Chapter 342 The End

In the early morning, when the rising sun was still half-hidden, a long line had already formed at the entrance of the Konoha Ninja Village. Merchants from all over the world brought their goods, waiting for the security forces to inspect and pay taxes.

The gorgeous gems of the Land of Earth, the lively seafood of the Land of Waves, and the delicious bear paws of the Land of Lightning have become the favorites of the residents of Konoha. The profits brought by the huge demand have prompted the merchants to work tirelessly. The convenient transportation and perfect guard force have ensured their financial and personal safety. In their eyes, the Konoha ninjas are simply a group of angels. Even though they have terrifying military power, they are always very kind and fair in trading with others, and never rob people by force. Although the taxes are a bit high, once the two sides form a tax relationship, it is more like a talisman for the merchants. Just last year, a businessman from the Land of Stone was robbed by a group of bandits. The businessman who escaped by chance reported it to the Hokage's office. The legendary big man directly ordered all illegal armed forces in the Land of Stone to be wiped out, and even compensated the businessman for the loss out of his own pocket.

Hinata Hizashi sat under a simple shed built at the entrance, staring at the vehicles entering the village with his bright eyes. The ninjas behind him were collecting taxes according to the regulations, and his duty was to ensure that no dangerous goods flowed in.

When a businessman in fancy clothes came forward with a smile, Hyuga Hizashi stood up and saluted with a startled look on his face: "Long time no see, Mr. Kazumasa, how is your father doing recently?"

Ohira Kazumasa was born into a noble family. His father was the last Daimyo of the Land of Water, but he was deposed by Yeshan ten years ago and his entire family was relocated to the Land of Whirlpools. Although he lost power, he lived a fairly prosperous life.

"It turned out that it was Lord Hiashi who personally checked. My father is fine. As for the purpose of my coming here... I am ashamed to say that my daughter is already six years old. According to family rules, it is time to prepare a dowry. But now is different from the past. The good things that come without effort have disappeared like a dream bubble. I have no choice but to do some small business to earn some money for the dowry."

Hinata Hizashi's eyes flickered when he heard this and he said, "Hokage-sama has already ordered that you are allowed to do business freely, as long as you do not disrupt the market order."

Ohira Kazumasa said in a gentle voice, "Of course, I won't touch prohibited items. As for disrupting the market order, only a fool would do that. After all, our law enforcement team is not a pushover. Don't worry, Master Hizashi. What I brought are some local specialties from the Land of Whirlpools, including a letter gift from my father to Master Hokage. You can check it at will."

While the two were talking, the ninja next to Hizashi nodded imperceptibly, indicating that there were no contraband items in the car. Hizashi breathed a sigh of relief and after a few words of greeting, he let the other party enter the village.

Nowadays, there is a business boom in the ninja world. Even the farmers who have just escaped poverty are thinking about how to do business and get rich. Even though Hyuga Hizashi, an old aristocrat, cannot stand this money-first mentality, his opinion is insignificant in the face of the supreme will of the Hokage.

.........

Ye Shan suddenly opened his eyes and woke up from his desk. His arms were abnormally numb from bearing weight for a long time. He frowned and pressed the button on the table. Nara Shikaku, who had a short beard, walked in with a basin of warm water for washing in his hand.

"What time is it?"

"Just after six."

Ye Shan took the towel and wiped his face, feeling the fatigue dissipate from his body, replaced by vigorous energy, and couldn't help but sigh that chakra was really good. It was impossible for an ordinary middle-aged man to not feel tired after only sleeping for four hours, not to mention that he had been doing this for many years.

Nara Shikaku carefully sorted out the messy documents on the desk, reporting on his work: "The security forces and the Anbu sent a document, saying that no adverse incidents occurred in the village yesterday; the preparations for the 8 o'clock meeting have been completed, and the Rain Country representative would like to meet with you before the meeting; Vice Hokage Keiji resigns again..."

Ye Shan paused while wiping his face, then threw the towel into the basin, shook off the water droplets on his hands, sat on the sofa, and looked at the breakfast in front of him with a bad expression.

This is the third time that Uchiha Keiji has resigned, and the reason is always the same, that he is old and needs to enjoy his retirement.

To be fair, among the three deputy hokage, Hayama relies on Namikaze Minato the most, trusts Uchiha Fugaku the most, and likes Uchiha Keiji the most. The two of them are not like the kind of hierarchical relationship between superiors and subordinates, but more like a pair of good friends who have known each other for generations.

"He should be eating breakfast at home at this time. Go and tell the Rain Country representatives to go to the Uchiha clan's territory and wait for him."

Nara Shikaku nodded to indicate that he understood. After Yeshan sighed and drank a few mouthfuls of porridge, he could no longer suppress his unhappiness and prepared to rush to the Uchiha clan's territory immediately to have a good talk.

A quarter of an hour later, when Ye Shan appeared at Uchiha Keiji's residence, the other party was wearing a green robe and concentrating on fertilizing a bouquet of flowers. As if he had expected it, he put down the kettle with a smile and invited Ye Shan to go into the restaurant and sit down.

Uchiha Keiji was in a very good mood with a smile on his face. He personally served Ye Shan a small bowl of millet porridge, and then pointed at the buns on the plate and said, "They are stuffed with green vegetables and mushrooms. Mushrooms come from the mountains of the Rain Country and have a nourishing and relieving effect. I got up early in the morning to make these buns myself. You have to eat a few more."

Ye Shan lowered his head, slowly turning the millet porridge with a ceramic spoon, and sighed: "You are determined to resign, but Konoha needs you now, and I need you even more..."

In fact, it was Hayama who needed Uchiha Keiji. He was a person who liked the old and disliked the new, which could be seen from Nara Shikaku. According to common sense, Nara Shikaku, the Hokage's butler, should have been promoted or sent to govern a place, but due to Hayama's selfishness, no one dared to take the initiative to bring up this matter.

"The New Deal is a complex matter. After more than a decade of hard work, we have finally solved the land distribution and hunger problems, and the people are basically well fed and well clothed. The education system is complete, and the medical system is taking shape. But there are more arduous tasks ahead of us. I really need your help."

Ye Shan's words were sincere and emotional, but Uchiha Keiji was determined to resign. He drank a mouthful of millet porridge and said, "When it's time to abdicate, abdicate. Forgive others when you can. Sitting in the position of Hokage, I feel that the responsibility is great and the significance is great. It's not a good thing to cling to power and block the way for those who come after you to make progress. A hundred years later, you will be scolded."

"As for what you said about needing or not needing, in my opinion, no one in this world is indispensable to anyone else, it's just that you don't like the feeling of adapting to new people."

"I'm almost 60 years old, and it's time to retire. I've had trouble sleeping at night in recent years, and often wake up after only one or two hours of sleep. When it's cloudy or rainy, the air leaks through the joints of my bones, and the pain is unbearable. In addition, the graves of several of my brothers and nephews also need someone to take care of them, so let me go."

Ye Shan sighed again, as if he wanted to use up all the sighs of the year: "No matter what, you have lost interest in politics since the night of the Nine-Tailed Fox. I understand your actions, but I can't let you go."

"Because of the contributions I made?"

"On the one hand, it's mainly about how to place them."

"Doesn't the village have an elders' advisory council? After the death of Utane Koharu, there is a serious vacancy. Let me fill in. After all, the village doesn't lack this little money to support an idle person who makes decisions."

Uchiha Keiji ate the buns in big mouthfuls and continued as he ate, "Actually, I am a mediocre person. My father told me since I was a child that if I want to survive in this cruel ninja world, I must work twice as hard. Work hard to practice, work hard to make money, work hard to fight, work hard to live, in short, you have to work hard."

"But father forgot that hard work is a joke in the face of talent, a huge joke. The watershed between bloodline families is much clearer and more terrifying than that of ordinary ninjas. Some things are decided before you are born. What techniques you can master and what techniques you will never master is irreversible and is written in your genes."

"I have average talent and a stable personality. I don't look like someone who can do great things or accomplish great things. But I still surpassed hundreds of thousands of ninjas and truly became the second to none. Why is that?"

Uchiha Keiji had a smile on his face and stared at Ye Shan who was sitting opposite him for a long time. An emotional storm seemed to be brewing in his eyes.

"The reason is simple. I am good at following the light."

"Among the vast majority of people, the vast majority live a mediocre life, without a clear plan for their lives, and without a proper vision for the future. They will not make progress if they have a little stability, and will just accept injustice. There is nothing wrong with this. Life is a process, and you are free to spend it as you wish. But in this cannibalistic ninja world, if you don't want to wither like a roadside weed, you must have a skill."

"My specialty is following light. In simple terms, I can see the aura in people that others cannot see. When I was young, I followed Uchiha Kagami, but he died in the war. When I was middle-aged, I attached myself to Uchiha Fugaku, and through him, I finally met you."

"From your face, you are just an average person, and you will never be more than a jonin in your lifetime. This is what physiognomy taught me, and it is rarely wrong. But in fact, your current achievements far exceed those of the previous Hokage, and you are even at the pinnacle of humanity..."

Ye Shan wanted to say something but stopped himself. He didn't like to hear flattery, especially the undisguised flattery from people around him.

"Ya Shan, the new policy you brought has gone far beyond the initial expectations. It has brought another political system to the ninja world and also brought real backbone and dignity to the people. Of all the people I have met, Ye Shan, the temperament and light you exude are the strongest. This may be due to the special nature of your soul."

"Under the guidance of the new policy, ninjas, civilians, nobles, samurai, merchants, workers and other people from different classes put aside their grudges like a family and put all their energy into production and construction to improve the quality of life. In the past ten years, small-scale battles and conflicts have disappeared, and the ninja world has ushered in a unique period of peace."

"But I'm old," Uchiha Keiji's passionate voice became a little quiet, "I don't want to leave either, but the aches and pains in my body, my declining appetite, and my sensitive and fragile nerves are all reminding me that I should step down and let others take over."

"I've enjoyed all the things I should have enjoyed over the years, and I have nothing to regret. As a person, the only thing you can't put down in this life is chopsticks. As for power, I think it's better to let it go in time."

"You once said in the journal that everything must be institutionalized and a set of rules must be formed to leave a perfect system for future generations. This is a vital task, and I am willing to make the last contribution to the retirement system for leadership positions."

Uchiha Keiji looked calmly at the steaming millet porridge on the table, his eyes full of reluctance and regret. However, for the smooth implementation of the new policy and to set an example for the future, he was willing to give up the status and identity he had longed for and worked hard for all his life, and become an ordinary old man who arranges flowers and raises fish.

Uchiha Keiji, a meritorious ninja of the Konoha Village, a recipient of the First Class Order of Will of Fire, a long-time deputy hokage, vice-president of the Ninja Association, and deputy director of the Fire Nation's People's Representative, retired in obscurity, closing the curtain on his leadership.