Chapter 349: Adding More Seasoning to the Chaos
Yasushi had been too busy with daily operations to thoroughly assess the village's reconstruction progress until now.
A comprehensive review revealed recovery had exceeded all projections.
Under Yasushi's indiscriminate recruitment policy, numerous wandering ninja had seized the opportunity to join Konoha Village, seeking organizational backing and stability.
Combined with original Konoha ninja gradually returning, plus immigrants from Takumi Village and Otogakure, the raw numbers looked promising. The village now possessed enough living ninja to handle daily operations without relying entirely on the undead.
Of course, the Edo Tensei legions remained the true backbone.
Beyond the original Uchiha, Hyūga, and Uzumaki corps, two additional reanimated armies had been established.
Many wandering ninja who'd joined Konoha carried habits developed during years of lawless existence. Despite strict regulations and repeated warnings, violations inevitably occurred.
Yasushi showed zero mercy. Minor infractions earned fines and warnings. Serious violations meant immediate execution—no middle ground existed.
Those executed didn't escape service through death, however. They'd be resurrected via Edo Tensei to continue serving Konoha in undead form.
These individuals couldn't be trusted with important missions, so they received assignments in construction and workshop operations instead.
Thus the fourth Edo Tensei legion—the Craftsmen Corps—consisted entirely of these former wandering ninja.
The fifth legion was the Foreign Corps—composed of ninja killed during Root's "bandit suppression" operations.
Some had been rogue ninja from various nations. Others were mountain bandits and thieves. Still others had served as guards hired by merchant associations.
Yasushi believed ninja represented precious human resources that shouldn't be wasted. Even after death, they could contribute as labor.
This group mostly couldn't appear publicly, so they weren't even assigned construction work. Instead, they joined Root for covert operations—making full use of their talents.
Their personal wishes? Completely irrelevant.
After multiple "educational sessions" involving Tsukuyomi torture, these individuals had become sincerely devoted to contributing toward Konoha Village's development and prosperity.
This transformation... well, Konoha increasingly resembled the Underworld!
Several days later, the ceremony date officially arrived.
The entire village erupted in celebration—drums thundering, firecrackers exploding, creating a festive atmosphere.
Yasushi adjusted his Hokage robes, carefully lifted his Hokage hat, placed it properly on his head, and strode cheerfully toward the ceremony venue.
Numerous guests had arrived over recent days. Every major village had sent representatives. The various Daimyo had dispatched envoys as well—though notably, none of the Daimyo attended personally. Their absence clearly expressed profound dissatisfaction with Yasushi's actions in Fire Country's capital.
Throughout history, when had Daimyo ever been assassinated?
Yet they didn't dare skip sending representatives. Making the ceremony awkward might provoke Uchiha Yasushi's legendary rage.
If the Hokage title could constrain this madman, that alone would justify attendance.
After the numerous guests entered and took their seats, they glanced at the platform. The positions reserved for the Five Great Nations' Daimyo and their Kage sat conspicuously empty. No one found this surprising—they simply took their assigned places.
But Fire Country's envoy seat remaining vacant among the four great nations' representatives made expressions turn peculiar.
Guests exchanged meaningful glances without speaking aloud, their faces showing clear anticipation of drama.
The other four nations' envoys frowned with obvious displeasure, though they said nothing. They planned to lodge formal protests with Konoha Village privately after the ceremony concluded.
Yasushi ignored these political undercurrents entirely. He simply walked to center stage and began hosting the ceremony.
The ceremony itself was pure formality. No one dared cause disruptions. Everything proceeded smoothly.
When Yasushi officially declared Konoha Village's reconstruction complete, thunderous cheers erupted from the audience. Every Konoha resident finally relaxed—their suspended anxieties released at last.
According to tradition, the next step would be a customary banquet. After eating and drinking, serious negotiations would commence.
But Yasushi had other plans.
He refused to follow convention.
He intended to make a dramatic statement right here at the ceremony itself.
Originally, he hadn't planned this. But after reviewing intelligence from Rain Country, he'd immediately decided—the shinobi world's chaos needed additional seasoning.
A quiet, peaceful shinobi world would be so boring!
If the Fifth Great Ninja War erupted immediately, why would he need to negotiate with merchants and landlords?
Why conduct all these covert Root operations?
Just send people to take what they wanted directly!
Scapegoats were everywhere. Finding someone to blame was trivially easy.
Kill and burn to earn gold... no, wait—cannons roaring means gold pouring.
Whether this ruined a perfectly good celebration? He couldn't care less!
The announcement had been made. The formalities were complete. Who would dare deny his status as Hokage? Who would dare question Konoha Village's legitimacy?
"Everyone!" Yasushi stood atop the platform, arms raised dramatically, his expression profoundly serious.
Other guests who'd begun rising to depart immediately stopped. Their attention focused on him, curious what the Hokage planned to say next.
Yasushi's face filled with compassionate sorrow as he spoke with grave sincerity:
"Long ago, the Uchiha and Senju clans joined forces to end the shinobi world's chaotic era, establishing the hidden village system."
"But a century later, peace hasn't arrived. Instead, warfare has only intensified—casualties have multiplied exponentially."
"The facts prove beyond doubt that the current village system no longer suits the shinobi world's needs. The nations have reached a critical moment demanding fundamental change!"
Yasushi's eyes blazed like lightning as his gaze swept across the assembled faces. His voice grew increasingly passionate and forceful.
"Through careful investigation and rigorous analysis, I have identified the true culprit preventing peace among nations, forcing endless mutual slaughter—the perpetually inherited Daimyo and nobility system!"
"Those Daimyo and nobles do nothing useful whatsoever. They only collect taxes."
"If they merely collected taxes, that might be tolerable. But they allocate only a small fraction to the ninja villages, squandering the vast majority themselves!"
"How can this be acceptable?"
"They're weak as chickens—what right do they have to monopolize such resources?"
"Simply because they possess noble titles?"
Yasushi's roar grew louder with each declaration, rising higher and more furious with every word.
Simultaneously, the killing intent he'd deliberately restrained no longer remained hidden. It spread like tangible freezing air, dropping the entire hall's temperature by several degrees.
This wasn't merely a speech. It was a demonstration of power and an unyielding proclamation of will.
He possessed not only revolutionary "principles," but also the absolute strength and determination to implement those principles.