Parallel World 1.
Land of Fire, Daimyo's Prefecture.
The Daimyo's Prefecture is essentially the city where the Daimyo of the Land of Fire resides. The Daimyo is not a king in the literal sense but can be considered the ruler of the Land of Fire.
Of course, his power should not be underestimated. He holds the highest administrative and military authority in the entire Land of Fire.
Apart from the super-standard ninja system, all ordinary people are essentially subject to the jurisdiction of the various major Lands.
With the establishment of the Ninja Village and the end of the Warring States Period, the Land of Fire also allocated a significant portion of its military strength to Konoha Village, allowing Konoha to possess a certain degree of independent administrative power.
A rough comparison can be simply understood as follows:
- The Daimyo of the Land of Fire = The Emperor of the Land of Fire
- Konoha Village = An independent military vassal of the Land of Fire
- The Hokage = The General of the Land of Fire
- The Hokage and Konoha's high-ranking officials = The Shogunate of the Land of Fire
However, things are always changing with the times, and the relationship between Konoha and the Land of Fire has also fluctuated due to various subsequent events.
But at this time, in the second year of Konoha, the Warring States Period had just ended. As the strongest "Shogun" in history, there was no actual subordinate relationship between Konoha and the Land of Fire.
This is evident from the fact that when Konoha was established, Hashirama and Tobirama could directly decide who would become the First Hokage without needing approval from the Land of Fire.
This power continued into the era of the Second Hokage, Tobirama.
After all, Tobirama could have directly appointed Hiruzen as the Third Hokage at that time without the Land of Fire's consent.
This is enough to show the strength and independence of Konoha at that time.
After that, let's not talk about it anymore.
Now, if the Land of Fire and the Daimyo face problems and need Konoha's help, they usually still have to pay a hefty reward.
However, the initially unpleasant-sounding term "rent" was changed to the more pleasant-sounding term "commission."
The essential relationship remains unchanged.
Moreover, compared to the way dozens of ninja clans in a country competed for jobs and sold their lives cheaply, integrating all ninja clans into a large ninja village indeed increased the "salaries and benefits" of the ninjas.
There is only one "mercenary army" in the entire Land of Fire, Konoha. If you want me to work for you, of course, you have to pay me more. Otherwise, you can look for ninjas from other countries.
However, there is no guarantee that they can complete their missions alive after entering the Land of Fire.
Monopolies can always raise prices a bit. After all, the ninjas of the Warring States Period suffered too much and worked too hard.
This is also one of the reasons why, when they heard that Hashirama would establish a ninja village, the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan, the Hyuga Clan, and others all chose to join.
To earn more money, not to be ashamed!
Of course, there were some stubborn ninjas who refused to join.
But they don't even have a name now, so there's no need to guess what their fate will be.
If you are impolite, the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan will naturally help you become "polite"!
Seeing that Konoha had significantly increased salaries and made a lot of money by uniting various clans, other domestic ninja clans naturally followed suit.
At that time, they were busy establishing their own ninja villages.
It can be seen that the ninja village system established by Hashirama indeed had great progressive significance at the time and also benefited all ninja clans and ninjas.
This was not only a need of the times but also a great contribution made by Hashirama and others.
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In fact, all major and minor countries, including the Land of Fire, did not truly support the establishment of ninja villages.
First, after the establishment of a ninja village, the village would become more independent, and second, the wages required to hire ninjas to do work would be higher.
People are always greedy.
Moreover, they were fed and fattened by a group of daimyo and nobles. This is also the fundamental reason why they always want to reduce the military expenditure of ninja villages under various names and deliberately impose economic restrictions.
But at this time, the entire Daimyo's Palace and the current Daimyo himself are not interested in considering how to control Konoha Village.
Because there is a more deadly threat waiting for them!
More than a week ago, the Kyuubi led several Bijuu to roam around the Daimyo's palace in the Land of Fire.
They also looted many caravans entering and leaving the Daimyo's Prefecture.
The poor nobles of the Land of Fire had never seen the horror of the Bijuu!
Their sudden appearance was enough to scare them into crying for their parents and becoming extremely frightened.
Moreover, the caravans were robbed, and their interests were harmed.
A group of officials and nobles from the Land of Fire quickly asked the Daimyo to request help from Konoha Village.
The already terrified Daimyo naturally wrote a letter for help that night. He entrusted Hashirama to rush to the Daimyo's palace as soon as possible to protect him.
At Tobirama's urging, Hashirama agreed to the Bandit Suppression Plan and planned to use the name of suppressing bandits to obtain more military funds from the Land of Fire to accelerate the construction of Konoha Village.
The wicked Tobirama even delayed the matter for a few more days, making the high-ranking officials of the Daimyo's Prefecture so scared that they couldn't sleep for several nights.
Then, he arrived at the Daimyo's Palace of the Land of Fire with his older brother.
They met the current Daimyo of the Land of Fire: Takatenji.
The latter was overjoyed and almost cried with joy. He immediately received Hashirama and Tobirama with the highest standards and continuously complained with tears about how brutal and cruel the "Bijuu Bandits" roaming outside the city were.
It seemed as if all the evils in the world were brought by those Bijuu!
Hearing this, the kind-hearted Hashirama awkwardly touched his head, feeling very embarrassed.
Of course, this trick couldn't fool Tobirama. He was worried that his older brother was too kind and could be deceived, so he went to the scene with him.
Before Madara destroyed the newly built Iwagakure, the Land of Fire and this Daimyo launched various criticisms and restrictions against Konoha; they were even more active than other major countries and almost rushed to the forefront against Konoha.
At that time, this man showed no mercy at all!
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire could bet on the Senju Clan and support them in establishing Konoha Village during the chaotic Warring States Period.
He clearly had the means and intelligence.
At least he was far better than the two useless Daimyo of the Land of Fire who succeeded him.
Unfortunately, no matter how wise a person is, in the end, he is still just an ordinary person.
When facing the threat of the Bijuu Organization, there was nothing he could do.
No matter how wise, brave, heroic, and resourceful the President of the United States is, if the enemy breaking into the White House is Godzilla, he still has to be shy!
After all, there is more than one Godzilla out there!
But it was the Bijuu Group led by the Kyuubi, totaling nine!
With such a luxurious lineup, everyone in the ninja world would surely kneel upon seeing it, except for Hashirama and Madara!
This is an open conspiracy led by absolute power.
Every time the Bijuu attack the Daimyo's palace, the Daimyo can only rely on Konoha's strength.
You must pay, or you die.
You can only choose one of the two.
In fact, if his older brother hadn't stopped him, Tobirama would have wanted to take the Daimyo's money and his life!
To make up for his wounded heart, Tobirama made a huge offer during the remuneration negotiation, amounting to 2 billion!
And it wasn't a one-time payment, but only a one-year protection fee!
Guaranteeing that within one year, Konoha would do its best to eliminate the Bijuu threat and protect the safety of the Daimyo's Palace.
This was 2 billion at the end of the Warring States Period, and its purchasing power and real value were certainly no less than 5 billion in the Fourth Hokage's generation.
And it was sustainable.
With such a huge subsidy of 2 billion per year, it's unimaginable how rich they would be!
If we get it, it might take less than two years for Konoha to become more prosperous and larger than Minato!
Actually, Tobirama initially wanted to ask for 5 billion; but after Hashirama tried his best to persuade him, he finally managed to reduce it to 2 billion.
Faced with his older brother's stubbornness, he had no choice but to agree.
Tobirama couldn't help but mutter: 'I'm still too kind!'