Chapter 389: , Still Need to Be the Middleman

"Participating in the war too early will waste Kirigakure's strategic position of being transcendent."

"It will expose Kirigakure to the firepower of the Four Great Ninja Villages."

"And preserving strength at the beginning and earning profits through the war is indeed the most brilliant method."

"Not only that, the ninja villages that establish cooperative relations with us in the first stage of the war are very likely to become our allies after the war enters the second stage."

"At that time, we will lead the direction of the war with the power of the alliance."

After pondering for a moment, Tian Yuanshi analyzed Mizunuki Ryosuke's war strategy.

As a three-dynasty veteran of Kirigakure who personally experienced the First Ninja World War, Tian Yuanshi's strategic vision was seasoned, almost instantly analyzing all the advantages of Ryosuke's plan.

"As expected of the Great Elder, well said."

"What the Great Elder said is exactly what I was thinking."

Mizunuki Ryosuke smiled and nodded, acknowledging everything Tian Yuanshi analyzed.

"Not at all, all of this is thanks to the Mizukage's far-sightedness."

Tian Yuanshi shook his head, not daring to steal this credit for himself.

Whether it was Ryosuke's strategic vision in predicting the subversiveness of the war or the arrangements made in advance, it was far beyond what he could compare to.

Hearing Tian Yuanshi's words, everyone agreed deeply.

"I just don't know, regarding the Mizukage's mention of our cooperation with Sunagakure."

"In what way will the other party repay us?"

Tian Yuanshi asked in confusion. Since Ryosuke took office, Great Elder Tian Yuanshi has been assisting Ryosuke in managing the village's financial issues, so what he asked was also within his duties.

It is no wonder Tian Yuanshi would ask this.

Sunagakure is located in the Land of Wind, where materials are scarce and financial resources are insufficient.

Ryosuke is trading a large amount of strategic materials to the Land of Wind; the other party is very likely unable to provide a corresponding price.

If it turns into a bad debt, wouldn't Kirigakure be like a meat bun hitting a dog—gone forever?

"No worries."

"The Elder may not know, but this Third Kazekage is a 'treasure'."

As he spoke, a sharp glint flashed in Ryosuke's eyes.

"Oh?"

Tian Yuanshi was somewhat puzzled.

"The Third Kazekage's Iron Sand; although this person is young, he has brought his sand-manipulation ninjutsu to the extreme."

"Coupled with his own unique Kekkei Genkai, he possesses the ability to manipulate 'Iron Sand'."

"Although the Land of Wind is located in a desert and is extremely desolate, the Iron Sand resources in the desert are extremely rich."

"The Third Kazekage himself can use iron ore to pay for the materials."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said slowly, and his words made Tian Yuanshi more excited the more he listened, and gradually a sharp glint bloomed in his eyes.

"Mizukage, you mean..."

Tian Yuanshi suddenly thought of something; he seemed to have suddenly seen terrifying profits.

"That's right, it's just as you thought."

Ryosuke smiled and nodded, confirming Tian Yuanshi's conjecture.

"Hoo."

Tian Yuanshi exhaled gently.

"Just this item alone is enough to revitalize Kirigakure!"

Tian Yuanshi expressed his heartfelt emotion.

It is no wonder Tian Yuanshi would show such an expression; the benefits behind this are simply too tempting.

In the Ninja World, the largest weapon producer is not the Land of Fire, which is the most powerful among the Five Great Nations, nor is it any of the Five Great Nations.

It is a small, obscure country—the Land of Iron!

The Land of Iron is located in the very center of the Land of Fire, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Water; it can be considered the only unique, yet transcendent country in the entire Ninja World.

Because the Land of Iron is the only permanently neutral country in the Ninja World, and not only that, it is also the only small country whose internal affairs are not interfered with by the Great Nations.

There are three reasons why the Land of Iron has such a status.

First is political influence. When Senju Hashirama convened the first Five Kage Summit, the venue was chosen in the permanently neutral Land of Iron.

Under the witness of the Land of Iron's samurai leader, the Five Kage signed a peace treaty, opening decades of peace in the Ninja World.

Because of such history, whenever disputes arise between Great Nations, when it comes to final peace talks, both sides generally choose the neutral Land of Iron as the location.

Over time, none of the Five Great Nations want to see the Land of Iron fall into the hands of the other side, so they form a check and balance against each other.

The Great Nations have also formed a tacit understanding; in order to have a place to talk in the future, they have defaulted to the Land of Iron's status of "permanent neutrality."

Secondly, it is the Land of Iron's unique "craftsman" attribute.

The Land of Iron is where skilled craftsmen of the Ninja World live. A large number of craftsmen skilled in manufacturing weapons live here, and almost all the well-known divine weapons in the Ninja World were born in the Land of Iron.

Including: the six ninja swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist (Samehada not included), the Second Hokage's Sword of the Thunder God, the Flying Sickle in the hands of Hanzo of the Salamander, and so on.

Even the chakra-conducting dagger in Sarutobi Asuma's hand—Flying Swallow—was crafted by craftsmen from the Land of Iron.

After all, no one wants to be turned away by the famous craftsmen of the Land of Iron when they need to craft weapons in the future.

The Land of Iron not only has a high-end "divine weapon customization" business but also a low-end "weapon wholesale" business.

Because of this, the Land of Iron is the largest weapon-producing country in the Ninja World, and the high-quality weapons it produces are spread throughout the Five Great Nations, which also leads to almost no Great Nation being willing to offend the Land of Iron. ===== CHAPTER 391 =====