The sky has fallen! The sky has fallen!
Uchiha Nan looked at the latest intelligence sent by Kakuzu, which involved a huge amount of money and a wide range of people. Even high-ranking officials and nobles from the Land of Lightning were involved, taking a cut and engaging in collusion between officials and businessmen.
The unique characteristics of insects!
Poor people split their money 30/70
The money owed to high-ranking officials and nobles was returned in full.
Cough cough cough. Just kidding.
Kakuzu wouldn't be so kind; he'd cut them all the way down anyway. Just keep them calm for now.
Kakuzu has undergone a Mega Evolution!
Uchiha Nan grew increasingly alarmed as he read on. He had underestimated Kakuzu scheme and the terrifying power of a Ponzi scheme to spread.
" Third Ai, you son of a bitch!!"
"Don't you have a brain?"
"You're willing to personally endorse something like this? You might as well commit seppuku! You're hopeless!"
Uchiha Nan was a bit of a headache seeing the big things Kakuzu had been up to lately. With the Raikage personally endorsing a Ponzi scheme, who knew how many flying acrobats would appear in Kumogakure?
This has exceeded the scope of my plan.
Uchiha Nan didn't even dare to imagine what would happen if these executioners, who only knew how to kill, were completely ransacked.
However, Uchiha Nan did not intend to blame Kakuzu, since a general in the field is not always bound by military orders.
Sigh. I should have known better than to let Kakuzu read so many economics books.
That was too careless!
Kakuzu's evolution speed is far too fast, far exceeding my expectations.
It's time to adjust Konoha's plans.
Uchiha Nan summoned Nara Luyuan and handed him the information. After Nara Luyuan's face turned deathly pale.
" Lord Hokage, you've gone too far this time. The First Shinobi World War only ended three years ago, and now Konoha is going to start another war with Kumogakure?"
Nara Luyuan recalled the First Shinobi World War, the most painful era for ninjas.
The ninja village system established by the First Hokage resulted in a level of warfare far exceeding the clan-based struggles of the Warring States Period, much like the explosive increase in killing efficiency brought about by industrialization.
Having been exploited, Kumogakure will absolutely not let this go unpunished. Given the personnel movements involving three villages, no matter how secretive Konoha, Iwagakure, Sunagakure are, Kumogakure will inevitably uncover clues afterward, even without concrete evidence. Kumogakure will point the finger at any of the three suspected villages— Konoha, Iwagakure, or Sunagakure.
The Kumogakure will definitely find a way to relieve the pressure, because if the internal conflicts within the Kumogakure are not resolved, it will surely blow itself up.
Now, Konoha has both good news and bad news.
The bad news is that Kumogakure will turn into a mad dog, biting anyone it sees.
The good news is that the enemies facing Kumogakure are three wealthy hunters who are armed to the teeth.
" Lu Yuan, what's done is done. Once a Ponzi scheme starts, it can't be stopped. The initial investments from Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure were enormous. Even if I wanted to stop it, I couldn't."
If we stop now, Iwagakure and Sunagakure will probably turn against us.
" Lu Yuan. Although things have exceeded my expectations, perhaps this is not a bad thing. Konoha not as weak and surrounded by enemies as it was in the First Shinobi World War."
" Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and we are all in the same boat."
"I haven't forgotten the grudge against the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Why don't we take this opportunity to join forces with Sunagakure and Iwagakure, and utterly crush Kumogakure they're down on their luck, ensuring they can never recover!"
Uchiha Nan's expression turned gloomy.
Should we go all out and take this opportunity to wipe out Kumogakure?
Tobirama Senju, Second Hokage, you died such a terrible death!
" Lord Hokage, you make the decision."
Nara Luyuan's mind was buzzing. He was given such a big surprise first thing in the morning, and he really couldn't react.
" Sunagakure and Iwagakure are probably aware of this news by now. They'll be even more anxious than we are; they don't have the financial resources of Konoha."
" Lord Hokage, what are you planning to do now?"
Nara Luyuan's voice trembled; he felt that Uchiha Nan was up to something big again.
"Write to them that the plan has changed. Konoha is going to increase its initial investment. Since we're going to fight anyway, we might as well cut a bigger chunk of the profits."
"Ask them if they want to escalate the conflict. War is incredibly expensive. If we don't make a big cut now, it'll be easy for all the money we've earned this time to be poured into the war budget, which would be a huge loss."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Nara Luyuan nodded in agreement.
" Lu Yuan, don't be so nervous. This Ponzi scheme has only just begun. The final harvest won't be until next year, or even the year after. It depends on Kakuzu's abilities."
However, if Kakuzu in his current state, it should be around next year. We now have ample time to prepare for a war we are destined to win.
"We're three against one! Konoha has never fought a war with such resources. Do they really Kumogakure is Konoha, capable of taking on three opponents at once?"
Uchiha Nan reassured Nara Luyuan, signaling him not to be too nervous.
In any case, the number of villages involved in this battle is three against one!
The advantage is in my hands!
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Nara Luyuan's expression softened considerably, encouraged by Uchiha Nan's confident demeanor.
That's true. Konoha has always been the one getting ganged up on, but now they can finally lead the gang up on others.
Iwagakure for the moment, Sunagakure and Konoha have always been in a honeymoon period.
Thanks to the Third Kazekage Mosa, who sacrificed his training time to engage in arduous gold panning work and also worked in two shifts to handle village affairs, Sunagakure's economy began to develop positively after nearly three years of recuperation.
As the economy improved, the villagers and ninjas gradually developed a desire to consume. Konoha's industrial products flowed into Sunagakure in large quantities, which also boosted the use of new energy sources such as electricity and Chakra in Sunagakure.
Incidentally, due to the widespread use of Chakra and electricity as new energy sources, the business of buying and selling Chakra has flourished in Sunagakure.
Ordinary ninjas can actually make a little money selling Chakra in their spare time.
Konoha's poverty alleviation work is progressing well. From initially operating at a loss to gain publicity, the income and expenditure are now approaching a balance, and it will be profitable in another year or two.
Uchiha Nan and Nara Luyuan then discussed the preparations for the war budget, emphasizing that Konoha must take this opportunity to stockpile as many war resources as possible.
Compared to the petty squabbles in Kumogakure, Uchiha Nan was more concerned about Hanzo the Salamander of the Salamander's movements.
"Any new information from Amegakure recently?"
Uchiha Nan inquired about information regarding the Land of Rain, while Hanzo the Salamander was also eager to pull off a major feat.
He wanted to completely wipe out the Daimyo and nobles of the Land of Rain and establish the Land of Ninja. This was an unprecedented event, representing that the ninja community was going to shed its past labels, no longer willing to be killing tools for carrying out missions, and wanting to completely turn the tables and become the masters of the country.
" Lord Hokage, according to intelligence from the Anbu ninja, Hanzo the Salamander wants to unify all armed forces in the Land of Rain. He accepts all comers, whether they are ninjas who have defected from other villages, ordinary Missing-nin, or even ordinary samurai."
"Hanzo even lifted the restrictions on the Amegakure's secret Ninjutsu collection, sharing low- to mid-level Ninjutsu with these rabble."
"The size of Amegakure is expanding rapidly."
Nara Luyuan reports the latest developments in Amegakure to Uchiha Nan.
Are you so desperate for food that you'll eat anything?
Uchiha Nan admired Hanzo of the Hanzo the Salamander's courage; he was truly a madman.
Recruiting missing-nin is a taboo in ninja villages. Even Konoha has to do it secretly. Hanzo the Salamander did it openly, no wonder he was able to provoke three major ninja villages at once and was directly attacked by them.
Currently, only one ninja village in the Ninja world has been able to enjoy this honor: Konoha.
It's hard to say whether the birth of a figure like Hanzo the Salamander in the Land of Rain is a blessing or a curse.
Hanzo the Salamander is just too extreme.
Uchiha Nan wanted a new-style ninja who was well-educated, had firm beliefs, and possessed rich grassroots experience.
Uchiha Nan didn't know what the quality of the ninjas in Amegakure was like in the past.
However, the rabble that Hanzo the Salamander recently recruited are almost all scoundrels who commit all sorts of evil deeds, a bunch of worthless trash. If they were all shot, there would be innocent people, and if every other one was shot, there would definitely be some who escaped.
This group of social scum who only know how to kill people, replacing the insects of the Land of Rain and enjoying the pleasures of power, will probably drain the pond to catch all the fish and become even more ruthless.
A country ruled by mere military men will only descend into chaos. It would be truly tragic if those in power, who oversee the entire nation and control its people's livelihoods, were a bunch of uneducated individuals who only knew how to pick up a few butcher knives and start killing.
Uchiha Nan was momentarily stunned. The future of the Land of Rain needed to be tested in practice.
However, this is a great thing for Konoha. Using the Land of Rain as a country for a large-scale social experiment can save Konoha from many detours.
Now Konoha really has to rely on the Land of Rain to get by.
However, Uchiha Nan did not intend to remain a mere bystander; he wanted to write a letter to Hanzo the Salamander, advising him to slow down.
If we want to truly overthrow the aristocratic gentry, ideological education is the most fundamental solution.
Whether Hanzo the Salamander can listen to that is his own business.
Half a day later.
Sunagakure
Mosa, who was panning for gold in the desert, received a letter from Kakuzu, which detailed the process of a Ponzi scheme.
Mosa was absolutely stunned after watching it.
Kakuzu, how could you dare to do such a thing!
Don't you want your head anymore?
At roughly the same time, Ōnoki was far away in Iwagakure, also received Kakuzu's letter. After reading it, he was so anxious that he strained his back.
The situation has far exceeded their expectations.
This could easily escalate into a war!
Hokage, where's Hokage?!
This is a serious matter!
That very evening Mosa and Ōnoki wrote to Uchiha Nan Uchiha Nan, asking him how to resolve the matter.
They were all involved in this matter, and no one wanted to face the wrath of the Kumogakure alone.
Uchiha Nan quickly received their letters, and as he had expected, Sunagakure and Iwagakure were the ninja villages that should be worried, compared to Konoha.
Konoha's current resources are enough to fight another Ninja world War, but Iwagakure and Sunagakure can't afford it; they'd be bankrupt after the war.
Uchiha Nan wrote down his thoughts in two letters and told them to Mosa and Ōnoki.
The initial investment in a Ponzi scheme is enormous, and we absolutely cannot afford to fail now; we must grit our teeth and continue.
Since things have already escalated to this point, let's go all out and double down on it. We should double the amount of money Konoha invests, reap a huge profit, and then use the money from the Land of Lightning and the Kumogakure to attack the Kumogakure again.
Konoha was just about to seize this opportunity to avenge the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
As for Ōnoki and Mosa, Uchiha Nan gave them ample time to consider whether or not to invest additional funds.
In any case, none of the three ninja villages can escape responsibility; the Kumogakure, having been exploited, will turn into a mad dog and bite whoever it sees.
The weakest and poorest ninja village naturally bears the greatest pressure.
Upon receiving Uchiha Nan's reply, Mosa Ōnoki as if he had fallen into a trap meticulously designed by Uchiha Nan.
Konoha's true objective was not to exploit the Land of Lightning and the Kumogakure, but to use this opportunity to eliminate the Kumogakure.
As for Uchiha Nan's explanation in the letter, he didn't expect Kakuzu's work ability to be so outstanding, and underestimated the danger of the Ponzi scheme.
Ōnoki and Mosa didn't believe a single word of this nonsense.
But that's the truth. Uchiha Nan really didn't expect Kakuzu a super evolution!
But do Iwagakure and Sunagakure still have options?
Obviously not.
Konoha's pirate ship is already on board. Jumping off now will make you look like a clown, then Konoha will kick you off the ship, and you'll eventually drown in the river.
Ōnoki didn't sleep all night, silently cursing Uchiha Nan's mother hundreds of times in his heart.
He truly regretted it. He had been greedy for money and abandoned his good friend, the dark-skinned guy from Kumogakure. Now he was going to use his friend's money to fight them. He was truly... a beast.
That's fine.
Ōnoki was shocked by how deep Uchiha Nan's scheming was. Now that he was on Uchiha Nan's pirate ship, there was no way to get off; he could only go down a dark path.
When the Ponzi scheme finally collapsed and the harvest was over, Kumogakure, like a mad dog, faced the counterattack of the three ninja villages.
Konoha, Iwagakure, Sunagakure three against one)
The outcome is already clear; it seems the Kumogakure is doomed from recovery.
The rabbit dies, the fox grieves; animals grieve for their own kind.
Today it's Kumogakure), so which ninja village will be the next to be outmaneuvered by Konoha (Hidden Leaf Village)?
Konoha and Sunagakure are now as close as brothers, so Konoha definitely wouldn't have any designs on Sunagakure.
It can't be Kirigakure, can it? Kirigakure is an isolated island!
The next target will probably be Iwagakure ).
A calculated scheme.
Ōnoki felt utterly powerless; Konoha was truly terrifying.
A sleepless night passed. Time slipped by unnoticed.
As dawn broke, Ōnoki's eyes were bloodshot as he took out paper and pen to reply to Uchiha Nan.
"Dear Hokage, I agree to your plan."
Ōnoki ultimately agreed to Uchiha Nan's plan, agreeing that they had to resolve the immediate problem and find ways to preserve Kumogakure as much as possible in the future.
Moreover, Mosa, who is the Kazekage of Sunagakure.
He probably doesn't want Konoha to be the only village that dominates, right?