Yakitori Meeting (2)

Everyone knew Danzo's words were harsh and cold-blooded, but everyone also knew he was right.

"Then... when do you all think... would be the right time... to end this war?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked helplessly.

"I think your idea of deploying troops in the Land of Rain is still a good one, big brother. It's just two years... too early?" Jing Hang looked toward Homura Mitokado, who enjoyed running projections. He trusted that Hidden Leaf Village's strategist had already done the relevant work.

"At most... two and a half years." Homura Mitokado finally finished the skewer of chicken skin that was nearly cold. After thinking back, he answered.

"Then... two and a half years." In the end, his pitiful sense of justice lost to reality. As Hokage, just as Jing Hang had said, he could not gamble with the lives of Hidden Leaf Village's children.

"Also, I have a suggestion," Danzo spoke again.

"Move the military exercise from the Earth-Lightning border to the Land of Rivers, and expand its scale a little further. Say, three thousand troops, while publicly claiming it is ten thousand..."

"Why?" Rasa asked.

"Because there are several secret Hidden Mist Village strongholds there. They have grown considerably and frequently harass Hidden Leaf Village's border. We might as well take this opportunity to wipe them out in one stroke!"

Danzo swung his hand sharply, his voice brimming with killing intent.

Jing Hang nodded in agreement. Six thousand men against a few Hidden Mist Village secret strongholds would be a piece of cake. It would also be the perfect chance to send out the newly reorganized ninja squads and freshly promoted ninja for a trial run. Train the troops, refine their coordination—only ninja who had seen blood were ninja capable of fighting.

Hiruzen Sarutobi largely agreed with the proposal as well, but he had yet to recover from his earlier mood. He merely said flatly, "Danzo, you'll be responsible for organizing this when the time comes," then continued drinking alone.

Jing Hang looked at Rasa.

"Hand over your current work to Yura for now. I'll leave Yashamaru with him. You will take charge of this military operation, and once it is done, return to the village with me. I have other arrangements for you."

"Yes." Rasa indicated his compliance.

"Alright. We've discussed enough, and eaten enough. How about we move on to the next event?"

"What is that?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was already a little drunk.

"How about a few rounds of Pai Gow?" Jing Hang asked with a sly grin.

"Oh! Then... a few rounds?" The two exchanged a glance and smiled at each other, as though they had found kindred spirits. Everyone burst into laughter. It was as if the weighty matters of war and state they had discussed earlier had simply drifted past like a breeze.

Early the next morning, after Nengshen Jingang completed his inauguration ceremony as the new Rain Shadow, Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and Wind Shadow Jing Hang issued a joint peace declaration, urging Hidden Stone Village and Hidden Cloud to exercise restraint, cease the war, and prevent further devastation. The two sides agreed to hold a military exercise involving ten thousand troops in the Land of Rivers three months later.

The exercise was intended to safeguard military security in the Wind-Fire-Rain-Hot Water region. Nengshen Jingang, the newly appointed Rain Shadow, also expressed approval and support for the peace declaration and military exercise, immediately declaring that he would send eight hundred troops to bolster its momentum. Thus, the declaration came to be known as either the Wind-Fire Declaration or the Wind-Fire-Rain Declaration.

This left both Onoki and A utterly confused, unable to discern the true intentions of the three Kage. Neither side dared act rashly. By unspoken agreement, they chose to temporarily halt the war and wait for developments, while dispatching large numbers of personnel to gather intelligence. And so, the ninja world entered a temporary peace, though it might not last long.

Jing Hang and Hiruzen Sarutobi were both very satisfied with this outcome. They agreed to meet again in the Land of Rivers three months later.

Hiruzen Sarutobi departed with his group, but Jing Hang was in no hurry to leave. Led by Rasa, he toured the factories of the Hourglass Group. He also warmly received worker representatives and delivered an impassioned speech before the many workers.

"You are the backbone supporting the Hidden Sand Village's economy, and you represent the most advanced productive forces and the direction of development. Your hardship and effort will be rewarded accordingly. I, Jing Hang, hereby promise this.

Any worker who earns the title of senior technician will enjoy housing, education, and related benefits in Moon Lake New District. As long as everyone works hard together, we will surely create a better tomorrow!"

The rousing speech drew an enthusiastic response from the workers. They all declared that they would work diligently, produce fewer defective goods, and contribute to the construction of the Hourglass Group.

After serving them that motivational soup, Jing Hang gathered the group's senior executives for a meeting in the conference room.

"This time, I came partly to pay my respects to Hanzo of the Salamander, and partly to announce two resolutions regarding the Hourglass Group." Jing Hang unhurriedly swept his gaze across the room, finally resting it on Rasa and Yura. Seeing that everyone was listening attentively, he continued.

"The first concerns personnel appointments. Minister Chiyo, who leads both the village's Intelligence Department and ANBU, has repeatedly told me that she is advanced in years and lacks the energy to continue holding such an important position. After discussion by the Hearing Committee, it has been decided that Rasa will return to the village to serve as head of the Intelligence Department.

"ANBU's functions overlap heavily with those of the Intelligence Department, so it will be dissolved. Some personnel will be absorbed into the Intelligence Department, while others will be reorganized into an Operations Division directly under the Intelligence Department, with Akasuna Guimu serving as its director. As for the Hourglass Group..." Jing Hang pointed at Yura.

"Yura will serve as general manager, and Yashamaru as deputy general manager."

Rasa, Yura, and Yashamaru immediately stood. "We accept the village's arrangement."

Rasa looked at Jing Hang somewhat awkwardly, then glanced at Karura. Jing Hang instantly understood and added, "Karura will also be transferred back to the village to work in the Intelligence Department. Her specific post... hmm... will be discussed later." Karura flushed crimson and secretly pinched Rasa's thigh beneath the table. Rasa's expression did not change as he calmly sat back down.

Jing Hang saw it all, but merely smiled faintly and continued.

"There is one more task, Yura. It will mainly be entrusted to you. Oh, right, and Yashamaru as well." Jing Hang paused and took a sip of tea.

"Rasa and Yashamaru participated in my talks with the Third Hokage. You should know that this war has entered its final stage. At most, it will end in another two and a half years."

Yura's expression changed at once. "If there is no more war, the business of the ninja tool factory and the cannery will inevitably take a huge hit."

"I'm afraid so. There may no longer be large-scale orders in the future." Jing Hang nodded.

"Then..." Yura looked toward Jing Hang. For the moment, he could think of no better solution.

Jing Hang did not keep them in suspense. "That is why we need to change our current sales model."

Yura and Yashamaru both pulled out little notebooks and began taking notes like schoolchildren.

"Over the next two years, you need to do one thing: establish stores throughout every country and shift from wholesale to retail. Heh, if the mountain will not come to me, then I will go to the mountain."

Yura and the others' eyes lit up. Jing Hang continued confidently.

"Hidden Leaf Village has a trade agreement with us, so opening stores there will not be a problem. As for Hidden Stone Village and Hidden Cloud, we can slowly negotiate through diplomatic channels. Your relations with the trade caravans from those two countries were fairly good before, weren't they?"

Rasa took over.

"Mr. Shibuya from Hidden Cloud and Mr. Hattori from Hidden Stone both have good relations with us. They also have influence among the upper ranks of their respective countries."

"Mm, very good. That means we have basically secured the three major countries of Earth, Lightning, and Fire. As for Hidden Mist Village... sigh, let's put that aside for now."

"My lord, I have something to ask. Everything else is manageable, but we currently lack people with management expertise. If we are going to establish so many stores, where will we find people to run them?" Yashamaru asked.

"Excellent question!" Jing Hang nodded appreciatively.

"The village and Moon Lake New District Technical School established business departments half a year ago to train commercial talent. However, those children are still too inexperienced and need practical training. We will first open stores in our own village and Hidden Leaf Village, and let the children intern at those two locations. We can train them up first. Also, if I remember correctly, the Hourglass Group has a Sales Department and a Reception Office, right?"

"Yes, but they are not very large," Yura replied.

"It does not matter if they are small. Select a group of capable, quick-witted people and send them to Moon Lake New District Technical School for training first. Once the framework is in place, the flesh will gradually fill out."

"Yes, I will arrange it immediately." Yura was utterly impressed.

"Alright, that settles the work matters. Rasa, take your people back first and complete the handover of the Intelligence Department's work with Granny Chiyo."

"Yes. What about you, my lord?" Rasa asked.

"Me?" Jing Hang smiled.

"I'm going to visit an old senior of the ninja world."