[Land of Rice, Otogakure]
Otogakure had gone through a massive transformation. The massive constructions in the village were now finished, the underground maze now polished as one of the most wonderful creations crafted by men. Streets were paved in solid stones that would last for hundreds of years, buildings small but large, laboratories exceeding any level of technology known to men, factories developing concepts and products unmatched by others.
Wealth was plentiful, yet the village was always in debt, reinvesting every penny in more research, more assets, more infrastructure. Families started to have more children, as they could afford it. Long were gone the times of incertitude, living from mission to mission, never once having the opportunity to take a pause and found a family. Every civilian worker and shinobi received a fixed payment, with a system of bonuses for those performing exceptionally well.
Meritocracy promoted work, systemic payments allowing democratic growth.
Modern concepts of productivity were deeply engraved in the minds of Otogakure residents, yet no shortcuts were taken. Organic growth was the motto of the village, its gates closely guarded from outsiders. The only exceptions were branded with the now-perfected versions of the Shimura seals, capable of not only limiting the flow of information of its bearers, but even see through them.
Otogakure, which was once a village with 3600 inhabitants, now more than doubled its capacity. Smaller clans in the land of rice joined Otogakure, convinced by the overwhelming strength of the Otogake, suppressed by the seal, drowning in the stability offered by Otogakure. These clans, upon joining Otogakure, held no rights due to their weakness compared to the four noble clans: Kaonashi, Kinzoku, Hebikaze and Shimura.
Instead, they formed the largest corps, trained in skirmish teams to fit the needs of D and C-rank missions. Under Danzo's suggestion, they became the Otogakure General Corps.
[Otogakure Overview Report
Population: 8200 (3000 Shimura clansmen, 1800 Hebikaze clansmen, 600 Kaonashi clansmen, 1000 Kinzoku clansmen, 1800 Otogakure residents)
Total Force: 2300 Shinobi
Shimura Wind Corps: 1 Semi-kage level Jonin (Itoru), 5 Elite jonins, 25 Jonins, 50 Chunins, 100 Elite Genins, 200 Genins
Shimura Support Corps: 2 Semi-kage level (Byakuro, Eiji), 5 Elite jonins, 10 Jonins, 30 Chunins, 50 Elite Genins, 100 Genins
Shimura Kenjutsu Corps: 3 Semi-kage level (Yukiko, Himaru, Boku), 10 Elite jonins, 50 Jonins, 80 Chunins, 100 Elite Genins, 200 Genins
Hebikaze Assassination Corps: 1 Kage (Harumi), 5 Elite Jonin (Toru), 30 Jonins, 30 Chunins, 100 Elite genins, 200 genins
Kaonashi Encryption Corps: 2 Elite Jonin (Rin), 10 Jonins, 20 Chunins, 40 Elite genins, 80 genins
Kinzoku Genjutsu Corps: 2 Elite Jonin (Hiroto), 15 Jonins, 25 Chunins, 50 Elite genins, 100 genins
Otogakure General Corps: 1 Elite Jonin (Pinzen), 5 Jonins, 10 Chunins, 200 Elites genins, 400 genins
Treasure goods: Shimura Cell Enhancement Shot [S], Royal Rice [A], Body Refinement Elixir [A], Chakra Injection Supplements [B], Vitality Emergency Shot [C], Sound Vibration Seal [C], ...]
One resident out of four was a shinobi. In three lengthy years, Otogakure had had the most fantastic growth in the history of the continent, raising an army capable of rivalling some of the weaker major hidden villages in sheer numbers alone. Although it could not compare to the Iwagakure at its peak, which could mobilize ten thousand shinobi, it certainly could compare to the current Sunagakure, Kirigakure or Iwagakure, all weakened by the status quo of the past three years.
The Shinobi market of the Rice country, which used to be completely dominated by mercenaries and other hidden villages, was now completely tied to Otogakure, a rare monopoly that was linked to a special law promoted by the Rice Daimyo himself.
Such laws multiplied in the past three years.
1. Anyone with chakra talent would either enter the Rice Samurai Army, or be sent to Otogakure.
2. Anyone servicing shinobi from a foreign country would be sentenced to death
3. Otogakure goods are exempt from taxes
...
The contribution between the Daimyo and Otogakure was at a scale which was never seen before. Samurai, too, benefitted from Otogakure's support, especially their seals. Unlike shinobi, they did not have proficiency in using shinobi tools. Sound seals, however, could be used as a trump card to unleash a deadly blow against unprepared enemies.
The rise of Otogakure did not worry the other hidden villages at all. In their eyes, Otogakure would be limited by their own lack of talents. However, they strongly underestimated Otogakure, who never breached frontiers, but suppressed all trespassers with ruthlessness.
The destruction of cities, or even countries, also supported the growth of the glass industry which boomed in the rice country. With billions of Ryo at hands, Otogakure reinvested its profits in knowledge and research mainly.
Years of work allowed Boku and Danzo to reach a breakthrough in genetic research: Shimura Cell Enhancement Shot.
A medicine aimed at increasing the genetic limits of the Shimura clan. It bypassed the laws of nature to allow shinobi receiving this treasure to increase their potential. Elders who had peaked at elite jonin realm, were now in a semi-kage level realm of strength, with at least one attribute at the S- rank. For the rest of the clan, it also had major implications. Some talentless civilians became genins. Others managed to become chunins, and the rate of jonins and elite jonins exceeded all expectations.
Otogakure was a strong force in terms of sheer numbers, but in terms of quality, it was unmatched.
As Danzo finished reading the weekly report on his table, he got up and looked to the small garden of his villa. His wife, seeing he had finished his work for the morning, hurried and embraced him widely.
Blushing, she muttered: "Juuni can throw shurikens already...Even by Hebikaze and Shimura's standards, this is fast!"
Danzo muttered. His son, Juuni, was already displaying potential as a shinobi. However, he was not the only heir of Otogakure. Two younger brothers had joined the family of five. Hyaku, the middle child, could speak at just four months, making him an intellectually gifted child. The youngest, Roku, had inherited the Hebikaze's bloodline release, his eyes resembling that of snakes.
"Good. I know they are children, but they are the future of Oto. Do not slack off on personal training either, Harumi. You are not just my wife and my children's mother. You are also a kunoichi of Otogakure who received the honour of becoming its second jinchuriki"
Harumi nodded, smiling slightly. Although Danzo's words did bring her back to reality, she knew that this piece of heaven could go overnight. Otogakure was growing fast, but this was no reason to grow complacent. Even Iwagakure, despite its recent losses against Konohagakure, could threaten the livelihood of Otogakure if they decided to commit.
Seeing that Danzo was slightly worried, she asked: "Did something happen?"
Danzo stared at his wife, then sighed: "You know me too well...Actually, yes. I received a message yesterday"
"A message? Did someone managed to infiltrate Otogakure", Harumi hissed, her massive chakra desperately searching for spies
"What do you think?", Danzo shook his head, "With Yukiko's senses and Byakuro's sound barrier, there is no way any shinobi could ever sneak up to our house undetected. Even if they are skilled, Otogakure has three specialties: Fuinjutsu, Kenjutsu and sensors. Among fuinjutsu masters, some specialize in detecting shinobi. They would have to bypass an army of sensors to reach me"
"So..."
"Yes. The only person capable of contacting me would have to use a special frequency of sound, the only device in the hands of the Rice Daimyo Nashi. He has conveyed a proposal from Sunagakure"
"What does Sunagakure want? In the past three years, they have been conducting trade with our village in an honest manner. They even shared wind jutsu, expanding our database which had massive benefits for our men"
"The Second Kazekage died in battle, a young man from the Sand Clan rising. Rumors have him possess a rare bloodline limit, and he is fairly strong. A Kage-level figure, at the very least. Sunagakure has gained a lot of terrain over the past three years, and they are aiming at more. They want us to supply them weapons"
"Weapons? But...This is a dangerous sector. Once we begin supplying them with weapon, all the other villages will turn their interest to our village"