Chapter 234 Purpose

It was the depths of winter outside and the wind was howling coldly, but the meeting room was warm as spring and the voting was proceeding in an orderly manner.

Namikaze Minato, who was successfully elected as the vice president of the Ninjutsu Research Association, stood up with a big smile on his face and said in a sonorous voice: "Everyone, just this morning, the first batch of material convoys to aid the New Rain Country has been dispatched. Soon, the hungry victims will be allocated materials from Konoha. I believe that they can use this to survive the difficult spring farming season."

"According to the instructions of the Hokage and the association's purpose of saving the suffering, we will continue to send various supplies. I believe that in the near future, a new and vibrant New Rain Country will be established, and the corrupt and hungry Old Rain Country will perish."

The conference room was silent as many reporters quickly recorded Minato Namikaze's words, each of them unable to conceal their excitement as if they had heard unprecedented news.

"The Konohagakure was established in a time of crisis. The first Hokage gave vitality to the village with his benevolent thoughts, which attracted many families to join. Decades later, the Konohagakure still stands proudly in the unpredictable ninja world, and benevolent thoughts have played an indispensable role in this. Today, under the leadership of the Fourth Hokage, the Ninjutsu Research Association is assisting the New Rain Country regardless of gains and losses, which is the promotion of benevolence!"

At this point, Namikaze Minato looked around and raised his voice: "We were born in a prosperous era and witnessed the historical process of the association from nothing to something, from small to large. I think it is the honor of our lives!"

"For a better tomorrow for the village and for the future of the new Rain Country, I propose that everyone stand up and salute the Hokage!"

People in the conference room stood up one after another and stared at Ye Shan, who had an expressionless face. The atmosphere seemed not very good.

Ye Shan waved his hand to signal everyone to sit down, and said slowly: "I dare not take all the credit. Each of you is the real hero."

Everyone stared intently and waited for the Hokage to speak, but Hayama did not continue. Instead, he signaled with his eyes to Namikaze Minato to continue.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I declare the meeting to proceed to item two: electing five executive directors to be responsible for the specific affairs of the New Rain Country."

This is what is called a frontier official. The Hyuga clan and other powerful competing families are secretly nervous. They are unwilling to let the opportunity slip away. Even though they know it is a thankless job, the Hokage attaches great importance to it, and no matter how difficult the job is, it is a popular one.

After a round of competition, the Hyuga clan, the Uchiha clan, the Sarutobi clan, the Nara clan, and the civilian ninja clan all gained something, and the atmosphere in the conference room became much more relaxed.

Namikaze Minato sat down, Uchiha Fugaku stood up, and scanned everyone with a hawk-like gaze, saying sternly: "Hokage-sama, the association has entrusted you with a great task, not for you to abuse your power. I will set up a monitoring team to review your actions, and anyone who fails three times will be stripped of the qualification of executive director!"

“I hope you will always have compassion, remember your job responsibilities, and truly fulfill your obligations as a creator.”

Everyone was in awe. Uchiha Fugaku was a naturally serious person, and he did things meticulously like a ruler. In addition, he had established a great reputation on the front lines in recent years, and he was almost a replica of Shimura Danzo.

Seeing this, Minato Namikaze stood up again and said with a smile: "Don't be too nervous, Vice Chairman Fugaku is only strict on the surface, but he is still very humane in private. Of course, the task of building the New Rain Country is of vital importance, and everyone must attach great importance to it."

"Now we will proceed to the third and final item of the meeting: announcing the purpose of the Ninjutsu Research Association!"

Ye Shan coughed lightly and stood up, then slowly said: "Everyone present here is an elite ninja from Konohagakure. Their intelligence and strength are beyond doubt. But even so, I believe that most people still do not understand the purpose of the association and think that this is something that I, the Hokage, messed up."

"I can tell you responsibly that the establishment of the association was not a whim of mine, nor was it a so-called political game! It represents my thoughts and embodies my hard work."

Ye Shan's words echoed in the conference room, as if it were a great declaration that moved people's hearts: "Its program is to use the ninja collective as the ruling class, to unite the middle and lower classes to the greatest extent possible, to overthrow the corrupt daimyo feudal system, and to establish a brand new, advanced, and progressive new country!"

Hundreds of people in the conference room were stunned, all staring blankly at the boastful Hokage, the silence was frightening.

"Clap!"

A reporter from the Kingdom of Wind accidentally dropped his notebook while distracted. The sound startled everyone and they started whispering to each other.

The purpose and program of the Ninjutsu Research Association was like an aerial bomb. Just a few dozen words refreshed the ninjas' cognition.

It should be noted that the ninja class is not a ruling class at all. Even though the ninjas have absolute military power in the ninja world, they have no ruling power of their own. This is a historical issue and it is very complicated to explain.

In the beginning, before the emergence of chakra, the world was ruled by a lord. The lord had absolute power in the territory, and they had the final say on taxes, military, and personnel. Due to the low level of development in the world, the food production was not high, and the number of troops that could be supported was always kept near the warning line. In order to demonstrate the use of force to maintain rule, the warriors with strong combat effectiveness became the tools of the lords, and the warriors officially stepped onto the stage of history.

The lords provided money and food, and the samurai worked hard to suppress the rebellion. There was a clear class gap between the two sides. The samurai class did not think about taking control of the state power, but the army raised by the lords was well-trained, and they were suppressed several times. Over the years, their thoughts and classes were completely solidified, and the samurai class even developed a mindset of being loyal to the lords to grow and develop, so they had always been at peace.

Thousands of years ago, chakra was born, which gave the warriors unprecedented power, but there has never been a wave of people becoming masters of their own house. The reason for this is still due to years of class and ideological rigidity.

As a result, the ninja class inherited the status of the samurai class and became the new thugs of the lords. The two most powerful ninja clans and lords were the territories of the Senju clan and the Uchiha clan. The ninjas were attached to the lords and fought endlessly for years, just for pitiful interests and so-called hatred.

More than 40 years ago, the Senju clan leader, Hashirama, had enough of the meaningless wars and joined forces with the Uchiha clan leader, Uchiha Madara. The two of them overthrew the rule of the lords and integrated the Land of Fire into one country, which was actually ruled by the daimyo. The violent and bloody ninjas formed their own village and accepted the offerings of the daimyo, forming a new one-country-one-village system.

To be realistic, what Hashirama Senju did was undoubtedly progressive and advanced at the time. The one-country, one-village system reduced the bloody conflicts between ninja clans, and the number of ninjas increased explosively. Everything seemed perfect.

However, the development of everything went against Hashirama Senju's plan. Instead of shaking hands and making peace, the united ninja class broke out into a Ninja World War of a larger scale and with more deaths.

Everyone knows what role the daimyos played, but in order to obtain annual financial support, the ninja class gritted their teeth and accepted it.

The one-country-one-village system is still based on the lord and samurai model, and the ninjas are still the state's violent agency. They can only rule within their own small piece of land, and are nothing outside the ninja village.

Ye Shan had thought about the crux of the problem before. The reason why the ninja class was dependent on others was because they did not have a complete governance system and solid logistical support.

If Konoha Village can be self-sufficient and support tens of thousands of ninjas with its own production, then what is the point of having a daimyo? Are ninjas all cheap and must recognize a master for themselves?

That's why what Ye Shan said about the ninja collective as the ruling class was so fascinating, shocking and silent to hundreds of people.

As for uniting the middle and lower classes and overthrowing the corrupt daimyo feudal system, anyone with a brain knows that this is the only way to become the ruling class.

There is no two suns in the sky, no two masters of a country. The ninja class is in charge. Shouldn't the daimyo class be overthrown?

"Hokage!" An elderly Konoha ninja raised his hand and said, "I have a few questions I would like you to answer."

Ye Shan took a look and said with a smile: "So it's Maruboshi Kosuke. You are a Konoha Genin, so you are not qualified to attend the meeting. However, considering your extraordinary resume, I have specially approved you to attend. Just ask whatever you want."

Maruboshi Kosuke bowed and apologized, and asked, "Now that the village has just ended the Third Ninja World War, it cannot be built without the support of the Daimyo. Is it too early to talk about this now?"

Many people agree that Konoha's post-war recovery cannot be achieved without money, and the only source of funds at present is the allocation from the daimyo. It would be a bad idea to do anything weird now.

Ye Shan smiled and said slowly: "This problem is not a big deal in my opinion. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire is now hoping that I will die, but he cannot give me a penny less of the money I want!"

"what?!"

"This morning, I ordered the execution of the daimyo's youngest son, and I executed him in front of him. Don't you know that?"

"......"

"You really don't know?" Ye Shan said in surprise: "Nara Shikaku! How do you manage to be the director of the Hokage's office? Huh? Why didn't you announce what happened this morning? It's really getting outrageous."

Nara Shikaku stood up in a hurry, bowed with a big smile on his face, and said ashamedly: "I'm sorry, everyone. It's my fault as the office director for not reporting the Hokage's order in time. I apologize to you."

Ninjas: “…”

Forget it, you two are just talking nonsense. Do we have the obligation to inform us of the Hokage's order? Besides, the daimyo's youngest son has already been buried, what's the point of telling us now?

Ye Shan said unhappily, "It's really unreasonable to fine you half a month's salary."

"Yes Yes Yes."

"As for the problem mentioned by Maruboshi Kosuke, I have solved it perfectly. If the daimyo loses a penny, a son will die. You can rest assured that I will keep my word." Ye Shan said with a smile.

What is shameless? Ye Shan is just that! He wants to overthrow the rule of others and ask them to provide money and materials. He is a typical example of asking for money while standing.

Maruboshi Kosuke hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Hokage-sama, I have no intention of offending you, but this is a matter of great importance and I have to ask, what if the Daimyo really cuts off his funding?"

"The New Rain Country is adjacent to the Fire Country. About two-thirds of the land is suitable for growing high-yield rice, more than enough to feed Konoha's hundreds of thousands of people."

"Don't worry about the money. The knife is in our hands. Why should we worry about not having money to spend?"

Maruboshi Kosuke sat down with a heavy heart, his face full of worry.

At this time, a reporter from the Fire Nation capital angrily threw away the notebook in his hand and shouted: "You are betraying me! I will report to the daimyo what I saw and heard at today's meeting!"

Ye Shan crossed his arms and said nothing. Uchiha Fugaku beside him frowned, stood up and said, "What are these Anbu people doing? Get out of here!"

"Wait!" Ye Shan stopped him.

"I admire your courage, but your courage is misplaced. The decadent feudal system of the daimyo is not worth your efforts. The new Konohagakure welcomes your arrival."

"Hmph! Traitors and villains must be killed! Ye Shan, don't get too complacent as you are the bandit leader. The daimyo's warrant of accusation will be announced soon. When the time comes, Konoha should kneel down and beg for the daimyo's protection!" The reporter was unmoved and spoke viciously.

Ye Shan shook his head and said with a smile: "Hello, reporter. I'm a newbie. I want to ask how the daimyo is so powerful? Does he have tens of thousands of elite ninjas under his command?"

"You..." The reporter was speechless.

"What is the Daimyo? He is just a piece of trash promoted by the First Hokage! Can he really protect himself with the tens of thousands of ragtag troops and hundreds of wandering ninjas under his command? What a joke! Not long ago, the elite of Konoha swept through the ninja armies of the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, the Land of Water, and the Land of Wind. We killed gods and Buddhas who stood in our way. It would only take a word to replace the puppet Daimyo."

Ye Shan picked up the exquisite blue and white porcelain teacup on the table and threw it to the ground: "See, it's so easy to kill the daimyo. I advise you to recognize the situation."

reporter:"...."

Intimidation, naked intimidation. Compared with the previous three gentle Hokage, Hayama is simply a terrorist. He wants to kill the daimyo at any time and has no bearing of a superior at all.

The reporter was shaking with anger, but he didn't dare to make any more accusations because he really saw murderous intent in Ye Shan's eyes.

Namikaze Minato stood up and walked to the broken pieces of the teacup, saying with regret: "This is the tea set that the Daimyo of the Land of Earth sent yesterday. It was made by a great master, and there are not many of them in the entire ninja world. It's a pity."

reporter:"....."

So in your eyes, a good name is not as important as a teacup?

Ye Shan waved his hands and said nonchalantly: "It's nothing to regret. Shikaku can ask the Daimyo of the Land Kingdom for another set of gifts later. He doesn't have the courage to refuse anyway."

"That's all."

"Shikaku, Kushina really likes this color, remember to ask for a few more so I can take them home and show them off."

"I've made note of that, Vice-Hokage-sama."

Namikaze Minato smiled and said, "Call me Vice Chairman here."

"Okay, Mr. Vice Chairman."