Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye it was time for the banquet to begin.
In the meantime, the Daimyo found a moment to send a letter to Uchiha Makoto. He planned to discuss whether he should fund Konoha or not.
In his heart, the Daimyo certainly did not want to sponsor Konoha. If Konoha grew powerful, he would be in danger.
But considering Senju Hashirama's iron fist, he still had to keep up appearances.
If Uchiha Makoto could resolve the matter, all the better. If not, the Daimyo intended to pay.
At the banquet, the Daimyo wore a kindly smile and received Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo with great warmth. They were the sons of clan leaders and had to be courted.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo looked overwhelmed by the attention.
In their eyes, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was exalted, arguably the most exalted person in the entire shinobi world.
Very soon, however, their attention was drawn away by the food.
Plate after plate of exquisite dishes were set before them, and their stomachs rumbled.
"I'll dig in first!"
"I'll dig in first!"
Without hesitation, the two fell upon the food like ravenous beasts, clearing the table in a whirlwind.
"Half-grown boys can eat a man poor" was no empty saying. They were in their growth spurts, and as shinobi they refined chakra regularly, so their appetites were even more fearsome. The nobles present stared, dumbfounded.
The table was emptied in no time. The Daimyo waved for another to be brought.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
The two youngsters focused solely on the feast, while the nobles at the banquet sought more than food. They weren't really there to eat.
For nobles, banquets were for socializing, meeting more people, and expanding their networks.
Showing off was, of course, indispensable.
Clusters of nobles chatted in small groups. One noble produced a rare tulip he had prepared. It was the most elegant flower in the Land of Fire at the moment and the best marker of status. In an instant he became the focus of the room, the brightest star in the crowd.
The nobles involuntarily drifted toward him, eager for a glimpse of the rare bloom.
"A red-and-white variegated rarity!"
"Beautiful!"
"Where did you buy it? Must have cost a fortune!"
They chattered, lavishing praise on the tulip.
"Money?"
"A mere five million ryō."
"That's nothing. I am a man of standing and cultivation."
So he said. Five million ryō was no small sum, and even he had felt a pinch.
But it was worth it.
He was being fawned over and his refined taste was on full display.
More importantly, he had bought the tulip early. A specimen like this now would be priced in the tens of millions.
And even then, money might not be enough to get one. It had become something with a price but no market.
"Once I finish this round of showing off, I'll sell it. Consider it an investment."
Basking in the flattery, the noble thought this to himself.
Tulip prices were still steadily rising. Great nobles flaunted rooms full of tulips to project status, and more nobles were streaming in.
The great merchants were stockpiling, aiming to buy low, sell high, and make a killing.
"What are they gathering around for?"
Full and satisfied, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo noticed the cluster of nobles and stood up in curiosity.
Very soon, listening to the nobles' talk, they understood.
It was all for a flower.
"A mere flower. What's so special about that?"
Shimura Danzo spoke with indifference. He was a pure-bred Warring States shinobi and had no interest in noble pastimes. Rather than wasting time staring at a flower, he would spend it training chakra, practicing shuriken throws, and honing ninjutsu.
"He really lucked out. Got that rare tulip for just five million ryō."
The whispers among the nobles drifted to the boys' keen ears. As excellent shinobi, both their eyesight and hearing were exceptional.
"How much?"
"Five million ryō?"
"Hiruzen, did I hear that right? That red-and-white flower is worth five million ryō!"
Danzo's formerly dismissive expression froze, his eyes going wide in disbelief.
One flower worth five million ryō?
Even the most dangerous, life-threatening missions their clans took rarely paid five million. The flower before them was shattering Danzo's worldview.
"Danzo, I don't think you misheard. I caught the same number. Five million."
Hiruzen was just as stunned, clicking his tongue in disbelief. The price was outrageous.
While the two were reeling, the whispers continued.
"Yes, he's lucky."
"Conservatively, that rare tulip is worth ten million ryō now."
"Ten million? Too low. I feel it could double, and that's just the current market. Later it'll probably..."
"You know, I understand tulips very well. Not long ago I stockpiled a batch for a few million ryō. Guess how much I've made."
"How much?"
"Enough to scare you. Close to thirty million ryō. And I still feel I sold too early. I'm thinking of stockpiling another batch. Prices are going to keep climbing."
"Good haul for you. I'm planning to stockpile too. Want to go in together this time? It's like picking money up off the ground. Even a dog could make a few million ryō right now."
Hearing the whispers, Shimura Danzo reached over and pinched Sarutobi Hiruzen's thigh.
"Danzo, why did you pinch me?"
"I wanted to see if I'm dreaming."
"Then why didn't you pinch your own thigh?"
Rubbing his leg, Hiruzen spoke, exasperated.
"These tulip prices are insane."
"One flower going for twenty million ryō."
Danzo's face was filled with disbelief.
"Truly shocking."
Hiruzen also found the price outrageous and clicked his tongue again.
"And, Hiruzen, did you hear it? Tulips are like picking up money right now. Even a dog could make a few million."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo and saw greed and desire flicker across his astonished face.
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