Chapter 31

"Please, have a look," said the Minister of Right of the Land of Wind, as he handed over two record files and a box to Hitoshi with a smile.

With his round figure and gentle countenance resembling a benevolent Buddha, he exuded an air of naivety.

"Minister-sama, there's no need for me to check. I trust the Daimyo and yourself completely," Hitoshi replied, waving his hand dismissively. He motioned for Pakura to take the items and bid farewell to the Minister of Right.

"Minister-sama, as a token of appreciation for the support of the Daimyo and yourself, I have personally constructed two mansions in the newly planned area of Sunagakure to offer you," Hitoshi said with a smile, pointing to a corner and presenting the plans to the Minister.

It was a subtle way to ensure that their past dealings remained hidden from prying eyes.

The Minister of Right feigned surprise and exclaimed, "Oh my, Kazekage-sama, there's no need for such gestures. I feel truly sorry."

Inside, Hitoshi cursed the old fox for his pretense, but outwardly, he maintained a polite demeanor and replied, "Daimyo and Minister-sama have worked tirelessly for the Land of Wind. These residences are meant to provide you with a place to rest whenever you visit Sunagakure."

"Hahaha, since Kazekage-sama insists, I will accept them on behalf of the Daimyo," the Minister of Right chuckled, using his fan to conceal his face as he laughed heartily.

"You are too kind, Minister-sama. I suggest you take some rest now, as you must be fatigued from your visit. Sunagakure has indeed undergone significant changes recently, and it's easy to get lost," Hitoshi said, winking at Pakura and addressing the Minister of Right.

"Very well, Kazekage-sama. I will take my leave. Thank you for your hospitality," the Minister of Right responded, wisely accompanied by a Suna Shinōbi as he made his way outside.

...

"Pakura, you must be very confused right now," Hitoshi remarked, sensing her confusion about his actions.

Pakura was indeed perplexed by Hitoshi's words, unable to comprehend their meaning.

"What do you mean? Am I no longer aligned with Kazekage-sama's thinking?" Pakura asked, feeling disoriented.

"Hehe, little Pakura, don't mind Kazekage-sama. He often says strange things," Chiyo chimed in, entering the room as the door creaked open.

"Kazekage-sama, please don't confuse Pakura," she added, shrugging her shoulders. Hitoshi, however, shrugged it off, stating, "I wasn't teasing her; she simply didn't understand."

Changing the topic, Chiyo asked, "What about the items given by the Daimyo? Did they meet your expectations?"

Hitoshi casually replied, "It's fine. The financial allocation is the same as last year, and we have additional resources for the new city under Kaze no Kuni's name. Overall, nothing has changed."

He nonchalantly gestured for Chiyo to go through the documents given by the Minister of Right, as he believed the items themselves were not of great importance.

"But what's truly significant is that we no longer need to rely on unwritten rules. They are a thing of the past," Chiyo said, furrowing her brow, and shifted the conversation towards another important matter.

One of the reasons they could continue to attack the Daimyo was due to the Daimyo's actions during the war. However, now that the Daimyo has made amends and shown enough respect, they no longer have a motive to initiate hostilities.

"Indeed, there is no reason to continue, but otherwise I would have put a stop to it," Hitoshi maintained his indifferent demeanor.

He believed that as long as they continued to earn money and didn't rebel, the Daimyo wouldn't take action against them.

"The environment in Kaze no Kuni is improving, and the greatest beneficiary is the Daimyo's Mansion," Hitoshi pointed out, expressing his confidence.

"As you said, the Daimyo is not a fool, and his mansion is not a slaughterhouse. If they are wise, they will understand the importance of choosing a lifetime of wealth, fame, and fortune over futile fighting. The princes will be defeated; they will come to understand," Chiyo agreed with a nod.

Reflecting on why the world is known as the Shinōbi World and not the Daimyo World or the Samurai World, Chiyo pondered the reason. It was because of the Shinōbi's immense strength, their ability to easily destroy everything.

"The Daimyo has pushed us to the edge. We possess the power to return everything to ashes and storm through the entire Daimyo's Mansion," Chiyo stated, emphasizing the importance of strength in any situation.

"No matter when, strength remains the utmost priority," Chiyo concluded emotionally.

Why is it that Hitoshi can freely engage in the tertiary industry with the little elder sister, show up late for work the next day, and still return with a dominant performance? Doesn't everyone know that he, Hitoshi, has the power to obliterate the entire Sunagakure?

The Shinōbi World's Five Great Countries, why do they act so recklessly? They simply send a few Shinōbi and dare to threaten an entire nation. They destroy Small Ninja Villages at will and force small Shinōbi Clans to submit. It's not because they are the strongest, but rather because they only engage in battles with those at their own level.

"That's just the way the Shinōbi World is," Chiyo remarked.

"By the way, the Daimyo wrote me a letter, expressing a desire for his son and daughter to enroll in the Shinōbi Academy," Chiyo said with a smile, taking out the letter from her pocket and handing it to Hitoshi.

Without even glancing at it, Hitoshi tore it apart and threw it into the trash can.

"Agreed. Although I don't know the details, we must make our Daimyo realize the importance of power, and we must cooperate until the end," Hitoshi said with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"Clearly, they want to use our children as hostages to keep us in check, while also seeking opportunities for their own clans," Hitoshi thought to himself.