Target: Land of Waves, Making Money is the Real Deal

The primitive accumulation of capital is always cruel and bloody.

According to historical laws, there are generally only two ways to complete the initial accumulation of capital.

Namely: plunder and exploitation.

The former relies on looting other countries to accumulate wealth, much like the Western European nations during the Age of Discovery.

The latter relies on exploiting one's own people to create wealth, much like a certain "Indian" nation.

And what about his own Flame Hidden Village?

It has just started, and the entire village doesn't even have five hundred people in total.

With so few people, how can one exploit them?

Even if you worked them like mules, this many people wouldn't be able to create much value!

Therefore, if he wants to be rich and powerful.

If he wants to accumulate primitive capital, Natsume has no choice but to set his sights on other villages...

And right now.

Konoha and Iwagakure have both been looted by him...

Pah! He has already "robbed the rich to help the poor" once.

It is indeed difficult to succeed again.

At the same time, the other major hidden villages are currently barely maintaining a balance in the situation.

If he were to loot them again and break this balance.

It would only be more detrimental to the development of his own village.

Therefore, after much thought.

Only this Land of Waves is the most suitable.

The Land of Waves is located to the southeast of the Land of Fire; it is a very small island nation, connected to the outside world by only one large bridge.

The number of ninjas in the country is almost zero, the economy is poor, and the people live in poverty.

Logically speaking, such a small and poor country shouldn't be worth Natsume's attention at all!

However, Natsume, who is familiar with the world of Hokage.

Knows very well that although the Land of Waves is poor, Gato, the president of the shipping company that controls the Land of Waves, is one of the few richest men in the world.

A villain like this, who is rich but heartless, and who has made his fortune by using the mafia and ninjas in secret to smuggle drugs and contraband, is naturally the most suitable target to "rob the rich to help the poor."

Moreover, by looting such a criminal corporate group, he might even be able to reorganize and take over Gato's shipping company.

Relying on the abundant maritime trade to earn a steady stream of funds for his village!

Killing many birds with one stone, why wouldn't he do it?

This is the real reason why Natsume has set his sights on this small country.

Regarding this, Toh Uchiha and the others naturally cannot understand the deeper meaning.

But they all know one thing clearly.

Just follow their young clan leader and it will be fine.

Anyway, with the young clan leader's wisdom, he would never let them suffer a loss!

"Young Clan Leader, are you going to that so-called Land of Waves?"

"Yes. I will make a trip there in the next few days."

"I want to go, I want to go!"

"Don't worry, I do need a few helpers this time. I'll decide before we set off, don't be impatient."

"Got it!"

"Alright. Toh, you may go now."

"Remember my words. Don't skimp, go all out, and make the village's infrastructure as good as possible!"

"Understood!"

Afterward, Natsume began to plan the village's construction while preparing his supplies, getting ready to head to the Land of Waves.

However, that afternoon.

An envoy sent by Iwagakure also happened to arrive at the village.

Out of sympathy for Ōnoki's old back, and to show gratitude for the 70 million taels of silver generously gifted by Iwagakure.

Natsume still reluctantly met with the other party.

The person was a middle-aged ninja approaching thirty, who appeared to have only the strength of a chunin.

He did not seem like the type to be particularly skilled in battle.

However.

After this envoy from Iwagakure arrived, he was quite arrogant. He seemed to look down upon this fledgling new village established by the Uchiha defectors.

In fact, upon seeing that the leader of the opposing side was truly just a brat in his early teens.

He became even more overbearing.

He acted as if he were a high-ranking Hidden Village official visiting a lower-ranking one to provide guidance.

It made Uchiha Gin and the others so angry that they were itching to draw their blades and slaughter the bastard!

As it turned out, he didn't get to gloat for long.

He was directly grabbed by the skeletal right claw of the Susanoo manifested by Natsume, which crushed several of his ribs on the spot.

After experiencing a close-up "greeting from the Grim Reaper."

He learned his lesson immediately.

He didn't dare to be arrogant in the slightest anymore.

He stated the purpose of his visit with great respect and trepidation.

He claimed to be acting under the orders of the Third Tsuchikage, hoping to form a secret alliance with the Flame Hidden Village to deal with Konoha together!

Hearing this, Natsume didn't say a word.

He kicked the man out, leaving him with no shred of dignity.

Watching the back of the Iwagakure envoy as he slunk away.

The few guards beside Natsume were slightly puzzled.

"Young Clan Leader, why not join forces with Iwagakure?" Nichiyo asked proactively.

In his view, their village had only just begun. If they could join forces with one of the Five Great Hidden Villages, Iwagakure, to resist Konoha together, the benefits should outweigh the risks!

Natsume glanced at Nichiyo, feeling satisfied.

Asking when you don't understand is a good habit!

It is far better than those fools who understand nothing yet still insist on blindly forging ahead.

"Join forces?"

"Don't make me laugh."

"Would you sincerely join forces with a small, unknown, and shallow hidden village?"

"Iwagakure is, at best, just trying to use us to weaken Konoha."

"There is no benefit, only the risk of being schemed against, and it is a secret alliance at that."

"To put it bluntly, such an alliance is useless."

"The village has just started and is admittedly weak. But my minimum requirement is at least a public alliance!"

"Not this kind of dispensable, hierarchical attachment!"

"An unequal alliance can only lead to being exploited, not mutual assistance..."

Natsume explained calmly.

Having seen enough of the world's history of struggle, which was like a quagmire in his past life, he had a deep understanding of these political games.

Naturally, he would not be deceived by the "hypocritical" overtures of Iwagakure.

What wolf would ever be willing to be friends with a sheep?

Unless he only wanted to use this sheep to lure in more sheep...

Or perhaps, if this wolf were named Grey Wolf...

Of course, in reality, who is the wolf? And who is the lamb waiting to be slaughtered?

That is hard to say!

After all, he had just recently fleeced a large amount of wool from Iwagakure himself.

After listening to Natsume's explanation.

Nichiyo, Gin, and the others were deep in thought.

Although the logic was simple.

Being caught in the situation, it was not easy to see through it.

After all, for a weak village, it is truly difficult not to be tempted when one of the Five Great Hidden Villages extends an olive branch.

Otherwise, in Natsume's past life.

There wouldn't have been so many small countries that were sold out by the Beautiful Country while still counting the money for them...

What's more.

Furthermore, thanks to the long-term infiltration of Nonō and Kabuto in Iwagakure.

The entire Iwagakure stood before him like a completely exposed dancer, with no secrets to speak of.

At this stage.

Unless Iwagakure was truly willing to lower its posture and show sincerity in forming an alliance.

Otherwise, it was impossible for Natsume to agree.

"Alright, the guest has been received."

"How he reports back is his own business. You lot don't need to worry about it."

"Also, Nichiyo, Gin, get ready."

"We depart early tomorrow morning. Target: Land of Waves!"

After shooing away the Iwagakure envoy, Natsume began planning the real business at hand.

He issued orders to Nichiyo and the other.

Upon hearing that they could go out for some action, Uchiha Gin was overjoyed and couldn't help but leap for joy:

"Great!"

"But, is it just the three of us?"

Natsume: "Take Tsukihime and Uncle Ryu along as well... Nichiyo, go notify them."

"Understood!"

"Huh? Sister Tsukihime is coming too? It's over, it's all over..."

"I'm in for it now."

Gin couldn't help but feel distressed.

After all, given Sister Tsukihime's cold and stern personality.

He feared there would be no chance to cut loose on this journey.