Enhancing a ninja's strength is something every village strives for, including us. Naturally, we won't fall behind."
"But when it comes to ninja commissions, we should take a different approach. Competing endlessly—what's the point?"
Since Yagura had already likened the ninja villages to major corporations, it was only natural that he would also consider services like express delivery and food delivery from his past life.
The rapid growth of that industry hinged on one key factor: the ability to place an order with a single tap on a smartphone—just a few finger movements, effortless convenience.
Before smartphones existed, people had to go to the post office to send parcels, and ordering food required making a phone call.
Ever heard of Pizza Hut delivery?
This world didn't have smartphones yet, but computers and the internet were already in place.
Everyone present was intelligent enough to grasp the concept.
One-click ordering would make commission requests more convenient, and computers with internet access would be the tools to achieve it.
That much was obvious, so Yagura didn't waste time explaining further.
He gave them a moment to process his ideas before sitting back down. Raising a hand, he flipped over the hourglass that the Third Mizukage used to enjoy playing with, signaling everyone to discuss and respond.
One person quietly asked Elder Genshi a question.
After receiving an answer, he relayed a set of data to the elder.
More individuals followed suit, engaging in quiet exchanges with Elder Genshi.
"Mizukage."
The sand in the hourglass ran out.
Elder Genshi stood up and addressed Yagura.
"First, the primary issue—less than 10% of ordinary households have computers or internet access."
"If we transition to an online commission system, civilians without computers will still need to visit physical locations to submit requests."
"Additionally, if we shift to a corporate model, companies won't initially have the widespread network of branches that our government agencies currently do."
"For this plan to work, we lack the necessary infrastructure."
This wasn't an era where everyone carried a smartphone.
For ordinary citizens, buying a computer was an expensive burden.
Moreover, the primary function of computers at this stage was data processing and office work.
Over 99% of Kirigakure's civilian workforce had no need for computers in their daily jobs.
That was indeed a problem.
Yagura turned the issue back on them. "Any solutions?"
He had no intention of solving everything himself—what was the point of hiring these people otherwise?
Raising problems without offering solutions? They might as well prepare for dismissal.
Elder Genshi gestured to the person who had initially raised the concern. The man stood up.
Under Yagura's scrutinizing gaze, he took a deep breath to steady himself before speaking.
"There are two possible solutions. First, the infrastructure department could assist in setting up computers at designated stations within each district, along with user guides or on-site personnel to help."
It was similar to a public phone booth concept.
Yagura nodded and looked toward the infrastructure department.
The infrastructure team tensed and immediately turned to their good colleagues—and financial backers—the finance department.
Computers couldn't be conjured up with ninjutsu.
They needed to be purchased. And that required funding.
Predictably, they were met with the finance department's deep, resentful stares.
As the saying goes, problems that can be solved with money aren't real problems. The real issue was where to get the money.
The finance department rejected the proposal outright. Next suggestion.
Suppressing a chuckle, Yagura reassured the finance team before gesturing for the man to continue. "And the second option?"
"The newly established company could collaborate with the government and use existing government service centers to handle commissions."
This would reduce initial investment costs and eliminate the need for civilians to travel to new locations.
The only drawback was that local government offices currently coordinated with the military affairs department, but under this plan, they would instead work with three state-owned enterprises.
"That works."
The main advantage? It saved money, reducing initial expenditures, meaning the finance department had no reason to object.
Yagura shot the man an approving look and motioned for him to sit down.
This second plan solved the issue of how the new company would handle commissions across a vast region.
However, the problem of computer accessibility remained unresolved.
"Finance, if we were to proceed with the infrastructure setup, how much would it cost?" Yagura inquired.
The finance minister stood up. Unlike the previous speaker, he showed no hesitation. With complete confidence, he rattled off a series of figures without a single pause.
When it came to spending money, those in charge of finances had the most authority.
In summary—
"Mizukage-sama, please, think of the treasury!"
We're completely broke! QAQ.
By the end of his explanation, the finance minister's mouth had gone dry, and his final words were pitiful.
"We'll need to request financial support from the Daimyo's office."
Yagura pondered. Had he really been spending money that recklessly?
Probably not... hopefully.
"Alright, you've worked hard. Have some water."
"Thank you."
The poor man looked like he was about to cry from all the calculations.
The hard numbers painted a clear picture of the situation.
Yagura voiced the thought that had crossed his mind during the finance minister's breakdown:
"Once the computers are installed, civilians will have easier access to submit commissions. More commissions mean increased revenue. We won't be at a total loss—factor that into your calculations."
Across Kirigakure, and even throughout the Land of Water, there were only 200,000 D-rank commissions in total?
Yagura compared that figure to the delivery statistics from his past life and felt utterly crushed.
Just in terms of express delivery, a single country could easily surpass 200,000 orders in a single day!
But it made sense.
Kirigakure's residents didn't frequently send or receive packages in their daily lives.
Most deliveries consisted of letters and gifts.
And hiring a ninja for a single errand? The base price for a D-rank commission was 5,000 ryo.
A bowl of Ichiraku Ramen cost 70 ryo. Sending one package was equivalent to 70 meals—almost a month's worth of food!
Back in his past life, Yagura would never have placed such an order. He'd rather spend that money on food and gain some weight!
But in the ninja world, the culture and market dynamics made it necessary for people to pay high prices for these trivial tasks.
For the express delivery industry to take off, it needed support from e-commerce.
E-commerce thrived on online shopping, which in turn generated an overwhelming volume of deliveries, creating an entire industry.
At that point, shipping fees became so trivial they were often waived entirely.
E-commerce, however, depended on a strong industrial base and a thriving internet sector.
Kirigakure's industrial development had only just begun, with the textile industry slowly gaining momentum under Yagura's leadership.
It would take time to cultivate further growth—it wasn't an overnight process.
And the internet sector? It wasn't even in its infancy yet.
So while Yagura could see the future, others, even Elder Genshi, could not.
Rubbing his temples, he glanced around at the oblivious expressions below him.
Fine, it was up to him to push things forward.
"We'll roll this out across the Land of Water. Even if the Daimyo's office refuses to fund it, we'll scrape together what we need to make it happen."
"But what about outside the Land of Water? How do we expand there?"
From the start, Yagura's vision extended far beyond his own country.
He wasn't avoiding war just for the sake of peace—he wanted the freedom to stir up trouble behind the scenes.
His true target? The D-rank commissions of other nations and villages, with his sights set on the entire ninja world