Chapter 173

"Let's not worry about Daimyo City. It's become a joke, and we don't need to concern ourselves with it. The more they create chaos, the smoother our takeover will be," Hitoshi said with a gleam in his eyes, playfully.

He was delighted by Daimyo's actions. Spending recklessly would put a strain on Sunagakure, but they had their own solid foundation now and didn't rely on Daimyo's support. They were not afraid at all.

"Yes, Kazekage-sama is right. The more Daimyo acts this way, the more discontent it breeds, and the better it is for us," Ebizo agreed, nodding in accordance with Hitoshi's thoughts.

He was truly impressed with Hitoshi's foresight. Building their own foundation and eliminating the need for Daimyo's reliance had been difficult and challenging at first. However, once they started seeing the results, it became a powerful leverage. They could completely outmaneuver Daimyo.

If they lacked confidence or sufficient natural resources, they would have no choice but to resort to force against Daimyo. But in doing so, they risked being labeled as traitors by the commoners. However, the situation had changed. By allowing Daimyo to expand its 100,000-strong samurai army and letting their undisciplined behavior continue, the commoners at the bottom would willingly rise up. They saw Sunagakure as their savior.

"Everyone, focus on managing our own territory and have the Shinōbi protect our foundation in Kaze no Kuni. Nothing else matters. Let others make the first move," Hitoshi declared, contemplating the situations in other countries with a deepening smile.

Among the Five Great Hidden Villages, only Sunagakure and Konoha stood firmly on the Diaoyutai. Sunagakure's early preparations and Konoha's solid foundation, including Taki no Kuni, gave them an advantage. Kirigakure could have watched from the sidelines, but unfortunately, they had an unreliable Daimyo. The foolish Daimyo might initiate an offensive, attacking Kirigakure and igniting a war.

Iwagakure Village was still recovering from its severe injuries. While they had absorbed a portion of Iwa no Kuni's territory before, their foundation was not well-established, and their basic disk was incomplete.

Kumogakure had a better situation than Iwagakure Village.

"We can manage ourselves and observe the changing situation in the clouds. Let's focus on our own affairs," Hitoshi smiled as he gave the final order, adjourning the meeting.

People began leaving one by one, leaving only Shamon, Ebizo, and Bunpuku behind.

Bunpuku had decisively returned after "escorting" Daimyo back to Daimyo City. Yasuke was still guarding the seaport, and Chiyo remained at the border with their people. Hitoshi had left them there as a surprise weapon.

"Shamon-sama, distribute the weapons we have stored to the towns under our control. Be prepared for defense. Bunpuku, you and Shukaku should be ready to sever Kaze no Kuni. Killing five thousand pigs won't be easy," Hitoshi quickly issued orders once everyone else had left.

"Is it really that difficult? They have melee weapons, while we have long-range ones. Killing them is as easy as slaughtering dogs," Shamon responded sharply, expressing his dissatisfaction. They had different types of weapons.

"Be cautious. Samurai swordsmanship is still formidable. In such a vast world, one can never tell where powerful samurai may be hiding," Hitoshi cautioned, shaking his head calmly.

"Just like Senjutsu and Chakra, they are different but can coexist. Nobody knows how strong samurai can be, just like Hatake Sakumo," Hitoshi continued, his belief in the potential of samurai evident.

Hitoshi firmly believed that there were samurai capable of wielding sword energy without relying on Chakra, just like Hatake Sakumo. He couldn't imagine a vast Shinōbi World without a few individuals possessing such extraordinary abilities.

The expressions of the other three changed instantly upon hearing Hitoshi's words. They realized that Shinōbi World was indeed vast and filled with various extraordinary phenomena. Shamon, in particular, had experienced the end of the Sengoku period and had heard many legends about samurai.

"Samurai? In that case, Tetsu no Kuni might also get involved," Shamon said, his face showing a hint of embarrassment.

"You're right. It's possible they might intervene too. A neutral country like Tetsu no Kuni must have its own trump card. I can ignore the weapons trade with the Five Great Hidden Villages, but they wouldn't dare provoke the Hidden Villages without a plan," Ebizo chimed in, not underestimating anyone as a seasoned conspirator.

"Shukaku has sensed a familiar aura in Daimyo. If I'm not mistaken, it belongs to Uchiha Madara. His influence is likely behind this incident," Bunpuku interjected, his hands pressed together as he spoke softly.

"Are you sure?" Shamon and Ebizo immediately reacted, their faces changing upon hearing Bunpuku's words.

Bunpuku nodded, confirming their suspicions.

"In that case, should we inform the other Hidden Villages?" Ebizo turned to Hitoshi.

"No, the other Hidden Villages are not fools. They probably have their own ways of finding out. Madara doesn't seem to be hiding his involvement, and someone with limited time left wouldn't be bothered about it," Hitoshi waved his hand dismissively.

Hitoshi believed that the other Hidden Villages were not naive and must have their own means of gathering information. Besides, Uchiha Madara had no intention of concealing his actions. A dignified figure like Madara would be hard to find if he truly wished to remain hidden.

Hitoshi also speculated that Madara's time left was limited.

In Taki no Kuni, Madara strolled through Uchiha's territory, observing the content lives of the commoners with a smile on his face. He had traveled far and wide, meeting countless people, but in Taki no Kuni, he wanted to say one thing: Konoha and Shinōbi Clan had proven themselves worthy.

Their rule was truly effective.

Taki no Kuni had become wealthier and better than ever before. Under Shinōbi Clan's management, every household had its own land, and Shinōbi Clan treated the commoners and aristocracy alike. In their eyes, the commoners were weaker, and that was all that mattered.

The most important aspect was that Madara observed how Shinōbi Clan from Konoha taught the people how to live better lives. They provided the commoners with high-yield grain seeds, taught them medicinal herb cultivation and breeding, and introduced them to horticulture.

In barren lands, Shinōbi Clan even established factories to create job opportunities for the people and produce goods. They had introduced new foreign goods as well.

Under Shinōbi Clan's management, this group of people not only had steady jobs but were also able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. They had access to healthcare when they fell ill, their children received education, and those with Chakra potential were given the opportunity to join Shinōbi Clan and train as Shinōbi.

Uchiha Madara witnessed the positive changes in Taki no Kuni.

In summary, it could all be described in one sentence: things were going well there.

An unconventional form of peace had been achieved.

"This is different from Sunagakure, and it does benefit the commoners. It has brought peace," Madara murmured to himself while observing Uchiha Clan members collecting taxes and witnessing the tavern owner's joyous payment.

When he finished his drink, Madara approached the tavern owner to settle the bill.

"Here's the payment, Boss," Madara said hoarsely.

"No, Old Mister, your glass of wine is on me. No need to pay," the tavern owner replied, laughing heartily.

Madara was surprised. Was the boss foolish enough not to want his money?

"You earn so much in a month, and yet you don't want my payment. Are you a fool?" Madara questioned, unable to comprehend.

"I earn a lot more now, and your payment is insignificant compared to what I used to give to Daimyo. Moreover, business is thriving, and having you join in makes me happy. Why should I worry about the money?" the tavern owner responded, not at all offended by Madara's words.

Madara lifted his head, surprised that the boss wasn't concerned about the payment. But then he realized that the boss had a point. The tax burden was lower, and there were no additional fees to worry about.

"I used to struggle to pay taxes. The nobles and Daimyo were never satisfied, always demanding more. We lived in constant fear of war and bandits. But now, we can live without worry. When we face difficulties, Uchiha Clan will deal with the nearby bandits. There's only one type of tax, and the land has been returned to us. Life is truly good," the boss added, seemingly disdainful of Madara's concerns.

Perhaps overhearing Madara's conversation with the boss, a customer who had come for a drink interjected.

Madara fell silent, realizing he had no way to refute their words. He could only admit that he and Senju Hashirama had overthought things. The commoners had simple desires: land, protection from bandits, and a peaceful life.

Shaking his head, Madara left the tavern and continued his observations. He realized that sometimes peace was simply achieved. It wasn't as difficult as he had believed. The so-called world of Genjutsu might not be as desirable.

The commoners didn't care who ruled over them or how. All they cared about was their well-being and whether they could live comfortably. Peace was truly simple, with fewer requirements than one might expect. It was the reality they craved.