Development Policies

Hashirama looked at Ruri and frowned. Perhaps it was somewhat unrealistic, but he truly wanted peace in the Shinobi World, without the slightest selfish motive. They had nearly finished their discussions, yet Ruri's words had thrown everything back into uncertainty.

Tobirama did not particularly care. The peace agreement had already been signed, so there would at least be no major wars for the next few years. Even if the other nations disliked the Land of Fire, that would be a matter for later. He was one of the hawks; in a few years, the Land of Fire would already have developed. Fighting on multiple fronts would suit him just fine. He had always believed in using overwhelming military force to bring about peace. If they could not beat others into submission, how could they talk peace with them?

"However, if you trade with the Land of Waterfalls, we have a way to close that gap and put all the major nations on the same starting line. Even if we develop peacefully for years or decades, there will not be too great a disparity in national strength." Ruri's words brimmed with confidence. When it came to construction and development, which of these Shinobi World ninjas, who only knew how to fight and kill, could compare to a modern transmigrator? This was also the confidence he had gained after obtaining the system. Wasn't it just developing a ninja village?

"Uh..." Retto revealed a contemplative expression. He might not believe what others said, but Ruri's words were worth serious consideration. The use of Hero Water, the excavation of river channels, and the selection of locations had all been taught to him by Ruri. If he had not used the methods Ruri gave him, that small amount of Hero Water might not have achieved such excellent results.

The other four Kage, Hashirama included, began to think seriously as well. They were not blind. The Land of Waterfalls' development over the past few years was plain for all to see, and its pace had nearly matched that of their great nations. Now that Ruri had said this, he surely had methods to accelerate a nation's development!

"Tell us what you have in mind. If it is feasible, the Land of Wind agrees to establish trade with the Land of Waterfalls." Retto spoke up. In truth, if Ruri was determined not to use Hero Water as a trade commodity, Retto had still intended to extend him some goodwill. After all, one should not burn every bridge. They had signed a peace agreement today, and there would always be opportunities for trade in the future.

"For example, the Land of Wind lies in the desert and lacks water, while the neighboring Land of Rain receives rainfall year-round. If Lord Tsuchikage is willing to send ninjas to use Earth Style to dig a river channel running through the Land of Rain and into the Land of Wind, wouldn't that alleviate the problem somewhat?"

"And then there is the Land of Water, isolated overseas and inconvenient to access. But bridges can be built! Ordinary bridges naturally would not work, but what if Lord Hokage used Wood Style? Building a bridge leading to the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning would not be difficult, would it?"

"The Land of Lightning lies on a plateau surrounded by mountains, while more than half of the Land of Earth consists of barren rock walls. Both nations have terrain that is easy to defend and hard to attack, which may offer certain advantages in wartime, but in peacetime it greatly hinders foreign exchange. The Land of Snow is researching railways. Once railways are laid across the cliffs and plateaus, the disadvantages of inconvenient transportation can quickly be improved."

A and Ishikawa nodded repeatedly. They had heard of the railways and electric trains being researched by the Land of Snow. If they truly succeeded, they would indeed be powerful tools for improving transportation. Before founding their villages, they had truly been ninjas who only knew how to fight and kill. But after building their villages, they had forced themselves to consider the construction and development of their nations and villages. They were not fools; the policies Ruri mentioned could absolutely improve their nations' economies.

Retto, who had always run all over the place for his village's resources, considered matters on a deeper level. Digging a river channel between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind was indeed a good idea, but he wanted even more to dig one between the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Wind. The Land of Waterfalls had countless waterfalls and was a natural reservoir. If one or even several rivers could be dug from the Land of Waterfalls, passing through the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain before finally reaching the Land of Wind, then the Land of Wind's water shortage would cease to exist.

"But these policies all concern other nations, even various small countries. What do they have to do with the Land of Waterfalls?" Byakuren tacitly accepted the proposal of using Wood Style to build bridges, but he still could not help snapping at Ruri.

"They do concern us, of course they do. If it were not for me, could you have thought of these policies? These are only the basics. Do you know about the Belt and Road? Economic planning? Reinforced concrete? I'm not bragging, but without me, it would take you decades to unlock the technology tree. When it comes to farming, I dare call myself the strongest!" Ruri said confidently. Ninjas were the most efficient productive force in this world. Forget these minor development policies—so long as he could think of something, he could make it into reality. Besides, he had just completed an achievement and earned three more draws. What could he not draw? Maybe the next draw would get him god-tier crop seeds where the bolder the man, the greater the yield? Even without the system, with only the extra experience he possessed compared to these ninjas, he could apply all kinds of ninjutsu to farming and construction and ensure the rapid growth of every nation's economy!

The strongest... The Five Kage had to admit that it was true. They had never heard the fresh terms Ruri spoke of, but their instincts told them these were not things he had casually made up. They would definitely be of great help to national development.

"As for the Land of Fire, these policies do not seem applicable. Does Lord Takikage have any solutions?" Hashirama thoroughly approved of the policies Ruri had proposed to develop the Shinobi World. Even though none of them involved the Land of Fire, he raised no objections. Tobirama, however, was different. If things continued developing this way for several years, the Land of Fire would gain no benefits at all while the gap in national strength between nations shrank for nothing. What would he use to beat them into submission?

"The Land of Fire has vast fertile lands and is the strongest among all nations. I would think it has no need for these things, would it?" Ruri raised an eyebrow. In truth, there were plenty of economic policies suited to the Land of Fire's national conditions. Moreover, the Land of Fire had many clans with ninjutsu and secret techniques, and their imaginations were broad. To say nothing else, Tobirama's Shadow Clone technique, if learned by someone like Hashirama with Tailed Beast-level chakra, would give him the productive power of an entire nation by himself! If I told you about all those ideas, how would the Land of Waterfalls even compete? We would not get even a scrap of resources! And without resources, no matter how creative I am, I cannot develop Takigakure!

The other four Kage tacitly agreed with Ruri. If the Land of Fire also gained policies to improve its economy and accelerate development, how could they possibly compete? Ruri had produced these policies in the first place to help narrow the gap between the other nations and the Land of Fire, preventing a situation where one nation dominated alone. They could not allow the Land of Fire to pull even further ahead.

"Tobirama, since Lord Takikage has no development policies suited to the Land of Fire, there is no need for us to force him. The Shinobi World is already moving toward peace. Only when every nation develops in balance can selfish motives be reduced. So long as the entire Shinobi World thrives, we will surely welcome a completely peaceful new world in the future!" Hashirama declared spiritedly. He was not worried about the Land of Fire's finances. With his economic sense, he could not feel the threat that the other nations' development posed to the Land of Fire. He even believed that the Five Great Nations advancing side by side and keeping one another in check was the proper trend for peacetime development.

"Brother!" Tobirama could not help glaring at Hashirama. This was where he differed from Hashirama. He believed that if the Land of Fire and Konoha lost their status as the strongest nation and strongest ninja village, they would be unable to guarantee peace in the Shinobi World. Peace needed a leader, and Konoha was that leader. If it could not keep the other nations down, how could peace be maintained?

In his eyes, if Hashirama had not possessed the strength to suppress the entire Shinobi World, this Five Kage Summit would never have happened at all!