The Traveler Returning to the Village
Wherever the Allied Shinobi Forces passed through the Land of Earth, there was nothing but wailing and weeping.
However, everything changed three days later.
Officials from various countries entered, bringing with them food supplies.
These officials are indeed nobles, but none of them are nobles from the Land of Earth.
The officials who are able to enter the scene first at this time are not after something short of immediate gains. The Land of Earth is the place to conduct business, while the arena for strategic maneuvering is within their own countries.
In just three days, the people of the Land of Earth experienced a journey from the human world to hell, and then from hell back to heaven.
Why is it paradise now? Because the Land of Earth has no nobles!
Even those nobles with strong willpower who did not choose to go to the Pure Land are now no different from the other people in the Land of Earth.
People have never been afraid of scarcity, but rather of inequality!
The officials had a long-term vision; they knew that to turn these people into their own, they would have to sacrifice some resources.
Various measures were employed, some exempting people from taxes, others allocating land, and in short, all sorts of methods were used to appease the people.
The effect was immediate, and everyone cheered and jumped for joy, plunging the rear of the Allied Shinobi Forces into a sea of jubilation.
The Shinobi Alliance is indeed saving the Land of Earth!
Even the Sage of Six Paths couldn't say no to him.
In addition to food, the nobles also brought seeds, farming tools, and all the necessities of life, which would continue to be provided until the people were self-sufficient.
As for why the nobles were so generous, part of it would be supplemented by the Shinobi Alliance.
Even though the Allied Shinobi Forces looted everything, a portion of it would still be given to the nobles; there was nothing that could be done about it.
If possible, Ren would like the Shinobi Alliance to completely occupy the Land of Earth without allowing any nobles to interfere.
Unfortunately, while ninjas are good at fighting and barely qualified to manage a small village, they are not capable of managing a large country and population.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi Ren highly regards, would be completely bewildered if he came.
Going a step further, letting Ren manage it himself would also present numerous difficulties.
Therefore, the ninjas obtained mineral resources, while the nobles obtained population and land resources. Although the two groups began to drift apart, they still participated in this gluttonous feast together.
The change in wind direction among the people of the Land of Earth also affected Iwagakure.
The surrender faction, which had been in a slump, began to resurface and quickly surpassed its previous peak.
At yet another contentious meeting, none of the three parties could convince the others.
Just then, a loud shout rang out from outside.
"Damn it! Is this the kind of cowards Ōnoki has turned you all into?"
In Iwagakure, where no one is in charge of the overall situation, meetings are still large-scale meetings, the kind that are destined to fail to reach a consensus.
There were quite a few ninjas present, and soon some of them looked in the direction of the sound. Upon seeing who it was, exclamations of surprise rang out.
"Master Rōshi!"
"Rōshi is back!"
"..."
Amid cheers, Rōshi arrived at the center of the venue.
"All I've heard along the way is surrender. Don't you have any backbone at all?"
Rōshi's words silenced the scene for a moment, but only briefly before one of the escaped ninjas spoke up.
"Rōshi, you traitorous ninja, what are you doing back here? Are you here to laugh at us?"
The ninja's words immediately reminded everyone present that Rōshi was indeed a rogue ninja.
They all seemed at a loss. Rōshi actually had a very high reputation in Iwagakure, and he had quite a few die-hard fans.
Rōshi didn't make things difficult for the person who spoke, but instead scanned everyone in the room before speaking.
"Rogue ninja? Ridiculous! A village without even a Kage or a leader, where would a rogue ninja come from? Who declared him a rogue ninja?"
"Rōshi, don't try to deny it. Lord Tsuchikage said your actions are tantamount to defection!"
Immediately, someone retorted.
"Then call Ōnoki to talk to you!"
Rōshi glared at the person who had spoken and roared angrily.
"Even I rushed back to the village after hearing the news, but now the village can't even make up its mind. What, are you planning to starve to death without Ōnoki to breastfeed you?"
After saying that, Rōshi's Tailed Beast Cloak appeared on his body, displaying his power.
"Let's stop discussing such meaningless things. Now that Ōnoki is gone, whether he's dead or alive doesn't matter. Anyway, Iwagakure no longer has Tsuchikage."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Tailed Beast Cloak on Rōshi's body turned into lava, clearly indicating that he had entered Lava Release Chakra Mode.
"Now, whether you think I staged a coup or was blinded by greed, I, Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki of Iwagakure, who wants to become the Fourth Tsuchikage and is willing to believe in me, stand behind me!"
"We are willing to support you, Rōshi!"
The first to step forward were naturally Rōshi 'Rōshi original supporters, who stood firmly behind him.
"Rōshi, may I ask, after you become the Tsuchikage, which faction will you choose to support?"
This is why Rōshi dislikes Ōnoki; he's always stirring up factions in the village, causing it to fall apart whenever something big happens.
"Do you think I'm Ōnoki? Let me tell you, you can either not support me and keep arguing until the Allied Shinobi Forces arrive, or you can support me and follow my orders instead of asking all sorts of questions!"
Everyone who was waiting for Rōshi's Rōshi showed disappointment after hearing it.
But in just a moment, many people's eyes were filled with fervor when they looked at Rōshi.
Iwagakure needs most right now is a leader who dares to take responsibility!