"They must have struck a gold mine and don't care about money anymore!"
"How dare they sell a Jōnin vest for that price!"
"Are they so unwilling to make money that they're starting to disgust people?"
"But I heard that the new Sandaime Kazekage's Jiton (Magnet Release) might be able to extract Sakin (Gold Dust)."
"Oh, well, in that case, never mind."
"It really is no different from finding a gold mine!"
"What should I do? I'm so envious! A Ninjutsu that can extract gold!"
"Ahem, based on comparison, the quality of the vests sold by Sunagakure… is better… than our custom-made Jōnin vests."
Sarutobi Hiruzen saw that the shinobi below were distracted, so he spoke up again with another piece of news, intending to pull everyone's wandering thoughts back.
"However, according to intelligence… the vests they produce are not custom-made for each person like ours."
"Sunagakure's vests are only available in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes, so they may not perfectly fit everyone, especially those with unique body types."
"For example, those who are too small or…" Sarutobi Hiruzen subtly glanced at the Akimichi Clan Head below, "or those who are a bit more plump won't be able to wear them."
"The purpose of calling everyone here today is also to discuss whether to purchase these vests and what diplomatic strategy Konoha should adopt now that Sunagakure has entered the commercial world."
After all, as one of the Five Great Hidden Villages, even if they are at the bottom, Konoha still needs to treat this sudden change in their external approach with caution.
According to Sunagakure's usual characteristics, if they gained an advantage, they would definitely hide at home, focus on development, and then prepare for the next opportunity.
No one expected them to change professions.
One moment they were fighting tooth and nail in the Land of Rain, and the next they were helping the entire Land of Rain equip vests.
One moment they were sending letters talking about the long-lasting friendship between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, and the next they were fleecing me.
It's a bit shameless, to say the least!
Even more shameless than those barbarians from the Land of Lightning!
"The only comforting thing right now is that Sunagakure has only sold to the Land of Rain." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and said, "But I'm afraid of Iwagakure… this vest would be the biggest improvement for them."
As everyone knows, Iwagakure has the largest number of shinobi among the Five Great Hidden Villages.
The number of shinobi in other villages is generally between 10,000 and 12,000.
Only Iwagakure has a standing ninja force of 20,000, and their number of Chūnin and Genin is almost double that of Konoha.
In an era where most shinobi are "squishy," having armor and not having armor are two completely different concepts.
It's important to know that the strength of Chūnin and Genin in each village is actually quite similar.
The only difference is that Genin tire out after one or two Ninjutsu, while Chūnin can use three or four more.
Both sides rely on Kunai and Shuriken to fight their enemies.
However, if the opponent is wearing a ninja vest, the situation would be vastly different.
Originally, one cut would be enough to bring the opponent down.
Now, two cuts are needed, and if a vital spot isn't hit, the opponent might only suffer minor injuries.
Even an experienced Genin might be able to kill an ordinary Chūnin.
Although Genin and Chūnin don't have as much impact on the battle, the battlefield mainly relies on the liberation of high-end combat power; once a high-end combat power is released, a snowball effect will occur.
However, if the enemy sells them and Konoha doesn't buy them, then Konoha, which is already at a disadvantage in numbers, will also be at a disadvantage in quality, leading to huge casualties among the lower-tier shinobi.
Those are Konoha's young sprouts, the successors of the Will of Fire!
And if this goes on for too long, when they see other villages with even their Genin having a vest each, while they themselves are still equipped with plain gear and only a Kunai… Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't even dare to imagine what would happen next.
Of course.
As mentioned earlier, it's fortunate that only the Land of Rain is like this for now.
After all, the Land of Rain is just a small country.
Even if they hold their own for a while, their fate is already sealed.
Let alone if all the Genin in the Land of Rain wear ninja vests; even if Hanzō of the Salamander's entire summoned salamander family were to wear vests, it wouldn't make a difference.
I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, said it myself!
As Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking.
Everyone frowned again, whispering to each other, exchanging thoughts.
Utatane Koharu then spoke, "How about… we first buy a batch from Sunagakure?"
Bang~
No sooner had she spoken than a table-slapping sound came from next to Utatane Koharu.
"Hmph!" Danzō, with a bandage over his right eye, snorted coldly and looked at the crowd, saying:
"I say… a mere Sunagakure, the shame of the Five Great Hidden Villages, a country that still needs to import large amounts of food from Konoha every year. Konoha should directly declare war on them. I will personally lead the ninja army to charge, and then advise the Daimyō to cut off their food supply. Within half a year, I will surely capture the Kazekage alive. Then we'll have all the vests and gold we want, no need to spend money."
"Unacceptable!" Hearing Danzō's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen almost couldn't resist jumping up and giving Danzō a Goton Dairendan (Five Release Great Combo Technique). A mere Sunagakure, and cutting off their food supply by the Daimyō.
Where do you get off, Danzō!
Capturing the Kazekage alive in half a year, do you think you're Senju Hashirama?
"Konoha is currently at war with Amegakure and Iwagakure, and Kumogakure and Kirigakure are also watching from the sidelines. How can we easily start another conflict?"
"As long as we're fast enough, gather our forces, before Sunagakure is ready…"
"What if they are ready? After all, it's a major shinobi village with ten thousand ninja, not just some random cat or dog. If we can't quickly resolve the war, and Sunagakure officially declares war on Konoha, have you considered the consequences?!"
"They are already intervening in the war."
"They are only doing business right now; it just so happens that the Land of Rain bought first. Konoha can also buy! And what Konoha needs to do now is to accelerate the end of the war, not expand it!"
"You're senile, Hiruzen! If Sunagakure hadn't actively contacted Amegakure, how could Konoha have only received the news when Amegakure had all donned vests? Are you just going to watch Sunagakure reap so much wealth during the war with these vests? Once Sunagakure has money, they will be a formidable enemy to Konoha, even harder to deal with than now."
"Are you saying they can still earn a lot of wealth even though their vests are half the price of ours?!"
"Konoha's annual total finances are more than seven times that of Sunagakure. What can Sunagakure do even if they earn this money?!"
"Konoha's enemies should be Iwagakure! It should be Kumogakure! And possibly even Kirigakure! Not this Sunagakure, which has nothing!"
"And, I am the Hokage! Danzō!"
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
Bang!!!
...
The meeting fell into silence.
Everyone looked at the Hokage's advisor who had slammed the door and left, feeling that there was no longer any need to continue the meeting. They were all contemplating whether they should prepare individual ninja vests for their clan members far away on the battlefield when the meeting ended.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice drifted from the front…