There were indeed still several matters Natsuhiko needed to discuss properly with Nara Shikaku.
Strictly speaking, these were things that should only be addressed after he officially became Hokage.
However, after receiving the letter Minato had delivered through the toads of Mount Myoboku, Natsuhiko realized he could move ahead of schedule.
The contents of Minato's letter were actually very simple.
There was only one message—
Minato wanted to meet him and have a proper conversation.
Naturally, Natsuhiko understood exactly what that implied.
He knew that he was finally about to obtain everything he had been aiming for.
But before that, there was still one more issue.
One extremely important matter concerning Konoha's future.
That was the internal reform of Konoha itself.
Or more accurately, the redistribution of power within the village.
This was something Natsuhiko absolutely had to adjust.
Any redistribution of authority would inevitably involve countless interests and would undoubtedly affect an enormous number of people.
Because of that, how the reforms should be carried out, what direction they should take, and under what justification they should proceed were all matters requiring extremely careful discussion.
It was not as though Natsuhiko had never considered carrying out a complete and comprehensive institutional reform within Konoha.
But he remained rational.
Although he had been born and raised beneath the red flag in his previous life, he understood very clearly that every world required a system suited to its own reality.
For that reason, he had never entertained the fantasy of planting the red flag across the entire world.
It was not a matter of whether he could accomplish it.
If Natsuhiko truly wanted to do it, then with his current strength, he absolutely could.
But what would be the point afterward?
At the end of the day, the very existence of shinobi as a profession had already shattered most of those ideals.
Once individual power reached a level so overwhelming that ordinary people could only look upon it in despair, those possessing such strength were destined to stand at the apex of the world.
Even Natsuhiko's own political maneuvering and schemes only worked because he possessed sufficient personal strength to back them up.
If ordinary people attempted to play political games against shinobi, they might succeed in making the shinobi suffer temporary losses.
But the moment those shinobi truly became enraged, the consequences would no longer be as simple as "taking a loss."
At that point, entire families might end up gathering together in the Pure Land, while their surviving friends sat outside attending the funeral banquet.
Of course, situations like that were relatively rare.
Most shinobi still obeyed the rules.
After all, the establishment of the hidden villages itself essentially represented the establishment of order and regulations.
Shinobi were expected to operate within those rules.
To put it bluntly, this was how the shinobi system protected itself.
If someone within the same village ignored all rules and acted recklessly without restraint, then that individual would inevitably become hated by everyone.
Danzo—who ultimately perished together with the massive trees summoned through Natsuhiko's Wood Release, leaving behind a corpse so thoroughly destroyed that even Edo Tensei would likely fail to revive him in the future—was the perfect example.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had tolerated and enabled Danzo's behavior, received his own lesson as well, both in this world and in the original timeline.
Thinking about it carefully, Natsuhiko had actually saved Hiruzen in a way.
In the original story, Hiruzen's death had been heroic and glorious.
But now, he probably would not even get the chance to die that way anymore.
Of course, if Hiruzen himself had known how he was originally fated to die, he might very well have preferred that outcome instead.
After all, for someone like him, that kind of death would have been the best possible ending—for both Konoha and himself.
And it was precisely this kind of reasoning that made Natsuhiko, despite not fearing anything personally, still willing to follow the rules.
Because without rules, there could be no true order.
As for the direction of his reforms, they naturally still needed to revolve around the existence of shinobi themselves.
"Commander Natsuhiko, is there anything else you feel needs special emphasis?"
Shikaku looked at Natsuhiko's expression and immediately realized that the matters about to be discussed were likely extremely important.
Natsuhiko had already received the letter from the Fourth Hokage.
Although Shikaku had not personally read its contents, he could more or less guess what it involved.
Most likely, Minato intended to meet with Natsuhiko directly.
Given Konoha's current situation and the overwhelming support surrounding Natsuhiko, such a meeting was only natural.
Nara Shikaku certainly did not believe that Minato Namikaze, as Hokage, had completely stopped paying attention to Konoha.
And as long as Minato was still watching the village, then naturally he would know about the current situation.
If that was the case, then the two of them were bound to meet and have a proper discussion sooner or later.
As for the final outcome, Shikaku did not think it would turn out badly.
Strictly speaking, the relationship between Minato and Natsuhiko had never been poor.
At the very least, from the outside, the two of them appeared to get along extremely well.
Because of that, the possibility of Minato choosing to see things through to the end and willingly helping Natsuhiko was incredibly high.
And for both of them, that would undoubtedly be the best possible result.
Which meant that what Natsuhiko was about to discuss now was very likely related to the changes he intended to make after becoming Hokage.
It had to be said that Shikaku's mind truly worked exceptionally fast.
He was incredibly skilled at deducing future developments from seemingly insignificant details and fragments of information.
Naturally, Natsuhiko could also hear the deeper meaning hidden within Shikaku's words, which made him inwardly sigh in admiration once again.
Shikaku's value was simply too high.
Fortunately, the Naruto world was ultimately a world that valued bloodlines above all else, and fortunately, Shikaku himself lacked overwhelming ambition.
Otherwise, this man might very well have been the most suitable Hokage candidate imaginable.
"There are indeed some matters that need proper discussion."
Natsuhiko smiled and nodded lightly.
"Or rather, there are things that need to be emphasized. And for these matters, I'll need Shikaku-sama's support and assistance."
At this point, Natsuhiko paused briefly.
He looked toward the serious-faced Shikaku before lightly tapping his fingers against the table.
"The first issue concerns internal reform within Konoha. The second concerns Konoha's future direction of development."
"I believe Shikaku-sama understands very well that no matter which of these two areas we touch, countless problems are bound to arise. But at the same time… these are matters that cannot be avoided forever."
Hearing those words, Shikaku quietly sighed inwardly.
As expected, he had guessed correctly.
And he also had to admit that Natsuhiko was right.
Whether it was reforming Konoha internally or changing the village's future direction, either one of those matters would be incredibly troublesome.
Although Shikaku could not fully agree with Natsuhiko's statement that these reforms were "absolutely necessary," that did not stop him from wanting to understand Natsuhiko's intentions clearly.
Only by understanding what Natsuhiko truly planned to do could Shikaku think of ways to smooth over potential problems afterward.
At this point, he had already completely accepted Natsuhiko as Konoha's future Hokage.
A new Hokage making adjustments after taking power was perfectly understandable.
All Shikaku could hope for now was that Natsuhiko would not push certain things too far.
"That is indeed true. Does Commander Natsuhiko already have more concrete ideas and detailed plans in mind?" After thinking carefully for a moment, Shikaku finally asked cautiously.
"Thank you for your understanding, Shikaku-sama. Since that's the case, then there's no need for unnecessary small talk."
Natsuhiko smiled faintly before gently tapping the table once more.
Only then did he slowly begin speaking in a calm voice.
"Then let's begin with the first matter."
"Shikaku-sama, regarding Konoha's current shinobi system… have you never felt that there are certain problems with it?"
"For example, the relationship between clan shinobi and civilian shinobi."
"After all the interference and manipulation from the Third Hokage, are you truly certain that the current system can still be considered fair?"
The moment those words left his mouth, cold sweat instantly formed on Shikaku's back.
He had known Natsuhiko intended to make major moves.
But he genuinely had not expected him to go this far.
Shikaku had always been an intelligent man.
Precisely because he was so intelligent, he could see countless things that ordinary people overlooked.
For example, regarding many of Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions over the years, Shikaku had long since seen through them.
Not only had he understood what Hiruzen was doing, but he had also carefully considered the reasons behind those choices and understood why Hiruzen had acted that way.
In Shikaku's eyes, Hiruzen's methods had been both simple and difficult at the same time.
He had never believed Hiruzen was an unqualified Hokage, nor did he think those actions were entirely wrong.
Because the circumstances back then had forced Hiruzen into making those choices.
Only by making such choices could Hiruzen truly stabilize his authority as Hokage.
What Shikaku had never expected, however, was that Natsuhiko had also seen through all of it—
And now intended to directly take a knife to the entire system itself.
"So, Shikaku-sama already understands what I'm trying to say, correct?"
Looking at Shikaku's silent expression, Natsuhiko immediately revealed a faint smile.
"I think… I understand now."
Shikaku gave a bitter smile as he nodded lightly.
"Commander Natsuhiko intends to restructure the very concept of shinobi identity itself."
The moment he heard those words, the smile on Natsuhiko's face finally became completely genuine.
As expected, Shikaku had already seen through quite a few things long ago. Otherwise, he would never have reacted so quickly the moment Natsuhiko raised the issue.
That realization only made Natsuhiko even more satisfied.
For a leader, what could possibly be more pleasing than having exceptionally capable subordinates?
Naturally, Natsuhiko could also see the concern hidden beneath Shikaku's expression.
But such concerns were perfectly normal.
As long as everyone's core interests remained protected, then there was nothing truly impossible to manage.
"That's right. Shikaku-sama truly is perceptive."
Natsuhiko smiled as he spoke calmly.
"I have never denied that the Third Hokage's methods were wrong. After all, those decisions were products of the era and environment he lived in."
"But in the same way, the current era and environment have also changed."
"So if we continue maintaining that same system now… wouldn't it be somewhat inappropriate?"
"Perhaps that's true."
After remaining silent in thought for a long time, Shikaku finally nodded.
"For the current era, changing the way clans are politically defined and returning to a more unified identity may indeed be the right timing."
Shikaku understood very clearly that there was no real way to oppose this matter.
Nor did he possess a suitable reason to reject it.
The timing Natsuhiko had chosen was simply too perfect.
Especially now, right after the end of the war, when the morale and unity within the village had reached unprecedented heights.
And more importantly, Shikaku also believed that Natsuhiko would ultimately protect the interests of people like them.
After all, Natsuhiko himself was also one of the clan shinobi.
Truthfully, what Natsuhiko intended to do was not particularly complicated.
Yet at the same time, it directly touched the interests of an enormous number of people—especially the clan shinobi.
To put it simply, Natsuhiko intended to break apart the deeply rooted concept of "the clan before the village."
The topics of "village" and "clan" had always been deeply intertwined throughout the Naruto world.
And the most obvious—and most tragic—example was undoubtedly the Uchiha Clan.
After all, Uchiha Itachi had spent his entire life torn between "the village" and "the clan," only to ultimately slaughter his entire family with his own hands.
In terms of sheer tragedy, few could compare to them.
At its core, the concept of "clan identity" was simply a form of rigid political labeling.
Take the Uchiha as an example once again.
Whether in the current shinobi world or even in the future timeline of the original story, whenever people encountered someone like Sasuke, their first reaction was never:
"That kid is a Konoha shinobi."
Instead, it was:
"That's a member of the Uchiha Clan."
One identity prioritized the village.
The other prioritized the clan.
And that difference was absolutely enormous.
This problem existed throughout the entire shinobi world.
In some cases, the issue became even more extreme.
The moment someone displayed traits associated with a bloodline clan, people would immediately stop identifying them as "a shinobi of a certain village" and instead label them as "a shinobi from a certain clan."
It could be said that this kind of rigid identity fixation existed everywhere.
And it was an extremely dangerous problem.
To put it more seriously, this could even be interpreted as a fundamental lack of identification with one's own village.
Of course, that was not even the worst part.
The Uchiha Clan in the original story had already provided the entire shinobi world with the harshest possible lesson.
They had become too deeply entrenched within the concept of "the clan," which gradually separated them further and further from Konoha itself.
As a result, when they finally reached their most desperate moment, there was not a single person willing to stand beside them.
And the ending they met was obvious for everyone to see.
Honestly, even if Itachi had never existed, if things had continued along that path, the Uchiha Clan's eventual fate likely would not have been much better.
"Shikaku-sama truly understands the situation well."
Natsuhiko lightly tapped his fingers against the table before continuing with a smile.
"Indeed, if this were any other period of time, I might still hesitate over whether or not to move forward with these reforms."
"But now, the war has just ended, and the village's unity has reached an unprecedented level."
"At a time like this, introducing such changes will likely be far easier for people to accept."
"The Third Hokage, back then, had no choice but to isolate Konoha's clans one by one in order to stabilize his rule. Other than the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance, which clan wasn't treated that way?"
Natsuhiko spoke calmly, his tone steady and unhurried.
"Once the shinobi clans lost the ability to unite, they could naturally be dismantled one at a time. Only then could the Third Hokage fully keep all of you under control."
At this point, Natsuhiko paused briefly.
Meanwhile, Shikaku's expression remained remarkably calm, as though none of this surprised him in the slightest.
And in truth, it didn't.
He had already figured these things out long ago, so naturally there was nothing left to feel shocked about.
Still, deep down, he could not help but marvel at Natsuhiko once again.
Just how old was this young man?
Yet he could already see through such an incredibly complicated issue with terrifying clarity.
Even Minato had once struggled endlessly over the Uchiha problem, but Natsuhiko had long since seen through the essence of everything and had even begun acting on his conclusions.
Back then, Shikaku had never paid much attention to the gradual changes within the Uchiha Clan.
But now it was obvious—
Natsuhiko had already figured out from the very beginning how the Uchiha issue should be handled.
Shaking his head slightly, Shikaku's thoughts began moving rapidly.
Since Natsuhiko intended to push through these reforms, and since there was little room for refusal, then his best option was cooperation.
And if he was going to cooperate, then he naturally had to consider the interests of the clans.
Only by balancing the two major groups that formed the foundation of the village—the clan shinobi and the civilian shinobi—
And only by ensuring the interests of the shinobi clans remained protected—
Could these reforms truly succeed.
Protecting the power of the shinobi clans was, in the end, also protecting Natsuhiko's interests.
And naturally, it was also protecting the interests of their own families.
Because at the end of the day…
They themselves were also members of shinobi clans.
Naturally, Natsuhiko had no idea what Shikaku was currently thinking about.
If he did, he probably would have patted him on the shoulder in approval.
Natsuhiko had never considered himself some great or noble person.
What he was doing could perhaps be described in nicer terms as a "top-down revolution."
But to put it bluntly—
He was simply preventing others from someday carrying out a revolution against him.
His strength was indeed overwhelming, but that did not mean he wanted to spend his life constantly dealing with endless internal instability and political chaos.
And the stronger he became, the more he realized just how terrifying the vitality of truly powerful beings could be.
Leaving everything else aside, Otsutsuki Kaguya was still technically alive even now.
And who could confidently say whether the Sage of Six Paths was truly dead?
Natsuhiko had no desire to attract the Sage of Six Paths' attention.
Though honestly, he suspected that if such attention were inevitable, then he had probably already been noticed long ago.
Still, there was no need to push things too far.
Beyond those external concerns, there was another reason behind everything he was doing—
His mission.
To be precise, the system mission he needed to complete.
Although Natsuhiko still did not know exactly how far his progress had advanced this time, mainly because he had intentionally avoided checking.
After all, rapid increases in mission progress could directly accelerate the maturation of the seed.
And he wanted to wait until after meeting Minato before taking a look.
Still, this time the increase should be enormous.
After all, he had slaughtered so many people during the war that his name had now thoroughly spread across the shinobi world.
And once his meeting with Minato concluded, several matters would finally be officially settled.
At that point, his mission progress would almost certainly surge even further.
However, even with all of that…
It was still difficult to say whether the progress bar could truly be filled completely.
And if it still wasn't enough—
Then once he officially stood at the peak of Konoha's power, he would have no choice but to seek progress through other methods.
Natsuhiko was simply preparing for the future. He had to guard against every possible unfavorable variable before it ever had the chance to emerge.
Shikaku remained silent in thought for a long while.
Then suddenly, his eyes lit up slightly.
It seemed he had finally figured out what he should do.
"Commander Natsuhiko…" Shikaku spoke cautiously, as though testing the waters.
"What do you think about further emphasizing the importance of the shinobi ranking system?"
Hearing Shikaku's words, Natsuhiko immediately smiled and nodded.
"That's an excellent idea. After all, the First Hokage personally established the shinobi ranking system. We can't very well allow it to completely lose its original significance, can we?"
Those words instantly reassured Shikaku.
At that moment, he finally understood how he should approach this matter, and he had also more or less grasped Natsuhiko's intentions.
The shinobi rank system familiar to everyone—Genin, Chunin, Jonin—had indeed originally been created by Hashirama Senju himself.
Of course, whether Uchiha Madara had also participated in designing it was unclear.
After all, there were very few surviving historical records from that era.
Now that Natsuhiko intended to restore the original meaning behind the ranking system, the more Shikaku thought about it, the more feasible the idea became.
At that realization, he quietly let out a breath of relief.
Only then did he continue speaking in a more serious tone.
"Indeed. When the First Hokage established the shinobi rank system, his intention was precisely to break down the divide between bloodline clans and ordinary shinobi, allowing everyone to exist under the same structure."
"Everyone would simply be Konoha's Jonin, Chunin, or Genin, rather than separate 'clan shinobi.'"
"Unfortunately, while the system itself survived, the meaning behind it gradually disappeared."
"So restoring its original purpose is absolutely something worth exploring and implementing thoroughly."
"Exactly."
Natsuhiko smiled faintly and nodded.
Since Shikaku had already completely understood his intentions, there was no longer any need for vague implications.
He could speak directly now.
"Identity politics is an interesting thing. In certain situations, it can indeed be very useful."
"But at the same time, it also provides far too much convenience for certain people."
"However, the current era is no longer suitable for continuing down that path."
"The major clans have gradually become detached from Konoha itself, or worse, individually controlled and manipulated by certain people."
"I don't think that benefits anyone."
"Wasn't the Fourth Hokage himself unable to fully grasp the authority of the Hokage precisely because of this problem?"
"I have no interest in allowing the same situation to repeat itself."
"Identity politics has little meaning going forward."
"In the future, there should only be one identity left—Konoha shinobi."
"I believe Shikaku-sama understands what I mean."
"Of course I understand." Shikaku nodded firmly before asking cautiously: "If we move in that direction, then corresponding policies will also be necessary. Commander Natsuhiko, your thoughts?"
Natsuhiko merely raised an eyebrow toward Shikaku.
"Shikaku-sama… have you truly not figured out why I demanded so many ninjutsu from Kumogakure?"
Only after saying that did he continue leisurely.
"We need to increase both the authority and the responsibilities of Jonin."
"After all, Jonin have always been the true successors and reserve candidates for the Hokage position."
"And as the commander of the Jonin Corps, I believe Shikaku-sama understands this better than anyone."
"Beyond that, the treatment and status of shinobi at every rank should also be improved."
"Because everyone is ultimately a Konoha shinobi."
"And Konoha should stand behind them."
"I understand." Shikaku nodded slowly, his eyes flickering slightly before he lowered his head and spoke rapidly.
"In that case, we should establish a public resource system. The welfare and benefits of shinobi at every rank should be increased."
"The Third Hokage already secured a massive subsidy from the Daimyo. That funding will allow us to properly implement these reforms."
"However, Commander Natsuhiko…"
"The number of Jonin must be strictly controlled."
"And the standards for Jonin evaluations must become far harsher."
"As for those who fail to meet the requirements—"
"Then demote them directly."
Natsuhiko answered without the slightest hesitation.
And that answer finally allowed Shikaku to completely relax.
In just a few short sentences, Natsuhiko had already dramatically elevated the authority and status of Jonin.
Although many details had yet to be finalized, Shikaku could already tell where things were heading.
Whether it was funding, access to ninjutsu, or political influence, future Jonin would undoubtedly receive far greater benefits and authority than before.
And according to everything Natsuhiko had said earlier—
The status of future Jonin would likely become no lower than that of the head of a shinobi clan.
Once Jonin were granted such immense authority, then naturally there also had to be sufficient restrictions placed upon them.
Whether it was the number of Jonin or the quality required to become one, everything would need to undergo strict evaluation.
Even the obligations they were expected to fulfill would have to be included within the assessment system itself.
Because the future Jonin of Konoha would very likely become the most admired and sought-after existence in the entire village.
More importantly, Shikaku truly felt relieved now.
Because he understood that Natsuhiko was intentionally leaving a path open for the clan shinobi.
After all, compared to civilian shinobi, the number of clan shinobi was simply too small.
Clan shinobi relied on bloodlines or secret techniques as the foundation of their inheritance.
Compared to the enormous population base of civilian shinobi, their numbers were nowhere near comparable.
Bloodlines could fail to awaken properly.
Secret techniques could also prove difficult to master.
But civilian shinobi possessed overwhelming numbers, which meant that exceptional talents would inevitably emerge among them.
However, no matter how talented those civilian shinobi were, their starting point still could not compare to that of clan shinobi.
Because clan shinobi controlled vast resources.
From childhood onward, they could use those resources to cultivate their younger generations.
Even if problems arose in bloodline development or mastery of secret techniques at certain stages, the clans could still compensate by nurturing those children through other means and eventually turning them into qualified Jonin.
Once Shikaku fully understood this point, a genuine smile finally appeared on his face.
At this moment, he had completely decided to support these reforms with everything he had.
Although the clans would undoubtedly suffer some losses in the short term, those losses were far from unacceptable.
Besides, present losses did not necessarily mean future losses.
"I understand now, Commander Natsuhiko."
Shikaku nodded firmly.
"In that case, regarding the accompanying policies, does Commander Natsuhiko have any further instructions?"
"Why doesn't Shikaku-sama offer some suggestions himself?"
Natsuhiko casually spread his hands, looking completely unconcerned.
"After all, I have great confidence in Shikaku-sama's judgment."
"I see…"
Watching Natsuhiko casually toss the responsibility back to him, Shikaku felt somewhat helpless, though also deeply confident.
Naturally, he had already anticipated that a situation like this might arise.
And in the short time they had been speaking, he had already begun carefully considering what kind of system could best complement Natsuhiko's reforms.
In fact, he really had come up with an idea.
The only problem was that the concept was far too bold and far too ahead of its time.
Still, no matter how he looked at it, it suited Natsuhiko's current needs remarkably well.
And truthfully, the inspiration for this idea had also come from Natsuhiko himself.
After all, the reforms Natsuhiko had implemented within the ANBU had already shown Shikaku that such a system was genuinely feasible.
"Actually… we could establish a kind of conference system."
"A structure centered around discussion, consultation, and conflict resolution."
"This organization would answer directly to the Hokage. It would not possess decision-making authority itself, but instead would focus on discussing problems and proposing solutions, with the final judgment remaining in the Hokage's hands."
"As for its members…"
"I believe shinobi from different ranks should all be allowed to participate. Naturally, however, the final authority regarding selection would still belong to the Hokage."
"This is merely a preliminary concept of mine. Since I haven't had time to think through the details carefully, the framework is still rather rough."
"I wonder whether Commander Natsuhiko believes such a system could be feasible?"
Shikaku spoke rather simply, outlining only the general structure.
Yet even that alone was already astonishing enough.
After all, this was something he had thought up on the spot without extensive refinement.
He had not yet deeply examined many of the finer details.
And yet despite that—
Shikaku still managed to completely stun Natsuhiko.
At that moment, Natsuhiko stared blankly at him.
What the hell was this?
Wasn't this basically a cabinet-parliamentary system?
No—
If certain representatives within the structure were adjusted slightly, then wouldn't this become something even more familiar to Natsuhiko from his previous life?
For a brief moment, Natsuhiko genuinely felt the urge to imitate certain terrifying geniuses from American comics—
To crack open Shikaku's skull and see what exactly was inside his brain.
Honestly, in another world, who knew?
Maybe he would actually dig out some kind of philosopher's stone from in there.
It had to be said that Natsuhiko was genuinely stunned now.
Still, he had experienced enough storms in both lives that it did not take him long to regain his composure.
"Shikaku-sama's proposal… satisfies me greatly."
A faint smile appeared on Natsuhiko's face as he spoke slowly and leisurely.
"Since Shikaku-sama has already proposed such a framework, then I believe we can further refine and improve it."
"Let's call this system the Comprehensive Parliamentary System for now."
"The representatives from the Jonin, Chunin, and Genin ranks shall be called council members."
"You can arrange for someone to calculate the proportional representation for each rank according to their population."
"But there is one thing I must make absolutely clear."
"The council seats for each rank must be elected by the shinobi of that rank themselves, because these representatives exist to speak for the rights and interests of their respective groups."
"And if someone performs poorly, then internal voting should allow them to be replaced."
"Beyond that, each rank should also hold its own internal meetings to organize and discuss the issues faced by shinobi at their respective level."
"At the end of each year, Konoha will hold a Grand Shinobi Assembly where all major issues and proposed solutions will be discussed together."
"Oh, right."
Natsuhiko paused briefly before adding another point.
"From now on, all Jonin—whether they are council members or not—may participate in major meetings."
"That includes the year-end Konoha Assembly as well. They should also possess the right to make proposals."
"As for how much weight those proposals carry and how they are ultimately handled, that can be adjusted according to practical circumstances later on."
After thinking for a moment, Natsuhiko directly adapted a relatively effective governance model from his previous life.
Naturally, he modified it according to both his own situation and the realities of the Naruto world before presenting it to Shikaku.
Of course, this was still only a rough first draft.
After all, if he intended to elevate the authority of Jonin significantly, then many details would require much more careful refinement.
Beyond that, the rights and authority of Chunin and Genin would also need serious discussion.
But those matters could all be handed over to Shikaku to figure out.
"Oh, right."
Before Shikaku could say anything, Natsuhiko suddenly spoke again.
"Don't forget to include civilians as well."
"After all, they are still the reserve pool from which future shinobi emerge."
"How they should be incorporated and represented will also require a complete proposal from you."
The moment he heard that, Shikaku's face visibly turned green.
His mouth opened slightly, but in the end, all he could manage was a bitter smile.
He nodded helplessly before speaking with obvious difficulty.
"I understand, Commander Natsuhiko."
"I'll handle these matters properly."
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Natsuhiko smiled while standing up from his seat.
At the same time, he picked up the letter on the table and tucked it away.
"In that case, I should be going as well."
"After all… someone is waiting for me."
"As for foreign policy, let's discuss that another time."
"We've already covered more than enough today."
Shikaku nodded with a somewhat pained expression.
Naturally, he knew exactly who Natsuhiko was about to meet.
And Natsuhiko was right—
Today's discussion had truly contained far too much.
Everything they had talked about was nothing less than a political bombshell.
And turning all of this into formal policy documents would undoubtedly become an enormous and troublesome task.
More importantly, once these policies were officially implemented, Shikaku would likely need to personally visit many of the major clans to negotiate with them one by one.
But ever since the Danzo incident and the war against Kumogakure, he had already thoroughly distanced himself from the Third Hokage's faction.
And now, with the Fourth Hokage no longer able to continue governing Konoha directly, choosing Natsuhiko was simply the most natural decision possible.
Since he had already acknowledged Natsuhiko as the village's future Hokage, then naturally he also had to fully commit himself to supporting that future.
"Still…"
Shikaku sighed inwardly.
"Commander Natsuhiko's reforms really are quite remarkable."
"They strengthen Konoha's unity while still preserving the rights and interests of the shinobi clans."
"It's just that… things won't remain the same anymore."
"In the future, people won't be able to simply rely on being born into the right family and live with a silver spoon in their mouths from the very beginning."
"Some people…"
"Will finally have to start working hard for real."
...
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