Chapter 232: War Breaks Out Again
"How can they do this?" Jiraiya erupted with fury, brows shooting upward.
"That's simply how they are, Lord Hokage. What can you possibly do about it?"
"Will you march to their homes and drag them out one by one for a beating?"
"Can't I?" Jiraiya shot back.
"Well..." Shikaku Nara's words caught momentarily before he sighed: "If you went to beat them, they'd happily stretch out their necks and let you."
"They've already figured out your character, Lord Hokage. They know you absolutely won't kill them."
"For ninja clan members, as long as they can muddle through this situation, what's one beating?"
"Damn..." Jiraiya sucked in a sharp breath, utterly helpless.
Without money, nothing could move forward. With the ninja clans refusing cooperation, Konoha Village's recovery ground to a complete halt.
Unable to secure funds within the village, Jiraiya had no choice but to seek audience with Lord Sora Tani, hoping to obtain more resources from the nobles' side.
The ninja clans had constructed an opulent estate specifically for Lord Sora Tani—complete with artificial mountains and lakes, exotic flowers and rare plants, everything imaginable within the grounds.
Previously occupied with village affairs, Jiraiya had never visited. Now seeing it firsthand, he couldn't help frowning internally.
While using shinobi labor was far more efficient than ordinary workers, it only improved speed without reducing costs—in fact, it cost considerably more.
This estate's construction alone, including decoration, landscaping, and transplanting—probably required several billion ryo.
That money invested in village reconstruction could have funded multiple infrastructure projects.
But he also knew such extravagance was commonplace in the shinobi world. Nothing to be done about it.
After being announced, Jiraiya was ushered into a reception hall to meet Lord Sora Tani face-to-face.
Tea was served. The two sat across from each other. After brief pleasantries, Jiraiya stated his purpose directly.
"Oh, you need resources? That's actually quite simple." Lord Sora Tani waved his folding fan, face wreathed in smiles.
"The daimyo has been continuously gathering supplies from the nobles. Once collection is complete, they'll naturally be delivered to Konoha Village."
"Ah, that's wonderful!" Jiraiya's anxious heart finally relaxed. "Then may I ask, Lord Sora Tani—approximately when can Konoha Village expect these supplies?"
Seeing Lord Sora Tani's brow furrow, Jiraiya hurriedly explained with an apologetic smile:
"Please don't misunderstand—I'm not pressuring you. It's just that the village desperately needs resources right now. We've already stalled completely."
"If I knew the approximate timeline, I could plan accordingly."
"I see!" Lord Sora Tani's expression turned difficult. "Well, that's hard to say."
"As you know, because of the territorial concessions and reparations, many nobles lost their fiefs."
"These people cry at the daimyo's side constantly, leaving him in a very difficult position!"
"Moreover, gathered resources must prioritize reparation payments to other nations."
"Those few cartloads of supplies before? The nobles squeezed those out from reparation funds by tightening their belts!"
"Ah, I see." Jiraiya's face darkened with difficulty. "Can't reparations be delayed? Supporting our own people should take priority!"
Lord Sora Tani raised his fan to conceal his mouth, regarding Jiraiya with amusement before laughing lightly: "What's this? Does Lord Jiraiya intend to overturn previous agreements with other nations and reignite the war?"
"Ah, no, no—I have no such intention!" Jiraiya shook his head frantically. "While those treaties are deeply humiliating, Konoha Village truly cannot withstand war against the other Four Nations right now."
"Ahaha..." Lord Sora Tani suddenly laughed strangely. "Actually, we don't necessarily need to fight all Four Nations simultaneously!"
"Previously, the other nations started the war to profit from the Land of Fire."
"But now they've obtained what they wanted. Next, they need to digest these spoils of victory."
"Like a tiger sleeping after a full meal—right now, those nations don't want war any more than we do."
"Konoha Village certainly can't defeat four nations, but fighting just one—say, the Land of Wind? That would be quite easy!"
"What?" Jiraiya startled, but couldn't help feeling his heart stir with temptation.
The Land of Wind was the weakest among the Five Great Nations. They'd even had their Tailed Beast stolen recently. Even in Konoha Village's current weakened state, they might not lose against the Land of Wind.
But the thought vanished from his mind almost instantly.
"No, no, Lord Sora Tani. War inevitably brings death."
"Whether Konoha's people die or Sand Village's people die—neither is something I want to see."
"The shinobi world has seen enough death already. Better not to spark another war."
"What we should do next is focus on our own development. Once our village prospers, everyone will naturally have a brighter tomorrow."
"Hmph!" Lord Sora Tani immediately grew displeased, his face hardening as he scolded: "It's precisely because you cling to such conservative thinking that Konoha Village keeps falling further behind!"
"In the shinobi world, everyone practices survival of the fittest. If you don't plunder others, others will plunder you."
"Each time you're plundered, the village grows weaker—that's why today's disaster occurred."
"Jiraiya, I'll be frank with you!"
"The nobles have no surplus either. They cannot support you without compensation."
"We've already discussed this—since we can't provoke the Great Nations, we'll start with smaller countries, obtain some resources, and replenish everyone's reserves."
"What?" Jiraiya leaped to his feet in shock, refusing vehemently: "Absolutely not!"
"I will never agree to such a thing!"
"Won't agree?" Lord Sora Tani laughed coldly. "By what right do you refuse?"
"Don't forget—you're no longer Hokage. The village's authority now rests under the daimyo's control."
"Come to think of it, I should thank you!"
"If you hadn't been so naively insistent on 'unity from top to bottom,' those ninja clans wouldn't have been so easily swayed to my side."
"Perhaps you don't know?"
"During this period, most village clans have secretly visited me, pledging loyalty to me and the daimyo and nobles I represent."
"Naturally, I've promised them generous benefits."
"For instance—swallowing neighboring small nations and letting all the clans feast!"
"Impossible!" Jiraiya's expression transformed drastically. "Every clan lost massive numbers of shinobi during the war. How could they possibly agree to launch another one?"