Chapter 18

In Suna Shinōbi village, Hitoshi was meticulously reading the information sent by Ebizo. By his side stood his faithful secretary, Pakura, while Rasa stood across from them.

"Rasa, before Yasuke left, he recommended you to me and asked you to temporarily take over his responsibilities. Can you give me a reason?" Hitoshi put down the information and settled into his chair, asking directly.

Hitoshi's words left Rasa bewildered. The young man was not the Fourth Kazekage in the original work, lacking the political IQ and knowledge to respond.

Rasa hesitated and made various sounds, but still struggled to find an answer.

Hitoshi sighed and spoke on his own, saying, "From your position, you are one of the first beneficiaries of Magnet Release, and you are directly connected to both me and Teacher Shamon. In terms of strength, you have achieved the level of a Jōnin, which is quite impressive among the younger generation. In terms of temperament, you are resolute and unmatched among the younger Suna Shinōbi. These are the reasons I have faith in you."

"Remember, I am your unwavering support. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and continue to cultivate yourself," Hitoshi added.

"Yes, Kazekage-sama, I will not disappoint you or let Yasuke-sama down," responded the young Rasa, filled with excitement.

With each word from Hitoshi, Rasa's excitement grew. He couldn't contain his emotions any longer after Hitoshi finished speaking.

Hitoshi regarded him as his true successor, and it brought him immense joy.

"Now, go and familiarize yourself with your comrades-in-arms, and if you have any questions, consult your 'little girlfriend' more," Hitoshi said nonchalantly, waving his hand, unaware of Rasa's flushed face.

For Rasa, Hitoshi still held appreciation despite his low political IQ. Overall, Rasa showed promise. As Rasa left the Kazekage building, he spotted his girlfriend, Karura, and greeted her with excitement.

"It's truly joyful. If everyone in Sunagakure could be as happy as them, it would be wonderful. I could also step back and enjoy the beauty of life," Rasa said, hugging Karura as they stood near the window, gazing down at the scene below.

"Yes, but those who frequent the pleasure districts would never understand the depth of true love," retorted Pakura, the little secretary standing beside Hitoshi.

Pakura couldn't help but feel a bit envious. She found it unfair that Hitoshi would go to such places and not invite her along. "I'm so adorable, yet this scoundrel goes alone. It's just too much," she muttered.

"Haha, those are just trivial matters. People need their own ways to relax, and besides, I'm just there for conversation about life and ideals," Hitoshi chuckled awkwardly.

Pakura huffed and changed the subject. "Kazekage-sama, is it really necessary to send Yasuke-sama with the group of craftsmen? We are already short on manpower, and this will only make it worse."

"It is necessary. Bunpuku sensed the presence of Chakra among the group of craftsmen. Although it's not strong, it does exist. Consider the Daimyo's intentions, and everything becomes clear," Hitoshi replied, squinting his eyes with a glint of danger.

"You mean there is a child of the Uzu no Kuni Daimyo among them," Pakura quickly grasped the implication after spending some time with Hitoshi. She was no longer as naive as before.

"He's just one of many. What matters more is how much power we can gain by valuing these individuals. That Uzu no Kuni Daimyo is a true hero, and his temperament surpasses that of ordinary people," Hitoshi explained, his mind occupied with the words from Ebizo's letter.

In the letter, the Uzu no Kuni Daimyo discussed matters of hiring craftsmen and showed an understanding of Kaze no Kuni's strategies and tactics. Both Ebizo and Hitoshi shared a big-picture perspective.

While Hitoshi was unsure of how he could control Uzushiogakure, he believed that the Uzu no Kuni Daimyo had his own methods to maintain control and elevate the Uzumaki Clan. From Hitoshi's standpoint, Uzu no Kuni's political and military structure was the best and aligned well with historical development. Given enough time, and with the passing of the older generation of Shinōbi, particularly Uzumaki Masahiko, Hitoshi anticipated that he would be able to control all the political and military power of Uzu no Kuni.

The island of Uzu no Kuni was not poor; on the contrary, it was quite wealthy. If it weren't for the current strained circumstances, Hitoshi would have gladly absorbed all of Uzu no Kuni's resources.

"Politics and military power go hand in hand, making it the most dynamic political system. Though not perfect, I can see Uzushiogakure receiving a full transfusion of fighting strength from Uzu no Kuni," Hitoshi mused, a gleam of determination in his eyes.

Afterwards, Hitoshi composed a letter to Ebizo, instructing him to assist the Uzu no Kuni Daimyo in gaining control over Uzushiogakure.

"It seems that Kazekage-sama truly values the Uzu no Kuni Daimyo," Pakura whispered softly, seeking clarification.

"Yes, he's a true hero. He possesses everything that Senju Hashirama lacks, even if he doesn't have the same strength," Hitoshi responded calmly.

The most significant imbalance in the Shinōbi world is the coexistence of ordinary individuals and Shinōbi who possess extraordinary powers. This imbalance was established by Senju Hashirama himself and has become deeply rooted in the ancestral system, making it nearly impossible to change.

In Hitoshi's perspective, the era of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara was the best and safest period for Shinōbi to govern the world. These two individuals possessed the power to shape the world and specialized in the Shinōbi profession. They would not allow an incompetent and unsuccessful figure like a Daimyo to hold dominion over everything.

Through his discussions with Shamon, Hitoshi learned that before the establishment of the Five Great Countries and Ninja Villages, Shinōbi were primarily associated with clans. These clans would keep ordinary individuals in captivity to work the land, engage in trade, and support the Shinōbi.

During that era, land and mineral resources were the main focus, and the Shinōbi held dominion over everything. This was the true essence of the Shinōbi World. However, no one could have predicted that the Shinōbi World would be divided into two distinct realms by the emergence of two influential figures, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. Despite their lack of strategic intelligence and limited knowledge, they engaged in battles that led to the establishment of Ninja Villages, effectively separating the world of Shinōbi from ordinary individuals and relinquishing financial power to others.

Hitoshi understood the significance of these historical developments and aimed to bring about a new era where Shinōbi would reclaim their position of influence and power.

"Apologies for the confusion in my words. You're right, it is Uzushiogakure. However, Uzushiogakure is an integral part of Uzu no Kuni, and their battle will showcase the strength of a nation with a unified economy and military," Hitoshi clarified, acknowledging Pakura's correction.

Hitoshi was confident in his statement and emphasized the significance of Uzushiogakure's role in the upcoming conflict. The unity and coordination within Uzu no Kuni would be on display, demonstrating the power and potential of a nation that operates as a cohesive unit. Hitoshi firmly believed in the strength of Uzushiogakure and was certain that their battle would leave a lasting impact on everyone who witnessed it.