Inside the tent, a brief, impenetrable silence fell.
All eyes were focused on Chiyo Uchiha, their faces filled with astonishment and disbelief.
Take the money...
Redeem people?
Can the value of a "shadow" be measured in monetary terms?
This is absolutely unheard of!
The rule in the Ninja World has always been that the victor reaps the rewards, and the loser pays the price.
The price is usually land, resources, village mandates, secret arts, or humiliating political treaties.
Putting a price tag directly on a "shadow" is...
This is utterly humiliating for the last shred of dignity that Cloud and Iwagakure have left!
This will be a huge scandal that will shock the entire Shinobi World in the future.
The Raikage and Tsuchikage will become the first Kage in history to be "redeemed," a disgrace that will forever be etched into their records, bringing shame upon their villages as well.
However, after a brief moment of shock...
The veteran ninjas present, especially those in power who deeply understood the nature of war, such as Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and the Clan Leader various clans, began to have a thoughtful look in their eyes.
What are we fighting in war?
Ultimately, it all comes down to resources, ninjas, and the economy!
Konoha won the war.
However, the wars were costly, and the village was not well-stocked.
Compensating the wounded and rehabilitating the community, developing new techniques, and maintaining a massive ninja army—each of these requires enormous sums of money.
If we can extract huge sums of money from defeated nations...
Thinking of this, many people's breathing quickened slightly.
This is not out of greed, but for the long-term development of the village.
With this money, Konoha can not only recover quickly, but also usher in a golden period of rapid development!
Chiyo Uchiha took in the changes in everyone's expressions.
The playful smile remained on his lips as he slowly stood up, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable persuasiveness.
"Do you find it absurd? Do you find it undignified?"
He looked around, his gaze sharp.
"But please consider this: what is our ultimate goal in launching this war and making these sacrifices?"
Is it for the sake of a vague sense of face, or for the tangible benefits of Konoha and Mirai long-term peace?
He paused, then continued his analysis, getting straight to the heart of the matter.
"Detaining the two Shadows may seem like a powerful bargaining chip, but it's actually a double-edged sword."
Without a leader, Iwagakure and Cloud are bound to descend into chaos and even infighting.
A chaotic neighbor, seemingly powerless to threaten us in the short term.
In the long run, however, the uncontrolled chaos may breed more extreme forces or give other covetous powers an opportunity to take advantage, thus sowing unpredictable hidden dangers for the Mirai borders.
What we need is a neighbor who has been beaten into submission, is capable of fulfilling treaty obligations, and remains relatively underdeveloped and stable, not two powder kegs that could explode at any moment.
"Secondly, detaining the two Kage for an extended period will constantly irritate the nerves of the ninjas from both villages."
Shame can fester, and hatred can accumulate.
They have temporarily yielded out of fear of our power.
But who can guarantee that a few years or a decade from now, extremists won't emerge under the banner of 'saving the Shadows,' willing to go to any lengths to take revenge on Konoha?
Are we to remain in a state of high alert forever, guarding against a possible furious counterattack from the two great ninja villages?
Danzo's gaze was serious, and he deeply agreed.
Back then, when their teacher led them to Kumogakure, they were caught in a coup.
"But what if we agree to the 'redemption' plan?"
Chiyo abruptly changed the subject.
"First, we can obtain a huge sum of money that far exceeds the reparations from a conventional war, enough to enable Konoha to develop rapidly for the Mirai ten or even twenty years."
This money can be used to provide generous compensation to the families of fallen ninjas, ensuring their well-being.
It can be used to improve the welfare and equipment of all ninjas.
More resources can be invested in education, healthcare, and research and development to solidify Konoha's foundation.
"Esteemed clan Clan Leader, your clans will also receive corresponding resource allocations, enabling them to recover and develop more quickly."
His gaze swept over the representatives of the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Hyuga families, his words carrying a clear seduction.
The representatives of the various families exchanged glances, clearly swayed by their words.
War is devastating for every family; if they could obtain substantial resources as compensation...
"Second!"
Chiyo continued.
"By 'releasing' the two shadows, we seem to have given up our bargaining chips, but in reality, we have gained the strategic initiative."
Iwagakure and Cloud paid a heavy economic price; this huge sum was enough to deplete their savings accumulated over many years and greatly slowed down their recovery.
For a long time to Mirai, they will be unable to pose a real threat to Konoha.
At the same time, it was they who 'paid money' to redeem their shadows, and this transaction itself psychologically diminished them.
They can no longer justify regarding Konoha as their mortal enemy.
Because we 'allowed' them to redeem their property, in a sense, we held the initiative in 'giving'."
"Third, and most importantly!"
Chiyo's voice carried a hint of cold mockery.
"The act of redeeming their shadows with money is itself a fatal blow to the prestige of the two shadows and their village."
The authority of the Raikage and Tsuchikage will be greatly diminished, and every decision they make in the Mirai will be secretly whispered about as, "This is the decision of the Kage who was redeemed by Konoha."
This will sow seeds of distrust within them, greatly tying up their energy and leaving them no time for anything else.
Meanwhile, Konoha gained tangible benefits without bloodshed, weakened its opponents, and even gained a subtle moral advantage.
After all, we 'agreed' to their redemption request, demonstrating 'forgiveness'."
His words meticulously dissected the seemingly absurd strategy of "buying people out of trouble," revealing the profound interests and strategic considerations behind it.
Silence fell once more in the tent, but this silence was entirely different from the previous one.
No longer were they surprised and confused, but rather deeply thoughtful and gradually ignited with excitement and agreement.
"Brilliant!"
The Clan Leader of the Nara Clan was the first to clap his hands in praise, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
" Clan Leader Chiyo's move may seem absurd, but it is actually a well-thought-out strategy."
Driven by economic interests, achieving long-term strategic security, maximizing our own war gains, and even undermining the opponent's cohesion from within... I admire that!
"That's absolutely right!"
The representative of the Yamanaka Clan nodded in agreement.
"In this way, we can obtain the much-needed funds, avoid the potential risks of prolonged hostage-taking, and also psychologically damage our opponents. It's a win-win situation!"
"I agree with Clan Leader Chiyo's plan!"
The Clan Leader of the Akimichi Clan had a booming voice.
"With this money, the village can do so many things! The brothers who sacrificed their lives can also receive better compensation!"
Hyuga Sakon nodded slightly.
"This move is beneficial to the long-term development of the village, Hyuga Clan has no objections."
Even Shimura Danzō, who originally advocated for strong oppression, had a glint in his one eye.
He discovered that although Chiyo's method seemed "gentle," the actual impact and control it exerted might be more profound and lasting than simple physical oppression.
His methods are more bloodless, more subtle and insidious, and more timely.
He remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke in a hoarse voice.
"... If the amount is large enough to cripple Cloud and Iwagakure for decades, I have no objection."
As Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the group that had quickly reached a consensus, and then at Chiyo, who was smiling and seemed to have everything under control, the last trace of hesitation in his heart vanished.
He had to admit that Chiyo's vision was farther-reaching.
He took a deep breath and slammed his pipe heavily on the table.
"Alright! Let's do as Chiyo says!"
Immediately convey Konoha's decision to Cloud and Iwagakure: If you want their Kage, you can, but you must show sufficient sincerity to 'ran away' them!
The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became lively.
Everyone began discussing how to draft this unprecedented "ransom" list, what the amount should be, the payment method, and what political clauses should be attached...
Everyone's face was filled with anticipation for the Mirai and awe and admiration for Chiyo Uchiha wisdom.
This young Clan Leader not only possesses disruptive power, but also extraordinary political wisdom and strategic vision.
The Mirai of Konoha will undoubtedly reach a new and unprecedented height because of him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at Chiyo Uchiha, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
" Chiyo Uchiha is the Mirai of Konoha!"