Chapter 133

In Roran, Hitoshi and Ebizo engaged in a lively discussion about Sunagakure's future path.

Regarding the current war situation, the two shared a common perspective—they were undoubtedly capable of withstanding any challenges that came their way.

With the substantial increase in Sunagakure's resources after absorbing the wealth accumulated in Roran over several decades, they had sufficient means to support the ongoing war.

Furthermore, in Shinōbi World, as long as one had a certain track record, exhibited a degree of vulnerability, and possessed the strength to fight back, it was not difficult to withdraw from a conflict.

Adhering to the philosophy that those who didn't strive for the world couldn't strive for the first place in life, Hitoshi and Ebizo began discussing Sunagakure's post-war plans.

"Konoha, Iwagakure, Kumogakure—these three villages should focus on domestic affairs. They should improve their internal environments, establish areas under their direct control, and find ways to seize the Daimyo's territories. That's what they will likely do. As for Kirigakure, they should explore the ocean, pursue islands outside Mizu no Kuni, and simultaneously merge with the country," Hitoshi proposed, sharing his insights into the perspectives of other Hidden Villages.

From Hitoshi's perspective, Ebizo was the only person in Sunagakure who could effectively communicate with him on matters of village management and long-term planning. Shamon was consumed by his research, Yasuke had a one-track mind for training and combat, Rasa was stubborn, Bunpuku was indifferent, and Chiyo had her own familial priorities. All things considered, even within Sunagakure, Ebizo was the most suitable person to discuss the village's management and development.

If one were to evaluate the best leader in terms of managing a ninja village in Shinōbi World, it would undoubtedly be Hatake Kakashi.

According to various sources, under Naruto's leadership, Konoha had reached a level of prosperity akin to that of a modern city. Naruto's predecessor, Kakashi, had taken charge right after the Fourth Shinobi World War, during Konoha's weakest era.

Overall, Hatake Kakashi was an exceptionally capable individual. His military strength as a Kage was reasonable, but his skills in governance and management were particularly impressive.

As Hitoshi engaged in conversation with Ebizo, he seemed absent-minded, and Ebizo was fully absorbed in Hitoshi's words, integrating his own knowledge to assess the accuracy of Hitoshi's thoughts.

"Perhaps, they will indeed choose the paths you mentioned. However, we have been ahead of them for quite some time, so that gives us an advantage," Ebizo remarked, contemplating the years of preparation that Sunagakure had undertaken, fueling his belief that they could vie for the top position among the Five Great Hidden Villages.

"It doesn't matter whether or not we have an advantage. To put it bluntly, if any of the other Hidden Villages were in our position, they would be countless times better off than us. Unfortunately, in comparison, our progress has been rather limited," Hitoshi astutely observed, denying Ebizo's hopeful assumption.

The truth was that the feudal empire during its peak was stronger than the nascent capitalism of the industrial era.

Hitoshi's response left Ebizo dumbfounded. He could hardly believe that despite their years of hard work, they were merely catching up to the starting point of other Hidden Villages.

"Although it's hard to believe, that's the reality we face. If Konoha were to embark on reforms and follow the path we've taken, it would not only catch up to us quickly but surpass our current level within three years. Sarutobi Hiruzen has the audacity to delegate power, which could expedite the process within a year. However, the other Hidden Villages are too conservative and won't proceed as directly as we have. Overall, if we maintain our current state, it will still be advantageous," Hitoshi reassured, sharing some positive news.

Sunagakure's biggest advantage at present was that they had overcome the hurdle of changing their mindset. The other Hidden Villages had not yet accomplished this. For them, initiating reforms would require challenging powerful interest groups.

In contrast, Sunagakure had nothing to lose. When they retired from the Second Shinobi World War, poverty was synonymous with the state of the entire Kaze no Kuni. With nothing to lose, they adopted a mentality of breaking the jar and transforming their village. This made it easier for them to tackle difficulties.

Weak foundations posed a significant challenge.

The situation in the other Hidden Villages was similar to that of the Qing Dynasty during the Reform Movement of 1898. Having acquired wealth, the difficulty lay in shaping their thinking.

Upon hearing Hitoshi's subsequent words, Ebizo breathed a sigh of relief. If what Hitoshi said was true, as long as the other Hidden Villages made up their minds, catching up to Sunagakure's progress would be a straightforward task.

In that case, perhaps it was time for Ebizo to retire or take a leisurely stroll on the beach and find a peaceful place to relax. After all, if someone else could achieve in a short time what had taken him years of hard work, what was the point of continuing to live?

But he dismissed the thought.

Observing Ebizo's relieved expression, Hitoshi shook his head inwardly.

To be honest, Hitoshi felt that Konoha held a remarkably strong hand.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen dared to hand over power to Namikaze Minato and help him suppress the influence of Konoha's older generation, Konoha would undoubtedly rise to new heights.

Konoha possessed a solid foundation and an abundance of talent. Moreover, Orochimaru's presence further amplified their potential. Orochimaru was a scientific research prodigy, and his affiliation with Konoha was a real boon. With sufficient funding and natural resources, Hitoshi suspected Orochimaru could single-handedly develop nuclear weapons.

In fact, if Orochimaru were placed in the super-god realm, he might enable Earth's technology to surpass that of the deities.

Recalling Orochimaru's focus on scientific research and the support he received from Konoha, Hitoshi couldn't help but feel that the world was teeming with malicious intent. This was especially true for the non-Konoha Hidden Villages and their influence.

Contemplating Konoha's history, Hitoshi couldn't help but marvel at their exceptional standing among the Five Great Hidden Villages.

It was astonishing how every generation in Konoha possessed outstanding figures.

First, there were the two military powerhouses of Shinōbi World—Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.

Then came Senju Tobirama, who introduced Forbidden Jutsu.

Later, Sarutobi Hiruzen rose to power, navigating a complex web of political conspiracies.

And let's not forget about Orochimaru, a true anomaly within Shinōbi World's research community.

Each generation in Konoha seemed to produce legendary individuals who significantly influenced the world's development.

Hitoshi shivered whenever he thought about how he had fought against Konoha. It was clear that those who underestimated Konoha were truly foolish.

By the age of three, he had clashed with Sarutobi Hiruzen; at five, he had encountered Uchiha Obito; at seven, he had overcome Lord Madara; at ten, he had defeated Kaguya Ji; and by twelve, he had faced the likes of Datongmu.

The training was grueling.