"What? You're saying the Kumogakure base has already started accommodating refugees from the Land of Water?"

Raidō Namiashi stood rooted to the spot, anxiously pacing in circles.

Although this operation wasn't likely to erupt into bloodshed, it could be seen as an invisible examination, a war without gunpowder smoke.

The examiner was Kumogakure's intelligence department, which provided the "imminent Kirigakure rebellion" intel. The two examinees were, naturally, Kumogakure and Konoha.

The objective of this exam was to extract as much benefit as possible from Kirigakure, attracting talented individuals to their respective villages.

This was a rare opportunity in the shinobi world to gain an advantage over another Great Shinobi Village. If missed, the next chance might be a long time coming.

"What should we do?"

"Should we follow Kumogakure's example and accept all the refugees? If we're too late, they might all secretly flee to Kumogakure."

Unbeknownst to Raidō Namiashi, several familiar yet unfamiliar figures had quietly arrived at the Konoha base.

The Ninja Tool Shop Regular, disguised as a refugee, struck up a conversation with a refugee who looked like a wealthy merchant:

"Konoha, why does it attract so many talented individuals from all over the shinobi world?"

"High-quality education, a relaxed talent recruitment policy, a robust business environment that safeguards their talents…"

"In Konoha, life is simple, social interactions are minimal, and family life is prioritized. There's less scheming and interpersonal drama. Those with talent have access to better platforms and greater opportunities, while those without can receive free Soldier Pills…"

"No one cares about your background. Regardless of your origin or status, even an ordinary Chunin can rise to an advisory position through hard work."

"Even an ordinary person like me might have a chance to become a high-ranking official in the village…"

The Ninja Tool Shop Regular's eyes gleamed with a perfectly calculated hint of yearning. "It would be wonderful to obtain a Konoha Green Card and join Konoha."

"This is a photo of Konoha given to me by a distant relative living there."

The Regular mysteriously produced a high-quality photo of Konoha's architecture from his pocket.

"Do you know why there's been no official announcement regarding our refugee situation?"

"I suspect they're waiting for visa officers to arrive and conduct interviews to issue Green Cards."

"…Konoha Green Card? What's that?" The wealthy merchant, clearly under the influence of a genjutsu, was captivated by the Regular's description of Konoha and instinctively asked.

At this point, several other refugees were drawn to their conversation.

"Eh? You don't know?"

"I heard that recently, because so many people from other villages and nations have been trying to sneak into Konoha, the Hokage had no choice but to introduce a new type of identification."

"The Green Card, symbolizing the color of leaves, is essentially a Konoha Permanent Residence Permit for foreigners. With this card, you can live in Konoha permanently without fear of being expelled by the Konoha Military Police Force."

"So that's how it is."

The wealthy merchant nodded in understanding. He had specifically researched Konoha recently.

It truly was a desirable nation. He had read and reread the articles "Konoha Shop Under Attack" and "Adaptability" numerous times.

It seemed the villagers of Konoha were quite naive, easy targets for a wealthy merchant like him to exploit. As for adaptability, it appeared Konoha's political environment was quite liberal, far surpassing Kirigakure…

Coupled with the positive news he had received from business partners who had moved to Konoha, his attachment to Kirigakure was already waning. After hearing the Regular's words, his heart was filled with anticipation.

"Um… young man, do you know how to obtain a Konoha Green Card?" The wealthy merchant asked, rubbing his chubby fingers together.

"Well… I can't reveal that. I heard there's a limited quota, and you have to pass an assessment by the visa officers. I don't want more competitors."

"Please, young man, this is very important to me!" The wealthy merchant flashed a knowing smile and promptly slipped a few bills from his wallet into the Regular's hand.

Leaning in, he listened intently.

His initial plan was to find a small, permanently neutral nation or village and live as a wealthy landowner.

But after hearing this… a small nation or village wouldn't offer much enjoyment, no matter how wealthy he was. True enjoyment could only be found in the most powerful and developed village in the shinobi world: Konoha.

Similar scenes played out in various corners of the refugee base.

A young man codenamed Gin pretended to be a retired Kirigakure Genin. "I'd say, any other village in the shinobi world might decline due to the death of a powerful ninja, but not Konoha!"

"Eh? Why?"

The retired Kirigakure Genin surrounding him, despite their desire to leave the ninja life behind, instinctively retorted based on their past training. "A shinobi village needs powerful ninjas to thrive! How could it not decline if they die?"

"You don't understand." Gin shook his head. "A village like Konoha has experienced fifty years of rapid development and accumulation, establishing a complete system and framework…"

"Let me give you an example!"

"As ninjas, we all have occupational hazards and hidden injuries. Be honest, is medical treatment expensive in the Land of Water?!"

The sharp question caused the retired Kirigakure Genin eavesdropping nearby to lower their heads.

Was medical treatment expensive in the Land of Water? Of course it was!

As a nation constantly embroiled in internal strife and self-destruction, where people lived day-to-day, there was no energy to develop the healthcare sector. Ninjas with injuries and lingering ailments often had to endure them, relying on time to heal all wounds.

Medical ninja did exist, but they were a luxury reserved for the elite of Kirigakure.

They had nothing to do with ordinary Genin like them.

Gin was satisfied with the reaction of those around him. He then put on an expression of grief and indignation. "We Kirigakure ninjas are also human beings! Why are we treated like beasts of burden? I've long wanted to defect to Konoha. For the same work, the benefits are far greater."

"You all know about the Legendary Sannin, right?"

"Who doesn't know the Legendary Sannin? We were all ninjas once."

"One of the Konoha Sannin is Tsunade. Her specialty is medical ninjutsu."

"I heard that several years ago, with the help of the current Hokage advisor, Gojo Kaigetsu, she reformed Konoha's medical system."

"There are several officially operated hospitals in Konoha. You can receive treatment for a small fee. Diagnosis and medication are separate, patient-centered. They don't treat us like livestock like our village does…"

"Moreover, there's no occupational discrimination in Konoha. Even selling Soldier Pills can provide a decent living. We no longer have to risk our lives as ninjas…"

"Although Konoha might not be paved with gold, it feels like just being there is a significant improvement."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"I'm so envious!"

The surrounding retired ninjas exchanged glances. Tsunade's era was somewhat distant for them; they weren't very familiar with her. But the name Gojo Kaigetsu was one they often heard.

Where had they heard it? It seemed… it seemed to be from that "Iki" magazine!

Yes, "Iki"!

He was a character in "Iki." Now, they couldn't help but believe it!

Many children would reread the same magazine, manga, or watch the same anime countless times, not out of boredom, but because the plot and characters aligned with the impressions already formed in their minds.

Each reread brought a sense of satisfaction, similar to a feeling of validation.

The retired ninjas' current feelings were likely similar.

Having heard stories from "Iki" before, and now hearing them mentioned again, they subconsciously placed more trust in the speaker's words.

The fragmented knowledge of "Iki" gleaned from their surroundings had already instilled a preconceived notion that "Konoha is advanced, civilized, and open."

"Sigh, but it's difficult for outsiders like us to join Konoha now. We need to pass the assessment of Konoha's visa officers and obtain a Konoha Green Card to join."

"What's a Green Card?"

"I think it requires special skills, a large investment in Konoha, or something like that… I'm not entirely sure. We'll have to see what the Konoha base decides."

Gin continued to sigh, feigning worry.

He flawlessly portrayed the image of a Kirigakure defector in front of these retired ninjas. "I really don't want to return to Kirigakure. Every day there is a day of suffering. Once the village unrest subsides, retired ninjas like me will definitely be conscripted back. If I don't obtain a Konoha Green Card, I'm doomed."

"I want to go to Konoha, oh so badly!"

Word spread like wildfire.

The initially vague image of Konoha in the minds of the Water Country refugees instantly became grand and vivid, like a beacon of hope, dispelling the confusion in the hearts of those who had lost their homes.

Before this, most of them had adopted a wait-and-see approach.

Tired of the conflicts in the shinobi world, they dreamt of spending the rest of their lives in neutral nations like the Land of Iron or the Land of Waves. For the more daring, Kumogakure was also a viable option. News from their base had already spread; refugees would be settled in the southern part of Kumogakure.

However, after this propaganda campaign, the refugees became restless.

Indeed, everyone aspired for a better life.

Who would choose to suffer when they could live comfortably?

The idea of "obtaining a Konoha Green Card and becoming an honorary Konoha citizen" quietly took root in the hearts of most Water Country refugees at the base.

Asuma Sarutobi, who was patrolling and maintaining order, was the first to notice this shift and reported it back to the command center.

Raidō Namiashi scratched his head in confusion. "Konoha Green Card? What's that? I've never heard of it?"

"Permanent residency? Visa officers? What's all this about?!"

Soon, a commotion arose outside the command tent. "It's Konoha personnel! Are they the visa officers?!"

Upon hearing the news, Raidō Namiashi swiftly rushed out. He wanted to see who dared fabricate such an outrageous rumor.

As he stepped out of the tent, he chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head, and bowed respectfully, pulling back the curtain for Gojo Kaigetsu:

"Gojo-sama, we've been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"

Asuma, standing behind him, twitched his lips awkwardly, glancing at the three strangely uniformed, masked… short Uchiha ninjas behind Gojo Kaigetsu!

Through the slits in their masks, he could see the Sharingan eyes beneath. Although only two of them had activated their Sharingan, and their chakra fluctuations weren't particularly strong, it was still a chilling sight…

'What the heck? Such a grand entrance?!'

"Ahem, address me by my title while on duty."

Gojo Kaigetsu confidently took the seat designated for the base commander and said sternly, "Currently, my title is Konoha Visa Officer, fully responsible for issuing Konoha Green Cards. Do you understand?"

"Huh? There really is a Konoha Green Card?"

Raidō Namiashi scratched his head. "Understood, Visa Officer Gojo. I'll immediately arrange for the refugees to… attend the Green Card interviews."

Moments later, the wealthy merchant was the first to enter.

He rubbed his hands nervously, instinctively surveying his surroundings.

The person seated at the head of the table… with white hair and a black blindfold, seemed ordinary at first glance. But even the previous base commander could only stand beside him, so he must be the visa officer!

Then there were the figures seated on either side of the table… cloaked in black, wearing hawk masks, revealing deep red eyes beneath.

'Sharingan!' The wealthy merchant straightened his back, nearly letting out a scream.

The Uchiha clan's reputation preceded them, even among non-ninjas. They were undoubtedly the most famous and widely recognized noble ninja family in the shinobi world.

Regardless of their physical appearance, their mere presence flanking the visa officer instantly elevated the atmosphere of the interview.

A high-ranking Konoha official and members of a renowned ninja clan – such a high-profile visa interview made even the experienced wealthy merchant feel nervous.

The wealthy merchant sat up straight, awkwardly mimicking Gojo Kaigetsu's accent. "I'm planning to travel to Konohagakure in the Land of Fire with my family of five."

"Which countries and villages have you visited before?"

"Well… none. As you know, the Land of Water has strict controls. I haven't been to any other countries or villages before."

The wealthy merchant wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling both embarrassed and strangely proud.

See! The way Konoha treated a wealthy merchant like him was not as a mere refugee, but as someone genuinely seeking to settle in Konoha.

He felt respected!

His desire to become an honorary Konoha citizen intensified.

"Do you have any children? If not, do you plan to have children?"

"No children. Four of the five in my family are my wives. We plan to have children once we settle down."

Gojo Kaigetsu's pen, pretending to record information, paused momentarily before he continued, "What is your occupation? What are your total assets?"

"Ah? Well…"

"I'm a honey merchant from the Land of Water. As for assets…" The wealthy merchant thought for a moment. "Around one hundred million ryō?"

Silence fell, broken only by the scratching of four pens against paper.

The wealthy merchant wondered how four people could be recording based on such brief questioning, but he dared not ask.

After a while, he asked anxiously, "Um… Visa Officer-sama, will my family and I be granted Green Cards?"

"About that…" Gojo Kaigetsu nodded slightly, picking up the blank sheet of paper in front of him and feigning contemplation. "In principle, your Green Card application cannot be approved."

"We in Konoha prioritize ninjas, skilled workers, and individuals with specialized expertise. Merchants are at the bottom of the list."

"Also, you have too many wives. If you have children in Konoha, it will consume a significant amount of village resources. This is also a factor under consideration."

"This… this can't be, Visa Officer-sama! What can I do to obtain a Green Card?"

The wealthy merchant panicked. Having envisioned a life in Konoha, he could no longer accept the comparatively backward villages and nations.

As expected of a Great Shinobi Village! Other villages treated merchants like treasures, while Konoha seemed to disdain them. Yet, this very disdain made merchants like him even more eager.

"There are ways. Firstly, you must deposit approximately one-sixth of your personal assets as a 'Green Card Special Guarantee Fund' to demonstrate your commitment to joining Konoha. If you have no criminal record in Konoha within ten years, it will be returned to you."

"Secondly, as a merchant, you must also deposit another one-sixth of your personal assets with the Konoha Commerce Bureau to ensure that you will use these funds for business development and investment in Konoha, contributing your limited value as a merchant."

"Lastly, due to your multiple wives, you must pay an additional one-sixth of your personal assets as a fine for violating the 'Konoha Fewer Marriages, Fewer Children, Happier Life' policy."

"If you can fulfill these three conditions, then a Konoha Green Card can be issued to you."

The wealthy merchant was dumbfounded. "So… I'll only have half of my money left?"

"If you're not sincere about joining Konoha, please leave. Your Green Card application will not be approved!"

Gojo Kaigetsu made a gesture as if to toss the blank paper away. Itachi and Shisui Uchiha, understanding his cue, turned their heads, their Sharingan eyes fixated on the wealthy merchant.

The wealthy merchant wiped the sweat from his brow and gritted his teeth. "No! Visa Officer-sama, that's not what I meant at all! I can fulfill all your conditions! Please give me another chance."

The greater the obstacles, the greater the rewards – this was a principle the wealthy merchant firmly believed in. He couldn't even imagine how enjoyable life in Konoha would be after spending so much money to join.

Such a Konoha must be paradise for a wealthy man like him!

Clap clap clap-

The moment the wealthy merchant agreed, Gojo Kaigetsu stamped the pre-prepared Green Card documents and had Raidō Namiashi hand them over.

"Congratulations to you and your wives for obtaining Konoha Green Cards. We wish you a pleasant life in Konoha." Gojo Kaigetsu said amiably. "Dedicated personnel will contact you regarding the payment details."

"Next!"

The wealthy merchant left, clutching the five lightweight Green Cards. As he exited the tent, he couldn't help but straighten his back.

When his fellow refugees nervously inquired about his experience, he responded with a hint of the Land of Fire's official accent.

Now, he was an honorary Konoha citizen!

The next person to enter the visa tent was a Genin with an unusual appearance, the kind that screamed "troublemaker" at first glance.

Gojo Kaigetsu glanced at him casually and, unlike with the wealthy merchant, asked a single question. "I will only ask you one question. If you can answer it correctly, you will receive a Konoha Green Card."

The Genin's eyes lit up. "Please ask."

"A Kirigakure kunoichi became pregnant with a child fathered by a troublemaker Kirigakure ninja. She experienced five pregnancies, but all ended in miscarriages due to unknown reasons. Eventually, the kunoichi died due to complications from the miscarriages."

"Kirigakure decided to posthumously award her an honorary title. What is that title?"

Huh?

The Genin's first reaction was bewilderment. What kind of strange question was this?

He had prepared his answers, determined to conceal his past misdeeds and join Konoha to enjoy a peaceful life. But he never expected to be questioned about Kirigakure's decision-making.

'This question isn't difficult. This Konoha bigshot is probably testing my abilities as a ninja. I can handle this.'

'Kirigakure, Bloody Mist, Enhancing ninjas, hero…' Several keywords flashed through the Genin's mind. He answered, "Behind-the-Scenes Hero!"

"Wrong."

Gojo Kaigetsu said expressionlessly, "The correct answer is 'Nemesis of Evil'."

"Unfortunately, I cannot issue you a Green Card. Please exit and turn right to report to the Kumogakure base. They will welcome you there."