Industry Transfers and Affairs of the Land of Demons

Konoha of the Land of Fire, the strongest shinobi village in the shinobi world and victor of two consecutive Shinobi World Wars, was known to everyone throughout the shinobi world.

Although Konoha's strength had been somewhat diminished by the Second Shinobi World War, it still held an almost absolute deterrent power over the other villages!

At this moment, seated in the Hokage's office within Konoha's Hokage Building was the current Hokage of Konoha: a short man beginning to show his age, the highly respected Third Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As he quietly listened to a shinobi's mission report below, an Anbu agent led Uchiha Makoto up the stairs of the Hokage Building, through a long, narrow corridor, and to the door of the Hokage's office.

"Ha ha ha! Has Makoto arrived?"

Before the two could enter the office, they heard a deep voice from within.

"Lord Hokage! Uchiha Makoto has arrived."

"Greetings, Lord Third Hokage!"

"Good, good, good! As expected of the Uchiha Clan. You can tell at a glance that you're extraordinary!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily and gestured for him to sit.

Uchiha Makoto took the opportunity to quickly glance over the people in the room: Shimura Danzō, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.

Quite the lineup!

Uchiha Makoto smiled and greeted each of them with a bow.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado smiled in response. Shimura Danzō held a document, looking calm and aloof as though he had heard nothing.

However, since Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing, naturally no one else spoke either.

They're all veteran actors!

Feeling their attempt to put him in his place, Uchiha Makoto cursed inwardly.

Fortunately, he could act too!

After the pleasantries, they quickly got to the point.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Makoto, I heard that the Uchiha Clan's business ventures haven't been doing too well lately?"

Uchiha Makoto leaned forward slightly and answered respectfully, "Yes, Lord Hokage. The Uchiha Clan's external businesses have repeatedly suffered setbacks recently due to harassment from an unknown force."

Shimura Danzō and the two senior Konoha advisors exchanged glances and simultaneously straightened in their seats.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and said softly, "Makoto, this is related to why I called you here. The Second Shinobi World War only ended a few years ago, and Konoha urgently needs a great deal of funding to restore and strengthen its power. If we could post more missions within Konoha, our recovery would certainly be faster. What do you think?"

"Of course, Konoha will remember the Uchiha Clan's contribution for Konoha's future!"

After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uchiha Makoto expectantly. His meaning could not have been clearer.

Yet Uchiha Makoto revealed a troubled expression.

Shimura Danzō snorted coldly!

"Humph! As part of Konoha, is the Uchiha Clan unwilling to do even this small thing for Konoha? Is this what the so-called Uchiha Clan is like? How truly disappointing!"

"Danzō! How could the Uchiha Clan possibly be that kind of people? Don't assume everyone is like you!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi rebuked him sternly, and Shimura Danzō said no more.

Uchiha Makoto's expression grew even uglier.

Uchiha Makoto could not help feeling speechless at Konoha's higher-ups. What a pack of petty schemers.

Just ended?

The war had ended years ago!

"Makoto, if you have any concerns or difficulties regarding this matter, feel free to say so!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.

The conversational lead had now been handed to Uchiha Makoto.

Everyone in the room focused their attention on him.

Uchiha Makoto first let out a soft sigh, his face filled with sorrow. "Lord Hokage, you may not know this, but the Uchiha Clan's businesses cover too many areas. Given the current circumstances, we were already planning to sell off these industries outright!"

"What?!"

Shimura Danzō cried out in alarm!

The Uchiha Clan's holdings accounted for nearly half of all industries, and they were actually putting them directly up for sale!

This truly gave everyone a fright!

Konoha's higher-ups suddenly felt as if they had stepped into thin air, only for a pie to fall from the sky!

They had specifically convened a meeting just to secure the small benefits from those missions.

For a moment, they looked at one another, unsure what to say.

After taking a moment to recover, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally said, "Those businesses account for nearly half of all industries! Are you truly going to sell them publicly?"

"Of course! If any of you elders are interested in purchasing them, you may speak with Uchiha Xuan. He is responsible for this matter and can authorize sales to you."

The situation instantly reversed. Uchiha Makoto looked at everyone with utter sincerity.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also gave an awkward smile. "That would be good. Yes, that would be good!"

"Our clan's businesses are still highly sought after throughout the shinobi world. It's simply that our clan has limited manpower!"

"Furthermore, the entire shinobi world is currently rebuilding from ruin. As long as there are sellers, there will be buyers. The profits contained within the trade routes we are selling this time are even more immeasurable!"

Uchiha Makoto's words made all of Konoha's higher-ups' eyes light up at once!

If they truly could purchase some of them as he had just described, Konoha's financial revenue would undoubtedly increase greatly!

After all, a shinobi village's main sources of income were the daimyō's allocations and accepting all kinds of missions to earn mission commissions.

The daimyō's allocations had always only been enough to pay shinobi their basic wages.

As for accepting missions, the village could only take a proportion of a shinobi's commission according to the mission rank. It could not take too much!

But the Uchiha Clan was different. The profits from half of those industries could already support nearly half of Konoha!

"Perhaps we can discuss in detail the matter of selling or leasing them to Konoha. What does Lord Hokage think?"

Uchiha Makoto spoke with a smile. They could not possibly refuse something that was practically handing them money!

They had only just truly entered an era of peace, and this was the prevailing belief throughout the entire shinobi world. There were no signs of war whatsoever.

Even if someone claimed that war would break out again more than a decade later, people would laugh at them as a war-crazed lunatic indulging in wild fantasies.

Seeing that everyone was still lost in thought, Uchiha Makoto looked toward Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

"This matter exceeds what the Uchiha Clan can handle alone. I will have to trouble you two to take part and give it your attention regarding the sale."

Uchiha Makoto then bowed slightly.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance before nodding in agreement.

"First, I must thank you. Without your contribution, Konoha would recover its strength faster and successfully preserve peace! I should be the one apologizing. Even now, I have not found any other solution and can only wrong the Uchiha Clan."

"You are too kind, Lord Hokage. As part of Konoha, it is only right for the Uchiha Clan to make some small contributions."

Uchiha Makoto repeatedly waved his hands in modest refusal, and for a time, the atmosphere between them could not have been better.

Looking at these "simple-hearted" people, Uchiha Makoto sighed inwardly again and again—they were all prime leeks!

"Enough, Hiruzen! It's time to discuss the real matter."

Shimura Danzō scolded from the side with a dark expression, feeling sick as he watched the two harmonizing so well.

"Ahem. Makoto, there is actually one more reason we called you here!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi became serious, his expression solemn.

"Something has happened in the Land of Demons!"