Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 241: The Real Purpose of Pulling Each Other Together

Onoki nodded in satisfaction: "As you know, the recent rise of the Three Kingdoms Alliance has attracted many excellent merchants from various countries. Without merchants, various missions have also decreased significantly. The number of ninjas in our village has been increasing every year, and we are already struggling to make ends meet."

"Since you are so kind and capable, then help me think of a way to get Takigakure to give up its mission quota and allow us Iwagakure ninjas to enter Takigakure to carry out missions."

"I'm afraid that won't work," Yahiko shook his head and said, "because the portion of the mission quota from Takigakure Village is still useful."

Because that was one of the conditions that Kakuzu gave to Sunagakure for peace talks, and moreover, these missions only involved going to the outskirts of Takigakure.

Those wealthy merchants have entered the Land of Waterfalls, so there's no longer a need for ninjas to keep them there.

The giant summoning beast on the Nori River Line 1 subway in the Land of Waterfalls is more than capable of handling the situation. It's stronger than over 90% of the ninjas in the ninja world, and it's cheap and fast too.

"If you can't even do this, then tell me, how should we resolve the conflicts within our ninja village?"

Yahiko said seriously, "Actually, you can increase the number of people carrying out the mission. At worst, you can make each person take a smaller share of the money, and then everyone will make money."

In Yahiko's view, being a ninja is a high-paying and prestigious profession. Even with reduced income, they can still live well, at least better than ordinary people. If they could increase the number of people on missions, share the costs, and try to understand each other, there shouldn't be any more conflicts.

"Stop, stop, stop!"

"Do you know how much a ninja can eat? Earning little money means not having enough to eat. Ordinary people, when they're starving, know to steal. We ninjas, when we're starving, why can't we steal?"

"Couldn't you go and try to persuade those well-fed ninjas to understand us and share some of their food with us? That's why we started this war—it's all their fault!"

Yahiko couldn't understand why the Land of Earth, one of the Five Great Nations, would let its ninjas go hungry.

Before he could figure it out, Onoki said again, "How about... you talk to the people of the Three Kingdoms Alliance and ask them to stop developing? Or try to persuade those merchants to do business locally in Iwagakure and boost the economy."

Yahiko was completely bewildered by this. Weren't they just talking about peace? How did they suddenly start talking about the economy?

Is there any necessary relationship between peace and doing business?

He felt the topic had gone a bit too far, and even touched on areas where he had little knowledge.

He knows how to fight and how to negotiate, but he really hasn't had much experience with economics and business.

Looking at his expression, Onoki suddenly sighed. A hint of disdain crept into his eyes. With such limited ability and vision, he dared to dream of world peace with just a few words? Truly absurd.

If you don't swindle this kind of person, who will you swindle?

Seeing that he was lost in his own confusion, Onoki didn't rush to speak. Instead, he slowly picked up a cup of cold tea and waited until he had finished it before saying, "How about this, let's each take a step back."

"If you can persuade Kakuzu and the others to make way for our people to pass through the Land of Grass to Mount Kikyo and establish a base near the Kannabe Bridge, I will agree to take the rest of the people with me."

Yahiko frowned: "You haven't given up on attacking Konoha yet?"

"No, I just want to open up a main road to increase trade."

Onoki looked sincere and didn't seem to be lying: "I told you before that we're also facing difficulties right now. So we're just establishing a base there to facilitate our missions and save expenses; we won't be launching any offensives."

Yahiko stared into his eyes, hesitatingly asking, "Really...?"

"Of course it's true." Onoki said without changing his expression. "When have I ever lied to you?"

Of course I'm lying to you. While we won't attack first, we will retaliate if Konoha attacks us. How can that be called lying? That's called legitimate self-defense.

Yahiko had a feeling that things weren't so simple, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Besides, Onoki was, after all, the village's leader; he couldn't very well lie to him about something like this.

However, for now, this is the only way to solve the problem.

Yahiko nodded emphatically: "Alright, it's a deal. I will do my best to persuade Lord Kakuzu."

Onoki smiled and said, "Then it's settled."

Ultimately, both sides agreed that 500 people would travel through the Land of Rain to Mount Kikyo to build a base.

After Yahiko and the other two left the tent, Koto lifted the curtain and came in, saying, "Father, are we really going to send a force of five hundred men?"

Onoki, fanning himself with a round fan, said slowly, "Of course we'll have to have a party."

"But……"

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything." Onoki's smile held a deeper meaning. "The leader is Old Purple."

"The Four-Tails Jinchuriki?" Huang Tu gasped in shock.

Onoki calmly waved his fan. "Since we're sending people over, we should send someone who can keep things in check. Those three brats want peace, don't they? I'll give them a chance."

As for why it was Old Purple, it's because they don't get along and have internal conflicts. Now they can not only drive a nail into the Konoha border, but also, if necessary, use other people's hands to weaken Old Purple's power. This is a win-win situation, so why not do it?

Moreover, with Rōshi, the Jinchūriki, around, they can even restrain Kakuzu, making it easier for them to carry out their plans.

Sigh, I don't know if Danzo's plan is reliable or not, but no matter what, Iwakage Village is guaranteed to make a profit from this deal.

Just then, Huang Tu paused for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Father, do you think those three brats can persuade Kakuzu to make way?"

Whether they can convince us or not is none of our business.

Onoki leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes: "However, according to information passed on by some people, there is still a possibility."

"Who is Father?"

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask. When the time is right, you'll know everything. In short, remember, whether this succeeds or fails, it will be beneficial to our Iwagakure."

Soon, the 500-strong force was ready. If the enemy allowed them passage, their plan was to head to Mount Kikyo, capture the Kannabashi Fortress, and establish a base there.

If the other side doesn't let them pass, then they will be the vanguard, either breaking through the Land of Rain in one fell swoop or being completely wiped out.

And Lao Zi will be freed from this struggle, and the village will be able to return to peace.

He didn't really want to confront Onoki, but someone had to take the lead, and he just happened to be the most suitable.