"Tsuna, what's your take on this?"
Haruki handed the scroll to Tsunade's apprentice, Fuling Uzumaki, who is now the Secretary to the Hokage.
She has made remarkable progress over the past few years.
She has quite good talent. She learned the Uzumaki Sealing Technique from Kushina and became an excellent Medical Ninja under Tsunade's guidance.
Overall, it wouldn't be an overstatement to say she is an elite among the Jonin.
Although she leans more towards support rather than combat.
Tsunade didn't answer Haruki's question right away. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "The intentions of Cloud Hidden Village have been exposed. Even if Sunagakure doesn't cooperate with them, they'll just lose an opportunity. But they'll still look for another chance. So, since we're in the shadows, we should strike Cloud Hidden Village a heavy blow first."
Haruki nodded.
He agreed with Tsunade's explanation.
Cloud Hidden Village wouldn't give up easily.
In the original story, it almost went to war with Sunagakure, Konoha Village, and Iwagakure simultaneously. Its ambitions were quite grand.
"Rasa, did anyone know you were coming here?"
Haruki looked at Rasa beside him and asked.
"No. Apart from my teacher, no one knew. After receiving the secret letter from Cloud Hidden Village, I took the railway here. And I left clones in the village. As long as no one checks closely, they won't notice anything wrong."
Rasa shook his head. Both The Third Kazekage and he understood the gravity of the situation. Like Tsunade, they were also willing to cooperate, so they acted very secretly.
"Well, in that case, we can accept Cloud Hidden Village's request for a joint Chunin Exams. Coincidentally, there's a group of students who have recently reached the Chunin level. This would be a good chance to test them."
Haruki remembered that in Obito's memories, there was indeed a Chunin Exams.
What was even more ridiculous was that Kakashi, who was already a Chunin at that time, came back to take the exam and graduated with Obito and Rin Nohara.
But at present, the three of them hadn't become Chunin yet.
Haruki stroked his chin, recalling the current geniuses.
Since Cloud Hidden Village dared to make this request, they must be confident of victory.
But he didn't know much about it.
Could it be that Jinchuriki of the Eight - Tails B would participate in person?
B looked older than his age. He was not even twenty this year.
He was eligible to participate.
If it were the Jinchuriki of the Eight - Tails, Kakashi and Obito might not be his match.
However, Haruki wasn't worried because there were still Might Guy and Sasori.
"Let Sasori from your Sunagakure participate."
Haruki looked up and smiled. "With his modified Puppets, I'm sure no one can beat him."
Rasa looked at him in surprise.
According to normal thinking, it would be more in line with Haruki's expectations for Konoha to win in the end.
He hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse.
Sasori had spent most of the past few years in Konoha.
His strength was truly unimaginable.
As a Puppeteer, his real body wasn't very strong. But with Haruki's generous support, his Puppets had become more and more powerful.
Rasa had fought him a couple of times. Those battles were truly dreadful to look back on.
Fortunately, Sasori has no interest in becoming the Kazekage. Otherwise, he would become a formidable enemy to Rasa in a few years.
This is because Sasori is comparable to Rasa in terms of status and strength.
Moreover, he has an additional advantage. Haruki has a particular fondness for Sasori.
Judging from Konoha's influence on Sunagakure, this advantage is immeasurable.
"How can our Sunagakure cooperate with you?"
Rasa snapped back to reality and asked.
He can distinguish the primary from the secondary. When dealing with the Cloud Hidden Village, which is far more powerful than the Sunagakure, they can simply play a supporting role.
"There's no need for special cooperation. Just participate in the Chunin Exams as usual."
"Okay."
Rasa's lips twitched slightly.
He really wanted to ask if they could give Sunagakure a bit of face.
Not even a chance to play support?
Well, it's good to win without much effort.
"If possible, try to keep the Third Raikage during the Chunin Exams," Tsunade suddenly looked up and said coldly.
Rasa was shocked.
Keep the Third Raikage?
This goal seems a bit too unrealistic.
As the fastest man recognized in the ninja world, it would be a piece of cake for the Third Raikage to escape.
Well, Minato Namikaze hasn't fully risen to fame yet and is not as well - known as the Third Raikage.
Haruki looked at Tsunade in surprise. This off - hand remark really has the air of a queen.
Judging from his understanding of her, it's not an outburst of anger but a confident assertion.
"Sunagakure will do its best," Rasa bowed slightly and said seriously.
Anyway, with the alliance of their two ninja villages, even if they can't keep the Third Raikage, they can still cause significant damage to Cloud Hidden Village.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go back to Sunagakure first," Rasa asked again.
"Wait a minute. I remember you got married last year, right?" Haruki remembered something and asked.
"Yes, to Karura. Lord Haruki, do you have any questions about this?"
Rasa looked puzzled. He really wanted to say that he had invited Haruki to his wedding, but Haruki declined, saying he was too busy.
Now asking this question is a bit strange.
"I'm just a little curious. When do you plan to have a child?"
"?"
Rasa's heart skipped a beat.
What does that mean?
Whether I have a child or not, what does it matter to you?
Haruki realized that his question was indeed easy to misunderstand.
"I heard from Sasori that your Jinchuriki sealing technique is not very good. If you're willing, you can send someone to learn a few Sealing Techniques."
He didn't say that he would send someone over, as it would be too obvious.
However, Rasa still showed a look of caution on his face.
The Tailed Beast is the bottom line for Sunagakure.
Without knowing Haruki's strength, the Tailed Beast gives them the greatest sense of security and no one is allowed to interfere.
But their Sealing Technique is really bad.
In the original story, Gaara couldn't sleep because of this, resulting in huge dark circles under his eyes.
If it weren't for the One - Tailed Shukaku being the weakest Tailed Beast, there would have been problems long ago.
But it's common for him to go berserk.
"I know what you're worried about, but I have no intention of doing anything to your Tailed Beast."
Seeing his expression, Haruki couldn't help smiling. "Besides, if I really had ill intentions, I wouldn't need to use such complicated methods."
Rasa was slightly startled.
Although what Haruki said made sense, it sounded more insulting than harmful.
He nodded and said, "If Lord Haruki is willing to be generous, I'll select several students with talent in Sealing Technique to come to Konoha University as exchange students."
Four years ago, Haruki sent someone to reach an agreement with the ninja school in Sunagakure.
Every year, the two sides would send a group of students to each other's schools.
One purpose was to strengthen the connection, and the other was to learn from each other.
Sunagakure was quite excellent in aspects such as Puppeteer and Wind Release.
While Konoha was more comprehensive.
Generally speaking, Sunagakure benefited more from this cooperation.
Rasa left with some doubts. He planned to go back and ask Gaara if he had any relationship with Haruki.
Haruki turned around and saw Tsunade with a questioning look on her face.
She crossed her arms and said, "What did you mean just now?"
"Just helping an ally out."
Haruki glanced at Fuling behind her and didn't make any overly intimate moves.
In his past life, he really liked Gaara.
Since he met him, it was just a piece of cake.
It also prevented any turmoil in Sunagakure.
What he wanted was a stable ally.
Tsunade snorted, but didn't dwell on this issue.
After more than a decade, she knew Haruki very well.
Although he sometimes made strange decisions, they always proved to be correct in the end.
"Did you receive the news about Minato?"
Haruki stepped forward, and then handed Tsunade a glass of warm water, smiling. "Your Majesty, please have a drink."
Tsunade gave him a dirty look. Can't this guy get the situation?
But when she thought about the crazy stuff they'd done in this office over the years, she knew she should never count on Haruki to act normal.
"I've received it."
Tsunade took a sip of water and said, "It seems that the exoskeleton power suit and the air fortress are very successful. Once they're put into the ninja war, there should be unexpected results. Humph, the Cloud Hidden Village has picked the wrong opponent this time."
"Even without these, they wouldn't be a match for us."
Haruki said calmly.
Since Konoha implemented the policy of encouraging birth rate, the population had expanded rapidly.
When Tsunade first became the Hokage, the first census showed a population of 95,000, and now it was 120,000.
Among them, there were nearly 30,000 regular ninja armies.
Of course, the newly added population included the residents of the Land of Fire who were admitted to Konoha University because of their talents.
Tsunade nodded slightly upon hearing this.
As the Hokage, she was the one who knew Konoha's situation best besides Haruki.
"Minato helped Nobuaki Oda become the Daimyo. According to my request, he dispersed the entire Black Armor Army as instructors to help the Land of Fire rebuild its army.
Since the Black Armor Army has more than 8,000 members of the Xia Organization and their ideology is absolutely reliable, with the experienced members leading the new ones, within a few years, the army of the Land of Fire will all become the army of the Xia Organization.
But the Chunin Exams held by the Cloud Hidden Village have given me another idea. In the usual joint exams, the Daimyo is very likely to be invited. And Nobuaki Oda has just taken office. He is in urgent need of a stage.
This is a good opportunity for us."
Haruki smiled and said, "If the Fire Daimyo unexpectedly dies in an attack by Cloud Hidden Village, we'll have enough reason. Whether it's to start a war with Cloud Hidden Village or let Minato temporarily take over the Land of Fire. After the war ends, 'temporarily' might turn into 'permanently'."
Tsunade looked up at him.
Gotta say Haruki's plan is simple and sneaky... oh no, I mean smart.
"Are you planning to make Minato the Daimyo?"
"Naturally not."
"I don't even have time to be lazy anymore."
Tsunade couldn't help complaining.
She knew that Haruki wanted her to become the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
"You were personally appointed as the princess by the previous Daimyo and have a bit of the bloodline. It's reasonable for you to succeed as the Daimyo."
Haruki shrugged.
The reason Tsunade became a princess was that her mother was the daughter of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Otherwise, why would she be crowned a princess out of the blue?
If it was just because of Hashirama, it simply didn't make sense.
Moreover, not only in the Land of Fire and Konoha, but even the ninjas from other ninja villages addressed Tsunade as princess when they saw her.
"Don't the other children of the Daimyo have any objections?"
"He doesn't have any other children."
Haruki sighed and said, "Maybe because he obtained the position unjustly, after Nobuaki Oda became the Daimyo, he got rid of his siblings."
"Just as expected, the royal family is heartless."
Tsunade frowned slightly. She clearly remembered that Nobuaki Oda had a good reputation previously.
But the things he was doing now made him seem like a completely different person.
"This is the drawback of concentrating power in one person's hands."
Haruki quickly changed the topic. "I'll send the Anbu to tell Minato to invite the Fire Daimyo to the Chunin Exams. You spread the word that those who want to sign up need the approval of their team - leading Jonin."
Although Konoha no longer had the Genin graduation ceremony, it still maintained the one - leading - three system.
This system had more advantages than disadvantages.
Even in the past, in workshops and such, the master - apprentice system was in place.
Tsunade looked at Fuling and said, "Fuling, go and inform them."
"Sure, Hokage - sama."
"By the way, let Shizune participate too. Although she's a Medical Ninja, she must learn to cooperate with her teammates."
Tsunade paused here and then said to Haruki, "You've been the principal of Konoha University. Assign two teammates to my disciple."
"Let me think."
Haruki didn't expect Tsunade to say that. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Kai and Shisui."
"Shisui? Isn't he only five years old?"
Tsunade wasn't too surprised about Kai. She knew about Kai's Eight Gates.
After obtaining the medical Kinjutsu of Shinno, she made some modifications to the Eight Gates.
Since Kai didn't know Medical Ninjutsu, she used another method.
Pills.
Just like the secret medicine of the Akimichi Clan.
After taking them, one could offset the side - effects of the Eight Gates in a short period.
Therefore, she trusted Kai's strength.
But she didn't know much about Shisui.
Although Tsunade knew that Shisui was Haruki's student, she couldn't believe he could be another peerless genius, could he?
"Shisui has already awakened the two - tomoe [Sharingan]."
Haruki explained.
However, the way Shisui awakened his [Sharingan] was completely different from that in the original story.
It was because of a game.
As network technology developed, a popular game called [League of Legends] suddenly emerged and became a huge hit.
Haruki organized an e - sports competition at [Konoha University].
He specifically asked Shisui to participate.
After about a year like this, Shisui awakened his [Sharingan].
Thanks mainly to Haruki's under - the - table maneuvering, the team Shisui was on hardly won any games.
They ended up at the bottom among the twelve teams at [Konoha University].
"This... is really..."
Tsunade opened her mouth and sighed, "Why are there always so many geniuses in the [Uchiha Clan]?"
"Who knows?"
Haruki left the office, found Shisui, and asked him to deliver another letter to the [Anbu].
At the same time, he also told Shisui about the [Chunin Exams].
Shisui was obviously very excited.
According to [Konoha University] regulations, unlike in the original story, he couldn't graduate early and had to finish at least six years of primary school before skipping grades and entering the university.
At [Konoha University], the first six years are compulsory education, and everyone has to complete them.
"Don't be too happy. Me allowing you to take the [Chunin Exams] has already broken the rules, so you have to prepare well."
Haruki tapped Shisui on the head, "Your opponents are geniuses from different ninja villages, not just your schoolmates."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Shisui nodded seriously, but his excitement was still palpable.
"Your teammates are Might Guy and Shizune. Go find them and get along well with them these days."
"Okay!"
"Wait, take this letter to the [Anbu] and tell them to pass it on to Minato."
Haruki called back Shisui who was about to run off.
Shisui smiled sheepishly, nearly forgetting the crucial task.