A Refined Scoundrel and a Banana Baboon

Minato closed his eyes, his fingertips tracing from the trading companies and banks on the map all the way to the mining zones. He ran through the calculations three times in a row.

Shell Trading Company would handle all the visible procedures, and the contracts and mortgage certificates could corroborate one another.

Even if the Kazekage and Tsuchikage grew suspicious, the first things they investigated would only be their own countries' trading companies and banks.

By the time they followed the layers of transfers back to Konoha, the mining rights would have long since been divided up.

They could certainly cut their losses by forcibly reclaiming the mining rights, but the price would be the complete collapse of commercial credit in both countries.

Minato opened his eyes and lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingertips.

The excitement in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

Orochimaru looked at Ye, ran his tongue across the corner of his mouth, and let out a low chuckle.

"That little Uchiha brat is truly a monster. Of all people to provoke, he had to provoke capitalists."

[Ding! Battle Strategic Shock Points from Minato Namikaze, +35000!]

[Ding! Extreme Frenzy Points from Orochimaru, +28000!]

[Ding! Deep Awe Points from Uchiha Fugaku, +40000!]

Fugaku exhaled the stifling breath in his chest and pressed down on the map that had nearly been drawn to ruin.

He turned to Minato.

"Minato, once this plan succeeds, Konoha obtaining ore will only be the beginning. What we will truly gain is control over the economic lifeline of the entire Wind-Earth Border."

Fugaku paused for a moment.

"Please make the decision, Hokage. I propose that we immediately initiate this Zetsu-level top-secret plan."

Minato nodded. His voice remained gentle, but there was not the slightest hesitation when he stamped the document.