Most of the time, the Hokage's office was filled with the soft rustle of turning pages, the faint crackle of tobacco in a pipe, and, every so often, the Hokage's own quiet sighs. This cycle of three familiar sounds - well known to the handful of ANBU hiding in the ceiling - was only ever broken by a knock at the door, just like now.
"It's open." Hiruzen's voice sounded, a little more lively than usual.
An ANBU entered, which meant the Hokage was about to hear a report or a briefing.
"Hokage-sama, a trade representative from the Land of Snow has just arrived in the village and is on his way here." The thin man spoke quickly and clearly, dropping to one knee.
"Understood. Meet him at the entrance and escort him to my office." The Hokage replied, sweeping a stack of papers off his desk and into a drawer.
*Here we go again - he'll be trying to sell us his tech at bargain prices. I thought I made it clear last time that what we bought will last us for years. Well, maybe I'll hear something new or interesting, and at least it'll be a break from paperwork.* Hiruzen mused, packing his pipe again.
Fifteen minutes later, there was another knock at the door.
****
Once all the formalities were out of the way, Hiruzen got to the question that actually interested him.
"Tedeo-san, what brings you here?" The dark-haired man with a short haircut, dressed in a blue-and-white kimono, set his teacup aside and answered with a slight smile.
"I was contacted by an acquaintance who said there's someone in Konoha interested in investing in our technology. So, I came here hoping to strike a deal that benefits both sides."
"Really?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "And who might that be?"
"No point being mysterious - you'll find out soon enough anyway. Does the name Zoldyck Akira mean anything to you?"
****
Three hours later, there was another knock at the Hokage's door. This time, it was the ANBU assigned to keep tabs on the Snow Country's trade rep.
"Report." Hiruzen said, short and to the point.
"At one o'clock, Subject A arrived at the Ayamato restaurant, where Subject B - Zoldyck Akira - was already waiting. I observed no suspicious gestures during their greetings or conversation. They did not exchange any information carriers. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss financial investment in the Snow Country's tech sector. Subject B was especially interested in image display technology - televisions.
He proposed a joint project to improve this technology, as well as to create new data storage devices based on magnetic tape and magnetic fields. If the project is approved, he promised an initial investment of 10 million ryo. They didn't discuss the percentage share. At the end of the meeting, Subject A promised to get back to Subject B as soon as possible with an answer."
Without realizing it, Hiruzen started rubbing his hands together.
*Maybe the Sarutobi clan should try to get in on this too? Then again, it's risky - that money could just go up in smoke. And honestly, I don't see much potential in this 'television' thing.* Hiruzen thought, then instructed his subordinate to keep the guest under surveillance until he left.
****
Four days later, Tedeo-san asked to meet with me again. Honestly, I was surprised - I figured it would take at least a few weeks for him to run my proposal by his bosses, but apparently, they've got telegraphs or some other long-distance tech. Their country is, for reasons I can't quite figure out, fifteen to twenty-five years ahead of the Land of Fire and everyone else when it comes to technology.
Sometimes I get the feeling there was another isekai guy here before me who decided to kick off a second industrial revolution in one country. Maybe he managed to invent a bunch of cool stuff, but didn't live long enough to spread it to the rest of the world. I mean, where else would you see a trade rep from an entire country haggling with a small-time merchant over a measly fifty million ryo? Sure, for a regular person, that's a fortune, but for a country… that's not even a month's budget.
Still, if their trade rep is willing to come running for any potential buyer, their industry must be in dire straits. Too bad. For them. Me, I felt like I was about to buy Bitcoin for ten grand, knowing it'd be worth three, maybe even four or five times that in a year.
"Akira-san, after discussing everything with the council, we've concluded that creating this so-called cassette is possible, especially since our movie projector technology is based on a similar concept. The main challenge is developing a new device to read video and audio data and transmit it to a television. But it doesn't seem impossible, and even I can see the potential."
"So, it's a question of price?" I smiled, just a little. Right now, nothing was stopping them from taking my idea and cutting me out, but… the Land of Snow, and especially their 'Research Association for Snow Country Technology,' didn't have enough free capital. My money would speed things up a lot.
"You could say that." Tedeo nodded. "Here are our terms: you increase your total investment to 80 million, with each installment at 20 million ryo, and all payments made within two months. In return, we'll give you 11% of the profits from selling the next-generation televisions."
I couldn't help but laugh, nearly choking on my tea. "If you don't mind me asking, Tedeo-san, how did you calculate my share?"
He explained. I laughed again, but more politely this time.
"Tedeo-san, what do your multi-million ryo sunk costs from previous research have to do with this project? Please, don't take me for a fool. It doesn't matter how much time, money, or effort you spent developing the earlier tech that'll be the foundation for the new TV and reader. What matters is the cost of this project. How long will it take to develop? How many people will be involved, and how much will you need to pay them, for materials, for electricity?"
"We've already done an initial estimate - the project will cost about 310 million ryo." Tedeo said.
"Well, that's good you've done the math, but based on that number and your terms, I should be getting a quarter of the shares."
We haggled for a long time, with plenty of emotion and dramatic hand gestures. It made sense for Tedeo - the better the deal for his side, the more he'd get out of it. For me, every percent was a huge sum. After two hours, we finally shook hands on a preliminary verbal agreement. I'd raise my total investment to 65 million ryo, with each installment at 15 million, and the payment period set at exactly 88 days - a number we both liked. In return, I'd get 21% of the shares, though that wasn't final. Tedeo would have to clear it with his bosses, provide me with the project's financial documents, and bring in a representative from the Kiyoshi trading conglomerate to witness the contract signing, which we'd probably do soon.
Of course, I had another problem - I didn't have 65 million ryo.
Just 17, and after the first payment, I'd be down to a couple million. There was no way I could earn enough for the next payment in 60 or 90 days, at least not honestly. And the dishonest route was risky and not nearly as profitable as legally taking people's money through business.
I needed to find a lot of cash, fast, so after meeting with Tedeo, I headed to the bank with a smile. But Daiki - the manager who handled my loan - hit me with some bad news: extra credit was only available to "A-level" merchants, and only up to half the amount of your unpaid loan. So, I had to pay off my current loan before I could get a new one. I paid it off. I borrowed another 7 million ryo from Shikaku, promising to pay him back the next day.
Daiki signed the document confirming my loan was paid off, then asked with a crooked smile, "So, you want a bigger loan?"
"That's right, about 50 million ryo." Daiki nodded and took me to the bank's general manager, some relative of the daimyo named Takahiro.
Nice guy to talk to, but he wasn't about to start throwing money at me. He wanted to weigh all the risks. I was ready for that: I showed him the financial reports from McDonald's and told him another one would open in Tanzaku in two weeks. I was making a million ryo a month from one McDonald's, so by the income approach, my restaurant was already worth about 30 million ryo.
The conversation immediately shifted. Suddenly, they were offering me a bigger loan at a better rate. The temptation was real, and I couldn't say no to 70 million ryo at 7 percent interest.
I paid Shikaku back that same day.
I wasn't planning to set that money aside for the project - I wanted to use it to expand my business, get into other ventures. I could do that in Konoha, but it'd be more profitable in Tanzaku, so I decided to hold off on spending it for now.
When I got home and collapsed on the couch - where Aika immediately jumped up beside me - I started to wonder: why am I chasing money so hard, anyway? This isn't the 21st century, where you can buy friendship, love, and a yacht. Here, you can only really spend huge sums on an army or a palace. No one's going to let me build an army, and I don't need a giant palace with golden toilets, even for free. For the clans, it's clear - they need money to improve life for their people.
But me…
"Aika, do you want a gold bowl with diamond inlays?" I asked the fox, who just gave me a puzzled yip and started licking her paw like a cat.
Maybe, when I'm swimming in gold, I should build my own perfect neighborhood? With paved streets, sakura trees all around, Viennese-style cafes with verandas…
Yeah, but who's going to give me that neighborhood? I'd have to start my own clan, and that would cost a fortune. And no one's just going to let me found a clan.
Since I live in a society - even a feudal one - I need leverage and allies. Power, status, and money can help with that. The first is for reliable relationships, the second for equals, and the third to get those mutually beneficial relationships started. And you can get status with money or power.
The next day, after lunch, I decided to check in on my student.
Like it or not, she'd accepted me as her teacher. Maybe not with all the ceremony of the Chinese, who drop to their knees and treat their teacher like a second father, but still. So, I had to look out for her mental health. Though, if Mikoto was right, Sasuke was actually doing fine - it was Itachi who was more of a concern. But I had a tried-and-true remedy for any psychological hang-ups.
I caught Sasuke just as she was coming back from the academy. [ image ]

"Oh, my young student, I was just looking for you." I said, turning away from the street that led to the clan district.
"Akira-san?" she said, surprised.
"Akira-san." I nodded. "Let's go for a walk."
No "what," "why," or "where" - she just nodded and followed me.
We walked in silence until I broke it by asking if she was hungry.
"I haven't eaten yet," she said calmly, then added, "Akira-san, where are we going?" She finally asked.
"To eat, sit, chat - all at once." I replied, scanning for a fishing shop.
I'd never fished before, but for some reason, today I wanted to try.
I bought two rods, bait, a few lure hooks, and two straw hats to really get into the mood.
When I put the hat on Sasuke's head, she just puffed out her cheeks and looked up at the brim. No complaints - what a great student.
A wide canal ran through the east side of Konoha, fed by several rivers, one of which came from the Aburame clan's district in the southeast.
To my surprise, the Aburame district was wide open to visitors, though there weren't any - regular folks are scared of shinobi, and shinobi with swarms of poisonous bugs inside them even more so. Like the Uchiha, their district had a forest park, but denser, and the clan houses were scattered throughout.
Druids, basically, but obsessed with bugs instead of nature.
"Brr." I shivered.
"Akira-san?" Sasuke looked at me, puzzled.
*Oh no, my young student, the thoughts that just flashed through my mind are better left unspoken in this world. Damn internet, it's warped my brain beyond repair. And now I'm thinking about the Inuzuka clan and their love of dogs. Okay, Akira, stop thinking down that path.*
"It's nothing. Let's find a good fishing spot." We followed the river downstream and soon found a nice place. There was a fallen log to sit on, and the ground was a little higher than the water.
The rod wasn't anything fancy - just bamboo, really. You could probably make one yourself if you had the right stalk, a knife, and some line. The line, by the way, was made from horsehair, or so the shopkeeper said, and he recommended buying extra in case it snapped. I didn't bother - figured I'd only get more if I actually liked fishing.
(Useless trivia corner: a single horse tail hair can hold up to 400 grams, while a human hair can handle up to 100g.)
We sat down, baited our hooks, and started fishing in silence. Well, "fishing" - mostly just staring at the bobbers, which looked like they wanted to float away downstream.
"Are we just going to sit here?" Sasuke asked, not even lasting five minutes.
"Yeah, just sit quietly and watch the bobber. Clear your mind, don't think about anything."
So we sat, listening to the sound of running water and the little creatures in the woods. Pure bliss.
After ten minutes, Sasuke started to get the appeal - she was staring at one spot, totally entranced.
"Akira-san, I think you've got a bite." She said, pulling me out of my own thoughts.
"Huh? Really?" I looked at my bobber - it was jerking all over the place.
"Reel it in!" Sasuke called out, a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Whew, made it." I said, staring at the fish flopping around. I wasn't sure if it could get away, so I quickly lifted the rod and grabbed the fish with my left hand.
"Oh, I've got one too!" She jumped up, yanked her rod as high as she could, and at the last second stepped aside so the fish wouldn't smack her in the face.
I decided I'd handle the messy part, and let Sasuke build the fire. For obvious reasons, she had no trouble with that. A few minutes later, by the fire, the gutted fish were roasting on sticks.
One nice thing about using a jutsu to light the fire - half the wood instantly turned to glowing coals. We left the fish to cook and went back to fishing.
"You're pretty good at this. Fished before?" I asked Sasuke, who was clearly starting to enjoy herself.
"No, this is my first time." She shook her head.
"You're a natural."
"Well, it's not as hard as I thought. I'd even say it's easy." She said thoughtfully.
"I don't mean fishing." I sighed. "I mean how you're handling things in your clan. Mikoto-san told me your sister's been training non-stop since everything happened, but you don't seem too affected."
"I… thought about it." She lowered her head and spoke quietly. "I thought I should cry because of my father and the clan, but… it hurts more to see how it's affected my sister and mom."
"Weren't you close with your father?" I asked, surprised.
"I was, but I guess I didn't spend much time with him. Same with onee-san. Dad was always busy with clan stuff. Even Mom asked him to spend more time with us, but it never worked - the clan always came first, then family."
"That's the burden you take on when you're responsible for so many people." I could relate - my own father, rest his soul, was the same way with his company.
"Yeah… now Mom's going to be busy with the clan too. She even forgot to make dinner last night." She sighed.
"Don't worry, it's just for now. Your clan's going through a rough patch and needs a leader more than ever. But let's change the subject. How's your chakra control training going?"
"Pretty well, I think. I don't even have to focus much to keep chakra in my feet anymore. Akira-sensei, do you have any new training tips for me?" She looked at me hopefully.
"I do. What's your chakra nature?" When she looked confused, I sighed and dug a piece of chakra paper out of my storage scroll. I handed her a strip and explained what to do, then watched as it crumpled and slowly burned.
"Fire and lightning. Canon confirmed." I could tweak her control training using Rasengan methods. First step: changing chakra flow outside the body… Alright, let's try this.
By the end of my lecture on chakra natures, we were sitting by the fire, and our fish was finally done.
"This fish is all bones." I grumbled. I had no idea what kind it was - I'm not a big fan of seafood. "As for your next training… look, we'll work on your chakra control and your fire nature at the same time. See the flames?" I pointed at a branch I'd just tossed on the fire. "You need to use your chakra to influence the movement of the fire."
I brought my hand close to the flames, channeling chakra through the tenketsu in my palm, just like in the first stage of Rasengan training. No trouble there, but when it came to the second stage - boosting the flame's power with chakra - I couldn't do it. I guess that takes more than just chakra, you have to actually work with the fire element itself.
Sasuke frowned as she watched the flames move under my unmoving hand. She set her fish aside and tried to copy my "trick." No luck.
"Try it at home with a candle. Don't expect results right away - it might take a week or more. Once you get it, you'll be able to control your chakra and fire jutsu much better. Take your clan's signature move - Fireball Jutsu. Can you change the direction of the fireball after you launch it?"
"No." Sasuke said, watching the flames.
"Now imagine you fire a fireball at an enemy, and as they dodge, the fireball changes direction. Wouldn't that make the jutsu way more dangerous?" Sasuke's eyes went wide.
"Is there an exercise like that for lightning too?" she asked after a moment, curious.
"There is, but you should hold off for now. Ever heard the saying, 'Chase two rabbits…'"
"…and you'll catch neither." She finished for me, nodding.
"And for motivation: if you master this in a week, I promise to grant you one wish as your teacher." I said with a smile.
"Anything?" Sasuke asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Clothes, food, weapons, even a piggyback ride - within reason, of course."
"Piggyback ride?" she asked, puzzled. I gave her the same look.
"You don't know what a piggyback ride is?" When she shook her head, I sighed.
*Okay, Fugaku, that explains a lot, but has no one in your district ever given their kids a piggyback ride? Or anyone in the village?*
"Well, it's a pretty fun thing that helps with balance and posture. Want to try?" I asked, hiding a grin.
Sasuke-chan nodded, a little unsure.
"Alright, since we've fished and eaten, let's pack up - and I'll give you that ride."
After packing up the gear and putting out the fire, I asked my young, innocent student to turn her back to me.
"Akira-san, you - " She didn't have time to react before my hands were at her waist and I lifted her up like a feather, settling her on my shoulders.
"This is a piggyback ride." I smiled, even though Sasuke couldn't see my face, and started walking toward the exit of the Aburame forest. After a few steps, Sasuke realized what was happening and started squeaking in embarrassment above my head.
"What? You want me to go faster? Hold on tight." I put my hands on her knees to keep her steady and took off, feeling her arms wrap around my head.
****
"Sensei… please, can you let me down now?" Sasuke asked, a little more confidently now that we were near her clan's district. No point embarrassing her further, so I let go of her knees and let her hop down. She hurried a few steps ahead, then realized we were parting ways here and turned to say goodbye. We exchanged farewells, and then Sasuke called out to me again.
"Akira-sensei, can we go fishing again sometime?" she asked, a little hopefully. I didn't want to crush her hopes, so I just smiled and nodded.
🔥~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~🔥
Dear readers, if you're enjoying the novel, don't forget to support it with Power Stones! The more stones — the more chapters! For every 50 Power Stones, I'll release an extra chapter!