" Lord Hokage, what happened? Why are you laughing so happily?"
Orochimaru had just returned to the lab when he saw Uchiha Nan laughing heartily, and instinctively asked a question.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, Orochimaru regretted them. Tobirama Senju, his pent-up anger like a volcano about to erupt, the aftershocks of which would reach Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was a promising talent, Tobirama Senju valued him highly, nurturing Orochimaru with all his might, even intending for Orochimaru to inherit his mantle.
If Orochimaru had been born a decade or two earlier, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have had to step aside.
However, Tobirama Senju was not only a renowned teacher but also a strict one. He was particularly rigorous in teaching his outstanding disciples, and Orochimaru's methods were incredibly diverse.
The punishment for failing each assessment is not so much physical harm, but more so psychological harm.
Tobirama Senju's mouth was like poison; every time Orochimaru failed a test, he would be berated by Tobirama Senju until he doubted his existence and needed at least a day or two to recover. Only when Orochimaru Jiraiya his psychological trauma be slightly healed.
Of course, there's not much to say about this. Jade must be carved to become a useful object, and only a strict teacher can produce outstanding students. Not everyone has the opportunity to gain Tobirama Senju's favor.
" Orochimaru, I'll be checking on your training these next couple of days. I hope you won't disappoint me!"
Tobirama Senju gave Orochimaru a "kind" smile.
"I'm fine."
Orochimaru, his face contorted with despair, slowly nodded, his heart filled with bitterness. Why did he choose this time to return? Why did he have to be so talkative?
"Hmph, what kind of skill is it to bully your own students!"
Uchiha Nan curled her lip and snorted coldly.
"It's none of your business how I teach my own Disciple!"
Orochimaru watched as another round of arguing was about to begin, with himself still at the center of the debate. He knew that, Tobirama Senju any unforeseen circumstances, his master, Tobirama Senju, would be the one to suffer the most. And who would ultimately bear the brunt of his master's wrath?
run!!
Orochimaru slipped away as fast as he could, quickly fleeing this dangerous place.
Forget it, I can't be bothered arguing with you.
Uchiha Nan didn't want to waste time with Tobirama Senju, so he directly steered the conversation back to Moryo.
The tireless stone golem of the Moryo was something that Uchiha Nan really coveted!
The construction site is in dire need of manual laborers to do the mortar work!
Building a railway can be done by urgently calling upon ninjas as construction workers, but Uchiha Nan wanted to build railways all over the Land of Fire and even connect the entire Ninja world in the future, creating a mature logistics system. This massive project cannot be accomplished by ninjas alone; it would require tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of people to complete this great undertaking.
Ordinary people couldn't work at the speed required by Uchiha Nan, and who knows how many ordinary people would die because of the railway.
Whether using ordinary people or ninjas, this involves enormous human resources costs and compensation for lost lives.
Who knows how much money will be thrown in Uchiha Nan doesn't want to pay that!
Currently, only the puppet soldiers of the Moryo can perfectly meet Uchiha Nan's needs.
Of course, Tobirama Senju World Impure World Reincarnation, but the Impure World Reincarnation technique has too many drawbacks.
Even if Uchiha Nan abandoned all moral principles, frantically digging up dead people's graves and completely ignoring ethical and moral issues...
That also means we need to solve the problem of offerings; the death row inmates in Konoha prison definitely don't have enough.
We can't just arrest ordinary people on a large scale and use them as sacrifices.
This could be a disguised form of massacre.
The cost would be too high. Uchiha Nan just wanted to save costs and didn't want to become an executioner or a tyrant who disregarded human life.
The Konoha leadership would also disagree with Uchiha Nan's proposal; they would rather spend more money to hire people to do the work.
"You want to use the puppets that the Moryo use to destroy the world as laborers?"
"Is that not allowed?"
"Can."
Tobirama Senju was already used to Uchiha Nan's wild imagination; at least this time, Uchiha Nan's use of the puppet soldiers of the Moryo was not as bizarre as that of the Zero-Tailed Beast!
Let the villagers of Konoha and the people of the Ninja world spend money to resolve their negative emotions, so they can then work even harder in the fields, wielding hoes and toiling away in factories, tightening screws.
This is fucking hell!
This time Uchiha Nan Uchiha Nan something good, as it lessened the sins he was burdened with.
Although Uchiha Nan's initial intention was simply to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
However, Tobirama Senju still felt uneasy.
What will become of the Ninja world because of Uchiha Nan?!
"Don't look like you're just going through the motions!"
"You need to find a way to settle things with Moryo as soon as possible. Orochimaru's construction site is short-handed, Moryo's stone golems are perfect for doing hard labor. Orochimaru is in charge of the railway project; if he does this job well, it will be enough for him to gain a foothold in the upper echelons of Konoha."
"It's not so easy for a commoner ninja like him to gain access to Konoha's core power through nepotism. You and I are from ninja clans, so I don't need to say more. You know better than me how ninja clans treat commoner ninjas."
Uchiha Nan's tone was somewhat heavy.
Several years ago, Uchiha Nan relied on his prestige and used power and money to pave the way for the release of some Ninjutsu that the ninja clans regarded as treasures.
The Ninja Academy is completely free for ordinary ninjas. Even Tobirama Senju didn't do this, as it would be a drain on the resources of the ninja clans. Tobirama Senju was counting on the ninja clans of Konoha to fight and protect Konoha.
Although the Konoha ninja clans remained silent about Uchiha Nan's transgressions, unable to defy the Lord Hokage's will, they could still shift their focus to civilian ninjas.
Even if I can't control the Lord Hokage, I can still beat you, a commoner ninja!
Uchiha Nan had noticed long ago that the ninja clans had always looked down on commoner ninjas. Although they didn't say it outright, their attitude was undeniable, and they favored the ninja clan members in their daily behavior. Later, this attitude only intensified.
For example, simple tasks with high commissions are always taken by ninja clan members, while difficult tasks are beyond the capabilities of ordinary ninjas. It is only because Uchiha Nan is always willing to pay them to support them that he is using his financial power to alleviate the conflict.
As for the systematic exclusion of civilian ninjas by the ninja clans, Uchiha Nan could only turn a blind eye for the time being and spend money to appease the civilian ninjas.
After all, Konoha needs the power of the ninja clans; how could they tolerate someone opposing them?
In the past, the number of civilian ninjas was small, Konoha could afford to pay this amount, but the situation is different now.
The number of Konoha is surging. Uchiha Nan's investment in the education system is not for nothing. The Ninja Academy is expanding its enrollment every year. In a few years, the number of civilian ninjas will Jonin the number of clan ninjas, and then surpass them by a wide margin.
This speed is twenty years faster than during Hiruzen Sarutobi's time, or even a little faster.
Sooner or later, Konoha's finances will run into trouble because of these civilian ninjas. The ninja clans will want to cut these subsidies, arguing that civilian ninjas don't deserve such high pay, while the civilian ninjas will feel the subsidies are too low and then turn their anger towards the ninja clans.
As long as Uchiha Nan was in power, no one dared to openly make a move, but open and covert struggles were inevitable.
This is Ninja world version of the struggle between aristocratic families and commoners. No, commoners are also a kind of family; it's a struggle between aristocratic families and commoners.
Initially, when Uchiha Nan wanted to expand the Ninja Academy, the Konoha ninja clan leadership did not object, as Konoha's ninja numbers were indeed in dire need of replenishment. However, as Uchiha Nan increased his investment in civilian ninjas, providing comprehensive support in terms of funds, secret medicines, and Ninjutsu, the ninja clans quickly realized the implications.
In a few years, or even a decade or so, the power of these commoner ninjas, whom they once looked down upon, will surpass that of the ninja clans.
The advantage of ninja clans lies in the fact that their members possess higher individual talent than ordinary ninjas, and in the past, they had access to superior training resources and a significant advantage in Ninjutsu. However, this advantage was gradually eroded by Uchiha Nan's financial resources.
The only advantage the ninja clan will have in the future is their talent, while the advantage of ordinary ninjas will only ever be one thing.
That's because there are too many people!
Large base!
But don't underestimate this point.
A large pool of talent means a continuous stream of geniuses will emerge, and sometimes even extraordinary individuals will appear out of nowhere, such as Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Eirin, the Third Mizukage, Might Duy, and Might Guy.
"I see."
Tobirama Senju nodded. This concerned the future of his prized disciple, Uchiha Nan also took the opportunity to tell Tobirama Senju about some problems that would arise in Konoha in the future, hoping that he would temporarily act as his strategist.
"My brother and I have already considered this issue. By integrating the ninja clans into the ranks of ordinary ninjas, the concept of constant intermarriage among ninja clans will disappear."
"It's a pity my elder brother died too young; I didn't have time to do any of this First Shinobi World War began."
"Speaking of which, your Uchiha is the culprit. If it weren't for Madara Uchiha and the life-or-death battle with my brother at the Valley of the End, in which my brother was severely injured and Madara Uchiha faked his death to escape, causing my brother to remain depressed and even contemplate suicide, he would definitely be alive today, given his regenerative abilities!"
Following the topic, Tobirama Senju skillfully began to smear the Uchiha.
Although these are all the truths, Hashirama Senju's death was indeed too outrageous; his body cells were still alive after death.
This is absolutely outrageous! It's outrageous beyond belief!
But Hashirama Senju was indeed dead; his will to live was completely extinguished by Madara Uchiha's death.
However Uchiha Nan absolutely cannot recognize him, not even if you kill him!
"Don't just pass the buck. Tell me why Madara Uchiha left Konoha. Why did he abandon the Konoha that he and the First Hokage had worked so hard to build? Was there some treacherous person stirring things up in the shadows?"
"I'm asking you, Tobirama Senju!"
"Who killed whom? Was it Madara Uchiha who killed the First Hokage?!"
I don't think so!
Tobirama Senju was sweating profusely. How did this happen to him again?!
I ostracized Madara Uchiha for the sake of Konoha; I couldn't have caused the death of my elder brother, Hashirama Senju, by doing so!
"Ahem, let bygones be bygones. We should think about the future and how to make Konoha more prosperous."
Tobirama Senju, the inherently evil white-haired old devil, immediately changed the subject when he sensed the situation was turning against him.
This matter cannot be discussed indefinitely!
Some things may not weigh much on a scale, but once you put them on, they can weigh a ton!
"Good to know. Don't bother me with those old, trivial matters from the past!"
"Uh-huh"
Tobirama Senju was extremely guilty, and he nodded in a perfunctory manner.
"Your and the First Hokage's plan is simply not feasible. I cannot allow members of the Bloodline Ninja Clan to intermarry with commoners; this would lower the concentration of the Bloodline Ninja Clan's bloodline."
Uchiha Nan rejected Tobirama Senju's suggestion without even thinking about it.
"What do you mean?"
"You've spent so much money on civilian ninjas, and now the Ninja Academy is still expanding its enrollment, the number of civilian ninjas is constantly increasing. What other way is there to alleviate the conflict between ninja clans and civilian ninjas besides my method?"
"This is an inevitable trend!"
"Do you want the common ninjas of Konoha to fight against the ninja clans of Konoha?"
Tobirama Senju was getting impatient; when it came to the future of Konoha, he was always so eager.
"Those clans with secret techniques are fine, but bloodline ninja clans are absolutely out of the question, especially when it comes to fighting off the Ōtsutsuki Clan's invasion in the future."
Uchiha Nan shut his mouth in time; he had no intention of telling Tobirama Senju this information.
The Ōtsutsuki Clan will invade the Ninja world in a few decades. Although it is not an urgent matter, we must prepare for it in advance.
The Ōtsutsuki Clan is powerful, and their numbers are unknown. Even if I achieve Six Paths level and eat the Chakra Fruit, I would most likely still be defeated if I were to fight those Ōtsutsuki Clan alone.
Bloodline ninja clans intermarry and constantly exchange bloodlines, creating several young Tsutsuki clans. They then gradually find ways to revert their bloodlines back to their ancestral form and cultivate Sage Mode, eventually filling the gap in the top-tier combat power of the Ninja world.
At least it won't be like Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, where the Otsutsuki invaded and only Naruto and Sasuke could stand up and get kicked around. And that's just the strength of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Uchiha Nan didn't watch much of the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations storyline and can barely remember it, but no matter what, allowing bloodline ninja clans to integrate into the common people is tantamount to self-destruction.
"How many things are you still hiding from me about the Ōtsutsuki Clan's invasion?!"
Tobirama Senju overheard something he shouldn't have, and his expression changed. He knew that Uchiha Nan was hiding a lot of secrets and hadn't told him yet.
Why are you asking so many questions? You can't solve these problems anyway!
Uchiha Nan didn't want to dwell on this issue, but Tobirama Senju kept nagging on and on.
"How do you know I can't handle it? I'm Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage of Konoha, the strongest Ninja world! Let me tell you Uchiha Nan, I hate your face the most, that look of disdain you!"
"Aaaaaah!!!"
"That born evil Uchiha brat!"
Uchiha Nan impatiently picked at his ear with his finger.
" Tobirama, the way you complain sounds like you're being spoiled."
"And Tobirama Senju! Stop talking nonsense, I said you're no good, and you're no good!"
Those enemies, even if Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju forces, would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!
All you have to do now is follow orders!