Chapter 246: The Terracotta Warrior Engineering Corps
"I'm at an advantage?" Hyuga Fuji smiled lightly. "They've brought out the argument of ten victories and ten defeats, completely dismissing our chances. Why do you think I'm at an advantage?"
Yagura recalled the recent wave of thought stirred up by the United Nations and felt his eyelids twitch.
The theory of ten victories and ten defeats—he had indeed heard of it.
The content compared the United Nations' advantages with Hyuga Fuji's disadvantages, summarized into one simple conclusion:
The Shinobi World United Nations is destined to win!
Yagura felt that whoever published this article must have had an incredibly thick face, comparable to a city wall.
By avoiding the disadvantages and only listing the United Nations' advantages, of course they would claim victory.
"If the theory of ten victories and ten defeats was only for the upper echelons, it could be considered advice to motivate the leadership. But the person who published this article actually spread it to the entire Shinobi world. I'm beginning to wonder if the writer harbors ill intentions."
Yagura shook his head helplessly. "So, I don't think this theory will have any negative impact on you. Even if the education levels of the Shinobi nations have significantly improved, without access to proper channels, the general public won't understand the country's economic strength. They'll blindly trust the information released by the higher-ups."
"The more widespread the theory of ten victories and ten defeats becomes, the more it might actually work in your favor."
These words came from Yagura's sincere thoughts. On his way from the Land of Water to the Land of Snow, he had heard countless arguments about Hyuga Fuji's inevitable defeat.
Sometimes, he couldn't comprehend what the leaders of those smaller nations were thinking.
The major nations had the power to make such statements, but where did the smaller nations get their confidence?
Once war breaks out, even if Hyuga Fuji were to lose, do those buffer-zone countries think they'll fare any better?
Yagura shook his head inwardly.
Although the Shinobi World United Nations had gathered many forces, the personnel within were too mixed, filled with a bunch of incompetent allies. This was one of the reasons he was reluctant to cooperate with them.
In the intricate chess game that was the current Shinobi world, each nation had its own plans and interests to consider.
The leaders of smaller nations dared to make unfavorable remarks about Hyuga Fuji perhaps because they believed they could remain neutral in the potential conflict or hoped to curry favor with the future dominant powers.
But thinking from a higher perspective, it was clear that the fate of the smaller nations was sealed. Once the conflict between East and West ended, they would have to merge.
Either they would join Hyuga Fuji's side, or they would have to align with one of the three major nations, becoming a part of them, and then vie for the ultimate victory.
They didn't have the luxury of choice.
Upon hearing Yagura's words, Hyuga Fuji smiled faintly but did not comment. He merely said, "Tonight, I will gather the relevant personnel to sign the alliance with you. Before that, you probably want to meet someone, don't you?"
"Indeed."
Yagura nodded solemnly. "I'd like to meet Senior Gengetsu."
The decision to sign the alliance with Hyuga Fuji wasn't his alone but a conclusion reached after discussions with the elders and the former leaders.
One reason for this decision was their belief in Hyuga Fuji's chances of success. Another reason was Hozuki Gengetsu.
They had first learned about the resurrection of the Second Mizukage by Hyuga Fuji because he had appeared two years ago in the war between the Land of Snow and the Land of Wind.
Afterward, they gathered intelligence from various channels and concluded that Hozuki Gengetsu had sincerely joined Hyuga Fuji's faction.
He even took on three apprentices; it couldn't possibly be a misunderstanding, right?
Since even the Second Mizukage acknowledged it, their "investment" naturally had no issue.
"Senior Gengetsu is still busy in the Land of Demons, taking over various powers and helping the priestess move her residence. He won't be back for a while."
Hyuga Fuji picked up a communication device from the table and handed it to Yagura. "Here's Senior Gengetsu's contact information."
"Thank you." Yagura accepted the communication device but didn't use it immediately. "Mei Terumi came with me as well. I intend for her to become the next leader of the Land of Water, and I hope she can study here for a while."
With the development of the past two years, there was much to learn from the Land of Snow. Since they had decided to stand in the same trench, it was time to openly learn from them.
Hyuga Fuji: "That's fine. I'll make the arrangements. Do you have any preferences for the areas she should focus on?"
Yagura had already prepared his response and said bluntly, "Focus on economic development. Her era should see fewer wars."
Hyuga Fuji nodded without agreeing or disagreeing.
The two discussed a few more details about their cooperation. Seeing that the discussions had reached a pause, Yagura brought up the United Nations' movements.
"Recently, the Land of Fire's actions have been strange. Their borders and internal defenses have increased severalfold in tightness. Do you have any insights?"
…
The towns in the Land of Snow resembled a tranquil winter painting, spreading out across the snow-covered landscape. The morning sunlight pierced the thin clouds, casting a gentle, dazzling glow on the thick snow-covered rooftops.
On both sides of the streets, snow had been cleared to form paths that wound through various buildings.
While Yagura and Hyuga Fuji were discussing their alliance, Mei Terumi was indulging in some leisurely sightseeing at public expense.
She strolled from one end of the commercial street to the other, her steps light and unhurried, enjoying the rare moment of relaxation and taking in the bustling streets and diverse array of goods.
As the future leader of the Land of Water, she seldom had the opportunity to relax like this. Today was a rare holiday for her.
However, even while enjoying herself, she didn't forget her purpose for being here.
She visited places where advanced technologies were on display, looking for innovations that could benefit her country's development.
Whenever she encountered something interesting or a technology worth studying, Mei Terumi would take note of it, making it a priority for her studies in the Land of Snow.
"The Land of Snow has cars… the Land of Fire has developed trams. Shouldn't the Land of Water upgrade its maritime technology?"
Stopping at an exhibit of jeeps, Mei Terumi contemplated.
After the war, increased communication with the continent would be essential, making advancements in maritime technology a necessity.
After observing for a while, Mei Terumi jotted down her thoughts and moved on to another site.
This time, it was a construction site where numerous stone statues were busy moving bricks.
These statues worked with astonishing coordination and efficiency, carrying out their tasks seamlessly.
Their arms lifted bricks with mechanical precision, transporting them steadily to designated spots.
The statues' steps were solid and forceful, each one landing firmly on the ground without the slightest tremor, making them undeniably reliable workers.
"Terracotta Warrior Engineering Corps? Working year-round without rest, sickness, or accidents, and capable of infinite use as long as there's sufficient chakra?"
Reading the promotional sign, Mei Terumi's expression turned bewildered, as though she had been called to solve a problem she hadn't studied for—
Confusion!
(End of chapter)