Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

Of course, it could also be related to money.

The price for hiring one or more powerful Jonin varies significantly between A-rank and S-rank missions.

171. Meeting (Third Update)

"Yes, but the information from the intelligence unit confirms that the situation in the Land of Snow is relatively stable. That daimyo probably just wanted to have an extra layer of insurance. He originally planned to have Wenya go, but he was summoned by our daimyo a couple of days ago. So this time, we'll have to trouble you to make the trip, Shoji."

Although the Land of Snow is only a medium-sized country, it is still a matter of important diplomatic importance. Kazahana Hayayuki's status is nominally more prestigious than that of a 'Kage'. Just for this reason alone, Onoki will not shirk his responsibility for this national-level mission.

Sending Jiang Si on this trip also serves two purposes.

"Hehe, you flatter me, Third Generation Lord. This is my duty. I'll go back and make preparations now!"

Those mere scum from the Land of Snow were nothing to Si. Besides, after this period of recuperation, it was indeed time to loosen up. Wolf Fang Avalanche and Wind Flower Raging Waves were decent opponents among Jonin, so it was a good opportunity to exercise and warm up his body.

Moreover, barring any major unforeseen circumstances in the future, Shoji's ambitions in this world are quite grand. The Land of Snow is not a wealthy country, but geographically speaking, from a military perspective, it possesses unique advantages.

Especially when dealing with the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water.

A person who does not plan for the future will have trouble in the present.

Even if it was just to scout ahead, this trip to the Land of Snow was still very meaningful.

"Well, let's go!"

"Yes!"

After Onoki raised an eyebrow and waved,

Jiang Si bowed slightly in salutation, and the next moment, he leaped away and disappeared from the spot.

On his way home, Jiang Si was also considering how far he should go with this mission. Necessary precautions were definitely necessary. After all, it was a small ninja village, and they could easily field several hundred fighters. In addition, there were two characters, Feng Hua Nu Tao and Lang Ya Xue Beng, who could be considered mini-bosses. If he were to be careless, although with his strength, his own safety would not be in any danger.

However, this could very likely lead to mission failure.

I am far stronger than Kakashi at this time. It would be ridiculous if Hayayuki Kazaka were to die in the internal strife. Strategically, I can despise my opponent, but I still need to be cautious and vigilant in specific tactics.

Especially since the plot has changed, who knows if Fuuka Nutō will collude with foreign forces? If this involves ninjas from Kumogakure and Kirigakure, the trouble will increase exponentially.

"It's best to prepare for the worst. Saving the lives of Fuuka Saki and Fuuka Koyuki is the top priority. We'll deal with the rest later!"

Looking at his own base so close at hand, a faint, bright light flashed in Jiang Si's eyes.

The next day.

Inside the main gate of Iwagakure Village.

There was a carriage and more than ten figures standing there, with the one at the head dressed in clothes that only high-ranking officials from various countries were qualified to wear.

His slightly weathered face couldn't hide the air of nobility about him; he was clearly someone who had held a high position for many years. This man was none other than Hara no Masamune, the Minister of the Land of Snow, who had come to Iwagakure on behalf of the Land of Snow to issue a 'protection mission' in the name of Kazehana Hayayuki.

As a prominent family in the Land of Snow, whose members have served as ministers or higher in the seven ministries for generations, this Minister of the Interior enjoys considerable prestige and power in the Land of Snow. Moreover, as the minister most trusted by Kazaka Hayate, in the absence of a regent or grand minister, Hara no Masamune is considered the third-ranking minister in the Land of Snow's bureaucracy, with only the left and right ministers above him.

Moreover, in terms of confidence, this Minister of the Interior is a close confidant of Feng Hua Zaoxue; otherwise, the important task of secretly coming to the Snow Country this time would not have fallen on his shoulders!

At this moment, a hint of anxiety was faintly revealed on the seemingly calm face of the Minister of the Interior, Hara no Masamune. The situation inside the Snow Country was far from as stable as it appeared to outsiders. In Hara no Masamune's view, his monarch was too soft-hearted, which gave those heartless scoundrels unnecessary opportunities and unrealistic hopes!

Moreover, this Minister of the Interior saw things more clearly than Kazahana Sayasu. Although he did not believe that all the snow ninja under his command would completely betray Kazahana Sayasu, who was a daimyo, he still felt that some preparations had to be made in advance. It was this Minister of the Interior who made Kazahana Sayasu "seek outside help".

It's always a good thing to have an extra layer of insurance, isn't it? This is money that needs to be spent and cannot be saved.

The choice of Iwagakure was also based on this. As the victor in the Third Shinobi World War, and now having accepted the Uchiha clan, Iwagakure's prestige was unmatched. However, at this moment, the Minister of the Interior was clearly somewhat worried about which Jonin Iwagakure would send to carry out the mission. As a Minister of the Interior, Hara no Masamune's understanding of ninjas was certainly much better than that of ordinary people. He also clearly knew that there were significant differences between Jonin.

However, during yesterday's meeting, the Third Tsuchikage only said that he would definitely send the top Jonin to carry out the mission, without directly specifying who it would be. This was not because Onoki did this on purpose, but because he himself had not really decided who to send, he certainly could not tell the employer directly.

It was just a matter of waiting another half day, so the Third Tsuchikage didn't feel it necessary to send someone to make a special trip to inform the Minister of the Interior of the mission. This is why the Minister of the Interior was somewhat hesitant at the moment, although he felt that the Third Tsuchikage wouldn't deliberately deceive the Land of Snow.

However, humans are often creatures that are very calm when they are on the sidelines, but find it difficult to be rational when they are involved.

This former high-ranking official was no exception.

This is one of the reasons why this former minister arrived early, even though the assembly time had not yet arrived.

"Whoosh!"

And it was after waiting for about half an hour, just as the meeting time was approaching.

Not far away.

A tall and slender figure flashed over.

As he landed in a flash.

This was the moment when the handsome face, clearly showing a hint of youthful innocence, came into the view of the Minister of the Interior.

The former Grand Minister of the Interior was initially delighted, but then a hint of disappointment unconsciously crept into the depths of his pupils.

The reason is simple: the person who came was too young, even younger than the minister's own son.

Although there is no shortage of geniuses in the ninja world, the five great ninja villages occasionally produce geniuses who become famous in the ninja world in their teens.

But that's a minority.

Being able to become a Jonin at such a young age, the Minister of the Interior naturally wouldn't doubt that the newcomer was a genius from Iwagakure. However, youth means a lack of experience and skills, and in most cases, the gap between him and those experienced and seasoned Jonin is still quite obvious.

172. Journey to the Land of Snow

P.S.: After 1,300 collections and 20 days since its release, the number of high-level subscriptions has exceeded 1000, and the average subscription is approaching 700. I am truly grateful for the support of all the readers. I have seen all the criticisms and suggestions from readers. Some of them are indeed due to my lack of skill, while others are due to personal issues and time constraints. I will try my best to correct them and make the book as good as possible to live up to everyone's expectations. Of course, there will definitely still be imperfections or areas that are not well written. Please forgive me, as I am a part-time writer and it is difficult to take care of everything. Thank you all!

This figure was none other than Uchiha Shoji, who had come to meet with Minister Hara and head to the Land of Snow to carry out a mission.

The Minister of the Interior, Hara no Ue, clearly did not recognize Shoji and was genuinely worried about whether this young man could shoulder the heavy responsibility expected of his lord. With a sliver of hope, as Shoji leaped before him, the Minister of the Interior personally stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, are you the Jonin dispatched by Lord Tsuchikage to carry out this mission?"

The implied meaning in the words was difficult for ordinary people to discern; they would simply treat it as a routine inquiry. However, the person who came, Shoji, could hear the underlying meaning. Moreover, as a member of the Uchiha clan, with the Sharingan at his side, even without it being activated, his perception far surpassed that of ordinary people. As soon as the two saw each other, Shoji was able to perceive the hint of disappointment in the eyes of the Minister of the Interior.

But the general didn't pay any attention, which is quite common.

At that moment, he spoke with a faint smile: "You must be Minister Hara no Uchiha? I am Uchiha Shoji, the vice-captain of the Jonin team in Iwagakure. I have come here on the orders of the Third Hokage to carry out the escort mission. Please rest assured, Minister Hara no Uchiha, I will do my utmost to complete your daimyo's mission until it is over!"

Upon hearing Shoji's answer, Hara nods, a hint of regret flashing across his face. But the next second, he seems to realize something, abruptly looking up at Shoji's handsome and refined face and asking, "Uchiha Shoji? You mean that Uchiha Shoji-kun?"

Not recognizing Uchiha Shoji is simply a matter of not being familiar with his appearance. After all, Shoji is not a well-known strongman, but he was an important figure who caused a huge uproar in the ninja world a few months ago.

A genius ninja of the Uchiha clan, comparable to the Five Kage, a terrifying existence capable of fighting a hundred men single-handedly, a prodigy who led the Uchiha clan in a great battle against the strongest ninja village, Konoha, and still managed to escape unscathed. Don't think that the high-ranking officials of the Five Great Nations don't pay attention to this intelligence; on the contrary, they pay even more attention than ordinary ninjas, because they are well aware that ninjas are the key force that influences this world.

Especially someone like Uchiha Shoji, who can easily crush and kill Jonin, is a key figure that political leaders and nobles of various countries must obtain relevant information about as soon as possible. However, the channels through which information can be obtained are too few. Shoji has only been famous for a few months, so it is almost impossible for him to be easily recognized like Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.

But anyone who has reached the position of Minister of the Interior must have heard of it. At this moment, this Minister of the Interior can finally match the limited information he has with the black-haired boy in front of him!

Considering such a comparison, and taking into account the previous illustrious achievements, even if they were slightly exaggerated, the Minister of the Interior, Hara no Ue, would certainly be more than willing to send such a top-tier ninja among the Jonin to carry out the mission!

"If the Uchiha clan doesn't have a second Shoji, then it's me!"

Jiang Si still had a faint smile on his lips as he spoke softly.

"Oh? My apologies for my rudeness. Well then, I'll have to trouble you this time, Mr. Jiang Si!"

Upon realizing what was happening, Hara no Masamune immediately leaned forward slightly and spoke with a hint of respect. Although in terms of nominal social status, as the Minister of the Interior, he far surpassed Uchiha Shoji before him, this world was, after all, dominated by the power of ninjas. Moreover, the most crucial point was that he was not the Minister of the Interior of the Land of Earth, but merely a high-ranking official in a small country like the Land of Snow. Expressing basic respect for the strong was a necessary gesture.

"No, this is my mission. You need not be so polite, Your Excellency. If you are ready, then let us set off. The sooner we arrive in your country, the better!"

"Yes!"

Hara no Masamune, who was as disappointed as he was before, was all smiles as he returned to his carriage. He even warmly invited Shoji to ride with him, but Shoji politely declined. As a ninja, it was common sense to always be vigilant and protect one's employer.

After everything was ready.

Under the protection of the general.

The Minister of the Interior of the Land of Snow and his entourage officially set off, heading towards the northern sea region of the Land of Earth, preparing to board a ship there and return to the Land of Snow.

This was also the route they took before they came.

And it was precisely at the moment when Shoji, Hara no Masamune and his party embarked on their journey back to the Land of Snow that a palace, not particularly opulent but still magnificent, was built at the highest point in a giant snow city deep inland in the Land of Snow. This palace was the exclusive palace of the daimyo of the Land of Snow, and this city was the capital of the Land of Snow—Kazeka Castle!

In this country where it snows for almost half the year, with only spring and autumn at most and no summer at all, the area centered around Windflower City is the last piece of land in the Snow Country that can barely be called a fertile land.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Land of Snow is almost as big as the Land of Earth.

But the same thing applies to the Land of Wind, except that one is mostly desert and the other is mostly icy and snowy. They can't even develop the most basic agriculture, let alone the overall economic development of the country. Taking off is just a dream.

But the most fortunate thing for the people of the Land of Snow is that the Kazeka clan, who rule the Land of Snow, has produced wise rulers for three or four generations. Each generation of the daimyo of the Land of Snow is committed to improving people's livelihoods and promoting the development of the national economy. They have even reduced their own spending time and time again to save as much money as possible to develop the national economy.

This generation's daimyo—Fūhana Hōsetsu—was a model of governing with love for the people.

Unlike other daimyo who had many concubines in addition to their principal wives, Kazahana Sayasu had only one wife and one daughter. After his principal wife passed away, he did not remarry. Even though his ministers kept advising him, Kazahana Sayasu did not listen and devoted himself to political affairs. He spent the rest of his time with his daughter, Kazahana Koyuki.

In the words of this Daimyo of the Land of Snow, her duty is to develop the country, and there is no need to do anything else. Moreover, in Hayayuki's mind, having only one successor, Yuki, is enough. She has also considered that if Yuki is not suitable, or if she has other things she wants to do, Hayayuki is willing to give the position of Daimyo to her younger brother or her brother's future son.

This is truly a premature and unrealistic idea.

What I didn't expect was...

My younger brother has changed drastically since he grew up. Now he's secretly conspiring with some people to stage a rebellion.

This goes far beyond the bounds of romanticizing early romance.

173. The Undercurrents of the Northern Country

But after all, he is his own younger brother.

Kazahana Sayasu wasn't the kind of cold-blooded monarch who treated his subjects with such kindness, let alone his blood relatives. Therefore, for some time, Kazahana Sayasu had been patiently enduring, hoping that her younger brother could understand her good intentions and pull back from the brink. However, it was clear that Kazahana Nutō, who had already gone mad and was comparable to Danzo, could no longer suppress his ambitions for the throne of the Daimyo of the Land of Snow and the so-called secret treasure of the Kazahana clan. Unless Kazahana Sayasu voluntarily announced his abdication now and handed over the 'Kazahana clan' secret treasure that Nutō believed to exist.

Otherwise, the coup d'état is still in progress!

But let's not even talk about Kazakura Sayuki not doing that. Even if she were to make a huge concession for the sake of national peace, the so-called 'Kazakura clan's secret treasure' would not exist at all. If she couldn't hand it over, she would still suffer!

That was merely a 'geothermal device' that Kazahana Sayasu and the previous two monarchs had invested heavily in researching and manufacturing for the overall development of the Snow Kingdom. Of course, at this time, Kazahana Sayasu was unaware that her actions, along with those of her father and grandfather, were seen by her younger brother as the clan possessing a rich treasure.

Because of her previous forbearance and numerous reminders, which had all been met with indifference from her younger brother, Kazahana Hayate decided to stop enduring and finally began to take action. However, Kazahana Hayate was unaware that the Snow Village, which she had always thought would obey her orders as the daimyo, had long been under her brother's control.

In the ninja world, the strong are respected. Not to mention, Fuuka Nutō has promised many benefits, and Fuuka Nutō himself is considered one of the legitimate heirs of the Land of Snow.

Without Feng Hua Zao Xue's knowledge.

The Snow Country's largest military force has already defected!

Kazayuki Fuuka thought the overall situation was relatively stable, with only minor disturbances, but he was already completely surrounded by the rebellious forces organized by his younger brother. Now, Kazayuki Fuuka is just waiting for the last few preparations to be completed before launching a coup, because his goal is not only the daimyo throne, but also the Fuuka clan's secret treasure, which he believes is an important asset for dominating the ninja world!

Only by ensuring that no one escapes can the secret treasure be seized. He knows his brother too well, so even though he has discovered that the Minister of the Interior's whereabouts are somewhat suspicious, he still doesn't care at all.

One reason is that the final preparations are not yet complete, especially regarding the defensive forces of Feng Hua City, which Feng Hua Nu Tao wants to completely eliminate.