Kakuzu, formerly a rogue ninja of Takigakure, had once been a member of the Hana Organization founded by Shiraishi Yoshijo. During Peach Country's early days, Shiraishi Yoshijo relied on the Hana Organization to amass wealth, and Kakuzu had contributed greatly. He could be considered a meritorious veteran.
After the Hana Organization disbanded, Kakuzu remained in Peach Country and became a real estate developer. Because the nation needed vast sums of money during its early development, Shiraishi Yoshijo had no choice but to sell off property cheaply. Kakuzu rose to prominence as a result, his net worth ballooning beyond measure, and he eventually used his immense financial power to become president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Never mind how well Kakuzu performed as president—his title alone allowed him to build an enormous network of connections while accumulating a staggering fortune.
Rich enough to rival a nation—this was no joke. Even Shiraishi Yoshijo sometimes had to borrow money from him. Thus, when Kakuzu proposed buying the Land of Waterfalls, Shiraishi Yoshijo had been too embarrassed to refuse and agreed.
The facts proved that this was the price of saving face.
After obtaining the Land of Waterfalls, Kakuzu used his connections in Peach Country to bring in countless merchants. Not only did he sell official positions, but he also granted those merchants extensive privileges. Things that Peach Country had explicitly outlawed through strict legislation were commonplace in the Land of Waterfalls.
Sweatshops, usury, labor exploitation—keeping slaves even became the norm.
The Land of Waterfalls was thoroughly ruined. Its people lived worse than dogs. Half a year after Kakuzu became Daimyo, large-scale protests erupted across the country, followed closely by rebellion.
Unfortunately, Kakuzu was no soft target. The mercenary corps he hired with money, along with the unscrupulous merchants in the Land of Waterfalls—these