Chapter 186: Konoha Knows We Don't Have It
"But even so, those troublesome citizens of the Land of Waves are not satisfied! Just because the bridge I built requires tolls to recover costs, they want to hire people to blow up my bridge and then build one themselves!" Kado grumbled incessantly. "Lord Hokage, the average moral standard in the Land of Waves is far inferior to that of our Land of Fire."
Uchiha Douhuan was also stumped by Kado's words. Since when could Konoha's own troublesome citizens be used as a benchmark for moral standards?
But thinking about how Kado was comparing them to the original Tazuna – who concealed mission information, joked with the lives of hired ninjas, and even resorted to moral blackmail after things were exposed – Uchiha Douhuan's mouth twitched, but he didn't refute Kado.
"Good, then let these three go with you," Uchiha Douhuan said upon seeing the situation, deciding to assign this mission to his three disciples.
"This... Lord Hokage," Kado looked at the three youths beside him and hesitated. "It's not that I don't trust the three young masters, but according to the intelligence my subordinates sent back, the other party has the help of North Kirigakure's Elite Jounin, Momochi Zabuza. Although the three young masters are exceptionally talented, facing such a veteran Elite Jounin is still too dangerous, isn't it?"
"Oh? He's also there?" Uchiha Douhuan almost couldn't keep a straight face upon hearing this. *Good grief, does this Zabuza absolutely have to be the newbie village boss?*
However, Uchiha Douhuan wasn't too worried about the strength of these three. With their current capabilities, even if they encountered a slightly weaker Kage-level powerhouse, like the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, although the three of them couldn't win, retreating unscathed would be no problem at all. Zabuza wanting to, like in the original timeline, hold the Sixth Hokage in his left hand, the Seventh Hokage in his right, and step on Indra was probably not possible anymore.
Moreover, upon hearing Zabuza's name, Sasuke and Neji actually became excited.
"Momochi Zabuza?" Sasuke sneered. "Is he the owner of the Executioner's Blade who was beaten by my father until he fled with his tail between his legs? Perfect to use him to give my Ziden its first taste of blood. Teacher's Jirai can suppress a village with one slash; my Ziden covering half of Kirigakure won't be a problem."
"A ninja from North Kirigakure, is it? Sounds like someone of considerable status among them?" Neji pondered for a moment, then looked towards Uchiha Douhuan. "Teacher, if we capture him alive, can the village step forward to help us exchange this fellow for that Byakugan our Hyuga clan lost outside?"
"You three capture this guy first, then we'll talk," Uchiha Douhuan said. "Wanting to capture him alive is much more difficult than killing him."
"Capture that guy alive, right? Neji, I'll help you," Naruto said, rubbing his fists and wiping his palms.
"Alright, all of you go back, prepare, and then set off. Neji, I'm entrusting you with the overall command of this mission. No problem, right?" Uchiha Douhuan asked.
"Of course," Neji nodded.
"Then, Young Masters, is there anything you need me to prepare? If you have any daily life needs, please feel free to mention them. I will certainly do my best to satisfy them," Kado, seeing Uchiha Douhuan seemed determined to assign this mission to his three disciples, said no more and instead addressed the three.
"Uh, Uncle Kado, on the way, can I make a detour to Kiyomizu Town to eat their ramen there?" Naruto suddenly raised his hand at this moment.
"Of course, you can," Kado chuckled. "Ramen from Shisei Town, is it? I'll arrange it right away. I guarantee that when you arrive in Shisei Town, you'll be able to eat the best ramen there."
"Naruto, don't casually trouble the mission client!" Neji reminded him at this point.
"Young Master Neji, no need to be so polite. We're old acquaintances. You help me deal with troublesome enemies, and it's only right that I help you solve some difficulties in daily life," Kado chuckled.
"If that's the case, then help me prepare a set of shuriken and exploding tags," Sasuke didn't stand on ceremony with Kado at this point either.
"Alright. Any other needs?" Kado asked. "Young Master Neji, do you need me to prepare ninja tools for you?"
"No need," Neji shook his head. "Let's set off as soon as possible."
"Okay," Kado nodded. "Then, three hours later, shall we meet at Konoha's South Gate?"
"Good, let's arrange it that way," Neji nodded.
...
After Neji and the others left, Uchiha Inahi also walked into the office and placed an invitation letter on Uchiha Douhuan's desk.
"What's this?" Uchiha Douhuan asked curiously.
"It's an invitation letter sent to you by the Fifth Mizukage. Next week is the third anniversary of the Fifth Mizukage's official succession. The Fifth Mizukage plans to hold a ninja military parade ceremony," Uchiha Inahi explained. "The Fifth Mizukage wishes to invite you to attend."
"Can't Commander Fugaku attend this kind of event?" Uchiha Douhuan frowned. "I remember saying that all affairs concerning the Land of Water garrison can be decided by Fugaku with a single word."
"It's like this," Uchiha Inahi explained. "Commander Fugaku needs to arrange for Konoha's garrison troops to participate in their military parade."
Uchiha Douhuan: ???
"Our Konoha's ninja army participating in their Kirigakure village's military parade?" Uchiha Douhuan felt he had misheard and confirmed again, "Under what name? As specially invited guests?"
"No, just in the name of the Fire Army Stationed in Water. And according to the arrangement, they are still the finale act," Uchiha Inahi also said very speechlessly. Takagi Shōban's shameless conduct completely refreshed his worldview. *What, are you afraid other countries in the ninja world don't know your South Kirigakure is Konoha's dog?*
"Is Takagi Shōban sick in the head! Since when did military parades in this ninja world include garrison formations?" Uchiha Douhuan said in disbelief.
"According to the Mizukage's words, this is a testament to the friendship between our two nations," Uchiha Inahi reported.
"Go reply to Fugaku for me; I won't be going. Let him represent me fully at this military parade. Then send him a Hokage short-sleeved shirt," Uchiha Douhuan said. Honestly, participating in this kind of military parade felt a bit embarrassing even for him, the Hokage.
At this moment, inside the South Kirigakure Mizukage's office.
Takagi Shōban sat on his office chair, instructing his subordinates on matters concerning the military parade ceremony.
"Lord Mizukage, do we really need to invite Konoha's garrison troops to participate in our military parade ceremony?" one of Takagi Shōban's subordinates asked hesitantly. "If we really do this, there will be many more voices of dissatisfaction against you in the village."
"Dissatisfied with me? Do those people know who they're talking to?" Takagi Shōban's eyes sharpened. "During this period, have the Security Department personnel strengthen control within the village! I don't want our honored guests to hear any disharmonious voices!"
"Yes!" Takagi Shōban's subordinate accepted the order and left.
"Additionally," Takagi Shōban looked towards another subordinate, "Our Kirigakure ninjas must also look sharp on the day of the military parade! Let the others in the ninja world see the style of our Kirigakure!"
"Yes!" This Kirigakure ninja nodded. "Are we trying to show Konoha that we can also defend the Land of Water?"
"No. It's to let the civilians of the Land of Water know that we are defending the Land of Water. Konoha knows we don't have it (the capability to do so alone)!" Takagi Shōban said.
...
While this absurd military parade ceremony was being prepared, Naruto and the other two, following Kado, arrived in the Land of Waves.
"Is this the great bridge?" Neji looked at the bridge before him, which spanned a strait, connecting the Land of Waves with the Land of Fire, then turned his head to look at Kado.
"Correct," Kado nodded. "This great bridge was entirely funded and built by me. After its completion, the journey between the Land of Waves and the Land of Fire was shortened from a 3-hour boat ride to 20 minutes, greatly increasing the convenience of trade between the two countries."
"This should be a good thing for the Land of Waves too, right? With increased trade convenience with the Land of Fire, the living standards of the Land of Waves' commoners should also improve. Why would they still hire ninjas to destroy it?" Neji asked.
"What's the level of the toll collected here?" Sasuke glanced at the toll booth on the Land of Fire's side of the bridge, where staff were busily collecting tolls, then turned to ask Kado.
"The toll I collect is absolutely reasonable," Kado stated. "The current toll is derived from strict calculations based on the current traffic volume and the cost of building this bridge. I estimate the cost recovery period has already been extended to 15 years. So for the traveling merchants, the cost of the toll is not an unacceptable matter."
What a joke! Kado was now a business magnate in the ninja world, long past the stage of accumulating primitive capital through dishonorable means. He was now seeking reputation. The money this bridge could earn really wasn't even in Kado's sights.
"Then, it's the people of the Land of Waves who feel you've taken the money they should have earned," Sasuke said, looking at the checkpoint on the Land of Fire's side of the bridge. Regardless of whether one was coming from the Land of Fire or the Land of Waves, the toll collection point was on the Land of Fire's side.
"Uncle Kado, the people you employed on this bridge are all from the Land of Fire, correct?" Sasuke analyzed.
"Naturally. Such opportunities to boost employment must definitely be reserved for the Land of Fire. As for those paupers in the Land of Waves, they are already able to earn far more money from the trade between the two sides than they ever could before. What more are they dissatisfied about?" Kado retorted.
"It's not scarcity but inequality that breeds discontent," Sasuke frowned and said. "Not everyone in the Land of Waves can earn money from the cross-sea trade between the two sides. But the people on the coast over there can see our residents here making money every day. They will naturally become envious."
"That's true. Those who hired ninjas to cause destruction should be the villagers living on the opposite coast," Neji added.
"What are you two talking about?" Their conversation fell on Naruto's ears, but Naruto was completely baffled, not knowing how his two companions had analyzed this matter.
Sasuke and Neji ignored Naruto and instead looked at Kado, "However, that the other party could actually hire an Elite Jounin is something I didn't expect. Have the mission prices in North Kirigakure dropped to such an extent now?"
"Young Master Sasuke is unaware. Currently in North Kirigakure, income relies entirely on the mission revenue of the village's ninjas. Furthermore, they owe a large debt to Kumogakure. Therefore, for various missions, they accept all comers."
"That explains it. Supply exceeding demand naturally leads to a decrease in mission prices," Sasuke said. "However, for their sword-wielding ninjas to also need to take on such low-paying, low-reward missions, it seems Father's pressure on them is quite substantial."
"Young Master Sasuke also understands economics?" Kado looked at Sasuke in surprise.
"Hehe, Teacher taught me a little bit about it," Sasuke chuckled.
"That explains it," Kado said. "Lord Hokage's unique insights into economics, even someone like me who has navigated the seas of commerce for many years sometimes falls short."
Kado sighed with emotion while sizing up Sasuke. In Kado's mind, Sasuke's importance rose another notch. Judging by the current situation, Sasuke would very likely take over Uchiha Douhuan's position in the future. Then, this was the person he and his heir would rely on for their livelihood in the future.
"Then what do we do now? Wait here for the people intending to destroy the bridge to show up?" Naruto asked.
"No need," Sasuke shook his head. "Uncle Kado, please trouble yourself to release a message saying you intend to hire some coastal commoners from the Land of Waves to work on the bridge. But the prerequisite is that they must tell us the whereabouts of the ninjas who previously damaged the bridge, as well as the identity of those who hired these ninjas."
"I think it won't be long before someone among them can't hold back," Sasuke looked towards the scattered villages on the other side of the bridge, along the Land of Waves coast, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.
"Yes, I will arrange it right away," Kado nodded, glanced meaningfully at Sasuke. The current Sasuke already began to show some resemblance to Uchiha Douhuan.
...
At this moment, inside Tazuna's house in the Land of Waves, Zabuza sat imposingly at the head of their dining table, eating food that barely filled his stomach.
"Mr. Zabuza, try this," Tazuna placed a portion of meat in front of Zabuza. Zabuza took it without a word and began to eat it in large mouthfuls.
"Um, Lord Zabuza, I wonder when the reinforcements from your esteemed village will arrive?" Tazuna asked at this point.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Zabuza glanced coldly at Tazuna and said. "Don't forget, after we help you destroy this Konoha bridge, your Land of Waves' newly built bridge, our Kirigakure will take a 40% stake."
"Naturally," Tazuna said with a forced smile.
"Not good!" Just then, a youth rushed into Tazuna's house, panting heavily as he spoke, "Kado's side has released news! They say they want to hire people from our Land of Waves to work on the bridge! But, they demand we reveal the whereabouts of the hired ninjas! People in the village are already heading towards the bridge!"
(End of Chapter)
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 20 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you