Planning Ahead

Fourth Elder Yohei cleared his throat, signaling that he wanted to speak.

Everyone fell silent and looked toward the Fourth Elder.

The Fourth Elder gathered his thoughts.

"Clan Head, the Snack Street we operate here in Konoha is now our economic backbone."

"If we become independent, what will happen to Snack Street?"

Shamu nodded. The Fourth Elder had raised a crucial point.

He had already made plans for it.

"Regarding this matter, Fourth Elder, you are mistaken. Or rather, all the clan members are mistaken."

"We Uchiha will become independent, but in name, we can still form an alliance with Konoha."

"We can simply do business in Konoha as outside merchants."

The Fourth Elder frowned slightly. "Will Konoha agree to that?"

Shamu smiled. "If Konoha drives all of us away, Snack Street will cease to exist."

"If Snack Street disappears, it will not only be us who suffer losses. Konoha will suffer as well."

What Shamu did not say was that Orochimaru was one of his people anyway. Whether they were allowed to do business or not was just a matter of Orochimaru saying the word.

Uchiha Snack Street had now become one of Konoha's calling cards.

Many people who came to Konoha, whether for business, to accept missions, or to post missions, would visit Snack Street once they had finished their business.

If Konoha truly did not want the Uchiha to keep running it, no one else would be able to support the entire street.

Although the Land of Fire already had the Central Factory, and Snack Street had been somewhat affected by ready-made meal packs and semi-finished products,

Shamu had still held back certain foods that only tasted good when freshly made on the spot.

Even if the same foods were available elsewhere,

there was still a difference