To Get Rich, Build Roads First! Lord Madara Teaches You Business and Great Wealth!

The Mizukage Building, a conference hall originally intended for discussing assassinations and invasions, was now permeated by a strange, oppressive atmosphere.

There were no maps or kunai on the table; in their place were thick stacks of paper that gave off the scent of fresh ink.

These were the "Kirigakure Village Industrial Revitalization and 5-Year Development Plan" that Lin Feng had printed overnight using the system-provided printer. Currently, Kirigakure's annual income in the 48th year of Konoha was 120 million, with a deficit of 500 million (an estimate, as Kishimoto never wrote it down).

The leaders of the violent gangs renowned throughout the ninja world—the Hozuki Clan, the Yuki Clan, the Kaguya Clan—were staring at the charts before them, their minds completely blank.

"The projected total income over five years... an increase of nearly twenty times?"

"From the 48th year of Konoha to the 53rd, Kirigakure's fiscal revenue will expand from 120 million to 2.5 billion."

Elder Hozuki rubbed his eyes, suspecting he had fallen victim to some high-level genjutsu. He pointed at the line of data, his voice trembling, "Lord Madara, are there a few extra zeros written on this plan?"

Lin Feng leaned back in the main seat, his black hair cascading over his armor, his Rinnegan shimmering in the dim room.

"In your eyes, those numbers are fantasies. But in my eyes, they are the value you have wasted over the past few decades."

"How many years have you lived in Kirigakure? Do you really have no ideas of your own regarding economic development?"

He tapped his finger against the table, the sound echoing through the silent hall.

"Kirigakure sits on ocean resources and possesses the strongest water-manipulation abilities in the ninja world, yet you send your clans' geniuses to the battlefield as cannon fodder just for a pittance of mission rewards and funding from the Daimyo. Even a dog would shake its head at this business model."

"You are holding a golden bowl while begging for food!"

Yahiko, standing to the side, felt his eye twitch. It was difficult to associate such vulgar yet precise mockery with the legendary "Asura of the Ninja World."

Kisame hoisted Samehada onto his shoulder, grinning hideously at the group. "Lord Madara is giving you a chance, and this is the only one. If you don't cherish it, you should know the fate of the former Mizukage!"

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Lin Feng stood up and, with a casual wave, plastered a massive chart onto the wall behind him.

"Look at the Kekkei Genkai you are so proud of."

He pointed to the representative of the Yuki Clan. "Ice Release. In your hands, it is a weapon for killing. But in my plan, it is liquid gold."

"Three cold-chain ships, permanently staffed by Yuki Clan Jonin and elite Anbu Jonin squads. When the nobles of the Five Great Nations want fresh seafood or chilled fruit juice in the summer, you will be the sole suppliers, transporting goods to every corner via cold-chain trucks. This monopoly alone will bring your clan over 1.5 billion ryo in net profit annually. Isn't that faster than killing?"

The head of the Yuki Clan breathed rapidly. He had always felt his clansmen were viewed as monsters, but he had never imagined their "monstrous abilities" could be exchanged for cold, hard cash.

"And you, the Kaguya Clan."

Lin Feng looked at the group of battle-crazed maniacs who only thought about hacking people. "Your bones are harder than refined steel. Using them to drill through rock and mine mountains is a hundred times more efficient than ordinary tools. Those blockheads in Iwagakure are currently struggling to dig through hard mineral layers; your bone blades are the industrial masterpieces they desperately need."

The head of the Kaguya Clan touched his forehead and asked gruffly, "Lord Madara, will we... still fight wars in the future?"

"War is for seizing resources." Lin Feng gave a cold glance. "When you control the source of resources, let alone fighting wars—whoever you want to cut off from supplies will have to surrender."

This logic was simple and brutal, yet it struck precisely at the weak points of these ninjas.

In the ninja world, power equaled status, but Lin Feng was now telling them that power could equal infinite wealth, and wealth could buy even higher status.

"I am also changing the system of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

Lin Feng pointed to the remaining swords on the table. "From today on, there are no so-called Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. There are only seven industrial governors."

"Each sword represents a pillar industry. Take Samehada, for example; it can store and convert chakra, so I want it to be the symbol of the 'Energy Storage Equipment Department.' Kisame, you are not just the Mizukage, but the largest manufacturer of energy-storage armor in the entire ninja world."

Kisame bared his teeth, his shark-like fangs glinting in the light. "Governor... that sounds much better than a cleaner."

At this moment, an elite Jonin of the Yuki Clan hesitantly raised his hand. "Lord Madara, if... if Konoha and Kumogakure see us becoming this wealthy and decide to attack us, what then?"

"Good question."

The corners of Lin Feng's mouth curled upward, revealing a terrifying arrogance.

"That is why I am preparing to issue 'Tailed Beast Bonds.' I will use the Three-Tails as credit collateral to issue high-yield bonds to the merchant guilds and Daimyo of the Five Great Nations. When the powerful and wealthy of those nations have deposited their money into Kirigakure, and when their livelihoods are tied to our financial statements..."

Lin Feng clenched his fist tightly, producing a dull thud.

"Whoever dares to touch Kirigakure is cutting meat out of the pockets of those powerful figures. When that time comes, we won't even need to act; the Daimyo of the Land of Fire will be the first to crush any Konoha ninja who tries to incite a war."

"As long as the Daimyo stands on our side, no ninja village will dare to easily stir up conflict. As for those who covet our profits, they are simply our new gold mines!"

The room fell into a long silence.

This combination of moves, known as "financial binding," completely exceeded the cognitive limits of these ninjas.

Kakuzu stood to the side, his eyes glazed over, the polished abacus in his hand dropping to the floor.

"Tailed Beasts... can be used like this?" he muttered to himself, his five hearts pounding violently in his chest. "This is the true way to make money! This is the ultimate secret of the ninja world!"

Nagato stared at Lin Feng's back, a flicker of confusion appearing in his cold Rinnegan for the first time.

Is this the vision of "Asura"?

While he was still struggling with using pain to bring peace to the world, his "teacher" had already prepared to use money and productivity to bind the entire ninja world into a single rope, then hold it firmly in his palm.

This kind of conquest was more thorough and stable than force.

"Very well."

Lin Feng turned around and sat back down.

"Three years to take shape, five years to gain momentum. Five years from now, Kirigakure's fiscal revenue will exceed Konoha's by five times. By then, when you walk across the lands of the ninja world, you will no longer need to wear masks, nor will you need to hide in the mist."

He stared into the eyes of every person present.

"You are the wealthiest ninjas in the entire shinobi world, the most prominent financial magnates. Tell me, do you want to remain such monsters, or do you want to go back to the sea and scavenge for dried minnows?"

"We want to get rich!" The patriarch of the Kaguya Clan was the first to let out a roar.

"We are willing to die for Lord Madara! We are willing to pave the way for the Mizukage!" A deafening, overwhelming chorus of shouts echoed through the hall and reached the heavens.

Lin Feng waved his hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw and get to work.

Once only the members of the Akatsuki remained in the conference room, Black Zetsu emerged silently from the shadow behind Lin Feng.

"Lord Madara, the plan is proceeding very smoothly, but there is one thing you need to pay attention to."

There was a hint of cold excitement in Black Zetsu's voice. "That brat Obito has been active around Konoha. He seems very confused by your grand maneuvers in Kirigakure, and perhaps even a little... angry."

Lin Feng sneered, his fingers tapping against the marble armrest.

"Angry? That is because his narrow mind is occupied only with creating a 'world with Rin.' How could such a love-struck fool possibly understand the charm of industrial upgrading?"

All he knows is Rin, Rin, Rin. Love-struck fools all deserve to die, he thought.

He stood up and looked out the window at the harbor shrouded in mist.

"Let him make a scene. The more chaotic he makes things, the more turmoil there will be in Konoha. When he realizes that the 'Nine-Tails Incident' he worked so hard to orchestrate isn't going the way he wants, he'll see that it is in our fundamental interest to let Namikaze Minato become Hokage peacefully and have Fugaku Uchiha serve as his advisor!"