A Little Surprise from Akatsuki

Inside the cave, Lin Feng lazily waved his hand, and the image in the Water Mirror before him vanished.

There was no need to look at Obito Uchiha's anguished, resentful face anymore.

A tool blinded by love only needed a new goal, a new "hope," to be firmly hitched to his wagon.

Revive Rin?

That was nothing more than a grand promise Lin Feng had casually dangled in front of him.

But to Obito at that moment, it was the only lifeline he could grasp while drowning.

As for when that promise would be fulfilled, that would depend on Obito's performance from here on out.

"Done."

Lin Feng stretched, and his bones crackled.

He picked up the tea on the stone table and took a leisurely sip.

"Now the framework of Akatsuki is in place."

Nagato, Konan, Kakuzu, Scorpion, along with Kisame, whom he had just recruited, and Obito, whose fate he had forcibly turned around.

The team was already beginning to take shape.

"But it's still not enough."

Lin Feng tapped his fingers. The Rinnegan glimmered faintly purple in the dimness.

He needed more talented people with special abilities to fill out his commercial empire, which spanned the entire Ninja World.

The Obito situation was temporarily under control, and his series of moves had left Konoha in disarray. Next, it was time to let the entire Ninja World experience the "goodwill" of Akatsuki.

"Kisame."

He spoke in a quiet voice.

A tall figure appeared soundlessly at the cave entrance. It was none other than the newly appointed Fourth Mizukage, Kisame Hoshigaki.

He knelt on one knee, his manner utterly respectful.

"Lord Madara."

"Has the succession notice been sent out?" Lin Feng asked without turning around.

"As you instructed, we sent it through Kirigakure's most secure channel to Konoha, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure, as well as the neutral Land of Iron." Kisame's voice was steady and strong.

Lin Feng nodded, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He could imagine the looks on the other four Kage's faces when they saw the notice.

A shinobi village belonging to one of the Five Great Nations had openly announced that it was establishing diplomatic relations with a powerful rogue-ninja organization.

That had never happened before in the history of the Ninja World.

It was like dropping a boulder into a still lake, sending enormous waves crashing outward.

"Excellent." Lin Feng set down his teacup and thought for a moment before speaking.

"One more thing."

"Your orders, sir!"

"Promote our 'Tailed Beast Bonds' throughout the Ninja World." Lin Feng's voice carried an unquestionable authority. "I want the nobles and daimyo of the great nations to become 'shareholders' in Kirigakure."

"Let them know that investing in Kirigakure means investing in the future. To make an enemy of Kirigakure is to make an enemy of their own purses."

Kisame's body trembled slightly.

Though he still didn't quite understand these complicated economic concepts, he could sense the confidence in Lord Madara's words—the confidence of someone who controlled everything.

It was a far more terrifying power than simple military conquest.

"Yes!"

"Also, how is the Five-Year Industrial Revitalization Plan for Kirigakure coming along?"

An excited smile appeared on Kisame's shark-like face as he reported, "Since you left, the Yuki Clan has followed your systematic plans and established a nationwide cold-chain transport network. They use Ice Release to make heavy-duty ice containers, then use Sealing Jutsu to keep the goods fresh.

"They've begun shipping fresh seafood to the nobles of the Land of Fire and frozen seafood to the Land of Earth, actively expanding trade routes. By cultivating ties with nobles in different regions, they're gradually establishing a transportation network that covers all five great nations.

"At the same time, they're gradually building large ice warehouses in port cities and charging storage fees. In just over a month, Kirigakure's financial situation has improved considerably. The Yuki Clan has also been proactively exploring other applications for Ice Release.

"For example, they plan to have several Ice Release shinobi work together to rapidly form ice bridges between islands in winter or during emergencies, greatly reducing the cost and time needed to transport goods. They can charge merchant caravans for each use.

"The Kaguya Clan has also found several new rich ore veins at the mines, and they're using tools they made themselves. As for their own bones, based on your detailed analysis, they've begun turning the combat losses associated with Shikotsumyaku into valuable strategic materials. They've established a detailed 'bone recovery' system.

"Shinobi can hand over bones shed during combat or training to the village in exchange for contribution points, with the amount depending on the quality. These bones are extremely dense, making them excellent materials for medical scalpels and special Chakra conductors. They can be sold at a high price to hospitals and research centers in other villages, generating even more income.

"They've also expanded into orthopedics, establishing a specialty hospital in the village staffed by Kaguya shinobi. They can sense bones precisely and perform non-invasive realignments or reconstructions for comminuted fractures and skeletal deformities. Once this 'Kekkei Genkai Bone Setting Technique' earns a reputation, injured people from all over the Ninja World will come seeking treatment, boosting medical tourism.

"The Hozuki Clan's current development focus is deep-sea exploration and water treatment. Hydrification Technique makes them the only group capable of working underwater indefinitely.

"Their main areas of development currently include:

"First, deep-sea mining and salvage: forming 'Hozuki mining teams' to dive into ocean trenches other shinobi can't reach, mine Chakra Metal deposits, or salvage artifacts and treasures from ancient shipwrecks.

"Second, large-scale seawater desalination projects: Hozuki shinobi absorb large quantities of seawater, then filter and purify it with Hydrification Technique, producing clean fresh water. They can sell this service to water-scarce island nations or supply ships on long voyages. This is tantamount to controlling the Land of Water's 'precious resource' and will help with future oceanic expansion.

"As for commercial applications for other Kekkei Genkai, when conditions are right, for example:

"Nether Release: establish 'Chakra charging stations' at ports. After merchant ships dock, shinobi can absorb their reserve Chakra with Nether Release, then charge ships that need to power sealing devices or ninja tools, collecting a service fee.

"Boil Release: use high-pressure steam to develop geothermal power and high-temperature sterilization, or make a major push into hot-spring tourism, turning a battlefield technique into a leisure industry.

"Melt Release/Lava Release: reclaim land from the sea and develop special building materials with high grades and seawater resistance, becoming a rule-maker in the real estate market of islands where land is worth its weight in gold."

"What's even more encouraging," Kisame continued, his voice growing excited, "is that Lord Kakuzu used the village's improved finances to purchase the latest smelting technology and equipment from the Land of Iron. Kirigakure's steel output... has tripled!"

"We're using Earth Release shinobi to expand roads and build houses, and trying to generate electricity with the Lightning Release shinobi we already have. We're continuing to explore ways to use shinobi to develop the economy."

"Hmm, not bad."

Lin Feng nodded, unsurprised.

Using financial methods to bind people's interests, stimulating the economy through infrastructure, and taking advantage of the large number of shinobi with Kekkei Genkai to develop areas that had remained untouched throughout the Ninja World—this market was still wide open, and now was the perfect time to make a major push. Against a shinobi world still mired in a feudal agrarian economy and focused solely on war, this kind of overwhelming advantage was an insoluble stratagem.

Who would turn down money?

As long as Kirigakure kept creating wealth, the nobles of the so-called Five Great Nations would sooner or later come rushing to cooperate of their own accord. The shinobi of the other great nations would have no choice but to keep learning from them. Let me kick off the Ninja World's first industrial revolution!

A carrot in one hand and a stick in the other—why wouldn't I succeed?

Iwagakure, Tsuchikage's Office.

Ōnoki of Both Scales, the Third Tsuchikage, was clutching a freshly received report, his short frame trembling with rage.

"Bastards! This is sheer lunacy!"

He slammed the document onto the table with a loud bang.

"Have those idiots in Kirigakure gone soft in the head from being waterlogged? They're forming an alliance with a bunch of rogue shinobi? What are they trying to do? Drag the entire Ninja World into war?!"

Standing across from him was his son, Kitsuchi.

Kitsuchi picked up the document and read it. His brows furrowed as well.

"Father, I don't think it's that simple. According to the report, the Third Mizukage stepped down due to illness, and this newly appointed Fourth Mizukage, Kisame Hoshigaki, is someone we've never heard of before. This looks more like a... coup."

"A coup?" Ōnoki scoffed. "Even if it was a coup, they wouldn't be stupid enough to throw in their lot with Akatsuki! What kind of people are in that organization? A bunch of desperadoes! Kirigakure is inviting wolves into its home!"

"Perhaps," Kitsuchi mused, "they had no choice. That Akatsuki might be far stronger than we imagine."

Ōnoki's expression darkened.

He thought of the top-secret report about the Nine-Tails Incident that Konoha had sent not long ago.

Uchiha Madara had been revived and possessed the Rinnegan.

At the time, he'd scoffed at the news, believing it was a smokescreen put out by Konoha to cover up its internal conflicts.

But now...

"Could that Akatsuki really have something to do with Uchiha Madara?" Ōnoki murmured to himself.

If that was true, then everything had changed.

The figure who, in his youth, had seemed like a god or demon—and the words he had left him:

"You're too naive, Ōnoki. In this world, only power matters. There's no such thing as an alliance. Submit to Konoha's power."

Kumogakure, Raikage's Office.

"Bam!"

A massive fist smashed the sturdy desk to pieces.

The Fourth Raikage Ay crackled with lightning, his fury making the air in the entire room feel thick.

"Kirigakure is provoking us! They're declaring war on the order of the entire Ninja World!" Ay's roar rumbled like thunder.

"Yo, big bro, calm down." Killer B stood to one side, still acting as carefree as ever. He hummed an off-key rap. "The angrier the enemy gets, the calmer we gotta be, yo!"

"Shut up!" Ay glared at him. "This is no time for your lousy songs!"

"I think this may have something to do with Konoha," secretary Mabui analyzed calmly. "Don't forget, the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident was a rogue ninja from Konoha. Now Kirigakure has allied with a rogue-ninja organization. Could there be a connection between the two?"

"You think Konoha is secretly supporting Akatsuki?" Ay's brow furrowed.

"We can't rule it out." Mabui pushed up her glasses. "Namikaze Minato is far too shrewd. We have to prepare for the worst."

Ay fell silent.

His temper was explosive, but he wasn't a fool.

The Ninja World was about to change.

He took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Mabui, order the Cloud Village's Anbu to heighten their vigilance and increase security for the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. From now on, Killer B stays by my side at all times!"

"Step up our collection and analysis of intelligence on Konoha. Use Konoha's house arrest of the Cloud Village delegation as grounds to exert diplomatic pressure on them!"

"Yes, sir." Mabui accepted the orders and left.