Danzo Refuses to Let It Go

After listening to the ANBU ninja's report.

Danzo Shimura's dead-fish eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he forced out a sentence through clenched teeth:

"How could the Uchiha Clan go to... other... ninja villages to expand their market?!!!"

Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Orochimaru all trembled inwardly, their faces full of astonishment.

The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and fell into thought:

"The Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Rock Village, Hidden Sand Village, and Hidden Mist Village—the four major ninja villages—all have Uchiha Snack Shops now."

"Hah... that truly is unexpected!"

Clearly, the Uchiha Clan's expansion of their snack shops into other villages.

Had completely exceeded Konoha's upper ranks' expectations.

The Third Hokage narrowed his cold eyes and asked:

"Did the Uchiha Clan encounter any obstruction while selling baijiu and Pissing Beef Balls in the other ninja villages?"

The ANBU ninja knelt on one knee:

"According to intelligence relayed by the spies we placed in the other ninja villages."

"The Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Rock Village, Hidden Sand Village, and Hidden Mist Village—the four major ninja villages—all welcomed the Uchiha Snack Shop."

"No signs of obstruction have been found."

As those words fell.

The atmosphere in the Third Hokage's office immediately quieted.

Danzo Shimura stood rooted to the spot with his brows tightly furrowed, his expression grave.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado wore tense expressions and said nothing.

A trace of surprise appeared on Orochimaru's sinister face.

Konoha's upper ranks had never expected this.

Just as they were diligently fabricating excuses in an attempt to obstruct the Uchiha Snack Shop.

The other four major ninja villages had actually adopted a tolerant and welcoming attitude toward the Uchiha Snack Shop.

After a moment of silence.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was the first to break the oppressive atmosphere:

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

"Since the other four major ninja villages all support the Uchiha Clan selling baijiu and Pissing Beef Balls."

"Our Konoha Village has no reason whatsoever to stop the Uchiha Clan from making money."

"Besides, the Uchiha Clan are also residents of Konoha Village."

Veins bulged on Danzo Shimura's face as his teeth ground together:

"But!"

"Hiruzen...!"

Before Danzo could finish, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, cut him off directly:

"Danzo! Enough!"

"This matter ends here!"

"From now on, no one may obstruct the normal operations of the Uchiha Snack Shop without cause!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was resolute and left no room for doubt.

The words Danzo Shimura had yet to speak were forcibly choked back down his throat.

At that moment, Danzo Shimura's fists clenched with a crackling sound as he silently steeled himself: "Damn it!"

"If I hadn't lost my nerve back then and missed my chance before Lord Second Hokage Tobirama."

"Then I—Danzo Shimura—would be the one sitting at the Hokage's desk now!"

"If I were Hokage, I would certainly do a better job than you, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

With his dream of becoming Hokage shattered, Danzo had spent years living in regret and remorse, unable to let it go.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, his tone stern:

"The Uchiha Clan making money by selling baijiu and Pissing Beef Balls is normal business activity."

"We have no legitimate reason to restrict them."

"There is no need to mention this matter again in the future!"

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado lowered their faces, powerless to refute him.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had always maintained a lofty image within the village as someone "gentle and tolerant, protecting Konoha with love."

Now, the other four major ninja villages all welcomed the Uchiha Clan's "baijiu and Pissing Beef Balls."

If only Konoha Village imposed restrictions, or even banned them.

Where would that leave the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's kind, great, and noble image?

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi make the final decision!

And order Konoha's upper ranks to stop interfering with the Uchiha Clan's business activities.

Danzo Shimura's face darkened. He was so furious that he nearly exploded, almost going berserk!!!

However, Danzo Shimura was, after all, an old hand.

After quickly calming himself, his face became completely expressionless.

Yet at this moment!

A thousand waves churned within Danzo Shimura's heart as he closed his eyes and gave a soft snort: "The Uchiha Clan has gained a great deal of money, popularity, prestige, and even status."

"This old man will not let this go!!!"

The expansion into the markets of the other four major ninja villages.

Progressed rather smoothly, as it encountered no obstruction from the upper ranks of those villages.

In just over ten days.

The Uchiha Snack Shop had already swept through the Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Rock Village, Hidden Sand Village, and Hidden Mist Village.

It had won the favor of countless residents in all four major ninja villages.

Baijiu and Pissing Beef Balls gained enormous popularity throughout the ninja world.

As the Uchiha Snack Shop became famous across the ninja world's five great nations—the Land of Fire, Land of Lightning, Land of Earth, Land of Wind, and Land of Water.

The Uchiha clansmen also earned the recognition of villagers across the ninja world through their excellent sales service.

The Uchiha Clan's reputation throughout the entire ninja world gradually rose without anyone noticing...

One month later.

The Uchiha Clan, Nanga Shrine.

On this day, every member of the Uchiha Clan gathered here for a meeting.

Since expanding into the markets of the four major ninja villages.

This was the first meeting attended by the entire clan.

Below the stage, the gathered Uchiha clansmen buzzed with excitement:

"Thinking back to just over a month ago, our Uchiha Clan was still worrying about money."

"Back then, our Uchiha clansmen were living quite frugally!"

"I still remember how the Great Elder was so worried about the lack of money that he was nearly losing his hair!"

"Hehe! Who would've thought that today, we would have completely escaped the plight of poverty!"

"Our clansmen no longer have to split every coin in two before spending it."

"Hey! If you ask me, it isn't as simple as just making lots of money!"

"Our Uchiha Clan's baijiu and Pissing Beef Balls have won the favor of countless villagers across the five major ninja villages!"

"Also! Our Uchiha Clan's popularity and prestige in Konoha, and even across the five major ninja villages, have improved by quite a lot!"

"Who would've thought that in just a month, our Uchiha Clan would undergo such earthshaking changes."

"All of this was brought to us by the Clan Head."

"Yes! Our Uchiha Clan is fortunate to have such an outstanding Clan Head!"

As the clansmen below the stage chattered noisily.

Uchiha Gōka entered the hall with Tsunade, the Great Elder, Setsuna, Yashiro, and the others.

When everyone saw Clan Head Karmic Fire enter.

Whoosh!

The entire hall immediately fell silent.

Every clansman's gaze turned toward Clan Head Karmic Fire as one.

Under everyone's watchful eyes.

Uchiha Gōka led Tsunade and the others onto the stage.

Having escaped their financial difficulties and accumulated a great deal of wealth.

The Great Elder, Setsuna, Yashiro, and the others standing on the stage all wore smiles.

The elderly Great Elder looked radiant as he stepped forward and declared loudly:

"This meeting has two main topics."

"First, to summarize the results from the previous period."

"Second, to arrange the tasks for the next stage."

"Now, I will first announce what our Uchiha Clan has achieved in just one short month!"