The Land of Demons possesses the strongest commercial strength in the Ninja Realm with the Shion Flower Merchants Association, its industries spanning various countries in the Ninja Realm, and it also offers loans to Daimyo and nobles of each country. The Daimyo of the Land of Waves was targeted by the debt collectors from the Land of Demons because he failed to repay the loan on time.
"Just joking, Mr. Tazuna. I came here today merely to pay a simple visit to you."
"A visit?"
"That's right. I've heard that you're a bridge-building expert and a renowned figure locally, and I plan to recruit some workers in the Land of Waves later to help with some work. I think with Mr. Tazuna's help, recruiting workers should be much more convenient."
"Recruit workers? Are you planning to carry out some projects in the Land of Waves?"
Tazuna looked at Ichihime strangely.
It is well-known that the Land of Waves is a small island country extremely lacking in resources. Even though it's surrounded by the sea, the rampant pirates in the vicinity severely restrict both fishing and shipping industries.
"I'll discuss specific plans in detail later. Well, I won't disturb Mr. Tazuna's breakfast anymore. Farewell."
Ichihime bowed slightly and, accompanied by four guards, turned to leave.
"She really is a strange girl, but from the Land of Demons..."
Recently, matters concerning the Land of Demons have been quite fierce.
Even the relatively uninformed Land of Waves has heard some rumors.
War with major countries is completely beyond the reach of a commoner like him.
Watching Ichihime and her companions depart, Tazuna stood at the door, briefly lost in thought.
"Daddy..."
"What's the matter, Tsunami?"
"That lady seemed to have left a gift behind."
Tsunami pointed at the exquisite gift box placed at the door unnoticed.
"Uh... Why did you accept it?"
Tazuna's brows instantly furrowed.
If he accepted this gift, it would become much harder to refuse certain matters than imagined.
He couldn't figure out what Ichihime's purpose in visiting him was.
Although he truly is a famous bridge-building expert in the Land of Waves, his fame is mostly relevant among the working class.
In the upper echelon of the Land of Waves, he holds no real authority.
Ichihime's imposing presence always gave him a feeling of being more authoritative than the Daimyo of the Land of Waves.
Would such an influential figure even care about his insignificant networking resources?
Everything felt off and strange in various ways.
"I couldn't do anything. I only discovered after they left."
Tsunami chuckled wryly.
"Alright then, keep it, but don't open it. If what she wants from me is troublesome, it will be easier to refuse."
Although Tazuna didn't know what was inside the gift box, it must undoubtedly be a valuable treasure that a construction worker like him would never have seen in a lifetime.
That's precisely why if he opened it, and the situation got complicated afterward, he would have no chance to regret or back out.
"Don't worry, Daddy, this isn't the first time I've seen something like this. I'll be careful in guarding it and won't open it casually."
Tsunami understood the difficulties her father Tazuna faced.
Behind the seemingly renowned person, there are many bitter experiences.
Especially when dealing with people from the upper class, you have to be extremely cautious to avoid being tricked.
"Sigh..."
Tazuna sighed, gazing at the morning sun.
Life is getting tougher and tougher, he thought to himself with such feelings.
◎
After visiting Tazuna, Ichihime didn't rush to return to the offshore cruise ship serving as a temporary residence. Instead, she went to the town of the Land of Waves to begin a practical investigation.
Ichihime always preferred hands-on practical investigation, and having studied in Konoha and Hidden Mist previously, she had her own approach rather than simply following the book and considering all knowledge as truth.
You can't fully trust the textbook, too idealistic concepts sound heavenly, but if you don't consider the reality and only rudely enforce change, at best you'll end up with something that's a mismatch–closer to Hell than to Heaven.
Every system is essentially a transitional product.
Progress means continually proposing new ideas forward, not clinging to past glory or indulging in previous vanity.
The Uchiha in Konoha fell to the complex political environment within Konoha, but on the other hand, the Uchiha placed in the Land of Demons wouldn't be greatly valued either. Their core values are completely different, making integration impossible. It requires a long time to transform them.
As for the extermination perpetrator, Uchiha Itachi, Ichihime merely felt a slight melancholy and sighed for a moment.
Walking through the towns of the Land of Waves, even in the town center, the population was sparse, and the variety of stores was even less worth mentioning, giving off a sense of economic depression.
In hidden corners, you could still see illicit clubs operating in some pink establishments.
Menacing thugs, sporting quirky hairstyles dyed in bright colors, holding iron rods and knives, lurking in shadowy alleyways like greedy evil demons, eyeing passersby on the streets as if searching for targets they could strike. Nearby lay piles of garbage.
The black market, gambling, and vice, even during the day, you can feel this atmosphere.
It's not just pirates, but even this country's interior harbors criminal gangs and similar malicious organizations that have become local tyrants, gaining power and territory through illicit enterprises.