The New Generation and the Old

Youji's return to Konoha did have an impact on the village.

At the very least, he was not some incompetent fool who knew nothing and had no real skills.

The research he had conducted in Kumogakure over so many years could be put to use directly in Konoha.

While it could not be copied wholesale, Youji only needed to make a few minor improvements to double Konoha's crop yields.

During Yuya's time in office, a red line had been set for farmland.

Of course, this so-called farmland red line was really testing the Land of Fire's patience.

After all, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had only asked the Land of Fire for a tiny patch of land back then. Yet over the years, Yuya had not only been expanding Konoha like mad, but had also brought many farmers from the surrounding farmlands of the Land of Fire into Konoha's big family.

Naturally, they were still nominally citizens of the Land of Fire, but in practice, every year, they handed over to Konoha the grain they were supposed to submit to the Land of Fire.

Naturally, the Land of Fire was unhappy about this. But Yuya's explanation at the time had been: rather than making them go through the trouble of submitting everything one by one, why not send it all to me first? I'll tally it up and deliver it straight to you afterward. Don't worry, I won't take a single grain, and I'll cover all losses incurred along the way.

What else could the Land of Fire say?

They had never even dared to dream of such a good deal.

And by now, after decades of this "custom," the farmers from the surrounding areas had long considered themselves part of Konoha.

The power of habit was terrifying.

The Land