Torifu nodded. "You two got here quickly. I do have a project to hand over to you, and it's extremely important. I have a lot of faith in it myself."
The two men looked puzzled. "A project? What kind of project?"
Torifu didn't keep them in suspense. "I'm sure you've both heard about the aquaculture project in the Land of Rain."
At that, Hiruzen and Danzo grew excited. Who hadn't heard about the aquaculture project that had been all the rage lately?
Konoha was going to work with three other ninja villages to develop the Land of Rain. This wouldn't just boost the economy.
It would also strengthen the alliance between the three countries.
"Of course. Every clan in Konoha has been talking about it."
Torifu smiled. "That makes this easier to explain. I discussed developing the Land of Rain with the Tsuchikage and the others, so naturally, the responsibility falls to Konoha."
"Sunagakure and Iwagakure will cover the development costs. They're investing in the project."
"But the Land of Rain is vast, and I can't keep an eye on everything myself. So I need to entrust this task to people I can rely on."
Hiruzen and Danzo were stunned for a moment. They understood what Torifu meant.
He was handing them responsibility for developing the Land of Rain.
"Lord Hokage, do you really trust us with something this important?"
"Of course. We've been carrying out missions together since we were children. After all these years, if I can't trust you, who can I trust?"
Hiruzen and Danzo knew that if they gained the rights to develop the Land of Rain, the profits they could make would be several times the combined assets of their two clans.
Anyone would do everything in their power to seize such an enormous windfall