"Snow Clan, Kaguya Clan, Kurama Clan."
"Oh, I almost forgot—the Uzumaki Clan."
"Forget it, I might as well add the Hyuga Clan too. It'd be a waste not to poach them myself."
"."
Uchiha Makoto sat in his room, slowly writing down the ninja clans Akatsuki Ninja Village needed to recruit over the coming period. To strengthen the village as quickly as possible, he naturally set his sights first on clans that possessed Bloodline Limits.
Money could not solve every problem.
But it could solve the vast majority of them.
Those major ninja clans had previously looked down on the weak Akatsuki Ninja Village. They preferred to settle in powerful ninja villages like Konoha. The Ninja World was ultimately an extremely social-Darwinist place, but with this massive injection of ninety billion ryo, the previously unknown Akatsuki Ninja Village finally had the confidence to recruit powerful ninja clans.
At worst, he could simply bury them in money.
Surely one or two major ninja clans would be willing to join Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Still, he had to keep things within reason. Looking too much like a nouveau riche made others covet what you had. Those idiot ninjas did not have the guts to rob nobles of their property, but they had plenty of guts to risk their lives robbing another ninja village!
During the First Shinobi World War and the Second Shinobi World War... in every Shinobi World War, ninja villages fought until their heads bled, slaughtering one another and even piling up massive debts. Meanwhile, the nobles sat high above it all, hiding behind the scenes. Even when they lost, they usually did not even have to cede territory!
How much funding did the Daimyo even provide?
Why were you ninjas fighting so desperately?!
In any case, Uchiha Makoto absolutely would not do something so foolish. This had to change in the future.
He had to earn money while standing tall!
"Lord Makoto, Your Highness wishes to see you. He has an important matter to discuss!"
Just as Uchiha Makoto was planning Akatsuki Ninja Village's future development, one of the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire's attendants pushed open the door and entered.
"Understood."
Uchiha Makoto put down his pen and followed the attendant to the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire's room. After a brief discussion, he learned some news.
Konoha had sent people.
Not only had Hashirama Senju come, but Tobirama Senju had come as well.
"Makoto, I'll leave the two of them to you!"
"Konoha has gotten itself into serious trouble. We absolutely cannot let them lash out in desperation and come here to fight me!"
Uchiha Makoto smiled and looked at the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire's face. Though someone had covered up the dark circles around his eyes, his entire demeanor was listless, as though he had not slept at all.
The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire had probably stayed awake all night in terror after learning that Konoha was visiting. Who knew what sort of scenarios the Hashirama Senju Threat Theory-riddled Daimyo had imagined all night?
Limited by his era and bound by traditional rules governing ninjas, even someone as powerful as Hashirama Senju had never considered replacing the Daimyo. All he wanted was to establish a ninja village and reduce the slaughter between ninja clans.
This situation persisted without any fundamental change until the end of the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Even after the Fourth Shinobi World War ended, Naruto Uzumaki became the Seventh, technology in the ninja world advanced rapidly, and all Five Great Nations became industrialized countries, ninja village ninjas were no longer limited to taking missions as their sole means of earning a living.
Yet ninja villages still essentially followed the old rules and remained politically disadvantaged.
In short, this world was incredibly absurd.
Uchiha Makoto understood that clearly. Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had likely come to the Land of Fire because Konoha had stirred up a hornet's nest and provoked public outrage. The nobles had joined forces to make things difficult for Konoha, pushing it to the point where it could no longer endure. Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had come to seek help from the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.
Even if the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire chose this moment to kick Konoha while it was down and imposed extremely harsh conditions to restrain Konoha's development, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju would likely grit their teeth and accept them in exchange for his political and economic support.
Thus, Uchiha Makoto naturally accepted the task.
Of course, there was one condition.
He needed the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire's full authorization!
"No problem!"
"You can represent me in negotiations with Konoha from now on!"
"Makoto, as long as you can calm Konoha down, I'll accept it even if we have to give them some money."
The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire nodded.
He had not expected Konoha to step out at this time and draw all the fire. If that thick-skinned, black-hearted Hashirama Senju had come to demand an explanation, sending Uchiha Makoto to face him would at least leave room for compromise.
Uchiha Makoto truly was an honest man!
At such a critical moment, he could step forward and ease his burden—what loyalty!
"Then, Your Highness, leave this matter to me!"
Uchiha Makoto said with a smile.
Loyalty—using the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire's name to do whatever he pleased!
That was the power of an information gap!
The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire believed Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had come to demand an explanation, when in reality, they were coming to negotiate on their knees!
Coming on their knees was good!
After all, he was the one standing now!
"Big Brother, when we meet the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire later, watch my cues in everything. Konoha's situation is extremely dangerous right now. Once news of the large-scale cancellation of missions spreads and public opinion begins to ferment, the ninja clans that have already joined Konoha may leave."
"Also, the Uchiha Clan may very well develop dangerous thoughts at a time like this."
"That would be a disaster!"
Tobirama Senju spoke with a worried expression. He was truly afraid that all the work he had put in over this period would go to waste. He had originally planned to stay behind in Konoha to guard it and reassure everyone, but at such a critical moment, he simply could not rest easy letting his Big Brother, Hashirama Senju, come to the Land of Fire alone to meet the Daimyo.
And there was no one in Konoha who could accompany his Big Brother here. It was not as if he could let Uchiha Madara come along, right?
Tobirama Senju would sooner choose death.
Anyone but Uchiha Madara, damn it!
If Uchiha Madara was with his Big Brother, the two of them would only ruin everything.
Thus, with no other choice, he could only temporarily abandon the idea of remaining in Konoha and accompany his Big Brother, Hashirama Senju, to meet the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.
This negotiation had to be settled quickly!
Even if Konoha had to pay a heavy price, they still had to obtain the Daimyo's support.
"Tobirama, I know."
"You've already said that several times."
"And you don't need to practice your smile in front of the mirror so many times, either!"
Hashirama Senju nodded, still wearing his usual carefree expression, leaving Tobirama Senju speechless. His Big Brother truly made him worry himself sick!
I'm practicing my smile so I can go flatter people!
Who do you think I'm doing this for?
Isn't it all for you, Big Brother, for the Senju Clan, and for Konoha as it is now?!
Soon.
The two men waiting in the lounge were led into a room by an attendant.
Then—
The instant Tobirama Senju saw the person before him, the smile on his face froze.
I still like writing Tobirama's scenes.
I want follows and bookmarks!!!!
If this keeps up, I feel like I'm going to die.
Before you continue