Chapter 166 - 61: The Golden Era of Sunagakure
Time moves like a wild steed, galloping forward without pause. It had been five years since the anti-bandit campaign and over six years since the end of the Second Shinobi World War.
With the war's conclusion, Sunagakure entered a period of rapid development under Jinghang's leadership. Thanks to its unique economic model, the village soon reached an unprecedented golden era.
In the Yuehu District, agriculture flourished under the direction of Sasori, the director of the Akasha Research Institute. Large-scale puppetization of farming operations had been achieved, allowing a single puppet master to control puppets capable of cultivating and harvesting nearly one hundred acres of crops. Grain production increased year after year, not only meeting the village's substantial domestic demand but also providing surplus for export.
The Hourglass Group, spread across the Land of Stone, the Land of Rain, and the Yuehu District, had successfully decentralized its operations. With the war's end, demand for ninja tools and canned goods plummeted across nations. In response, the Hourglass Group restructured its strategy: high-end manufacturing was concentrated in the Yuehu District, while the Land of Stone and the Land of Rain served as hubs for low-end processing and logistics. These products were then distributed to ninja villages worldwide. Today, almost every nation with a ninja village boasts a Hourglass Group store, and its ninja tools have become synonymous with top-tier quality.
As for the Yuexi Peninsula, it had gained fame as the premier leisure destination on the ninja continent, thanks to the promotional efforts during the Second Five-Nation Summit. It became a gathering spot for the elite of various countries, generating daily revenue in the billions. It was undoubtedly Sunagakure's financial cash cow, bringing immense wealth to the village. Every shareholder of the Yuexi Peninsula profited handsomely, and Sunagakure's treasury overflowed with riches, elevating it to the wealthiest ninja village on the continent.
With abundant wealth and resources, Sunagakure had completely shed its impoverished and weak image from a decade ago. Its "hard power" had also seen tremendous growth. The standing army now consisted of four divisions, totaling nearly sixteen thousand well-trained and well-equipped soldiers. Its military strength rivaled that of established powerhouses like Konohagakure and Kumogakure.
At the same time, the village's elite shinobi training programs bore significant results. During the second "World Ninja Way Tournament" hosted in Konohagakure, members of the Twelve Earthly Branches, led by Sasori of the Red Sand and Hidan, achieved impressive results. Sasori even reached the finals, securing second place. (For the record, the champion was Konohagakure's rising star, Minato Namikaze.)
At this moment, the Third Kazekage, Jinghang, was in his office at the Kazekage Building, meticulously reviewing a report submitted by Rasa. The title read: "Analysis of the Current Situation in Amegakure."
"Amegakure truly is the source of chaos in the ninja world. Every time, it's the first to stir up trouble!" Jinghang muttered, rubbing his temples in frustration as he read the report.