Mizukage Building, three-story conference hall.
The long table was replaced. The old table was made of heavy wood, and there were Six Paths scratches on the corners of the table, which were polished by six elders who had been sitting there for more than ten years. Senju Chen had people carry it and burn it on the fire.
The new table is made of stone, and thirty-seven people sit around it.
"After reading the list, if you have any objections, please speak now." Senju Chen pushed the scroll to Hozuki Anyue.
Anyue took off his mask and read, "Special Assassination Squad changed its name to Security Squad, and the captain Hozuki Anyue remains in office."
"Kirigakure's external finance department is placed in charge of Yukimura Shigure."
Someone moved at the other end of the table.
An old Jonin said, "Yukimura Shigure was a rebel back then."
"Yukimura Shigure's identity as a traitor was signed by Yagura." Senju Chen pushed a piece of paper over, "I tore that one up yesterday."
Old Jonin stopped talking.
"High Tower was changed to the Youth Ninja Academy." Anyue continued to read, "High Tower The previous teaching method was abolished and a new teaching method was adopted. The principal was replaced by Mei Terumi, and the director of academic affairs Chōjūrō."
Chōjūrō looked confused. "Ah?... I? teach?"
"Yes, Master Mizukage." Mei Terumi accepted it very neatly.
"Ninja Tool Department." Senju Chen's voice paused, "The director is vacant, and Dosu Zan, hired from outside, will temporarily take over as the leader of Scientific Ninja Tool."
The hall is quiet. Kirigakure There is no such thing as "external employment".
Senju Chen raised his hand and the door opened. A young man carrying two black pipes walked in. He was the ninja tool tester from the experimental base.
"Chakra Cannon, Third prototype." The young man patted the cannon body, "The twenty-meter hole on the main street was made by Second. Third can hit forty meters, but it will explode the barrel, and it is still being modified."
One Jonin's face changed. "This kind of thing... is not Ninjutsu."
"Yes." Senju Chen said, "So Chunin can be used, Genin can be used, and even a ninja with a broken hand can use it while sitting down."
He looked around.
"Everyone, Kirigakure now has seven thousand ninjas left, compared with thirteen thousand five years ago. The half that were killed due to previous policies over the years will not grow back on their own."
"We are short of people. So we need something that can fight even if we are short of people."
No one said anything anymore.
"Fourth, from group Seven Ninja Blade Group, the leader is Zabuza Momochi. Seven Ninja Swordsmen is the inheritance of our Kirigakure after all. This inheritance cannot be lost."
Hearing this, everyone below all unanimously looked at Senju Chen in silence.
"Sir Mizukage" said this as if they did not want to reorganize Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist before. Was it because they could not find these seven knives over the years?
As for where these Ninja Blade went...
"..."
"Ahem, the last thing." Senju Chen looked at the eyes of the people below, coughed dryly, then stood up and continued.
"The last thing is foreign trade."
"From today onwards, the thirty-seven ports of the port will be unified under the agency of 'Food Is Heaven' Chamber of Commerce for customs declaration, settlement and transportation."
"Food Is Heaven... that restaurant?"
"That restaurant has more than 300 branches in Five Great Nations, and has its own fleet, escort team and bank." Senju Chen said in a calm tone, "Our fish, salt, and ninja ore can be increased by 40% through its channels."
"But... but it's a foreign chamber of commerce."
"It's okay, I know their boss well."
Senju Chen left after saying that. No one dared to ask how "mature" Mizukage meant by "mature".
Three days later, Capital of Water.
Kiryu Xiu's house was burning charcoal, and the old man was wrapped in a blanket and holding a cup of ginseng soup in his hand.
"New Mizukage sent someone?"
The butler nodded. "He is said to be the trade envoy, and he has been sitting in the front hall for half an hour."
Kiryu Xiu took a slow sip of soup.
"Kirisame Ryo." He chewed on the name, "Kirigakure was very poor, and now he is so busy that he needs money even more. And half of Land of Water's money is in my hands."
"Then what the master means is..."
"Let him wait." Kiryu Xiu put down the soup bowl, "When a new official takes office, he must learn the rules first. After he sends me three posts, I will see him again and talk about the commission for future ports."
He smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes crinkling.
"Those ninjas are good at fighting, but as for doing business... they don't understand it at all."
The housekeeper hesitated for a moment. "But sir, the Finance Minister sent word this morning that the accounts of six shipping companies under his name were investigated by the Daming Mansion."
Kiryu Xiu's hand stopped in mid-air.
"Who checked."
"It is said that... the daimyo personally gave the order. The reason is the difference in the batch of military rations three years ago."
"Three years ago?" Kiryu Xiu slowly sat up straight, "The finance minister and I settled the account for that batch of grain together."
"The Minister of Finance was also invited to the Daming Mansion this morning."
A piece of charcoal cracked in the charcoal basin, and sparks jumped out.
The old man was silent for a long time.
"... No." He murmured, "That idiot Daimyo, he must not have noticed this. Someone said something in his ear that he shouldn't have said."
"Sir, the special envoy in the front hall is still waiting."
"Let's go." Kiryu Xiu lifted the blanket, "Go and meet."
The person sitting in the front hall was wearing black armor from Kirigakure. He took off his mask and had no expression on his face.
"Lord Kiryu." The man stood up and said, "I am Kirigakure, Trade and Commerce Department, Yukimura Shigure."
Kiryu Xiu glanced at him and smiled kindly, "Xue Village...Land of Water There was a Yuki Clan back then."
"That's me." Yukimura Shigure said, "The seventh signature on the joint petition that you were on back then, advocating 'quickly deal with the descendant family to stabilize business lines', is yours."
The air in the hall froze.
Kiryu Xiu's smile did not move, "Young people, it's not surprising that businessmen want stability."
"I know." Yukimura Shigure took out a scroll from his arms and placed it on the table, "So Master Mizukage said that old things don't count."
"He has something new to reckon with."
"What's new?"
"Land of Water Thirty-seven ports, from next month, tariffs, customs declarations, and audits will all be merged into the 'Food Is Heaven' chamber of commerce agency." Yukimura Shigure spoke slowly, "You have eleven ports under your name."
Kiryu Xiu closed his fingers on the armrest.
"Food Is Heaven." He repeated, "That restaurant?"
"Yes."
"I remember, I seem to still hold 30% of its shares." Kiryu Xiu suddenly laughed, "So, I can be considered a shareholder. So what you, Mr. Mizukage, want to talk about, should you talk to me more politely?"
Yukimura Shigure looked at him and took out something else from his arms.
A deed. Ink written five years ago.
"Thirty percent." Yukimura Shigure spread out the deed and pointed at the small line of characters below, "But what is written on the deed is-'Capital of Water East Street Main Store'."
"Excluding branches, excluding chambers of commerce, excluding fleets, and excluding banks."
Kiryu Xiu's eyes slowly opened wide.
"This... this..."
"You were so anxious to get that 30% back then." Yukimura Shigure put the deed away, "You said something that day, Master Mizukage asked me to bring it back to you."
Kiryu Xiu looks up.
"He said - 'If you don't take advantage of the situation, how can it be called business?'"
The old man sat on the chair for a long time without moving.
The fire in the charcoal basin went down.
"... Master Mizukage." He finally spoke, his voice a little dry, "Has he seen me?"
"I've seen it."
"When."
Yukimura Shigure didn't answer, just stood up.
"Three days later, the Daming Mansion will discuss matters. The seat of the Minister of Finance will be vacant, and the Daming will announce a new candidate." He walked to the door and turned around, "Mizukage sir asked me to remind you: you'd better be there that day."
"What will happen if you don't show up?"
"The person sitting in that seat will never need to talk to you again."
The door is closed.
Kiryu Xiu sat in front of the cold charcoal basin and slowly picked up the unfinished cup of ginseng soup.
As a result, my hand shook and the soup spilled on the blanket.