While the objective physical distance between points had not changed, the "time cost" for people to traverse the land had plummeted.
Next, I'll introduce even more convenient modes of transport, maybe even spatial displacement devices, Hiruko plotted. He intended to spark an unprecedented revolution in the Shinobi World, bending the entire global order to his will.
Furthermore, the electronic information network was being laid down methodically. In the near future, distance would cease to be a burden.
In the past, when the Fire Daimyo issued a decree, how long did it take for that order to reach the edges of the nation? Three days? Five? A week? Or perhaps a month? And could a Daimyo truly manage an entire country? No. Their authority was a shallow veil, covering only a few cities surrounding the capital. The rural populace was governed by local clans; most villagers didn't even know what the Daimyo looked like.
But in just one year, Konoha's shinobi had interconnected the entire nation through transport. Every citizen now knew that the "Shinobi Lords" of Konoha were the benefactors who helped them. Even the poorest understood: Konoha was the pillar of justice that put food on their tables.
Hiruko explained to a bewildered Hiruzen Sarutobi, "This way, the hearts of the common people naturally lean toward us. When the time comes, taking control of the Land of Fire will be a simple matter."
"So... you and Minato began this layout a year ago." Hiruzen fell into deep thought. He found it hard to imagine that the warm, sun-like Minato possessed such calculated depth.
The transport revolution had only appeared after Minato sought out Hiruko; it was clearly driven by the Fourth's hand. If a nation can only have one "Jade," then that Jade must be the Hokage—Minato Namikaze.
Hiruko nodded slightly. "Minato... he will be the sole leader of this nation."
In reality, Minato hadn't initially thought that far ahead; he simply believed the changes were good for Konoha. This entire grand scheme was Hiruko's masterwork, but Hiruzen was already jumping to his own conclusions.
A wave of dread washed over the Third Hokage. Has Minato been wearing a mask all these years when facing me? A sense of powerlessness took root. Where was Konoha headed? He couldn't let go; the village wasn't ready to swallow an entire nation yet. Who would steer the Land of Fire? Who would lead Konoha to this "new glory"?
Hiruzen exhaled slowly. He figured that after winning this war, he would need a few years—maybe four or five—to stall for time. It's fine... there's still time. If I bring Jiraiya back, maybe he can change Minato's mind.
Hiruko didn't know exactly what the old man was brewing, but he could guess: a desire to maintain the status quo and keep the traditional balance of power from being shattered by radical change.
Elsewhere, Chiyo had long since returned to the Hidden Sand Village (Sunagakure). Tonight, she had summoned the Kazekage for an urgent meeting.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, looked much as he always did—unremarkable brown hair and an affinity for dark clothing. To an outsider, he looked like a common middle-aged shinobi. Yet, it was this "ordinary" man who held the crumbling Sand Village together. Since their funding had been slashed by their Daimyo, most of the village's income relied on Rasa's literal back-breaking labor: dredging gold from the desert.
"Rasa!"
"Lady Chiyo, you've returned," the Fourth Kazekage responded, his expression unreadable.
Chiyo knew Rasa well; he was never one for emotional displays. She got straight to the point, recounting everything she had seen in Konoha. Her delay in returning was due to visiting several smaller hidden villages along the way. Some meetings were fruitful, others were a waste of breath. While she had sent some reports ahead via summoning beasts, she felt a face-to-face debrief was essential.
Sunagakure was in a precarious state. They couldn't afford a single misstep because they had lost the ability to sustain themselves. They were forced to ally with Konoha, requiring extreme caution.
Chiyo looked up at the flickering, disorganized stars above the desert. They looked like the uncertain future of the Sand—especially since they were now tethered to Konoha's strength. Konoha had everything they lacked: resources, technology, and stability.
The First Kazekage could never have imagined that by Rasa's generation, the village would be so destitute that they'd have to send their own kunoichi—his daughter—into the arms of a former enemy. Joining Konoha's operations felt like throwing their children into a furnace.
But a ninja's lot is to endure the unendurable. While one could act on impulse for revenge, Chiyo believed Rasa wouldn't lead his people into a dead end.
Rasa stared into the cold hearth, a flicker of fire reflecting in his icy eyes. Life was a series of endurances. Those who survived became legends; those who broke became mediocre—or waste products of the era. The Sand was currently "waste," but they were alive. And as long as they were alive, there was hope for the next era.
Before the Shinobi Era, no one realized humans could be this powerful. When Samurai lords controlled all resources, they never imagined they would be overthrown. Fate is neither biased nor kind; if the Sand could just hang on, they would eventually seize an opportunity.
Rasa felt no guilt about sending Pakura (his "daughter" in the political sense or honorary subordinate, depending on the lineage interpretation here) to Hiruko. Given Hiruko's status and power, it was a logical trade.
However...
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/c/wildsparkstudios
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.