Two years is just a blink of an eye in the long history of Shinobi World, but these two short years are enough to completely reshape the map of the world with one name - Sōkyū Hatake, and his Teuchi City of Miracles, Rōran.
The former Rōran was just a slightly mysterious ancient city-state in the wind Land of Wind that relied on the legend of Ryūmyaku.
Nowadays, it is the undisputed heart and brain of the entire Shinobi World. The towering Technology Towers has replaced the former wind-eroded buildings, and the Maglev Train silently shuttles through transparent pipes, connecting various functional areas of the city.
Businessmen, scholars, and even ninjas from Five Great Nations flock here in an endless stream, seeking cooperation, technology, or just to see the "city of the future" with their own eyes.
The influence of Rōran has long gone beyond the purely economic or technological level. It has penetrated into every corner of Shinobi World in a subtle and silent way, and the most critical part of this is the few "shadows" who have a close relationship with Sōkyū Hatake.
Konoha, Hokage Office.
Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze looked at the latest trade agreement in his hand with a complicated smile on his lips.
Konoha and Rōran have the most in-depth cooperation. From livelihood technology to tool innovation, Konoha has benefited a lot, and the living standards of villagers have significantly improved.
But Minato Namikaze knows very well that behind this prosperity is Konoha's deep dependence on Rōran's technical standards and economic system.
His Flying Thunder God Technique still outperforms Shinobi World, but in the face of Rōran's ever-changing technical research, he sometimes feels pressured.
Fortunately, he and Sōkyū Hatake have a close personal relationship, and it is more of a tacit understanding of mutual benefit and win-win results.
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage office.
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki rubbed his old waist and looked at the latest infrastructure plan from Rōran on the screen, [a proposal to use New Synthetic Materials to strengthen the Iwagakure mountain structure].
"Young devils know how to do these fancy things." Ōnoki snorted and muttered.
But it was not rejected.
The facts of the past two years forced him to admit that the efficiency of the Engineering Puppets and building materials provided by Rōran was far superior to the hard work of the Earth Release ninjas.
The boy named Sōkyū Hatake, although his methods are tough and annoying, the things he gives are really useful. As stubborn as he is, he has to start to gradually accept the "kindness" of Rōran.
Kirigakure, Mizukage's Office.
No. Fourth Mizukage Yagura--or, in other words, Rin Nohara who has transformed into Yagura, is quietly listening to his subordinates report on the offshore energy cooperation project with Rōran.
His eyes were clear, but there was a hint of alienation that was difficult to Frisk.
As Sōkyū Hatake personally "saved" and promoted Mizukage to the position of Mizukage, Kirigakure was almost the first force to fully turn to Rōran.
Bloody Mist Village's policy was completely abolished, replaced by an open policy and the introduction of science and technology in line with Rōran. Kirigakure's closed environment was broken, and the economy began to recover, but everyone knew that the source of all this was tied to the will of Sōkyū Hatake, Rōran.
Lin's existence itself is the most stable anchor for Sōkyū Hatake to control Kirigakure.
Kumogakure, Raikage's Office.
No. Fifth Raikage Kakashi Hatake scratched his silver hair and looked at the "letter from home" on the table from his younger brother Sōkū - not so much a letter from home, but rather a feasibility report on the integration of the latest Lightning Release Chakra and Rōran Energy System.
Kakashi sighed. This younger brother of his can always use the most advanced and alluring technologies. Even if Kakashi Hatake is now Fifth Raikage, he will still be amazed by Sōkyū Hatake's unconstrained ideas.
Kumogakure's military power has advanced by leaps and bounds with the support of Rōran's technology. The new Lightning Release Armor and efficient communication equipment... but the price is that Kumogakure's defense system and energy network are almost all connected to Rōran's main control system.
But he knows that this is his dear brother's way of protecting him, and it is also a silent Bind.
Sunagakure, Kazekage's Office.
Fifth Kazekage Pakura The efficiency in handling government affairs is countless times higher than two years ago.
The fiscal deficit of the past has long become history. With the technology of Rōran, Sunagakure has not only efficiently developed deep mineral veins, desert agriculture has also begun to take shape, and it has even begun to export specialty products to surrounding areas.
However, when looking at Sunagakure's account book, more than 70% of the import and export trade is related to Rōran. The core curriculum of the Ninja Academy was formulated by Rōran experts, and the village's defensive barrier is directly connected to Early Warning Network of Rōran.
Pakura has no objection to this, and is even happy to see it happen.
In her opinion, Sunagakure's prosperity is entirely due to the "gift" of Sōkyū Hatake, and all her efforts are to better integrate Sunagakure into Rōran's system to prove her own value.
The entire world, under the invisible hand of Rōran, has entered an unprecedented period of "peace and prosperity".
Traditional military conflicts have been replaced by economic cooperation and technological competition. Transnational transportation and communication have become more convenient than ever, and ordinary people's lives have been truly improved.
However, beneath this prosperity, undercurrents still surge.
The vested interests of the old era, the conservatives who fear that their traditions will be annihilated by technology, and the wise men who think that Detect has the ambition behind the "gentle control" of Sōkyū Hatake have not completely disappeared.
They are just dormant temporarily, waiting in the shadow of the brightly lit Rōran, waiting for a maybe slim opportunity.
In all the dark corners, all the plans against Rōran were constantly being created and executed, and were eventually crushed by Sōkyū Hatake.
Sōkyū Hatake stood on the top of the tallest tower of Rōran, overlooking the city he created with his own hands and the Shinobi World map beyond. His eyes were calm and deep, as if he had everything under control.
The two-year layout has matured, and Five Great Shinobi Villages is like five bright stars, pulled by invisible forces and orbiting the sun Rōran.
But he knows that the real challenge may have just begun. Maintaining this delicate balance and guiding the entire world toward his preset future is far more complicated than conquering it by force.
"Peace... Prosperity... Integration..." He whispered softly, with a curve at the corner of his mouth. That curve contained the confidence to control everything and a depth that no one could understand.
"The next step is to make this world a little more 'interesting'."
The wheel of the times, centered on Rōran, is rolling towards an unknown but carefully designed future at an unprecedented speed.
And this different future is exactly the plan specially designed by Sōkyū Hatake for everyone.
An existence that no one can refuse!