Two-Level Reversal

As a gesture of goodwill, the Uchiha Clan's territory was arranged beside that of the Yotsuki Clan.

As Kumogakure's largest ninja clan, the Yotsuki Clan's status within Kumogakure went without saying.

Since Kumogakure's founding, every Raikage had come from the Yotsuki Clan.

The Uchiha naturally expressed their gratitude for this.

One good turn deserved another.

Thus, the Uchiha Clan settled down in Kumogakure.

Another month passed, and news of the Uchiha Clan joining Kumogakure had spread throughout the entire Shinobi World.

Though it appeared to cause no ripples on the surface, the long-established balance of the Shinobi World had already begun to shift quietly.

Kumogakure.

Raikage Building.

Led by the Third Raikage, Uchiha Yuzuru toured the Raikage Building.

Looking at the portraits of past Raikage hanging on the walls, the Third Raikage introduced them one by one and also explained Kumogakure's history.

When he spoke of Kumogakure's founding, a trace of longing appeared on the Third Raikage's face.

"Yuzuru, back then, Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju pacified the chaos of the Warring States Era with the Mangekyō Sharingan. There were countless powerful figures in the Shinobi World, yet none could stand against them."

"With their overwhelming strength, they made everyone bow and submit..."

"Though I am Kumogakure's Raikage, I deeply admire both of them."

"My greatest dream is to become like Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara—to make my village the most powerful ninja village in the Shinobi World..."

After saying that, the Third Raikage looked at Uchiha Yuzuru. "Now that the Senju Clan has vanished, if Kumogakure and the Uchiha Clan join forces, could we reach the heights once attained by Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara?"

"By then, if Kumogakure became the strongest ninja village, we would no longer be troubled by resources or war, right?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Yuzuru said calmly, "Kumogakure becoming the strongest ninja village is inevitable, but that alone is nowhere near enough if you want to be free from war."

"Oh?" The Third Raikage gave Uchiha Yuzuru a curious look. "What do you have in mind?"

"Back when Konoha had Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, it was the strongest ninja village. Yet the Ninja Wars broke out immediately after their deaths."

"To achieve true peace, the current order must be broken."

"If all the land in the Shinobi World had only one ruler, would something like war still exist?"

After hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, the Third Raikage could not help widening his eyes.

Was he talking about unifying the Shinobi World?

Even though he had always been recognized as Kumogakure's hardliner, he had never once considered something like unifying the Shinobi World.

No matter how he looked at it, it was a little too crazy.

And besides...

The Third Raikage said in a deep voice, "Unifying the Shinobi World is no simple matter. Even if it succeeds, it would only turn conflicts between ninja villages into conflicts between regions."

"Those living on fertile land would still be coveted by those living in barren regions."

Uchiha Yuzuru smiled. "First, unifying the Shinobi World is not difficult. As long as one has absolute military power, it can be done. I am confident about that."

"Second, resources can be distributed. Just as a village takes care of poor families, once the Shinobi World is unified, all resources can be centrally allocated by the village."

The Third Raikage felt as though the door to a new world had been opened. Ideas he had never considered before kept flashing through his mind.

In the end, his gaze toward Uchiha Yuzuru became filled with mixed emotions.

"Yuzuru, I truly don't know whether bringing you to Kumogakure was right or wrong..."

Uchiha Yuzuru's ideas were a little too crazy, yet for some reason, they made his blood boil.

If he could truly accomplish what Uchiha Yuzuru had described, then he would surely become someone who surpassed Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, wouldn't he?

Just then, a white-haired, dark-skinned middle-aged man approached.

"Mabushi Shin, what is it?"

"Lord Raikage, you truly are the greatest strategist in the Shinobi World! After the Uchiha joined Kumogakure, employers from all over have been lining up in endless queues. Kumogakure's commissioned missions... we're making a killing!"

Hearing that, Uchiha Yuzuru's lips curled upward. "To answer your earlier question, at least for now, having us Uchiha join Kumogakure was the right decision for you."

Kumogakure.

In the mission assignment hall, the staff were so busy that they were drenched in sweat, yet the lines before the counters still stretched as far as the eye could see.

Every Cloud Ninja wore a happy smile.

For so many years, they had never fought such a prosperous battle!

The missions were endless. They simply could not take them all.

And the ones who had brought about all these changes were the Uchiha Clan, who had joined the village not long ago.

"How out of their minds were those people in Konoha to force a prestigious ninja clan like the Uchiha out of the village?"

"Exactly. What a bunch of short-sighted fools. Konoha was founded by the Uchiha, yet they do not know the slightest gratitude."

"But if they had not been so stupid, would Kumogakure have had the chance to gain the Uchiha Clan's support?"

"Ha ha ha ha... I really want to see the looks on those Konoha people's faces right now."

Konoha.

The mission hall was deserted.

Even after lowering the fees for hiring ninja, the situation had not improved.

Though it attracted some small employers to post missions, most were C-rank missions with pitifully low rewards.

Ninja did not engage in production, but their expenses were enormous.

They needed to eat large quantities of meat to replenish their energy and purchase all kinds of ninja tools to maintain their combat strength.

Daily training, medicinal baths, and treatment for injuries and illnesses all required money.

Therefore, the number of commissioned missions a village received was crucial to a ninja village.

Jonin began taking B-rank and C-rank missions, while Chunin began taking C-rank and D-rank missions. Genin could only be left at the back of the line.

After all, given the same amount of money, who would not want to hire a stronger ninja?

Under such competition, large numbers of Genin could not get missions at all. Many Genin who had only recently become ninja could only survive on relief funds issued by the village.

For a time, the once-thriving Konoha had actually taken on a bleak and desolate appearance.

On the streets and in the alleys, the tide of public opinion also began to shift quietly.

"If the Uchiha Clan were still in the village, we would not have to worry about failing to get missions, right?"

"I never realized it before, but the name of a prestigious ninja clan like the Uchiha matters this much to employers."

"If the Third Hokage does not find a solution soon, I will not even be able to afford food! How am I supposed to support my family then?!"

"Come to think of it, even if there were irreconcilable conflicts, did the Third Hokage really have no way to resolve them? Things have now reached the point where the Uchiha Clan joined Kumogakure, the village that once killed the Second Hokage, turning Konoha into the laughingstock of the Shinobi World!"

"The Third Hokage needs to take responsibility! Are we supposed to starve to death?!"

Once the Uchiha Clan's departure began to tangibly affect their own interests, most ordinary people no longer felt the initial excitement and disdain.

Compared to the ninja clans, ninja from powerful Jonin families, the ninja at the bottom of Konoha's ranks began to feel some regret.

No matter what, at least when the Uchiha Clan had still been in Konoha, they had not gone hungry.