Uchiha's personal opinion

But after slapping them, Uchiha Tokumitsu still gave each of the county guardians a piece of candy.

Uchiha Tokumitsu promised that the garrisoned ninja army would never interfere in local affairs and would guarantee the lineage of the guardian clan. In other words, the current guardian could designate any of his sons as his successor and receive military support from the Uchiha ninja army, if he so desired.

For local guardians, especially families with kinship ties to the nobles of the Daimyo's mansion, maintaining their family's lineage from interference is a very troublesome matter. The promise made by Uchiha Tokumitsu is more valuable than 100,000 gold coins!

Even the two great ninja clans of Kirigakure, Hozuki and Mizuki, were envious of Uchiha Tokumitsu's power, so they specially sent envoys to ask Uchiha Tokumitsu how to establish a shogunate and establish a system to rule over a region.

"We are all from the prestigious Misty Shadow and Water Shadow Clan. How can we remain subservient to others for long? Why don't we return to the village and encourage our clan to also seek the title of general? Wouldn't it be wonderful to carve out our own territory and establish our own system?"

Hozuki Masahiko said to Minazuki Chino.

Minazuki Chino also deeply agreed.

Chapter 179 Why did the Great Names make peace?

The feeling of establishing a system and taking charge of a region goes without saying; it must be wonderful!

In particular, they control a vital sea route like the Land of Whirlpools, giving them a significant advantage in shipping.

The Shogunate Castle, overseen by Ashina Uzumaki, was completed in a short time. Tokumitsu Uchiha named the castle Fubo Castle, and even the castle tower faced the direction of Kirigakure.

Although the time was not yet ripe to storm Kirigakure and capture Old Man Madara alive, Uchiha Tokumitsu kept reminding himself not to forget his original intention.

As the businesses of the Uchiha and Kirigakure clans grew, Uchiha Tokumitsu's income also increased, with continuous investment in laboratory research, resulting in remarkable research achievements.

Meanwhile, the secret shipyard also built the first iron-hulled ship in the ninja world based on Uchiha Tokumitsu's idea.

Although it still uses a hybrid power system of wind and sail propellers, its defensive capabilities are still far superior to those of the Misty Hidden Atakebune.

If the battle were to break out again, Uchiha Tokumitsu was confident that he could send the entire Kirigakure fleet to sea to feed the fish in terms of naval combat.

However, underwater combat remains an unsolved problem. After all, there are very few ninjas in Konoha who are proficient in water and skilled in underwater combat, and the Uchiha ninjas, who are skilled in fire release techniques, are even less effective at sea.

But a sudden imperial edict shattered Uchiha Tokumitsu's small happiness.

In May of the 37th year of Konoha, without notifying their respective ninja villages, the daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Land of Water suddenly issued a joint proclamation to end the war, announcing the end of the state of war between the two countries and the restoration of peaceful relations. At the same time, the Land of Water would pay the Land of Fire one billion ryo in reparations.

Furthermore, the daimyo of the Land of Water acknowledged that it was legitimate for Uchiha Tokumitsu to establish a shogunate in the Land of Whirlpools, and to control and govern smaller countries such as the Land of Waves and the Land of the Sea.

In order to restore peace, the daimyo of the Land of Water has even abandoned all pretense of dignity...

Although it wasn't a post-war agreement signed by the Kage of each village like in the First Shinobi World War, at least in Uchiha Tokumitsu's eyes, this proclamation of the end of the war didn't seem to have any problems for the time being...

no problem?

"This is a huge problem!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu was furious. "This is a humiliating peace treaty that betrays our country and our sovereignty!"

"Lord Deguang, the Water Kingdom has essentially surrendered..."

The Uchiha Jonin who came to deliver the message said weakly.

"I know!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu glanced at the contents of the edict again, "Ten billion to appease a beggar!"

"The daimyo also provided an extra 1 billion yen, which was allocated to the village as war dividends to be distributed to the participating ninjas..."

The Uchiha Jonin added in a low voice.

"you……"

Uchiha Tokumitsu was so angry he gritted his teeth and kicked the table in front of him, breaking it in two. "This is seriously affecting our smuggling business!"

The Uchiha Jonin lowered his head and dared not reply.

Every Uchiha clan member was well aware of the importance of the deal with the Hidden Mist Ninja Clan.

Although the two countries had not been fighting each other, they had been in a state of war. Therefore, the eastern border defense forces blockaded all ports in the eastern part of the Land of Fire, and except for small fishing boats, all other vessels strictly enforced the "not a single plank can go to sea" order issued by Uchiha Tokumitsu.

As a result, the smuggling trade of the Uchiha and Kirigakure clans has grown increasingly large, to the point that making a fortune every day is an understatement.

This is also the premise for the Uchiha clan to maintain a high level of combat readiness when they rarely carry out commissioned missions.

Most importantly, if the two countries restore peace, the Uchiha clan and the Kirigakure clan will no longer be able to make money effortlessly by monopolizing trade.

Furthermore, when it comes to financial resources and legitimate business competition, the Uchiha and Kirigakure clans are no match for those noble merchants.

The reason why the daimyo and nobles chose to negotiate peace privately outside the ninja village was precisely because their interests had been severely damaged.

Driven by the Uchiha and Kirigakure clans and lured by enormous profits, smuggling also flourished in other ninja villages. Normal trade was controlled by ninjas, and wealthy merchants controlled by daimyo and nobles could not gain any advantage in this trade process supported by force.

If you don't gain any advantage, you'll suffer a huge loss!

Therefore, the nobles and lords wanted peace, not war!

"Then... Lord Deguang..."

"I asked cautiously," the Uchiha Jonin asked.

"...Don't rush. Since this document was passed down from the village by the family, Sakumo-kun must know about it, and his letter is probably already on its way."

Uchiha Tokumitsu sighed, "Besides, the Hidden Mist Clan might be even more anxious than we are!"

……

At this time, in Kirigakure (Hidden Mist Village).

The Hozuki and Minazuki clans of Kirigakure were shocked to learn that the daimyo had secretly made peace with the Land of Fire.

Their first reaction was that the glorious days were gone forever.

My second reaction was—

"Da Ming, how dare he!"

The Hozuki and Minazuki clans' attempts to seize control of the land have been far from ideal, mainly because neither the Mizukage nor the Daimyo would allow it.

Therefore, both clans and their vassal families are increasingly dissatisfied with the current Mizukage and the Daimyo of the Land of Water.

In particular, the high-ranking officials of both clans are still immersed in the glory of the two generations of Mizukage and cannot extricate themselves. They usually do not take ordinary ninjas seriously, which further exacerbates the conflict with other forces in Kirigakure.

"A military coup!"

Hozuki Masahiko jumped out and shouted loudly!

"Summon our clan's ninja army and storm the Daimyo's residence! Let those arrogant nobles and officials see what we're capable of!"

In the smuggling transactions between the two sides, Hozuki Masahiko, as the Hozuki clan liaison designated by Uchiha Tokumitsu, also made a fortune. If peace is restored between the two countries, his personal gains will be the most directly affected.

"Shut up!"

The Hozuki clan chief angrily rebuked, "If you are truly so lacking in self-control, I will absolutely not entrust the clan to you!"

Although these words were a reprimand, they also indirectly established Hozuki Masahiko's status.

Hozuki Masahiko said no more, and the other Hozuki clan members were also dissatisfied upon hearing this, but dared not speak out.

"Let's join forces with the Minazuki clan and Yagura Karatachi to submit a petition to the Mizukage!"

The Hozuki clan chief said coldly, "I've already said that Kirigakure must not suffer the shame of defeat! I urge the Mizukage to urge the Daimyo to fight again!"

He added at the end, "Also, inform the Kaguya clan that I will pay them a visit!"

The Hozuki clan chief had made up his mind that if the Mizukage did not agree to the ninja clan's request, he would unite all forces that could be united to overthrow the current Third Mizukage and install Yagura Karatachi as a puppet!

……

Leaving aside the events at Kirigakure, Uchiha Tokumitsu soon received a letter from Hatake Sakumo.

The message in the letter can be summarized as "calm the situation down" and "avoid any major conflict."

Since peace is the common aspiration of the Land of Fire and even Konoha, and the Land of Water has paid reparations, it is inevitable that taking risks for smuggling profits will incur public wrath.

Uchiha Tokumitsu naturally understood this principle.

This is also why he did not summon the ninja army immediately.

Moreover, judging from the unusual edict issued by the daimyo this time, it is highly likely that the daimyo nobles of various countries have already secretly chosen to unite...

"Someone come here!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu summoned his subordinates and ordered them to send a message to the Hidden Shogunate, instructing them to intercept and kill any suspicious persons attempting to travel to the Land of Earth, especially messengers!

"As ordered!"

The subordinates hurriedly left after receiving the order.

If the daimyo and noble families have indeed reached a private reconciliation as Uchiha Tokumitsu imagined, it shouldn't be long before more peace agreements are announced.

"This is really troublesome..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu paced back and forth in the office, pondering a solution.

Once customs clearance is completed, smuggling will inevitably suffer. Although goods will not be subject to tariffs and will have a cost advantage, profits will certainly not be as high as before.

And it's no longer a business exclusive to them.

The Uchiha clan had a deep understanding of the immense profits that could be gained from controlling a country's trade relations, as demonstrated in their dealings with the Hidden Mist Ninja.

Now that the hungry tiger has tasted the sweetness of blood, it naturally has no desire to go back to earn the meager commission from missions.

The Uchiha clan is like that.

The same applies to the various affiliated ninja clan shareholders of the United Fisheries Company.

The same applies to the Reform Society ninjas who participate in logistics escort.

This is especially true for the Hozuki and Minazuki clans, who dominate the business of the Hidden Mist Sect.

Even the garrison commanders of the eight eastern counties, responsible for distribution at the smuggling terminals, probably wouldn't be happy to see their interests harmed...

"I'm sure the various ninja clans are unwilling to go back to being the lackeys of the daimyo and nobles..."

Thinking of this, Uchiha Tokumitsu felt a little relieved.

The Uchiha clan is having a hard time, and so are other stakeholders.

If everyone is having a hard time, then the only option left is to find fault with the people who are making things difficult for them.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Tokumitsu summoned his servants again and instructed, "Send someone to investigate and find out which noble family in the eight eastern counties is more closely related to the daimyo by blood and has a relatively earlier succession order. Report the order to me!"

"As ordered!"

Although the subordinates and attendants did not understand why, they still obeyed the order and left.