The "Bring It Here" Approach, First Five-Year Plan

Today is the fourth day since the Land of Fields publicly recognized the Flame Hidden Village.

It is also the seventh day since Natsume and his group settled in this land.

At this moment, Natsume is sitting upright in the living room.

He is writing something while listening to a subordinate's report.

"What are the overt attitudes of the major hidden villages?"

"According to the intelligence network from Otogakure, the five major hidden villages currently hold varying attitudes toward the establishment of our Flame Hidden Village."

"Among them, the attitude of the Hidden Leaf Village is the most aggressive. They have already issued multiple notices, lodging strong protests with the Land of Fields. They demand that the Land of Fields retract its decree and cancel the legal recognition of our village! They insist on following the custom of one country, one hidden village, and demand our expulsion! However, it seems they have not yet dispatched any ninja forces..."

"Next, the attitudes of Kumogakure and Sunagakure are slightly more moderate. They have merely submitted diplomatic notes to the Land of Fields through the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind, respectively. They hope the Land of Fields can explain the reasons for recognizing our village's independence and respect the reputation of the Hidden Leaf Village..."

"Furthermore, the attitudes of Kirigakure and the Land of Water remain unclear. They seem to remain in a state of isolation, making it difficult to obtain internal information..."

"Finally, the attitude of Iwagakure is somewhat ambiguous. It appears they do not mind recognizing our village's independence. In fact, they dispatched an envoy yesterday to visit our village, and they are currently on their way..."

Uchiha Nichiyo reports respectfully and in detail.

Starting yesterday, Natsume established his own personal guard.

There are five members in total for now.

They are responsible for assisting him in handling government affairs and relaying intelligence.

Uchiha Nichiyo, Uchiha Toh, and Uchiha Gin are all among them.

Nichiyo is primarily responsible for collecting and organizing intelligence to report to him.

Hearing this, Natsume nods slightly.

This situation is almost exactly as he had anticipated.

Every hidden village must consider things from the perspective of its own interests. Even the five major hidden villages are no exception.

His clan's defection from the Hidden Leaf Village certainly damages the Leaf's face.

But when launching a war results in expenses exceeding gains, and the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, face becomes less important...

To be honest, if the Hidden Leaf Village were to truly mobilize its full strength to attack his fledgling Flame Hidden Village, it would be difficult to deal with at this stage.

After all, whether it is the Third Hokage's Dead Demon Consuming Seal or Might Guy's Eight Inner Gates, both are ultimate techniques that could threaten him.

However, they are indeed cowardly after all.

It is fortunate that he was clever.

He looted the Hidden Leaf Village Vault before leaving.

Otherwise, the Hidden Leaf Village might have truly organized personnel immediately to launch a surprise attack on his hidden village!

As for Iwagakure, that is even easier to understand.

They are likely gnashing their teeth at the Hidden Leaf Village right now!

The enemy of an enemy is a friend.

Naturally, they do not mind the Uchiha defectors establishing a village to continue opposing the Hidden Leaf Village.

In fact, they probably wish to see his side and the Hidden Leaf Village fight each other!

In short, it seems that for the time being, his village will likely not face any large-scale attacks.

"Is there any other important intelligence?"

"Yes!"

"Regarding what you instructed previously, young clan leader, we have obtained general information about the Hidden Leaf Village Orphanage..."

"However, the situation is not very optimistic..."

"You even obtained intelligence on the Hidden Leaf Village Orphanage? Was it still through the intelligence network of Otogakure?"

"Yes."

His own hidden village is just starting out.

With a shortage of manpower, there is no spare energy to build a massive intelligence network.

However, in this regard, Orochimaru's Otogakure has done quite well.

Orochimaru, who values intelligence, began planting his pawns and spies in the major hidden villages long ago.

To this day, the results have been significant.

Not to mention stealing some top-secret intelligence.

However, basic information could still be obtained with ease.

Such a useful intelligence network—how could he let it go to waste?

Naturally, he had to make good use of this "borrowing policy" and enjoy it to the fullest.

He figured.

As a partner, Snake Auntie surely wouldn't mind, right?

"Very good. The village is just getting started; anything that can be utilized should be utilized well."

"However, be sure to verify the intelligence. Do not trust it entirely!"

"Additionally, leave the intelligence regarding the Konoha Orphanage as it is. Konoha is currently on high alert, so it is not suitable to probe any further."

"Later on, I will make a trip personally to rescue the remaining orphans there."

"Understood!"

Natsume took the stack of documents from Nichiyo and tucked them away first.

The reason he was so concerned about this orphanage was twofold.

First: Since he had promised Nonō and Kabuto, he had to keep his word.

Second: Do not underestimate the utility of this orphanage.

One must know that although ninety-nine percent of the Flame Hidden Village was currently comprised of Uchiha clansmen.

In the future, if he wanted to make the village grow and thrive.

Relying solely on these four hundred-plus people would certainly not be enough.

Therefore, gradually accepting others was a test the village would inevitably face.

And starting with the orphanage, letting the clansmen accept the orphans first, then slowly accepting others.

It was not a bad method at all.

That was why Natsume placed such great importance on the construction and improvement of the orphanage.

"Young Clan Leader, it's time for lunch!"

Outside the door, Uchiha Gin, ready to chow down, rushed in excitedly and called out.

"Brother Nichiyo, you're here too?"

"Huh? Young Clan Leader, what are you writing?"

"The village's plan for the next few years..."

"Ah! What's that? Can I take a look?"

The easygoing Uchiha Gin asked with great curiosity.

"You may."

Upon receiving permission.

Gin hurriedly leaned his head over, eager to get a peek.

Just in time.

Natsume was 'swish-swish-swishing' away on the scroll, writing down the 'First Five-Year Plan' for the Flame Hidden Village.

Year 1: [Initial construction of the ninja village, completion of the popularization of the Handicraft Industry. Achieve independence and self-sufficiency.]

Year 2: [Recruit talent, expand the scale of the hidden village, embark on the path of Light Industrialization, and self-develop Scientific Ninja Tools.]

Year 3: [Develop industrial construction centered on heavy industry, promote technological transformation, and realize the prosperity and strengthening of the ninja village.]

Year 4: [Destroy Konoha, annex the Land of Fire.]

Year 5: [Destroy the other four great hidden villages, unify the ninja world.]

After reading the Young Clan Leader's future plan.

Uchiha Gin was stunned on the spot.

This is a future plan?

This is just a pipe dream, isn't it?

Is the Young Clan Leader's ambition really that massive?

Five years to unify the ninja world?

Taking such a huge stride, isn't he afraid of tearing something?

After a long while.

Uchiha Gin couldn't help but stutter, trembling as he asked:

"Yo, Young Clan Leader, aren't these plans a bit too fast!"

"Is it fast?"

"It doesn't matter! Let's just plan it out first and see what happens when the time comes."

"The bolder the person, the greater the yield! Only by setting our goals high will we have the motivation to strive for them!"

Natsume chuckled and patted Uchiha Gin on the shoulder, encouraging him with a hearty voice.

This left Uchiha Gin with no choice but to respond with a wry smile.

"But this goal is a bit too terrifying."

"If you don't believe me, let Nichiyo take a look too!"

Natsume nodded.

Nichiyo, who had been quite curious on the side, also leaned in to take a few glances.

The next moment.

Even for someone as relatively composed as Nichiyo, upon seeing this nearly absurd Five-Year Plan, his mouth couldn't help but twitch, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

He secretly marveled at the young master's "lofty ambitions"...

Or perhaps, his "delusional fantasies"?

"Young Clan Head, these goals... are indeed a bit shocking."

Although he didn't understand what terms like Handicraft Industry, Light Industrialization, and Scientific Ninja Tools meant.

Nichiyo could still recognize the words "Destroy Konoha, unify the ninja world."

Isn't this just too terrifying?

It wasn't that they lacked dreams.

One had to remember, "unifying the ninja world" was the long-cherished wish that even their peerless ancestor, Uchiha Madara, had failed to achieve!

Not to mention their group of only a few hundred people.

However, with the young clan head's stunning and brilliant talent.

If they endured for another ten or twenty years, perhaps there would still be a chance!

"You guys! Now that you've already broken away from Konoha, can't you have a little ambition?"

"Don't you ever dream of taking revenge on Konoha? Don't you want to destroy that den of demons?"

"Of course we do!"

Uchiha Gin was the first to state firmly.

"Then isn't that right?"

"Rest assured! As long as I am here, that day will come sooner or later!"

"Alright, let's stop talking about this for now."

"Have Toh come in and report on the village's economic situation."

Natsume proactively skipped over the topic and began to concern himself with the village's financial status.

"Understood!"