355. Immigration Plan

As the joint military exercises came to an abrupt conclusion, the ninja world briefly experienced peace and tranquility amidst a wave of accusations against Danzo.

Although there were still many conflicts brewing beneath the surface, such as the local wars within the Land of Hot Water and the covert struggles between the daimyos and the hidden villages of various nations, on the surface, everything appeared calm, with no large-scale wars or conflicts breaking out.

In this rare period of stability, the new power structure of the Land of Fire—the Cabinet—demonstrated remarkable efficiency.

The once sluggish and complacent nobles had either been executed or sent to work on railway construction sites.

The new batch of officials was now fiercely competing to impress the General, working with unprecedented enthusiasm.

This surge in energy significantly boosted the Cabinet's efficiency.

Despite still facing a shortage of personnel, the stark contrast to the previous lethargic administration allowed the people to feel a tangible positive change.

This change was not limited to the capital.

Under Danzo's sweeping reforms and ruthless purges, the nobles across the Land of Fire had become as docile as quails, obediently following the orders of the envoys sent from the capital.

They not only opened up free trade permissions across regions but also significantly reduced tax rates and actively promoted domestic consumption.

Additionally, the previously resisted Konoha Merchants Association finally gained entry into the market.

Without the obstruction and monopolization of local nobles, the commercial environment within the Land of Fire flourished with astonishing vitality.

Previously, under the collusion of the nobles and unscrupulous merchants, the pricing of goods was entirely monopolized.

The nobles dictated the prices, and the people had no choice but to pay.

However, with the introduction of free trade, the flow of goods increased dramatically.

More affordable and high-quality products began to flood the once rigid market, causing the prices of daily necessities to plummet.

The majority of the population suddenly realized how cheap these items could be.

What once cost thousands of ryo could now be purchased for just a few hundred, or even a few dozen ryo.

This newfound affordability boosted their purchasing power and stimulated their desire to consume.

This surge in consumer demand, in turn, spurred the major commercial groups, led by the Konoha Merchants Association, to expand production, build more factories, hire more workers, and seek better transportation infrastructure.

This not only alleviated Konoha's employment pressure and significantly increased production capacity but also accelerated technological advancements. It was a virtuous cycle.

However, as with all things, there were pros and cons.

The booming commercial environment also brought a new challenge to Konoha—a shortage of workers!

Most of Konoha's factories were now in need of expansion and increased production, but the village's population was simply insufficient to meet these demands.

Therefore, it became imperative to swiftly implement Danzo's immigration plan to bring more labor to Konoha.

To this end, Danzo quickly convened a special meeting in the capital. "I plan to gradually relocate the population of the capital to Konoha," Danzo stated bluntly at the meeting.

The primary reason for focusing on relocating the capital's population rather than others was Danzo's intention to prioritize Konoha's development while gradually diminishing the capital's influence and status.

There could only be one sun in the sky, and by emphasizing Konoha's central role, they could concentrate their efforts on major tasks.

Additionally, the quality of the population was a crucial factor.


While other regions had populations, they were mostly farmers with significantly lower levels of education, making it difficult for them to adapt to factory life.

Thus, Danzo's focus remained on the capital's residents.

Shikaku, of course, fully supported this idea.

However, the new nobles of the capital were less enthusiastic.

After all, they had worked tirelessly for Danzo in hopes of securing a better future.

If Danzo intended to weaken the capital's status, wouldn't that indirectly sacrifice some of their interests?

Although they dared not openly oppose Danzo given his current authority, this move would undoubtedly dampen their enthusiasm and motivation.

Danzo, however, had already devised a solution.

"Not only will the capital's residents be relocated, but the nobles, the daimyo, and even the entire Cabinet should also move to Konoha!" he declared.


"After all, I cannot continue to split my time between Konoha and the capital. It's too wasteful. Moreover, as the population grows, Konoha will need a new batch of capable administrative talents. Therefore, it makes sense to fully integrate Konoha and the capital to maximize our strength."

This statement immediately excited the new generation of nobles, including Shikaku.


If the entire Cabinet were to move to Konoha, wouldn't that mean their influence would extend beyond the capital and other regions to include Konoha, the most central and powerful area?

This would not only preserve their interests but potentially expand them!

Of course, the merger of Konoha and the capital would inevitably lead to significant adjustments within the Cabinet, with some less competent officials being replaced.

For those who sought only to coast along and live comfortably, this was a crisis.

But for the ambitious young officials eager to make their mark, this was an unprecedented opportunity!

As a result, Danzo's proposal received almost unanimous approval.

A special immigration department was established to coordinate with Konoha and develop a detailed timeline.

Deciding who would move first, who would follow, and who would stay was a matter of careful deliberation.

After all, immigration was not as simple as emptying the capital; it required considering the people's willingness, the allocation of resources, and more.

Simply transporting the population safely was a significant challenge.

As the capital of the Land of Fire for decades, the city was home to hundreds of thousands of people.

Without a meticulous plan, the process could result in substantial losses.

Therefore, the immigration plan had to be carefully planned and executed.

However, there was some good news.

With the assistance of the Hidden Stone Village, the railway line connecting Konoha and the capital was about to be completed...