Uchiha's personal opinion

Uchiha Tokumitsu was quite dismissive of Hatake Sakumo's "fundamentalist ninja tool theory," saying, "But Sakumo-kun, why are you getting so hung up on this?"

"I'm wondering... if one day the daimyo and nobles are eliminated, can the ninjas rule the world well?"

Sakumo Hatake hesitated for a moment: "Admittedly, most of the nobles and courtiers are not good people, but at least they maintained the most basic order..."

"Are you talking about the so-called 'order' of issuing large-scale campaigns to wipe out mountain bandits and outlaws every three to five years?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu scoffed at this, saying, "Do you think even the worst order is better than no order at all?"

"Something like that..."

Sakumo Hatake hesitated for a moment.

Although he had some ideas, seeing Uchiha Tokumitsu's dismissive attitude, he began to doubt whether there was something wrong with his ideas.

"So, how can we build a new order without destroying the old one?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said, "If everything had remained the same, then ninjas would still be dogs doing dirty work for daimyo and nobles. How could they have achieved their current dominant position in the ninja world?"

Long before the Sage of Six Paths distributed chakra, the ninja profession already existed; however, it had an extremely low status, belonging to the very bottom of the martial arts hierarchy.

But it was precisely because the ninjas accepted the will of the Sage of Six Paths without reservation and chose to join the Ninja Sect that, after a thousand years of bloodshed and turmoil in the Warring States period, they successfully swept away the remnants of the old era, such as samurai, priests, monks, and shrine maidens, into the dustbin of history.

Even so, the remnants of the old era, barely clinging to life, still enjoyed a special status under the protection of daimyo nobles and were regarded as a trump card against the ninja forces.

"But isn't this too cruel for ordinary people...?"

Sakumo Hatake was still somewhat hesitant.

"By the way, Sakumo-kun, you didn't come to see me today just to talk about this, did you?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and chose to change the subject.

Sakumo Hatake's lack of ideological understanding reflects the deficiencies in ninja education, namely a severe lack of ideological education and training.

Imagine someone who starts carrying blades into battle at the age of seven or eight; it's no wonder they wouldn't have a proper set of values. Furthermore, ninja schools primarily focus on teaching efficient killing techniques, with academic subjects being negligible. This further contributes to the ninjas' lack of self-awareness.

Therefore, although the shallow doctrine of the Will of Fire was full of errors and worthless in the eyes of Uchiha Tokumitsu, it still became the most recognized ideology within Konoha.

After all, people still need some spiritual sustenance.

However, the spiritual sustenance or beliefs of most ninjas simply cannot withstand factual analysis and logical scrutiny.

But precisely because of this, even a strong figure like Hatake Sakumo was easily swayed by Uchiha Tokumitsu, who in his previous life was considered a nobody among keyboard warriors.

"Oh, right~"

Hatake Sakumo also realized what was happening.

He also felt a bit confused, wondering why he was so easily led astray in front of Uchiha Tokumitsu.

How is governance of the southern islands achieved?

Sakumo Hatake humbly asked questions.

Deep down, he still harbored a stereotype that "only nobles know how to govern commoners, while ninjas only know how to kill and destroy."

"Village self-governance under strict laws and severe punishments; cities plan to adopt a tax-farming system."

Uchiha Tokumitsu's answer was also very concise.

"What's the difference between this and aristocratic rule?"

Sakumo Hatake continued to humbly seek advice.

"The garrisoned ninja troops will not interfere with them like the imperial guards of daimyo nobles, nor will they eat or buy things without paying. Anyone found guilty of committing crimes will be executed. Moreover, in addition to taxes, even corvée labor will be paid a certain amount of compensation..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu said casually.

"Wouldn't that... plunge the order of grassroots villages and communities into chaos?"

Sakumo Hatake was even more suspicious: "Don't commoners need nobles to govern them?"

Why manage?

Uchiha Tokumitsu chuckled: "Do nobles know how to farm or mine? Does no one care? Don't commoners need to farm or work in workshops to support their families?"

"But... what if there are rebellious individuals who persecute ordinary people?"

"The garrison ninja will go and kill him."

Uchiha Tokumitsu said it casually.

"As expected, it's a harsh and severe system of punishments..."

Sakumo Hatake clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Could you elaborate on the other specific governance policies?"

"That's not a problem, but others might not be able to imitate it..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu thought for a moment

Strictly speaking, the order established by the Tokukō Shogunate in the southern islands of the Land of Water was more like a company than a political power.

Farmers were only responsible for cultivating the land to feed their own people, fishermen caught seafood to export and generate income, miners, artisans, and workshop owners produced various industrial products needed by the country, while the United Fisheries Company monopolized the foreign trade link in economic activities and obtained high profits from it.

As for the taxes that could be collected locally, Uchiha Tokumitsu did not pay much attention to them. As long as the tax revenue could cover the salaries of the garrison ninja and the administrative ninja, that was enough. However, since the aristocratic class was eliminated and all miscellaneous fees other than the regular taxes were abolished, the tax burden on commoners and merchants was actually less after the reduction of the middle rentier class.

In this way, the shogunate got satisfactory income, the ninjas no longer had to work hard for missions, the merchants' trade costs were reduced, and the farmers were finally able to eat their fill; the only ones who suffered losses were the nobles who were originally high and mighty and called themselves "ruling all people in the name of the divine".

"Although I feel it goes against the one village, one country system, but..."

Sakumo Hatake seemed to be deep in thought, "The lives of ordinary people are actually getting better..."

Maybe~

Uchiha Tokumitsu replied lazily, "At least for now. Who knows if ninjas will degenerate into the same corrupt and incompetent state as nobles in the future?"

"At least in our lifetime, it's unlikely we'll see ninjas fall into depravity..."

Sakumo Hatake also felt a pang of regret.

"In short, once the chains of the old world are broken, a new order can be established quickly, provided there is sufficient power and interests to back it up."

Uchiha Tokumitsu concluded.

"That's true, but the Ninja World War..."

Sakumo Hatake thought for a moment, then shook his head.

Uchiha Tokumitsu remained noncommittal.

Even someone as relatively simple-minded as Hatake Sakumo isn't so easily brainwashed.

"After the Hidden Cloud Village launched the Hidden Mist Village offensive, it seems that the Sarutobi Shogunate also has some ideas..."

After a moment of silence, Sakumo Hatake spoke up.

"Shinnosuke Sarutobi? When did he become so bold?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu was somewhat surprised to hear this.

"It's not that we're planning to attack Kumogakure, but rather that we intend to take advantage of the Kumogakure ninja army's eastern expedition to enter a few small buffer states between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning."

"I see..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu was somewhat disappointed; he had thought that the eldest son of the Shinobi Kuma clan had suddenly become quite powerful.

"Also, the Takigakure ninja sent many envoys to the village to protest a while ago, but they haven't come since you defeated Kirigakure."

Sakumo Hatake laughed.

"A complaint against General Huomen?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu naturally knew what was going on.

"Yes."

Sakumo Hatake nodded.

The expansion strategy adopted by the Northwest Shogunate under the leadership of Uchiha Himon was a relatively gentle infiltration, with the neighboring Land of Rain and Land of Waterfall as its targets.

"Back in the day, we wiped out the high-ranking officials of Kumogakure and Iwagakure in one fell swoop in Takigakure."

"This also includes the Two-Tails Jinchuriki."

Hatake Sakumo also recalled the scene of the first time the two of them fought together.

Two-Tailed Traveler...

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Tokumitsu's heart stirred.

If I do the math, the Two-Tails should have already been revived by now...

Furthermore, judging from its appearance, Matatabi is indeed a large cat, but it's unknown whether it has any connection to the ninja cat clan...

Uchiha Tokumitsu couldn't help but let his mind wander.

"Knock knock!"

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted Uchiha Tokumitsu's thoughts.

"Come in!"

"Uchiha Tokumitsu shouted."

"Lord Tokumitsu..."

A police ninja entered and respectfully said, "Orochimaru, a Jonin, has come to visit and requests a meeting with you. May I ask if he may be allowed to enter?"

"Bring him over."

Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't seem to have any objections.

As Hatake Sakumo was about to get up and leave, Uchiha Tokumitsu held him down, indicating that he didn't need to be polite.

"Since we're just killing time anyway, why don't we chat with Orochimaru together..."

"Uchiha Tokumitsu said."

Chapter 212 Forks in the Road and Tearing Apart

Orochimaru's visit in broad daylight, followed by his formal announcement and questioning, was completely out of character for him.

In the past, even when Orochimaru sought sponsorship from Uchiha Tokumitsu, he would always sneak over at night, fearing that others, especially his teacher, would find out that the two were secretly colluding.

Venomous snakes that used to hunt in the shadows now openly roam outside their burrows, either because their hiding places have been destroyed or because they have found shelter that is even more effective than their underground burrows...