At around half past nine, Xia Yan, having fully organized his thoughts, set off for Konoha's conference room with Shikaku Nara at his prompting.
Although some meetings could be held in small groups, Xia Yan had long stipulated that meetings determining Konoha's future direction had to involve all Jonin.
This meeting, for instance, was a major one concerning the development of all of Konoha.
Although Xia Yan had already discussed matters with Shikaku Nara, many decisions still had to be finalized at today's meeting.
But even with that advance discussion, Shikaku Nara did not have a comprehensive understanding of many things. He only knew that Xia Yan intended to move against the neighboring small countries.
Still, these were minor matters, and it did not matter if he did not know the details.
Indeed, moving against the neighboring small countries was merely a minor matter in his eyes. After all, Konoha was a village that stood firmly at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World.
Even though it was still weak at present, Konoha, which held the reins of power in the Land of Fire, could truly disregard many things.
If Xia Yan wanted to act, he could act. It was hardly a big deal.
"Oh, Shikaku." As they walked, Xia Yan asked quietly, "How are your preparations going for those taxation matters I asked you to look into?"
"I've already assigned people to investigate," Shikaku Nara immediately answered in a low voice. "After all, intervening in taxation amounts to seizing economic power outright. But we must be careful to avoid a backlash from the Daimyō."
Moving against taxation really did amount to dealing the Daimyō a heavy blow, though Shikaku Nara did not particularly care what the Daimyō thought.
But regardless, the Daimyō was the nominal ruler of the Land of