Therefore, a country's stability, peace, and harmony require the establishment of a unified government.
At the same time, the Uzumaki Clan's national governance is both its advantage and its disadvantage.
The advantage is that within a clan, conflicts are relatively minor, and the authority of the daimyo or clan leader carries significant weight.
However, the disadvantage is the small population. Just gathering individuals with all seven chakra natures would be difficult. While finding a few people might be manageable, if a larger number is required, the Land of Whirlpools might not be able to meet the demand.
For the Land of Whirlpools to develop, it needs a substantial number of ninjas.
Looking at Earth's industrial evolution, it essentially revolves around finding different ways to boil water, meaning changes in energy sources.
Although the ninja world has its own solution for energy, chakra, which is its advantage, resources like coal and oil are largely irrelevant. Why abandon the ninja world's unique advantage of limitless, pollution-free energy? However, transforming ninjas from war machines into productive members of society is no easy task.
Throughout the entire Naruto series, their technology is quite advanced, especially in Boruto, where it has reached a modernized level. Yet, they still...
Travel by running, communicate by shouting.
Though not explicitly detailed in Naruto, certain scenes suggest some level of industrialization, such as...
Factories emitting exhaust fumes.
Thus, it seems ninjas remain stuck in their traditional roles without any real transformation.
This might work in the short term, but over time, the ninja world will inevitably change. The once-revered ninjas will find themselves without purpose, without value.
How could they accept that?
Especially when ninjas lose their value, they will be cast aside. But ninjas are not the type to adapt easily. The only solution might be war, to reassert their dominance over the ninja world.
Therefore, developing secondary roles for ninjas is a historical necessity, or rather, expanding their functions.
At the same time, universal ninja education is of utmost importance. Only when being a ninja becomes an academic qualification, a profession, can the conflict between ninjas and ordinary civilians gradually diminish.
Sigh, this is also a form of class conflict.
If chakra is an external energy source, then natural energy is the ninja world's original mystical power. However, natural energy is too difficult to master and even dangerous in some aspects, which is why it was gradually replaced by the more accessible chakra.
Thus, natural energy cannot drive industrialization.
But to preserve the ninja world's uniqueness, research into natural energy should eventually be prioritized. Having distinctive traits will provide an advantage when dealing with extraterrestrial threats.
In Boruto, the ninja world's advantage over the Ōtsutsuki Clan lies in ninjutsu. Ninjas have pushed the use of chakra, an external energy source, to its limits.
Chakra utilization can be broadly divided into three categories: ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Compared to the Ōtsutsuki Clan's simplistic methods, ninjas' techniques are far more versatile.
The only problem is the lack of truly powerful individuals. Even when all the ninja world's top fighters unite, they barely manage to defeat four Ōtsutsuki members sent to their world. Who knows how many more of these intergalactic beings exist?
Of course, the top fighters mentioned here are only the known ones. The underground black-market figures don't count.
Perhaps, given more time, ninjas could evolve further, developing even stronger ninjutsu and forbidden techniques. But...
Time waits for no one.
Thus, Uzumaki Jun's goal for the Land of Whirlpools is to universalize ninja education, integrate ninjas into production and daily life, and establish clear ninja rankings as an academic hierarchy.
For example...
A six-year ninja apprenticeship would be equivalent to elementary school. Genin would be middle school, chūnin high school, jōnin university, Kage-level graduate studies, and super-Kage-level doctoral studies.
Additional specialized fields, such as natural energy studies, could serve as supplementary academic disciplines.
A natural energy proficiency certification could also be introduced.
As for the Six Paths level and beyond...
The numbers would likely remain small, so they could be classified as senior scholars.
Moreover, ninjas should not be categorized solely by combat ability. They should also be divided into liberal arts and sciences. The sciences would cover the conventional ninjas, while the liberal arts...
Would focus on research and development.
How many genius scientists has the ninja world wasted?
Thus...
For societal progress, scientific and technological advancement is indispensable.
If this development continues, decades later, jōnin would be as common as dogs, and Kage-level ninjas would be everywhere. Private ninja academies could even be established, further increasing the number of ninjas.
However, all of this depends on the nation's strength. Otherwise, if exploited by malicious actors, it could lead to disaster. Therefore, such policies should only be implemented after the country has prospered.
For now, the focus should be on developing national power and military capabilities, improving the living standards and happiness of the Land of Whirlpools' citizens, and fostering their dependence on and loyalty to the nation. Only then can future plans proceed smoothly.
...
"Lord Jun, the Hidden Mist has sent envoys requesting negotiations," a Uzumaki ninja reported respectfully.
Uzumaki Jun snapped out of his thoughts. There was no point in overthinking things now. Everything could wait until the situation stabilized.
"Arrange for the negotiations to take place in two days at the foot of the mountain to the right of the forest," Uzumaki Jun said, stretching. Finally, the Hidden Mist was surrendering. He had thought Hōzuki Gengetsu would stubbornly prolong the stalemate.
Two days should be enough. By then, the dispatched ninjas would have completed their missions, ensuring the Land of Whirlpools held the upper hand in negotiations. Otherwise, that eyebrowless Hōzuki Gengetsu might try to reclaim the tailed beasts without paying a single ryo. There was no way things would be that easy. After all, the Land of Whirlpools had suffered significant losses in this war.
For example...
The national treasury was nearly empty. And for the Land of Whirlpools to develop rapidly, funds were essential.
So, if not these invaders, who else should pay for the damages?
As for the Hidden Mist Village also suffering heavy losses, to the point where their leader might have to pawn his underwear, Uzumaki Jun could only shrug and mutter, "Not my problem."
He would then secretly glance toward Konoha and add, "You can always ask someone else to pay."
"Yes!" The Uzumaki ninja acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Uzumaki Jun yawned and stood up. "Now, it's time to talk to the Senju Clan."
He wondered how the clan elders were getting along with the Senju members.