Daimyo: No Way, Is Akatsuki Ninja Village Playing This Big?

The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire looked at the copybook before him and slowly traced the characters. The noon sunlight fell over him, warm and pleasant, easing both his body and mind.

Whenever something troubled him, the Daimyo would use this method to adjust his mood.

Writing calmed the mind and soothed the spirit!

Who was troubling the Daimyo, then?

It was Naturally Evil Hashirama Senju!

The Hashirama Senju Threat Theory that Uchiha Makoto had been relentlessly promoting had long since taken root in the Daimyo's heart. Now, it was beginning to sprout and grow.

Konoha had entered its next phase—gathering ninja clans.

According to reliable intelligence, in just a few short months, more than one powerful ninja clan in the Ninja World had planned to join Konoha, founded by Hashirama Senju. The Hyuga Clan, the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan... and there would only be more in the future.

This filled the Daimyo with deep concern.

The Daimyo focused, sweeping the thoughts from his mind. After taking a deep breath, he began moving his wrist in time with his exhalation, his brush dancing across the paper like dragons and serpents.

"Diligent governance, love for the people; clean rule, harmony among all!"

"Mm, today's writing isn't bad."

The Daimyo narrowed his eyes and admired it for a while.

His writing was better than usual today, and his mood had improved considerably. He then instructed the attendant who had been standing beside him to put the paper away.

"Your Highness, Lord Makoto has sent an envoy to discuss an important matter."

The Daimyo nodded, then left the room and went to the reception chamber, where he found Kazuma waiting on the sofa.

When Kazuma saw the lavishly dressed Daimyo, he immediately rose and bowed.

"Your Highness. Lord Makoto sends you his greetings."

"Mm, I understand. Young man, don't be so reserved. Sit and speak."

The Daimyo was a refined man. He had always treated the ninja working for him with kindness.

The Akatsuki Ninja Village founded by Uchiha Makoto would be a powerful tool for balancing Konoha in the future.

No single ninja village could be allowed to dominate!

The Ninja World needed balance!

After some simple pleasantries, the two finally got down to business.

The Daimyo had always been concerned about the progress of Uchiha Makoto's ninja village. Faced with his inquiry, Kazuma immediately understood.

"I'll tell you what you want to hear!"

"Everything is under control. The ninja village's construction is progressing steadily and positively. Please rest assured, Daimyo—everything is under control!"

Although Akatsuki Ninja Village's efforts to recruit ninja clans had been progressing slowly, Kazuma was a man of fine character. Without the slightest shame, he continued spinning nonsense about how everything was under control.

The only shortcoming now was insufficient funding.

If the Daimyo were willing to specially approve one hundred billion ryo in funding, everything at Akatsuki Ninja Village would truly improve. Even the major ninja clans that had once looked down on Akatsuki Ninja Village would come knocking on Uchiha Makoto's door, begging to join immediately.

Money really was king!

Fifty Billion Ryo as a settlement allowance just for joining the village—who wouldn't lose their mind?

Such a number, of course, would make the Daimyo throw Kazuma out without hesitation.

Were they robbing him?

Did they even know how much the nation allocated to its annual war budget?

Still, Kazuma voiced the funding request. Akatsuki Ninja Village truly was desperately short of money. The Daimyo nodded and held up five fingers, indicating that he could provide an additional five hundred million ryo in funding.

That was no small amount. At present, the liquid funds held by a major ninja clan in the Ninja World were roughly around that figure.

But Akatsuki Ninja Village aspired to become a powerful village of the Ninja World. This little money could not satisfy Uchiha Makoto's appetite.

Seeing that the atmosphere was favorable, Kazuma stated the true purpose of his visit.

"Your Highness, I actually came this time because of a business deal."

"It's a very big deal. We need Your Highness's help, as well as your financial support!"

As Kazuma spoke, the Daimyo frowned, surprised by what he was hearing.

In the Daimyo's eyes, Uchiha Makoto and Kazuma were both ninja. Ninja had made their living by accepting missions since ancient times, and the money from those missions was hardly worth mentioning to Nobles.

What kind of big business could ninja possibly have?

"Your Highness, have you heard of Tulips?"

"I have."

"The business we want to do is Tulips!"

Kazuma's lips curled into a smile as he vividly began explaining the Tulip Bubble plan.

He was an excellent speaker, and after just a few sentences, the Daimyo was interested.

"First, we need the Daimyo to cooperate with us and make Tulips known throughout noble circles. To this end, Lord Makoto has devised the Thousand-Gold Tulip Purchase Plan."

"Interesting. You're going to hype up Tulips?"

"What a genius idea."

The Daimyo could not help stroking the beard at the corner of his mouth, looking increasingly intrigued.

He did not doubt the feasibility of the plan at all. He knew those Nobles' rotten habits far too well.

A few years ago...

Because of one fairly well-written article, the hypocritical Nobles in the Capital City began competing to imitate it in pursuit of elegance. Everyone praised it. If you did not follow the trend, you did not fit in, which meant your taste was low and you were not worthy of associating with people in their circle.

So everyone began praising that article and copying it day and night. Not only that, they paid others to copy it as well, calling it: experiencing elegance together!

By the end of that farce, even the price of paper had risen several times over.

With Tulips, as long as he cooperated with Uchiha Makoto's plan, those Nobles would probably repeat the same mistake.

"This business is indeed not bad, but it is nowhere near as exaggerated as you claim."

The Daimyo shook his head.

At most, this business seemed capable of earning several hundred million, perhaps a billion or two. That was certainly not a small sum, but it was far from enough to truly shock the Daimyo.

"No, Your Highness, it isn't over yet."

"Tulips are merely the bait. The crucial part comes later. Before Tulip prices surge, we sign contracts with flower growers in advance. Then, when Tulip prices soar, we spread the news and begin trading those contracts. With constant reselling, high turnover, and enormous profits, we will draw people in. By then, the Nobles and merchants of the Land of Fire—even the entire Ninja World—will likely go mad over it."

The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire sucked in a breath, deeply shocked by Uchiha Makoto's audacity. He truly had been frightened.

This kind of scheme had never appeared before in this era. He did not dare imagine how many people would join this game of money once it began.

He had no doubt about the greed of those Vermin.

Not just Nobles, but merchants as well. These people were born with an endless hunger for profit. As long as the gains were great enough, there was nothing they would not dare do, even if it left nothing but a complete mess in the end.

And precisely because the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire understood these people's nature, his thoughts went further.

Once this game of money ended, how would they clean it up?