MTLNOVEL Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Talent is the Future of the Village
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"Here and now, I solemnly swear with a humble and sincere heart to dedicate my life to inheriting the indomitable spirit of our predecessors and to glorify the foundation they built from nothing. Let this oath be witnessed by both man and god."
With these words, Jinghang cut his finger and smeared his blood across his lips. In the grand Wind Shadow Hall, under the watchful gaze of the towering stone statues of the First Kazekage Rettō and the Second Kazekage Shamon, as well as the representatives of various clans and elders of Sunagakure, Jinghang bowed deeply to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind—a chubby man with small eyes and a thin mustache.
The Daimyo smiled warmly as he placed a green conical hat with the kanji "Wind" on Jinghang's head and shook his hand in congratulations. With this, the succession ceremony concluded successfully amidst the applause of the crowd.
During this period, Jinghang had been incredibly busy. From organizing the funeral for the Second Kazekage, to meeting with the Daimyo, to holding talks with the leaders of various factions and comforting the orphans of war—he had even resorted to using the Shadow Clone Technique to handle everything. It was only today that he finally managed to take a brief respite.
"Baki, make arrangements for Yashamaru and Watanabe to take a team to Ishi Fortress and bring back Rasa, Pakura, and the Akasuna couple. We've delayed this matter long enough, and the ANBU and Ninja Academy can't operate normally without them."
"Understood, Kazekage-sama. However, in a few days, you'll be embarking on a diplomatic visit to Konoha. You'll pass by Ishi Fortress on the way..."
"Ah, I almost forgot. Then let Rasa and Pakura wait at Ishi Fortress. We'll pick them up on the way. Oh, and issue them an official appointment as escorts."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama. By the way, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind will be returning to Fū Temple shortly. Won't you see him off?" Baki asked.
"See him off? Hell no! Don't bring up that miserly bastard again. He's a walking iron rooster—stingy beyond belief! Let Elder Ebizō handle it. I don't have time to cater to that guy." Jinghang couldn't help but curse.
The relationship between Daimyo and shinobi in the world of Naruto is quite intriguing. The concept of Daimyo existed long before the emergence of shinobi. Even Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's husband was a tribal leader, essentially a Daimyo. Later, when ninjutsu and the teachings of the Sage of Six Paths spread across the land, the presence of Daimyo gradually diminished.
In the Five Great Nations, the Daimyo are nominally the leaders, controlling almost all the land, financial resources, and taxes. However, they lack any significant armed forces. All military power is concentrated in the ninja villages, and the operation of these villages is funded by the Daimyo. In essence, shinobi are hired mercenaries and bodyguards for the Daimyo. Yet, ironically, the decision to go to war often lies with the Kage of each village.
(Yes, it's a convoluted system. It's hard to imagine why the powerful Kage, who could overthrow the Daimyo, haven't done so. Even Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, didn't delve too deeply into this dynamic. So let's not overanalyze it and just roll with it.)
The night before the succession ceremony, Jinghang, under the recommendation of elders Chiyo and Ebizō, visited the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. The purpose was twofold: to formally introduce himself and to discuss Sunagakure's future funding.
The Second Kazekage Shamon's defeat in the Land of Rain was largely due to insufficient funding. The Daimyo of the Land of Wind was notoriously stingy. Even when Sunagakure was on the verge of collapse, he begrudgingly allocated a mere 15 million ryō. To put this in perspective, during Jinghang's earlier conversations with Danzo, it was revealed that the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had allocated a staggering 200 million ryō to Konoha's war efforts. Winning under such circumstances would indeed be miraculous.
As expected, the Daimyo's opening statement was: "Since the Kazekage has already allied with Konoha, there's no need to maintain such a large budget." He then proceeded to slash Sunagakure's annual operating budget of 30 million ryō in half.
Fifteen million. No matter how much Jinghang and the two elders tried to reason with him, presenting facts and logic, the Daimyo remained unmoved. He shook his head like a rattle, treating the request for funds as if it were a matter of life and death.
Frustrated, Jinghang eventually gave up. "Fine, 15 million it is, but I have one condition: grant me ownership of the land around Moon Lake. If I can't rely on funding, I'll cultivate the land myself."
The chubby Daimyo mulled it over. Since Moon Lake didn't generate significant tax revenue, he agreed without hesitation. He even signed the land transfer documents on the spot and allocated two years' worth of military funding. With a patronizing tone, he said, "The times are tough. I trust you, Kazekage-sama, to manage Sunagakure well over the next two years. Don't let me down."
His eagerness to finalize the deal, as if afraid Jinghang might change his mind, was almost laughable. If not for Chiyo holding Jinghang back, he might have unleashed an Iron Sand Drizzle on the Daimyo right then and there.
"Fat bastard, your day of reckoning will come!" Jinghang muttered under his breath.
After calming down, Jinghang handed the green conical hat to Baki. From the moment he saw the hat, he had disliked it. "I'll avoid wearing this ridiculous thing whenever possible," he thought.
"Baki, I'm assigning you a new task. I'll allocate 15 million ryō from the budget for this."
"Anything you command, Kazekage-sama."
"War will inevitably displace countless civilians. Your job is to guide them to settle around Moon Lake. This will not only boost the population but also aid in developing the area."
"Understood."
"Our losses in the war were significant. Many talented shinobi and those with kekkei genkai perished. We must spare no effort to recruit skilled shinobi, even if they are rogue ninjas. Sunagakure needs fresh blood."
"This…" Baki hesitated, surprised by the scale of the task.
"Don't worry; you won't be handling this alone," Jinghang said with a reassuring smile, patting Baki on the shoulder.
"I'll have Elder Chiyo support you. Together, we'll eliminate any internal resistance within Sunagakure. I'll establish a new department called the Immigration Bureau, and you'll serve as its first director. The 15 million ryō is just the initial funding. For additional resources, whether it's manpower or money, just ask. I'll do my best to provide."
Baki was stunned, rendered speechless by the sheer authority he had been granted.
Jinghang chuckled. "Brother, the burden on your shoulders is heavy. Talent is the future of the village. Your responsibilities will include recruitment, resettlement, internal security, registry management, urban development, and counter-espionage. In short, you and Karuki must transform Moon Lake into the most vibrant city in the shinobi world. Half of the village's future rests in your hands."
"And the other half?" Baki asked, still dazed.
"Education, of course," Jinghang replied, pointing toward the Ninja Academy.
Ebizō looked at the two books before him: Sunagakure's Education Reform Plan and The Will of the Wind. He couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Jinghang's ambitions were no small matter.
Education is critical for any nation, especially for a shinobi village. One misstep could lead to tragedy. In the shinobi world, the destructive power of ninjas is immense. Even Konoha, with its so-called Will of Fire, has faced countless rogue ninjas. Why? In times of peace, ninjas still need missions to survive. During war, how can you expect children trained in killing to suddenly become model citizens? It's a pipe dream.
Last night, Jinghang had met with Ebizō privately, appointing him as the first director of the Education Bureau and allocating 10 million ryō for education. Jinghang's opening statement had been: "No matter how poor we are, we can't skimp on education. No matter how tough it gets, we can't neglect the children."
This declaration moved the old revolutionary, who had followed the First Kazekage Rettō through countless trials and tribulations, to tears. He immediately accepted the appointment, vowing to dedicate himself to Sunagakure's education.
Jinghang believed that the first step was to instill core values in the children. The Will of the Wind began with stories of how people in the desert struggled to survive against harsh conditions, persevering against all odds. It chronicled how the First Kazekage Rettō united the clans, founded the village, and secured Sunagakure's place among the Five Great Nations. The book was an inspirational guide, a beacon for the children's values.
Sunagakure's Education Reform Plan proposed splitting the Ninja Academy into two branches: the Ninja Academy and a Technical Academy. Each would have campuses in both Sunagakure and the Moon Lake base. Children with ninja talent would attend the Ninja Academy, while those without could learn a trade to serve the village in other ways. The plan also included exchange programs with Konoha, the Land of Craftsmen, and other regions. Details would be finalized after Jinghang's diplomatic visit to Konoha.
After reading the two books, Ebizō burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face.
"Brother-in-law, Sunagakure has hope!"