Chapter 120: Currency Issuance Rights
"Hokage-sama..."
Hearing Kei's words, Koharu and the others nearby could not help but look anxious.
In their view, the Flying Thunder God Technique was far more valuable than the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Setting aside its seamless integration of offense and defense, the Flying Thunder God Technique's ability to perform long distance teleportation alone already surpassed the vast majority of other jutsu.
In terms of value, it was clearly superior to the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
Of course, that judgment was made without considering the sheer difficulty of learning the Flying Thunder God Technique.
While the Flying Thunder God Technique was indeed powerful, the difficulty of mastering it was far beyond that of ordinary techniques.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique is naturally impossible."
Kei shook his head. "Raikage-dono, do not forget that you are the defeated party."
"However, when it comes to other techniques, Raikage-dono is free to choose."
He raised a hand and opened a scroll.
Dense rows of jutsu names were written across it.
Every one of them was at least A rank.
"This is..."
Looking at the scroll in front of him, the Raikage's breathing quickened involuntarily. "Konoha's Scroll of Seals?"
"Correct."
Kei nodded. "As long as the Raikage agrees, you may choose any two techniques from this scroll as part of the exchange."
"What does Raikage-dono think of that condition?"
The Scroll of Seals contained many of Konoha's most powerful jutsu. In terms of sheer reserves, Konoha's collection of ninjutsu was unmatched in the entire shinobi world. Few could look away from it.
Of course, the list the Raikage was seeing had already been screened in advance.
Dangerous or exceptionally powerful techniques such as the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Reanimation Jutsu had already been removed by Kei's.
Even so, the ninjutsu recorded on this scroll were still more than enough to tempt anyone.
The Third Raikage was no exception.
Among the jutsu on this list were several techniques Kumogakure had long desired.
One of them was even the Iron Armor Sealing Technique, a highly practical sealing jutsu.
Although the Iron Armor Sealing Technique was not as powerful as the Four Symbols Seal or the Eight Trigrams Seal, it was still excellent among sealing arts and more than sufficient for suppressing a Tailed Beast.
The reason Kumogakure had attacked the Land of Whirlpools this time was precisely to seize powerful sealing techniques and perfect their methods of sealing Tailed Beasts.
If they could obtain the Iron Armor Sealing Technique, then one of their core objectives would already be fulfilled.
All things considered, exchanging the Lightning Release Chakra Mode for two powerful ninjutsu still felt somewhat like a loss to the Third Raikage. But considering that Kumogakure was currently the defeated side, the terms were already quite decent.
At the very least, they would still gain something.
Moreover, just like the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, as the pinnacle of Lightning Release taijutsu, was extraordinarily difficult to train.
Even within the Yotsuki Clan, not many people could truly master it.
The Third Raikage believed that even if Konoha obtained the technique, there would absolutely be no one capable of training it to success.
As for reaching his level with it, that was even more impossible.
"Fine."
At last, the Third Raikage nodded. "What other conditions do you have? Say them all at once."
"Do not worry. There is only one last condition."
Kei smiled lightly.
But when he spoke that final condition, all the Kumogakure shinobi present were stunned.
"Have Kumogakure recognize the shinobi currency issued by the Konoha Bank?"
The Third Raikage frowned. "What does that mean?"
"Simply put, I want the Hidden Cloud Village to recognize the shinobi currency issued by the Konoha Bank."
Kei took out a banknote and handed it over to the Raikage.
The note did not have a person printed on it. Instead, it bore symbols representing various places across the shinobi world. The printing was exquisite and far more refined than ordinary currency.
"This is the shinobi currency you issued?"
The Raikage examined the banknote, then nodded. "It does look more sophisticated than the money issued by the daimyo."
At present, the shinobi world's currencies were basically all issued by the daimyo of each nation.
These currencies were denominated in ryō and circulated within their own countries.
However, because each country's circumstances varied, the degree of recognition of those currencies also differed greatly.
In some chaotic regions, several different currencies even circulated at the same time.
Sensing this opportunity long ago, Kei had established the Konoha Bank and begun developing its business.
At first, the Konoha Bank was mainly used to pay Konoha's shinobi and absorb their savings for investment.
But now, it had finally begun extending its reach into currency issuance.
Throughout the Land of Fire, the shinobi currency issued by the Konoha Bank had already become mainstream.
The reason was simple. Konoha, as the supreme authority within the Land of Fire, now only recognized the shinobi currency issued by the Konoha Bank.
As for the ryō and promissory notes issued by various daimyo and local lords, none of them were recognized by Konoha.
Backed by Konoha's authority and credibility, and supported by a reasonable issuance volume, the shinobi currency had very quickly become dominant.
But for Kei, that was still far from enough.
The economic structure of the shinobi world was so chaotic that, in a sense, it was practically asking to be exploited.
If he did not take advantage of this chance to make a massive profit, Kei would almost feel guilty.
This condition was also a test.
As long as the Raikage agreed and formally recognized the shinobi currency issued by the Konoha Bank, then the economy of the Land of Lightning would be left wide open.
Even if it was not designated as the sole official currency and thus could not enjoy the same absolute authority it had in the Land of Fire, that still did not matter.
As long as it could circulate there, Kei had more than enough methods to influence, control, and profit from it.
"These were printed by our own people, so of course they are more refined than the money issued by the daimyo."
Looking at the Raikage, Kei spoke in an earnest tone.
"Actually, this matter would also bring considerable benefits to Kumogakure."
"Oh?"
The Raikage looked puzzled. "How so?"
"Does Raikage-dono not find the daimyo's funding rather inconvenient?"
Yuu said, "Whenever a hidden village needs funding from the daimyo, the daimyo always tries to delay payment by every means possible, paying as late as he can, or sometimes not paying at all."
"When the village is in urgent need of money, things always become especially difficult."
"That is true."
The Raikage nodded, clearly agreeing with Kei's words.
Excluding their hostility on the battlefield, the situations faced by the great hidden villages were actually quite similar.
Other than Konoha, which had already transformed under Kei's reforms, the other hidden villages still relied heavily on the support and funding of their daimyo.
And as everyone knew, the side paying the money was rarely willing. In many cases, a delayed payment could drag on for years.
Kumogakure clearly suffered from the same problem.
"The Konoha Bank can provide interest free loans."
Kei said, "As long as Raikage-dono is willing, whenever Kumogakure faces financial pressure, you can borrow directly from the bank."
.....
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