Yellow Hair's Joy

Sunagakure's financial standing had always been at the bottom among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. If calculated by per capita income, it ranked outside the top ten.

Its revenue structure was also extremely singular, relying heavily on missions and mineral resources. Especially after the last Shinobi World War, the Land of Wind not only reduced military spending but also outsourced some missions to Konoha. This was like adding frost to snow for the already impoverished Sunagakure.

However, this was good news for Rasa. After all, with the Kazekage gone, he was the only one in the village skilled in prospecting mineral veins. This rapidly elevated his status; otherwise, his position as a disciple of the Third Kazekage alone wouldn't have garnered him supporters from the Kazekage faction.

"Lord Rasa, is this true?"

Immediately, a clan leader whose family business was mineral trading confirmed with Rasa.

Rasa shook his head, "I'm not clear about the village's finances, but the mineral extraction volume is basically on par with last year. There are rumors of new mineral veins in the west. I'll go confirm after some time. However..."

"However, the minerals can't be transported out."

Hoshino Maki interrupted Rasa's speech, "Due to the war, surrounding countries have stationed large numbers of troops on the borders with the Land of Wind. It will take time to reopen the channels. The earliest it will be is winter, and transportation speed will slow down. Therefore, many buyers, concerned about the war, have already signed agreements with Iwagakure. At least for the next year, Sunagakure's mineral sales will not improve, and may even decline sharply."

In the end, it was the merchants' lack of confidence in Sunagakure.

If Kumogakure and Konoha were at war, they wouldn't necessarily pledge loyalty to Konoha, but they would at least hedge their bets.

Unlike now, they've gone straight to Iwagakure. Perhaps that old man Ōnoki never imagined that he would be the biggest winner of the conflict between Cloud and Sand.

Rasa nodded, that was his sentiment as well, and he greatly admired the other party's talent in internal affairs.

There were many strong individuals in this village, but too few with brains.

He grew up under the tutelage of the Kazekage and, by taking on the task of mineral prospecting, frequently interacted with powerful figures from the outside world, thus developing his current broad perspective.

But for someone who had never left the Land of Wind since childhood, and rarely even left Sunagakure, to have such insight was truly remarkable. Entrusting the village's internal affairs to him in the future would save a lot of worry.

While Chōjūrō was still contemplating how to become Kazekage, Rasa was already thinking about the village's development from the perspective of the Kazekage.

This was vision.

The clan leader's face turned pale as he slumped back into his seat.

The mineral business was practically a no-cost venture.

These clans that preyed on the mineral veins managed their operations very crudely. As a leader, he was the same. In the past, if they needed money, they'd just dig more; if they didn't, they'd dig less. They never considered what to do if the minerals couldn't be transported.

If they could borrow from the village before, but now the village had no money!

"Also, since the Land of Wind has always relied on imported food, the war has caused food prices to skyrocket. Surrounding countries have been hoarding large amounts of grain while we are fighting Kumogakure. It is now difficult for us to purchase large quantities of affordable grain. With the village's current grain reserves, a 'grain shortage' is expected in the second half of the year."

Before everyone could digest this terrible news, Hoshino Maki delivered another blow, and it was the most brutal one.

This time, it wasn't just the leaders of the great clans; all the ninjas panicked!

Some of them couldn't see the deep connection between minerals and the village's economy. They felt that minerals had nothing to do with them, and that the sluggish mineral sales were a loss for the great clans, not for themselves.

But food was different. No one was a "little fairy"; they had to eat!

"What should we do? Let's ask the Daimyo for help!"

"The Daimyo has always disliked us. Asking for help now would be like a drop in the bucket. After all, if Hoshino Maki is right, the entire Land of Wind will face a food shortage."

"What about other villages? Konoha and Iwagakure should have food, right?"

"They definitely do, but what do we have to trade? The village has no money, and they don't lack minerals. Besides, would they be so kind as to help? It's more likely they'd kick us while we're down. If they secretly obstruct us, Sunagakure might face even greater difficulties."

"Let's rob them! Which of the surrounding countries is our match!"

"Wouldn't that push them towards Konoha and the Stone Ninja? What if they intervene? The village would have to fight on an empty stomach!"

"..."

The meeting hall fell into a state of panic. The last time there was such a commotion was when the Third Kazekage disappeared.

Everyone babbled out their ideas only to have them shot down. No one could come up with a convincing answer, and finally, all eyes turned to the elder seats in front.

"Lady Chiyo and Hoshino Maki, please share your ideas."

An elder spoke.

Chiyo stopped everyone and took out the financial statements she had prepared long ago. It was impossible to say they had no plan.

Chiyo glanced at Hoshino Maki, nodded, and silently returned to the elder seats.

Hoshino Maki cleared his throat, "Originally, I wanted to send these people to mine, but after discussing with Lady Chiyo, we might be able to trade these people with the Cloud Ninja for urgently needed supplies, such as food, tea, large equipment, etc. This should solve the village's current crisis."

The ninjas present remained silent. If Hoshino Maki had stated this solution from the beginning, most of them would have refused or even condemned him.

Why?

Not because of his 'weakness', but because there were too many grievances between the villages in the ninja world. Even with a village as distant as Kumogakure from Sunagakure, there were countless blood feuds between them.

This war had only intensified the conflict between the two sides. If nothing else, the ninjas who died in this war, their parents, relatives, lovers, and children, how could they possibly let it go?

There must be retribution!

Slaughter, revenge, like a vicious cycle, constantly played out in the ninja world.

But now the village was in dire straits, unable to even afford food. Some grievances could be put aside for now.

Besides, they had won this war in the end!

Once people lean towards a certain choice, they often find various reasons to convince themselves, proving their choice was correct.

The silence actually indicated their inner inclination.

"For the ninjas who died in this war, I suggest the village establish a special fund to help their families and children. I will submit the specific charter to the Elder Council later."

While everyone was deep in thought, Hoshino Maki added a sentence, which was like handing a ladder to someone who wanted to go downstairs.

"Actually, if it can help the village, we don't necessarily have to kill those Cloud Ninjas."

Someone muttered, instantly breaking the silence that covered the entire room.

"Yeah, although it's a bit frustrating, we have to bear the humiliation for the village. Let's consider these Cloud Ninjas lucky."

"Since that's the case, let's ask for more things. In any case, we can't let the Cloud Ninjas off easy."

"It's fine if we suffer a little. The children in the village can't be like us when we were young. I still remember the last Ninja World War, I was young and could only eat one meal of boiled beans mixed with twigs a day."

Everyone spoke as if they were considering the village, but no one knew how much of it was sincere. However, the way the Cloud Ninjas would be dealt with was settled.

Just then, Chōjūrō, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly coughed twice: "After the Kazekage-sama disappeared, the village became like this. We elders are inexcusable~"

Then he changed the subject: "However, one must make up for their own mistakes, not by the hands of others. Especially as an elder, I must set an example. I will handle the matter of the Cloud Ninja prisoners. With me in charge, even the Raikage himself couldn't gain any advantage."

Hoshino Maki: ???

Is this old man trying to snatch the credit? Has he no shame?

Hoshino Maki narrowed his eyes, looking at the other's calm, withered face. He didn't understand how this person, who was half in the grave, was still daydreaming of becoming Kazekage.

After Chōjūrō finished speaking, he didn't hear the expected agreement. He glanced sideways and saw the two elders who were usually close to him now lowering their heads as if in deep thought.

Perhaps sensing Chōjūrō's gaze, they suddenly seemed to wake up from a dream, smiling and saying, "Yes, uh, this matter indeed requires a capable person to handle it."

"Right, right, right, everyone is for the village."

Such platitudes of not taking sides naturally couldn't satisfy Chōjūrō.

His expression sank. He hadn't expected his closest allies to betray him at this moment.

Only Hoshino Maki understood what was going on.

It's simple, their roots are about to be severed!

People can't be without roots.

The roots of these two elders were in tea and large equipment, respectively, both severely affected by the shortage of supplies.

The Land of Wind is located in the desert. The main way to supplement vitamins is through fruits from oases and tea. However, the area of the oases is limited, and the output is insufficient to supply the entire country. Therefore, most people rely on tea to supplement vitamins, and drinking tea has gradually become a daily habit for the people of the Land of Wind.

The elder's clan monopolized the tea sales in Sunagakure and the southern part of the Land of Wind, earning substantial profits every year.

Now, tea from outside cannot be transported in a short period, and the clan's tea reserves are severely insufficient. The people he sent out haven't returned with any news yet.

If, as Hoshino Maki said, the tea from outside is likely hopeless, then the tea compensated by the Cloud Ninjas could be a solution to their immediate thirst if handed over to them for sale. Otherwise, the market in southern Sunagakure and the Land of Wind would surely be encroached upon by tea merchants from the north!

Therefore, he couldn't offend Chiyo now. Even if Chōjūrō reached an agreement with the Cloud Ninjas, if Chiyo made some trouble, two people would die today, three would get sick tomorrow, and there would be plenty of ways to drag it out or even sabotage the deal. His clan would truly be left with nothing.

Between Chōjūrō and his clan, this choice was not difficult.

Unlike Konoha, which is composed of various clans, Sunagakure's foundation is tribal.

They were originally independent tribes, unified by Lie Dou, but their tribal structure was not disrupted.

Therefore, although there were intermarriages among them, the blood ties were not tight. If the leader severely harmed their interests, they could ruthlessly organize to impeach the leader.

The situation of the other elder was the same. Sunagakure's technological level could not produce large equipment.

This information was all gathered by Mei at Hoshino Maki's request.

Sometimes, important information is not necessarily found in heavily guarded palaces, but among the common people.

The list Hoshino Maki provided consisted of sales personnel at the most basic level, whose salaries were closely tied to their sales performance. Many things could be inferred from their small actions.

For example, regarding tea, the salesperson on the list used to stand at the door with a smiling face to greet customers. Later, he started sitting inside the shop, taking out tea, and arrogantly shouting, "Highest bidder wins." After that, he directly closed the shop.

As a drunkard, he didn't frequent taverns often in the past; he usually bought wine to drink at home. Later, he went to taverns for several consecutive days and spent lavishly. Recently, however, he stopped going to taverns and even stopped buying wine from shops.

One sample can lead to a hypothesis, but multiple samples can lead to a reasonable judgment.

The tea market in Sunagakure changing from a buyer's market to a seller's market, and finally to having no goods to sell, is enough to show that there is a problem with the tea supply channel.

In such a situation, how could they still have the mind to cheer for their leader?

Chōjūrō felt like a clown, his face seemingly covered with a layer of frost that would never melt.

"Let Hoshino Maki handle it. Since it was his proposal, it's better to have someone familiar with it handle it. After all, it's a major issue related to the village's development."

Rasa spoke again, but Chōjūrō did not back down: "Precisely because it is a major issue related to the village's development, it requires someone who is familiar with the village's situation and is highly respected to be in charge."

Hoshino Maki smiled at Chōjūrō.

Does this old man have too high a self-regard?

Not to mention Rasa's unexpected help, even without Rasa, could he have succeeded in front of Chiyo?

He couldn't! He didn't have the ability, you know.

Just as Hoshino Maki was about to say something, a Sand Ninja from outside the door walked in hurriedly. He looked around, quickly approached Chiyo, bent down, and respectfully whispered:

"My lord."

After speaking, he handed an envelope with both hands.

Chiyo took the envelope, her slightly closed eyes quickly scanning the letter before she calmly handed it to Chojuro.

Chojuro took the letter and, after a single glance, his breathing immediately became heavy. His eyes widened, and the small mustache on his philtrum quivered like a wild boar's bristles with the twitching of his mouth.

"I... I am feeling unwell. I shall take my leave."

He shakily stood up, using his last shred of self-control to suppress his anger. He disappeared through the exit of the venue with a back that, while appearing calm to himself, looked quite disheveled to others.

Rasa watched his retreating figure with some surprise. Just then, the letter reached his hands. Rasa quickly read it, his expression becoming one of understanding.

The envelope was from Kumogakure. It stated an invitation for Sunagakure's Chief Medical Commander, Hoshino Maki, to meet in Amegakure seven days later to jointly discuss the matter of prisoner ransoms. It also bore the personal signatures of Hanzo and the Fourth Raikage.

Rasa immediately understood why Chojuro had lost his composure.

With the Kazekage missing and Chiyo in retirement, he considered himself the village's foremost leader. Yet, the Cloud Ninja completely ignored him, sending the invitation directly to Hoshino Maki, bypassing him.

Whether there was an intention to sow discord was unknown, but it was certainly not the show of respect Chojuro had imagined, which made the extremely proud Chojuro feel very embarrassed.

When Hoshino Maki received the letter, his expression was somewhat strange.

Two ninja villages had fought, devastating the territory of a third party. Now they stopped fighting, and they wanted the biggest victim of the war to act as a witness during negotiations. What was the difference between this and NTR?!

Thinking this, Hoshino Maki felt a sense of joy, like that of a cuckold.