Konoha Notes

Chapter 315 What if it works?

"These are just petty tricks. The usurpers, these so-called five great powers, can only use this kind of method to show their powerlessness now."

Upon hearing his new title, Feng Hua Nu Tao didn't even have the energy to be angry.

As for blocking trade routes, the man named Kong Chen had already foreseen this step before the war even started. The Snow Country was located overseas and lacked resources, so the problems it faced had already been anticipated.

The people with vortex masks also have ways of bringing in supplies.

But how long can this so-called lockdown last?

Once a ship sets sail, its destination is beyond our control.

Just be patient for a year...

However, the following month, Feng Hua Nu Tao discovered that not a single ship had sailed to the islands controlled by the Snow Kingdom. This did not affect the current situation, but it made him feel something was amiss.

"I have already investigated this situation and was just about to report to you."

Kong Chen's voice came from the doorway.

Orochimaru slowly walked into the room, his posture still humble, but a playful glint in his eyes.

“At every port on land that leads to the sea, there are people from the five great ninja villages. They seem to have reached an agreement to check the amount of supplies on ships going out to sea and to verify their destination.”

"As for the surrounding islands... they invited ninjas from Kumogakure to help protect their territory, and those ninjas were also doing surveillance work."

As he informed Feng Hua Nu Tao of the current situation, he inwardly marveled at it.

The fact that the ruler of the Land of Snow was a usurper and that he was carrying out a campaign of conquest against island nations aroused strong resentment towards the Land of Snow among the daimyo.

In the ninja world, the daimyo, who do not possess power to begin with, maintain their status by relying on legitimacy, in addition to the fact that ninjas are not good at managing their own affairs.

The Land of Snow is a remote overseas country, and there is no conflict of interest between them that would make it worthwhile for them to suppress their hatred.

It makes perfect sense for the domestic ninja villages to cooperate with Konoha's actions.

Seizing this opportunity, they ostensibly conducted inspections of ships at sea under the guise of the Joint Military Exercise Affairs Bureau, but in reality, they were constantly strengthening the bureau's presence and scope of authority.

Instead of resorting to the direct and ruthless methods of suppressing dissent, they chose to ignore the interference and continue doing what they were doing before.

You're becoming more and more of a pleasant surprise, Shuji-kun.
-
Shuji was unaware of Orochimaru's thoughts and had no interest in them.

He returned to the Land of Lightning, to the Hidden Cloud Village, after a long absence.

"This time, it's Yunyin again doing what you want to do, Shuji."

In Raikage's office, Ai's voice was low and deep.

"However, the threat facing Cloud Village is not over yet."

"The fact that the other side has not taken any action under such a blockade indicates that they were already prepared and may even have other means of importing supplies."

"Then when they take action again, the one who will suffer the most direct damage will be Kumogakure, Shuji."

"Don't tell me that the other side is satisfied with just those few islands. If that's the case, there's no need to use these methods."

Shuji replied, "Yes, but when facing an enemy that is located far overseas and has great power, the means that can be used are extremely limited."

"The means by which a small country can go toe-to-toe with the five great powers are nothing more than a few."

The Raikage glanced at Mabui beside him. The Heavenly Delivery Technique, a unique spatial teleportation technology of the Hidden Cloud Village, could be used to transport emergency supplies in critical situations.

Even with the divine gift of resources, there was no way to send enough supplies to support a country, let alone a small one.

"Space-time ninjutsu, is it...?"

“Yes,” Shuji said, “but even the most powerful space-time ninjutsu cannot conjure up resources out of thin air, and the materials needed to manufacture airships and ninja tools will not grow on their own.”

"Therefore, they have other sourcing points."

The Raikage said coldly, "Even the Five Great Shinobi Villages cannot control all the merchants."

“Yes, we can’t control everyone, nor do we need to,” Shuuji smiled. “But the escort and protection of all major goods in the ninja world are the responsibility of the ninjas. After all, if non-ninjas are involved in the protection, safety cannot be guaranteed.”

"So what we need to do is actually very simple: exchange information about the types of caravans being escorted, whether they are being sent overseas or traded on land."

"This way we can find out where the key materials are."

"Thus, control can be achieved."

Raikage stared at him silently for a long time.

"Do you take me for an idiot, Shuuji? You're talking about more than just monitoring the whereabouts of goods."

"You're talking about a problem with the task system."

"Lord Raikage, this is a problem we'll have to face sooner or later," Shuji said softly. "Last year, Kumogakure accepted the mission to find Kazeka Koyuki, which conflicts with Konoha's goals. Kumogakure can give up once, or twice, and Konoha can reciprocate by giving in once, or twice..."

"But what if it happens too often, Lord Raikage?"

“Low-level tasks are handled according to quotas, so there’s no need to worry about conflicts. But high-level commissions are mostly commissioned by wealthy businessmen and powerful figures. Under the current circumstances, there’s simply no way to restrict who can handle them.”

"The benefits brought by the alliance and cooperation between Konoha and Kumogakure are not just a matter of a few hundred million taels."

"The sharing of missions can effectively avoid conflicts between the two sides and prevent them from being exploited by those with ulterior motives, which is beneficial to both Konoha and Kumogakure."

Ai looked sharply at Shuuji: "What's next? You don't mean you're planning to connect the mission systems between Konoha and Kumogakure, do you?"

"Our mission system still contains many confidential matters concerning our own country."

Shuji said, "This part can be left as is, but we will create a new system for the interoperable commissions from outside our country."

He said sincerely, "In the past, ninjas fought each other because of their employers' wishes."

"Back in the ninja village, ninjas fought each other for the village's interests."

"There is no way out in the war of the ninja world, so you chose the alliance with Konoha and have not wavered or given up in the face of challenges over the past few years."

"Now both sides are trying to put aside their past hatred and get to know each other better. Are they going to go back to the past and fall into a cycle of fighting again because of the client's wishes?"

"Perhaps one day, the relationship between Konoha and Kumogakure will split, but I hope it won't be this year or next year. Therefore, I have put forward an idea that will cause controversy even within the village."

Ai remained silent, looking at the person in front of her.

"Has the Senju, who uses Wood Release, always been so whimsical?" he asked.

“We should always give it a try,” Shuji replied. “What if it works?”

(End of this chapter)