Uchiha's personal opinion

Uchiha Tokumitsu understood what Hanzo of the Salamander meant: "If there is a need for supplies, you can just tell Commander Homon of the Northwest Border Defense Force, and the Uchiha clan can help Amegakure with the procurement."

"That would be perfect."

Hanzo the Salamander agreed.

As the Uchiha clan waged war in the Second Shinobi World War, and with the help of their smuggling network, their influence gradually spread throughout the shinobi world. At least, procuring various supplies was much easier for them than for the heavily besieged Amegakure.

"Is the Rain Ninja Army also planning to withdraw?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu then asked.

If all of the more than 1,000 Rain Ninja were to return to their villages at once, the shogunate's ninja army's control might be left vulnerable.

"I plan to bring three hundred people back to the village this time. What do you think?"

Although Hanzo the Salamander was willing to bring his ninjas back to prevent them from being assimilated by the shogunate, he was ultimately reluctant to give up this rare opportunity to earn foreign exchange.

"no problem."

Uchiha Tokumitsu immediately agreed, "Then I will arrange for people to settle the military expenses!"

……

After seeing Hanzo the Salamander off, Uchiha Tokumitsu slowly pondered his next plan.

As the saying goes, mountains may crumble, people may run away, and the most reliable people are your own.

However, the members of the Uchiha clan did not spring from a rock; it takes time for them to grow and mature.

What Uchiha Tokumitsu lacked most was time.

The growth of a family's power takes time, the integration of its various factions also takes time, and the increase of an individual's strength also takes time.

The most crucial factor, of course, is personal ability.

Especially after his battle with the Third Mizukage, Uchiha Tokumitsu gained a deep understanding of this.

Although the battle seemed easy, if it weren't for Hanzo of the Salamander acting as the main force to withstand the lightning, Uchiha Tokumitsu wouldn't have been able to trap the Third Mizukage so easily.

However, this battle also served as a reminder to Uchiha Tokumitsu that being obsessed with power struggles is not advisable. The ninja world is ultimately a cruel world where force prevails. Power struggles may bring temporary victory, but they cannot guarantee a lasting one.

Especially since Madara Uchiha, who controls the Third Mizukage, is a notoriously capricious person, he might turn on you and overturn the table any day, which is the most fatal flaw.

"Speaking of which, it's almost harvest season..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu touched the sealing scroll he carried with him.

One of the scrolls contains the sealed corpse of a precious White Zetsu...

Furthermore, given how much money has been invested in the Uzumaki Research Institute and Orochimaru's laboratory, it's time for them to produce some results as a reward.

Uchiha Tokumitsu's requirements were not high; he only needed to extract White Zetsu cells to improve his physique. As for the legendary Wood Release... obtaining it was a blessing, losing it was fate, so there was no need to force it.

Besides, a single White Zetsu corpse isn't enough to activate Wood Release.

"Wood Release... Danzo... Orochimaru..."

Upon thinking of Wood Release, Uchiha Tokumitsu immediately recalled the so-called "Wood Release Reactivation Plan"...

"I need to find some time to go back to the village and extort some money from Orochimaru. Maybe I can get some gold coins..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu summoned his attendant ninjas and ordered them to convene a meeting of the Jonin from each division.

Before returning to the village, we still need to arrange the defense zones for each unit.

……

"Thanks to your valiant efforts, the Shogunate was able to seize the territory of the southern islands!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said this at a military council meeting of the shogunate.

The Jonin, all in charge, stood tall and proud, feeling honored.

"The southern islands will be a sanctuary for ninjas, and the foundation for the continued growth and expansion of the shogunate!"

Currently, within the Tokugawa Shogunate's territory, the eight eastern districts of the Land of Fire can only exert influence, the former territory of the Land of Whirlpools serves as the Shogunate's main base, the Land of Waves is merely a logistics base, while the southern islands of the Land of Water possess sufficient population and resources.

Population and resources represent sustainable monetary income.

"In recognition of the meritorious service of each unit, the following appointments are hereby made—"

"The southern islands are divided into three major defense zones, each guarded by one of the three Guiyi tribes of the Expeditionary Force!"

"To die for one's lord!"

Hozuki, Minazuki, Kaguya, and other former Kirigakure Jonin immediately stood up and knelt on one knee.

"The southern islands are the foundation of the shogunate, and you are all familiar with waterways and transportation. I hope that you will work together to defend our territory."

Uchiha Tokumitsu said gently.

Then he summoned Kaori Uzumaki and presented each of them with a token of respect.

As the saying goes, those who have a stable livelihood have a stable mind. The designated defense zones are both a reward for the ninjas of the three clans and a cage that binds them.

Even if Kirigakure attempts to turn them against their own side in the future, they cannot offer Uchiha Tokumitsu such a generous incentive.

"The governance of the southern islands is handled by representatives appointed by each ninja clan, and all positions are specifically assigned based on the talents of the individuals appointed by each clan."

This is a reward for participation in the war given to the various affiliated ninja clans, and also one of the means to counterbalance the three clans of Kirigakure and Guiyi.

"I obey your command!"

Kuma, Shiranui, and other affiliated ninja clans rose up in response.

"As for taxes, they are managed by the United Fisheries Company, and the salaries of the garrisoned ninjas and political ninjas are also directly deducted from the taxes."

Uchiha Tokumitsu turned his gaze to Hyuga Shuhiro, who was sitting in the back row, and said, "Shuhiro, how about you take charge of this matter for now?"

"what?!"

Hyuga Shuhiro was stunned.

He never imagined that as a member of the Hyuga branch family who was subject to others, he would one day be entrusted with such an important task, and for a moment he was at a loss.

"Lord Deguang...I..."

He didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry, it's okay. Just do your best. I will also assign a subordinate to assist you."

Uchiha Tokumitsu said gently.

"...Yes, sir!"

Hyuga Shuhiro tried his best to calm himself down and gave Uchiha Tokumitsu a perfect chest-touching bow in thanks.

The reason for appointing Hyuga Shuhiro as the head of the tax authorities was that Uchiha Tokumitsu still had some ideas about the Hyuga clan; moreover, this move was like spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones. Even if he couldn't win over the main Hyuga family, it would be good to be able to divide some of the Hyuga branch families for his own use.

Moreover, the tax authorities also have clerks dispatched by Uchiha Tokumitsu to handle general affairs, so Hyuga Shuhiro's role in office is more about acting as a mascot and a weathervane, so there's no need to worry about him causing any trouble.

In this way, the system of control over the southern islands under the rule of the shogunate was basically established, with the three major power organs of military, political and taxation being separate and mutually checking each other.

As for the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans, these two clans are the foundation of Uchiha Deguang's legacy, and there is no need to award them in such an occasion, lest it arouse the envy of others.

"...The arrangements for the southern islands of the shogunate are basically as described above. All departments are requested to perform their duties diligently and achieve further merits!"

"To die for one's lord!"

Masahiko Hozuki was the first to stand up and respond loudly.

"To die for one's lord!"

The Jonin all stood up in unison, offering their loyalty to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

Next, we need to return to Konoha to continue the battle...

Uchiha Tokumitsu's gaze was deep and unfathomable.

Chapter 208 The Chakra Technology of the Rich

When Uchiha Tokumitsu prepared to depart from the southern islands to return to Konoha, it was December 21st of the 37th year of Konoha.

In ten days, it will be the New Year in the ninja world.

Since leaving Konoha for the first time in May of the 30th year of Konoha, Uchiha Tokumitsu has been fighting on the battlefield for more than seven years, amidst the clash of swords and mountains of corpses.

Seven years!

How many seven-year periods does one have in a lifetime?

Although the boy in the mirror still looked like a cheerful young man, there was an indescribable murderous aura between his brows and eyes.

"She's fifteen years old..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu calculated his age and felt a strange mix of emotions.

Although he often felt a sense of unreality, and often treated enemies as if they were NPCs in a game, the passage of time still told him that this world was real and authentic.

Even once-in-a-millennium powerhouses like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha could not ultimately withstand the erosion of time.

Even the once-unrivaled Madara Uchiha might now be nothing more than an old man in his twilight years, merely controlling a useful tool with his profound genjutsu.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu touched the sealing scroll inside the Jonin vest scroll case.

Sealed inside is the corpse of a White Zetsu that is always carried with it.

At this moment, he also began to understand why those brilliant and ambitious emperors and generals of ancient times were so obsessed with those elixirs of immortality that sounded so unrealistic and unreliable...

"I wonder how the cell centrifuge research is going..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu's thoughts had already drifted back to the Uzumaki Research Institute in the Land of Whirlpools.

……

The journey home is always pleasant.

On the way back to the shogunate's base in the Land of Whirlpools aboard the ironclad warship, the deck was filled with laughter and merriment.

Even the most hardened and radical members of the Uchiha clan couldn't help but smile slightly.

Although they claim to "enjoy the heart-pounding feeling of being on the verge of death" and admire pushing their limits in battle, even the Uchiha clan cherishes the warmth of peacetime.

After all... the Uchiha clan is a clan of love.