Konoha Notes

Chapter 345 Opportunity
"Why didn't you stay a few more days?" When Xiu Si returned, someone was sitting in his seat, making sarcastic remarks.

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, one hand supporting her chin, the other tapping the table with her fingertips. Sunlight streamed through the window, but couldn't penetrate her amber eyes, which seemed to say, "Let's see how you make this up."

"Something came up unexpectedly, so I had to come back first." Shuji's expression remained normal. He first placed the documents he had retrieved from Kumogakure on Tsunade's desk before returning to his seat.

"Huh... She didn't deny that she went there for fun?" Tsunade was taken aback at first, then muttered to herself before composed herself and opening the file.

The intelligence was very detailed and included several blurry sketches of long-distance observations.

The text section details the arena's operational model: regularly held secret tournaments, fragments of lists of invited dignitaries from various countries, and an analysis of the origins of the ninjas who were used as "commodities" in the arena...

Tsunade's brows furrowed, and her expression turned serious.

“The possibility of Kirigakure being involved is very low,” she said. “But whether it’s related to Madara is uncertain.”

Shuji shook his head. If Obito had the strength to organize such an industry chain, he wouldn't have been unable to control Kirigakure.

"It's probably just the effect of the Blood Mist policy."

The Fifth Hokage said, "You believe that the arena itself is an independent gray area."

Shuji replied, "At least in the beginning, it had nothing to do with Akatsuki."

"The problem lies in the timing."

"Currently, large islands at sea have become a buffer zone between the five great ninja villages and the Akatsuki's actual control area, a lawless zone. In such places, it is perfectly normal for such dark industries to breed and grow. As for the operators of the arena, facing the increasingly tight blockade and investigation pressure from the five great ninja villages, they will instinctively seek a backer and a way out."

“And the Akatsuki,” Shuji tapped the table with his fingertip, “have experienced the destruction of their flying fortress and the setback in the expansion of the Land of Snow. They need new funds and resources to maintain operations and replenish their strength. With such a ready-made and lucrative black market offered to them, they have no reason to refuse. They might even turn around and actively seek to control more similar channels.”

Tsunade realized the problem; if that was the case, restricting Akatsuki's funding would likely be very difficult.

"Tsk, this is troublesome." Tsunade clicked her tongue and rubbed her temples.

This is not just about cracking down on an illegal arena; it also involves relationships with daimyo and the nobility. The powerful figures watching the matches are directly managed by the daimyo of various countries, not by the ninja villages.

"Yes, it's certainly not simple," Xiuji replied.

Tsunade lowered her hand and glanced at him, only to find that his face did not show the expected seriousness, but rather a thoughtful expression.

"...So?" She raised an eyebrow and leaned back in her chair. "Our great Lord Shuji traveled all the way from the Land of Water to the Land of Lightning, bringing back such a hot potato. Surely he didn't just come to tell me 'things are troublesome'?"

“I was just thinking that this might be a new opportunity, Lady Tsunade,” Shuji said. “We should formally propose this initiative to the daimyo of various countries in the name of the Joint Martial Arts Affairs Bureau.”

"We demand that all daimyo issue a joint statement denying that any private competitions involving ninjas, life-or-death battles, and intended for profit or entertainment, except for those officially recognized, hosted, or registered by the Joint Martial Arts Affairs Bureau—such as the Joint Martial Arts Tournament and the Joint Chunin Exams—are illegal."

"The statement must clearly state that: no nobles, officials, or businessmen of any country may organize, fund, or participate in such illegal events; no port of any country may facilitate the transport of personnel or goods to such events; and any country found to be hosting such illegal events within its territory or territorial waters has an obligation to ban them and report them to the Joint Affairs Bureau."

"The Joint Martial Arts Affairs Bureau has the authority to investigate all individuals involved in such illegal events—regardless of whether they are ninjas, merchants, or nobles—and, in accordance with the Joint Agreement, propose appropriate actions or take necessary measures directly."

Tsunade, who had been somewhat relaxed, immediately sat up straight.

She squinted at Shuuji: "Do you know what you're talking about?" "You're proposing that we ninjas—even if it's in the name of the alliance—take the initiative to create a completely new set of rules that will govern the entire ninja world. Then, you're asking the daimyo who hold power to publicly acknowledge and abide by these rules, proposed by the ninjas, in the name of the nation."

Shuji listened quietly to Tsunade's analysis and nodded gently.

"Yes I know."

"This is what must be done to solve the problem, or rather, when the alliance comes to an end, the parts that must be clarified."

"The form and subject of conflict have been shifting with the changing times, Lady Tsunade."

"During the Warring States period, families were locked in endless warfare due to the entrustment of the feudal lords, and human life was as worthless as grass."

"The Ninja Village Era was a series of Ninja World Wars fought between villages for missions, resources, and national interests."

"What we are trying to do now is to integrate and coordinate the power and interests of the five great ninja villages to a certain extent, reduce internal losses, and jointly deal with external threats. If this direction can continue and achieve results..."

He withdrew his gaze and looked back at Tsunade, his dark eyes unfathomable.

"So, where might the conflict erupt in the next phase?"

"Once the ninja villages are no longer the main source of conflict, the conflict may shift to the countries that support each village. What will happen to the five great ninja villages that have already united then? Will they continue to be used as tools of force and get involved in the conflict?"

"And so it's another new cycle."

"Therefore, we should now try to leverage the current role of the Snow Country and its status as a global enemy established in the early stages to gradually deepen the alliance."

"In building rules and order, we are taking a tentative step. Even if this step is small, cautious, and may even fail, it points to a direction that may break the old cycle."

Tsunade stared at him for a long time, the surprise and scrutiny in her eyes gradually settling into a sigh.

"Before you found it, you didn't say it would be this troublesome later."

She then said, "A detailed plan is needed for drafting the proposal and for subsequent strategies to communicate with the daimyo."

"Ah."

Tsunade complained, "I don't care what happens next."

Shuji smiled and said, "You can't escape it, Lady Tsunade. You've already been dragged into this."

"Tch, what a terrible guy."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at him, but there wasn't much real resentment in her eyes.

She picked up the scroll again, her gaze fixed on the records, and remained silent for a long time.

(End of this chapter)