Tsunade’s Thoughts on Joining the Battle

"Build another school beside the Ninja Academy, one specifically for training administrative personnel. Given the Federation’s current circumstances, its demand for government administrators will gradually increase over the next five to fifteen years. Compile everything current administrative personnel need to learn into textbooks, then recruit and teach students on a large scale."

Hyuga Mirai made this suggestion. Although it was his first time proposing one, it received the approval and support of many people.

This was indeed what the Federation needed most right now. Without a steady reserve of officials, a region could be paralyzed if someone fell ill or some other emergency arose.

With the seventy people supported by the Uzumaki Company, along with another batch still being trained within the Federation, they could barely take over the Land of Wind’s territory quickly. Besides, many lower-level personnel did not need replacing. With kunai held to their throats, if they still remained loyal to the former Daimyo and nobles, then the Federation’s Ninja could only help them fulfill their samurai spirit.

Moreover, the Land of Wind’s territory was far better than the Federation’s. Eighty percent of the Federation’s territory was desert. Though it had more resources, there were very few places suitable for people to live. Even with the Yasunori Trading Company putting great effort into development, it would take years before results could be seen.

The Land of Wind, on the other hand, had quite a few oases and farmlands. Once occupied, it could quickly bolster the Federation’s population and strength. The nobles who stubbornly resisted could also be sent to work the mines, giving them several thousand extra laborers out of thin air. That would save money otherwise spent hiring Civilians while freeing up more people to promote new grain varieties.

Aside from the initial proposal for a school to train talent, which had been suggested by Hyuga Mirai, he barely spoke for the rest of the meeting.

Yet these people seemed to have awakened some spirit of capitalist expansion. Even Hyuga Mirai silently clicked his tongue at the suggestions coming out of their mouths.

The Suna-nin had probably taken quite a lot of abuse from the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and the nobles in the past. Even Rasa, the leader of an entire village, had to roll up his sleeves and go mining. It was hardly surprising that the former Sunagakure higher-ups had accumulated so much resentment.

This meeting was mainly about attacking the Land of Wind and governing the territory after its occupation. The attack itself would primarily be handled by the Federation’s Military Police Force, led by Uchiha Tekka. The enemy’s remaining armed strength consisted only of some hired Ninja and Samurai, so there was no need to deploy a Ninja Army.

This was Uchiha Tekka’s first time carrying out such an important mission in the Saudi Federation. Though the other higher-ups had made the task sound easy, the pressure in Uchiha Tekka’s heart was not small at all.

The Uchiha Clan had to carry this out flawlessly. Not even the slightest mistake could be made. He would call Uchiha Mikoto along when the time came. If necessary, they would use absolute force to intimidate the other side.

The Saudi Federation had sincerely accepted the Uchiha Clan, so the Uchiha Clan could not be vague at a critical moment either.

After the meeting ended, Hyuga Mirai suddenly felt an impulse and went to the Puppet Department where Sasori was stationed. The Puppet Department held a lofty position in Sunagakure and directly occupied a newly constructed ten-story building. It was not particularly tall in Hyuga Mirai’s eyes, but compared to the Federation’s other buildings, it was already quite impressive.

The original Sunagakure had a weak foundation. When the village was founded, no major Ninja Clans had joined it. The original Suna-nin excelled at Wind Release ninjutsu because they did not possess ninjutsu of other elemental releases.

Thus, they could only devote themselves to developing Puppet Technique. By the eras of the Third Kazekage and Fourth Kazekage, Puppet Masters had already made up more than half of Sunagakure’s Ninja.

After the guards at the entrance saw Hyuga Mirai, they asked about his purpose and reported upward. Only after receiving orders did they let him pass.

There were quite a few people inside, almost all Puppet Masters. Hyuga Mirai casually glanced around and saw many of them modifying puppets.

Hyuga Mirai arrived at the top floor where Sasori was. Seeing Sasori with an unpleasant expression as he compiled tactical teaching materials for the new generation of Puppet Mechs, he felt that he had come at exactly the right time.

"Sasori, are you compiling teaching materials?"

"It’s obvious just from looking. I never thought that one day I would return to this village and do something this boring." Sasori’s tone was flat, but the resentment in his words came straight at Hyuga Mirai.

"Haha… Good thing I came to see you today, Sasori. Why don’t you have Android 18 help you compile them?"

Ignoring Sasori’s complaint, Hyuga Mirai smilingly offered him a time-saving and effortless solution.

Sasori froze slightly after hearing that. "Android 18 can compile teaching materials too?"

"You underestimate Android 18 too much. In fact, she handles all sorts of research calculations for me. She also assists Orochimaru with calculations for many of his experiments. You only need to send your battle footage to Android 18, and she will analyze your usual combat methods for you."

In fact, that was only a portion of Android 18’s capabilities. Once they entered the age of electronic computers, everything within the Federation could be handed over to Android 18.

After hearing that, Sasori slapped his forehead, then scratched his red hair. "Why am I the last one to know about this?"

"I always thought you already knew. After all, Orochimaru—"

"Fine, I understand. If there’s nothing else, leave. Don’t disturb my work." Sasori became somewhat irritated as soon as he heard Orochimaru’s name. Within the organization, he could accept being inferior to Tsunade, but he absolutely did not want to be surpassed by that freakish snake.

In the conflict between the ideals of mechanical immortality and biological immortality, Sasori had never believed that mechanical immortality would be inferior to Orochimaru’s mess of bizarre bodily modifications. If not for Hyuga Mirai’s suggestion, Sasori would have long since turned his body into metal.

However, after witnessing the power of the Tenseigan, Sasori had also discovered the flaws in the Ninja World’s current mechanical metals. Before resolving those flaws, he did not intend to transform his body into a machine, because art that endured forever should not have the slightest imperfection.

Hyuga Mirai did not stay long before Sasori drove him out. Still, knowing that Sasori was working properly was enough. Once the teaching materials for the new generation of Puppet Mechs were finished, they could be fully promoted throughout the Federation.

Pakura was certainly diligent and responsible, but the Ninja Army left behind by the former Sunagakure was too weak. Without the One-Tail’s help, the Saudi Federation would find it difficult to gain an advantage against Konoha. Once Pakura returned from this defeat, she would definitely support the reform and promotion of the new Puppet Mechs.

If the leader of an entire village returned in defeat, then without reforming their military strength, they would likely be unable to hold on to such vast territory as the Saudi Federation possessed.

While he was on his way back, Android 18 suddenly sent him a message through the terminal.

"Sir, Tsunade is looking for you."

"Tsunade? What is she up to again?" Hyuga Mirai glanced around, then said to Android 18, "I’ll speak to her once I’m back."

There were other Federation Civilians and Ninja nearby, so it was not convenient to chat or call through the Nano Display Screen.

Hyuga Mirai then returned to his residence. When he suddenly saw the person sitting at the table, he could not help asking, "Kushina, why haven’t you left yet?"

"Because I don’t know where to go. If I go to the training ground, that idiot Naruto will definitely make me angry again." Kushina sprawled across the table. Several hours had passed since that embarrassing moment, and she had more or less forgotten her slip of the tongue.

"You are, after all, the deputy director of the Sealing Barrier Department. It’s time for you to take on some responsibility."

After hearing that, Kushina rapidly shook her head, sending her red hair flying. "I haven’t seen an official appointment letter yet, so I’m not one for now. This might be my last period of rest, so don’t rush me."

Hyuga Mirai thought about it and felt that Kushina had a point. He casually said, "That’s true. Do as you like, then."

Kushina was startled. "Are you really planning to exploit my time in the future?"

Though Hyuga Mirai did not answer, he had long planned to do exactly that. There were not many people under him proficient in Sealing Technique. Aside from himself, there were only Uzumaki Ayaka and Uzumaki Kushina. If Ayaka was unwilling, then Kushina would have to bear the burden.

Sunagakure’s barriers and seals could be said to be the weakest among the Five Great Ninja Villages. Kushina, however, was familiar with all of Konoha’s sealing barriers. Building new ones in Sunagakure would not be difficult, though it would take a great deal of her energy.

Hyuga Mirai then connected to Tsunade’s transmission. The first thing he saw was Tsunade just after finishing her training, breathing lightly with fragrant sweat covering her body.

"What is it, Tsunade?"

Tsunade steadied her breathing, then said to Hyuga Mirai, "I plan to go to the Rain Country battlefield. If that kid called Nagato intends to wipe out Konoha’s Ninja troop in one stroke, I’ll fight him once and end this war."

Hyuga Mirai was stunned. "Has Nagato made a move already?"

Tsunade shook her head. "Not sure, but Yakushi Kabuto suggested I go early. It would let us guard against Amegakure suddenly launching an attack. What do you think?"

"Then go, but be careful. You should know Nagato’s physical condition. Even if you awaken Wood Release, you may not necessarily be a match for the Rinnegan," Hyuga Mirai said with his usual reminder.

Nagato’s true body now was not something Pain’s Six Paths combined could compare to. Even if Tsunade awakened Wood Release, as long as Nagato spent his life force to control the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, Tsunade would still be no match for him.

Tsunade’s Wood Release was still somewhat inferior to Hashirama Senju’s. She probably could not restrain the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

Tsunade’s expression suddenly became serious. "Being careful probably won’t be much use when the time comes. After all, I’m the Hokage now." But after saying that, she narrowed her eyes at Hyuga Mirai. "Still, a qualified leader shouldn’t just watch his capable subordinate get hurt, should he?"

"Provided that subordinate doesn’t cause trouble for her leader."

Hyuga Mirai replied irritably. Then he suddenly remembered that the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path held tremendous research value. If he could obtain some of it during this battle, it would be a huge gain.

"I’ll go when the time comes, but whether I show myself will depend on the situation."