"Lord Kazekage, Lord Tsuchikage—interested in working together to earn a little pocket money?"
"Pocket money"… at the level of hundreds of billions.
Ōnoki swallowed.
That tone alone—
It was absurd.
He had never imagined wealth could be harvested like this.
A rotating scheme.
Draining people dry.
How many would be ruined?
Wouldn't doing this invite karmic retribution?
He hesitated.
But the Kazekage—
His eyes were shining.
Sunagakure was poor.
Brutally poor.
Even funding had been cut.
Any opportunity to make money—
It was worth grabbing.
Of course—
Best not run this in the Land of Wind.
If you were going to commit sins—
Do it somewhere else.
The Land of Lightning, for example.
Prosperous.
Populated.
Perfect.
"Are you planning to run this in the Land of Lightning… and Kumogakure?" the Kazekage asked.
"Of course," Uchiha Ren replied calmly. "You think we'd run it in our own territories?"
Futures trading could still be framed as "market behavior."
This?
This was outright deception.
It could never touch Konoha's internal economy.
"Then I'm in," the Kazekage said immediately. "As long as it makes money."
Uchiha Ren smiled.
Then I turned to Ōnoki.
Ōnoki was still struggling internally.
Iwagakure and Kumogakure had a secret alliance.
Now—
He was being asked to stab them in the back.
The younger Ōnoki—
Still had some conscience.
The older one?
Wouldn't hesitate for a second.
"Are you sure no one will see through it?" Ōnoki asked.
"Of course some will," Uchiha Ren said. "But people blinded by profit won't listen."
"They'll think warnings are interference."
"Even worse—"
"Some 'smart people' might help promote it… just to get a share."
Ōnoki fell silent.
That… was absolutely plausible.
Greed.
That single word—
Explained everything.
Even with warnings—
People would still jump in.
This was more than just money.
This was strategy.
Konoha was already the strongest village.
Now—
It had overwhelming financial power.
If this continued—
Who could oppose them?
But—
Hundreds of billions…
If Iwagakure took even a fraction—
Their financial crisis would vanish.
He could stabilize his rule.
Fund the next generation.
Secure his position.
"Lord Tsuchikage, what are you hesitating for?" the Kazekage urged.
"You don't want Iwagakure to stay poor forever, do you?"
Not your land.
Not your people.
Why hesitate?
Uchiha Ren almost twitched at that line.
That… was disturbingly natural.
Under pressure from both sides—
Ōnoki finally closed his eyes.
Then nodded.
"…Very well."
I was once a good man.
But the world is harsh.
Kumogakure… forgive me.
"Excellent," Uchiha Ren said smoothly.
"Then let's discuss profit distribution."
"Konoha takes forty percent."
"Any objections?"
It was reasonable.
The plan—
The leadership—
The execution—
All centered on Konoha.
"Agreed."
"Same here."
No objections.
"Then it's settled."
"Prepare personnel."
"Prepare capital."
"And—"
"Good luck to all of us."
"May fortune favor us."
The mood relaxed again.
As if nothing had happened.
Uchiha Ren led them on a tour of the Konoha United Fruit Company.
Then—
Introduced a new product.
Electric tricycle.
A transport tool.
Simple.
Practical.
Irresistible.
Ōnoki personally tested it.
Dual-energy system:
ElectricityChakra
Even—
A chakra input system.
Ninjas could act as living batteries.
Ōnoki was impressed.
Deeply.
Konoha's innovation—
It was on another level.
Uchiha Ren spoke as they walked:
"The era of ninjas killing each other must end."
"The old system—must change."
"Ninjas don't have to be tools."
Then—
He asked a dangerous question.
"Why do we obey the Daimyo?"
"We have the power."
"Technology."
"They only… were born lucky."
"Is that enough to rule over us?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"Hasn't it always been this way?" Ōnoki replied cautiously.
"The Daimyo treats us well."
"They fund us."
"They give missions."
Without them—
How would villages survive?
This was the orthodox view.
Deeply rooted.
Uchiha Ren didn't argue further.
Different positions—
Different realities.
Konoha was already independent.
They weren't.
This debate—
Had no conclusion.
But the seed—
Had been planted.
One day—
Conflict would come.
Especially for Sunagakure.
Funding cuts.
Internal pressure.
Resentment was already there.
Uchiha Ren shifted topics.
Back to business.
Practical matters.
Factories in Iwagakure.
Employment.
Power grids.
Chakra trade.
Even—
Tailed Beast energy.
They were already working in Sunagakure.
And they worked well.
The Kazekage eagerly vouched for it.
Ōnoki listened.
I'm interested.
Very interesting.
Meanwhile—
The Fire Daimyo negotiated with the others.
Trade system.
Lower barriers.
Safer routes.
Economic integration.
After days—
Agreement was reached.
The new system—
Would be promoted across the ninja world.
Back in his office—
Uchiha Ren reviewed everything.
On his desk—
Two stacks of photos.
Left side:
PovertyDespairSuffering
Right side:
ProsperitySmilesHope
Before and after.
Perfect propaganda.
"Promotion is essential…"
He smiled.
"Konoha brings prosperity wherever it goes."
Then—
Another idea appeared.
"…A movie?"
"Konoha Partners."
Based on Odai's story.
Core message:
Follow Konoha—
And your future is guaranteed.
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