One month after being elected Jonin Squad Leader, Masaki Uchiha spent all his time outside work with Shikaku Nara frantically acquiring wartime supplies through the Uchiha Clan's channels.
Kumogakure still hadn't signed a ceasefire agreement with Konoha.
For now, both sides had merely agreed to a temporary truce.
They were worried that after the Nine-Tails Incident, Kumogakure would take advantage of the situation.
After Sarutobi Hiruzen heard that the Uchiha were stockpiling wartime supplies, he went straight to Minato Namikaze and demanded that the Uchiha Clan explain itself.
Of course, Minato Namikaze had also asked Masaki Uchiha about it. He received this reply: "Kumogakure still hasn't signed a ceasefire agreement with Konoha. The Uchiha Clan is making thorough preparations for that very reason. If war breaks out, we'll be the first to charge into battle."
Well, that was a flawless excuse.
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't do anything about it. But to be safe, the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans also began purchasing wartime supplies, just in case.
Who knew if the Uchiha Clan might lose its mind? What if they were driven into a corner and fought back? Better to arm themselves first.
Seeing this, the other shinobi clans also began buying up wartime supplies. Before long, a different kind of arms race had begun in Konoha.
Some wartime supplies grew more expensive as a result, while the training grounds gradually became overcrowded.
After learning what the clans were up to, Minato Namikaze didn't stop them. After all, the clans were spending their own money, not Konoha's. He couldn't exactly forbid them from training, could he? That would only cause chaos. So he tacitly allowed it, which also served as a subtle warning to the public about the risk of war.
The spies from other nations in Konoha had already sent the intelligence back. The Ninja World was stirred by undercurrents.
Masaki Uchiha was doing this so fewer people would die in Konoha during the Nine-Tails Incident.
The members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization had already been notified by Masaki Uchiha in the name of preventing war, allowing them to buy wartime supplies at lower prices before anyone else.
Just as everyone was busily preparing wartime supplies,
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held another profit-sharing meeting.
Minato Namikaze couldn't attend, but the heads or representatives of all the other clans were there.
Without further ado, Uchiha Naoya opened his notebook and began going over the profits from the last quarter in detail.
"Over the past three months, we escorted cargo along the Land of Tea trade route 33 times. We deployed jonin 524 times and chunin and Special Jōnin 1,652 times, earning a total of 800 million ryō."
The profits were so high for two reasons: the Land of Tea trade route had been expanded, and the Daimyo and nobles had "sponsored" a portion of the earnings.
On top of that, they had distributed 120 million ryō in advance last time, so the actual profits over the past two months came to around 680 million ryō.
After Naoya finished, Uchiha Shisui spoke up. "The sea transport business in the Land of Waves earned 180 million ryō over the past three months. We deployed jonin 120 times and chunin and Special Jōnin 526 times."
Masaki Uchiha had called Uchiha Shisui back a few days ago, temporarily handing the Land of Waves business over to the Nara Clan.
They were entering a critical period, and there was no way he'd leave Uchiha Shisui, who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, wandering around outside.
After hearing the business reports, all the clan heads and representatives present beamed as they calculated how much their clans would receive.
In the end, they found that even those who had contributed less in manpower and effort could get 20 million ryō, while those who had contributed more could get 45 million. They were rich!
"Same as always. Line up to collect your money later."
"Yes, President."
Everyone answered with grins.
"You've all noticed that Konoha has been tense lately. First, rumors about the Wood Release experiment and the Sharingan experiment are still circulating, and now military supplies are skyrocketing in price. When you get back, tell your clansmen not to wander around. These are troubled times."
"President, I think we should send the Police Force's Special Operations Unit to arrest the spies spreading rumors and clear the Uchiha Clan's name." The Inuzuka Clan Head stepped forward to speak up for the Uchiha Clan.
"Exactly. Those spies are undermining Konoha's stability."
"That's right, President. The Uchiha Clan has endured these slanders for so long, yet Anbu still haven't caught anyone. They're clearly neglecting their duty."
"Let's not say anything that could undermine unity. The Fourth Hokage asked me about this and offered to help, but I turned him down," Masaki Uchiha said calmly.
Everyone was stunned, unable to figure out what Masaki Uchiha was thinking.
"I actually found a few clues, but unfortunately, I couldn't tell the Fourth Hokage directly, so I declined," Masaki Uchiha said regretfully.
At that, everyone understood. If he couldn't speak openly to the Fourth Hokage, then it probably had something to do with the Third Hokage.
Thinking that the rumors might have originated with the Third Hokage, everyone's already poor opinion of Sarutobi Hiruzen grew even worse.
And it really wasn't something he could tell the Fourth Hokage. Saying it would cause friction between the master and his former student's grandson, which would hardly help Konoha stay united.
They hadn't expected the President to endure this much for the greater good.
Everyone was astonished by Masaki Uchiha's concern for the bigger picture.
The President truly lived up to the words he was always saying: "This is all for Konoha."
"Whew, I'm going to get some rest. Make yourselves at home."
As Masaki Uchiha walked away, he seemed taller and more imposing in everyone's eyes.
On the way home, Masaki Uchiha instructed his guards to be ready over the next few days.
The time was almost here.
Danzo, I can hardly wait to kill you.
You'd better show up.
Hahahaha.
Masaki Uchiha laughed wildly to himself.
A few days later
October 10, Year 51 of Konoha
Night
Konoha was peaceful and quiet.
The streets of the commercial district were bustling with people.
The clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation filled the air.
Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy were walking along, chatting.
"Why don't we settle it with rock-paper-scissors again today?"
"Again? Can't we have a more passionate contest?"
Kakashi suddenly stopped, his expression turning serious. "Do you feel anything strange? It seems like the air's gotten colder all of a sudden."
"What's cold is your attitude! Youth is now!" Might Guy declared passionately, raising his fist.
A beastlike roar suddenly rang out, cutting their conversation short.
They looked in the direction of the sound.
A gigantic orange fox had appeared in the village, roaring at the sky.
"The Nine-Tails?!"