The Hidden Leaf Village had long set its sights on the unique location of the Hidden Rain Village. After numerous discussions with his consultants, Fumori Masaki formulated a plan for Hanzo to initiate an internal reform. The main individuals responsible for this mission were Hyuga Akira and Hattori Heizo. Hyuga Akira was a long-time veteran by Fumori Masaki's side, and he had great trust in his abilities, while Hattori Heizo was included for the purpose of training.
In the Hokage's office, after Fumori Masaki clearly explained the mission's background, he said, "You must do your best to create an opportunity for Hanzo to set things right. As the saying goes, 'where the heart of the people lies,' even the leader of the Hidden Rain, Besa, cannot control everything."
Fumori Masaki understood the consequences when a ruler fails to meet the needs of their people, especially when those 'people' under their rule possess sufficient strength. Not to mention his experiences in other worlds, even in the future ninja world, there was an example of setting things right.
The Hidden Mist Village previously had a brutal training atmosphere. After the Fourth Mizukage was controlled by Uchiha Obito, it was pushed to an even more terrifying extent, leading other ninja villages to call it the 'Village of the Bloody Mist.' During that period, the Hidden Mist Village was arguably under high-pressure rule; anyone who voiced dissent would be eradicated, and this applied even to the bloodline limit families, who were part of the upper echelons of the village.
Families like the Hozuki clan, the Yuki clan, the Kaguya clan, and other ninja families were driven to desperation by the Fourth Mizukage, almost to the point of extinction, with only a few descendants like Haku, Kimimaro, and Suigetsu remaining. Among them, Haku and Kimimaro died due to other reasons, severing the legacies of the Kaguya and Yuki clans.
It wasn't until the emergence of Mei Terumi, who succeeded as the Fifth Mizukage, that the Fourth Mizukage's cruel rule was brought to an end. Although she ascended through a coup, she gained recognition from the entire Land of Water's nobility and ninja families, quickly solidifying her position.
Such an example proves that even in a ninja village that emphasizes loyalty to its leader, once the leader incurs widespread resentment and pushes the people to their limits, there is reason to depose them. Those who overthrow their rule will be hailed as heroes, and this principle applies everywhere.
In Fumori Masaki's view, given the current environment of the Land of Rain and the benefits the Hidden Leaf Village has provided over the years, Besa, who implemented a closed-door policy, has gradually been alienated by the nation. What's missing is a leader who can inspire others to resist—sometimes, such a person is precisely what is needed.
And now, the Hidden Rain Village has a suitable candidate: someone with the determination to serve the country and its people, and with power surpassing Besa. There is no one more fitting than Hanzo to set things right.
"Hanzo of the Salamander, this person is indeed formidable." Hyuga Akira had heard of his name before, and for this mission, he had even read Hanzo's detailed profile. He said, "But, can it really go so smoothly? After all, Besa has been the leader of the Hidden Rain Village for many years."
"I believe there's a very high probability. Even if it fails, we won't suffer much loss; it would merely be a waste of some time," Fumori Masaki said. "If it succeeds, we can gain a Hidden Rain Village that is friendly to our village, and our commercial activities will also have better channels."
"I understand." Hyuga Akira nodded and said, "However, Third Hokage, the conditions you've offered seem a bit too generous, don't they?"
This was Hyuga Akira's question regarding the promises Fumori Masaki allowed them to make. In his opinion, the preferential treatment given to the Land of Rain's Daimyo and the Hidden Rain Village was excessive; they weren't even people from the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Akira, you must understand, to win over an ally, when you're feasting on meat, you must at least give them some soup. That's the most basic. If you also share some dishes or meat with them, then they will be even more compliant. If you give nothing but expect them to constantly contribute, it's like wanting a horse to run without feeding it grass—sooner or later, something will go wrong!" Fumori Masaki said.
The analogy of a running horse was very vivid, and Hyuga Akira and Hattori Heizo quickly understood the principle. However, Hyuga Akira was more concerned about whether it would make the Land of Rain complacent and harbor other intentions in their cooperation with the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Give what should be given, and for what shouldn't be given, make them understand it's beyond their reach," Fumori Masaki explained. "If the village is strong enough, I don't mind giving others some preferential treatment, because it helps to win them over better, and it won't threaten the village's position anyway. If it would affect us, then I would have to think of other ways to weaken them to a point where they pose no threat, and then give them appropriate treatment."
"So that's what the Third Hokage thinks! I thought you were very compassionate towards people from other countries, often giving them preferential treatment, even being overly considerate," Hyuga Akira said, realizing the truth.
"I do have such thoughts, but I understand a principle: 'When poor, cultivate oneself; when prosperous, benefit the world.' If the village isn't strong enough, then I have no obligation to guarantee the livelihood of other countries—if one is in danger oneself, how can one manage others? But if the village is strong enough, providing good treatment to other countries can have a positive effect, so why wouldn't I do it?" Fumori Masaki said, shrugging with a smile.
"So, the generous conditions you're offering to the Land of Rain are beneficial to the village?" Hyuga Akira asked.
"Yes, honestly, using military force to coerce the Land of Rain isn't a good method, because we would have to face a country that consistently harbors hostility towards the village. Even if we could suppress them, the costs incurred would likely far exceed the conditions we are offering now," Fumori Masaki said, shaking his head.
The Land of Rain appeared weak, but due to the presence of Hanzo of the Salamander, the Hidden Leaf Village was destined to be unable to truly control it. If military force were used, not only would they lose a good ally and fall into the same situation as in the original history, but they would also have to expend more funds and manpower.
This reminded Fumori Masaki of an event from the Ming Dynasty. During the Yongle era, the Ming army conquered Annam, renaming it Jiaozhi. However, due to poor local governance and constant rebellions, countless Ming soldiers sacrificed their lives and shed their blood, yet they could never truly control it. In the end, Annam regained its independence. Setting aside the political factors, purely in terms of outcome, the Ming Dynasty invested a vast amount of manpower and resources, and besides gaining some face, there were no practical benefits; they couldn't even extract anything during the occupation period.
This event taught Fumori Masaki a principle: if one cannot truly control a place, it is better to prioritize appeasement supplemented by authority, reducing costs while reaping sufficient benefits. This might be a good method, and this is precisely the approach being taken with the Land of Rain now.
After receiving their orders, Hyuga Akira and Hattori Heizo disguised themselves and entered the Land of Rain. Since the Hidden Leaf Village's strategy for the Land of Rain had been decided, preparations had begun early, with some Anbu members infiltrating to act as informants and provide convenience to the leaders. The place where Hyuga Akira and Hattori Heizo were now staying was set up by these earlier arrivals.
"The Daimyo has already agreed to this matter and should soon formulate a plan with Hanzo. We just need to observe," Hyuga Akira said.
"Hmm." Hattori Heizo nodded lightly, watching the flickering candlelight before him. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'm going out for a look."
"Don't go far. If anything unexpected happens, follow the regulations," Hyuga Akira didn't refuse, but merely gave a slight reminder. He also didn't think Hattori Heizo would encounter any danger.
Hattori Heizo disguised himself again. Although he was still shorter than Hyuga Akira, he was much taller than his original height. His face also became ordinary, and while his eyes couldn't be completely concealed, with the makeup, his cold gaze appeared somewhat numb, which perfectly resembled the citizens of the Land of Rain.
"I'm leaving," Hattori Heizo said before slipping out, walking through the streets of the Land of Rain like a true commoner.
For traditional ninja, acting was an essential skill, and Hattori Heizo was a master of it. He walked slowly, secretly observing the citizens of the Land of Rain. Living in such a country, their faces showed no hope for life, just like Hattori Heizo's current demeanor: expressionless and with numb eyes.
It was said that whenever the rain intensified, floods and epidemics would occur, not only reducing crop yields but also threatening the lives of the citizens. This was the norm in the Land of Rain in the past. However, the last time the Hidden Leaf Village dispatched medical ninja there, they saved countless lives of the Land of Rain's citizens. Before Besa's strict isolation policy, the medicines sold externally could also effectively alleviate illnesses and were both good quality and affordable, deeply revered by the people of the Land of Rain.
According to the information Hattori Heizo gathered, the people of the Land of Rain had long been dissatisfied with the inability of merchants from the Land of Fire to enter, and their words often expressed nostalgia for the medical ninja. This behavior gave Hattori Heizo a misconception: if these people were allowed to go to the Hidden Leaf Village, they would leave their homes without hesitation.
"Combining both kindness and strictness, alternating between tension and relaxation, and the targets and goals involved—it truly is a profound study," Hattori Heizo murmured to himself, feeling even greater admiration for his teacher, Fumori Masaki's wisdom.