Say Thank You! (Seeking Recommendations, Adding to Bookshelf, Powering Up for Love)

"My previous estimate that the Daimyo and the nobles earn 50 billion ryo annually was shallow of me."

"After a careful investigation, I discovered that 50 billion ryo is merely the revenue from their tea trade."

"In reality, I estimate their other business ventures combined total at least 50 billion ryo!"

As soon as Masaki Uchiha uttered these words, the crowd was shocked once again. Everyone knew the nobles were wealthy, but no one expected them to be this wealthy.

And this was only the money earned from the nobles' businesses, not even accounting for the other yields produced from the land across the country.

Yet, in the eyes of Masaki Uchiha, the commercial potential of the Land of Fire had barely been tapped.

Take the price of an Explosive Tag, for instance—1,000 to 2,000 ryo apiece. Based on 50 billion ryo, one could only buy 50 million tags during peacetime, or a mere 25 million during wartime; that wouldn't even be enough to blow up Obito Uchiha.

Using Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha as an example, a bowl of ordinary ramen costs 60 ryo, an egg 65 ryo, and a bowl of rice 15 ryo. (The price list for Ichiraku Ramen in Naruto is provided below.)

Everyone was now well aware of this price level.

Furthermore, as a nation occupying the best geographical location in the Ninja World with a population exceeding 20 million, the annual income is definitely far more than 50 billion.

An S-rank mission in peacetime only pays one million ryo, and it would certainly be higher during wartime.

Therefore, the commercial potential of Konoha, the Land of Fire, and even the entire Ninja World is in urgent need of development.

This is also why Masaki Uchiha brought everyone together; the Uchiha Clan is simply too small.

Moreover, those who try to hog all the profits usually meet a bad end, and it would not be conducive to him taking over a complete Konoha.

Thus, establishing a cooperative alliance is a very necessary endeavor.

Seeing the clan heads looking somewhat numb from the shock of this news, Masaki Uchiha smiled and said, "Everyone, please rest assured. There is no end to the money that can be made. Let us now begin determining the organization's charter."

"Every family participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization shall have one vote."

"Because the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was initiated by my Uchiha Clan, and the business opportunities were found by the Uchiha, the Uchiha shall hold veto power. Does everyone agree?"

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

There was no reason for anyone to disagree; after all, the Uchiha contributed the most, so this was only right.

Masaki Uchiha scanned the room, and seeing no fool jump out to object, he felt a tinge of regret that the cliché of slapping faces and showing off hadn't occurred.

"For the development of your respective families, and to quickly enter the nobles' businesses, my second proposal is this: if any of you have trusted friends who wish to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, they may join as long as they pass a vote by the members present, with over half of the members in agreement."

"I support the President's proposal!" The Gekko Clan Head raised his right hand high, acting like a show-off.

Damn it, he beat me to it again.

The Kurama Clan Head cursed inwardly.

"I also support it!"

"Agreed!"

After Uchiha Naoya finished tallying the votes, Masaki Uchiha's proposal was passed unanimously!

After an afternoon of voting and refining the organizational processes, Masaki Uchiha saw that everyone was getting tired and brought up the final proposal.

"From now on, any matter requiring a vote must be submitted 10 days in advance to convene an organizational assembly. Each member has the right to submit one request per month."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

This power was closely tied to their own interests, so no one was foolish enough to vote against it, and they all expressed their consent.

"Henceforth, if there are no major issues, Uchiha Naoya will handle the monthly meetings and coordinate with everyone."

After saying this, Masaki Uchiha turned to Uchiha Naoya and said, "From now on, you will be responsible for the monthly Shanghai Cooperation Organization meetings. Just report any subsequent matters to me."

"Yes, Clan Head."

Seeing such an important task entrusted to him, Uchiha Naoya was moved beyond words.

One must realize that he would be coordinating with the heads of every family in the village; this intangible resource would help him go much further in the future.

At this moment, the Inuzuka Clan Head asked with a smile, "President, I heard that the election for the Jonin Squad leader is about to begin. I wonder if you are interested?"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing the words "Jonin Squad leader," Masaki Uchiha recalled what this position entailed.

Simply put, the Jonin Squad leader is primarily responsible for collecting suggestions from the village's jonin and tallying the votes for the Hokage election. Of course, they can also initiate a vote to impeach the Hokage.

Additionally, they are responsible for commanding and planning certain campaigns during wartime.

They generally communicate directly with the Hokage, but this position requires a vote from all active jonin in Konoha, with the candidate receiving the most votes winning. The term is two years, and they can be re-elected.

The current Jonin Squad leader is Shikaku Nara.

To put it bluntly, this position is usually quite idle and involves thankless tasks, but at critical moments, it can determine the seat of the village's shadow.

"Very well, Inuzuka Clan Head, you might as well help me canvass for more votes after you return."

The others heard that Masaki Uchiha was interested in this position and began calculating in their hearts how many votes they should cast for him.

"Please rest assured, President. The jonin of my Inuzuka Clan will definitely cast their sacred votes for you."

"Hahaha, I also ask all clan heads to help me canvass for more votes after you return. I, Masaki Uchiha, am very interested in this position."

How could everyone not hear the tone of certainty in Masaki Uchiha's voice? They all expressed that they would cast their votes for him.

"That will be all for today. Everyone, go back and rest. Hatake Kakashi, stay for a moment."

Hearing this, the clan heads stood up one after another to bid farewell to Masaki Uchiha. As for the matter concerning Hatake Kakashi and the Fourth Hokage, it was naturally up to Masaki Uchiha to discuss it.

Regarding the withdrawal mechanism, everyone wisely chose not to bring it up.

Once you have boarded the Uchiha ship, it is not a matter of getting off whenever you want.

Even if you want to get off the ship, you have to ask the people on board if they agree.

It is better to just follow this path to the end.

As for Hatake Kakashi, who had been asked to stay, his heart tightened: Could it be...

"Don't be nervous, Hatake Kakashi. Sit for a while; I'm going to see them off." Seeing the nervous expression on Hatake Kakashi's face, Masaki Uchiha found it somewhat amusing.

After seeing everyone off, Masaki Uchiha said to Uchiha Naoya, who was behind him, "At the next Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting, you must hint at them to do one thing."

"There are too many trade routes in the Land of Tea, which has seriously affected the price of tea in the market."

"If the amount of tea flowing out of the Land of Tea decreases, the market price will become higher."

"So, if someone were to attack the other trade routes at this time and seize those fresh tea leaves..."

"You must know that our Shanghai Cooperation Organization not only escorts goods but also sells them. Regardless of whether the origin of this batch of goods is legitimate or not, we pay and deliver on the spot."

"Do you understand?"

Uchiha Naoya let out an "oh" in sudden realization, but he did not understand why they were letting others earn this money when the Uchiha could earn it themselves.

Seeing his brother-in-law looking unconvinced, Masaki Uchiha had no choice but to teach him some 'trump cards'.

"Think about it. If I entrust this matter to them, won't they be grateful to us?"

"Yes."

"If the Daimyo discovers that the trade routes in the Land of Tea have been robbed, won't the first thing he thinks of be to let us, the Uchiha, handle it?"

"Yes."

"When we receive the Daimyo's order, we will first notify these ninja clans to let them withdraw, and then we will go and kill some bandits to take their heads to the Daimyo to complete the mission."

"In that case, haven't we both finished the task assigned by the Daimyo and allowed those who follow us to have a big feast? Won't they all have to say thank you to me?"

"Yes."

"This is killing three birds with one stone!"

He understood; he understood everything. In this way, everyone would have a perfect harvest, and a world where only the Daimyo and the nobles get hurt would be achieved.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Naoya looked at Masaki Uchiha with an expression of admiration.

"Finally, remember to tell them that doing this kind of thing 2-3 times a year is enough. If you do it too often, it's easy to get exposed."

"Understood!"

"Let's go. Let's go talk to Hatake Kakashi."