Chapter 149: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Grand General Protector of the Fire Country
The Fire Country Capital. The Grand Council Chamber.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked slowly into the hall. On either side of the aisle stood
the real power players of the nation—the high-level bureaucrats and hereditary
nobles who managed the Fire Country's central hubs and provinces.
As soon as he entered, the Daimyo, Kyojo Moto, practically sprinted down from
his high throne. He grabbed Hiruzen's hands, his voice intentionally loud enough
to echo through the chamber: "Big Brother! You've finally arrived!"
"Over the last few days, some 'Naturally Evil' individuals with foreign ties
have been spreading dissent. I was furious! How is everything on your end?"
When Madoka Masamune and his small faction of opposition nobles had begun their
public condemnation of Konoha, Moto had been terrified. He was worried Hiruzen
would see this as a sign of his own incompetence—or worse, a "Black Swan"
conspiracy between the Daimyo and the nobility to undermine the village.
Just as he was reaching a state of panic, Hiruzen had sent a letter: "We are
family, Moto-kun. Our blood and our future are linked. Use this as a 'Strategic
Window' to flush out the rats. I can handle the pressure. I'm coming to the
Capital to provide 'Diplomatic Support' and speak with the nobility myself."
Moto had summoned all his loyalists to the Capital immediately, waiting for
Hiruzen like a man waiting for a miracle.
"It's been a bit 'noisy' back home, but everything is within my 'Control
Metrics'," Hiruzen said with a calm smile.
Moto led him toward the high platform. Hiruzen noticed that the throne wasn't
the usual solitary seat; it was the long, rectangular settee they had shared
during their private talks in the inner palace.
"Big Brother, please, sit!" Moto said, patting the seat. He didn't care about
the confused murmurs of the nobles below. "We agreed to sit here together!"
"I appreciate the gesture, Little Brother," Hiruzen said softly, "but this is
your 'Primary Jurisdiction,' and this is official business." He gestured for
Moto to sit, while he himself stepped behind the throne, resting his hands on
the backrest.
"Gentlemen—" Hiruzen began.
In that instant, the air in the room seemed to solidify. A wave of invisible
[Authority] washed over the chamber. A refined application of the Earth Style:
Added-Weight Rock Technique created a localized "Gravity Field," making the
nobles' hearts skip a beat and their shoulders slump under a sudden, heavy
pressure.
The noise vanished instantly. No one dared move. They couldn't tell if this was
a high-level jutsu or simply the raw aura of the Prophet-Teacher.
My control over the 'Gravity Metrics' is becoming quite precise, Hiruzen
thought, completing his final "training session" of the day using the nobility
as test subjects.
"I am Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage of Konoha," he continued. "I believe everyone
here has been monitoring the 'Conflict Metrics' surrounding Uchiha Yashiro's
mission failure. Whether you are a loyalist standing with the Daimyo or someone
with 'Alternative Motives,' I welcome you. I personally view everyone in this
room as a 'Stakeholder' in the Fire Country's prosperity."
The nobles began to listen intently. This wasn't a "Warmonger" Hokage; this
sounded like a high-level bureaucrat.
"To resolve this crisis and prevent future 'Operational Failures,' we must find
the root cause," Hiruzen said, his voice smooth and authoritative. "The cause
lies in the ancient, distorted relationship between the nobility and the
shinobi—the very reason the 'Ninja Code' was written centuries ago."
"Lord Daimyo, would you care to analyze why the 'Ninja Code'—which treats
shinobi as mere tools—has been the industry standard for hundreds of years?"
The atmosphere turned oppressive. These nobles knew that the only reason ninjas
hadn't overthrown them was a complex, fragile "Balanced Master" arrangement that
had lasted through sheer momentum. They feared that today was the day the
"Tools" would finally rebel.
Moto cleared his throat. "From a civilian administrative perspective, it's
because shinobi possess uncontrollable violence. You are a 'Strategic Risk.'
Therefore, the Code was designed to socially and psychologically 'De-humanize'
you, turning you into standardized tools to mitigate that risk."
The nobles gasped. Moto, why are you being so blunt?! You're going to trigger an
'Extreme' response!
"The Daimyo is correct," Hiruzen said, calming the room with a wave of his hand.
"And I don't blame you. Historically, that was the only logical 'Risk
Management' strategy. Ninjas were used for one thing: Slaughter. No matter how
talented a shinobi was, their 'Utility' was locked into the cycle of war. As
rulers, your instinct was to standardize and compartmentalize that power to
prevent it from 'Leaking' into your domestic life. Am I right?"
Hiruzen smiled. "I manage Konoha. While my population isn't as vast as your
provinces, I am still a Governor. We are colleagues in the same 'Market'."
The nobles were floored. This wasn't a ninja talking; this was a "Strategic
Realist" peer.
"But, gentlemen, the 'Market' has changed. Or rather, the Fire Country's ninjas
have upgraded their 'Product Line'!"
"You have all experienced the Sovereign Sage Pills. You have felt the medical
'ROI' in your own bodies. Konoha's shinobi are no longer just tools of
destruction; they are 'High-Tech Talent' capable of applying chakra to medicine,
agriculture, and infrastructure. And we are just getting started."
"However," Hiruzen's tone shifted, "as long as rival villages remain focused on
'Naturally Evil' warmongering, Konoha must maintain its [Military] superiority.
Security is the foundation of all 'Economic Development'."
The nobles nodded, their fear replaced by greed and interest. The
Prophet-Teacher wasn't flipping the table; he was offering a "Merger."
"Under this new paradigm, treating ninjas as 'Brainless Tools' is an outdated
'Business Model'," Hiruzen said. "We need a deep, symbiotic relationship. The
old, distorted system where we fear and resent each other must be
'Decommissioned' and thrown into the trash heap of history!"
Moto chimed in excitedly, "Big Brother, I've been waiting for this 'Strategic
Alignment'!"
"To show our commitment," Hiruzen announced, "Konoha has increased the
production of Sovereign Sage Pills by 50%, and we've upgraded the 'Vitality
Metric' of the formula by 30%. Furthermore, we are lowering the wholesale price
for Fire Country nobles by 1%."
The room erupted. A 30% boost in potency and a price drop?
"I view you as partners," Hiruzen said, his voice tinged with a "Heart-Killing"
sincerity. "Konoha makes a profit, yes, but we only seek 'Reasonable ROI.' As
our 'Manufacturing Efficiency' improves, it is only fair that we pass those
savings to our loyal 'Brand Partners'. The Sage Pills are our way of nourishing
the elite who build this nation."
The nobles looked at Hiruzen with a new sense of awe. This Hokage was... too
honest. Too pure. He was a monopoly holder who actually cared about his
customers' wallets?
Moto added, "Distribution of the pills will continue to be based on your
'Governance Performance Reviews.' The Hokage and I want you to focus on civilian
prosperity without 'Health Risks' holding you back."
"And let me be clear—" Moto's voice turned cold. "If anyone sabotages this
'Strategic Opportunity' for their own 'Naturally Evil' ambitions, I will strike
them down with the full weight of the state!"
Hiruzen then addressed the Uchiha Yashiro incident.
"Our audit shows this was a 'Low-Probability' event involving a mysterious,
high-level interceptor. However, it is a warning. To protect our 'National
Synergy,' I am proposing the following updates to the Mission Protocols:"
1. Full Insurance: For all 'Escort' missions, items will be assigned a 'Market
Value.' If damaged, Konoha will provide 100% financial compensation.
2. Refund Policy: If a mission fails due to non-negligent circumstances, Konoha
will refund double the deposit.
3. Security Guarantee: For military-grade missions, the 'Will of Fire' is our
contract. We do not retreat. We are establishing a 'Sovereign Compensation
Fund' to protect your interests.
The Daimyo stood up. "Big Brother, you are being too generous. These men are
wealthy. Instead of a price cut, shouldn't we reinvest that capital into your
R&D to accelerate the next 'Tech Upgrade'?"
The nobles immediately agreed. They didn't care about a 1% discount; they wanted
the "Second Life" technologies Hiruzen had teased—organ regeneration and limb
reattachment.
"I only wanted to show my 'Sincerity'," Hiruzen sighed, looking like a man who
carried the world's weight.
"Lord Hokage! We see your sincerity!" one noble shouted. "We don't need a
discount! This is a critical growth period for our nation! We should be
increasing our investment!"
"I want to make a donation!" another cried. "Three hundred million Ryo for the
R&D Wing!"
Hiruzen waved them down. "No, no... let's not let 'Competitive Gifting' ruin our
relations. Let's cap individual donations at one million Ryo. Your true
contribution is managing your lands and stimulating the 'Macro-Economy' so that
the increased tax revenue can be funneled back into Konoha. That is the only
sustainable 'Positive Loop'."
The chamber broke into thunderous applause.
"I propose a new title," Moto announced, his eyes shining. "Lord Hokage should
be officially recognized as the Grand General Protector of the Fire Country!"
"He shall have direct access to the National Treasury for matters of security
and public welfare. He shall have the [Authority] to audit and 'Decommission'
any provincial noble found harboring 'Naturally Evil' intent against the state's
stability!"
The nobles roared in unison: "SO MOTE IT BE!"
This move effectively integrated the Hokage into the national management tier.
By calling him "General," the nobles could mentally categorize him as "One of
Us" rather than an external threat.
Hiruzen bowed slightly. "I will use this power with 'Strategic Restraint.' The
governance of the people remains in your hands, my colleagues."
As Hiruzen walked out of the hall to the chants of "General Hiruzen!" and "Grand
General Sarutobi!", the Fire Country had officially entered a new era of
"National Synergy."
As the crowd dispersed, a minor member of the Madoka clan—the "Naturally Evil"
opposition—approached Moto. His name was Ichikyu Madoka.
"Lord Daimyo," Ichikyu whispered, kneeling. "The rest of my clan has no part in
Madoka Masamune's treason. I have here a 'Data Dump' of his illegal dealings
with foreign entities over the last decade."
Moto smiled. A smart rat knows when to switch ships.
"I've decided," Moto told Hiruzen later. "I'll pay the Madoka clan for the
broken mirror... by giving them my own ancestral mirror from the palace. A
mirror is just 'Hardware.' My bond with the Prophet-Teacher is the 'Core
Software' of this nation."
Back in Konoha.
The High Commission meeting was still in a deadlock. Orochimaru sat with his
chin on his hand, looking bored. Without Hiruzen, the "Conflict Metrics" were
spiraling.
Danzo was currently in the middle of a "Hardline" rant. "Any ninja who fails a
mission is a waste of 'Military Assets'! They should be 'Decommissioned'
immediately!"
The door creaked open.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in, his expression serene. He picked up right where
Danzo left off: "Is that so, Danzo? I wonder if you remember the time we were
both on the Second Lord's 'Shadow Guard' detail... and you hesitated?"
☆☆☆
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