Kabuto's Final Trial

If they needed more resources after this, they would have to start expanding outward.

They could first swallow up the small neighboring nations. Once they had consumed the entire buffer zone, Konoha would likely have enough power to silence the entire Ninja World.

Then they could swallow the Four Great Nations whole and unite them all!

Kakuzu nodded and was about to leave when Xuanye stopped him.

"Wait. Don't sell off those nobles' real estate. Register all of it under Konoha's name."

"If individuals or merchants want to use it, they can only rent it."

It was a little early to worry about this, but Xuanye still wanted to prevent land from being concentrated in private hands.

They had to stamp it out from the beginning. Otherwise, it would grow too entrenched, and Xuanye could hardly turn his blade on his own people.

Setting firm boundaries and rules early would benefit everyone.

Kakuzu paused. "That could cut our income considerably."

"Think longer term. Those properties will keep bringing revenue into Konoha. Selling them for a one-time payment would be a terrible deal."

Kakuzu considered it, then nodded in agreement with Xuanye.

After Kakuzu left, Xuanye looked again at the bounties on himself and the Konoha High Command. He could not help smiling.

His bounty was actually higher than Sarutobi Hiruzen's.

How amusing.

Meanwhile, in Ryūchi Cave, Kabuto had passed the trials of the Three Snake Princesses, his heart brimming with hatred.

Their three trials tested desire, perseverance, and will.

But Orochimaru had told them about the plan to train Kabuto in a hurry. The Snake Princesses had lived for nearly a thousand years. Though they were not as ancient as the White Snake Sage, each was an old monster in her own right.

They thought they had seen too