Konoha Notes.

Chapter 496 Kado

Chapter 496 Kado

Minato Namikaze immediately sensed the difference between being a dead Hokage and being a living Hokage as soon as he arrived at his post that morning.

There was a stack of files on the desktop.

Regarding the location of the Bamboo Clan's publicly known territory, the backgrounds and identities of those involved in trade, and their activities in recent years.

If this were when he had just taken over as the fourth senator, the Anbu would have woken him up in the middle of the night long ago for an unusual situation of this magnitude.

Now that the person is already dead, it doesn't matter whether we call out to them or not.

Last night, he mainly taught Naruto new ninjutsu. The father and son also took the opportunity to plan the next phase of the badge naming operation.

Although he wouldn't publicly support his son in his current capacity as manager, it's perfectly reasonable for them to work together to figure out how to win his son's votes.

So when I arrived at the office early in the morning and found that someone had already taken care of the preliminary work for the troublesome matter, I was surprisingly not bad.

As for the faint smell of alcohol in the air, he chose to ignore such a minor flaw.

"Lady Tsunade, it seems quite a few things happened last night."

Tsunade was about to slip away.

She stopped walking when the fourth generation leader asked a question.

"Shuji believes it hasn't reached the point where we have to drag you all into this."

"His opinion was that, before the village had accumulated enough strength, interactions with those people should be cautious, without alarming them or severing ties."

"If you have a different opinion, we can discuss it when he arrives."

Having finished giving his instructions, the Fifth Generation leader left without lingering.

She's very self-aware now; she leaves as soon as someone comes to relieve her. If no one comes, she can stay a little longer, if she has to.

Anyway, now that more people have come back to life, in terms of age, she has two or three older relatives, and in terms of seniority, she is fifth.

Based on this calculation, he is the youngest in terms of seniority.

Isn't it only natural to let elders and seniors do the work?

Shuimen didn't rush to look through the documents. He first opened the window to let in fresh air and dissipate the smell of alcohol.

Information about the bamboo grove is scarce. The clan has very little contact with the outside world, and even their trade is only documented in scattered records, consisting of just a few pages.

After watching the water gate, he didn't waste any more time on it.

Xiu Si's judgment is always thorough. Since he has set the tone of observation and cautious contact, there is no need to do any more extra speculation at this stage.

He gathered the information about the bamboo stalks aside and picked up the research feedback document on the ninja promotion reform.

The initial framework of the badge system has been established, and the qualification criteria for promotion have been largely finalized: ninjas promoted through the badge system will first be awarded the rank of Special Jonin and will enjoy the same advisory rights as Jonin in the specialized field corresponding to their badge.

After one to two years of practical experience evaluation, full authority in that field will be formally granted.

There's only one problem holding us back right now: how many badges are needed for a promotion?

It definitely can't be just one. Konoha's level of commitment to this project differs from other villages.

They use badges as a standard for promotion, while other ninja villages will mostly wait and see for a year or two before deciding whether to follow suit.

In other words, Konoha ninjas with high motivation are likely to easily obtain their first badge in the early stages.

The focus is on the second half.

Considering the difficulty of obtaining them later, three to five is probably a suitable number.

When it comes to authority issues, setting the level too low will cause problems with the entire village's personnel structure. If the number of Jonin (high-ranking ninja) expands too rapidly, the decision-making hierarchy will become chaotic.

Setting the bar too high will not have an incentive effect and will only lead to a return to the old referral system.

After internal discussions, Konoha plans to gradually increase the weight of the badge system and reduce the number of promotion slots based solely on recommendations, so this number needs to be set very carefully.

He prefers to start with five.

It will take at least five to ten years to gather them all. At this rate, the first batch of special Jonin promoted through the new system will have just enough time to undergo resume review.

If it is found that the threshold is too high later, it can be lowered to three. The reverse is not so easy.

Minato made a note of this initial intention and put it in a file.

His tenure was short, and apart from Naruto, there wasn't much left of him in the village.

This badge system is perhaps the first thing he, as the fourth generation leader, was able to truly implement and have a long-term impact on the village.

Just as Shuji opened the office door, Minato closed the notebook.

He put the notebook in the drawer, sealing it away along with the numbers on it for the time being. This matter still needed to be discussed further; at the very least, it needed to be reviewed by the current Hokage.

"Although you always seem ready to run away at any moment, you will still take responsibility when it is really needed, Shuji."

Shuji glanced at the stack of information about the bamboo shoots on the table.

"I don't want to go out and fight with troublesome people during this time."

"If there are no other questions, I'll head to the Ninja Academy in a bit."

"This morning, a foreign envoy wished to pay a visit." Minato steered the conversation back to business. "It's not appropriate for me to receive him."

"What about the third generation?"

"The other party would prefer to see you or Lady Tsunade."

Shuji didn't try to refuse anymore. Tsunade had just finished her night shift and went home to catch up on sleep; they couldn't very well call him back. So it had to be him.

However, the person who specifically requested to see him and Tsunade —

When the visitor was led into the office, Shuji was standing by the window.

The newcomer had a few more strands of white hair, but his demeanor remained unchanged.

"It's been a long time, Mr. Wasabi."

"Mr. Shuji has been very busy since then. At the time, it involved important information, so I couldn't keep you entertained for long. There hasn't been another opportunity since."

Shuji invited him to sit down, and then sat down opposite him.

He was actually quite inexperienced in handling the mission to leave Jiegang. However, the important figure from the Tea Country he met on that trip left a good impression on him.

"Mr. Wasabi, what trouble did you encounter that led you to come all this way?"

Since the launch of the funding coordination plan, foreign commissions such as those from the Tea Country have been transferred to the formal procedures of the Joint Affairs Bureau.

The only explanation for Wasabi Jirocho's decision to bypass that channel and go directly to Konoha headquarters is that he was in a situation where he had no choice but to do so.

Wasabi Jirocho did not answer immediately.

This usually decisive man was unusually silent at this moment. It wasn't because he hesitated about how to start, but because he himself hadn't fully grasped the weight of what he was about to say.

"I did come this time because I have something to bother you with."

"Before explaining my specific purpose, there is one question I must ask, whether it is offensive or not."

"Mr. Shuji. When do the ninjas plan to take over this world?"

Shuji wasn't stung by the question. He calmly met Jirocho's gaze and countered, "Whom are you asking this for, Mr. Wasabi?"

The Wasabi family is similar to the Yakuza, but under the leadership of this head, they have always been responsible for maintaining order in Ikusa Port. Their relationship with the daimyo is not exactly harmonious, and they have no connection with the noble circles.

They were not key players in the changes within the ninja world.

Jirocho's answer confirmed this judgment.

"As you know, Wasabi's family is just a representative of the fishermen. As for who pays taxes to, it doesn't matter to us. As long as everyone can continue to live a peaceful life, that's enough for us."

Shuji then said, "When the world needs it."

Jirocho got the answer he wanted.

"So, Mr. Shuji, are you aware of what has recently happened at sea?"

"Many lords and nobles from various countries were executed. Some were even stripped of their family titles and reduced to commoners."

Shuji nodded. He was certainly aware of this information.

Jirocho continued, "The neighboring country across the sea from the Land of Tea, the Land of the Sea, has also lost its monarch."

Shuji then said, "As far as I know, their operations have completely ceased since the Land of the Sea."

Jirocho said, "Yes, those people dressed in black robes with red clouds did not land on Naki Island or Ouchi Island, nor did they approach Izuku Port."

"Although the daimyo is deeply worried about this and has repeatedly sought help from outside, at least for now, the Land of Tea is still relatively peaceful."

Shuji was waiting for what followed, but...

"But recently, the situation has changed."

Jirocho's expression was more serious than before.

"There was a merchant who frequently traveled between the Land of the Sea and the Land of Tea. Goods shipped from Akuta Port to Naki Island and Ouwa Island were strictly required to be transshipped through him. However, the prices he offered were far different from usual."

"We checked his qualifications. He did indeed provide a license from Da Ming."

Shuji asked, "Did you request the secret service to investigate the matter?"

Jirocho, who once resolved a crisis through Konoha, shouldn't just sit idly by and wait to die.

"As you might expect, we did have such a plan."

Jirocho did not evade the question, but his expression indicated that things were not going well.

"However, since this involves a request from our own daimyo, it requires a lot of scrutiny, so we can only wait for now."

Xiu Si thought about it and realized there was nothing wrong with it. After the unified planning, all countries would be the main contributors, and they would no longer be able to draw additional funds from various localities as before.

Moreover, even in the past, as long as the daimyo did not want to go it alone by abandoning the five great ninja villages, the villages would not voluntarily accept local requests to the daimyo.

In this light, it makes sense that Jirocho came to see him.

"The Joint Affairs Bureau has always aimed to assist the development of its member states. As for verifying the other party's qualifications, there shouldn't be any major problems."

Moreover, that merchant was involved in the Land of the Sea, which is Akatsuki territory. This already qualifies as the highest level of alert.

"How long have you been waiting for the application?"

Jirocho replied, "It has been a month and a half."

It's been placed in the Tea Country's spot for a while now.

"No negative response?"

"No," Jirocho said. "I've inquired with the Public Security Coordination Section multiple times. At first, they said they couldn't find any relevant request records. Later, another ninja explained that the secret service had recently moved, and the documents were disorganized, so they needed to search again. After that, they claimed the request might have been lost and we needed to resubmit it. Since then, there's been no further news."

Shuji's expression remained unchanged: "I will convey this to the Secretariat."

Jirocho expressed his gratitude.

"Also, there's another piece of news. But this is just a rumor."

"It is said that the merchant told the daimyo that he would explain to those men in black robes that the area had fallen out of the control of the daimyo and nobles, and that he would be assisting the ninjas in managing it. In that case, the other side would not send any more people over."

Shuji finally realized that this was a bit absurd.

"What was the merchant's name?"

"Kado," Jirocho said, "is the president of a shipping company."

Upon hearing this, Shuji asked Jirocho to stay in Konoha for a while until the secret service responded before setting off together.

Jirocho expressed his gratitude and left. Minato, who had been sitting behind the desk in the corner, wearing a mask and pretending to be an ordinary ninja, put down the documents in his hand.

"Was this arranged intentionally by Xiao?"

66

Shuji leaned against the window frame, gazing at the sparse clouds outside.

"It's hard to say."

If it's Kado, it's really hard to say whose idea it was.

This person occupied the Land of Waves for several years according to the original plan, and the Land of Waves had always been within the territory of Kirigakure before Naruto Bridge appeared.

Moreover, the fact that Zabuza was able to stay in that place for so long, yet the Hidden Mist Village's Anbu never went there to attack, is itself suspicious.

Zabuza's initial target was Yagura, who was being controlled. There were quite a few people within Kirigakure who wanted to eliminate Yagura.

The Kirigakure leadership was overjoyed by Zabuza's rebellion, but it was too late.

The fact that the Anbu members who could chase the Six-Tails Jinchuriki Utakata all over the world hesitated to attack Zabuza when he was so close, and even allowed the Executioner's Blade to remain at his grave, makes their attitude quite clear.

Given that Zabuza was able to receive Gato's request, and considering Gato's character, Shuuji had a vague idea in his mind.

That guy might be from the Blood Mist era, theoretically belonging to the Gloves of Kirigakure. However, most of the funds he handed over were likely intercepted by Obito, who controlled Yagura.

"Whether it is or not, those two islands in the Land of Tea are already the border."

Shuji withdrew his gaze and returned from the window to his desk.

"For whatever reason, we cannot allow such a businessman to monopolize it."

Minato was silent for a moment, then unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table.

"Kakashi was completely unaware that such a sensitive location was involved. His attention was also significantly diverted."

"It's hard to say whether he even knew about it or not." Xiuji leaned against the window frame.

A thought suddenly popped into my head.

Should we contact the people from Kirigakure and ask Zabuza to come and handle this matter?

This time, he didn't have to use a kunai to fight that guy.

However, it's unlikely, since the reason given for transferring him here is rather absurd.

"We need to proceed with caution." Minato's finger paused on the table. "Have the team escorting Jirocho back take this mission along the way."

"Arrange two more teams to provide support from the rear."

"If we're not careful, this operation could escalate into a direct conflict with overseas entities."

Minato Namikaze, who experienced the Third Shinobi World War, was very familiar with the current situation.

He was more familiar with this situation than with designing promotion mechanisms or dealing with relationships with nobles.

"This is probably what the person who orchestrated this wanted to see."

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