In Konoha, at the Hokage's Office.
Tsunade looked at the scroll in her hand, her brain also entering a brief state of shutdown. She looked down at the contents of the scroll, lost in a long silence.
This thing… can it really get past those three old men? Even she felt that Ryoho Kyohiko's idea was too bold.
Tsunade rubbed her temples and put down the scroll.
"Kyohiko, do you want to think about it again?"
Currently, the Third Hokage had gone to receive Yoshi Enji and couldn't come to a meeting, so for now it was just an internal discussion between her and Kyohiko. It hadn't reached the point of convening an important meeting with the jounin and advisors. But Kyohiko's strategy was too bold. If it were to be implemented, it would definitely require internal discussion. After all, Kyohiko's idea already involved the structural issues of the entire ninja system.
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
"It does need to be thought through carefully."
"This is a first draft, just for the Daimyo to see and get a general idea. Many things are not written in too much detail. If it's really to be implemented, it will definitely need to be detailed."
Tsunade became serious.
"For example?"
Ryoho Kyohiko's strategies rarely had problems, but many of his ideas were very bold, which was also true. She had to be cautious.
Ryoho Kyohiko asked.
"For example, this item. Your concern must be that the Guardian Shinobi will take up a large number of genin and chunin missions, and how genin and chunin should live in the future, right?"
Tsunade nodded.
"Although the Guardian Shinobi mostly involve the protection of the capital and the village, if it spreads, it will inevitably be used by the great clans and nobles, which will then squeeze our village's living space."
Ryoho Kyohiko asked back.
"Who will train the Guardian Shinobi?"
Tsunade pondered for a moment.
"We will."
A cold glint flashed in Ryoho Kyohiko's eyes.
"Then isn't that settled? The Guardian Shinobi training certainly isn't free. Don't they have to pay tuition? In addition, apart from the Daimyo's Guardian Shinobi, the rest will only be provided with basic instruction."
"If anyone violates the rules and has the Guardian Shinobi do things beyond their duties, we will sanction that family, so that their family will never again receive the support of Konoha."
Basic ninja abilities, even wandering ninjas knew them. The technical content was very low, and there wasn't much they could do. To put it bluntly, this was a business. The level of the Guardian Shinobi was definitely lower than that of real ninjas. Only the Guardian Shinobi around the Daimyo could compare to a jounin squad.
"How much is risking your life worth? The mine bosses are the ones with money!"
Tsunade pondered for a long time, looked at Ryoho Kyohiko, and realized his plan.
"The cooperation with Sunagakure, are you serious about it?"
Konoha's missions would move towards high-end and specialization, earning more bounty, instead of having everyone from genin to jounin risking their lives as they did now.
Ryoho Kyohiko answered.
"Of course, I am very serious. That kind of mission will be more dangerous, but our cooperation with Sunagakure is beneficial. Their Magnet Release is indeed more efficient than what I have researched."
Tsunade fell into deep thought. After half a minute, she asked again.
"Then what about the mid-level ninjas like genin and chunin?"
Ryoho Kyohiko answered.
"Hiring! Aren't some of the surrounding allied countries unable to build a ninja village? We will help them guard their country, so they can avoid being harassed by wandering ninjas. In addition, our village will give them missions…"
In fact, the village dispatching missions was already a common occurrence—most of the D-rank missions like fetching water and planting rice seedlings were subsidized by the village. The number of ninjas in Konoha was large, but compared to the rest of the shinobi world, when added up with other ninja villages, it was definitely far from enough. In the short term, this was the best expansion plan.
Tsunade vaguely felt there was a problem in it. Ryoho Kyohiko's goal was definitely not just to change the mission hierarchy of ninjas; there were more purposes. She knew Kyohiko. This kid took one step and looked three steps ahead. The previous Sunagakure mining plan had already affected the current ninja expansion plan. Step by step, it was hard to refuse.
"Sister, there's nothing to hesitate about. We have to take this step sooner or later."
Tsunade glanced at him.
"Alright, I'm the Hokage!"
This kid… what's the rush? If I don't ask clearly, how can I go and argue with the old men with a straight face later? Of course, these things certainly couldn't be brought to the table so crudely. She explained earnestly.
"I have to understand clearly so I can have meetings with others. Otherwise, going back and forth in meetings will affect efficiency!"
But… regarding ninja employment, she did remember one thing.
"Do you know about the Land of Tea?"
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
"Mm."
Tsunade changed to a more relaxed sitting posture.
"The Wasabi family of the Land of Tea, I'm quite familiar with them. After the incident in the Land of Waves, they once sent people to contact me to inquire if Konoha was willing to lease ninjas to the Land of Tea."
"But at that time, I was not yet the Hokage, and our strategy did not include the idea of mercenary ninjas, so I did not agree."
The Land of Tea and the Land of Fire were adjacent, the two countries were on good terms, and the country was relatively wealthy, but it had no ninja village inside. They had the ability to hire ninjas.
Ryoho Kyohiko nodded.
"If it's suitable, we can contact them after the Guardian Shinobi training is complete, lease a batch of ninjas to be stationed there, and set an example first. Then we can see the attitude of other ninja villages."
Many countries might not want to hire, it was just that no one was in this line of business. As for Kirigakure, although there was a precedent of hiring people for the Land of the Sea, the situation in the Land of the Sea was special, and the reputation of the Village of the Bloody Mist really couldn't make countries like the Land of Tea trust them. In comparison, Konoha was different. The good reputation accumulated from the First to the Third Hokage, plus the fame gained from the last war, was enough to make countries without ninja villages believe in Konoha.
Tsunade clenched her fists. If this could really be achieved, it would indeed be much more profitable than simple missions. It's just…
"That's not right!"
"What's not right?"
"I haven't agreed yet! How come we're already talking about what comes after?"
Tsunade rested her hands on the table, feeling that her previous words "I'm the Hokage" had no persuasive power at all, making it seem as if Ryoho Kyohiko were the Hokage.
She interjected, then sighed.
"But what you said makes sense. We can earn more high-end money and let go of the low-end, ordinary missions. Then we can share a part of the high profits with the genin…"
Tsunade already understood Kyohiko's plan. As for the next step, perhaps it was to prepare for the fight against Uchiha Madara, or perhaps for a larger expansion. If it was the latter… Tsunade thought of the past, when Kyohiko talked about the path to peace. Unifying the shinobi world! A grand and difficult goal to achieve. Looking at it now, Kyohiko had already started walking.
However, for now, it was only the second step, which was beneficial to Konoha. Whether to take the third step would depend on the future.
Thinking of this, Tsunade slammed the table and stood up.
"Alright, you supplement this proposal again. After it's supplemented, I'll go and speak for you, so you don't have to argue with them because you're young."
---
In the meeting room.
Utatane Koharu was the first to jump out again.
"Tsunade, are you crazy?"
This… is too crazy! One misstep could lead to another war, and at that time, the number of people Konoha would have to deal with would become even greater!
Mitokado Homura did not speak, but pondered the contents of the proposal. Guardian Shinobi. Loaning out ninjas. Entering the mining field, forming a one-stop supporting ninja service with Sunagakure. Seems feasible? A thought flashed through Mitokado Homura's mind.
Soon, he shivered all over. I actually think it can be implemented? Mitokado Homura himself was stunned for a while, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt there was no problem. Because… the current Konoha was strong!
Let's not talk about their generation of old folks. For high-end combat power, there were the Sannin, Namikaze Minato, and Ryoho Kyohiko. Below them, there were also various great clans as supplements, which added up to a force that was definitely not weak. In addition, there were Might Dai and Chen Baojun. In the next generation, Hatake Kakashi, Might Gai, and the others all showed their own outstanding talent and abilities. Looking further ahead, there were also many talented students in the Ninja Academy. Take Gekko Hayate for example. This child had not failed his mother's entrustment and was now very hardworking and diligent, his strength improving day by day. Then there was the development of the Flying Thunder God Formation… this jutsu gave Konoha the possibility of flexible support.
Konoha was very strong! So strong that if they didn't expand, just relying on the missions at hand, they wouldn't even need powerhouses like Namikaze Minato to handle all the mission requests.
Thinking of this, Mitokado Homura didn't even wait for Sarutobi Hiruzen to speak and said directly.
"I think this method is feasible!"
"Oh?"
Tsunade's eyes lit up, an unconcealable look of surprise on her face.
Isn't this Mitokado Homura? To hear a human sentence from the mouths of the three old stubborn ones without having to repeatedly persuade them several times. She almost thought she had misheard!
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his old friend, his eyes filled with unconcealable surprise. But then, he pondered for a moment and did not immediately refute. In these years, Mitokado Homura had been in charge of the Ninja Academy's work and might have a lot of understanding and considerations that he didn't know about. In terms of overall strength… he was still thinking, when Nara Shikaku also raised his hand.
"I also support it."
!!!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's train of thought was interrupted again.
He was still pondering. Nara Shikaku had already begun to analyze, but he was different from Mitokado Homura.
"Currently, the ninjas in our village who are on active missions account for forty percent of the total number of ninjas. Many ninjas are in an idle state."
"In the short term, there won't be much impact."
"But everyone, Kyohiko's education, the reform of the chunin and genin, and the constant innovation of various ninjutsu have had a considerable impact. Our Konoha's overall strength is still constantly improving."
"In the future, two, three, five years later, if there is no war, will this proportion become larger and larger?"
"These are just some of the data…"
Shikaku spoke eloquently. Mitokado Homura considered the current strength, while Shikaku also considered future growth, changes, and the future trend of Konoha. An increasing number of ninjas was also a problem—how to let ninjas have work and earn money was also a very serious issue. Relying solely on missions and commissions was definitely not enough.
Tsunade spoke of her own thoughts.
"In Kyohiko's words, the cake is only so big. Everyone can't always think about how to divide it. We also have to consider how to make it bigger and stronger, so that more people in our village can have a piece of the cake!"
Shikaku nodded.
"Yes, including the plan for the Cloud Village. Kyohiko's consideration is also to earn more and larger commissions, not just limited to the small commissions of the past."
Utatane Koharu was a little dazed. She… had never considered so much before. At this moment, after listening to Nara Shikaku's explanation, she couldn't help but also think that Kyohiko's plan was not bad and could indeed be included in the scope of consideration. Different angles naturally led to different answers.
Shikaku hesitated for a moment.
"Also, Kyohiko should also have considerations for gaining the support of the Daimyo and nobles, right? After all, we do need some easing of tensions between us and those people."
He looked at Tsunade. Kyohiko was not here. The one closest to Kyohiko was undoubtedly Tsunade.
Tsunade nodded lightly.
"Yes."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke a few words, looked up, and suddenly realized—he was no longer the Hokage of Konoha! He coughed lightly.
"I support the Guardian Shinobi, but before, I didn't support spreading the plate so wide. But your considerations also make sense…"
"Now, I support this plan. But, Tsunade, does he have other ideas?"
Like Tsunade, Sarutobi Hiruzen vaguely felt that Kyohiko's ideas were not so simple.
Tsunade said.
"That person's threat is now getting stronger and stronger. We must be prepared. As for the others, I don't know."
"Mm."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat back down.
Tsunade smiled.
"In that case, let's do it."
Easy! She stood up and walked towards the office, but soon, Shikaku followed from behind.
Tsunade entered the office, and Shikaku followed closely…
"No need to knock. Come in and close the door."
"Yes!"
Nara Shikaku nodded and then closed the door.
He said in a low voice.
"Hokage-sama, there is one thing I think I need to remind you and Kyohiko-kun about."
"What is it?"
Nara Shikaku said in a low voice.
"If we are to implement these plans, the Uchiha side still needs to be more stable. It would be best to talk to Fugaku's side and have him maintain stability."
Tsunade was thoughtful. Shikaku didn't spell it out, but she understood what he meant. If they were to expand, the internal situation had to be stabilized. This was indeed the key!
Her face was grave.
"Your reminder is very meaningful."
Shikaku answered.
"I think Kyohiko must have considered it too, but he just hasn't made a move yet. So… I thought I should still be a busybody and remind you."
From Kyohiko's previous actions, he vaguely felt that Kyohiko had some ideas about the Uchiha. As for the specific plan, he had too little information to say for sure.
Tsunade nodded, thanked him again, and asked for advice on other aspects. But in other aspects, Shikaku didn't have much advice or reminders, because Kyohiko's proposal was already quite perfect. The specific problems could only be seen after implementation.
However, just as he was about to leave, he turned back.
"Inside the Hyuga clan, has there been a lot of turmoil recently? Is everything alright?"
Once a prominent clan like the Uchiha or Hyuga had problems, it would definitely affect Konoha's strategic planning and future direction, so it had to be considered carefully.
Tsunade answered with a smile.
"Them? It's nothing. Hiashi and Hizashi can handle it."
She had heard some things about the Hyuga family before. Hiashi and Hizashi had already handled most of it. The rest were just grasshoppers after autumn, unable to jump for long. The current commotion was just that some of the main family members were unwilling.