Gato handed over all the property deeds and vault keys, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Kenya took the thick stack of documents, then glanced at the accounts in Gato's vault.
The sheer number of digits made his eyes swim.
"Tsk, tsk. You're absolutely rolling in money."
Kenya grinned and casually tossed the deeds and keys to Zabuza behind him.
"Throw this fat pig out. While you're at it, tell those blind fools outside that I call the shots in the Land of Waves now."
"Yes, boss."
Zabuza picked up the limp Gato like a chick and strode out of the tavern.
Just like that.
In less than half a day, the largest financial power in the Land of Waves changed hands.
The shipping routes and dockside warehouses that had once belonged to Gato were all taken over by the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce.
With this ready-made business operation in hand.
Kenya began his grand money-making plan.
Three days later.
Inside Gato's former luxury villa, now the headquarters of the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce.
Kenya sat on a spacious leather sofa, his legs propped on the coffee table, toying with a gold coin.
Before him stood a refined-looking middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
Kato Yosuke.
Kenya had rescued him from a gang's prison while taking over Gato's holdings.
Yosuke was a descendant of a fallen ninja clan. Because of his exceptional business sense, Gato had forcibly confined him and made him manage his finances.
Now, he had become the chief administrator of the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce.
"Boss, here's the sales plan for our chamber's first flagship product."
Yosuke respectfully handed over a proposal, a merchant's shrewdness gleaming in his eyes.
"I've already sent people to spread the word among the nobles and wealthy merchants of the Five Great Nations."
"Once our product hits the market, it's sure to cause a sensation."
Kenya glanced through the proposal and nodded in satisfaction.
"Good work."
The flagship product Yosuke spoke of.
Was none other than the super timber Kenya had created using Black Iron Wood Release.
In the Shinobi World, what did the daimyo and nobles fear most?
Ninja!
Those elusive assassins who could destroy a house with a single casual Ninjutsu.
As a result, their demand for sturdy fortifications bordered on the obsessive.
And Kenya's Black Iron Wood.
Was not only as hard as steel, but also naturally resistant to Ninjutsu thanks to the properties of Armament Haki incorporated into it.
Fireproof, burglarproof, and Ninjutsu-proof!
It was simply the perfect building material, tailor-made for those nobles who treasured their lives!
"What's the response been like since you spread the word?" Kenya asked.
Yosuke adjusted his glasses, an excited smile appearing on his face.
"The response has been extremely enthusiastic!"
"The Land of Fire's daimyo has already sent someone to contact us in secret, expressing his willingness to buy it at a high price."
"Some major merchants in the Land of Water have also shown a keen interest in this timber that can withstand Water Release and corrosion."
"Even some small ninja villages want to buy it to build fortresses that can withstand release techniques."
Kenya grinned at that.
"Good! Then let's start production!"
"Yosuke, make the arrangements. Clear out the biggest warehouse at the docks and get ready to ship."
"Yes, boss!" Yosuke respectfully withdrew.
Over the next few days.
The backyard of the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce's headquarters became an enormous lumberyard.
Kenya's daily work consisted of sitting beneath a parasol in the backyard.
Drinking chilled juice while eating the snacks Haku had carefully prepared.
"Wood Release: Black Iron Hardwood!"
With his low shout.
Massive lengths of pitch-black super timber burst from the ground like bamboo shoots after rain.
They were stacked neatly in the backyard.
Meanwhile, Zabuza led the recruited workers in hauling the heavy timber to the dockside warehouse, loading it onto ships bound for all corners of the world.
Kenya alone matched the output of a large logging operation!
And with zero cost and zero pollution!
After the first shipment of Black Iron Wood reached the Land of Fire.
The Land of Fire's daimyo personally tested it with advanced Ninjutsu.
Several Explosive Tags were attached and detonated, yet not even a sliver of the Black Iron Wood's surface came off.
The daimyo was utterly amazed and decided on the spot to buy half the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce's output at a hundred times the market price.
When the news broke, the entire Shinobi World was shaken.
Countless nobles and wealthy merchants flocked to the Land of Waves, waving fistfuls of cash.
All just to buy a length of Black Iron Wood that could save their lives.
The Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce's doorstep was nearly worn through by visitors.
Gold coins flowed into the chamber's vault in an endless stream.
Every day, Kenya sat in his office.
He did not have to do anything. Just a little surge of chakra brought him chest after chest of gleaming gold coins.
"Money comes in faster than robbing banks."
Looking at the accounts Yosuke delivered every day, Kenya could not stop grinning.
With this massive financial backing.
He not only purchased large quantities of training resources and top-quality ingredients for the deserted island base.
He even began secretly recruiting wandering ninja to serve as the chamber's guards.
The Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce, this enormous commercial machine, rapidly rose to prominence in the Land of Waves.
It was beginning to show signs of becoming the Shinobi World's foremost financial power.
That afternoon.
Kenya was lying on the sofa, comfortably counting a thick stack of banknotes.
Suddenly.
The office door was pushed open.
Kato Yosuke hurried in, his expression grave.
He clutched a piece of top-secret intelligence he had just received, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Boss, something's happened."
Yosuke approached Kenya and spoke in a lowered voice.
Kenya did not even look up, still focused on counting his money.
"What is it? Does another daimyo want to buy up all our timber?"
"No, boss."
Yosuke took a deep breath, a trace of worry in his voice.
"Our covert contact in the Land of Fire has sent word."
"Konoha's higher-ups... have set their sights on our timber business."
"Especially Root, which operates in the shadows. They seem to have grown suspicious of where the Black Iron Wood comes from."