Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

'It all depends on just how high our Tsuchikage's ambitions really are!'

Looking at the coastline of the Land of Earth, which was already so close, a faint look of contemplation appeared in Shoji's clear black and white pupils as he silently pondered in his heart.

A three- to four-day sea voyage.

Shoji successfully returned to the Land of Earth from the Land of Snow. Upon landing, he immediately headed south, heading straight back to his own ninja village.

On the way there, he still had to consider the normal progress of Hara no Masamune's group. On the way back, he only had Shoji. He unleashed his full speed and entered the territory under the actual control of Iwagakure in less than half a day.

Because he arrived at the northern port of the Land of Earth in the early morning, it was only dusk when Shoji returned to the village. After reporting his return to the village at the main gate, Shoji hurried along, heading straight for the Tsuchikage's office building.

As soon as Shoji arrived, Onoki learned of his return and was quite surprised that Shoji had ended his mission so many days early. You should know that the escort mission proposed by the Snow Country side had a time limit of a whole month, and with the travel time, it would take at least 40 days. Shoji only went out for 12 days!

This made Onoki immediately think that something unexpected had happened in the Land of Snow, causing the mission to fail. Although Shoji was very strong, the escort mission was different from other missions. His core purpose was to protect important people from harm.

It's not that having enough strength guarantees success in a mission. Lack of experience and carelessness can easily give the enemy an opening. After all, there's only one commander, so the probability of mission failure objectively exists.

However, the actual developments clearly far exceeded the expectations of this Third Tsuchikage.

"Lord Tsuchikage!"

He arrived at the Tsuchikage's office without any obstacles. After kneeling on one knee to greet Onoki, he stood up again.

"In this mission to the Snow Country..."

He then gave a concise and comprehensive report to Onoki about everything that had happened in the Land of Snow, including the beginning and end of the rebellion of Fuuka Nutō, and also reported to his Third Tsuchikage one by one the plans and arrangements he had in mind after the rebellion ended.

The focus is on the following two issues: first, the research plan for the chakra armor; and second, the issue of Iwagakure further infiltrating the Land of Snow, influencing and gradually controlling the entire Snow Village from within.

It can be said that after hearing these things from Shoji, Onoki's snow-white eyebrows instantly rose, and he looked at Shoji, who was calmly explaining these things in front of him, with a look of great surprise.

Although Onoki always thought he had overestimated this genius boy from the Uchiha clan, he never expected that since their first meeting, Shoji would continue to push the limits of Onoki's understanding.

Capacity, methods, mindset, strength, and overall perspective!

These things made Shoji look nothing like a fifteen-year-old boy. Some of them even exceeded Onoki's expectations. Not to mention the chakra armor, which could greatly enhance the overall strength of Iwagakure. For Iwagakure, it was something with extremely high strategic value!

Further, it involves the overall strategic arrangements of the Land of Snow, infiltrating, influencing, and ultimately controlling the Hidden Snow Village as an affiliated ninja village of the Hidden Stone Village, so that it can serve as a springboard for their village's operations in the great war that may break out in the future, thereby comprehensively covering the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water!

Although Shoji didn't explain these things very explicitly, given Onoki's intuition and experience, he could almost completely fill in the blanks for the Third Tsuchikage with just a few words from Shoji.

The more Onoki thought about it, the more feasible these arrangements seemed. His eyes were filled with admiration as he looked at Shoji. This was the kind of vision and magnanimity a leader should have!

Onoki was increasingly inclined to groom Shoji as the 'Kage' of Iwagakure. Although at this stage, Kyoto was still Onoki's top choice, if Shoji performed better in the future and brought more benefits to Iwagakure, Shoji would surely surpass Kyoto in the future and become Onoki's first choice of successor!

Of course, at this time, Shoji was unaware that he already held such a high position in Onoki's heart. He had certainly hoped for the position of 'Kage', but being a cautious man by nature, he would not consider such things when he felt it was impossible.

They steadily integrated into the village, gaining the recognition of the vast majority of people in Iwagakure through the strength and efforts of their clan.

This is what the commander should strive for most.

Such an attitude actually makes it easier for Shoji and the Uchiha clan to gain points.

As Onoki listened to Shoji's report and suggestions, his brain was working at high speed, considering how to arrange and operate the necessary configurations for these plans.

"With the capabilities of the Land of Snow, how could they possibly develop such high-level ninja equipment? Armor that can negate the power of B-rank ninjutsu—if ninjas were equipped with this, their combat capabilities would instantly be elevated to a whole new level!"

Onoki looked at the chakra armor he was holding, a hint of amazement in his eyes, and said.

That's why I said these small countries really shouldn't be underestimated. In many cases, they often come up with things that far exceed the expectations of the five great powers. Although these things are not enough to defeat the five great powers, if they fall into the hands of other countries that are also among the five great powers, it would undoubtedly be a disaster for the remaining four great powers. The chakra armor of the Land of Snow is a case in point!

Once all 18,000 active ninjas of Iwagakure are equipped with chakra armor, they will be able to fight against at least two times, or even more, opponents of equal skill in large-scale battles!

This is the strength of chakra armor, but that's just a figure of speech. After all, it's impossible for everyone in Iwagakure to wear chakra armor. Even if they were to manufacture hundreds of chakra armors, Onoki would have to consider it carefully.

It's simply because the manufacturing cost of the Chakra Armor is far too high!

192. Onoki, whose beauty grows more and more pleasing to the eye (Third update)

P.S.: If there are any typos or awkward sentences, please point them out, and I will definitely correct them if I see them!

Despite Iwagakure's large size and vast resources, including the ability to request additional supplies from the Land of Earth's daimyo, its expenses are still enormous as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Maintaining the normal operation of over 18,000 Iwagakure ninja and various village institutions requires the bulk of the village's expenditures!

The cost of the Chakra Armor can be clearly calculated from the research data from the Land of Snow that Tsukasa brought back. Even Onoki found it somewhat shocking; this was simply not equipment that ordinary people could afford.

"Yes, Third Hokage, that's why that Fuuka Nyutō only made five or six chakra armors. The cost was too high, and the special metal required is extremely rare in the Land of Snow. If we want to mass-produce chakra armor, we should try to find a special metal called 'lanthanum' that can be supplied in large quantities. Ideally, we should also reduce the manufacturing cost of the chakra armor and further improve its strength!"

Jiang Si nodded slightly, and said with a very serious expression, "The chakra armor I've encountered in this life is still too 'fragile'. Not to mention Jiang Si, even an elite Jonin from one of the five great ninja villages could destroy this armor with a little more effort. Although, in this respect, this chakra armor is already strong enough!"

But Shoji still felt that since there was room for improvement, they should try their best to tap into its potential. At the very least, it should reach the strength of the second-generation black chakra armor created by Fuuka Nutō after he served as the daimyo of the Land of Snow for ten years in the original work, right?

Once you reach that level, even a Jonin would find it very difficult to destroy!

"Therefore, I think it is very necessary to strengthen ties with the Land of Snow. They already have more experience and technology, which we can use to make improvements. Moreover, this technology can be used to break the balance of power among the five great nations, especially for our Hidden Stone Village. To the south is the Hidden Sand Village, to the southeast is the Hidden Leaf Village, and to the east is the Hidden Cloud Village. Surrounded by three sides, our geographical location is only slightly better than the Hidden Leaf Village. Once war breaks out, even if we gain an advantage on one battlefield, it will be difficult to further expand our gains!"

"Given that it's difficult to further elevate the quality and quantity of ninja training to a higher level, chakra armor can multiply our combat power. Initially, we don't need a large number; just equipping two or three thousand elite troops in the village with chakra armor will create an extremely powerful spearhead force! This will break the stalemate on the battlefield at crucial moments!"

Why did Kakashi personally go to the Land of Snow in the original work, but ultimately not bring this technology back to Konoha? Shoji didn't understand, nor did he care. In Shoji's opinion, although this technology had the disadvantages of extremely high cost and a very long manufacturing cycle, these disadvantages could be ignored and overcome in the face of its advantages!

During the Third Shinobi World War, Iwagakure killed the Third Raikage, who was arguably the strongest shinobi in the world at the time. Why didn't they take advantage of the situation and further expand their advantage? It was because they suffered too many losses in that battle, and most importantly, at that critical juncture, Konoha had also ended its battle with Kirigakure, and Sunagakure had already announced its defeat and withdrawn from the battlefield a year or two earlier.

Onoki wanted to press the attack, but he had to be careful about Sunagakure and Konoha in the south. Who knew if Sunagakure and Konoha would join in while Iwagakure was still fighting Kumogakure? Don't be fooled by the fact that the Land of Earth doesn't seem very rich; it's still comparable to the Land of Fire. Otherwise, why would Kumogakure fight Iwagakure?

Isn't it simply because there are benefits to be gained in the Land of Earth as well?

With its unfavorable geographical location and insufficient strength, Iwagakure was truly in a period of transition, forcing the Third Tsuchikage to halt the Third Shinobi World War. Otherwise, how could Kumogakure have withdrawn from the war so easily?

Not everyone is as 'eccentric' as the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Onoki was well aware of his village's weaknesses, which is why he took the risk of accepting the Uchiha clan to further strengthen the village. Shoji could see the same point and believed that if the Uchiha clan wanted to gain a firm foothold in Iwagakure and integrate into the village, they had to completely tie their interests to the village's interests!

We all prosper together! We all suffer together!

This is an adventurous act for their clan, but also an opportunity for them!

Shoji's painstaking planning for Iwagakure was essentially for himself, his family, and the Uchiha clan!

This is precisely what Onoki admires most about Shoji.

He was 100% certain that Uchiha Shoji was a man capable of great things, a trustworthy person who could be entrusted with important tasks in many aspects!

The Hidden Stone Village hasn't seen a person like this for two or three decades. The last one was their own son, Huang Tu, who showed exceptional talent at the age of ten. However, that talent was limited to ninja skills. In other aspects, let alone his peers, even now, Huang Tu is only slightly more experienced than Jiang Si. He is clearly inferior to Jiang Si in other aspects!

In terms of individual strength, although there has been no direct comparison, Onoki felt that Shoji would have a slight advantage. Of course, this also stemmed from the deep impression that Madara Uchiha's 'Mangekyou Sharingan' had left on Onoki. If Shoji were not still young and had not yet accumulated many combat achievements, Onoki would have felt that even if Shoji could not actually defeat his son, he should still be able to easily gain the upper hand.

So, honestly, Onoki is finding Uchiha Shoji increasingly pleasing to the eye. Thinking of the hundreds of Uchiha clan members now shining brightly in various roles within the village, Onoki is truly 'extremely grateful' to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and other high-ranking Konoha officials. Without the guidance of these 'wise men,' how could the Uchiha clan, especially geniuses like Shoji, have joined their Iwagakure village?

"It's not just that, is it? Also, considering the geographical location of the Snow Country, although it's a bit far, if we can 'deepen' our ties, it will definitely become one of our village's strongest allies in the future, won't it?"

Onoki smiled, his thick, red nose twitching slightly. He deliberately emphasized the words "deepen the connection," looking at Shoji with a meaningful gaze, and said with a smile.

193. Subsequent planning and maneuvering

Upon hearing Onoki's words, Shoji was initially startled, but then realized what he meant and shook his head with amusement. Although he hadn't been very direct in his words, he still had to consider who he was talking to.

Onoki, known as the Three-Taiwa, was the Third Tsuchikage who ruled Iwagakure for over thirty years. In terms of experience, vision, and strategy, few in the entire ninja world could compare. He could see through my little scheme at a glance, not to mention that the purpose in Shoji's explanation was already relatively clear and strong.

"Yes, as you said, this is a 'tiny' and insignificant arrangement. Although it carries a certain risk of exposure, in my opinion, even if it fails, it shouldn't cause too much damage to our Iwagakure village."

Jiang Si smiled lightly and replied.

Although doing this might seem to put Kazaka Hayate and the entire Land of Snow in a precarious position in the future, isn't this the typical survival situation or way of life for small countries in the current ninja world? The Land of Snow only avoided such treatment because it was far from the mainland.

Otherwise, look at the mainland, which of the dozen or so small countries sandwiched between the five major powers isn't being used and exploited by them? There's a saying that's very philosophical: "My hero is their enemy!"

This is the main reason why countries often talk about interests rather than friendship. The former is eternal, while the latter is very fragile. Two countries that can maintain friendship do so only because they need each other and have a common goal. On the road to achieving this goal, they need to work together. Only then can there be a 'deep friendship'. But to put it bluntly, it is still a choice of real interests under the guise of friendship!

Let alone in this world, isn't the same routine and choices still applied to the society in the previous life where the other half of Shoji's soul resided?

This can only be described as the most fundamental choice of human nature!

Jiang Si has no intention of becoming a saint, and he doesn't think there's any point in being a saint in such a dark ninja world. Protecting his family is the only driving force behind Jiang Si's continuous efforts and progress. Therefore, everything he does is based on considerations from the perspective of the Uchiha clan, Iwagakure, and the Land of Earth!

"Yes, that's right. Taking this step, if successful, will benefit our village's future strategic plans. If it fails, at most it will be a waste of manpower, resources, and time, not a loss. It's a plan worth trying. The two can be done in parallel. I will have the village's professionals liaise with the Land of Snow regarding the manufacture and negotiation of the chakra armor. I will also personally communicate with the Daimyo to strengthen trade with the Land of Snow in certain areas!"

This is one of the necessary steps in the plan. It is necessary to give the Land of Snow some benefits, and more importantly, to do some cover-up work for the real plan as much as possible. It is not only aimed at the Land of Snow itself, but also to make the other four major countries as unaware as possible of Iwagakure's intentions. The overseas forward military base is one of the most important military plans of Iwagakure in the next few years!

"As for the arrangements for talent exchange with Snow Village, Mr. Jiang, I will have..."

Then, when discussing the most important second step,...

Before Onoki could finish speaking...

The officer in front of him spoke directly, "Third Hokage, I think it would be best to make overall arrangements in this regard. Although Yukigakure is a small ninja village, even including the lowest-ranking fighters, there are only about five or six hundred people who can fight. However, if used properly, it can become a force to be reckoned with. It would be best if our Jonin class could coordinate and make arrangements, and formulate a more comprehensive communication plan. Even if we don't want to control the entire Yukigakure village in one fell swoop, we should at least get the leadership of Yukigakure to be on friendly terms with our Iwagakure village!"

Logically speaking, interrupting Ying is extremely impolite, not to mention that Jiang Si made the suggestion in a very 'confident' tone, as if he were 'fighting for power'.

From a purely conventional perspective, this act by the general would be considered an act of 'insubordination'.

but!

After hearing Shoji's words, Onoki was taken aback at first, then stared intently at Shoji's face below, which seemed to be 'righteously indignant'.

'Should we hand it over to the Jonin team for unified coordination and arrangements?'

After muttering this to himself, Onoki shook his head with amusement. He didn't believe that the Uchiha clan's genius boy hadn't understood the meaning behind his words. He intended to entrust this matter to Shoji. Although the plan involved considerable risks and difficulties, it also granted Shoji immense power. Most importantly, if successful, Shoji would gain some of his support within Iwagakure!

This was definitely more beneficial than harmful for Shoji and the Uchiha clan, but Shoji withdrew without making a sound. It seemed that he was handing over the unified coordination and arrangement to the Jonin team, but in reality, he was still completely handing over the initiative of this plan to the village!

Who is the leader of the Jonin team?

It's loess!

He is Onoki's only biological son.

Moreover, Onoki could absolutely guess that during the upcoming Jonin team meeting to discuss and formulate detailed plans, this kid in front of him would definitely be the kind of 'participant' who only brought his ears but not his mouth and obeyed all the decisions made at the meeting!

While finding it amusing, Ohnoki also felt a little helpless.

The Uchiha clan's caution and low profile are indeed beneficial to the village, allowing them to integrate into the village at the best pace. However, excessive low profile can make the two sides seem somewhat estranged. Onoki was extremely courageous in choosing to accept the Uchiha clan under those circumstances, and in just three months, he even conceived the idea of ​​training Uchiha Shoji to become the 'Fourth Tsuchikage'.

He personally hopes that the two can be integrated more quickly and tacitly.

However, this is something that cannot be rushed.

If you really think about it, they've only been in Iwagakure for a little over three months. Looking at it this way, it seems like I'm being a bit too hasty.

Onoki chuckled inwardly. He was over sixty years old, yet he was more impatient than a child. (In Onoki's eyes, Shoji was practically a grandchild.)

'That won't do!'

Onoki took a deep breath to calm himself down, and then smiled as he agreed to Shoji's seemingly 'rude' request.

"Well, then let your Jonin class handle it. Once the plan is finalized, report it to me for my review!"