It was snowing!
The war was over too!
Perhaps because the war had only just ended, the entire ninja world seemed especially desolate.
And this year's snow had come rather early!
Today.
It was the Land of Grass's first meeting of early winter.
Nearly two months had passed since the meeting that set the five-year plan.
This time...
There were three little ones, Nagato's mother, and the Uzumaki Clan in the Land of Grass.
Of course, Nagato had not revealed his Rinnegan. There were simply too many varieties of fancy eyes in the ninja world, and the Sage of Six Paths' eyes were still a secret nowadays. Thus, unless he displayed their special abilities or encountered someone who understood the Rinnegan, no one would know that Nagato's eyes were Rinnegan.
So, today's meeting also had a representative from the Uzumaki Clan—Uzumaki Yangzheng!
The Uzumaki Third Elder!
"Kusagakure's construction has entered its proper track!" As the leader of the Grass Ninja, Kusana looked solemnly at everyone and said, "As for income... Kusagakure must find new sources of revenue!"
They could not keep relying on him to write those kinds of books!
As the upright and honorable leader of the Land of Grass, he only wrote them for the nation's development. It was not because he wanted to write them!
As soon as he finished speaking.
"Sell intelligence!" Mujie, that shameless bastard, immediately spoke up at the mention of making money. "This has always been an important source of funding for Kusagakure. Though the income from this business has dropped considerably during peacetime and there isn't much intelligence to sell, we can just make some up!" In a completely shameless tone, he said something utterly matter-of-fact. "We just need to throw in things like... war, invasion, and stealing bloodlines. We can't go wrong!"
The moment he finished.
He immediately received the approval of the other higher-ups.
For a ninja village with no mission commissions, this was already the fastest way to make money, and it was also an important source of funding for Kusagakure.
"That's right! It's our old trade. We know this stuff!"
"One hand pays, the other hands over intelligence. Once the money and goods change hands, they'll investigate it themselves afterward!"
"Every ninja village has more or less some problems! So what if they find out? It's no big deal!"
"..."
Kusana's face darkened as he listened.
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Yangzheng, who had come as the Uzumaki Clan's representative, also seemed stunned by the meeting before him.
He had long heard that Kusagakure was shameless. Now that he had seen it for himself, the rumors truly lived up to their name!
They even sold fake intelligence?!
Were they not afraid of being beaten to death by other ninja villages?
What an eye-opener!
What an eye-opener!
Of course, he had had enough of life on the run. Now, only the Land of Grass in the entire ninja world was willing to take them in. As a part of the Land of Grass, no matter what decision its leader ultimately made, he would accept it.
Moreover, he himself had not expected that the Uzumaki Clan would receive such an honor and be allowed to attend a meeting so soon after joining.
The Land of Grass had welcomed them with sincerity. How could the Uzumaki Clan be ungrateful?!
Thus, as a ninja, he only needed to obey orders!
However.
"Very good! Comrade Mujie, your suggestion is extremely pertinent!" Kusana nodded solemnly, paused briefly, then said, "Don't bring it up again in the future."
Without him, after the Land of Grass was rebuilt in the future, it would still be in chaos, with corrupt politics and severe infighting.
But now that he was here, after unifying the Land of Grass, he had also cleaned it up. The entire nation was united as one and displayed a cohesion it had never possessed before.
If this kept up...
He was even more worried that the Fourth Great Ninja War would be started by the Land of Grass, only for the Five Great Nations to invade the Land of Grass afterward!
The reason being... the intelligence was fake!
That was practically courting death!
He suspected that during the later Third Great Ninja War, the Kaguya Clan had crossed the sea and gone to great lengths to launch a fierce assault on the Land of Grass, a nation with nothing to offer, possibly because... Kusagakure had sold Kirigakure fake intelligence!
Kusana folded his hands and swept his gaze over the crowd, saying in a stern tone, "First, we must identify our advantages. When planning development, we must adapt measures to local conditions and insist on proceeding from reality in all things. This is the starting point and ultimate goal of our thinking, decision-making, and actions! We must efficiently utilize the Land of Grass's advantages in order to drive high-quality development!"
"..."
Why was the leader talking in such roundabout ways today? They could barely understand him!
As for the Land of Grass's advantages?
Lots of flowers and grass?
"Looks like you all understand!" Kusana nodded and continued, "One of today's agenda items is discussing the development of the Land of Grass's livestock industry!"
After all, the Land of Lightning directly above them drew its greatest income from alcohol and exporting premium beef. When Naruto got married, they had even gifted him an entire black bull. One could imagine how valuable it was!
And the Land of Grass... was just like how it rained all day in the Land of Rain.
The Land of Grass had abundant pastureland, with many varieties of high-yield, highly nutritious forage grass, other plants, and medicinal herbs. Its only regret was probably its relatively small territory.
"So, we can steal from the Land of Lightning... and likewise cultivate high-quality cattle and sheep belonging to the Land of Grass!"
Then they could advertise it: carefully selected and bred, drinking natural spring water and eating nutrient-rich medicinal herbs from the moment they were born. While being raised, they would listen to music and stories, and expensive professional taijutsu ninja would be hired to massage them and promote blood circulation.
This would ensure that every strand of muscle in the beef received full exercise, leaving the meat tender, delicate, and juicy, melting in the mouth with every bite!
As long as the product met the standard, the rest... was simply a matter of advertising. And if it did not meet the standard... it could still ride the hype!
Following trends was human nature!
Hearing the leader's words, everyone was left dumbfounded, unable to stop a sigh from rising in their hearts.
No wonder the leader could become the leader. He could even come up with so many tricks for deceiving people.
Compared to their fake intelligence...
They did not even know how far beneath him they were!
What an eye-opener! What an eye-opener!
Mujie immediately sighed with feeling. "As expected, the leader truly is a pure-blooded man of the Land of Grass!"
"..."
That was advertising, not deception! It was different from deceiving people!
Kusana's mouth twitched before he continued, "Besides that, we must also promote the Land of Grass, attract more people here, and at the same time..."
He pulled out a stack of documents from his clothes and placed them on the table.
After the Second Great Ninja War ended, there was a rich woman whose fortune was growing steadily, step by step, as she headed down the path of becoming a massive cash cow.
She was exceedingly tempting!
Perhaps they could make a killing?
"Make a movie!"
The moment he finished speaking.
Everyone curiously looked toward the table, where they saw...
"Gambling Shadow"!!!
Two huge words!
"???"
What the hell was that?
"Therefore, remember this: a nation's development is not as simple as hosting a dinner party, nor is it about throwing kunai or using ninjutsu and genjutsu. We must adapt to local conditions and the times, and conform to the specific circumstances of the Land of Grass! Analyze specific issues specifically! Only then can we find a path suited to the Land of Grass's development."
Kusana took the hot tea Kana had poured for him from beside him, took a sip with the air of an old cadre, and looked thoroughly seasoned.
"The meeting is now adjourned. Everyone, go write a reflection of no fewer than eight thousand words on today's meeting and thoroughly analyze the Land of Grass's situation!"
"..."
Even after the meeting ended, everyone remained silent.
They were utterly shaken!
It was not because they were amazed by the leader's analysis of the Land of Grass's development in so many areas, but because... they seemed to understand it, yet they also seemed not to understand it!
In any case, it sounded very impressive.
After all, they were merely ordinary ninja!
How could they understand such things?
But how were they supposed to write that reflection?
After nearly everyone left with bewildered expressions, Kusana finally stretched and stood up.
A full day of meetings had left him rather tired. Come to think of it... Fusang and Nagato were moving today too!
It was not far.
They were just moving next door, separated by a wall. He should go see whether they needed any help!
Just as he was about to leave with Kana.
"Leader!"
"???"
Kusana froze, then turned to look at Uzumaki Yangzheng, who had yet to leave. "Is something the matter, Elder Yang Zheng?"
"Um... is there anything the Uzumaki Clan can do for you, Leader?" Uzumaki Yangzheng paused, then quickly added, "This old man means nothing else by it. It is simply that... the Land of Grass sincerely took in the Uzumaki Clan and allowed us to live in peace. If we do nothing, the Uzumaki Clan... would feel ashamed as well!"
The moment he finished speaking.
"Do what?" Kusana frowned, then said as though it were only natural, "Have children!"
"???"
"Your clan is practically extinct. Instead of properly having children, why are you doing all this other random nonsense? How can you strengthen the nation without having children? Go have children obediently. The more you have, the greater the reward!"
"..." x2
The two of them fell silent.
What did having children have to do with strengthening the nation?
Before you continue