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Chapter 496: Meeting and Shares!
Chapter 496: Meeting and Shares!
The major ninja villages sent their delegations, except for the Mist Hidden Village, which remained in isolation.
One couldn't expect the nobility and the Daimyo's delegations to respond as swiftly.
Although it was called a delegation, in reality, only a few individuals came, and that was mostly important figures from each village.
The meeting place was naturally the office.
With an area of over a hundred square meters, it could easily accommodate not just a few people but even a hundred without feeling cramped.
Choosing this location for the meeting had an additional advantage.
There was only one seat, located behind a massive desk, forcing everyone else to stand, which emphasized the seated person's prestigious status.
When receiving these visitors, it was only natural that Dong Ping wouldn't be alone; he had gathered several high-ranking members.
However, they excluded those with sensitive identities, such as Yono, Uzumaki Kasumi, Yahara Rin, Aburame Gengetsu, and Yuuhi...
In the end, Dong Ping sat in the chair, flanked by Uchiha Yai and Hyuga Cangyue, with Yuzuki Shizuka, Kusakusa Seifu, Hachida, and Yekou standing behind them.
Yekou, despite his desire to continue training the students from the Wind Country, was denied.
Dong Ping was well aware that if Yekou did so, it would be easy for a Sand Sect faction to emerge within the Skyguard Tower.
It wasn't that factions were forbidden; in a large organization, the absence of any factions would be a cause for concern among the higher-ups.
The issue was that forming factions at this point was a bit premature.
Dong Ping's attitude was clear; he didn't care about what happened after graduation, as he knew they would eventually form their own small group due to their backgrounds and connections.
But while in school, they had no choice but to fully experience the baptism of the 'Flame Will.'
Closed-door teaching and all-encompassing brainwashing!
While this method might not be as effective on adult ninjas, it was a bit too much for ninja academy students.
The results were evident; just look at how the Leaf Ninjas devoutly followed the 'Flame Will' and aspired to become the Hokage to understand the power of brainwashing.
It had to be said that Sarutobi Hiruzen's brainwashing skills were top-notch, arguably the best in the ninja world.
Even Dong Ping had borrowed many of his techniques and combined them with ideas from his previous life to create an enhanced version.
He couldn't guarantee there would never be rogue ninjas, but their numbers would undoubtedly be pitifully low.
The Flame Will not only significantly increased the loyalty of the members but, more importantly, it strengthened their unity.
With shared ideals, unity was bound to be strong.
Dong Ping could afford to be lax in other areas, but when it came to propaganda and brainwashing, he was relentless.
Yekou had no objections to Dong Ping's arrangements.
By now, she had become a reflection of Dong Ping.
Heavenly Seal!
Its effects were indeed domineering.
Of course, the seal wasn't just for brainwashing; it could also significantly enhance one's strength. If fully activated, it could elevate one's power to a whole new level.
While it was easy for an ordinary ninja to improve by a level, it was a different story for a Shadow Rank powerhouse.
Yekou treasured the Heavenly Seal immensely.
Step, step!
Several individuals, led by two Uchiha, entered the room.
They were Makai from the Sand Hidden Village, Huangtu from the Stone Hidden Village, Tuda from the Cloud Hidden Village, and Nara Kyuu from the Leaf Village.
Other ninja villages had sent representatives, but they had no chance of meeting Dong Ping.
It might have been possible in the past, but now, the Skyguard Tower (only counting within the Land of Fire) had a population of several hundred thousand, rivaling the Leaf Village in numbers.
The number of ninjas had grown significantly; they had absorbed many ninjas and trained their own, now surpassing two thousand.
Indeed, the Skyguard Tower currently had over two thousand registered ninjas.
This didn't even include the Mist Ninjas; if they were counted, the number of registered ninjas would exceed six thousand.
The situation was already set!
At this point, the Skyguard Tower had the strength to challenge the Sand, Stone, and Cloud Ninjas individually. As for the Leaf Village, even with their Flying Corps, they wouldn't stand a chance.
If they were to make a move now, they would undoubtedly face a united ninja world, which was why Dong Ping had divided his territories, keeping them entirely hidden.
Even without considering other forces, the two thousand ninjas within the Land of Fire, along with the five thousand members of the Flying Corps, were more than enough for Dong Ping to display his superiority before the four representatives.
"Dong Ping-sama!" 4
The four of them greeted in unison.
Even though Dong Ping was younger than three of them, this was the way of the Ninja World, where status was determined by strength, not age.
Even Nara Kyuu, the Leaf Strategist, addressed him as 'sama' at this moment.
This was because they were not in Konoha, and Dong Ping represented Konoha in negotiations with the Skyguard Tower, not as a fellow Leaf Ninja. Thus, this form of address was not unusual.
If they were addressing him as a fellow Leaf Ninja, a simple 'Dong Ping-kun' would have sufficed.
After all, Nara Kyuu was the Leaf Strategist and Jonin Squad Leader, and he had his reputation to consider.
"I know why you're here. It's about the Airship, right?"
Dong Ping cut straight to the point, skipping the usual pleasantries.
"Then, Dong Ping-sama, are you willing to hand it over?"
Tuda, the cunning old fox, was the first to speak.
The four of them had varying degrees of influence, naturally tied to the strength of their respective villages.
Take Makai, for example, the youngest and least confident of the group.
If it weren't for the Sand Ninjas' recent stalemate with the Stone Ninjas in the Land of Birds, he might not have even been invited to join the others.
Although the Sand Village was one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, the other villages tended to look down on them.
This mindset was what led to the Stone Ninjas' lack of full commitment during the early stages of the Bird Poop War. They were held back by the Cloud Ninjas when they tried to step up their efforts later on.
If the Stone Ninjas had gone all out from the start, the Sand Ninjas would have been overwhelmed.
After realizing they couldn't gather enough forces to crush the Sand Ninjas, the Stone Ninjas opted for a war of attrition, intending to target their opponent's logistics and supplies.
However, they didn't anticipate the Sand Ninjas' secret supply line from the Land of Rivers, providing them with a steady stream of resources, despite the high cost and logistical challenges.
The continuous supply directly exhausted the Stone Ninjas, resulting in a stalemate.
Now, it was clear how challenging it was for the Sand Ninjas to achieve a stalemate.
Even though Makai had lost to Dong Ping during the Chuunin Exams, he now held Dong Ping in high regard.
Well, anyone who encountered their benefactor would likely feel the same.
Currently, many Sand Ninjas relied on the Skyguard Tower for sustenance, and the two sides could even be considered 'allies' without a formal alliance treaty.
As for Nara Kyuu?
Knowing Dong Ping's rebellious nature, he chose to yield his authority to avoid offending him.
"The technology cannot be handed over!" Dong Ping stated firmly, and before the four could react, he added, "But we can sell the finished products!"
His words eased the tension among the four.
The possibility of negotiation was a relief; their greatest fear was a situation like the previous flying device, where there was no room for discussion.
"How will the sales work?" Huangtu spoke up, unwilling to remain silent and yielding his authority to Tuda.
"Shares!" Dong Ping revealed his plan, "Half of the Airships produced by the Skyguard Tower will be for our use, and the remaining half will be divided into ten percent shares for each of the Five Great Ninja Villages. If a village chooses not to purchase, it will be considered a voluntary forfeiture of their share!"
Indeed, he intended to bring the Five Great Ninja Villages into his scheme.
This was a massive undertaking! If the Skyguard Tower attempted to monopolize it, the entire Ninja World might unite against them.
The impact of the Ironclad Ships was not as significant.
Ordinary ships could navigate, albeit with inferior performance, and they could be produced by the villages themselves. In contrast, the Airship was a unique creation with no comparable alternatives. The Skyguard Tower's ambition to monopolize it was unrealistic.
Even Konoha, the strongest village in the Ninja World, would not dare to engage in such a monopoly.
Dong Ping's strategy was cunning; by involving the Five Great Ninja Villages, he shared the burden.
Despite having only a ten percent share, the ninjas were not fools. They had already envisioned the Airship's potential and understood the magnitude of its impact, which explained their heightened interest.
A revolutionary product!
This was the consensus among the major ninja villages.
Obtaining a ten percent share meant significant benefits, whether for personal use or resale.
(End of Chapter)
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