Snow Country Coup

After searching through Great Ninja Village without finding anyone to cause trouble for, Yichen simply contacted Nagato through the ring on his hand. Yichen's intention was to ask Nagato if he had any plans so that he could hitch a ride and take advantage of the situation.

Unexpectedly, just as Yichen's illusion was taken over by Nagato's Phantasm Body Technique, Nagato was discussing something with Konan Yahiko. They had just encountered trouble.

Whether it was Nagato or Yahiko, they both had a clear goal in changing the Ninja World: to improve the lives of Ninja World people. Although they chose different paths, their ultimate goal was the same.

However, precisely because this goal has remained unchanged, Nagato and Yahiko have fallen into confusion. Unlike the original story, where a sudden change occurred and their personalities veered from one extreme to another, in this life, Nagato's path has been very smooth.

Even the establishment of Dark Akatsuki received theoretical support with the help of Yichen.

However, precisely because it is more grounded than the original work, Nagato's ideas are also more down-to-earth. After Nagato's Dark Akatsuki took control of the military power of the Land of Rain, Nagato almost implemented a semi-closed management of the Land of Rain. Except for trade with the Land of Earth, which was not interrupted due to Yichen, the ninjas of Amegakure almost never left the Land of Rain.

However, after a while, the observant Nagato discovered that he had not significantly improved the lives of the common people in the Land of Rain. Without Hanzo and Amegakure, the lives of the common people in the Land of Rain remained unchanged.

This is normal. The Land of Rain is not like it was when Nagato Yahiko, and Konan first established the Akatsuki Organization. It had just experienced the devastating Second Shinobi War, and the civilians could not even guarantee their basic livelihood. Back then, the Akatsuki Organization could improve the lives of the civilians simply by doing what they could.

However, now that the Land of Rain hasn't been heavily involved in the Third Shinobi War and Fourth Shinobi War, the civilians are still able to survive. So, after Nagato replaced Hanzo, he was surprised to find that the civilians of the Land of Rain felt no gratitude towards him. Of course, there was no resentment either; everyone viewed the matter as an outsider.

This left Nagato feeling confused.

When Nagato shared his doubts with Yahiko was surprised to find that he had encountered the same problem.

Nagato Yahiko and Konan had discussed this issue for a long time, and finally they came to a conclusion: no matter what method they took to free the Ninja World from war and win peace, in the end, they had to do one thing: make everyone's lives better.

However, while both Nagato and Yahiko created relatively independent environments for their respective countries, they failed to bring about changes that could improve the lives of ordinary people.

Upon closer reflection, whether it was Jiraiya, the Black and White Zetsu and White Zetsu who misled Nagato, or Obito, they all only said that peace could be achieved by making the Ninja World follow their will. But no one taught them how to govern the country after the Ninja World was at peace.

So they thought, if they can't improve the lives of the common people in the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain right now, then what good will it do to bring peace to the Ninja World? Is it just to prevent people's lives from getting worse?

All three of them suffered a blow to their confidence.

Just then, Yichen contacted Nagato.

Using the Phantasm Body Technique, Yichen joined the three's discussion. After understanding their thoughts, he smiled easily; this was his specialty.

Yichen said, "The three of you are getting stuck on one point. First of all, you have brought peace to your country, which has prevented everyone's lives from going in a worse direction, and that alone deserves recognition."

"Secondly, you've made a mistake. Governing a country and maintaining peace are two completely different things. Those who maintain peace don't necessarily know how to govern a country. If you don't know how to govern, you can consult professionals, or simply entrust the matter of governing the country to professionals."

"Upon closer reflection, I think that's probably what Hashirama Senju were thinking back then. Ninjas who only know how to fight and kill generally don't know how to govern a country, so they entrusted this task to the daimyo."

"We can learn from this. We can follow Hashirama Senju's idea and entrust the governance of the country to the daimyo. Of course, if you feel that the daimyo are not doing a good job, you can also change the daimyo system and let more capable people take the position. The daimyo title should no longer be passed down only from father to son."

"Then, you can learn from us, you can emulate our Iwagakure. In recent years, the lives of ordinary people in the Land of Earth have improved a lot. You can go and see how the daimyo of the Land of Earth does it, and then tell your daimyo about the successful experience, or you can send people to do it yourselves."

"As for what our Iwagakure has done, I'll make a list later for you to refer to."

"Last and most importantly, for example, Nagato, what if one day you use force to end all wars in the Ninja World, but you don't know how to govern it? You can let me do it. Although my methods and paths to achieving peace are different from yours, if I ultimately fail while you succeed, then I can also strive for your path to peace under the peace you have established."

"So don't let minor setbacks defeat you, and don't easily waver in your beliefs. If you don't believe me, try it yourself. In your country, emulate some of the policies of the Land of Earth and see if you can bring about changes in the lives of ordinary people."

Konan, Nagato, Yahiko exchanged bewildered glances. Finally, Konan said, "If we had known Yichen knew the answer to this question, we wouldn't have worried so much. I was almost dying of anxiety. I thought all our years of hard work had been for nothing."

Both Nagato and Yahiko were somewhat embarrassed.

However, Yahiko, being somewhat shameless like a protagonist, quickly changed the subject and began discussing with Yichen how to govern a country.

Yichen was somewhat disappointed. He had originally come to Nagato to see if there was anything he could take advantage of, but instead, he ended up giving the three idealists a lesson.

Judging from Nagato and Yahiko's expressions, Yichen knew that they definitely wouldn't be leaving the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain anytime soon.

The two men's doubts will not be completely resolved until they properly test Yichen's method and see a genuine improvement in the lives of ordinary people.

Phantasm Body Technique, Yichen looked rather listless.

However, as the saying goes, "The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, but the willows you plant unintentionally may thrive." Ōnoki, who went out to see the world, sent a message to Yichen.

This is the first letter that Ōnoki sent back after leaving the village. In the letter, he wrote about something: the Kazahana Sōsetsu of the Land of Snow, Kazahana Sayayuki, has died. There are rumors in the Land of Snow that he died at the hands of his own younger brother Kazahana Dōtō. And Kazahana Sōsetsu's only child and heir, Kazahana Koyuki, is living in exile.

Ōnoki told Yichen about this not because he wanted Yichen to do anything, but simply because he wanted to tell Yichen that Kazahana Sōsetsu had left behind a treasure, which Ōnoki suspected might have some connection to the previous Kage of Iwa ninja. Therefore, Ōnoki hoped that Yichen could contact Kazahana Dōtō as the Tsuchikage to see if they could study the treasure.

Ōnoki had already contacted Kazahana Dōtō, but Kazahana Dōtō didn't respect him as the former Tsuchikage.

However, Yichen didn't think so. He felt that Ōnoki's idea was wrong and that he should cooperate with Kazahana Dōtō Kazahana Koyuki.

It wasn't that Yichen about orthodoxy; what he was thinking about was Kazahana Koyuki, who in the original story didn't care too much about the so-called treasure. Dealing with a young girl was much easier than dealing with an ambitious person.

The Land of Snow is a neighboring country to the northwest of the Land of Earth is the only major power surrounding the Land of Snow. The emergence of an ambitious figure in the Land of Snow is not a big deal for the Land of Earth or the Iwagakure.

In particular, this Kazahana Dōtō, has established a ninja organization. He's a guy who combines the titles of Daimyo and village leader. Yichen can't possibly let him grow stronger.

"Someone come here," Yichen called out to the empty office.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a masked Anbu entered from outside the office. He knelt on one knee and Yichen said, "Lord Tsuchikage, what are your orders?"

Yichen said, "Let's search the country and see if there's a group of two people, a middle-aged man and a little girl who looks about four or five years old."

"The little girl is the master, and the middle-aged man is a guard. They come from the Land of Snow. The middle-aged man's name might be Sandayū Asama, and the young lady's name might be Setsuna Fujikaze, or they might use other names. Find them, and hurry!"

"Yes!" The Anbu left immediately after receiving the message.

This mission isn't difficult. Ever since the agreement was reached with the Daimyo to train Guardian Ninja, Iwagakure has been sending ninjas to towns and cities all over the country. Although Yichen's description is simple, there probably aren't many people like the middle-aged man and the little girl from the Land of Snow. The Anbu can easily complete the mission by simply contacting these dispatched ninjas.

As for why Yichen was certain that Kazahana Koyuki was in the Land of Earth, it's quite simple. There are no other major powers surrounding the Land of Snow, so Kazahana Koyuki could only escape Kazahana Dōtō's pursuit in the Land of Earth. Moreover, only the Land of Earth's economy could make Kazahana Koyuki, the daughter of a daimyo, seem less extraordinary.

If Kazahana Koyuki were to travel to other small countries, her identity could easily be exposed due to her lifestyle, attracting pursuit and assassination attempts.

The Anbu was very efficient; within two days of Yichen issuing the order, they received accurate information.

The Anbu handed over three suspicious pairs of middle-aged men and little girls. Yichen only glanced at them briefly before confirming Kazahana Koyuki's identity.

After reviewing the intelligence, Yichen found Ikura, explained his plans, and then led more than a dozen Anbu Squad away from Iwagakure.

Yichen brought so many people not because he was worried about accidents, but because dealing with Kazahana Dōtō and his men was simple; Yichen or Ōnoki alone could do it. However, after dealing with Kazahana Dōtō, Yichen would need some subordinates to handle the follow-up matters.