Two Plans

He wasn't opposed to selling intelligence. Fake intelligence was only being sold to other countries anyway.

The ones being harmed were other countries, so it wasn't a big problem.

Unfortunately.

Given the stunt they had pulled during the First Great Ninja War... it was easy to imagine which country in the ninja world would still dare trust intelligence from the Land of Grass.

Even if they put the intelligence on sale, probably no ninja village would want it.

Especially now that the war had just ended and peace had only just begun. The Five Great Ninja Villages all knew... there would be no war anytime soon. So who would buy intelligence that might be fake? Who would want to?

Besides, relying on a single source of income was simply too dangerous for the Land of Grass. If anything went wrong, the losses would be severe.

That was why he had proposed expanding their revenue streams at the previous two meetings, even suggesting they develop animal husbandry and the entertainment industry.

Unfortunately.

Those had only just begun and still needed time to build up.

"Should we go out and accept commissions to carry out missions?" Oyakamon pondered for a moment before saying, "That's also an important source of funding for the major ninja villages."

As soon as he finished speaking.

"Forget it. No one will come to Kusagakure to commission missions." A Grass ninja beside him sighed helplessly. "I don't know what's going on. We Grass ninja are actually... actually pretty capable. So why won't anyone come?"

"Yeah! We may not compare to the Five Great Ninja Villages, but we can still handle small missions. And Kusagakure charges fair prices. There are even discounts for multiple commissions, so we're much cheaper than the Five Great Ninja Villages!"

"Maybe it's because of our reputation! Like when we sold fake intelligence during the First Great Ninja War, with bulk discounts too! On top of that, the Land of Grass has no bloodlines or ninjutsu of its own. Our ninjutsu is basically copied from ninja of other countries, so everyone doubts Kusagakure's credibility and strength."

The moment that Grass ninja finished speaking.

He was immediately met with furious glares from the other Grass ninja.

This guy...

Honestly!

Why was he blurting out the hard truth?!

As for the Uzumaki Clan and Chinoike Clan ninja nearby, they all looked up at the ceiling. Having only joined recently... they didn't dare interject carelessly.

"Ahem, let this old man say a few words!" Uzumaki Yangzheng, the academy's dean, suddenly gave two fake coughs before declaring righteously, "This Grass ninja... how can that be called copying? Can ninja matters be called copying? We are all Grass ninja, so don't talk nonsense. As the Leader said... this is learning the barbarians' superior techniques to control the barbarians."

He sighed.

"Our Land of Grass is poor, and we're a weak country. We haven't even been rebuilt for long. Is it wrong to learn from other countries and ninja villages in order to strengthen our country and village? Is it wrong to learn their advanced ninjutsu, knowledge, and management methods? Tell me, is there anything wrong with strengthening our country and village?"

"As a member of Kusagakure, although this old man has only joined the Land of Grass recently, I must still criticize this Grass ninja. Stop saying such pretentious things."

As his words fell.

"..."

The entire meeting room fell silent. Every Grass ninja stared dumbfoundedly at the Uzumaki Clan elder before them.

Even Oyakamon, the Clan Head of the Chinoike Clan, stared at Uzumaki Yangzheng in shock.

They had learned something, they had learned something!

Impressive, truly impressive!

He could actually put it that way?!

"Elder Yang Zheng is right!" That Grass ninja immediately said shamefully. "I was being narrow-minded. The criticism was deserved!"

Then the other Grass ninja came back to their senses. They sighed with emotion and nodded one after another.

"No wonder the Leader overruled all objections and appointed Elder Yang Zheng, who had only just joined us, as the academy's dean. As expected... the elder is a cultured man!"

"I am deeply impressed by those words! It was like being enlightened by divine nectar—I suddenly understood! That's right, we're only learning. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Well said, Elder!"

"That was what the Leader said."

"Well said, Leader!"

"As expected of the Leader!"

"..."

Kusana looked at the Grass ninja, whose whole tone had shifted for no apparent reason, and didn't know what to say.

But without a doubt... Elder Yang Zheng seemed to have won everyone's approval through his own efforts.

To be honest, when Kusana had overruled objections and appointed an elder from a ninja clan that had only recently joined them as the academy's dean, quite a few people in the village had opposed it.

But there was no helping it...

That bunch of seasoned Grass ninja were really... those who knew, knew. Only Longzhi reassured him somewhat. As for the rest... Kusana had truly worried that they would lead the children astray.

But now, it seemed there was no longer any need to worry.

Sure enough, someone capable of becoming an elder of a ninja clan was not simple.

Mujie really ought to come and learn from him!

But now.

Hadn't they gotten a little off topic?

Kusana sighed, then seriously pulled a proposal from his clothes. "Everyone, take a look!"

As his words fell.

Everyone looked toward it curiously.

Written on it were...

Ninja World Blind Box Proposal

"???"

What the heck was that?

That's right.

Blind boxes!

Seeing everyone's confusion, Kusana nodded in satisfaction.

This was the fastest way he had come up with to make money, aside from selling intelligence and signed books.

Originally, "Gambling Shadow" had been meant to attract Tsunade, that wealthy woman. Yet she hadn't come; instead, Jiraiya, who was single-mindedly on a pilgrimage, had arrived.

But since she wouldn't come here, he would go to her himself.

Besides, although the Grass ninja had a poor reputation, their reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance abilities were quite good. He refused to believe they couldn't start a blind box craze.

After all, in later generations, a bunch of people had copied even fast-food toys just to follow trends, driving their prices into the thousands.

He refused to believe his Ninja World Strongest Blind Boxes and Teacher Ooki Classic Character Blind Boxes wouldn't attract a crowd.

Of course, the one thing they needed to watch out for was... copyright. Although the ninja world of this era didn't care much about copyright, no one could say what the future held.

Other villages might grow envious of the Land of Grass making money and forcibly ban Kusagakure from using the likenesses of their ninja.

So he was also preparing to use this opportunity... to purchase copyrights on a massive scale first!

This was also for Grasswood's future development.

And in order to further solidify Grasswood's future position, he had prepared a new script as well.

"Sannin Wreak Havoc in Grasswood"!

Kusana pulled out another proposal. Looking at the Grass ninja higher-ups, who seemed to understand yet not understand, he sighed helplessly inside. "Forget it, I'll arrange it when the time comes! Also, we'll need a ninja to visit other countries. His task will be extremely important: not only must he open up foreign markets, he must also purchase copyrights."

As his words fell.

Everyone looked at one another. Before long, Longzhi raised her hand and, after pondering for a moment, said, "Although I don't know why the Leader is going out of his way to purchase that... so-called copyright, if it's a matter of visiting other countries..." She sighed, her tone somewhat helpless. "Without a doubt... Mujie is the most suitable."

"..."

That guy really was the most suitable!

Ever since the Land of Grass had been rebuilt, Mujie had always handled their relations with nearby countries.

Although he was a little unreliable, he was still very trustworthy in this regard.

Kusana thought of Mujie, who was still studying diligently in prison, and nodded helplessly as well. "It'll be him, then. Let him out later. As for the new movie..."

The Sannin...

Would they agree to make a movie?

The Land of Grass was poor, after all. They couldn't afford appearance fees for stars as big as the Sannin.

Before he could finish.

Just then.

"Knock, knock~"

After knocking on the door, a Grass ninja hurried in. "Leader!"

He looked nervous, as though he had something important to report.

Everyone looked over curiously as well.

Before anyone could ask.

The Grass ninja said anxiously, "We just received a report from the land-tilling team... the summoned beast of community service worker Jiraiya of Konoha's Sannin has gone berserk!"

"???"