The Five Kage Summit (3)

Izuna stood Hashirama, his gaze fixed on the Character Panel.

Name, gender, Strength.

Aside from that, there's still no simple introduction on the panel, but the CGs are always very intuitive.

In the picture, the old man with a scar on his eye has long, disheveled hair, and fierce waves surge around him.

His voice message consisted of only one sentence:

Those who maliciously undermine unity should be punished.

After reading it, Izuna understood the situation.

It seems that what the old man is most worried about is not the leakage of information, but that everyone will want to run to Konoha after seeing the benefits.

The Land of Water is an island nation, so it's easy to imagine that there wouldn't be many people in such a place.

Moreover, resources are scarce, and this is an era that has just ended the Warring States period, so the quality of life of their people is probably not much better than that of the people of the Land of Fire on the mainland.

Furthermore, there are Ninjas in this world. Ninjas are extremely mobile, and even if they are overseas, they can go wherever they want.

In the past, they were always busy fighting, so it didn't matter where they lived. Lone Wolves could survive, but they wouldn't live well. Except for those who were Expulsion, they would all move with their tribe.

Now that the Warring States Period has ended and the Shinobi Village has only been established for a short time, even though there is turmoil, the overall situation is much better than it was a few years ago. There will definitely be many people trying to leave their hometown, especially young people who consider themselves highly skilled in martial arts.

If all the talented young people have disappeared, then their Land of Water will truly be left without anyone to rely on.

Byakuren certainly didn't want to be a lone commander and hoped that the place he lived in would get better and better. So he would naturally be strict with the young people and set strict rules and laws to prevent them from leaving their hometown to make a living elsewhere.

Now Izuna has a better understanding of how the Bloody Mist Village came to be in the first place.

In this era, such high-pressure policies can indeed curb the loss of young and middle-aged laborers, but at the same time, they will plunge Kirigakure into a state of Isolationism.

Just look at what Kirigakure became later on; the more they competed internally, the weaker their national strength became.

Therefore, Byakuren did not outright refuse to participate in the Exchange Student program, but instead insisted that the children put aside their thoughts and return to the Land of Water after completing their studies.

However, issuing Wanted Notice is too forceful. Who would want to send their child to the Land of Fire if they did that? But if they don't send them, they won't be able to learn anything useful.

This is self-contradictory; the Land of Water will not fare well by doing this.

Byakuren is so old, she couldn't possibly not understand this principle.

Izuna looked at Byakuren and found him staring intently at Hashirama.

So that's how it is. He wanted to put pressure on us in Konoha to come up with a way to get the children home.

That's easy.

The Green Card Policy is now in effect.

You can stay, but your abilities must be exceptionally outstanding, to the point that you can reach the Kage Level in a particular area.

Those with mediocre abilities will Deportation when their time comes; not returning would be tantamount to offending the Armed Forces of two countries.

And those who possess such outstanding abilities are mostly the top talents in their respective villages.

Such talent would be valued in any country, and their loyalty would be unquestionable. Besides, if they truly possessed such ability, where couldn't they go? Why stay in Konoha as the phoenix's tail instead of returning to be the rooster's head?

Of course, there are bound to be those who want to stay and enjoy life. Izuna isn't worried that Konoha won't be able to retain its people. After all, in his previous life, Konoha was like America in the 1990s; there will always be people who don't care about their hometown and just want to stay and live a good life.

Izuna tapped his chin with his fan. "Hmm... As for the test content... let's make it a test that lets the Yamanaka Clan see the shallow memories in their minds."

This will eliminate those who want to stay as Undercover Agents, ensuring the safety of Konoha and allowing talented individuals to remain.

Those Shinobi Villages wouldn't want these people who passed the test anyway, so they just conveniently gave them to us as a favor.

They got most of the talent, and we also got a crop of leeks, perfect!

Hmm~ I'm such a genius~

But Hashirama can't think of these things right now.

He was a little flustered.

On one hand, he felt that Byakuren was too forceful; on the other hand, he also felt that if he wanted to stay in another country, that would indeed be a betrayal.

Izuna appeared calm; he had a plan, but it was inappropriate for him to speak in this situation.

However Hashirama had no experience in handling such matters over the years, and at this moment he didn't know what to say.

It was Ishikawa who stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, Mizukage- sama, don't make things difficult for the Lord Hokage. Abandoning one's country is indeed an act of betrayal, but the children wanting a better life is not wrong. Let's discuss this matter slowly; we can't really put promising young people on Wanted Notice."

Byakuren snorted coldly, offering no rebuttal.

Hashirama chuckled twice, gave Ishikawa a grateful look, and walked down the steps. "In short, these agreements are still drafts. Next, we need everyone to discuss and finalize the terms."

Ishikawa nodded. "Then, please work together to refine this Regulations."

"Hey, wait a minute." Hashirama raised his hand. "I have something else to say."

Ishikawa was taken aback. There was more?

Reto couldn't hold back any longer. "Hokage, where do you get so many ingenious ideas? The peace treaty and the Exchange Student agreement alone are enough for us to ponder. Don't think that we old men are as young and energetic as you, okay?"

Upon hearing this, both elders, Ishikawa and Byakuren, smiled slightly. Ai touched his nose and coughed.

I'm not old, haha.

Hashirama: "..."

He's over thirty, yet people still say he's young and energetic. But look at the people in the room; they all look older than him, even Ai looks more mature. He really can't refute that.

Seriously.

"Let me finish speaking before you draw your conclusions," Hashirama cleared his throat. "We plan to launch a project called the Ninja Image Reform Plan. And, please allow me to introduce you to my Konoha's Foreign Minister, Uchiha Izuna."

Izuna put away his fan, stepped forward, and nodded slightly to everyone.

Hashirama, "To give a brief introduction, he is the one who became famous in the Capital City of the Land of Fire with the New The Tale of the Heike, played a decisive role in the battle against Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, and recently caused two storms in the Land of Hot Water and resolved two incidents."

Hozuki Gengetsu couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow!" from behind Byakuren.

Upon hearing this string of titles, Izuna couldn't help but dig his toes into the ground.

Hashirama! Stop praising me! There's no room for all of us here!

Hashirama completely missed his signal and continued, "Previously, the Mizukage questioned the number of guards I brought. Now I can answer that. Because Uchiha Izuna was the first to realize the Conflict Between Ninja and Nobles, and also the one who proposed this plan."

A moment of silence fell over the Meeting Room.

The actors present all nodded politely in greeting.

Every single thing Uchiha Izuna did was a major event that shook the Shinobi World.

One of the things they wanted to figure out in this meeting was the matter of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

As for that Ninja Image Reform Plan... if it weren't important, these two wouldn't have brought it up specifically at the Five Kage Summit.

Izuna glanced around and noticed their puzzled expressions, but there was no contempt in their demeanor. In his mind, he gave Hashirama a thumbs up.

Well done, Hashirama! As expected of you! I knew you could handle things!

"Before I explain this plan to you all, I have a few questions to ask," Izuna began. "Are you all satisfied with the current situation of one country and one village?"

Ai stroked her chin. "I don't know how it feels to others, but compared to my previous life, I'm quite satisfied with my current situation."

Izuna looked at the others. "Does everyone think the same way?"

Byakuren snorted, "Not as good as your Konoha."

Izuna smiled and continued, "So, do you all still want to make changes?"

Ishikawa narrowed his eyes. "You mean...?"

"Would you rather be revered the moment you say you're Ninja, than met with suspicion?"

Ishikawa laughed, "Haha, if that were really possible, then we Ninjas wouldn't be Ninjas."

"It seems you're quite proud of the world's fear of you," Izuna said.

Reto chuckled, "We are meant to be feared. If we don't inspire fear, how can we defend against enemies?"

Ishikawa waved his hand, his tone gentle. "Izuna, I understand what you mean. However, we don't have the resources to deal with this matter at the moment."

"Is it that you don't have it, or that you disdain it?"

Ishikawa didn't speak, but simply looked at Izuna gently.

Izuna clicked his tongue twice. "Alas, you all place yourselves on the edge of the sword now, how will your descendants face the consequences?"

Ishikawa frowned. "What does this mean?"

"It's nothing," Izuna shrugged. "I was just thinking, if those nobles find that Ninjas are still the same old codgers, still the kind of pushovers who get pampered and can be easily attacked with a few words like 'Please lend me your power,' then we might as well not build a village and just go back to being primitive tribes and continue being executioners."

In an instant, the atmosphere in the Meeting Room plummeted to freezing point.

Hashirama stared wide-eyed at Izuna.

Izuna! Although what you said is right, wasn't it a bit too harsh? It's like you've drenched it in poison, it really hurts! Everyone's already a little angry! Please, don't provoke them anymore!

Izuna was pleased to see their reaction. He clapped his hands and said, "Very good. It seems that none of you like this idea. I'm relieved."

Ishikawa took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "So what's your brilliant idea?"

"Image makeover, didn't we just talk about that?" Izuna said. "As for the specifics of how to do it... everyone here can act, right?"

Reto frowned. "Of course I will. But I won't grovel just to gain your trust."

"That's definitely not possible." Izuna waved his hand. "Not only should we not grovel, but we should also make them realize that we are completely different from them."

Ai became interested. "Oh? How so?"

"We must become Fearsome Reputation, and people must know our deeds by heart."

Yuan Yusheng sat behind his desk, holding a letter in his hand, the edges of which were already crumpled from his grip.

The letter was sent from the Land of Hot Water, and was signed by several old nobles.

The letter described the experience of the Summer Festival.

In an instant, the sky darkened, dust filled the air, countless leaves were swept up by the Hurricane, followed by small objects, and then people.

Even the house was completely ransacked.

The power was astonishing. Yet, when we landed, it was incredibly gentle—that was the most terrifying aspect.

These Ninjas can wield such terrifying power! And they can control it with complete ease! Just thinking about it makes my hands tremble, and I can't maintain my composure.

These words, though seemingly roundabout, ultimately convey the same meaning.

Ninjas are too dangerous; they need to be suppressed.

Yuan Yusheng threw the letter on the table.

"Hmph, what's the use of worrying?" His tone was laced with undisguised sarcasm. "A bunch of people are already exhausted, yet they still want to interfere. How ridiculous."

Sitting at the lower end of the table, Mansaku picked up the letter and read it from beginning to end.

"Father," he said cautiously, "But if we let the Ninjas continue to develop, how will we Ordinary People face the future?"

Yuan Yusheng glanced at him.

"That's why I sent your sister to arrange the marriage," he said. "Now it's not them begging us to arrange a marriage with them, it's us arranging a marriage with them. Can't you even understand that?"

Mansaku pursed his lips. "Is there really no way to continue suppressing them?"

Yuan Yusheng frowned. "Gen Mansaku."

He called his son by his full name, "If you continue with this mentality, I won't hesitate to strip you of your position Minamoto."

Gen Mansaku lowered his head and said nothing more.

The study was quiet for a while.

Yuan Yusheng withdrew his gaze and sighed, "You think I don't want to? But you need to first understand what the situation is like now."

"'The only things that don't go as planned are the dice of Sugoroku, the waters of the Kamo River, and the monks on the mountain.' Now these Ninjas can be added to that list." Yuan Yusheng sighed. "Before, your mother and I still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that since they had asked us to preside over the ceremony because of the marriage between our two clans, and that they would follow our advice to hold Memorial Service, then so far they still respected and obeyed us."

"Our favors will still have some effect; we are still superior. We remain the symbol of authority, and this will not be shaken."

"So what if Ninjas? So what if they have power? Without the world's recognition and heartfelt aspirations, they are ultimately just brutes. In the court, civil officials always have more say. In the eyes of the world, we nobles are still noble and elegant."

But we know it's all just a Suigetsu.

"Some of them should have already realized it, or perhaps they've known for a long time but just don't want to admit it." Izuna smirked. "Those who wield power are the ones with a voice. Their current power was earned by the Samurai of the past."

"The Ninja clan has become so powerful that we ourselves feel superior, and even if we're not good at it, we can claim it's because we disdain it."

"Then let's continue to ignore it."

Reto didn't understand. "If that's the case, then why change it? We Ninjas live our lives, and they, the Ordinary People, live theirs. Isn't that better?"

Izuna shook his finger. "Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. Even if we have no intention of harming Ordinary People, they will worry, and this worry will become the motivation to harm us, just like the Land of Hot Water Incident this time."

Even if it really is full of Rōnin, people will still think they are people we sent out, and then they will harbor resentment towards us Ninjas.

Ai laughed, "So what? Ordinary People can't extract Chakra, so what do they have to fight against us?"

Izuna was speechless. "Gentlemen, don't any of you have any enemies? Or are you so sure that no one will create enemies to come and kill you in the future?"