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

Chapter 172 Public Rule or Family Rule? (Two Chapters Combined)

For a leader of a power, is his own power more important, or the future of his own children?

For leaders of major ninja villages or powerful factions with great ambitions, the question of power is undoubtedly more important.

But what about those small ninja villages and clans?

Public property will always belong to the public, but what you can hold in your own hands is what truly matters!

Especially for ninjas, if they want to improve, they need the support of advanced secret techniques, the accumulation of extensive knowledge and experience, and the guidance of excellent teachers.

These three things are precisely what the small ninja villages and clans lack the most.

Now, Kirigakure has just provided such an opportunity—an opportunity to use their power and public resources to fight for a bright future for their children. How could this not tempt the leaders of those smaller factions?

Under a system of public ownership, one may no longer be the leader of a power after a few decades, but the resources one's children receive are real and can be maintained or even passed down forever.

The difference between these two figures is more than hundreds of millions.

Therefore, Hozuki Shingetsu had already anticipated the choices of those small ninja village leaders the moment this plan was proposed.

After all, back in the 1990s, those state-owned factories that were "poorly managed" or "forced to be transferred" were objective realities.

Having learned from these past mistakes, Hozuki Shingetsu naturally anticipated their choices.

"Alright, call all your foreign affairs department men over here. They've got a big job for them this time!"

After giving a brief explanation, Hozuki Shingetsu arranged for Akiba Masanobu to send someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Their purpose was simple: to use the condition of sending the children of the village's high-ranking members to study in Kirigakure as a way to instigate them to betray their own interests, they had to send a few eloquent people to entice them.

Given Hozuki Shingetsu's current status and position, it would be too beneath him to go to these small ninja villages. It just so happens that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been training people during this period, so sending these guys to these small ninja villages and minor forces is a good idea.

It's a good opportunity to gain experience, so that the huge Hidden Mist Village doesn't lack professional diplomats and he, the dignified leader of Hidden Mist Village, has to do these small tasks himself.

-

The Land of Hot Water, the Village of Hot Water Ninja.

The Land of Hot Water is located in the northeast of the Ninja World continent. This country is small and sparsely populated, and it does not have any special resources. It was originally an unknown little country in the Ninja World.

However, thanks to the numerous hot spring landscapes in the country, under the leadership of a certain daimyo, the land of hot springs promoted its tourism industry by highlighting its unique hot spring baths, and it really made a name for itself.

Nowadays, it can be said to be a famous tourist destination in the ninja world, making a fortune thanks to the constant flow of tourists.

As a result, the country as a whole did not pay much attention to military force. Under the influence of this trend, the village of Tangren also indulged in pleasure and neglected training. As a result, it could not even eradicate the evil cult organization, the Evil God Cult, within its own territory. It could only pretend not to see it and let it develop.

However, on this day, the usually relaxed and peaceful Yu Ninja Village was unusually filled with a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

In the ninja village leader's office, the current leader of Yu Ninja Village is discussing the intelligence they have just received with the village elders.

"According to intelligence, two days ago, Kumogakure took all the ninjas, their families, secret techniques, and other resources from Frost Village back to Kumogakure under the pretext that 'the ninja world is in turmoil and they need to be concentrated for protection.'"

The Land of Frost is not far from the Land of Hot Springs. The Frost Village and the Hot Spring Village have even clashed for various reasons, and there are many contradictions between them. Therefore, the Hot Spring Village pays special attention to the Frost Village, and the information is transmitted very quickly.

However, the people present were not discussing this news with a gloating attitude.

Instead, they listened to their leader's report with serious expressions, their faces solemn, their minds seemingly preoccupied with their own thoughts.

The leader of the Land of Hot Water threw the intelligence report in his hand onto the table, glanced at the elders sitting upright but silent in front of him, and felt a surge of resentment.

They were so talkative when they were fighting for power, why are they so quiet now?

"According to intelligence, this is the fifth small force in the ninja world to disappear in the past month."

After a long while, one of the elders finally spoke.

These words seemed to open a floodgate of conversation, and the other elders echoed their sentiments:

"Indeed, just a week ago, Hana-gakure was destroyed by Iwa-gakure, and now Frost-gakure has caught the eye of Kumo-gakure..."

"Sigh, ever since Konoha took the lead a month ago by taking away the Tobita clan, who were living on the border of the Land of Fire, the other major ninja villages have also started to deal with the smaller ninja villages and clans within their borders. This ninja world is truly in turmoil!"

"I really can't understand it. All the major ninja villages signed the peace and truce agreement with Kirigakure, and even invited us to join that international ninja organization. I never expected that after a month, the ninja world would not only not be peaceful, but would undergo such a change."

This group of people started to expand on this information, but no one mentioned what the Yu Ninja Village should do.

The leaders watched as this group of old men complained without offering any useful advice. As they thought about the possible fate of Tangren Village, their anger grew even stronger.

"There's no peace in the ninja world? I doubt it. Aren't the Five Great Nations quite peaceful?"

The elders present glanced at him and asked him, puzzled, what he meant by that.

"Now, apart from Kirigakure, the other major ninja villages have all tacitly attacked their own smaller forces in such a short period of time. I don't believe this is a coincidence. They must have already reached a secret agreement."

The leader glanced at the group of elders and said with a sneer, "In terms of distance, we are the closest to Kirigakure. Although Kirigakure hasn't made a move yet, no one is stopping them from annexing us. How could they possibly refuse such a good thing?"

"Even if they haven't attacked us before for various reasons, they will definitely do so in the near future. I just want to ask everyone here, what will you do then? Will you fight or surrender?"

Upon hearing this, the elders present all showed expressions of panic, as if a lie had been exposed.

"How could that be! What you just said was just your own speculation. How could the Five Great Ninja Villages possibly sign such a private, non-interference expansion agreement?"

An elder hurriedly retorted.

"That's right, it's all just a coincidence. How could something so absurd happen? Given the mutual hostility of the Five Great Ninja Villages, how could they just sit idly by and watch others expand without doing anything?"

Seeing the farce unfolding before him because he had exposed the truth, the leader of Tangren Village couldn't help but feel a shift from anger to sorrow.

This is the current state of Tangren Village, and these are the elders of Tangren Village!

For a long time, these elders have relied on the prosperity brought by the hot spring tourism industry, which has caused them to gradually lose the blood and professionalism of ninjas. Now all that remains is their nature of playing tricks and fighting for power.

As the saying goes, "If the top does not set an example, the bottom will follow suit." Today, Tang Ninja Village is gradually changing from a ninja village and even starting to resemble a commercial company.

This is undoubtedly a sad thing for a leader who still has some ideals in his heart.

However, just as this scene of various characters was unfolding in the leaders' meeting room, a voice from outside the door came from the guards, which they tried to suppress but still revealed their panic.

"Chief, an envoy from Kirigakure has arrived outside."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the conference room instantly became as if frozen in ice, falling into a deathly silence.

Not only did the elders show panic on their faces, but even the leader of Tangren Village couldn't help but reveal a look of shock in his eyes.

Although he just said that Yugakure might become Kirigakure's target in the near future, that was just to scare the elders. How come the wolf actually came after all that crying wolf?

How many Kirigakure ninja are there outside the village?

The leader of Tangren Village suddenly thought of a question and quickly asked it.

If the number of Kirigakure ninja is greater, then there's not much to say. Given the strength difference between Kirigakure and Yugakure, they can simply surrender.

Without interference from outside forces, their ability to successfully hold off Kirigakure for three days is quite remarkable.

However, none of this makes any sense. Now that it's clear that the other four great ninja villages won't interfere, it's better to just give up and hope that Kirigakure will be mindful of their behavior and leave them a way out!

"Just the two of them."

Upon hearing this, the leader immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

This means that Kirigakure is not attacking them directly with force this time. Since the other party has expressed a willingness to negotiate, it is better than going to war directly.

"Thank goodness...please let them in!"

Before long, led by the guards, two Mist Ninja envoys walked in with their heads held high.

"You must be the leader of Tangren Village. Lord Xinyue has important matters to discuss with you. I hope that you will dismiss your attendants and prevent these irrelevant people from appearing here, in order to prevent the secrets from being leaked."

This assertive tone of preemptive strike based on strength is the only way for a powerful force to deal with a smaller one. It's clear that both of them took the first diplomatic lesson that Hozuki Shingetsu gave them to heart.

However, it was clear that everyone present was buying into this.

An elder stood up shakily, a smile on his face, and said, "We are all elders of Tangren Village, so we are not outsiders..."

"The orders I received from Lord Crescent Moon are to discuss important matters privately with the leader of Tangren Village. Are you saying we have to leave if you don't go out?"

A ninja messenger glanced sideways at the elder, his tone chilling.

"you……"

As an elder who held great power in Yuren Village, when had he ever been insulted like this?

He stood up angrily, wanting to say something, but then he saw the teardrop-shaped headband on the Mist Ninja's forehead, reflecting the dazzling sunlight, and his mind instantly cleared.

This is an envoy from Kirigakure, one of the five great ninja villages!

It should be noted that even the Hidden Mist Village, which was deeply embroiled in the "Blood Mist Chaos" a few years ago, could easily destroy the Hidden Hot Spring Village three times.

What's more, after a long period of recuperation, and just now, having gained fame in the ninja world because of that chakra cannon?

I'm afraid even without the legendary "Ninja Fox Demon" making a move, that chakra cannon alone could destroy Yugakure with a single shot.

"...Let's talk this over, let's go!"

He spoke the weakest words in the strongest tone while signaling the others to leave the conference room.

"A bunch of useless trash!"

Upon witnessing this scene, the leader of Tangren Village felt an even greater sense of disgust towards these old fogies.

If it weren't for this group of old codgers who only know how to bully their own kind and getting in his way, would he have been so constrained in his role these past few years?

"Alright, all the irrelevant people have now left. Chief, this is a letter from Lord Crescent Moon. Please take a look."

At this moment, the two suddenly became polite again, as if their previous arrogant demeanor had never existed.

As diplomatic elites nurtured by Hozuki Shingetsu, they are naturally well-versed in the skill of using attitude shifts to control the atmosphere.

Know when to be assertive and when to back down.

As expected, faced with the two men's arrogant yet obsequious manner, the leader of Yugakure Village was unsure of Kirigakure Village's intentions. He could only solemnly accept the letter with both hands, wanting to see what Hozuki Shingetsu had written in it.

As the letter unfolded, the leader's brow furrowed even more deeply.

Aside from the usual polite greetings at the beginning, Hozuki Shingetsu directly revealed in the letter the secret treaty between the five great ninja villages to divide the ninja world.

He bluntly stated that as the strength of the ninja villages grows, there will be more and more such annexation events in the future. Given the current size of the Tang Ninja Village, it is impossible for it to escape this wave.

After vividly illustrating the crisis facing Yugakure, Hozuki Shingetsu abruptly changed the subject, giving him two choices.

Either the Hidden Mist Village army arrives a week later and attacks the Hidden Hot Spring Village.

Or...

"The Hidden Mist Village Ninja Academy Study Abroad Program..."

The leader of Tangren Village looked at the letter in his hand and muttered to himself.

In his letter, Hozuki Shingetsu clearly stated that after his son graduated from the Ninja Academy, he would join Hozuki Shingetsu's personal guard and enjoy all the privileges of a Kirigakure ninja clan member, including advanced secret techniques and a promotion system.

The price for all of this was that, as the leader of Yugakure, he had to cooperate with Kirigakure in some of his actions.

For example, providing cover for some of the actions of the Hidden Mist Village ninjas, and unconditionally cooperating with the Hidden Mist Village in some personnel arrangements, etc.

Hozuki Shingetsu even stated explicitly in the letter that all his actions could be counted as points to secure a position for his son or even a high-level ninjutsu that could be passed down.

"Given the strength of Yugakure, it's already incredibly fortunate that you've become a Jonin. Can you guarantee that your son will succeed you?"

"Otherwise, are you just going to willingly watch your legacy and your children be driven around by others when you grow old?"

"Whether Tangren Village will be a public or private entity in the future depends on your choice."

(End of this chapter)