Chapter 356: Waves Continue

It's winter again. The old town of Konoha is wrapped in silver and the sun has become lazy.

Ye Shan sat in his office, listening carefully to his subordinates' reports. The content of the reports was very simple and was about the reserves of strategic materials.

"The stockpile of detonating talismans has reached a record high, totaling 10 billion."

"Five million packs of Grade A emergency field rations."

"Ninja uses over 100 million chakra guns."

"More than ten thousand chakra cannons."

"..."

"The grains, dehydrated vegetables, and frozen meats are enough to sustain a total war for more than three years. The full production capacity of arsenals and clothing factories across the country is enough to sustain a five-year war."

Ye Shan frowned. This was too exaggerated. The amount of strategic materials such as munitions in the Fire Country was already staggering.

Total war is not a war in the ninja world, but a war of dynastic change that includes ordinary people. It is initially estimated that it will involve tens of millions of people, and the casualties will be even more horrific.

After his subordinates left, Ye Shan hesitated for a long time before picking up the phone: "Please ask the deputy hokages to come to the office for a meeting."

Soon, Namikaze Minato's serious voice resounded throughout the office, causing several ANBU ninjas on duty to shrink their heads.

"I am firmly against starting a war. There is no need for us to take risks. When the time is right in five years, it will be easy to destroy them!"

Uchiha Fugaku's eyes flickered. He was also against war, but this matter was brought up by Ye Shan after all. If he opposed it openly, it might cause a bad impact.

As expected, Ye Shan's face darkened. "Five years is too long. We have to fight for the day. Rather than waiting for another five years and letting the people suffer for another five years, it is better to end the war quickly. We have overwhelming power over the enemy. I think the war will end soon."

Mizumon firmly opposed: "The five-year development plan was passed at the report meeting at the beginning of the year. At that time, there was no mention of launching a full-scale war. If we go back on our word, it is difficult to guarantee that our credibility will not be reduced."

Ye Shan was feeling irritated. He didn't know what was going on recently. He was always restless and couldn't get anything done. He was obsessed with completing the great cause of unification. His term of office was only ten months away, and he had planned to unify the country in five years, but it was like a nightmare.

It stands to reason that decisions made by the Hokage himself will always have supporters, but it is a foregone conclusion that Minato will take over next year. At this juncture, who would be willing to offend him?

The few people came and left quickly. Minato and Hayama were at odds with each other almost the entire time. The other two deputy Hokage didn't say much and instead acted as peacemakers.

The office was well heated, but Ye Shan felt the biting cold, and a feeling of losing control enveloped his heart. It had been fifteen years, from the time he became Hokage to today, and no one had ever dared to go against his will. As for whether there were any dissenting voices, there were some, but not many, and the end result was that they all lost their jobs.

In the eyes of ordinary ninjas and the public, the Hokage is undoubtedly correct, and the Konoha leadership is undoubtedly efficient and united. More than a decade of smooth sailing has gradually changed Ye Shan's personality, and an emotion called overconfidence (self-willed) is always hovering in his heart.

"Shikaku, do you think I'm really wrong?"

Nara Shikaku's heart trembled: "Hokage-sama can't be wrong."

"Then why did Deputy Hokage Minato adamantly oppose it?"

"this..."

Shikaku took a long time to decide his words: "Minato, the deputy hokage, is in charge of economic construction, and you, sir, have an overall view of the situation. The two of you have different responsibilities and duties, so naturally you look at problems from different perspectives."

Ye Shan sighed and said, "Tell me, could it be that Minato is worried that if I unify the ninja world during my term, he will not be able to surpass my achievements in the future, so he opposes it?"

Shikaku: "..."

"Or is it that Minato is worried that I will refuse to leave the position of Hokage, saying that it is not appropriate to change people before the war is over?"

Shikaku: "..."

Stop talking, Dad. If you continue, you will be fine but I will be dead.

"Forget it. You are just too smart and too rational. You don't even know how to flatter me. Seeing that I'm in a bad mood, can't you say something nice?"

"I dare not speak carelessly about national affairs."

"Go ahead and do your job well."

Ye Shan felt the biting cold wind, and the tea was getting cold before he left. In recent months, fewer ninjas have come to him to report their work...

Although Ye Shan told himself that this was a normal power transfer process, and that he had already accomplished his mission, and that what he needed to do now was to ensure a smooth transfer of power and set a good example for future generations, he still felt uncomfortable and unhappy, and wanted to find something to vent.

Half an hour later, Uchiha Keiji and Hayama were toasting each other in the pavilion. They drank too much without realizing it, but still felt a little thirsty, so they simply took advantage of the night to drink tea and enjoy the snow in the pavilion.

"If I remember correctly, this is Jian Weiting, passed down from your grandfather."

Uchiha Keiji chuckled: "Yes, the last time we had dinner here, little Naruto wasn't even born yet. Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, and I'm old now."

Ye Shan glanced at the other person and said, "You're living a good retirement life, drinking wine every day without any worries."

Uchiha Keiji seemed to be thinking about something: "You got humiliated outside, and you want to make it up to me?"

Then he laughed and said, "I'm curious, who dares to make you angry?"

"Humph, it would be nice if you were here, at least I wouldn't be left alone."

Uchiha Keiji shook his head. "It's different. I supported you unconditionally before because our decisions were all about how to reform and improve the quality of life of the people, so even if there were mistakes, they could be fixed. But this time you proposed to launch a full-scale war, which will affect the entire body. If it is delayed for too long, it will cause irreversible consequences."

"So you'll oppose me too?"

Uchiha Keiji continued to shake his head: "I will support you unconditionally."

"Ye Shan, you are the most powerful person in the Fire Nation. Just do whatever you want, even if someone opposes you."

"Why does this sound like a treacherous minister trying to deceive a tyrant?"

"Whatever you say," Keiji shrugged and spread his hands. "Everyone relies on their own knowledge and cognition to make decisions and judgments. If there is a huge gap between the cognition and knowledge of two people, then the decisions they make will naturally go in opposite directions."

"You might say that relying on knowledge and cognition to make decisions is arbitrary and not in line with the purpose and spirit of the so-called Ninjutsu Research Association."

Uchiha Keiji took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Theory and reality are two different things. Power can never be democratized. Its nature is destined to be full of individualism."

"A minority leads and rules the majority, and the structure of power is like a pyramid. Ye Shan, you are the one standing at the top, and it is lonely up there, so you need to keep a clear head at all times."

At this point, Uchiha Keiji looked serious: "If you think something is necessary to do, don't consider other people's feelings and opinions, because you are the supreme one."

Ye Shan narrowed his eyes and could not tell whether he was happy or angry: "Are you encouraging me to be a dictator?"

Uchiha Keiji was unmoved: "Haha, power only needs to be responsible to the source of power. They seem to have forgotten this."

"I am also hesitant. Many people will die."

"If you want to accomplish something, people have to die. The key is to make the death meaningful."

"The new policy has brought a profound impact on the ninja world. Ninjas have officially become the masters," Uchiha Keiji said with a smile, "You might as well listen to the voices and opinions of the ninjas below and ask them if they are willing to start a war to unify the ninja world."

Ye Shan sighed, "Why make a fuss when everyone knows about it."

"Wake up, Ye Shan," Uchiha Keiji sneered, "This is no longer a matter of war. If Minato suppresses your will this time, you will only be a mascot for the next ten months!"

"Your authority does not allow for any challengers, even if he is the designated next Hokage!"

Ye Shan's face turned pale, and he felt embarrassed that his little trick had been exposed: "What should I do?"

"Asking for opinions from the grassroots ninjas, you can show your unparalleled appeal and prestige, and let the wavering ninjas see who is the real boss!"

Ye Shan hesitated: "If this happens, the top leaders will be divided, which is not a good thing for the country."

"It depends on how determined you are to unify."

Uchiha Keiji thought for a moment and said, "If the time is indeed ripe to unify the ninja world, you can just go for it, even if it will lead to the dismissal of a large number of ninja positions."

Ye Shan remained silent and just drank his tea.

......

Uchiha Fugaku dragged his tired body back home and unexpectedly saw his son kneeling in the porch. He couldn't help but become curious.

"Itachi, it's already three in the morning, why are you sitting here instead of going to bed?"

Uchiha Itachi smiled calmly: "The family has reached a critical moment for further development, how can I sleep well?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Don't be angry, father. I am telling the truth. Don't think that what happened in the Hokage's office is highly confidential. It happened yesterday and it spread tonight."

Uchiha Fugaku was alert. He had been doing disciplinary inspections for more than ten years and was very politically sensitive. Itachi's words just now revealed several major problems.

First: The confidentiality of the Hokage office building is extremely poor, and some individual ninjas deliberately spread top-secret information.

Second: Someone attending the meeting deliberately leaked the news so that everyone knew about it in order to achieve a certain purpose.

If it is the first case, it is easy to solve. All you need to do is to investigate the relevant personnel, find out the talkative guy and punish him. But what if it is the second case?

Uchiha Fugaku thought a lot in an instant, and the more he thought about it, the more cold sweat he broke out in. At this sensitive moment when the highest power was about to be transferred, no matter how cautious he was, it would not be too much.

Uchiha Itachi was calm: "What do you think, father?"

"It is likely that Ye Shan released the information, otherwise the Anbu Intelligence Department would have arrested him long ago."

The Anbu was under the charge of Uchiha Fugaku. If someone was arrested, he would not have been unaware of it. As for whether the Anbu could find the problem, Fugaku had never considered it. Don't underestimate those shady guys. They are professionals in this line of work.

"Why did Master release the news? He was clearly at a disadvantage in the meeting. Has Father ever thought about this?"

Uchiha Fugaku became interested and sat cross-legged on the floor. Fortunately, there was floor heating, so his butt didn't get cold.

"Then tell me what Ye Shan's intention is."

Uchiha Itachi chuckled: "Lord Minato has always followed the master's lead. This time he raised objections, and he was firm in his objections. There are only two reasons."

"The time is not ripe for war and it is a test."

"Do you also think the time is not right?"

“It exists in theory but not in reality.”

Uchiha Fugaku sighed softly: "As expected, all young ninjas support the war."

"So back to the topic, Lord Minato is just testing the waters. He wants to build up his reputation in advance."

Uchiha Itachi talked eloquently: "Master is too good, his prestige is too strong and no one can match it. Lord Minato is naturally worried that he will become a puppet after he takes the throne, so he needs help."

"It just so happens that at this time, father, you do not approve of war, which coincides with Master's previous point of view. So Lord Minato took advantage of this and clearly opposed the war at the meeting, not only testing Master's tolerance, but also testing your attitude."

"Whoever gets the Uchiha gets the world. This statement became a prophecy when Master came to power fifteen years ago. Although it is exaggerated, it also illustrates the powerful influence of our clan to a certain extent. Twenty years ago, you bet heavily on an unknown person, which brought fifteen years of prosperity to the clan. Now, you need to make a choice between the two Hokage. Will you be loyal or change your ways?"