The Hand Behind the Scenes

"Big Sister, I'll definitely become Hokage, inherit Grandpa's will, and lead the village toward peace."

"Big Sister, it hurts so much! I'm so cold!"

"Big Sister, save me! Save me!"

"Nawaki!" Tsunade jolted awake from her dream.

Tsunade felt no relief upon waking from the nightmare, only greater fear. Whether in the dream or in reality, Nawaki was dead.

The events of several months ago remained vivid in her mind. When Nawaki's body had been brought back to Konohagakure, Tsunade no longer remembered how she had endured it.

Coupled with the nearly half year she had spent imprisoned in Kumogakure several years earlier, Tsunade had become increasingly reclusive after returning to Konohagakure. She no longer wished to leave the village for missions and only wanted to heal the injured at the Ninja Hospital.

Especially after Nawaki's departure, Tsunade had actively pushed for a Medical Ninja training system, hoping that every squad would have a Medical Ninja in the future. That way, the tragedy that had befallen Nawaki would never happen again.

Yet even while staying secluded in the Konohagakure Ninja Hospital, Tsunade could sense that the situation in the Shinobi World had become extremely tense.

Sunagakure had always sought to extend its reach into the Land of Fire through the Land of Rain, and Iwagakure was no exception. Konohagakure could only passively join this contest.

If the Land of Rain, suppressed by the demigod of the Shinobi World, was still an unlit powder keg, then the Land of Grass, the Land of Birds, and the Land of Rivers were already filled with the smoke of war.

The conflicts among the three great ninja villages in those places had become almost completely undisguised.

Jiraiya, who had spent recent years traveling abroad, and Orochimaru, who was often nowhere to be found due to his research, had both been recalled to the village and ordered to remain on standby at all times.

The Third Hokage had also repeatedly spoken with Tsunade, hoping she could emerge from her grief and help shoulder the village's burdens.

Konohagakure's high-level combat forces all needed to remain prepared for any contingency.

Amid such tense circumstances, Hatake Sakumo had become a father this year. His wife had given birth to a son named Kakashi Hatake, but the strain of childbirth had left her with lasting health problems. Tsunade had been helping her recuperate, yet there had been little improvement.

"Sensei, you wanted to see me?" Tsunade arrived at the Hokage Office.

"Jiraiya has returned. I have a mission for the two of you," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

It was as though Tsunade had only just noticed Jiraiya in the office. She said disdainfully, "You still remembered to come back? I thought you were going to wander the Shinobi World for the rest of your life."

Jiraiya defended himself, "How can you call that wandering? I was searching for the Child of Destiny!"

Two years earlier, Jiraiya had suddenly started acting mysterious, saying that some Toad Sage at the place tied to his Summoning Contract had told him he would find the Child of Destiny and become his teacher, and that the Child of Destiny could change the Shinobi World. But aside from Jiraiya himself, no one else had paid much attention.

"I called you back because I have missions for you. Jiraiya, you are to head to the Land of Grass. Friction between it and Iwagakure has been constant lately. You must ensure the safety and integrity of the intelligence network we established there, so that if Iwagakure makes any move, we can respond immediately."

Hiruzen Sarutobi then looked toward Tsunade. "As for you, Tsunade, you will make a trip to the Land of Rivers and monitor developments in the direction of the Land of Wind. Most importantly, Sunagakure is skilled with poisons. You must prepare in advance. If war breaks out, we must have the appropriate antidotes."

Tsunade hesitated. She did not want to leave the village, but the reason her teacher had given was indeed difficult to refuse. Sunagakure's poisons, combined with Puppet Technique, were extremely troublesome. They truly needed to study the various poisons of the Land of Wind beforehand, and she was the best candidate for the task.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured her, "You have stayed in the village for too long. It is time to go out and carry out missions. Don't worry, I will continue pushing forward your proposals regarding Medical Ninjas. As for Orochimaru, he is already near the direction of the Land of Lightning, so I had him head straight to his destination. His mission is to guard against movements from Kumogakure."

Jiraiya thought over the recent affairs of the Shinobi World and said, "Kumogakure has been quite peaceful these past few years. Did something happen?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe, sending ash onto the floor. "Not exactly, but Kumogakure's threat cannot be underestimated. The more stable Kumogakure has been in recent years, the more uneasy I feel. Kumogakure is famous for its Martial Faction. Once the Shinobi World changes, it will be difficult to guarantee they will not make a move."

Jiraiya felt a headache coming on as well. Those Kumogakure fellows were not easy to deal with. The events of that year were still vivid in his mind, and he wondered how that strange little brat was doing now.

"Lower the prices!"

"My lord, all three great nations are stockpiling supplies, especially weapons and ninja tools. Our production is nearly unable to keep up. Whatever we produce sells immediately... My lord? What did you say?"

The reporting Yotsuki clansman wondered if he had misheard. At a time like this, should they not be raising prices to earn more money? He immediately looked toward the Third Raikage beside him, only to see the Raikage stroking his chin in thought as well.

"I said, lower the prices!" Dada stated firmly.

In recent years, the "Blacksmith Shop" plan spearheaded by Dada and carried out by the Yotsuki Clan had developed rapidly with ninjas deeply involved. It had completely seized control of the weapons and ninja tools industry across a vast surrounding region and had begun expanding into other essential Shinobi World resources, such as Explosive Tags and Soldier Pills.

Furthermore, the "Blacksmith Shop" plan was carried out by region. In areas under absolute control, such as the Land of Lightning, the Land of Soup, and nearby regions like the Land of Birds, they controlled the entire production chain. They had acquired countless workshops and stores, effectively achieving a complete chain from iron ore to finished products. In those regions, they had absolute control over prices.

In more distant regions, they supplied semi-finished goods to remotely influence the direction of the weapons and ninja tools industry. They had infiltrated the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth to varying degrees.

Countless downstream workshops and stores across the three nations used semi-finished products manufactured by Kumogakure in various places. The quality was good and the prices low, making it far cheaper and easier than forging sword blanks themselves. Kumogakure, meanwhile, could manipulate the weapons and ninja tools industries in those regions by controlling upstream supply chain prices.

As development of the Extra Large Sealing Scroll gradually matured, the "Blacksmith Shop" became increasingly competitive, and the Yotsuki Clan had made a fortune over the past few years.

To Dada, having ninjas participate in business was practically blatant cheating.

Just imagine it: a ninja could deliver goods while carrying an Extra Large Sealing Scroll, travel to and from most regions of the Shinobi World within a week, then put on a show with a wagon upon arrival—the Extra Large Sealing Scroll was still classified. After making the delivery, they could load local goods, such as finished weapons and raw materials, into the now-empty Sealing Scroll, creating two-way trade.

In terms of transportation and logistics costs alone, this left traditional Shinobi World merchants far behind. Not to mention the benefits of scale, ninjas providing comprehensive protection, effortlessly gathering business intelligence, and never having to fear threats of force. No one could compete with them. No one!

Open schemes, hidden schemes, dirty tricks, honest tactics—none of them could win.

Combined with Dada's perspective from his previous life, the business had grown into a colossal entity in only a few years, leaving many members of the Yotsuki Clan feeling as though it was unreal.

Who knew what had gone through the mind of that future so-called richest man, Gato? All he knew was how to use ninjas for petty intimidation and sabotage.

Recently, the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Fire had all been frantically stockpiling war supplies. Other small powers had been dragged into the panic and begun hoarding goods as well, so someone had suggested raising prices. No one had expected Dada to say they should lower them instead.

"If production cannot keep up, release some of our stockpiles. Think further ahead. If the prices of weapons, ninja tools, and even Explosive Tags go down, they will believe they can afford a war. And once war begins, the profits we lose now will return tenfold. Go do it."

The clansman withdrew, only half understanding.

Dada shook his head and continued studying the increasingly tense situation in the Shinobi World with Father, looking toward the Shinobi World map on the wall.

As the various ninja villages developed unevenly, war in the Shinobi World had become inevitable. Every region was like an abscess, swollen with the threat of war.

Then, in order to preserve themselves, the best method was for Kumogakure to pierce the abscess of war first, rather than wait for the day it burst upon them.

But the strike had to be far enough away, safe enough, and hidden enough. Kumogakure had to become the hand behind the scenes.

"Father, war may truly be coming," Dada said to the Third Raikage.

"I had a vague premonition two years ago. But with the Special Strategy Department, the village has different options this time," the Third Raikage said with a sigh.

The difference was indeed enormous. Looking back at the First Shinobi World War, he had not yet been the Kage of a Village. Kumogakure had been strong during that war, but it had not been fully prepared for its arrival.

By the middle of the war, they had also lacked judgment regarding its course, resulting in the emergence of two opposing voices within the village: the War Faction and the Peace Faction. That, in turn, had led to the tragedy of rebellion.

But this time, with the Special Strategy Department under Dada's control, the village's higher-ups felt as though the situation in the Shinobi World had suddenly become clear. They could eliminate unfavorable factors in advance, and perhaps even...

Perhaps even take the initiative to start the war...

The Third Raikage looked at Dada, who was staring intently at the Shinobi World map, and suddenly felt concerned. Dada is so young, yet he is already involved in such matters. I hope he does not lose his reverence for war.

Although the Third Raikage agreed with the strategy of guiding the inevitable war somewhere far from Kumogakure, as a father, he had another kind of concern.

Dada did not know about the Third Raikage's worries. After pondering for a moment, he drove the nail in his hand into the location of the Land of Rain on the map.

"Old friend Hanzo, forgive me. I'll give you another three months. Don't worry, Kumogakure will 'fully' support you..."

Thinking of the two ninja teachers he had sent there not long ago, Dada deeply felt that plans could never keep up with change.

"...I hope the Dean of Students and the Homeroom Teacher can achieve good results."