Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 118 The Art of Diplomacy: Cooperation among Three Nations

A week passed in the blink of an eye. Thanks to the assistance of ninjas from both countries, all those who could leave the Land of Grass had already done so, leaving only those who did not wish to leave.

The population of the Grass Country is probably around 400,000. Due to the strong guidance from the two countries and the fact that a certain money-grubber is very sensitive to numbers, the number of people who migrated, although not accurate to the single digit, is roughly around 380,000.

After removing those who fled to other countries, only about 20,000 to 30,000 remained in their homeland. Most of these people were elderly, weak, sick, or disabled, and they were unwilling to leave on their own.

Aburame Shisei, believing that everyone has their own ambitions, stopped interfering. Now, Kusagakure had only about two thousand people left. Most were elderly, ninja families, and a few opportunists.

The latter believed that with the Seven-Tailed Fox in charge, the village would not collapse.

With the ninjas busy training, administrative power naturally falls into the hands of capable civilians. The new leader, Negishi Kusanagi, did indeed declare: "If you can handle the common affairs well, you might become a village official."

Thus, a spontaneous reconstruction effort unfolded in earnest.

At the suggestion of the flying dragonfly apostle, the roof was transformed into a take-off and landing platform;

The architectural style tends towards arched shapes, and the streets are neat and uniform; the underground drainage system and refuge passages were quickly built with the assistance of the Takigakure Earth Release ninjas.

Within a week, the new village took shape. Although small in area, it was clearly structured, sturdy and clean.

More importantly, the Takigakure Barrier Team set up a warning barrier, marking the first time in Kusagakure's history that the village possessed a complete defensive barrier.

Putting aside other things, Takigakure is indeed stronger than other small countries in this respect. Even the powerful Amegakure has never built a barrier. Is it because they lack the financial resources? No, it's because they don't have enough people who can use sealing techniques, and the inheritance of sealing techniques is incomplete.

The same applies to Kusagakure. Despite his presence in every major battle, Kusagakure is truly inferior to Takigakure in terms of sheer resources and foundation.

With the village completed, the Jonin of Kusagakure began holding a Jonin meeting to determine the next course of action.

This meeting was attended by almost everyone, since Kusagakure didn't have many ninjas to begin with.

During the meeting, everyone discussed the future enthusiastically.

Someone suggested, "Leader, we must establish a ninja academy now. We need a sufficient number of fresh troops, otherwise, with this small force, Konoha will soon deplete them."

As the leader, Negishi Kusanagi had long regarded him as his backbone; rather than calling him a leader, it would be more accurate to say that he was a puppet.

Most of the ninjas present could understand it, but some still couldn't.

"You're right, but where will the students come from? All the young people in the Land of Grass have left, and there are hardly any children left."

The speaker couldn't help but look at Aburame Shisei, who was sitting to the left of the leader, his tone clearly carrying a hint of resentment.

Ignoring everyone's gaze, Aburame Shisei said, "We can recruit from the Land of Rain. The Land of Rain has just experienced a great war, the rain is acidic, farming is difficult, and the people's lives are even harder than after we moved here. We can accept those people, and their children can also become ninjas."

At this moment, someone wondered, "Would Hanzo of the Salamander agree? What about the Daimyo of the Land of Rain?"

"Yes," Aburame Shisei said with certainty. "We will cede that piece of land in the south to the Land of Rain—for them, which is constantly rainy, it is a clean and precious land that can be used for cultivation, or even for them to migrate there to live."

As for the daimyo, Shisei Aburame suspected that the other party had long been controlled by Hanzo the Salamander, or had either fled incognito, or had been killed.

In short, the political power of the Land of Rain has long been completely in Hanzo's hands, and theoretically, it is the first country where military and political power are integrated, with everything in the hands of the village leader.

Upon hearing that they were selling relinquished land, the group hesitated.

It wasn't until Yu Nu Zhicheng reminded them again, urging them to wake up, that the people had almost all left and that their group of just over a hundred people couldn't manage such a large country.

They only then realized how ruthless their strategist was; he was practically a demon. He had completely divided the Land of Grass, splitting the ninjas, civilians, and land into three separate entities. In fact, from that moment on, the Land of Grass was already a dead entity.

This place is actually the battlefield that attracts the flames of war!

But even if they regained their senses, what difference would it make? These surviving ninjas had no feelings for the Land of Grass. The only thing they might remember was this lonely ninja village, and the pride they now felt at being completely independent.

Without a doubt, the plan was approved.

He, known as "Strategist Shiraki," served as the envoy for this joint mission with the Land of Rain, to meet with Hanzo, the demigod of the ninja world.

The primary objective is to cooperate through land-based settlements. If necessary, civilians from the Land of Rain can be guided to live in the Land of Grass, as the environment there is better than that of the Land of Rain.

Secondly, they should jointly establish ninja academies to cultivate new forces, enabling the three major powers to unite and resist foreign enemies to achieve complete independence.

He had already devised a strategy to persuade Hanzo the Salamander. If necessary, he could even relinquish the position of leader to Hanzo the Salamander.

Before leaving, Shisei Aburame left Nanao in the village.

Seven-Tails said somewhat reluctantly, "Why won't you let me come with you? I heard you're going to see the Lord, and he's very powerful. Can you win without me?"

Aburame Shih-cheng smiled wryly: "I'm not going there to fight, but to discuss cooperation. Your presence will only cause unnecessary trouble."

He has always claimed that the Seven-Tails is borrowed and ostensibly belongs to the Land of Waterfall. If he were to actually travel around with it, many powerful figures would likely try to capture him and find out the secret of how to tame the tailed beast.

"Alright then, but could you use the energy in your space to let me have another bite?"

Aburame Shisei: "..."

In the end, the Seven-Tails got its wish and obtained the primordial energy of 2000 years. Satisfied, it returned to its sacred place and fell into a deep sleep.

In addition, he also kept Shirai Uzumaki, because she is currently the only ninja who can summon the Seven-Tails.

He left behind a systematic training plan and supporting medicines for the leader, Gen'an Grass.

As long as he trains according to the plan he gave, I believe that after he returns and digests the experience of the great battle, Negishi Kusanagi's strength should be able to reach that of an elite Jonin.

If he develops his unique talent for ninjutsu properly, he might even be able to hold his own against some Kage-level powerhouses.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, before dawn, Aburame Shisei secretly bid farewell to everyone, boarded the dragonfly that had expanded in size again, and flew towards the Land of Rain.

At this moment, his hair grew greener and greener, and he could even guide the faint wind in the air without forming hand seals.