Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 47: The Daimyō's Confidence

With Orochimaru's arrival, the battle—though prolonged—ultimately concluded in a decisive victory for Konoha. Only a few Mist-nin, including Yagura, Mizuki Kuu, and Kaguya Shouichi, managed to retreat in a battered state. Even the Three-Tails was claimed as spoils of war.

As for Konoha's casualties, the fallen would be remembered and honored upon returning to the village, though their deaths would mostly serve as a passing reminder of the war's price.

Having driven off the Mist attackers, Orochimaru cast a cold glance at the daimyō before departing on his own. He did not return to the border camp with the rest of the team. Hayama knew that Orochimaru was likely investigating the daimyō's grain sales to enemy nations. Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had clearly deployed his students according to their strengths—sending the level-headed Jiraiya to escort the daimyō and tasking the cunning Orochimaru with exposing the daimyō's questionable dealings.

But this was no concern of Hayama's. His priority was simply to see the war end so he could return to Konoha and enjoy a few years of peace. The high-level political struggles were beyond his reach, even if he wished to intervene.

The mission to protect the daimyō concluded successfully. Not surprisingly, Jiraiya and Minato were assigned to accompany the daimyō to the peace treaty ceremony. Hayama, meanwhile, received no further orders and idled away several days at the camp.

After extensive negotiations, the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind signed a ceasefire agreement. In reality, the terms were more akin to a surrender treaty. The agreement required the Land of Wind to pay a massive sum in gold and cede a large swath of territory, including Akihabara. It was a deal that, to the people of the Land of Wind, could only be described as humiliating.

For Konoha's leadership, however, the treaty was spun into a political triumph for Sarutobi Hiruzen. His prestige soared to unprecedented heights within the village. His orders were no longer questioned by anyone—not even the Uchiha clan.

Outwardly, Konoha appeared to have profited immensely from the treaty: gold filled the coffers, and new territory expanded the nation's reach. But those who looked deeper, including Hayama—thanks to the political awareness he had gained from his former life—recognized the underlying problems. The Land of Wind, or rather Sunagakure, had not been irreparably weakened. Instead, this crushing defeat had sparked a national fervor. The next generation of skilled shinobi would grow up driven by this bitterness, waiting only for the right moment to reclaim their honor.

This cycle of cause and effect would inevitably come full circle. Sarutobi Hiruzen, basking in his short-term success, may not have fully grasped the long-term consequences of his strategy.

Once the treaty was signed and his obligations fulfilled, the daimyō returned to the Land of Fire's capital under Jiraiya's escort. Orochimaru, on the other hand, quietly returned to the border camp to report his findings to Hiruzen.

"Eighty million ryō for four hundred million catties of grain—all of it rice?" Hiruzen repeated, disbelief evident in his tone.

Orochimaru simply nodded.

Hiruzen's expression darkened. Selling that much rice for such a low price was almost like giving it away. Even in peaceful Konoha, a single cattie of rice could fetch seventeen ryō. The daimyō wasn't just selling grain; he was practically donating it—indulging in a kind of reckless philanthropy.

"What do we do next?" Orochimaru's voice was laced with malice as he licked his lips.

Hiruzen fell silent for a long moment before replying in a measured tone. "I'll draft a proposal to increase Konoha's military budget. Let's start with an additional eighty million ryō annually."

Orochimaru chuckled coldly before turning to leave the makeshift office. To him, his teacher's response was disappointingly soft—a clear concession. Delivering the proposal himself held no appeal, so Orochimaru would rather spend his time on something more personally fulfilling.

Hiruzen massaged his temples, ignoring Orochimaru's discontent. For now, direct action against the daimyō was not an option. A subtle warning and an increased budget were the best he could manage.

Back in the capital, the daimyō sat in a pavilion, idly feeding colorful koi in a pond. Occasionally, he scattered handfuls of fish food, delighting in the chaotic flurry of fish darting to the surface. Behind him stood a middle-aged official named Terazaki Tadamichi, waiting respectfully.

"Tadamichi," the daimyō said, his voice calm. "What's your take on the situation?"

Though the question was open-ended, Tadamichi knew exactly what his lord meant: the recent grain sales to enemy nations.

"My lord, this could lead to serious trouble," Tadamichi replied cautiously.

"Oh? Elaborate," the daimyō said, tossing the remaining fish food into the pond before sipping his tea.

Tadamichi hesitated before speaking carefully. "I fear that Konoha might send assassins…"

Before he could finish, the daimyō hurled his teacup into the pond with a loud splash, startling Tadamichi into kneeling. His heart raced as he mentally marked the cup's location—it was one of the daimyō's most prized possessions, a treasure of unmatched value.

"Are you afraid of ninja?" the daimyō asked, staring into the rippling water.

Tadamichi remained silent, his thoughts flashing back to the terrifying battle he had witnessed between Mist and Konoha shinobi. The sheer destructive power of these warriors made resistance seem futile. His silence spoke volumes.

Satisfied with the answer, the daimyō laughed softly. "How many hidden villages do you think exist in the ninja world?"

"Perhaps over a hundred?" Tadamichi ventured uncertainly. He had never counted them, and his lack of confidence showed.

"And how many hold the title of 'Kage'?" the daimyō continued.

"Five," Tadamichi replied confidently. It was common knowledge, even among non-shinobi.

"Exactly. And do you know why there are only five?" Without waiting for an answer, the daimyō supplied his own. "Because there are only five great nations. Hidden villages didn't create the great nations. The great nations created the hidden villages."

The realization dawned on Tadamichi, who blurted out, "You mean…"

The daimyō interrupted, placing a hand on Tadamichi's shoulder and helping him to his feet. "Remember this: it's not the five great hidden villages that sustain the great nations. It's the great nations that sustain the five great hidden villages. Everything else is irrelevant. Understand?"

"Yes, my lord," Tadamichi said, his confidence restored.

"Are you still afraid of ninja?" the daimyō asked quietly.

"No, my lord."

"Then go about your work," the daimyō said, returning to his seat and resuming his fish feeding.

Tadamichi bowed deeply and left, his worries quelled.

The daimyō watched the koi with a faint smile. Increasing Konoha's military budget by eighty million ryō? A minor adjustment, he thought. He would personally contribute eight billion ryō if necessary—if only to maintain appearances and prevent the other daimyō from thinking him stingy.

The daimyō knew Hiruzen's warning was a subtle one. But what of it? To him, ninja were like the fish in his pond: dazzling and vibrant, yet entirely dependent on his generosity for sustenance.

The Land of Fire could survive without Konoha. Konoha could not survive without the Land of Fire. This was the core wisdom passed down by the previous daimyō before his death—a principle the current daimyō understood deeply.

The truth was simple: ninja may wield immense power, but they still needed food, medicine, and shelter. These necessities were beyond their ability to produce and were provided by the Land of Fire. Money, in the end, was the foundation of all power.

Ninja were merely one part of the larger machine that made up the Land of Fire. Their strength, though formidable, was not enough to completely overshadow the other segments of society. Should one village defy the established order and claim all resources and authority for itself, it would face united opposition from the remaining villages and the entirety of the Land of Fire's civilian population.

The daimyō understood that if Konoha ever broke the rules, he could simply declare that the first village to destroy Konoha would receive the Land of Fire's full backing. Even impoverished villages like Sunagakure would leap at such an opportunity, uniting to crush the rogue village until the daimyō's conditions were met.

And so, the daimyō felt no qualms about supplying Iwagakure, or in the future, Sunagakure or Amegakure. His goal was to maintain a Konoha that remained slightly stronger than its peers—not one so dominant it threatened the balance of power. Only in this way could his authority remain unchallenged for generations.

After all, ninja may boast unparalleled combat prowess, but at their core, they are no more than highly skilled servants. Without the economic foundation provided by the daimyō, even the strongest shinobi are left powerless.

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