"As expected of the Daimyo and the Prime Minister. These orders alone already exceed what Gato's trading fleet had at its peak."
Whoosh.
Space-time rippled slightly, and a black-haired boy appeared directly inside the Shipping Office.
When Kame saw Naruto appear, he immediately rose and bowed respectfully. "Prime Minister!"
Seeing that Haku had brought Kame completely into line, Naruto smiled and nodded before sitting in Kame's chair and looking through the contracts and orders.
"Prime Minister, these are the shipping orders from the past month."
Seeing all the orders taken out of the drawer, Kame hurried to explain.
"Very good. By the way, are you having any problems here?" Naruto asked calmly.
"N-no problems..." Kame stammered, afraid to say what was on his mind.
"If there's a problem, just tell me. Since the Land of Waves has accepted you, you're one of us." Naruto was not lying. He understood the principle of not employing those he distrusted, and not distrusting those he employed.
"Yes, sir." Kame did not know whether the Prime Minister meant it or was testing him.
"Shipping orders have surged this month. After the Gato Group joined us, we also kept the grain resale business running, so we're desperately short of merchant ships..."
Naruto nodded at that, thought for a moment, and asked, "How many more ships do you need to handle all the orders?"
Kame swallowed. "With ten more large oceangoing merchant ships, we could handle all the orders. But even with every shipyard working overtime, it'll take at least two months."
"It's that difficult?"
Seeing Naruto frown, Kame broke into a cold sweat and explained, "My suggestion is to temporarily halt construction of coastal fishing boats and have all the craftsmen work in shifts on oceangoing merchant ships."
Naruto shook his head. "It's not time