Ryun quickly processed all the information in his mind and finally concluded that the rebellion in Sunagakure was inevitable. Even though Sunagakure had the smallest reparations in the originally signed treaty, its land was remote and its resources were scarce.
Although it could maintain normal national operations, over time it would stir public resentment. Chiyo and Pakura and others could not possibly be unaware of this. That is to say, the two of them were yielding to public opinion, not yielding to Rasa.
Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju arrived here first. They looked at Ryun, their eyes showing fervor and worry. Madara, because he had not had a proper fight for a long time, even though he usually sparred with Hashirama, they always held back.
But the battlefield was different. On the battlefield, densely packed shinobi all held the intention to kill the enemy. In such a situation, they did not need to hold back, they could even cause a great ruckus. For the naturally combative Madara, this was a rare opportunity.
"Ryun, we have all heard. Sunagakure annexed the surrounding small villages, plundered their wealth, and strengthened itself, causing the people to live in misery and hardship. Now they actually dare to point their spear at us. How insolent!" The speaker was Madara Uchiha. He narrowed his eyes, then opened them wide, the pressure of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Hashirama Senju scratched his head. "Madara, actually I feel Sunagakure was forced into a corner."
"Big brother. Shut up, do you know what you are saying?" Tobirama Senju walked over slowly. He glanced at Ryun, nodded in greeting, then looked at Hashirama Senju.
"Yes, Lord Hashirama. If the villagers who don't understand your personality heard this, it might provoke the anger of most people." Izuna Uchiha smiled slightly. He followed behind Tobirama Senju and walked in.
"Correct. Between nations, there only exists exchange of interests and plunder of interests. If, because they are suffering, we deplete ourselves to supplement others, not only will it not make them grateful, it will make them push their luck." Ryun summarized.
Throughout history, tribute and annual payments not only failed to satisfy outsiders, but instead made them increasingly greedy. Three thousand ryo this year, five thousand ryo next year, ten thousand ryo the year after, and later, one hundred thousand ryo, two hundred thousand ryo.
Hashirama pouted. He looked at Ryun, then at the others, lowered his head and sighed. He was, after all, the First Hokage. Why were his opinions so foolish, not worth adopting?
It really was. If Madara Uchiha hadn't left Konoha back then, and Hashirama alone held absolute dominant power with no one able to refute him, probably many Konoha politicians would have criticized Hashirama Senju vehemently for distributing the Tailed Beasts.
Damn, these things could serve as national reserves, as weapons. How could you give them all away for the sake of verbal peace?
Look at the reaction when Ryun reclaimed the Tailed Beasts. Everyone was excited, happy, jubilant. This is our thing, it should be used by our village, to protect our village.
"Alright, everyone please take your seats, wait for the people from the other clans to arrive." Ryun made the decision, then walked towards the Hokage's seat. He was not wearing the Hokage's official robe at this moment, but wore the same battle armor as Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha.
Sitting in the Hokage's seat, he propped his chin with one hand and tapped the table with the other. In less than ten minutes, a group of people entered through the door, quickly found their seats and sat down, their faces bearing anger.
They had also received the news. Sunagakure actually dared to launch an attack against them. It was like an ant trying to shake a tree, they don't know their own limits. Today's Konoha, whether in equipment, weapons, or communications, had already reached the top of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Even the Five Great Nations had to trade with Konoha.
Sunagakure, you are backward in everything. How dare you? The clans of Konoha want to ask you, Sunagakure, and you, Rasa, how dare you!
Ryun saw that everyone had arrived, then had someone close the door. He stood up and smiled, "I presume everyone present, through the words of your family's public affairs personnel, or your own clan's intelligence, already know the purpose of this meeting."
Everyone nodded, not speaking. They looked at Ryun with fervent eyes. Since Ryun's debut, he had not missed a single battle, big or small. Wherever he went, the enemy troops were terrified.
Trapping the Land of Rain, Breaking Suna at the Twin Mountains, Suppressing the Third with Susano'o, Fighting Ten Thousand with the Wooden Golem, Repelling the Raikage with Fists and Feet, Wreaking Havoc in Kirigakure...
Hearing his name, all the heroes of the world were terrified.
Regarding Ryun, the various clans of Konoha were sincerely convinced. Providing strong support internally, striking hard externally. This is what a Kage should do!
Over these eight years, Konoha's economy and technology developed rapidly, filling everyone with gratitude towards Ryun. Therefore, at every meeting, no clan was late, no clan was absent.
Ryun spoke, "Now, Sunagakure has declared war on us. What do you say we should do!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The meeting room was filled with continuous shouts of 'Kill'. Everyone's eyes were crimson, not directed at Ryun, but at those Sunagakure people who started the war. Isn't living peacefully good? Do you have to show off?
Ryun nodded. This kind of morale was exactly what he wanted. So he said, "Since it is so, then I will lead the troops and personally campaign!"
Before he could finish, a group of people changed their expressions and quickly said, "No. Lord Hokage, your status is noble, you are the spiritual pillar of Konoha. You must not personally go to the front lines!"
"Yes, Lord Hokage, you cannot campaign. Although you are powerful and unmatched, on the battlefield, the situation changes in an instant, weapons have no eyes. If you get injured, what will happen to our Konoha!"
"Lord Hokage, you are still so young, you still need to lead us for fifty, even a hundred years. You cannot have any mishaps!"
The reactions of the various clans were even greater than the Uchiha clan's, as if they were Ryun's clansmen and the Uchiha were outsiders.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled wryly. When I was in power, why didn't so many people advise me not to go to the battlefield? Ah!
Nara Luming, seeing this, also spoke, "Lord Hokage, what everyone says makes sense. A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Your safety is the most important. Under your leadership, Konoha has prospered and developed. This is all due to your wise decisions and decisive guidance."
"Yes, Lord Hokage. Konoha can be without us, without anyone, but it absolutely cannot be without you!" Sakumo Hatake knelt on the ground, bravely offering his advice.
Ryun's expression changed. Although he knew everyone was worried about his danger and thus advised him, he also didn't want Konoha's shinobi to die in vain. If he didn't go, how could it work!
Madara Uchiha's eyes lit up. "Lord Hokage, Madara Uchiha requests to lead the team!"
Ryun was startled. He raised his head and looked at Madara Uchiha, only to see Madara's mouth upturned, winking at him. Ryun's heart stirred, and he immediately prepared to agree.
However, someone proposed a statement, "Lord Hokage, although Konoha's current combat power has multiplied compared to the past, the new generation of shinobi have not yet experienced the baptism of war. I think they should experience it."
This statement resonated with everyone. The shinobi who participated in the Second Great Ninja War now had an average age of over forty, close to fifty. They could fight for at most another ten years. Could they still go to the battlefield at sixty?
Ryun frowned slightly. What this person said was not without reason. If we only rely on the older generation, and the new generation of shinobi have not experienced the baptism of war, then Konoha's future combat power, no matter how high, would only be false combat power.
Nara Luming saw Ryun's dilemma. He said, "Lord Hokage, how about having Lord Madara serve as the overall commander of the entire army, in charge of the overall situation. Unless necessary, he must not take action."
Everyone nodded. It was feasible. However, this would increase sacrifices. But, this was also unavoidable. We cannot always rely on the old-timers.
Ryun pondered repeatedly. He looked up at everyone. All their eyes held expectation. He took a deep breath and said, "Then let it be so. For this battle, Madara Uchiha will be the commander, Izuna Uchiha will be the deputy commander. The two will jointly command the shinobi army."
"According to frontline reports, Sunagakure has invested eight thousand troops in the Konoha battlefield. This time, we must invest at least four thousand troops in the Sunagakure battlefield. Later, I ask the clan heads to return and have each family contribute at least fifty shinobi. Ryun thanks you here." Ryun stood up, looked at the participants, and bowed.
Everyone did not dare to accept it, quickly stood up. Among them, Hyūga Sekijō shouted, "Lord Hokage, do not worry. My Hyūga family is willing to contribute five hundred troops!"
Everyone was stunned, and shouted one after another, "The Uchiha family, one thousand." "The Sarutobi family, one thousand." "The Nara family, two hundred."
The rising and falling voices echoed in the meeting room, making Ryun's face show a smile. Is this the power of public opinion? He stretched out his hands, pressed down, and in two or three seconds, the whole room was silent.
"Everyone, this time, it's not like the old days. Now our Konoha has excellent soldiers and ample supplies, many shinobi. There's no need for each family to contribute so many. Just fifty people, I even think that's a bit too many." Ryun said truthfully.
"And if everyone contributes so many shinobi, what if Iwagakure, Kumogakure, or Kirigakure attack? How should we defend then?" Ryun laid out all the scenarios. Only then did the clan heads come to their senses, no longer as fervent as at the beginning.
"So, I ask the clan heads to return and select fifty people. That is enough, no need for more." Ryun smiled. Everyone then nodded. After Ryun declared the meeting adjourned, they all returned home to begin mobilizing troops.
Ryun watched their retreating backs, his thoughts complex. Thinking back to when he first came to this world, he was cautious and apprehensive, for himself, for his clan, scheming and biding his time countless times. Now, not only had he become the leader, he was a Hokage who combined strength, power, and money into one.
The corner of his mouth turned up. Konoha today is truly good, united in purpose, facing the national crisis together. Well, although Sunagakure's attack might not even count as a crisis, the fact that the hearts of Konoha's various clans were united filled him with great satisfaction.