They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 171 The Ninja World is More Than Just Fighting and Killing!

"The Hidden Mist Ninja Academy's 38-Year International Student Recruitment Plan".

As Akiba Masanobu looked at the document, his mind raced with thoughts, constantly trying to guess Hozuki Shingetsu's ideas.

The five words "exchange student at the ninja academy" were originally easy to understand, but they puzzled Akiba Masanobu.

Is this the international student he imagined?

"Yes, that's the international student you imagined."

Looking at the dazed Akiba Masanobu, Hozuki Shingetsu confirmed his guess.

However, Hozuki Shingetsu's words made Akiba Masanobu's brain turn into mush, rendering him unable to think.

Although he knew that Hozuki Shingetsu had many outrageous ideas in his mind, this was just too unconventional, wasn't it?

That's the only ninja academy in Kirigakure that's openly recognized as a place to train ninjas!

Although this ninja academy only trains civilian ninjas and generally does not teach advanced ninjutsu knowledge, it is still the foundation of the village and the only military academy of Kirigakure!

These military academies recruited foreign students, which meant that foreign ninjas were trained at the school and then released back home after they completed their studies.

This back and forth not only creates a potential rival for one's future, but also carries the risk of leaking information about Kirigakure!

After all, although the ninja academy treats these civilian ninjas as cannon fodder, it still has to teach them the most basic tactical coordination, intelligence gathering, and wilderness survival skills.

If someone were to study these most basic tactical skills of Kirigakure, they might actually cause Kirigakure a great deal of trouble!

Although he always obeyed Hozuki Shingetsu's orders without question, he hesitated unusually when faced with this command.

"What, are you worried there's something wrong with it?"

When Hozuki Shingetsu realized that Akiba Masanobu hadn't left but was standing there dumbfounded, he quickly understood his worries and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Are you afraid these international students will become a source of trouble for Kirigakure?"

Seeing Akiba Masanobu's silence, Hozuki Shingetsu became even more certain of his guess.

However, he felt no anger at Akiba Masanobu's hesitation; on the contrary, he was somewhat pleased.

As his power and status grew, coupled with his past achievements, more and more people listened to him and regarded him as a god.

Without considering whether his orders were reasonable or truly perfect, this approach has both advantages and disadvantages.

The good thing is that Hozuki Shingetsu's prestige is growing day by day, and the village's power is increasingly gravitating towards him.

The downside is that no one can point out his shortcomings, since no one is perfect and everyone has flaws, and the same goes for policies.

When blind worship of people begins to spread, it often means the arrival of something out of control.

Hozuki Shingetsu naturally understood this principle, so he was quite pleased with Akiba Masanobu's hesitation.

He may not listen to Hozuki Shingetsu, but you can't just ignore his advice!

Driven by this idea, Hozuki Shingetsu unusually explained to Akiba Masanobu why he did what he did.

"Have you read this intelligence report?"

Looking at the intelligence report held up by Hozuki Shingetsu, Akiba Masanobu nodded.

This was the same document he had placed on Hozuki Shingetsu's desk. It was a report describing how the four major ninja villages were now turning against smaller ninja villages and clans in order to regain their strength.

"This intelligence is from three days ago; the situation in the ninja world must be even more chaotic now."

Looking at the huge map of the ninja world hanging on the wall, Hozuki Shingetsu said calmly, "When I drafted that contract, I foresaw the current situation."

"In order to restore their strength, under the non-interference treaty, each ninja village will inevitably purge the various forces within its sphere of influence. And this is precisely our opportunity."

"Chance?"

Akiba Masanobu looked down at the ninja academy's international student recruitment plan in his hand, and a look of confusion appeared on his face.

"That's nothing more than spending a fortune to attract foreign influence! If you want to truly understand the meaning of this plan, you have to read it in conjunction with this document."

As Hozuki Shingetsu spoke, he handed over a document from his hand.

"A recruitment notice?"

Akiba Masanobu muttered something to himself, then began to look through the document.

"Although we agreed not to interfere in matters within the territories of other ninja villages, those smaller ninja villages and clans have voluntarily sent people to my Hidden Mist Village, so it's none of my business, right?"

While Akiba Masanobu was reviewing the documents, Hozuki Shingetsu spoke, partly explaining and partly clarifying his own thoughts:

"However, even though Kirigakure can do the best in propaganda, there still needs to be examples of this."

"Given the current widespread impact on small ninja villages and clans in the ninja world, I believe those who are interested have already guessed the meaning of the agreement we signed back then. I estimate that many eyes are now watching us to see how we deal with the small ninja villages and clans within our sphere of influence."

"Therefore, unlike the Uzumaki and Tsuchigumo clans, we need new examples to attract these forces."

"If we do a good enough job, given the risk of our clan being wiped out, those small ninja villages and clans in other countries will definitely make contact with us, and then..."

Hozuki Shingetsu turned around, looked in the direction of the other four major ninja villages to the west, and sneered.

How could he not leave himself a way out when he devised his own plan and thought out the contents of the contract himself?

Even the contract included more than one possible escape route!

The Eastern Continent, which wasn't marked on the original map, is like this, and so is this current plan!

Moreover, this plan requires them to drive its implementation and create momentum so that they can reap the benefits.

"Why not take the initiative and wait for the rabbit to run into the tree stump?"

"Ninjas aren't just about fighting and killing!"

After reading the "recruitment order," Akiba Masanobu closed his eyes and pondered for a while, thinking about the underlying logic in his mind. However, when he opened his eyes, there was still a look of doubt.

"But recruiting ninjas from smaller ninja villages as exchange students doesn't mean we can expect them to be completely subservient to us. To achieve the desired effect, we need their genuine cooperation. They're probably hoping to get something for nothing from us, so how can they possibly cooperate sincerely?"

"Therefore, there are status standards for the admission of international students."

Hozuki Shingetsu looked at Akiba Masanobu with a mysterious smile on his face.

"We only accept children from high-ranking members of small ninja villages and clans as international students, and we promise them that their children will receive the same treatment as ninjas from my Hidden Mist Village!"

"This means that their children can learn advanced ninjutsu that other ninja villages don't have, witness tactics and battles they've never seen before, build connections they've never made before, and enjoy Kirigakure's ninja promotion system!"

Hozuki Shingetsu lightly tapped the table with his fingers, as if striking Akiba Masanobu's chest with a heavy hammer, causing his words to involuntarily penetrate into Akiba Masanobu's mind.

"So in this situation, I'm really looking forward to their choice."

"Given uncertainty about one's child's talent, which is more important: the ninja village or the child's future?"

(End of this chapter)