"Yuki clan, Kaguya clan, Kurama clan..."
"Oh, almost forgot, the Uzumaki clan as well."
"Forget it, add the Hyūga clan too. It'd be a waste not to dig at that corner."
"..."
Uchiha Makoto sat in his room, jotting down, bit by bit, the shinobi clans Akatsuki Village needed to win over in the coming stretch. To strengthen the village as quickly as possible, he aimed first at clans with bloodline limits.
Money can't solve every problem.
But it can solve the overwhelming majority of them.
Those major clans had once looked down on a weak little place like Akatsuki Village, preferring to settle in stronger villages like Konoha. This shinobi world is ultimately brutally social-Darwinist. Yet with a fresh injection of ninety billion ryō, even this obscure village finally had the nerve to recruit powerful clans.
Worst case, just bury them in cash.
One or two of the big clans would agree to join sooner or later.
Still, you have to handle it with finesse. Strut around like a nouveau riche and people will start eyeing you. These blockhead ninja don't dare rob the nobility, but they'll risk their lives to plunder another village!
First Shinobi World War, Second Shinobi World War... war after war, the villages slaughtered one another and even wound up neck-deep in debt, while the nobles sat high above, pulling strings from the shadows. Even when they lost, most of the time they didn't have to cede an inch of land.
How much does a daimyo's stipend even amount to?
And you ninja fight yourselves half to death for it!
Uchiha Makoto refused to do anything that stupid. This had to change.
He would make money standing tall.
"Lord Makoto, His Highness requests your presence—there's an important matter to discuss!"
Just as Makoto was laying out Akatsuki Village's development plan, a retainer from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire pushed the door open.
"Understood."
Makoto set down his pen and followed the retainer to the daimyo's chamber. After a round of talks, he heard the news:
Konoha had sent people.
Not only Senju Hashirama had come—Senju Tobirama was with him, too.
"Makoto, I'm leaving the two of them to you!"
"Konoha's in deep trouble right now. We absolutely can't let them get desperate and come here to fight me!"
Makoto smiled, his eyes drifting to the daimyo's face. Though the dark circles around the man's eyes had been concealed, his whole spirit was wilted—like he hadn't slept a wink.
The daimyo had probably heard Konoha was paying a visit and spent the night in fear. Who knows what disaster scenarios the 'Hashirama threat theory' had him cooking up in his head?
Because of the limits of the era and the traditional constraints on shinobi, even someone as strong as Hashirama never entertained the thought of replacing the daimyo. All he wanted was to found shinobi villages and cut down on clan bloodshed.
That state of affairs didn't change in any essential way even after the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Even when Uzumaki Naruto became the Seventh Hokage and technology leapt forward, even when the Five Great Nations industrialized and the villages no longer relied solely on mission fees to survive—
The villages still followed the old rules and remained politically subordinate.
In short, this world is bizarre.
Makoto understood that well. Hashirama and Tobirama coming to the Land of Fire now meant Konoha had kicked a hornet's nest, angering many; the nobles were ganging up to make Konoha miserable, and Konoha couldn't take it anymore. The Senju brothers were here to beg the daimyo for help.
At a time like this, even if the daimyo kicked them while they were down—demanding harsh terms to shackle Konoha's development—Hashirama and Tobirama would likely pinch their noses and agree, just to secure political and financial support.
Naturally, Makoto accepted the assignment.
On one condition.
He needed full authority from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
"No problem!"
"From this moment, you may negotiate with Konoha on my behalf."
"Makoto, as long as you can calm Konoha down, I'm willing to spend some money."
The daimyo nodded.
He hadn't expected Konoha to jump out now and draw fire. If that thick-skinned, black-hearted Hashirama had come to denounce him, having Makoto step up first would at least buy time to smooth things over.
Makoto is a loyal, honest man!
At this critical moment, he's standing up to share my burdens—loyal!
"In that case, Your Highness, leave it to me."
Makoto smiled.
Loyal—acting wantonly in the daimyo's name!
That's the power of information asymmetry.
The daimyo believed Hashirama and Tobirama were here to accuse him, when in fact they were planning to negotiate on their knees.
Kneeling is perfect.
Because he, right now, was standing tall.
...
"Big Brother, when we see the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, follow my lead in everything. Konoha's situation is extremely dangerous. Once word spreads that a large number of missions have been canceled and public opinion starts snowballing, clans that already joined us may withdraw."
"And the Uchiha might get dangerous ideas at a time like this."
"That would be disastrous!"
Tobirama spoke with a worried face. He feared the effort he'd poured in might go up in smoke. He had intended to stay in Konoha to steady people's hearts, but he couldn't rest easy letting his brother, Hashirama, visit the daimyo alone in such a crisis.
No one else in the village could accompany his brother... He couldn't very well have Uchiha Madara go, could he?
Tobirama would rather choose death.
Anyone but Uchiha Madara!
The two of them together would only make everything worse.
Helpless, he gave up on staying behind and came with Hashirama to see the daimyo.
This negotiation had to be swift and decisive.
Even if Konoha paid a heavy price, they needed the daimyo's support.
"I know, Tobirama."
"You've said that several times already."
"And there's no need to practice your smile that many times in the mirror."
Hashirama nodded, still wearing his carefree expression, leaving Tobirama speechless. This brother of his was going to be the death of him.
Practicing his smile was for fawning, nothing more!
Who did he think it was for?
It was for his brother, for the Senju clan, and for Konoha!
Soon after—
While the two waited in the lounge, a retainer led them to a room.
And then—
The moment Tobirama saw the person inside, the smile on his face froze.
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