One month later.
Outside the gates of Konoha.
The sun blazed overhead, making steam rise from the scorched ground.
Three hundred ninja stood assembled, a dense and silent mass. Not a single cough could be heard.
Among them, aside from the Uchiha Clan who had already been sent to the Land of Wind, every major ninja family had sent people.
This deployment had practically drained their families of all able-bodied young adults. Only the elderly, the infirm, women, and children were left behind.
Arashi stood before them, his gaze sweeping across the youthful, fervent faces.
"Listen up."
"This mission to the Land of Wind is not a sightseeing trip. You're not going there to act like lords."
"The Land of Wind no longer exists."
No one spoke, but their breathing noticeably deepened.
Annexing a major country—this was something they had never even dared to imagine before. But now, they had done it.
"The war there just ended. It's chaotic and unstable, and the people aren't united," Arashi said. "You're going there for two things."
"First, make them obey the rules."
"Second, make them understand that by following the Land of Fire, they'll eat well."
"Once you arrive, those stationed in the Land of Lightning will teach you what to do. If anyone dares to cause trouble, show no mercy."
"I want those desert dwellers who've eaten sand their whole lives to see what true national power looks like."
"Do you understand?"
"Understood!" The three hundred roared in unison, their voices rising higher and louder. "Long live the Daimyo! Long live the Land of Fire!"
The fanaticism in their eyes was impossible to miss.
He waved his hand. "Depart."
The troops set off, leaving a trail of dust in their wake.
Tsunade and several other Konoha high-level officials stood beside him, watching the departing procession with furrowed brows.
Only after the troops had disappeared into the distance did Tsunade speak.
"Do you really think a few hundred people can stabilize the entire Land of Wind?"
"I know those Sunagakure ninja. They're as tough as the rocks in that place. Killing them is easy. Making them submit? That's hard."
He turned to look at her. "Tough bones? That's just because they've never lived good lives."
As he spoke, he headed toward the Hokage Building, with Tsunade and the others following closely behind.
"Slaughter is the lowest method," he continued. "What I want is to replace their blood."
Tsunade was stunned. "What do you mean?"
He raised four fingers.
"First, education."
"Replace all their Ninja Academy textbooks. From now on, children in the Land of Wind will only study the history of the Land of Fire."
"Let them know the Kazekage is history. The Hokage is their true savior."
"The Third Hokage should have something to say about this, right, Sandaime?"
When addressed, Hiruzen gave an awkward chuckle.
He withdrew his gaze and continued, "Second, culture."
"Abolish all their chaotic festivals. From now on, they'll only celebrate the festivals of the Land of Fire."
"Standardize the writing system and the currency, so that without the systems of the Land of Fire, they can't do anything."
"Third, economic binding."
"Bring all their minerals and specialty goods back here. Then dump our grain and cloth over there."
"Make them realize that only by following the Land of Fire can they live good lives."
He paused for a moment, his tone becoming almost playful. "The last point: immigration."
"Encourage bachelors from the Land of Fire to go there and find wives. Offer them land and money. Also encourage people from the Land of Wind to move to Konoha and the Land of Fire, offering them residency and jobs."
"It won't take long. Just one generation." He turned to look back at Tsunade and the others, smiling brightly. "In one generation, the young people living on that land will all be of mixed blood."
"They'll all speak the language of the Land of Fire. The only holidays they'll know will be the ones from the Land of Fire."
"By then, these young people who've grown up eating well, dressing well, and receiving the Land of Fire's education—will they still rebel?"
This was exactly what had been done in the Land of Lightning. And it had already proven effective.
Now, the same strategy was being applied to the Land of Wind.
The pitiful number of Sunagakure ninja were never his real target. If they could be used, great. If not, they'd be suppressed.
His true objective was the vast common populace.
Once the common people of the Land of Wind were assimilated, he'd even begin to teach them some Ninjutsu.
By then, there would be no end to the supply of ninja.
Tsunade felt a chill run through her.
This wasn't governance. This was cutting to the very roots.
Killing the body and destroying the soul—that was exactly what this was.
She looked at the man in front of her, speaking so casually, and for the first time felt that even the word "terrifying" wasn't enough to describe him.
"You..." Tsunade opened her mouth, but in the end, could only say one sentence. "You really are a devil."
He shrugged, completely unfazed. "I am the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. I must take responsibility for the eternal future of the Land of Fire."
"Besides, I'm giving their descendants a better life. It's just that this generation has to suffer a bit."
Half a month later.
The Land of Wind, former Hidden Sand Village.
The signboard at the village entrance had been smashed and replaced with a brand-new, massive plaque.
Fire Country Western Defense Area, Sand and Wind Office.
On the once-iconic Kazekage Building, a huge banner with the character for "Fire" fluttered in the wind, striking against the endless yellow sand.
On the streets, the atmosphere was strange, yet peaceful.
Every few hundred meters, Konoha ninja in uniform patrolled and maintained order.
The leading force was still the Uchiha Clan, their fan-shaped crest gleaming brightly.
Many villagers, including the Sunagakure ninja, still felt reluctant in their hearts.
But they were slowly getting used to it.
Because they discovered that the rule of the Land of Fire wasn't as cruel as they had imagined.
The Konoha ninja didn't oppress them. On the contrary, they sometimes helped the poor—distributing food and repairing houses.
At that moment, a long line had formed near the village entrance at a relief point.
A villager from Hidden Sand, wrapped in a headscarf, peeked inside, swallowing hard. "Hey, did you hear? They're giving out white rice today!"
"For real? How many years has it been since we last saw white rice?" His companion looked doubtful.
"Why would I lie to you? Those Konoha folks... ahem, the adults from the defense area just brought it in." The villager lowered his voice. "I heard that if you register for some kind of 'Good Citizen Certificate,' you get ten catties of rice and one catty of meat!"
His companion hesitated. "Isn't that treason? The Kazekage's body isn't even cold yet..."
"Cold? My ass!" The villager snapped. "They've set up orphanages for kids and homes for the elderly."
"When the Kazekage was alive, did he ever do that? How many full meals did we even have back then? I don't think those Daimyo cared whether we lived or died."
As they spoke, a commotion broke out at the front of the line.
Several Konoha ninja pushed out carts piled high with sacks of gleaming white rice.
"Line up! No pushing!"
"The Daimyo has decreed that you are now citizens of the Land of Fire and will be treated equally! Everyone gets a share!"
As soon as the shout rang out, the crowd, which had still been holding back, suddenly surged forward.
National hatred? Family grudges?
All of that was meaningless in front of empty stomachs.
As long as they could eat, as long as they could live in peace, who cared who ruled them?
(To be continued.)