Chapter 198

As the sphere of control expands, the shortcomings of Sunagakure, and Hidden Villages in general, become more apparent.

For instance, if you lack management ability and allow a group of people to kill without proper oversight, chaos will ensue.

Talent is scarce in Hidden Villages, yet it is the most crucial element for building a nation.

One should not fear an abundance of talented individuals, but rather the scarcity of talent.

Sunagakure currently suffers from a lack of talented individuals.

Sitting in his office, Hitoshi rubs his temples, the setting sun casting a weary light upon him.

"Now, firstly, Konoha has the best setup. Let Shinōbi Clans manage and then Shinōbi Clans. A feudal system."

When Hitoshi ponders the situation in Konoha, he can't help but acknowledge Sarutobi Hiruzen's immense talent.

Hi no Kuni has a vast territory, but lacks sufficient management and loyal talent.

To address this, Shinōbi Clans should be established to manage various regions.

Calculating the size of each Shinōbi Clan and mapping out territories accordingly is a straightforward and hassle-free approach.

As for the flaws and shortcomings you mentioned, well, sorry, but there's no perfect system in this world.

We'll have to make do with what we have.

"If it doesn't work, we may have to consider implementing a system of shared governance between ordinary people and Shinōbi."

Knocking on the table, Hitoshi contemplates his thoughts.

There's no other way. He must tread carefully at every step.

One wrong move and everything could crumble.

The Shinōbi World has gradually entered an era of political struggle and deterrence.

Unless someone suddenly emerges with the strength to overturn the Shinōbi World on their own, like Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.

Ever since the Great Hidden Villages quelled their domestic rebellions one after another, the Shinōbi World has gradually stabilized, and troubles have ceased.

Of course, this applies to the Five Great Countries.

As for other small nations, the policy pursued by the Five Great Countries is one of neglect.

They have no interest in governing those small nations for the time being.

Even if they are in close proximity, the Hidden Villages will not concern themselves with these nations beyond their borders.

As for the Shinōbi Clans under their command, they have long arms. If they want to control them, they can. They just need to pay their taxes.

As a result, these small nations outside the Five Great Countries have become havens for rebels, chaos, and unrest.

Due to a lack of governance, those capable individuals residing in these small nations flee to the Five Great Countries, while the incapable ones are left to lament their own misfortune, blaming themselves for not being born in a more favorable environment.

This is the harsh reality.

No one has the luxury of choice.

Ame no Kuni has now become the most renowned lawless zone in the Shinōbi World.

It's the infamous gray area that pervades the entire Shinōbi World.

As the Great Hidden Villages firmly maintain control over their respective countries, underground organizations have flocked to Ame no Kuni, knowing that they won't be bothered there.

Wandering samurai, defected Shinōbi, and young Shinōbi who have left their former Hidden Villages have all sought refuge there.

Among them, the most influential force is undoubtedly the gold exchange, a place where even the heads of Hokage dare to put a bounty.

However, its heyday was short-lived. The gold exchange momentarily put aside its animosities within the Five Great Hidden Villages, but when it started to expand its operations, it became a thorn in the eyes of the Five Kages.

While they were dealing with domestic affairs, the Five Kages ordered their most capable individuals to take down the gold exchange.

Not intentionally, of course, as the gold exchange was operating legally.

However, anyone or any force associated with the gold exchange that dared to oppose them would face their wrath.

The boss behind the gold exchange experienced a range of emotions when the branch in the Five Great Countries was dismantled. There was initial satisfaction, followed by resentment and helplessness.

He had wealth, plenty of it. He could hire assassins, even pay to save his own life.

But it all depended on the person. At the level of the Five Kages, no average individual, not even three groups of people, would dare to answer such a call.

Assassinating the Five Kages is tantamount to opposing the Hidden Villages, the largest political and military force in existence.

If you were to assume their positions, you might be able to summon 20,000 or 30,000 well-trained Shinōbi or several Kage-level experts, and even then, you would still be attacked simultaneously. The gold exchange may have wanted to fight back, but it was powerless to do so.

In the end, the boss of the gold exchange had no choice but to move their operations outside the control area of the Five Great Hidden Villages and relocate to Ame no Kuni.

After all, Ame no Kuni was being bullied. It had become a melting pot where fish and dragons mingled, a place where demons and ghosts found solace. Moreover, it had ties to the three Great Hidden Villages and a favorable location for growth.

In this regard, Ame no Kuni became the chosen destination.

However, the territory of Ame no Kuni is gradually shrinking, squeezed by Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha.

Initially, the land of Ame no Kuni was not insignificant. But who would have thought that Sunagakure and Iwagakure desired its rainwater, and Konoha sought its research facilities?

Konoha has Orochimaru, and various research projects require his attention. While Sarutobi Hiruzen currently allows Orochimaru to conduct his research, he would never permit it within Konoha itself.

That's why Orochimaru turned to the newly acquired territory of Ame no Kuni.

Ame no Kuni has become a melting pot, offering a variety of resources. If you need something, you can find it there. If you need money, Konoha will provide. If you can handle everything yourself, even better.

Everyone seems content.

Everyone appears satisfied.

But it's all a facade.

I can only say that the Five Great Hidden Villages are content, but everyone else—each one of them—is left feeling dissatisfied.

The reason is simple: they have been bullied far too much.

Several countries view small nations as mere pawns.

Small nations are powerless, and in the current state of the Shinōbi World, there are no small nations left. They are all regions.

Due to the natural and man-made disasters that wiped out the small nations' Daimyo, the remaining nobles were eliminated. The leaders of these small nations are now reckless individuals, rebels, and those who struggle to survive.

They rise, rebel, compete, and eventually occupy some territory, barely managing to survive.

These individuals have reached their limits.

It's akin to an ordinary person in the world of cultivation. No matter how much land they occupy, it's futile.

A Genin can slaughter dozens or even hundreds of ordinary people, let alone the might of the Hidden Villages.

For these rising individuals, the Hidden Villages hold little significance compared to the past Daimyo.

Reality—the reality that no one can alter.