The so-called "special warm reminder" from the system the previous night still lingered in Uchiha Makoto's head.
[As the Ninja Village prospers, extraordinary and high-quality talents will naturally be attracted.]
At first, he had thought it was the most meaningless piece of advice ever given. "A prosperous village will attract talent?" — who didn't know that? It was like telling a starving man, "If you eat, you won't be hungry."
But now, seeing the four new figures standing in his meeting room, he realized the system hadn't been bluffing.
Kazuma. Aqua. Megumin. Darkness.
Makoto stared at them in silence, his lips twitching.
This isn't just talent… this is the entire Konosuba party dropped straight into the Ninja World!
For a moment, his exhaustion and frustration melted away. The excitement that surged through him was hard to hide.
Last night, he had been on the verge of despair. His system seemed so useless that he had actually considered disbanding the village, pocketing the Daimyo's remaining funds, and living a quiet, decadent life far away from the nonsense of ninja wars.
After all, the Daimyo's initial investment was enormous—hundreds of millions of ryō. Even if Makoto spent generously every day, that money would keep him comfortable for life.
What did the future of the ninja world have to do with him? The Moon's Eye Plan, the revival of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the Fourth Shinobi War—those events were still decades away. He could easily wash his hands of it all, enjoy his wealth, and let history run its course without him.
It would've been embarrassing for a transmigrator, yes, but what choice did he have? His system was practically a scam, expecting him to build a ninja village from scratch without offering shortcuts or cheats.
And to make matters worse, his so-called rivals weren't just anyone. No, his competitors were people like Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama—monsters who could summon mountains and level armies with a wave of their hands.
How was he supposed to compete with that? Even Senju Tobirama, who wasn't even the strongest of the bunch, was enough to make Makoto want to retreat three steps.
But now…
Now the situation had changed.
Because standing before him wasn't just one outsider like Kazuma—it was the full, four-person team.
Makoto's heart pounded. This is it. This is the breakthrough I needed.
Kazuma, though weak in direct combat, was undeniably intelligent. He had survived countless impossible situations, defeating enemies far stronger than himself using nothing but wit and cunning. In terms of strategy, negotiation, and management, he was a rare talent. Makoto immediately resolved to make Kazuma his deputy.
Megumin… yes, she was eccentric, loud, and over-the-top. But her Explosion Ninjutsu? Terrifyingly powerful. Even if she could only fire one shot a day before collapsing, that single shot could annihilate an enemy force in the right circumstances. A trump card like that was invaluable.
Darkness, the armored masochist, had somehow adapted to this world as a Taijutsu specialist. Taijutsu alone wasn't considered particularly prestigious in the ninja world, but her absurd endurance and unwavering will made her a natural candidate for high-risk techniques. Makoto smirked to himself. If I can get her to learn the Eight Gates… this girl would probably enjoy it more than anyone else in history.
And Aqua… oh, Aqua. The so-called goddess who was equal parts troublemaker and miracle worker. She could cause chaos with a single careless move, yet her healing powers were beyond dispute. In this world, where Medical Ninjutsu was a cornerstone of every major village's strength, her ability to restore and even resurrect made her priceless.
Makoto crossed his arms, nodding slowly to himself. System… I might have underestimated you.
---
The Meeting Begins
Kazuma, noticing Makoto's silence, shifted nervously. "Lord Makoto, you told me the village is newly established and desperately in need of talent. So when I encountered these three, I brought them here to contribute. Forgive me if I acted presumptuously."
Makoto snapped out of his thoughts and burst into laughter. "Kazuma, you've done well—very well! From now on, whenever you encounter talents like this, don't hesitate. Bring them back immediately!"
Kazuma blinked. "Eh?"
"To commend your initiative," Makoto declared grandly, "I hereby appoint you as the second-in-command of the Ninja Village!"
The others looked stunned, but Kazuma's mouth slowly curved into a smirk. He lowered his head respectfully, but inside he was practically singing. Deputy leader already? Hah! Seems like my cheat isn't just the system—it's my silver tongue too.
Makoto leaned back in his chair, quite pleased with himself. Yes, Kazuma, you'll be my manager, my negotiator, and my scapegoat when things go south. This arrangement is perfect.
He clapped his hands. "Now then—let's begin today's meeting."
On the agenda:
[The Ninja Village's First Five-Year Plan]
Makoto cleared his throat, speaking with all the seriousness of a Hokage. "Our village may be small, but we must think big. In the five pillars of Military, Politics, Economy, Culture, and Influence, none can be neglected. To build a true hidden village, we must lay a foundation that can last for generations."
His eyes gleamed with ambition. "First, the military. A ninja village's core strength lies in its shinobi. We must attract clans—large ones if possible, smaller ones if necessary. Bloodline limits, secret techniques, kekkei genkai—we need them all. Without military might, we're just another band of mercenaries."
"Next, the economy. Without funds, everything collapses. Training shinobi, building infrastructure, feeding civilians—it all costs money. We must secure stable income streams."
He continued through each category, painting a grand vision for the future.
Below the stage, reactions varied.
Kazuma sat with a notebook, his hand moving busily across the page. From afar, it looked like he was diligently taking notes. But Makoto's Sharingan-enhanced vision caught the truth: Kazuma was doodling silly cartoons and writing sarcastic comments in the margins.
Megumin listened with sparkling eyes, treating the speech like a prelude to some great dramatic saga.
Aqua had already started nodding off, her head bobbing like a pigeon.
Darkness, in contrast, was surprisingly attentive, carefully jotting down Makoto's every word.
When Makoto finally concluded his speech, he raised his hands. "So! Does anyone have suggestions for the construction of our village?"
Kazuma was the first to rise, adjusting his cloak. "Lord Makoto, forgive me for raising practical concerns. But… funds are tight. Attracting clans, investing in infrastructure, maintaining defenses—none of this is possible without money. If we want to compete with other villages, we'll need external investment."
Makoto's face twisted. "Tch… don't remind me."
He rubbed his temples. Funding really was their Achilles' heel. Out of the ten billion ryō he had received from the Daimyo, nearly half was already gone. The projects he had started—housing, training grounds, supply lines—were bleeding money like open wounds.
And with the Daimyo unlikely to offer more any time soon, Makoto knew he had to find another way to fill the gap.
Just then, Darkness raised her hand. "Lord Makoto, my father maintains connections with several wealthy merchants. If the village offers the right incentives, I believe they would be willing to invest. Once trade begins, the economy will grow naturally, attracting more people, which will further stimulate investment. A cycle of prosperity could begin."
Makoto's eyes widened. "Darkness, you… you're brilliant!"
She blushed faintly. "It is nothing, my lord. I will write to my father at once. But there is one more thing… he will almost certainly invite you to a banquet. For such events, it would be proper to bring gifts. Recently, tulips have become very fashionable among the nobility. Perhaps we could use them."
Makoto froze.
"…Wait. Did you just say tulips?"
Darkness tilted her head innocently. "Yes. Tulips are the current trend. They are said to symbolize wealth and prosperity. Nobles are eager to buy them, and prices have been rising steadily."
Makoto's eye twitched. Memories from his previous life surged to the surface—memories of a certain infamous economic bubble.
"Tulips… oh no. Don't tell me this world is about to experience the Tulip Mania Scam!"
He clenched his fists under the table, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
System, you rotten scam, maybe you've finally given me the perfect opportunity.
---