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

Chapter 174 Ocean-Wide Ninja Alliance & Recruitment Order (Completed by Riwan)

Since Kirigakure held its peace talks and the four great nations shook hands and made peace, Hozuki Shingetsu and Kirigakure's reputation in the ninja world has skyrocketed, whether actively or passively.

Titles such as "Number One Peace Ambassador of the Ninja World" and "Founder of the International Ninja Alliance" have also been bestowed upon Hozuki Shingetsu.

Especially a month after the end of this peace truce meeting, although things were peaceful among the five great nations of the ninja world, all the smaller forces and ninja villages that were close to the four nations of fire, lightning, earth, and wind were affected to varying degrees by the other four great ninja villages.

Correspondingly, Kirigakure, the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water, which has not taken any additional action until now, has gained even greater prestige in the ninja world.

Until... the convening of the Ocean Ninja Alliance Inauguration Conference made the nations of the ninja world realize that Kirigakure was not inactive, but rather had chosen a more moderate approach to win over the various forces neighboring the Land of Water.

As stated in the declaration of the founding of the Ocean Ninja Alliance:

Kirigakure adheres to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, unswervingly follows the path of peaceful development, and is committed to an open strategy of mutual benefit and win-win results.

Kirigakure is willing to establish and develop friendly and cooperative relations with all forces on the basis of peace and mutual benefit, and promote the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

At the same time, Kirigakure actively participates in multilateral affairs and ninja world governance, promoting the international order towards a more just and reasonable direction...

-

"Our Hidden Mist Village has been quite lively lately!"

"That's not it. A while ago, the other four major ninja villages came to my Hidden Mist Village to attend a meeting chaired by Lord Shingetsu. Now, various small ninja villages and forces from the surrounding area are coming to my Hidden Mist Village to participate in the establishment of some kind of Ocean-wide Ninja Alliance..."

"Yes! Ever since that traitor started enforcing the 'closed-door' treaty, our Hidden Mist Village hasn't been this lively in a long time! We're so lucky to have Lord Shingetsu!"

On the main street of Kirigakure, several villagers looked at the foreign ninjas coming and going with expressions of pride.

"It seems Hozuki Shingetsu has quite a reputation in Kirigakure!"

For a ninja, having sharp hearing and keen eyesight is the most basic requirement.

These whispers on the street naturally did not escape the ears of these foreign ninjas, and they gained a deeper understanding of Hozuki Shingetsu's reputation in Kirigakure.

As mentioned on the street, in the private agreement among the five great nations, the leaders of more than ten factions belonging to the sphere of influence of Kirigakure in the Land of Water have arrived in Kirigakure to discuss the details with Hozuki Shingetsu in person.

This includes information about the study abroad plans for the sons of various leaders, the level of benefits they can enjoy, the responsibilities that each leader should fulfill, and, most importantly for them at present, the allocation of funds.

This Ocean Ninja Alliance is a banner raised by Hozuki Shingetsu, a means to gather them together.

At that time, Kirigakure will use this transoceanic ninja alliance as a transit point to issue some instructions and mobilize personnel.

"Phew... another one's over. How many are left?"

In the Mizukage's office, Hozuki Shingetsu breathed a sigh of relief as he listened to the sounds fading away outside the door.

This kind of discussion with the leaders of various ninja villages about how they will "sell out" their own interests to support their own children is something that can't be done in a large meeting in front of everyone.

Moreover, since each family has its own unique characteristics, Hozuki Shingetsu will definitely need to personally contact them and discuss each matter privately and face-to-face.

These dozen or so factions, including exchanging pleasantries, discussing details, and finalizing the types and quantities of goods to be bought and sold, would each take at least an hour.

It's fair to say that these past few days, Hozuki Shingetsu has either been discussing things with people or on his way to discuss them.

"...In order, there are still three leaders of the factions who have not been met."

Akiba Masanobu glanced at the schedule and replied to Hozuki Shingetsu.

"Three families...that's quick enough. Let's keep up the good work and try to finish it all today!"

"What's wrong, Zhengxin? You seem to want to say something?"

Hozuki Shingetsu noticed that Akiba Masanobu seemed hesitant to speak, so he took the initiative to ask him.

Seeing that he had been discovered by Hozuki Shingetsu, he stopped hiding his thoughts and spoke his mind directly: "It's nothing... I'm just a little worried about the money."

"Each faction spends anywhere from 200 million to 400 million. These dozen or so factions combined have spent nearly 5 billion. Five or six years ago, that was equivalent to our Hidden Mist Village's annual military expenditure..."

"Although we extorted a lot of money from the daimyo in the past, and made a fortune selling war supplies during the recent Shinobi World War, it still hurts to take out such a large sum of money now..."

Hozuki Shingetsu chuckled to himself, thinking it was something serious, but it turned out to be just this.

"To achieve great things, don't worry about these small details. Money is meant to be spent! Don't worry about these bottles and jars; you can always make more!"

"Besides, you know our original plan: to gradually erode those forces, secretly transform them into military forward bases for our Hidden Mist Village, and use them as models to attract ninja clans and villages from all over the ninja world..."

As Hozuki Shingetsu finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something and quickly asked Akiba Masanobu, "What is the current situation in the ninja world?"

"They've gone even crazier than they did a month ago. In the past month alone, at least five more ninja clans have disappeared from the ninja world."

When Akiba Masanobu said this, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He obviously did not expect that the four great ninja villages would be so shameless, wiping out one village at a time every month, and frantically devouring the alien forces within their sphere of influence.

"So, it seems that in another year, they'll have finished consuming all the 'food' within their own territory?"

Hozuki Shingetsu calculated the speed and came to this conclusion.

"In that case... Zhengxin, that 'recruitment order' can be issued now!"

These days, the various small factions in the ninja world are living in constant fear, terrified that one day a major ninja village will come knocking on their door and wipe them out for some reason.

In this context, Hozuki Shingetsu's "moderate" policy toward the various smaller factions within his sphere of influence undoubtedly provided those smaller factions with a way out.

"Remember, the key is to deliver this message to ninja clans that possess bloodline limits, such as the Blood Dragon Eye or Red Eye clans. Let them know our Hidden Mist Village's attitude towards these smaller forces!"

Watching Akiba Masanobu's departing figure as he accepted the order, Hozuki Shingetsu was also filled with excitement.

This kind of situation, where someone else sets the stage while he performs, is truly...

cool!

(End of this chapter)