Hyuga Village, Shinichi's room.
The Distributor Conference had ended, and night had fallen.
The representatives from all sides had settled into the accommodations arranged by the village.
Shinichi returned to his room.
A knock came at the door.
A Hyuga jonin entered with the list of distributors.
After entering, he reached back and closed the door.
The Hyuga jonin opened the list in his hands.
"Clan Leader, all the franchise fees from today are recorded here."
The Hyuga jonin looked at the booklet and began reading out the figures.
"There are three first-tier distributors: Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure."
"Five million ryo each, for a total of fifteen million ryo."
"The Uchiha Clan's franchise fee was waived, so they aren't included."
The Hyuga jonin turned a page.
"Ten second-tier distributors."
"Eight million ryo each, for a total of eighty million ryo."
He turned another page.
"Twenty third-tier distributors."
"Ten million ryo each, for a total of two hundred million ryo."
The Hyuga jonin raised his head.
"That brings the total to two hundred and ninety-five million ryo."
The hand holding his booklet trembled slightly.
"Clan Leader, we earned almost three hundred million ryo in a single day."
"Even robbery couldn't make money as fast as we do!"
Shinichi sat in his chair.
"These are just the franchise fees."
"The money they'll pay the Hyuga for stock every month-that's where the bulk of it will come from."
The Hyuga jonin lowered his head and did some calculations.
"Our workshop can produce fifty thousand kunai a month."
"Even if we sell all of them at the first-tier price of fifteen hundred ryo apiece."
"That's still seventy-five million ryo a month."
The Hyuga jonin closed the list in his hands.
"You're right, Clan Leader."
Something else occurred to him.
"Clan Leader, about the five million ryo we waived for the Uchiha..."
Shinichi picked up where he left off.
"The Uchiha will be coming for stock every month from now on."
"We'll make that five million ryo back from their purchases in just a few months."
The Hyuga jonin nodded and asked no more.
The Hyuga ninja outside knocked and entered.
"Clan Leader, the Kaguya Clan Leader requests an audience."
Shinichi gave the Hyuga jonin an instruction.
"Put the list away safely."
The Hyuga jonin tucked the list into his clothes.
He stepped aside and stood at one side of the room.
Shinichi addressed the Hyuga ninja.
"Please show the Kaguya Clan Leader in."
The Kaguya Clan Leader entered the room.
There were two red dots on his forehead.
The Kaguya Clan Leader cupped his hands toward Shinichi.
"Hyuga Clan Leader."
Shinichi invited him to sit.
"Pour the Kaguya Clan Leader a cup of tea."
The Hyuga jonin stepped forward, poured a cup of hot tea, and handed it over.
The Kaguya Clan Leader sat in a chair.
He held the teacup without speaking right away.
Shinichi looked across at him.
"What brings you here so late, Kaguya Clan Leader?"
The Kaguya Clan Leader set his teacup back on the table.
"I watched the entire Distributor Conference today."
"The ninja tools made by the Hyuga are fine goods indeed."
"The Kaguya Clan would also like to become a first-tier distributor for the Hyuga."
At this point, the Kaguya Clan Leader paused.
"To be honest with you, Hyuga Clan Leader."
"We of the Kaguya Clan only know how to fight, not how to do business."
"Our clan isn't well-off. We can't come up with five million ryo all at once."
He shifted forward in his seat.
"The Kaguya and the Hyuga are distant relatives through our ancestors."
"When the Uchiha asked from the audience today, the Hyuga waived their franchise fee on the spot."
"Could you make an exception for the Kaguya's five-million-ryo franchise fee too?"
The Kaguya Clan Leader had spent his whole life fighting and had never begged anyone for anything.
Saying this today left him feeling rather embarrassed.
He sat in his chair and turned his head aside.
Shinichi did not disappoint the Kaguya Clan Leader.
"No problem!"
"The Kaguya and the Hyuga are distant relatives, so of course you're friends of the Hyuga."
"Whatever treatment the Uchiha receive, the Kaguya will receive too."
"The franchise fee is waived. The Kaguya Clan will become a first-tier distributor directly."
Shinichi turned to the Hyuga jonin.
"Add the Kaguya Clan to the list."
"First tier, with the franchise fee waived in full."
The Hyuga jonin took the list out of his clothes.
He wrote the Kaguya Clan onto it in front of their clan leader.
The Kaguya Clan Leader turned his head back.
He had not expected Shinichi to agree so readily.
The Kaguya Clan Leader stood and cupped his hands toward Shinichi.
"The Kaguya will remember this kindness, Hyuga Clan Leader."
"When can the Kaguya receive their stock?"
Shinichi said.
"Just like everyone else, once the first batch is ready, we'll deliver it to the Kaguya in the Land of Water."
Shinichi waved a hand, gesturing for him to sit.
"There's something else I'd like to discuss with you, Kaguya Clan Leader."
The Kaguya Clan Leader straightened in his chair.
"What is it?"
Shinichi looked at the Kaguya Clan Leader across from him.
"The Hyuga would like to invite the Kaguya Clan to join Hyuga Village."
Shinichi continued without pausing.
"Every member of the Kaguya Clan can move to the Land of Rice Fields."
"Once you arrive, Hyuga Village will provide land and houses."
"Members of the Kaguya Clan will receive the same treatment as members of the Hyuga Clan."
"The Kaguya Clan excels at combat."
"Hyuga Village needs shinobi clans that can fight."
The Kaguya Clan Leader did not respond.
He picked up the teacup beside him, then set it back on the table.
Finally, he shook his head at Shinichi.
"The Kaguya Clan has lived in the Land of Water for generations."
"Our people's roots are all in the Land of Water."
"They won't leave."
Shinichi asked a question.
"Is that what your people want, or what you want, Kaguya Clan Leader?"
The Kaguya Clan Leader answered without hesitation.
"It's what our people want, and what I want too."
The Kaguya Clan Leader raised both hands and cupped them toward Shinichi.
"I appreciate your kind intentions, Hyuga Clan Leader."
Shinichi had no intention of leaving it at that.
"If the Kaguya Clan is willing to come, the Hyuga will provide a hundred million ryo for resettlement."
"Moving your people, building houses, and living in the Land of Rice Fields-all of it can be paid for out of that hundred million ryo."
The teacup in the Kaguya Clan Leader's hand wobbled.
Tea spilled onto the back of his hand.
"A hundred million ryo?"
Shinichi nodded.
The Hyuga jonin standing to one side also glanced at Shinichi.
The Kaguya Clan Leader calculated silently.
The entire Kaguya Clan's assets amounted to only twenty million ryo.
A hundred million ryo was a full five times that.
With that money, his people would not have to worry about food or clothing for the next several years.
The Kaguya Clan Leader set his teacup back on the table.
Both his hands clenched on his knees.
He sat in his chair without speaking.
After a while, the Kaguya Clan Leader still shook his head.
"Thank you, Hyuga Clan Leader, but the Kaguya still cannot accept this money."
"Nor can the Kaguya Clan come to Hyuga Village."
Hearing the Kaguya Clan Leader refuse, Shinichi continued questioning him.
"Kaguya Clan Leader, if even a hundred million ryo in resettlement funds cannot sway the Kaguya Clan, can you tell me why?"
The Kaguya Clan Leader raised his head and looked at Shinichi across from him.
"Hyuga Clan Leader, I saw everything at today's conference."
"The Hyuga Clan did not join Konoha."
"You built your own shinobi village in the Land of Rice Fields."
"In just over a year, you developed the village to this extent."
The Kaguya Clan Leader paused.
"Our Kaguya Clan originally planned to seek refuge with Kirigakure."
As he spoke, the Kaguya Clan Leader stood.
"But after seeing the example set by the Hyuga Clan, our Kaguya Clan wants to establish a shinobi village of our own too."
Before you continue