Now that the Land of Lightning has undergone real change, both the Daimyo and his officials and the leaders of Kumogakure have begun to grasp the scope of Ron's vision for the future. As the world and society evolve and change, they increasingly recognize the value of his writings.
One day, the Third Raikage asked, "Ron, in your writings, you spoke about how policies should adapt over time and how leaders should govern, particularly in a shinobi village. But will there be no issue in allowing ordinary people to hold important positions and have a voice in Kumogakure's higher ranks?"
He paused before adding, "And won't the delegation of power and the shifting roles of shinobi create instability? If authority is handed down, what's to stop people from exploiting loopholes and taking advantage of these emerging industries?"
Ron understood his father's intrigue. After thinking for a moment, he responded, "Father, when you assign missions to the ANBU and delegate responsibilities, how do you ensure they aren't doing anything harmful? As far as I know, Kumogakure has never had rebel ninjas, except for the outliers, the Golden Horn and Silver Horn."
The Raikage replied, "That is because most people are not only from the Raikage Clan but also have a strong sense of identity with Kumogakure. They are treated well by the village and receive sufficient resources from the Daimyo. As for why no ninja has ever initiated a political struggle over the Raikage position, it's because most elite shinobi come from our clan. Their numbers grow every year, with many civilians joining as they gain access to ninjutsu."
Ron nodded and continued, "So every ninja in the village has a clear path for growth, and talented individuals are not left behind. In return, they are thoroughly checked to ensure they are not spies and cannot leak vital ninjutsu. But we don't control them like slaves or rule by sheer force. So what stops them from turning against the direct bloodline and claiming the Raikage position for themselves?"
The Third Raikage, finally understanding Ron's point, nodded. "It's because we are strong, and in every generation, no one has been able to surpass us."
Ron smiled. "Exactly, Father. As long as the higher-ups are loyal and capable, even if they are ambitious, they won't be able to take advantage of you. Delegating some responsibilities won't change that. Of course, those entrusted with power must be reliable and worthy, but ultimately, you're only assigning others to manage trivial matters."
"In addition, you can create interconnected departments that oversee one another, making corruption difficult. You could also establish multiple oversight departments to monitor how funds and resources are used, ensuring that finance and other sectors operate properly. As trade expands and the economy grows, the Land of Lightning, in cooperation with the Daimyo, should develop departments dedicated to regulating economic health and stability."
"I've mentioned these ideas in my writings. And even if these departments are primarily run by civilians due to the sheer population of the Land of Lightning, they can still be kept under the watchful eye of ANBU or other assigned shinobi, and these departments"
"So, Father, you're overthinking this. My writings do speak of the rise of all people and an era of advancement, but as shinobi, we can adapt better than anyone and remain the strongest."
Ron believed that as long as people were properly guided and not left behind, the world would not fall into chaos. After all, both ninjas and the Daimyo had a simple concern, what would well-fed people do when survival was no longer a struggle? However, this was the ninja world, where managing, monitoring, and controlling the masses was far easier. Even gathering information could be accomplished with a simple genjutsu.
Ron did not think that the people of this world would have the energy or the inclination to protest against ninjas, as long as they were not oppressed and had opportunities for a better future.
After clarifying the Third Raikage's misunderstanding, Ron remembered something and asked, "Father, has the village finished setting up medical greenhouses in addition to the terrace farms?"
The Third Raikage recalled the reports and replied, "I do remember Dodai and the others mentioning it. Now we can create optimal conditions for herb cultivation. Though higher potency still requires time, Kumogakure will no longer suffer from a shortage of medicinal herbs. In addition, the greenhouses have become popular in many cities, including the capital, as they allow for the cultivation of various foods and vegetables from around the world without being restricted by seasonal changes."
"Why do you ask?"
Ron answered, "Father, do you remember the medicine chamber I mentioned? It has been preliminarily completed. I was hoping you could test it out. It was built directly within the residence, in my personal underground lab, where I work on various projects."
The Third Raikage nodded and told Ron that he would visit after his training.