As soon as those words were spoken, the room fell silent.
That was the truth, does it even matter? They wouldn't suddenly switch sides just because we didn't condemn them.
You have to remember, Kusagakure is known for having little shinobi honor. When trouble comes, they don't hesitate to betray their allies. Even Hiruzen's lips twitched at the thought.
Though Konoha and Kusagakure are allies now, if they sold Konoha's intel tomorrow, it wouldn't be surprising at all.
"Let's follow Mitokado's advice," Hiruzen said solemnly. "Also, Kusagakure must ensure their shinobi don't approach Konoha without a valid reason."
He paused thoughtfully. "No matter what, they are our allies now." After a moment, he added, "And no shinobi actions are allowed within the Land of Fire. As for other activities, they need to be reported to the Daimyo's office."
"Understood!"
Not long after, Kusagakure received the official condemnation. But the villagers barely glanced at it and ignored the message.
After all, they'd been condemned so many times over selling intel that it barely fazed them anymore. Their darkest hour was near the end of the First Great shinobi War, when they were almost wiped out as a nation. They had grown used to this kind of treatment, it was nothing new.
"Got it!"
When Mujie received The lord's reply and saw those two words, he immediately went quiet. "That's all?"
"Yeah!" Charlie looked at Mujie, puzzled. "What else did you expect?"
"Just those wordsa? Lord, the Land of Grass is a country. We can't be so casual about this!"
"Of course not! When you get back, add some details yourself." Charlie paused, then added, "Something like… Kusagakure and Konoha share a close bond. We regret any trouble this has caused Konoha.
We're aware of the situation now and hope Konoha continues to trust Kusagakure. Our relationship goes way back to the founding of the shinobi villages… Understand?"
"...Got it!" Mujie sighed and nodded. "The lord is The lord, you really know how to spin things! But…" He hesitated, "Should we change it?"
Charlie rolled his eyes. "The Land of Grass has been selling intel for years and faced criticism countless times. Have we ever changed?"
"I… get it! That shameless attitude… Lord, you really are a top-notch Kusa shinobi!"
"..."
'Who does this guy think he's insulting? Can you really call shamelessness between nations?' Charlie shot Mujie a sharp look, then said seriously, "Next up: the Uzumaki clan and the Chinoike Clan joining…"
The Uzumaki clan had faced a terrible disaster, leaving very few shinobi remaining, almost pushing them to the edge of extinction. Yet, even with such small numbers, they still filled a vital role in the Land of Grass, especially when it came to sealing techniques.
The few remaining Uzumaki were naturally talented, making them a capable sealing team despite their dwindling ranks. Although the "Stealing Heaven" plan was executed carefully, the Land of Grass, a small country caught between two powerful nations, was unlikely to draw much attention.
After all, no one really cared about a country that seemed so unstable. But it probably wouldn't stay a secret for long.
With so many redheads around, how could they hide it? Changing the Uzumaki name or denying those redheads' heritage wouldn't work.
Even if the Uzumaki clan agreed to such measures for peace's sake, their unique chakra and sealing skills couldn't fool the Five Great Shinobi Villages. That's why setting up sealing barriers and staying vigilant were necessary precautions for the Land of Grass.
Then there was the Chinoike clan, spiritually strong and skilled in dōjutsu, without a doubt. It was clearly time to establish a Land of Grass Security Division.
The country was rebuilding and faced many internal problems. They couldn't keep sending out shinobi every time something went wrong; they needed a dedicated team for civil security and law enforcement.
"I'll send you the relevant laws and regulations later," Charlie said, watching with a relieved smile as Kado visibly relaxed.
"Of course, it won't be just the Chinoike clan, other shinobi will join as well." His tone grew serious. "But remember, the Land of Grass Security Division isn't just a guard for the Chinoike clan; it's the guard for the entire Land of Grass!"
After Charlie finished, Kado nodded solemnly. "The Chinoike clan understands. As shinobi, whatever orders The lord gives, we will carry them out diligently."
Since arriving in the Land of Grass, The lord had kept his promises, and now it was the Chinoike clan's turn to live up to their responsibilities.
As The lord had explained, upon arriving in the Land of Grass, they would enjoy the rights granted by the country but also had to fulfill their corresponding duties. Currently, the Uzumaki clan was responsible for sealing tasks, while the Chinoike clan handled the defense of the Land of Grass. Moreover, there were additional obligations to consider.
Kado hadn't expected to be given such an important role so soon after joining, and he felt genuinely honored. It was clear The lord was confident enough to entrust both the Uzumaki and Chinoike clans with these responsibilities, such a broad and generous vision was truly rare.
Watching Kado's serious expression, Charlie nodded quietly, feeling the weight of their shared duty. But it didn't seem like Kado realized just how much serving as Konoha's police force had drained the Uchiha clan.
If you asked them now whether they wanted that role back, they'd probably turn it down without hesitation.
Otherwise, Fugaku Uchiha wouldn't have ended up cooperating with Hiruzen, or naming his youngest son Sasuke, a name once held by the Third Hokage's father, Sasuke Sarutobi. He even told him, "Become a great shinobi like your namesake, Sasuke Sarutobi!"
Sure, Sasuke Sarutobi was a legend. But to Charlie, naming your own son after someone else's dad still felt kind of awkward. Like trying too hard to show respect.
Just imagine scolding your kid and yelling, "Sasuke!" all day, while knowing it's also the name of the Hokage's father. That'd drive anyone up the wall. But then again, none of that mattered much to people from the Land of Grass.
Seeing Youma and Kado accept their new roles with enthusiasm, Charlie let out a sigh of relief. With this, the Uzumaki clan and Kado had officially become part of the Land of Grass. What came next would be a matter of education. Konoha had its Will of Fire; the Kusagakure Shinobi embraced the Spirit of Grass.
As for entertainment, it had to continue. Cultural exchange not only brought income but sometimes unexpected advantages.
Reflecting on Konoha's criticisms of the Kusagakure Shinobi, Charlie smiled and shook his head. The Five Great Shinobi Villages still didn't see cultural export as a priority, and that was exactly where the Kusagakure Shinobi held its edge.
After the meeting, Charlie intentionally kept Youma behind and asked thoughtfully, "Elder Youma, how's your research coming along?"