem is Kumogakure but can they really stop us if we decide to do this? The only three S-Rank shinobi in Kumogakure are the 3rd Raikage, his son and the new 8 tails jinchuriki. Are you seriously afraid of just three S-Rank shinobi?"

Everyone in the room is silent as they ponder on this. Konohagakure is the strongest ninja village, the only reason they are constantly suppressed is due to their location. They are directly in between the other four nations which means they can be attacked on all sides. If they could set up two navy bases, one in the east and one in the west then they would hold an advantage in the inevitable war that will most certainly happen.

Konohagakure has five publicly known S-Rank shinobi still alive at this moment. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Tsunade Senju, Jiraiya and Orochimaru. That is only the publicly known S-Rank shinobi, Hikaru has just reached the level of a Kage and can be directly added to the list of S-Rank shinobi now. Add in Fugaku Uchiha, Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze and you have nine S-Rank shinobi. That is actually fucking ridiculous, of course that is highballing Minato, Kushina and Fugaku but even so which clan head here isn't at least a jonin?

Choza Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, Hiashi Hyuga, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shibi Aburame and the others. They're all jonin level shinobi and more importantly they are all very young. Not a single person here was over the age of twenty and despite that they're all strong. More importantly they're all hot-blooded individuals seeking glory for their clan.

A sharp chill runs up Hiruzen's spine as he looks at the excited faces of these young clan patriarchs. Who here didn't want to show the elders of their clan that they were truly suited for the position of clan head? Who didn't want to come back home to praises of victory and gratitude? This was not only the strongest generation of clan heads produced since Konohagakure began, this was also the youngest generation.

The only person here who really seemed like an actual adult was Shikaku and that isn't because he was older than everyone else but because he's a Nara. Now that every clan head here wanted to go through the plan could Hiruzen stop this? Very clearly not, Hiruzen knew he couldn't overstep his boundaries as Hokage. The only reason he is the Hokage is due to the votes of the clan heads, sure the Daimyo might be able to due something to them but would he? Of course not, the land of Fire could only survive due to Konohagakure, Konohagakure could only survive due to the clans. Angering the main military strength in your country by going against them would have the Daimyo be stabbed in the head.

"Let's do a count of hands those who wants to set up a navy base on the two fronts. Those who raise their hands are in support and those who aren't in support of the cause lower your hands."

At once dozens of hands raise and the only people who objected to the establishment of a navy base was Hiruzen.

"Shikaku you also want to do this?"

"I'm sorry lord 3rd but this is a good opportunity, just thinking of how many S-Rank shinobi we have do we really need to fear Kumogakure?"

Roars of excitement shake the room as Hiruzen sighs in disappointment while Danzo smiles in victory.