Three months later, as they looked at the steel mills that had been built, the various clans finally realized what had happened. The Second had invested ten million in the beginning and done nothing else. Meanwhile, the ninja tool clans had put in all the work: hiring people, finding land, and building the other five steel mills. After deducting workers' wages and the cost of ore, the mills brought in hundreds of thousands of ryo in net profits every month from manufacturing and selling ninja tools. Yet half of that money went to the Second, who had only invested ten million ryo at the outset and done nothing since.
Only now did these ninja tool clans realize that the Second had actually been thinking that far ahead. They...
Had been swindled.
But what could they do? He'd put in ten million ryo at the start, while they'd only put in tens of thousands at most. Even the biggest investor among them had only put in a million. Invest less, earn less.
It was just... At this rate, the Second would probably recoup his initial ten-million-ryo investment in two years, then get half the shares in these steel mills for free...
The clans were sick with regret, but there was nothing they could do. His business dealings had been perfectly fair. If they'd invested alongside him at the beginning—even if they hadn't put in much, say five million—they'd be earning quite a bit every month now and would have recouped their investment in two years. After that, it would be pure profit every year. But they hadn't invested. If they hadn't, who could they blame?!
So, compared with how history originally remembered Senju Tobirama as the Professor of Ninja Tools, later generations also came to regard him as an outstanding economist. In the words of Kamigane Yuya, who would become Hokage many years later, all his knowledge of economics had been taught to him by the Second, Senju Tobirama.
As a result, people from other countries in later generations hated Senju Tobirama more than ever. After all, if some countries were rich, others had to be poor...
But that was all in the future. For now...
At the beginning of Year 17 of Konoha, Kumogakure suddenly gathered over a thousand shinobi along the Land of Lightning's border. It was clear that a storm was coming and war was about to break out...
Senju Tobirama had naturally noticed this, but while he took it seriously, it wasn't enough to keep him from eating.
Just as he'd told Senju Hashirama before, he, Senju Tobirama, wasn't afraid of making enemies of them.
"Knock, knock."
"Come in."
A pretty young woman with her hair tied in a ponytail opened the door and said respectfully, "Lord Hokage, those ninja tool clans have submitted another joint petition."
Senju Tobirama immediately rubbed his temples with a pained expression.
That United Chamber of Commerce Yuya had set up really had opened his eyes.
They'd recoup the ten million in no more than two years, and he'd gotten five steel mills for free. After that, they'd keep earning money every year.
The key was that the money came from shinobi buying ninja tools. Ordinary people had no need for them, so this wouldn't affect society.
The steel mills would create jobs, and shinobi spending money was another benefit.
Even Senju Tobirama, who knew nothing about economics, understood that shinobi couldn't be allowed to pile up money. That would cause serious problems.
This arrangement worked well: not only did it take their money, it drained their wallets, too.
No money left? Then go do missions.
But there weren't that many missions...
Senju Tobirama was troubled again.
On top of that, now that they'd seen the steel mills' profits, those people couldn't sit still.
But it didn't matter. Was Senju Tobirama the sort of person who could be pushed around? Impossible.
"What do they want this time?"
There was a reason for Senju Tobirama's poor attitude.
Naturally, these merchant clans weren't going to pass up such a lucrative business. But Senju Tobirama had the biggest share, and they didn't dare offend him. So their only option was to expand the business.
They wanted to bring in new members.
Senju Tobirama had asked Yuya about it, and Yuya had said it would be best not to take on anyone else for the time being.
So Senju Tobirama had promptly refused.
"Not this time. They want to make a joint additional investment of five million ryo." The secretary's eyes practically lit up as she said it. Five million ryo! How many Explosive Tags could that buy?! Art is...
Ahem. Senju Tobirama paused, rubbed his chin, and thought it over. Then he said, "I'll consider it. Go out and close the door behind you."
"Of course~"
After the secretary left, Senju Tobirama used Flying Thunder God to appear in Senju Hashirama's courtyard.
Only Uzumaki Mito lived there now. Yuya had built himself a little wooden cabin outside the house.
Naturally, it was to avoid any impropriety with his master's wife.
Back when Senju Hashirama had been around, Yuya could do as he pleased. But not now. Even though Senju Hashirama's death couldn't be made public, Yuya couldn't keep living there. This wasn't about whether he could keep the secret or not. If he stayed, then one day Senju Hashirama's death would become public—it was inevitable; the news couldn't be kept secret forever—and people would look back and think, Your master died, and you were still living with his wife? What were you up to?
The damage to his reputation and standing would be immeasurable.
Senju Tobirama understood that, too. He hurried out of the courtyard and found Yuya studying a map.
During this time, Yuya had also found time to absorb the scattered gold at the third site he'd surveyed earlier. His total gold reserves had reached five hundred kilograms.
But it still wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. The gold could make him stronger, but the increase wasn't large enough.
At least five hundred tons might do it.
Senju Tobirama found Yuya and got straight to the point, telling him what the others wanted.
Yuya immediately smiled. "At the end of last year, when we asked them to invest, they all refused as hard as they could. Now they want to put in another five million ryo and get fifteen percent of the shares?
"Just tell them that times have changed. If they want to buy in, fine. Those steel mills earn about a hundred million a year, with total net profits of around fifteen million. They can't calculate the value of the shares based on that alone. They also have to account for the workers, equipment, and land. Don't forget, the Hokage controls the land-use rights in Konoha.
"Have them calculate it that way. For five million ryo, they can have a one-percent stake."
Senju Tobirama was stunned. "W-wouldn't that be too much?"
Yuya glanced at Tobirama and smiled. "Uncle, believe me, by next year they'll be begging you to sell them one percent for five million."
Senju Tobirama fell silent, then nodded.
Yuya continued, "Still, you should give them a little incentive. Uncle, you can handle it like this..."
The merchants naturally weren't willing to accept Senju Tobirama's proposal. Five million ryo for just one percent was too much.
At least, that was what they thought for now.
But the next plan Tobirama brought up made their eyes shine.
It was actually quite simple.
They would use Konoha as a base and supply their steel to other countries.
Selling ninja tools there might put them in conflict with local clans, but raw materials...
Those were in demand everywhere.
And so, against this backdrop, in Year 17 of Konoha, Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning attacked Konoha, beginning the First Shinobi World War.
Before you continue