Konoha Notes

Chapter 354 Messenger

In the conference room, Kakashi spread out a not-too-thick stack of documents on the long conference table in order.

"It seems you've gotten used to this kind of life, Kakashi."

Tsunade strode in and sat down in the main seat.

"These materials have already been compiled by the Joint Affairs Bureau, Lady Tsunade," Kakashi said very cautiously. "It wasn't my doing."

Tsunade picked up the document in front of her and casually flipped through it: "No need to be modest, Kakashi. That's a department with ninjas from five ninja villages. There are interests involved from all sides, and the backgrounds of the people are complicated. The fact that it hasn't caused any trouble in almost a year since it was established speaks volumes."

She was still praising it.

Kakashi felt a throbbing in his temples.

"No, no." He adjusted his expression, making his exposed eyes curve into crescent shapes. "It's because Shuuji has already negotiated with the ninja villages behind them."

"In fact, all I have to do is act as a mouthpiece over there."

Being humble is unacceptable. If you dare to take credit for this today, in a year or two, you'll be saying, "Kakashi is now capable of taking on greater responsibilities."

Then, they simply shoved the Hokage's hat into his hands.

The door opened again.

The person who was given credit walked into the meeting room with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Shuji sat down to Tsunade's right.

“Kakashi-senpai, there’s no need to be so modest,” he said. “Without your daily coordination among all parties, given the blood feud between the five great ninja villages, dozens of disputes would have already broken out in the Joint Affairs Bureau.”

Another one.

Kakashi felt his facial muscles were about to freeze.

He glanced at the Third Hokage—the old man was scrutinizing the three of them with a thoughtful look, his white eyebrows slightly raised, as if observing some strange creature.

If Danzo had had that kind of mentality, he probably wouldn't have ended up dying at Shuji's hands.

The thought flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind. He cleared his throat and got to the point: "Kakashi, what specific problems have you encountered in the investigation of the illegal gladiatorial arena?"

Finally, someone's talking about serious business.

Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief and opened the file.

"The Joint Affairs Bureau has been investigating small countries within the five major powers, as well as independent ninja villages, during this period."

"There are a few ninja villages that have attempted to hold similar entertainment activities during the joint martial arts exercises of the five major ninja villages and the Chunin Exams break."

“For example, Yugakure,” Kakashi said. “They once set up a tournament called ‘Special Tourism Project for the Hot Spring Festival.’ The participants were the village’s genin and some hired ronin, while the audience consisted of tourists.”

Tsunade scanned the report summary.

"Not large in scale?"

“Yes,” Kakashi replied, “ticket revenue is only enough to cover the cost of setting up the venue and ninja subsidies.”

"After the Joint Affairs Bureau team arrived, Yugakure dismantled the arena on their own initiative, but they inquired about... the standards for 'holding similar competitions'."

He then opened another document: "During the joint team operation, several ninja villages, including Kusagakure, also conducted similar consultations."

"Among them, Wuwei contacted me privately."

“He informed Kusagakure of their current situation in his personal capacity,” Kakashi said.

The file was pushed to the center of the table. Everyone could see the bolded lines of data:

The number of commissions decreased by 40% year-on-year. Domestic nobles are shifting their missions to Konoha or Iwagakure. Border patrol missions have disappeared due to the easing of tensions between major powers. Even achieving a ranking in the Joint Chunin Exams doesn't cover daily expenses with the prize money. The reason is simple: these small ninja villages, which previously maintained a certain level of military strength, have had their missions delegated to smaller villages because of the tense relations between major powers. Some merchants or nobles, not wanting to explicitly express their stance, prefer to handle such missions directly.

However, as cooperation and exchanges between the major ninja villages became closer, they even began to share information on some mission assignments.

The client no longer needs to take into account the conflicts between the major ninja villages.

On the contrary, because the Great Ninja Village has a big brand, strong execution, and relatively complete follow-up support.

"The situation in Kusagakure is not too bad right now," Kakashi said. "At least the Daimyo of the Land of Grass is still providing full financial support."

"Based on the above, the Joint Affairs Bureau has a pessimistic outlook on the future of illegal gladiatorial arenas."

After all, ninjas still need to make a living. If the village cannot support their livelihood, the ninja village will not dare to directly confront the five great ninja villages. However, the ninjas who come from those villages will become the problems they need to face later.

The Third Hokage pulled out his pipe: "We have no way to force merchants or nobles to issue commissions to those villages."

"But we can create new options."

Shuji's voice broke in. He pulled a blank sheet of paper from the pile of documents and began to write on it.

"First, the issue of hosting rights needs to be reconsidered." The pen scratched across the paper. "We could consider making small-scale events a way to fill the off-season."

“Second,” he wrote down the second number, “through a joint affairs bureau proposal, ninjas from outside the five great ninja villages will be incorporated into the martial arts system.”

"We will not distribute ticket revenue to those ninja villages, but we will provide basic prize money and travel allowances to the participating ninjas."

Kakashi was also taking notes rapidly, his pen flying across the paper.

“Third,” Shuji wrote down the third dot, “the water resource regulation project between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain has entered the preparation stage. This is a long-term project involving exploration, excavation, pipeline laying, barrier maintenance... requiring a large number of specialized ninjas.”

"Earth Release, Water Release, basic sealing techniques—these skills are needed in engineering projects. We can issue targeted commissions through the Joint Affairs Bureau and settle payments on a daily basis."

Hiruzen Sarutobi then asked, "Whose money are you planning to come from?"

When it comes to matters of national interest, ninjas from the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind can take less money, but ninjas from other villages cannot.

Shuji put down his pen.

"We will invite the daimyo of each small country to renegotiate the amount of financial aid and establish a special agency to manage it," he said. "The problem of ninjas must be solved."

“Even if only a dozen or twenty people from a small ninja village escaped control due to lack of livelihood—we won’t discuss whether they would join the Akatsuki organization.”

"Even if they just wander to the borders of various countries and rob or destroy caravans and villages, the economic losses they can cause are far greater than the expenditure of providing reasonable financial assistance in advance."

He raised his eyes and looked at Kakashi.

"Kakashi-senpai, please ask the representatives of the major ninja villages in the Joint Affairs Bureau to discuss opening up the participation qualifications to participants from smaller ninja villages and the prize money standards."

“Then—” Shuji pushed the paper full of key points over, “invite the leaders of all ninja villages other than the five great ninja villages who are willing to participate to come to Konoha for a joint meeting.”

"...All of them?" Kakashi confirmed.

“All of them.” Xiu Si nodded. “The meeting is scheduled for the middle of next month. The venue will be the Joint Affairs Bureau building.”

Tsunade suddenly smiled.

"This is going to be quite a show." The Fifth Hokage rested his chin on his hand, his gaze fixed on Kakashi. "The leaders of many ninja villages are gathered together. The task of coordinating this is entrusted to you, Kakashi."

Again.

Kakashi sighed inwardly. He looked at Shuuji, then at Tsunade, and finally his gaze fell on the Third Hokage—the old man was leisurely smoking his pipe, with an air of "this matter is left to the younger generation."

“I will do my best,” he said. “After all… I’m just a mouthpiece.”

(End of this chapter)