One Village One Nation System

"Lord Kazekage, what you’re doing is making things very difficult for us."

Yasunori Sakai spoke to Rasa with an unfriendly expression. Though the man before him was one of the current Five Kage, their positions of power seemed reversed, and Rasa was so pressed by the questioning that he scarcely dared speak.

"Can Lord Kazekage give the Yasunori Trading Company an explanation for this matter as soon as possible?"

"This…" Rasa hesitated, finding it difficult to answer. Relations between Sunagakure and the Daimyo of the Land of Wind had become somewhat strained, and he was not completely confident he could persuade the Daimyo.

Yasunori Sakai nodded and said coldly to Rasa, "Very well. The clan head has ordered us to suspend all business and Mission Commissions with Sunagakure. We will also withdraw our personnel in three days."

"Wait, Sakai-san."

Rasa hurriedly tried to stop him. If the Yasunori Trading Company truly did this, it would be fatal for Sunagakure.

Grain, water, and nearly all the basic Supplies needed for the Villagers’ lives were provided by the Yasunori Trading Company. If it halted trade, Sunagakure’s current stockpile would last less than a month before running critically low.

Rasa could already imagine what would happen next. No one, including the Suna-nin Anbu, would listen to him anymore. Ninja needed food and water too. The saying that Ninja endured what ordinary people could not was nothing but empty talk. Without Supplies, Sunagakure would instantly become a mob fighting over resources.

"Please give me some time, Sakai-san. In the name of the Kazekage, I guarantee that I will resolve this matter and give the Yasunori Trading Company an explanation."

Rasa suddenly felt that he had invoked the Kazekage’s title too many times, as though the entire world were against him.

"Having traded with Sunagakure for so long, I do not wish to pressure Lord Kazekage either. It is simply that your nation’s Daimyo is truly too…"

Yasunori Sakai put on a troubled expression, then sighed and said to Rasa,

"Very well. Your village’s Pakura asked me to remain a while longer, so that is what I will report to the Clan Head. I hope Lord Kazekage can provide an answer quickly. I can hold out for ten days at most."

After saying that, Yasunori Sakai gave a bow and left the Kazekage’s office directly.

Only after Yasunori Sakai had been gone from the Kazekage’s office for some time did Rasa slam his hand on the desk in fury. This time, however, he controlled his strength and did not lose composure as he had before.

"Investigate. Find out exactly what role Pakura played in this matter. I want every detail!"

Rasa spoke coldly. He feared Pakura might use the Yasunori Trading Company’s power against him. For one fleeting moment, he had even considered killing Yasunori Sakai to prevent Pakura from contacting him.

But Rasa soon calmed down. Yasunori Sakai was far too important to Sunagakure. If he were killed, things would truly spiral into chaos.

"Damn Daimyo! You’ve destroyed the Land of Wind’s hope of rising again!"

After cursing inwardly, Rasa wished he could immediately head to the Daimyo Manor and slaughter that obstructive fat man.

But Rasa only entertained the thought. He did not dare do it.

"Prepare two squads. Come with me to the Capital of the Land of Wind. While I am away from the village, Baki and Yashamaru will handle village affairs."

"And keep a close watch on Pakura. Record every single thing she does."

After issuing a string of orders, Rasa immediately set out for the Capital of the Land of Wind to deal with the Yasunori Trading Company’s affairs.

The Yasunori Trading Company was now Sunagakure’s largest supplier of Supplies and source of missions. It had even entrusted missions from the Rain Country and River Country to the Suna-nin, showing just how much it trusted them.

If the Suna-nin could not resolve the Yasunori Trading Company’s difficulties and forced it to leave Sunagakure, then the village would have no hope of rising again. Even regaining the Daimyo’s support would be useless. By acting this way, Sunagakure would have cut itself off from the entire merchant world.

If the Suna-nin dared bully even a powerful trading company like the Yasunori Trading Company, what chance would ordinary merchants have?

Rasa desperately wanted to resolve this matter, but even if he went to the Daimyo Manor, he could not possibly persuade the Daimyo to stop targeting the Yasunori Trading Company—unless Rasa had the courage to overthrow his superior.

Sunagakure and Konoha were the two places that reacted most intensely to the Tailed Beasts. The other three Great ninja villages had reacted relatively mildly. The Iwa-nin were united internally, and neither of their two Jinchuriki was in the village. Although many Kumo-nin also despised Tailed Beasts, no one dared reveal such emotions openly under the Raikage’s suppression, making them difficult to provoke.

As for Kirigakure, the Fourth Mizukage was still enforcing the Bloody Mist Policy. For any Ninja who dared stand out, there was only one response: death. In truth, it made no difference whether anyone stirred up hatred toward Tailed Beasts or not.

After Rasa left, news spread throughout Sunagakure that the Yasunori Trading Company had been harassed in the Land of Wind and would soon withdraw completely.

When Sunagakure’s Civilians and ordinary Ninja heard the news, they initially found it hard to believe. But the rumors were detailed, even explaining why the Yasunori Trading Company planned to leave the Land of Wind, so many people came to believe it.

Others grew worried and, while the Yasunori Trading Company had not yet departed, began buying Supplies in bulk. This prompted many more to follow, directly triggering a wave of panic buying throughout Sunagakure.

Pakura, who had been assigned to protect Yasunori Sakai, also learned of the matter. She immediately sought confirmation from him and asked whether it was true.

"It is true, Jonin Pakura. This matter… sigh."

Yasunori Sakai gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Jonin Pakura, I consider you a friend, so I will tell only you. If the Kazekage cannot help the Yasunori Trading Company resolve this matter, then after this farewell, it may be the last time we ever meet. Once I return, I will have to apologize to the family with my life."

As for how he would apologize, Pakura could guess from Yasunori Sakai’s miserable expression. In old families with long histories, seppuku was still a common occurrence.

"I was almost solely responsible for bringing about the cooperation with the Suna-nin. I never expected the Kazekage’s authority to be so limited. If this cannot be resolved, the Yasunori Trading Company’s losses will exceed one billion ryo. Jonin Pakura… forget it. There is nothing to say. We can only wait for the Kazekage’s news."

Yasunori Sakai then returned to his residence in poor spirits. Though he had warned Pakura not to leak the matter, her three students were clearly not people who could keep a secret.

The next day, the news spread. By the third day, countless versions of the Yasunori Trading Company’s situation had emerged. Although Hyuga Mirai’s people were secretly fanning the flames, the matter concerned Sunagakure’s supply security, so it was only natural that the news traveled quickly.

Given the Daimyo of the Land of Wind’s temperament, Rasa could never persuade him. After Rasa returned, he would also face Villagers and Ninja ready to force his hand.

If Rasa did not launch a coup d’état against the Daimyo, then he would only be driven from the Position of Kazekage by furious Villagers and replaced with another Kazekage.

The Daimyo Manor wanted money, while Sunagakure needed to survive. It now depended on whether Rasa had the courage to shatter the system that had circulated throughout the Ninja World for so long: the One Village One Nation system.

"The modifications are complete. Android 18, feel it for yourself."

Hyuga Mirai put away the equipment and spoke to Android 18 with satisfaction. The other changes had been simple enough, but adding "sensation" to Android 18 had taken him quite some time.

To solve this problem, Hyuga Mirai directly modified Android 18’s Star Stone Energy Furnace, adding Android 18’s core processing functions to it. At the same time, he used Sealing Technique, Yin-Yang Release, and Chakra-converted electrons to simulate Neurons, sensory organs, and various other forms of human perception.

Such functions would have been useless frills for other robots, but Android 18 held a special place for Hyuga Mirai. Since it would not cause any other effects, he put in the extra effort.

"How does it feel?"

"It truly is wondrous. As expected of you, sir."

Android 18 raised a hand and patted her cheek, then pulled hard at both sides of her face. The skin and muscles simulated by Bio-nanites instantly transmitted the "feeling" to Android 18’s core through Neurons.

After she let go, a blush even appeared on her cheeks.

"It hurts."

Android 18 tilted her head and spoke expressionlessly.

"Make more expressions next time. Looking at you like this makes me feel as though the modifications failed." Hyuga Mirai chuckled.

"I will work hard to learn, sir." Android 18 forcibly controlled the corners of her mouth, imitating Hyuga Mirai’s smile. It looked somewhat frightening, though, and before long, Hyuga Mirai forcibly pressed her mouth back into place.

"By the way, sir, there is some intelligence I need to tell you."