Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 322 Jonin Team Leader

The man before me, Umino Sasuke, has just achieved a tremendous feat in battle, enjoys immense prestige among the villagers, and has demonstrated astonishing potential. He is also about to establish his own clan.

If he were to join Danzo's ranks with such prestige and power, becoming the vice-head of Root, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Hiruzen Sarutobi could almost picture the terrifying scene: Danzo would gain immense influence on the surface, while secretly mobilizing the Root forces, posing an unprecedented and disruptive threat to his position as Hokage!
Danzo will no longer be content to hide in the shadows; he will use Umino Sasuke's reputation to openly challenge the Hokage's authority!
We absolutely cannot let Umino Sasuke join Danzo's camp. We must immediately and quickly win him over to our side, or at least prevent him from siding with Danzo!

In a flash, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind raced. He needed a position that was significant enough, powerful enough, and that could immediately bind Sasuke Umino to the "Hokage" ship, a position that could counteract the temptation of the Root vice-head!

"Sasuke, you are mistaken!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice suddenly rose, filled with unquestionable decisiveness, instantly drowning out the discussion in the room.

His face showed an extremely "serious" and "eager" expression as he looked intently at Umino Sasuke.

"Your talent, achievements, and prestige are evident to all in Konoha! How could you possibly settle for the position of an ordinary ninja? Let alone serving as a support in Root to handle trivial matters, that would be a huge waste of your abilities!"

With a wave of his hand, as if he had made up his mind, he announced in a loud voice: "Konoha is going through a turbulent time, and it needs talents like you who have great prestige in the sunlight, can unite people's hearts, and can manage the overall situation. After much consideration, I have decided that there is a heavy responsibility that no one else can take on!"

He took a deep breath and, word by word, clearly uttered the position that would make all the Jonin and ninja clan leaders present take notice: "Effective immediately, Jonin Umino Sasuke is appointed as the leader of the Konoha Jonin Team!"

The leader of the Jonin team?!

These words were like a thunderclap!

The representatives of the various ninja clans, who had been discussing the news from Root, fell silent instantly, their faces filled with shock, disbelief, and deep contemplation.

"The Jonin team leader?!"

"This is a truly core and important position!"

"Second only to the Hokage and the advisors and elders, no, in terms of real power, he may even be greater than the advisors and elders in some aspects!"

"Isn't Lord Orochimaru supposed to be the nominal leader of the Jonin squad? Now..."

After a brief silence, even more heated discussions erupted.

Compared to the symbolic "Hokage short sleeve," the prestige of this "Jonin Team Leader" title is worlds apart!

In Konoha's power structure, the position of the Jonin team leader is extremely special.

Although nominally subordinate to the Hokage and advisors/elders, their actual power is arguably the highest among all departments in Konoha.

Its functions are extremely broad and all involve the core areas of Konoha.

For example, the assessment and evaluation of all ninjas for promotion to Jonin, as well as the initial nomination right for promotion within the Jonin ranks, theoretically all require the proposal of the Jonin squad leader. This is directly related to the promotion channels and status of the core forces of the major ninja clans.

The rank leader of the Jonin squad also has the authority to assign and review high-level missions, especially high-value, high-risk S-rank missions, as well as the authority to review the execution of missions. This is related to the economic lifeline and mission security of each major ninja clan.

In addition, Jonin are the absolute core force on the battlefield. The Jonin squad leader is responsible for coordinating and organizing the actions of all Jonin. He is a key link in building the wartime command system and theoretically has the right to set up temporary command organizations during wartime. This is equivalent to having the right to appoint and deploy mid-to-high-level officers of Konoha's conventional military force.

More importantly, as the nominal "leader" of all Jonin, the Jonin squad leader has the natural right to attend and participate in Konoha's highest decision-making meetings.

In short, the Jonin squad leader is the link between the Hokage and the Jonin community, and the core channel for transmitting the Hokage's will downwards and for the Jonin's opinions to be fed back upwards.

It can be said that this position is one of the core hubs of Konoha's power operation.

Unlike the Hokage who has the final say, or Root who specializes in darkness, it connects to Konoha's most powerful fighting force, infiltrating the village's daily operations, mission system, promotion channels, and even the core of the war machine.

If operated properly, its influence could reach the entire village of Konoha.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's original plan, Orochimaru was nominally the leader of the Jonin squad but did not actually do anything. This position was essentially a figurehead, which Hiruzen Sarutobi himself firmly controlled. Now, in order to prevent Sasuke Umino from siding with Danzo, he had to throw out this extremely crucial position and try to win him over.

Sasuke Umino instantly understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan. Besides trying to win him over and sow discord between him and Danzo, it seemed that he also intended to slow down his training progress. As the leader of the Jonin squad, he held a high position and had a lot of tedious work to do. He had to spend a lot of time and energy dealing with daily affairs and coordinating relationships with various parties, which would undoubtedly slow down his personal training progress.

Hiruzen Sarutobi is using power and responsibility to deplete his ninja potential.

However, a very faint smile appeared on Umino Sasuke's lips.

He is a master of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, so Hiruzen Sarutobi's scheme immediately falls apart. He only needs to use one or two shadow clones to handle the tedious paperwork, meeting coordination, and strategizing to control Konoha's core forces, while his main body can still focus on training. Besides, who says that the Jonin squad leader can't have advisors or secret techniques to assist him? I imagine those highly intelligent young men from the Nara clan would be happy to "retire" in the Jonin squad.

Originally, the plan was just to bring down Mitokado Homura, cause some trouble for Sarutobi Hiruzen, and then try to get a chance to be transferred to a higher position. Unexpectedly, it yielded such a great gain.

The immense power and benefits that the position of Jonin squad leader brings are simply insignificant compared to the "minor drawback" of the energy consumption of the Shadow Clone Technique!
Once he takes this position, he can legitimately win over many Jonin of Konoha, and through his power in mission allocation and promotion nominations, establish close ties with Jonin of various ninja clans and cultivate his own network of influence.

At the same time, it can also accumulate indisputable administrative management and leadership experience, laying the most solid foundation for competing for the Hokage position in the future!

This is a truly powerful position, far superior to the empty title of "Hokage Half-Sleeve".

Congratulations, Class Monitor Umino!

"Lord Ironwall truly deserves the title!"

"With Class Leader Umino leading the Jonin team, Konoha's future is bright!"

Representatives from the various ninja clans, especially the Ino-Shika-Cho clan, reacted swiftly and immediately stepped forward to offer their congratulations.

They were well aware of the significance of this position and understood what it meant for them, their allies, that Umino Sasuke had obtained it.

The Hyuga clan leader had a complicated expression, but he still stepped forward to offer his congratulations.

Uchiha Hikaru's attitude towards Umino Sasuke has changed significantly, especially after Umino Sasuke's "righteous words" just now, which made him begin to re-examine the tense relationship between Umino Sasuke and the Uchiha clan.

According to Mikoto and the others, Umino Sasuke had no prejudice against the Uchiha clan at all. It was only because Shimura Danzo and Mitokado Homura sowed discord that Umino Sasuke and the Uchiha clan had a conflict.

Now that Mikoto and Shun both agree with Umino Sasuke, it's time for the Uchiha to reconsider their attitude towards Hokage Sasuke. They absolutely cannot allow the Konoha higher-ups to interfere again.

Even the Uchiha Fire Core treated Umino Sasuke so well, so the other ninja clans were even closer, their intention to win him over was obvious.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Sasuke Unno being surrounded and congratulated by everyone, the unease in his heart not only did not disappear, but became even stronger.

He felt as if he had personally handed the other party a sharp double-edged sword, and the other party did not seem as simple as they appeared.
He suppressed his doubts, maintained the dignity of the Hokage, and said in a deep voice, "Sasuke, the Jonin team is the cornerstone of Konoha, and the responsibility is heavy. I hope you will work diligently and live up to expectations. Under my guidance, unite all the Jonin and work together to protect the prosperity and peace of Konoha!"

He deliberately emphasized "under my guidance" in an attempt to reaffirm his dominance.

Umino Sasuke raised his head, his face filled with impeccable sincerity, and replied loudly, "Sasuke will do his utmost to live up to everyone's trust, and will work together with all the Jonin colleagues to serve Konoha to the death!"

After seeing that Sarutobi Sasuke did not immediately swear allegiance or express gratitude after accepting the appointment, he wanted to give the young man a warning, to make him understand who the true ruler of Konoha was, and to ensure that the military power at the front was firmly in the hands of "his own people".

"Sasuke's sense of responsibility is very gratifying! The Jonin team is the cornerstone of Konoha, and it truly needs talents like you to oversee and coordinate. Only by staying away from the hustle and bustle of the front lines can you play a greater role."

Hiruzen Sarutobi swept his gaze across the entire room and announced in a loud voice, "Therefore, Orochimaru, the former leader of the Jonin squad, shall resign from this position effective immediately!"
As for the frontline army of the Land of Wind, Orochimaru needs new experience after stepping down as the leader of the Jonin class. Elder Akimichi Torifu is about to return to the village to serve as an advisor elder, so the command of the frontline cannot be left vacant.

"I have decided that Orochimaru will immediately proceed to the front lines of the Land of Wind to replace Akimichi Torifu as the army commander!"

The intention behind these words was obvious: a promotion in name only, stripping Umino Sasuke of his frontline command, slowing down his training with the tedious affairs of the Jonin class, and then sending Orochimaru, a disciple of the Hokage, to take over the most elite frontline army of Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's sharp gaze was fixed on Sasuke Unno, hoping to catch a trace of resentment or anger. How could he remain indifferent after being stripped of the military power he had painstakingly built up?
However, Sasuke Umino's reaction surprised him, but it also seemed to confirm one of his previous guesses.

Umino Sasuke simply nodded slightly and said calmly, "I will obey the Hokage's orders! Orochimaru-sama is exceptionally strong and experienced. It is a blessing for Konoha to have him at the front lines. Sasuke will complete the handover as soon as possible to ensure that Orochimaru-senpai can take over smoothly."

calm!

There was no resentment, no struggle.

This composure and calmness instantly thwarted Hiruzen Sarutobi's prepared and sharp words.

"Could it be that Sasuke Umino really doesn't care about military power?" Hiruzen Sarutobi wondered.

Considering Sasuke Umino's previous behavior of refusing the position of advisor elder and even wanting to "help out" in Root, which was seen as "lowering his status," an idea popped into his head: "Could it be that I was just being paranoid before? Was his reorganization of the troops really just to improve Konoha's fighting strength? Was his refusal of a high position because he truly had no desire for power?"

Looking at Umino Sasuke's young yet composed face, which even carried a hint of "sincerity," Hiruzen Sarutobi's tense nerves involuntarily relaxed a little.

Perhaps this young man is really just a pure ninja with exceptional abilities and unique ideas, but who has no interest in power struggles?
In reality, it wasn't that Umino Sasuke didn't care about the frontline troops; on the contrary, he valued this military power highly. The reason he could maintain his current composure and not worry at all was simply because he understood Orochimaru quite well.

Orochimaru now is not the same as before. He had a very close working relationship with Orochimaru, and at least he was a much more reliable partner than Danzo.

Orochimaru may have had ambitions for military power in the past, but now he only wants to focus on researching the Reanimation Jutsu and perfect cloning technology. He has no interest in participating in Konoha's political struggles. Compared to the allure of immortality, everything else has to take a backseat.

Moreover, after the reform and reorganization of the frontline ninja system, the Iron Wall Army is completely monolithic. Even if Orochimaru wanted to seize military power, it wouldn't be so easy. After all, Orochimaru's elite troops are still on the front lines in the Land of Rain. No matter how charismatic Orochimaru is, a commander without troops has no good way to deal with the monolithic Iron Wall Army.

More importantly, Orochimaru would never do something so thankless in order to get more experimental funding and creative ideas from him.

Orochimaru is incredibly clever; he certainly knows what to choose. The most likely scenario is that Orochimaru will use this opportunity to make a deal with him and extort some research funding.

As for the funding issue, since Orochimaru uses these funds to improve his cloning technology anyway, it's not like he's getting Orochimaru's technology for free by contributing some funds. In fact, it might even make Orochimaru dependent on this funding model. If Orochimaru gets tired of staying in Konoha in the future, he shouldn't go to the Land of Rice Fields. Going to the Land of Waves would be a good choice.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi's doubts were somewhat alleviated by Sasuke Unno's "indifference," Sasuke Unno, like a new broom sweeping clean, made an unexpected suggestion that seemed to fit his "pragmatic" image.

He stepped forward, looked around at the representatives of the various ninja clans and Konoha ninjas present, and said in a clear and infectious voice: "Thank you all for your trust. Now that Sasuke has taken over as the leader of the Jonin team, he will not dare to slack off in the slightest. For the sake of Konoha's future, there is a matter that concerns a proposal to improve Konoha's overall military strength. Please consider it!"

He raised his hand, pointing to the three hundred silent puppet troops standing beside the Konoha gate, controlling the Sand Village's standard puppets, and the mountain of puppet remains and spoils piled up on the carts.

"Look, everyone! This is the new elite force of Konoha—the Puppet Squad! In a short period of time, three hundred ordinary ninjas who were originally of average talent have made rapid progress in their strength under the enhancement of puppetry! Most of them have reached the level of Chunin, and outstanding individuals such as Commander Haruno Mori have even been promoted to Jonin. With the help of the Dual-Machine Manipulation Secret Technique, he controls the Ebizo Chikamatsu Puppet, and his combat power is comparable to that of an elite Jonin!"

His words were inflammatory, painting a rosy picture: "Sunagakure, with resources far inferior to the Land of Fire, has stood firm in the ninja world thanks to its puppetry! The advantage of its puppet troops in low- to mid-level battlefields is well-known!"

Imagine if Konoha, with its vast land, abundant resources, and talented people, were to dedicate itself to developing a puppet army, its scale and combat power would surely far surpass that of Sunagakure!
At that time, Konoha's regular combat strength will experience a qualitative leap. On the battlefield, our Konoha puppet army will be invincible, completely changing the landscape of the ninja world and winning more resources and peaceful space for Konoha!

Then, he changed the subject and put forward his core proposal: "However, such a vital national asset cannot be confined to a force of three hundred men. I propose that the existing puppet troops be disbanded immediately!"

"Disbanded?!" Everyone was shocked.

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow slightly. This kid had just been stripped of his command at the front lines, and now he was about to cut off his own arm. What exactly was he trying to do?
Sasuke Umino immediately explained, "Disbanding is not about abandoning it! Rather, it's for Konoha's broader future, to spread puppetry techniques, and thus strengthen Konoha's foundation!"

My plan is to disperse some of the existing 300 experienced puppeteers and integrate them into various regular units as 'tactical support teams' or 'special instructors,' so that their valuable combat experience and manipulation skills can be integrated into Konoha's overall combat tactics, thereby improving the entire army's ability to deal with puppet tactics and conduct coordinated operations!

Another group, as core seeds, were selected to serve full-time as 'Puppet Technique Chief Instructors', and officially opened 'Puppet Technique Specialization Courses' and 'Advanced Puppet Master Training Courses' within the Konoha Ninja Academy and Jonin system!
It is open to all ninjas in Konoha who possess chakra control talent and are interested in puppetry, regardless of whether they are from ninja clans or commoners!

Finally, he offered the most enticing reward, tempting them: "The first batch of trainees who register and pass the assessment will have priority in choosing a powerful puppet that far surpasses their current ninja level, based on their talent and contributions! Just like these three hundred predecessors, this is a golden opportunity to change your destiny and rapidly improve your strength!"

Upon hearing this, the representatives of the various Konoha ninja clans breathed heavily. The future described by Umino Sasuke was simply too tempting. The powerful combat strength brought by puppetry was a real temptation. The fact that the first batch of students could obtain puppets far exceeding their own level was an even greater benefit of the times. This meant that the clan members could gain a huge advantage from the very beginning!

Moreover, if other families send people to learn, and our own family doesn't participate, wouldn't we fall behind in the future power structure?
“Excellent! This is a wonderful idea!” The Nara clan representative was the first to express his opinion. “If puppetry can be popularized, Konoha’s overall combat strength will surely rise to a new level! Our Nara clan is willing to send two members to participate in the training!”

"Two members of the Akimichi clan have also emerged!" Since the Ino-Shika-Cho trio are one, they naturally follow suit.

"The Kurama clan supports us! Send two people!" The Kurama clan chief's eyes gleamed.

"The Aburame Clan seconded the proposal! Send two people!" The Aburame Clan Chief pushed up his sunglasses. The combination of insect-using secret techniques and puppetry seemed to have great potential. Even if they couldn't combine them, they could still understand puppetry and thus be able to restrain puppeteers.

"The Uchiha clan—" Uchiha's crimson Sharingan swept over the puppets, finally settling on Umino Sasuke, with a hint of scrutiny and new consideration, "Send two! Hopefully, they can contribute to the new strength of Konoha!"

Uchiha Hikko's statement is more like a tentative investment in Unno Sasuke and a clear signal of easing tensions.

The Hyuga clan leader's expression was somewhat unpleasant. The arrogance of his Byakugan made him instinctively reject this power system that relied on "external things," believing it to be a desecration of the Hyuga's thousand-year heritage.

Seeing that all the ninja clans, including their arch-enemy Uchiha, were eagerly participating, if he stayed out of it, he would not only appear unsociable and stubborn, but he might also cause the Hyuga to be marginalized in the new power structure in the future!
He took a deep breath, suppressing his discomfort, and said in a deep voice, "The Hyuga clan will send one member from a branch family to learn puppetry!"

He emphasized the "distribution of family members," which not only preserved the dignity and pride of the main family's "pure bloodline," but also served as a positive response to Umino Sasuke's previous "praise" of his high moral character.

"Support Squad Leader Umino!" "Lord Iron Wall is selfless and devoted to the public good!"

"Konoha Puppet Technique will surely flourish!"

The villagers and ninjas erupted in cheers and shouts of support.

Seeing the various ninja clans vying to "divide up" the elite puppet army that Umino Sasuke had painstakingly built, and seeing that Umino Sasuke himself had no qualms about it and even seemed to enjoy it, the last trace of doubt in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart finally vanished.

"It seems I was overthinking things." Hiruzen Sarutobi finally put aside his suspicions and began to put himself in others' shoes. If Sasuke Umino truly coveted military power, would he so easily disband this elite force that he had built entirely from scratch? He even went so far as to disperse the core members.

This clearly shows that he truly cares about Konoha and only wants to enhance the overall strength, disregarding personal gains and losses!
Considering Sasuke Unno's "simple" idea of ​​refusing the position of advisor elder and wanting to "help out" at Root, Hiruzen Sarutobi was completely convinced that Sasuke Unno was a pure ninja with super strong abilities, unique ideas, but almost zero political sense and no ambition for power!
"Such geniuses, though they are opinionated, have a strong will of fire, and are somewhat difficult to control and win over, can become Konoha's sharpest sword and strongest shield if they are properly guided and given enough respect and room to develop."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sasuke Unno, who was surrounded by people and talking eloquently, his eyes softened considerably, and he finally let go of his suspicions that Sasuke Unno was plotting to seize military power.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi could never have imagined the deeper meaning beneath Sasuke Umino's calm exterior.

Only the military organization was disbanded; the core elements remained in his hands.

For example, those advanced puppet manufacturing techniques far surpassing those of Sunagakure, dual-machine manipulation and even more advanced secret arts, puppet maintenance knowledge, and the crucial puppet production factories and channels.

All of this remains firmly in the hands of Sasuke Umino and his core team.

More importantly, he was the founder and supreme authority of Konoha Puppet Technique. All Konoha ninjas who learned this technique, regardless of which ninja clan they came from, were nominally his "students".

This intangible prestige and influence far surpasses the title of a military commander, just as Tsunade's prestige in the medical department has long exceeded her position.

The major ninja clans invest resources in training their own puppeteers, which is equivalent to deeply binding their clan interests with the development of puppetry. When the Konoha puppet army truly develops and grows as he said, becoming an important pillar of Konoha's regular combat power, or even occupying more than 30% of the village's military force like Sunagakure, then...

As the source of technology, spiritual leader, and actual rule-maker, Sasuke Umino's position will be exceptionally transcendent.

At that time, any Hokage who wants to govern smoothly will need his support and cooperation.

Chiyo and Ebizo's positions in Sunagakure were not based on seniority, but on their solid foundation of military power.

As for the tedious tasks of the Jonin squad leader, he already had a plan in mind. The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique was created for this purpose. He could send one or two shadow clones to handle documents and hold meetings to coordinate, while his main body could still focus on cultivation.

He could even foresee that only the highly intelligent members of the Nara clan would be willing to use their talents in the core department of the Jonin class and become his capable "advisory group".

Hiruzen Sarutobi only saw the superficial "decentralization" and "disarmament," but he failed to see that Sasuke Umino, through the act of "disbanding," was sowing his influence like seeds deeper and wider into the future soil of Konoha.

He thought that Sasuke Umino was wasting his time as the leader of the Jonin squad, but little did he know that Sasuke Umino had already quietly laid out a plan to firmly grasp an important force for Konoha's future in an invisible palm.

Seeing that his first act of taking office had such a remarkable effect, Sasuke Umino seized the opportunity to ignite a "second fire".

His expression turned solemn, and his voice carried a hint of sorrow, instantly pulling everyone's thoughts back to the bloody and fiery air ninja raid half a year ago.

"Gentlemen! Puppet techniques can strengthen ground armies, but the skies above Konoha remain weak. Do you all still remember the horrific scene of the Sky Ninja's surprise attack on Konoha half a year ago?!"

"Empty Ninja!"

The name was like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the memories of everyone present.

"Those damned beasts!"

"My home was destroyed by them!"

"My brother was just an ordinary villager, and he died at the hands of those flying ninjas!"

"If it weren't for Lady Mito and Lady Ironwall's intervention, we in Konoha would probably be..."

Angry discussions and painful memories swept across the area like a tsunami, and every Konoha villager's face was etched with deep pain, their teeth clenched in hatred.

Representatives from various ninja clans also wore somber expressions; the losses and humiliation caused by that attack remain a deep scar on Konoha's heart.

Sasuke Umino's voice pierced through the clamor, carrying an undeniable sense of urgency: "The Sky Ninja Village is nothing more than an obscure little village with weak and insignificant ninjas! Yet, relying solely on their flying machines, they gained aerial superiority, entering Konoha as if it were uninhabited, and nearly reduced Konoha to ashes! If it weren't for Lady Mito Uzumaki sacrificing her life to turn the tide..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, which stiffened for a moment, before continuing, "The losses to Konoha will be immeasurable! And the fall of Lord Mito is an unbearable pain for Konoha! The root of all this lies in our lack of control over the skies! We lack a well-organized and powerful air force!"

Then, he looked around at everyone and said firmly, "The bloody lesson is right before our eyes. The sky must never be allowed to be touched by the enemy again! I propose that Konoha should immediately begin to build a powerful air force of our own! To ensure that the skies of Konoha will forever belong to Konoha!"

"Yes! Form an air force!"

"We can't let them fly over our heads anymore!"

"Lord Ironwall is right!"

Public sentiment was outraged, and calls for the formation of an air force surged instantly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. He knew the importance of the air force, and the horrific scene of the air ninja attack was still vivid in his mind. But he also knew that building a fully-fledged air force would cost an astronomical sum.

This will inevitably squeeze or even divide the already strained military spending, damaging the vested interests of Konoha's existing major ninja clans.

He immediately tossed the problem to the Finance Minister, trying to leverage his position: "Squad Leader Unno's suggestion hits the nail on the head! I also know how important air power is!"

However, the construction of the air force is no small matter. The research, development, manufacturing, and maintenance of aircraft, as well as the selection, training, and equipping of flying ninjas, are all enormous money-devouring processes! The cost is several times that of conventional forces!
"Given this enormous military expenditure, Your Excellency Finance Minister, what is the Daimyo Prefecture's stance on this? How much of the military budget are you planning to allocate?"

He looked at the Chancellor of the Exchequer with a probing look and a hint of "you know what I mean," hoping that the Chancellor, who always controlled military spending, could help him reject this "impractical" proposal.

In reality, the Finance Minister had already sided with Sasuke Unno and naturally had to cooperate, but he had to put on a good show so as not to arouse suspicion.

He immediately straightened his face, revealing his usual "stingy" expression, and retorted in a serious tone: "What the Third Hokage said is very true! The construction of the air force is by no means a child's play!"
Its enormous cost is enough to bankrupt the entire finances of a small country!
Every penny of the military funds allocated by the Daimyo Prefecture to Konoha must be used wisely. Maintaining the existing troops and ensuring supplies to the front lines is already a struggle, so how can there be any spare capacity to support such a large new military branch?

This proposal is good, but military funds are limited, and I am powerless to implement it.

He deliberately withheld military funding, creating an atmosphere that "this ceremony is not to be accepted."

Just when Hiruzen Sarutobi thought that Sasuke Umino's proposal would be "reasonably" rejected by the Finance Minister, and the representatives of the various ninja clans were also hesitant because they were worried that the military funds would be divided up,

Sasuke Umino smiled slightly and offered a reason that surprised everyone and that they couldn't refuse: "Minister of Finance, Hokage, everyone! Building an air force is far more significant than just increasing military strength! It's a crucial step in deepening the alliance between Konoha and the Land of Waves!"

"The Land of Waves?" Everyone was taken aback.

Umino Sasuke spoke eloquently: "Today, the Land of Waves is no longer what it used to be. It has become the number one free trade port in the ninja world, with an economic influence far exceeding that of most small countries, and is almost comparable to the Land of Dragons! In the commercial field, its position is even more important!"

According to reliable intelligence, the Land of Waves possesses considerable military strength and has completely wiped out the remnants of the Sky Ninja!

Not only did they avenge the blood feud of Konoha, but they also completely acquired the aerial ninja's technology and data!

Today, a specialized aircraft manufacturing plant has been established within the Land of Waves!

Then, he looked intently at the Minister of Finance and persuaded him, "If Konoha were to establish an air force, it would be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our sincerity to the Land of Waves and deepen our alliance!"

We can directly purchase ready-made, mature aircraft armor from the Land of Waves. This will not only greatly shorten the time it takes to build our air force and reduce the risk of technological research and development, but also firmly bind the Land of Waves to the Land of Fire's war machine!

Just think about it: by winning over the Land of Waves as a powerful business partner, trade between the Land of Fire and the Land of Waves will surely become more prosperous. The tax revenue and commercial benefits that Your Majesty will gain from this are just a drop in the ocean compared to the extra military expenses for building up the air force!
Moreover, the Land of Waves controls the eastern sea area of ​​the Land of Fire. Bringing it into the alliance system can not only effectively contain the threat of Kirigakure, but also greatly expand the political influence of the Land of Fire in the eastern sea area!
This is a win-win situation, beneficial for generations to come!

Sasuke Umino's reasoned and well-founded analysis, which directly addresses core interests, was like a wake-up call, outlining a grand strategic blueprint.

The Chancellor's "embarrassment" vanished instantly, replaced by "a sudden realization" and "extreme admiration"!
He clapped his hands suddenly, his voice booming: "Brilliant! Brilliant indeed! Squad Leader Haiye's proposal is visionary and far-sighted!"

This official view was flawed; it only saw the pressure of military spending, but overlooked the enormous political and commercial interests behind it!
Winning over the Land of Waves, expanding into the East, and strengthening the deterrent against Kirigakure—each of these is a strategic goal that Your Majesty would be happy to see achieved!

Compared to these benefits, the construction costs of the Air Force are indeed, as Squad Leader Haiye said, negligible!

He then immediately stated, "I fully agree with Squad Leader Unno's proposal! This matter is of great importance, and I need to report the pros and cons in detail to His Majesty before making a decision! However, I am confident that with His Majesty's wisdom and prowess, he will fully support Konoha in establishing an air force and strengthening its alliance with the Land of Waves!"

He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and asked, "Third Hokage, what is your opinion?"

The representatives of the various ninja clans now fully understood that the construction of the air force, with additional funding from the daimyo, would not only not take away from their existing military budget, but would also bring them greater commercial benefits by winning over the Land of Waves, indirectly benefiting them. At the same time, it would also strengthen Konoha's military power. Why not do it?

"Support Squad Leader Umino!"

"This is an excellent idea! It can strengthen the military and forge alliances at the same time!"

"I humbly request that the Hokage grant my request!"

The voices of support rose and fell, even more enthusiastic than before.

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly calculated in his mind: the military funding problem was solved, and even increased! This would be entirely beneficial to his control over Konoha's resources.

Sasuke Unno's proposal not only solved the practical problem but also demonstrated extraordinary strategic vision and diplomatic skills, raising his evaluation of this young man to a new level.

"How could I not support such a brilliant strategy?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a "gratified" smile. "Squad Leader Unno is thoughtful and far-sighted, truly a blessing to Konoha! This matter will be handled as Squad Leader Unno suggests! Once the Minister of Finance informs the Daimyo and the military funds are in place, we will immediately begin to establish the Konoha Air Force!"

Looking at Umino Sasuke, he thought to himself: This kid is exceptionally capable and selfless. Although he doesn't have much ambition, his influence is not to be underestimated. He must be guided well and rely on his talent while ensuring that he remains under control. Fortunately, he seems to have no desire for power or profit, otherwise it would be really difficult to handle.

After his second major campaign in office, Sasuke Umino did not stop there.

He understood the principle of sharing benefits and wanted to solidify the alliance between the three ninja clans: fish, bird, and dog.

Riding the wave of enthusiasm following the approval of the air force proposal, he seized the opportunity to ignite a "third fire": "Lord Hokage, Minister of Finance, everyone! The establishment of the air force will fill the void in Konoha's air superiority."

However, can air power rely solely on cold, hard aircraft?
Ninja beasts, especially flying ninja beasts, are the most loyal partners of ninjas and an indispensable supplement to aerial power!

He turned his gaze to the two clan leaders, Inuzuka and Teku, in the crowd: "As you all have probably noticed, the Teku family's Desert Falcon has entered the crucial sub-bird stage, and its combat power is quite strong. It is only a matter of time before it reaches adulthood!"
The Inuzuka family's ninja dogs, on the other hand, have demonstrated remarkable growth and combat prowess that is evident to all!

All of this is inseparable from the Inuzuka family's 'Beast Spirit Elixir,' which can accelerate the growth of ninja beasts and optimize their potential!

The moment the words "Beast Spirit Elixir" were uttered, the eyes of the representatives from various ninja clans lit up instantly.

The ferocity of the Teku family's giant falcon and the fierceness of the Inuzuka family's ninja dogs had long been the object of their envy.

Previously, training advanced ninja beasts was time-consuming, costly, and not cost-effective. Now, with this miraculous elixir, everything is different.

Seizing the opportunity, Sasuke Umino urged, "To comprehensively enhance the combat power of Konoha ninjas, especially to provide more diverse air power options for the soon-to-be-established air force, I propose: to expand the Konoha Ninja Beast Breeding Base and transform it into a professional breeding center integrating breeding, cultivation, training, and medical care!"

Then, he looked at the Inuzuka clan chief and said gratefully, "The Inuzuka clan is very righteous and willing to contribute to the improvement of Konoha's overall combat strength. They will open up some of the 'Beast Spirit Medicine' and give priority to supplying it to the ninja beast breeding base for training the ninja beasts in the base, especially flying ninja beasts!"

At the same time, the base will also be open to all Konoha ninja!
Whether you want to breed flying ninja beasts to supplement the air force, train ground ninja beasts to enhance your personal combat power, or breed auxiliary ninja beasts with special abilities such as perception, poison, underwater combat, etc., the ninja beast breeding base will provide professional breeding programs and optimized growth environment!
With the blessing of the 'Beast Spirit Elixir,' the growth cycle of ninja beasts will be greatly shortened, and their potential will be fully developed. This will significantly enhance the overall strength and survivability of every Konoha ninja who has a ninja beast partner!

The alluring prospect he painted instantly ignited the enthusiasm of all the major ninja clans.

"The secret medicine has been unlocked?! That's fantastic!"

"Flying ninja beasts combined with aircraft—that's what a complete air force looks like!"

"I've wanted to breed a ninja beast for a long time. In the past, ninja beasts grew too slowly and cost a lot of money. It was just too difficult!"

"Takayoshi Inuzuka!"

The calls to expand the Ninja Beast breeding base instantly drowned out all other voices.

(End of this chapter)