Unity Under Self-Interest

The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow and said, "In other words, every nation has scarce resources, while my Land of Fire is rich in resources and can be self-sufficient, which is why the other nations eye us with covetousness!"

Nawaki nodded and praised, "Teacher Sarutobi is wise!" Sarutobi felt secretly pleased; this kid was much better at talking than Jiraiya.

After flattering him, Nawaki continued, "Although every nation has scarce resources, they also possess certain resources in great abundance! For instance, the Land of Wind is rich in gold mines and poisons, the Land of Earth is rich in various metal ores, and the Land of Lightning, though situated in high mountains, is rich in rare medicinal herbs like mountain ginseng and special minerals like lightning stones. Yet, these three nations all lack food and timber. The Land of Water is rich in food and medicine but has no mineral deposits, relying on imports for all its metal."

"Our Land of Fire is at the center of transportation between these nations. If we transport the resources each nation lacks to them and sell them at a high price, then buy their surplus specialties at a low price to bring back to the Land of Fire, we can reap enormous profits!"

"Over time, in just a few years, the nations will become accustomed to trading with the neighboring Land of Fire rather than trekking across mountains and rivers to reach more distant countries. In this way, the Land of Fire will become the economic center of the Shinobi World, and the economies of all nations will have to rely on the Land of Fire to maintain stability."

"Once we unilaterally blockade our borders and impose economic sanctions on a certain nation, its economy will completely collapse after a period of time. Without the financial resources provided by the state, the ninja village will not be able to hold out for long and will be defeated, or even defeated without a fight!"

"This is the economic strategy I speak of. What do you all think?"

"Well said! 'Defeated without a fight'—what a magnificent strategy! Not only can it acquire funds to strengthen Konoha, but it can also effectively balance the nations and reduce war casualties. I believe this policy is highly feasible. What do you think, everyone?" The Third Hokage praised Nawaki's strategy highly, and the elders and advisors, including Danzō, nodded in agreement.

"Clan Head Nara, what do you think?"

Facing the Third Hokage's question, the twenty-something youth with a pineapple hairstyle nodded and said, "A perfect strategy. Clan Head Senju is truly wise! However, I am very curious about the Finance Department and the taxation you mentioned earlier. I hope you can enlighten me."

Nawaki smiled modestly, "Clan Head Nara, you are too kind. The Finance Department is a department I conceived to collect commercial taxes from the various merchant caravans and shops within Konoha. This way, Konoha will have an independent source of revenue and need not worry about the Daimyo's economic control. However, Konoha should not break with the Daimyo too early. Before that, while accepting the funds provided by the Daimyo, we can use these tax revenues to strengthen the construction of the ninja academy, expand enrollment, and provide student loans to civilians who do not have good conditions and cannot afford tuition. After they graduate, they can pay off the loans with mission rewards. This is just a shallow opinion; I wonder what advice you all have."

"The plan is interlocking and theoretically flawless. I think it is worth a try, Lord Third." The Clan Head Nara agreed.

The Third Hokage nodded and asked, "What do you all think?"

"We agree with Clan Head Senju's opinion!"

Unknowingly, the Konoha leadership had already acknowledged Nawaki's status as a clan head. This meant that from this day on, Senju Nawaki, still a Genin, had officially become part of the Konoha leadership in his capacity as the head of the Senju Clan.

However, his identity and status could only circulate among the leadership for now and could not be made public. His grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, would act as his spokesperson in front of the public.

"As for the Finance Department..." The Third Hokage hesitated for a moment before saying, "In name, it will be headed by Lady Mito, but in practice, it will be managed by Nawaki. Because currently, no one is more familiar with financial matters than he is. Once Nawaki has truly matured, he will formally take over the Finance Department!"

Perhaps it was because they truly appreciated Nawaki's talent, or perhaps because of the power of the Wood Release bloodline, or perhaps because most of the leadership had blood ties to the Senju Clan, the opinions of the leadership were surprisingly unanimous this time.

Even Danzō, who loved to contradict the Third Hokage the most, nodded and agreed with his appointment.

The major strategy and personnel appointment, which should have been discussed repeatedly in a high-level meeting before being determined, had reached a consensus with such childish ease.

When the leadership finished the meeting, they realized with a start that they were not in the Hokage's office, but in a corner outside the training ground. They realized then that they had been drawn into Nawaki's words without even noticing, discussing matters that should have been top secret in this open, exposed location.

Fortunately, the surrounding crowds had long since left, and everyone present was a top-tier ninja, making it impossible for them to be overheard. Moreover, spies from enemy nations would likely never dream that the Konoha leadership would discuss secret strategies in such a place.

The leadership, finally coming to their senses, recalled that the cause of all this was merely a chance encounter with this three-year-old Senju clan head, and a single challenging remark from Shimura Danzō.

Why did things develop so smoothly? Why did they listen to the so-called plan of this three-year-old child? Was it really just because his plan was flawless? Or was it out of fear of that not-yet-fully-grown Wood Release bloodline power? Or was it the legacy of the First and Second Hokage, the Third and Mito standing behind Nawaki, and that faint, ethereal blood connection?

All the above reasons were merely additional weights; the true core factor was profit! After joining the Konoha Consortium, every clan could obtain a large amount of funds! This was real gold and silver, visible and tangible. From now on, the ninja clans would form a community of interests centered around the consortium established by the Senju Clan. This might be more reliable than blood ties—at least for the Hyuga and Uchiha.

And after the establishment of the Administration Department, Konoha could use taxation to break free from the Daimyo's control, gradually expand the scale of the ninja academy, increase the number of ninjas, and subsequently control the Land of Fire and even the entire Shinobi World. These plans would expand the power and strength of the leadership!

Nawaki's series of plans had a hundred benefits and no harm for everyone; the price paid was merely the Finance Department, an insignificant logistical branch.

For the Senju Clan, which was already filthy rich, it was merely icing on the cake and could not break the balance of power within the village. In the end, the biggest beneficiaries were the civilian ninjas, the Hokage's faction. Precisely because they saw through this, no one from the elders and advisors to the small clans opposed it.

The Hyuga and Uchiha clans believed that with sufficient funds, their clansmen, relying on their bloodline powers, would be enough to maintain a dominant position in Konoha; no matter how many civilian ninjas there were, they could not threaten their status. As for the Senju Clan, after the appearance of Nawaki, a Wood Release bloodline user, their power once again surpassed the two clans. The First Hokage had passed away less than 20 years ago, and the older generation in their clans still had vivid memories of the terrifying power of Wood Release!