"Stop looking so miserable." Uzumaki Jun patted Kakuzu's shoulder and sighed. "Even though we can't sell it now, we can still sell it later."
It just needs to be stored for a while.
In the end, Kakuzu still followed him back to Uzushiogakure because this act had gone too far. Now, that 'Blazing Joy' was something that whoever sold it would be finished!
If Kakuzu tried to sell the legendary sword on the black market, ninjas from the Five Great Shinobi Villages would probably appear out of nowhere, shouting for the sake of peace in the shinobi world.
Although Kakuzu considered himself the 'God of Shinobi's Equal,' his actual strength...
Was only around that of four elite jonin.
So, under the combined assault of the Five Great Shinobi Villages...
Uzushiogakure might have to find a new finance minister.
Therefore, for the safety of Uzushiogakure's finance minister...
Uzumaki Jun decided to give Kakuzu, who had worked hard on trade, a vacation!
After all, he had already brought so many deals to Uzushiogakure. It was time for him to rest.
Uzumaki Jun was not a heartless capitalist!
"Besides, keeping it for a while isn't bad either." Uzumaki Jun comforted him. "The longer it's stored, the more valuable the sword becomes."
After the demonstration in that frozen sea, probably every ninja in the shinobi world was itching to get their hands on it.
After all...
Who wouldn't want to be invincible in the shinobi world?
But...
The black market probably wouldn't dare take it now.
They'd be afraid of the Five Great Shinobi Villages pulling a... ahem... crackdown!
Next time, the sword could only be sold to nobles or the daimyo of the Land of Water.
As for the shinobi villages...
If they wanted something, they would just take it by force. So, dealing with them might mean losing both the sword and one's life.
"Tch." Kakuzu sighed, stroking the hilt of another ancient sword in his hand. "What a shame."
This was worth tens of billions!
After the incident with 'Frostmourne,' the price of 'Blazing Joy' would probably double or even triple.
Because...
A sword with a spirit...
Who had ever seen one before?
"Why didn't you pick 'Frostmourne' back up at the time?" Kakuzu said regretfully. "If you had, we could have sold it again."
"..."
Why?
Of course, it was to avoid becoming the target of everyone's attention!
If the Five Great Shinobi Villages all focused on the Akatsuki, how could Uzushiogakure develop?
Don't forget...
Uzushiogakure had a partnership with the Akatsuki!
If the Five Great Shinobi Villages turned their attention to Uzushiogakure, it would be troublesome.
Why risk angering everyone over a chakra-infused sword that only took two or three hours to make?
If they really wanted to sell it later...
They could just make another one, right?
In a world full of counterfeits...
Who could tell which one was real and which one was fake? Both were made by Uzushiogakure anyway. At most, they could have Pain and Uchiha Shin put on another act, with Pain solemnly declaring...
'So the last one was fake, no wonder you gave up in the end. That explains it. It seems this one...'
'Is the real deal!'
And that would be that.
"So," Uzumaki Jun patted Kakuzu's shoulder and said in a wise tone, "If you want to do great things, you have to broaden your perspective."
"..."
Kakuzu stared at Uzumaki Jun speechlessly. This was great things?
This was just scamming people!
Thankfully, he hadn't used his real identity in the black market last time, or else...
He might have become the shinobi world's number one conman!
So...
"How many times do you plan to sell the same sword?" Kakuzu asked seriously. "Maybe I can help."
This was practically a shortcut to riches.
"We'll see." Uzumaki Jun sighed and shook his head. "For now, let's go back to Uzushiogakure. There's another big act in a few days!"
"..."
Hearing the words big act, Kakuzu's heart trembled. He asked cautiously, "What are you planning now?"
February 1, Year 33 of Konoha's Founding.
The national treasure of the Land of Water appeared within the borders of the Land of Fire. In the struggle for the sword, the Five Great Shinobi Villages engaged in a fierce battle and personally witnessed the power of the legendary blade. Indeed...
It could probably defeat ten Gods of Shinobi.
Rumors said that the forest where the battle took place had turned into a frozen sea, and the ice still hadn't melted.
As for who ended up with the sword...
Konoha!
The entire shinobi world knew and was shouting about Konoha's shamelessness!
At the same time, the daimyo of the Land of Fire condemned Konoha for attacking merchants of the daimyo's estate without cause, calling it immoral and uncivilized. He demanded that the Hokage handle the matter seriously and strictly forbid ninjas from recklessly using jutsu, as it endangered the healthy development of the shinobi world.
"So, your operation was discovered by the daimyo's estate." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the letter from the daimyo and asked, "What about the sword...?"
"Did we get it?"
"We did." Shimura Danzō nodded. "And its power is truly unbelievable."
"What about the sword spirit?" Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and frowned. "Does the legendary sword spirit really exist?"
"Still unknown." Danzō shook his head. "Judging by the actions of that Mangekyō user at the time, it seems real. But so far, no one has been able to summon the sword spirit."
Moreover...
Perhaps because no one had gained the sword spirit's recognition, the blade didn't seem to possess the Ice Release attribute. It was just an ordinary Water Release sword. Its power was decent, but compared to the earth-shattering Ice Release...
It was like comparing a drop of spit to an ocean!
"..."
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment before saying, "Continue researching it. This sword is truly extraordinary. See if Konoha can replicate it."
Even if they never gained the sword spirit's recognition, it wouldn't be a loss.
And...
As long as the sword was in Konoha's hands, nothing else mattered.
"Be careful for the next while." Hiruzen took another puff and said calmly, "I'll temporarily remove you as the leader of Root."
"Konoha needs to give the daimyo an explanation."
"I understand." Danzō nodded expressionlessly. "I'll make sure Root lays low for now."
The so-called removal as Root's leader...
Was just for show. But Root's activities would still need to be reduced.
Otherwise, the daimyo would lose face.
But...
He had originally planned to send Root ninjas to assist villagers during the spring planting in a few days. Would they still make it in time?
And the daimyo...
He was getting old. Maybe it was time for him to retire. Otherwise, if he took the blame for this...
What if the daimyo refused to recognize him as Hokage later?
"What a shame." Danzō sighed softly.
Hiruzen was taken aback but nodded in agreement. "It really is a shame. I wonder if anyone in the village can gain the recognition of 'Frostmourne'?"
February 2, Year 33 of Konoha's Founding.
The Hokage harshly criticized Advisor Shimura Danzō for acting without the village's orders, causing harm and losses to the daimyo's estate. As a result, Danzō was stripped of his advisory position, and Root was disbanded.
Konoha would also send ninjas to personally explain the situation to the daimyo.
"He really is the longest-serving Hokage for a reason." Uzumaki Jun sighed and shook his head. "It's not just because he's good at surviving."
But also because...
He had no political stains on his record!
Even after Orochimaru defected, Hiruzen could still be remembered as kind, compassionate, and loving toward his students.
So his success wasn't without reason.
With the Shinobi World's Scapegoat helping him, how could he not succeed?