Chapter 51: Summoning Beasts
"Summoning a person?"
"Using the Summoning Technique to transmit information?"
Hashirama and Tobirama were also silent for a long time. Tobirama finally said, "Your ideas are very interesting, but some parts are wrong. It's not that a person can only summon one type of summoning beast. It's just that most summoning beasts don't like their partners to have a summoning beast of another species. If you insist on signing a contract with another type of summoning beast, it's possible that both summoning beasts will terminate their contract with you. So, most people don't do that. However, some powerful individuals or those with strong personal charm can sign contracts with two or more summoning beasts at the same time."
Hashirama smiled. "If you compare the relationship between a ninja and a summoning beast to that of a husband and wife, it's easier to understand."
Hearing Hashirama's inappropriate analogy, the faces of everyone present darkened a little.
Tobirama continued, "As for the question of who is in charge in a summoning contract, of course, it's whoever is stronger. The ninja world always speaks with strength. As for summoning a person... we really don't know about that. We will send people to conduct experiments. You all can go home for now. Don't speak of this matter to anyone."
"Yes, sir." The six of them bowed and then went their separate ways.
Hashirama watched them leave and then said, "Tobirama, what do you think of their proposal just now?"
Tobirama nodded. "This idea is very good. In the future, transmitting information will be very fast. And if a person can summon another person, they can be rescued in time when a subordinate is in danger."
Hashirama shook his head. "Actually, whether person-to-person summoning is successful or not isn't important. If it's not possible, we can just have the ninja first summon a summoning beast, and then have the summoning beast summon the other person, acting as a relay station. This would also allow the summoning beast to maintain the chakra consumption on both ends, allowing the ninja to have sufficient chakra for battle."
Tobirama nodded repeatedly, looking at Hashirama with some surprise. He never thought his usually scatterbrained older brother could be so clear-headed today. He added, "Then let's call the Inuzuka clan over to discuss the matter of cultivating ninja beasts. When the time comes, we can cultivate several types of ninja beasts that cannot be exposed and have our spies sign contracts with them."
Hashirama nodded in agreement, and Tobirama arranged for a ninja to go and summon Inuzuka Ya. When he returned, he saw Hashirama standing by the window, staring blankly at the village below. After a long while, he said to Tobirama, "Tobirama, what do you think of those children just now?"
Tobirama recalled the children's performance. Although it was Hiruzen who had done the narrating, Tobirama could see that among the group, Yamamoto Ryusei was still the leader. "They are all very good children. Ryusei's core team has already begun to form."
Hashirama nodded. "With these children, plus Torifu, Shikamei, and Danzo, Ryusei's position as the future Hokage is secure."
Of course it is. This group already contains eighty percent of Konoha's future strength.
Tobirama frowned. "The troublesome part now is the Uchiha clan. The status of the Hyuga main family is too high; they are pampered and won't produce any real talent in the future. The Hyuga branch family is tightly controlled by the main family. The Hyuga clan doesn't have the strength to become Hokage. But the Uchiha clan is different. For now, because of Madara's departure, the Uchiha clan has settled down. But Konoha was, after all, founded by the Senju and the Uchiha together. The Uchiha clan's desire for the Hokage position must be extremely strong. When the time comes, they will push Kagami forward to compete with Ryusei."
Hashirama, however, said nonchalantly, "Anyone who has Konoha's best interests at heart can be the Hokage. But Konoha is not yet stable. If the Hokage position is directly passed from the Senju clan to the Uchiha clan, Konoha will become a battlefield for the bloodline clans. Therefore, during this period, the Hokage must be a ninja from a minor clan or a commoner. It just so happens that Ryusei has appeared. His talent is simply astonishing; he defeated the most outstanding youths of all the ninja clans in one fell swoop and suppressed his entire generation, becoming the best candidate for Hokage. Otherwise, our only choice would have been Hiruzen."
Hashirama nodded again. "In the next generation, besides Ryusei and Kagami, only Hiruzen is the most suitable. Danzo's character is not magnanimous enough, and Torifu is still not clever enough. Kagami is very suitable, but we can't choose him now. And there's no need to even mention Yuki. But Ryusei isn't very interested in being Hokage; he probably doesn't want to take over at all."
"He will take over," Hashirama said with certainty. "That child, Ryusei, values the people around him very much. If Konoha is in any danger, he will definitely stand up."
On this point, Tobirama had no doubts.
Before long, Inuzuka Ya arrived.
He bowed to the Hokage. "Lord Hokage, what business do you have with me?"
Tobirama explained the plan for communication via summoning beasts to Inuzuka Ya, then said that Konoha planned to cultivate summoning beasts on a large scale and asked for his opinion.
Inuzuka Ya immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Aha! So you've finally shown your true colors! I knew Konoha was a scam, luring our clans in just to seize our secret techniques! And you ask for my opinion? You just want to steal my family's secret techniques, don't you? Do you expect me to hand them over on a silver platter? I refuse! Absolutely refuse! But why choose my Inuzuka clan first? Is it because I flattered Tobirama incorrectly last time?
Tobirama, seeing the color drain from Inuzuka Ya's face, knew he had misunderstood. "Clan Head Inuzuka, is it very difficult for you to train ninja beasts?"
Hearing Tobirama's words, Inuzuka Ya was a bit confused. We train them? Not Konoha? That's right, we are also a part of Konoha. He realized that the Hokage wasn't trying to seize his clan's secret techniques. He let out a sigh of relief and said with feigned worry, "It is a bit difficult. Right now, our family's ninja dogs are barely enough to supply our own people, let alone sell them."
Tobirama could see that Inuzuka Ya wanted some benefits. "Then would it be possible with the full support of Konoha?"
Inuzuka Ya's face lit up with joy. He said with excitement, but still leaving some room for negotiation, "In that case, the ninja dogs will definitely be no problem. As for other aspects, we can also give it a try, but the cost might be a little higher."
Hashirama nodded repeatedly. "Then you should go and try. Strive to research it out as soon as possible."
Subsequently, regarding Konoha's investment and returns, as well as the Inuzuka clan's obligations, Tobirama and Inuzuka Ya engaged in a serious and intense discussion that lasted for two hours, finally reaching an agreement.
Inuzuka Ya left the Hokage's office happily, feeling that his family's position in Konoha had become even more important.
Hashirama, remembering how Ryusei had complained about the slow speed of ninjutsu that morning, couldn't help but think of Tobirama, who was known as the fastest in the ninja world. "Tobirama, do you think Ryusei can learn your Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Tobirama asked with some confusion, "Big Brother, you want me to teach the Flying Thunder God to Ryusei?"
Hashirama nodded. "Yes. What do you think?"
Tobirama had no objections, but the Flying Thunder God was extremely difficult and required an aptitude for space-time ninjutsu. If he taught it to him now and he couldn't learn it, it would be a disservice to him. "Let's talk about it again in a few years. Ryusei is not suitable to learn this right now. Besides, in a small area, the speed of Ryusei's Soru is not inferior to the Flying Thunder God."
"I know," Hashirama nodded. "That's why the Flying Thunder God is for Ryusei to escape. In the future, if he gets into a fight he can't win, he can run away. After all, it's not easy for us to cultivate a successor."
Tobirama looked at Hashirama, speechless. My Flying Thunder God is for combat, not specifically for running away! You don't really see me that way, do you?
Tobirama's face darkened. He moved all the documents from his own desk to Hashirama's. "These are the documents that need to be processed today. They must be finished today. I'm not feeling well, so I'll be heading home first."
Hashirama stared dumbfounded as Tobirama placed several stacks of documents, each over a meter high, on his desk. He shouted at Tobirama's retreating back, "Tobirama! Big Brother was wrong! Your Flying Thunder God isn't just for running away, it can also be used for combat! Yes, it must be for combat! I'll die if I have to process all these documents by myself! Tobirama... Tobirama..."
Seeing Tobirama leave without even turning his head, Hashirama knew he had seriously offended him this time. He could only silently pick up the documents and start working. He then remembered Ryusei's use of shadow clones, created several of his own to help with the paperwork, and then went back to leisurely reading the copy of The Investiture of the Gods that Ryusei had written. Hmm, this Daji is really beautiful.