"Tsk tsk, Kumogakure's sanctions announcement…" Gojo Kaigetsu held the newspaper, savoring the "Kumogakure Declaration," which detailed a series of countermeasures against Kirigakure of the Land of Water.
These included, but were not limited to, raids, seizures, asset freezes, and the cessation of mission assignments and acceptances…
The declaration made no mention of the Land of Fire or Konoha.
After all, the shinobi world wasn't just about fighting and killing; there were also matters of human relationships and social dynamics. Economies, industries, and the like were intertwined, forming a closed loop.
Gojo Kaigetsu could roughly guess that Kumogakure, after kicking the Land of Water out of the market, could probably fill the void with surrounding smaller nations. But if they also excluded the Land of Fire, Kumogakure would be left playing with dumbbells all by themselves.
Even so…
"Kumogakure probably doesn't realize that I've already established shell corporations in the Land of Flowers, the Land of Hot Water… and other small nations over the years. So, even if they kick the Land of Water out of the market, the lion's share of the profits will still end up in Konoha's pockets."
"What a mess~"
Gojo Kaigetsu sipped his hot tea. "Kumogakure is quite resilient. Perhaps another movie will finally make them behave."
Kumogakure wasn't feeling insecure enough yet, and the turmoil within the village hadn't reached Gojo Kaigetsu's expectations. So, he decided to add fuel to the fire.
Clap-
As usual, Gojo Kaigetsu clapped his hands.
Ten breaths later…
"Gojo-sama, ANBU Captain Kakashi Hatake reporting as ordered." Kakashi spoke listlessly, perhaps due to having indulged in the questionable cultural artifacts he'd delivered to Kirigakure.
"Kakashi, have you finalized the purchase of those houses? I recall there should be quite a bit of money left. Any remaining funds from the purchase?"
"Uh…" Kakashi's mind stuttered, momentarily wondering if he was under a genjutsu.
When Gojo-sama entrusted him with the money, it was a total of four million ryō. He first bought a house for Gojo Ai-sama, leaving one million ryō. Then, a few days ago, he had to dip into his own savings, adding another five hundred thousand ryō to secure the house for Mei Terumi.
Remaining funds?
"There… there might be some."
"Hmm? How much is left?"
"Five hundred thousand ryō." Kakashi exhaled slowly, a pained expression on his face.
This was his ninja way, his dedication! His personal expenses were minimal, and he had accumulated a large sum from missions but had nowhere to spend it… Might as well hand it all over to Gojo-sama for the greater good.
"Oh, there's still that much left!" Gojo Kaigetsu's eyes lit up, a cheerful smile spreading across his face. "You know what, there are quite a few open positions in the village's Military Police Force. I'll have a word with Fugaku and get Pakkun a position there, a stable job with Konoha!"
"Yes! Gojo-sama."
Kakashi's expression softened slightly. Five hundred thousand ryō wasn't a small sum, but a secure, official position in the village was worth it.
Pakkun clearly lacked the ability to receive or spend money, so Pakkun's position and benefits essentially belonged to Kakashi.
"Alright, let's set aside the matter of the position for now. I recall a group of actors from the Land of Snow arrived in Konoha yesterday?"
"Yes, Gojo-sama. After verification, they are a legitimate film crew. The possibility of enemy spies has been ruled out."
"I wasn't suspecting them of being spies." Gojo Kaigetsu waved his hand dismissively. "Bring them to me. I have a script for them to film."
"A movie…?"
Kakashi was puzzled but dutifully carried out Gojo Kaigetsu's order.
The shinobi world had entered the electrical age, but the technological tree hadn't branched in that direction. The primary research focus for the scientists in Gojo Kaigetsu's Science Academy was electricity.
In time, it would surely bear fruit on the technological tree, but that wasn't the current concern.
With electricity and televisions, the natural evolution was "movies." Gojo Kaigetsu had experimented before, and the general populace's reception towards regular television programs was lukewarm.
They were mostly used as background noise during social gatherings to avoid awkward silences. However, anything related to "ninja" saw a significant surge in popularity.
Thus, Gojo Kaigetsu gradually abandoned his plagiarism plans, deciding to use movies as his ultimate weapon once the foundation for cultural dissemination was established.
"This damned shinobi world, we have electricity and televisions, but no telephones. Television broadcasts are still done by chakra, using specific jutsu by specialized personnel for long-distance transmission…"
"Very shinobi-like."
Before long, Kakashi returned with the Land of Snow entourage.
After ushering them in, Kakashi tactfully exited the office, quietly closing the door behind him.
Only the actors from the Land of Snow and Gojo Kaigetsu remained in the spacious office.
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The actors possessed faint chakra fluctuations, somewhere between ordinary people and Genin, enough for filming simple special effects.
Their expressions were apprehensive as they occasionally stole glances at the white-haired eccentric before them.
"Sir… is there something you need from us?"
They addressed Kakashi as "sir" and Gojo Kaigetsu as "sir" as well. In an unfamiliar environment, addressing someone as "sir" was always a safe bet. Besides, this person seemed even more important than the ninja with the eye mask.
"Oh, don't be nervous. I just have a script for you to film."
Oh, so that was it.
The actors from the Land of Snow relaxed. They had thought this ninja lord intended to confine them to Konoha, forcing them to perform exclusively for Konoha ninjas.
Just filming a movie was no problem at all.
"Please tell us."
"Ahem, I've already decided on the title: 'War Ninja'!"
"War Ninja?"
The actors exchanged glances. The title… sounded like a passionate ninja action flick.
But it didn't make sense. This man was undoubtedly a powerful ninja. Why would he want to watch them, ordinary people, perform ninja action scenes?
"The plot goes like this-"
[During the Third Shinobi World War, a border conflict erupted between Konoha and Kumogakure. The story follows Kakashi, captain of the Anbu assassination tactics special forces, who disobeys orders and kills Kumogakure ninja. He faces confinement and even forced revocation of his ninja status, but unexpectedly finds acceptance from a high-ranking Konoha official. He is then assigned to this official's special unit-the War Ninja squad.]
[During field training, the War Ninja squad encounters a Kumogakure ninja team infiltrating the Land of Fire to pillage and burn. If the Kumogakure team retreats across the border, the War Ninja squad will be unable to pursue. A fierce battle ensues, culminating in the War Ninja squad annihilating the Kumogakure team within the Land of Fire.]
Gojo Kaigetsu cleared his throat. "That's the first half of 'War Ninja,' primarily to establish Kakashi's image in the audience's mind. Now comes the main part."
[After the Third Shinobi World War, Kakashi, weary of fighting, leaves the War Ninja squad and lives a solitary life in the Land of Water, forming friendships with the locals.]
[Due to internal conflict in Kirigakure, Konoha has no justification to intervene in another village's affairs, but establishes a temporary base in the Land of Hot Water to provide humanitarian aid. Kumogakure, however, seeks to exploit the situation, sending ninjas to take advantage of the chaos. The Land of Water is thrown into disarray.]
[To rescue his Konoha comrades, Kakashi chooses to don his long-abandoned headband and single-handedly embarks on a rescue mission. Throughout, he disregards his own safety, utilizing his ninja skills to fight against ninjas from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water, risking his life.]
[After a fierce battle, Kakashi finds himself in dire straits. At the critical moment, he uses a special jutsu to transmit his location and desperate situation to the Konoha ninjas at the Land of Hot Water base.]
[Upon receiving the distress signal, the Konoha ninjas, disregarding the "peace protocols," remember the words engraved on the back of their headbands, determined to be the unwavering support for their comrade. They resolutely utilize long-range ninjutsu to assist Kakashi.]
[The long-range ninjutsu significantly weakens the enemy, allowing Kakashi to narrowly escape and rescue his Konoha comrades, even extending a helping hand to the endangered civilians of the Land of Water…]
The actors and director from the Land of Snow listened intently. The director suddenly offered a bold suggestion, "If it ends here… it feels like something's missing."
"It's too peaceful, too conventional."
"We've filmed similar small-village war plots before. There are many movies like this; the audience might not buy it." As if fearing Gojo Kaigetsu's displeasure, the director quickly added, "Of course, with the backdrop of a conflict between major villages like yours, the final impact might be quite different."
"I haven't finished the script yet."
Gojo Kaigetsu was slightly annoyed. What was this small-time director doing, interrupting his speech?
[However, during their retreat, they encounter the internal conflict in Kirigakure. The warring factions clash fiercely, blocking the escape route for Kakashi and the refugees he leads.]
[Despite Kakashi's strength, his chakra is nearly depleted from the previous battles with Kumogakure ninjas, leaving him unable to even perform basic jutsu.]
[But Kakashi knows he cannot retreat. Behind him are his fellow countrymen…citizens of the Land of Fire, and innocent refugees from the Land of Water…]
"I've got this one!"
With the director momentarily silenced, the screenwriter jumped in. "Next, Kakashi faces the enemy with pure taijutsu, beaten to within an inch of his life."
"At this darkest hour, the citizens of the Land of Fire and the refugees from the Land of Water place their hands on each other's shoulders, with the last person-preferably a female character-placing their hands on Kakashi."
"The line should be: 'Take it, Kakashi-sama, this is our remaining chakra!', or perhaps, 'Everyone, lend your chakra to Kakashi!'… Insert a song praising true men, true heroes, during this scene. Maximize the emotional impact."
"Kakashi, at the brink of death, unleashes a hidden power, mastering an incredibly powerful jutsu, replenishing his chakra, and rejoining the fight against the warring Kirigakure factions, ultimately emerging victorious!"
"The ending has them narrowly escaping and leading the civilians back to Konoha's relief base in the Land of Hot Water."
The screenwriter spoke rapidly. As a professional screenwriter in the shinobi world, he rattled off a series of tropes, leaving Gojo Kaigetsu speechless.
"Such a classic plot, are you preparing for the Chunin Exams?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, your proposed plot is a bit too focused on individual heroism. It doesn't reflect our Konoha's Will of Fire values." Gojo Kaigetsu declared righteously. "Individual strength is ultimately limited. Without the village behind you, you are nothing."
"Of course, I admire your talent. I suggest you stay and develop your career in Konoha. I can offer you and your family Konoha green cards."
"But for this 'War Ninja' film, you'll have to follow my script:"
[In this moment of extreme crisis, Kakashi doesn't attempt to squeeze out the last of his chakra. Instead, he silently removes his ninja headband…]
"What?! Removes his headband?! Is he surrendering to the Kirigakure ninja?!"
[Kakashi finds a branch, turns his headband around, places it on the branch, and raises it high.]
[The warring factions of Kirigakure notice Kakashi and his group. Initially, they intend to eliminate this group crossing the battlefield without mercy, but upon seeing the symbol on the front of the headband and the words engraved on the back, the Kirigakure ninja unanimously halt their jutsu, allowing the group to pass before resuming their fight.]
[The Kirigakure ninja clearly see the front of the headband: the Konoha symbol. And the back: No matter where you are in the ninja world…]
[The final scene has Kakashi and the group safely arriving at Konoha's base in the Land of Hot Water. After this incident, Kakashi overcomes his war-weariness, determined to be a beacon of hope for his comrades. He resolutely returns to the village, rejoining the War Ninja squad!]
"Hiss-!"
The room fell silent, stunned.
They were captivated by the story Gojo Kaigetsu had woven. Although they lived comfortable lives in the Land of Snow, after hearing Gojo Kaigetsu's description of Konoha… they couldn't help but feel a twinge of yearning.
Such boldness!
"No matter where you are in the ninja world…" Such words were undoubtedly a declaration of confidence only a dominant power in the shinobi world could make.
Yet, Konoha didn't use its dominant position to interfere in the internal affairs of other villages, only using long-range ninjutsu to protect its own people.
Strong yet not tyrannical, Konoha, impressive!
On the other hand, Kumogakure loved to meddle in other villages' affairs, taking advantage of chaos and misfortune. Kumogakure, not impressive!
"Um… Sir, could we see your headband?"
"Of course, take a look." Gojo Kaigetsu readily removed his headband, presenting it to the group from the Land of Snow.
The gleaming inscription caught their eyes.
"Finished? Kakashi, come in and take them to filming."