This luncheon was a resounding success, satisfying both the guests and hosts, both gastronomically and psychologically. In addition to academic discussions,Fumori Masaki also proposed numerous policies that the alliance should adopt. For example, he suggested that young people from allied ninja villages should visit other villages to study and deepen their relationships, or jointly carry out missions, or hold competitive games different from the Chunin Exams, aimed at strengthening friendly ties. He also advocated for trade conveniences, where each village's strengths would compensate for another's weaknesses, and the establishment of vital routes to fully connect the allied nations.
Fumori Masaki had already elaborated on these ideas in his vision for the Ninja Alliance, and now he was further clarifying and standardizing them. Bunbuku nodded repeatedly. For traditional ninja villages, these ideas were undoubtedly fantastical, making people think, "How is that even possible?"
However, times are always advancing, and things that once seemed impossible will always emerge. Ninja villages themselves are an example. Why couldn't Bunbuku believe that these things could be achieved within a new alliance system?
Fumori Masaki's hope for young ninjas to study in each other's villages perfectly aligned with Bunbuku's intentions. He had already planned to have young ninjas from Sunagakure study the superior policies of Konohagakure, which was why the delegation included people like Karura. He hadn't known how to bring it up before, but now he had no such concerns.
After the luncheon, the Konoha higher-ups took the delegation to visit other places, both to aid digestion and to showcase their prosperity to the Sunagakure delegation. Of course, they wouldn't take the Sunagakure delegation to any highly sensitive areas, only to entertainment zones or more peripheral departments. But even these alone astonished the Sunagakure delegation.
Sunagakure had previously tried to imitate some of Konohagakure's policies, just as many ninja villages had once imitated Tobirama Senju's Anbu and Ninja Academy systems. However, due to the disparity in strength between them, each imitation would have subtle differences, and these subtleties would become more pronounced due to their own strength issues.
For instance, Konohagakure's commercial support wasn't managed as well in Sunagakure. And now, the operation of some departments in Konoha was something Sunagakure simply couldn't catch up to. Besides the issue of strength, it was also because they hadn't been able to properly replicate Konohagakure's departmental system.
Previously, Sunagakure was relatively isolated, and even with some learning, it hadn't undergone significant changes. This time, with Sunagakure in a state of rebuilding, it was the perfect opportunity for reform. Since it had joined the alliance, Sunagakure might no longer need to spend vast amounts of funds on strengthening its national defense, and could instead allocate them to public welfare. In that case, replicating Konohagakure's system might not be impossible.
From what he had seen, Bunbuku could understand Konohagakure's organizational structure and its control over the entire village. Centered around the Konoha Political Affairs Department, where the Konoha higher-ups resided, it radiated to other departments. Members of the Political Affairs Department generally also held concurrent positions as heads of other departments. Furthermore, Konohagakure had planned its departments more meticulously, making them less simplistic than before, thereby activating every part of the Konoha Ninja Village.
After the tour, Bunbuku, as the leader of a visiting ninja village, had to address the public. Bunbuku didn't use a prepared speech; he simply expressed his observations, experiences, and genuine feelings. This alone made the Konoha residents feel his sincerity.
Fumori Masaki nodded slightly from the side. Bunbuku might not have many political tactics, but he possessed other weapons. The difference between such genuine sincerity and a politically savvy declaration wouldn't be too great. At least in the current situation, Bunbuku could satisfy the requirements with just this, making people feel that Bunbuku genuinely wanted to coexist amicably with Konohagakure.
Konohagakure's propaganda machine immediately went into full operation. The Yamanaka clan promptly developed photos for newspaper use. The newspapers heavily praised the Kazekage's performance at the luncheon and his speech to the public. The message conveyed was singular: henceforth, Konohagakure and Sunagakure would be united in purpose, developing together. Even if conflicts and entanglements still arose, they would no longer be resolved through war.
The day's activities quickly passed. As dusk fell, the delegation returned to their lodgings. Everyone else could rest, but Bunbuku could not. He had a private conversation withFumori Masaki, as some things were not suitable for discussion in public during the day's events.
"Thank you so much, Lord Kazekage. You truly worked hard today. I never expected you to be so capable. You are not a professional ninja by origin, yet you can achieve this level,"Fumori Masaki said to Bunbuku, guiding him to a chair and taking another himself.
"It is you, Lord Hokage. If not for your help in leading the way, I might not have been so smooth," Bunbuku smiled slightly. During the activities, some statements were initiated by Fumori Masaki, which allowed Bunbuku to clearly express his intentions. Bunbuku was not a professional by any means; he relied on genuine emotion, not exceptional eloquence.
"From now on, we are friends. If Lord Kazekage doesn't mind, may I address you directly as Mr. Bunbuku?"Fumori Masaki asked.
"Of course, no problem. Then, may I also address you as Mr. Kazemori?" Bunbuku replied.
Fumori Masaki smiled and nodded, indicating yes, then said, "Mr. Bunbuku, we can now get to the main topic: the future development of Sunagakure and its place in the alliance."
Bunbuku understood that this was the real topic. What had been said earlier in public was merely general propaganda. Details, of course, could not be revealed. No matter how good the relationship with Konohagakure, some matters had to be conducted privately, just as Konohagakure would not let the delegation know too much confidential information.
And the current conversation with Fumori Masaki would also not involve overly private matters. It should be a further conclusion to some of the things discussed during the activities. As Bunbuku expected,Fumori Masaki engaged in a more in-depth discussion with Bunbuku about what had been said earlier, devising some operational methods. Some could be handled by Sunagakure itself, while others required cooperation with Konohagakure.
Bunbuku took notes, nodding repeatedly, regardless of whether they would be implemented. He also raised some questions, which Fumori Masaki was able to answer.Fumori Masaki also offered a suggestion that hadn't been mentioned during the public activities.
Fumori Masaki believed that in the future, to facilitate the transmission of ideology, organizations should be established in ninja villages to standardize the learning of the new Ninshu culture and clarify its principles. Those who identify with the ideology and are willing to learn should be brought into the organization. Future members of the ninja village's higher echelons would all come from this organization, ensuring that the overall ideology would not deviate.
He said that Konohagakure was already taking such steps. Konoha's higher-ups and some mid-to-upper-level ninjas, after passing assessments, would be inducted into such an organization. Grassroots Konoha ninjas had also begun learning, and future students graduating from ninja academies would aim to join the organization. In the future, organizations in each ninja village would exchange ideas, jointly upholding the ideological system based on the new Ninshu culture.
Bunbuku was somewhat moved by this matter.Fumori Masaki's new Ninshu culture reinterpreted the Sage of Six Paths' Ninshu tenets. Compared to the Sage of Six Paths' idealist-based Ninshu,Fumori Masaki incorporated materialism, combining objective laws to point out the changes and developmental direction of ninja society. Guiding the construction of ninja villages based on this might indeed be a good method. And the organizational system proposed by Fumori Masaki might also ensure the purity and vitality of the ideology, preventing a change in leadership from causing major shifts in the entire ninja village's policies.
Bunbuku benefited greatly from this conversation. Just as he was about to bid farewell toFumori Masaki,Fumori Masaki said, "Mr. Bunbuku, I have one more personal favor to ask of you."
"What is it?" Bunbuku replied with a smile.
"I need to speak with the One-Tails inside you. I made a promise to someone to let it meet it,"Fumori Masaki extended his hand. The dark red mark on his palm glowed faintly, emitting a minute amount of chakra. It might not be very obvious to others, but Shukaku within Bunbuku immediately reacted.
"That's Son Goku's chakra! So it wasn't my imagination. But, this chakra reaction, tsk, why would Son Goku give him that thing?" Shukaku yelled in Bunbuku's mental space, his voice tinged with confusion.