"It seems Lord Madara's life in Konoha is quite comfortable."
After learning about Uchiha Madara's recent situation, Uchiha Makoto found that it was largely consistent with the intelligence he had gathered earlier.
Much like Senju Hashirama, Uchiha Madara spent his days doing almost nothing—eating, resting, and quietly waiting for old age to take its toll. He even took pleasure in reading Romance of the Warring States.
Makoto silently hoped that the ending of the book would not anger Madara so much that he decided to summon Susanoo and cut someone down. After all, the First Emperor's grand ambition had failed, his brothers had died tragically, and the great cause had collapsed midway. It was not exactly a cheerful tale.
That said, Makoto had no intention of changing the ending.
There was nothing he could do about it—he had plagiarized it wholesale.
Besides, Makoto felt that a forced happy ending would be far too clichéd. Compared to that, the original story's tragic conclusion carried a heavier sense of historical weight and respect. Tragedy left a deeper impression.
No matter how one looked at it, it was still a good piece of work.
As for Black Zetsu, that unfilial "son" showed no signs of acting yet.
But that was fine.
Makoto still had many things to do in the coming years.
Not only did he need to manage the internal affairs of Akatsuki Ninja Village, but he also had to continue courting merchants, expanding trade routes, and contending with the nobles of the Land of Fire. Akatsuki ninja were experts at killing, but many political and economic matters could only be handled personally by him.
Strictly speaking, all of this fell under the internal affairs of the Land of Fire and did not involve foreign wars.
The longer this fragile peace lasted, the more advantageous it would be for Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Thinking of this, Uchiha Makoto's lips curved into a gentle, benevolent smile.
Unfortunately, Senju Tobirama's expression became increasingly strange.
He always felt that this inherently evil Uchiha brat was plotting something again. The problem was that he had no concrete evidence.
"Tobirama, this year ends here. I hope you have a good New Year."
Makoto paused, then added casually, "Oh, right. Akatsukiwood from Akatsuki Ninja Village will release its first movie during the Spring Festival. Remember to come and support it."
"Neglecting your proper duties, all flash and no substance!"
Senju Tobirama sneered coldly. "It's already a miracle that Akatsuki Ninja Village can function normally with a worm like you in charge."
The movie Makoto referred to was Saving Chūnin Pain, scheduled for release during the Spring Festival.
In this era, only relatively affluent groups—middle-class families, nobles, merchants, and ninja—could afford to watch movies. As a result, Konoha already had cinemas, and cinema owners were eager to open branches anywhere ninja gathered.
However, for a ninja village itself to produce a movie was unprecedented in the ninja world.
Although Senju Tobirama's words were harsh, deep down he felt both wary and curious. Anything Uchiha Makoto created had to be treated with extreme caution.
He had already decided that he would definitely watch the movie.
But he would sneak in without buying a ticket.
Freeloading off Uchiha Makoto was a moral obligation.
If the movie turned out to benefit the village, then Konoha would follow suit and make movies of its own.
For Konoha's sake, Tobirama would do anything—even if people called him a plagiarizing dog again.
So what if he was a plagiarizing dog?
Since he already carried the reputation, he might as well abandon his integrity completely. Integrity was like a massive boulder perched atop a mountain: once it started rolling downhill, there was no stopping it. The more one stopped resisting, the more comfortable it became.
"Hmph. An old-fashioned geezer like you will never improve in this lifetime."
Makoto shrugged lightly. "If you want to improve, you need to change. The Second Hokage will probably be Lord Madara. When that happens, he and I will form a strong alliance. If Lord Madara prefers to be a hands-off manager, then I'll just unite Konoha myself."
"Go to hell!"
Senju Tobirama's killing intent flared instantly. "Do you believe I won't kill you right now?!"
"That will absolutely never happen."
Makoto replied calmly, his expression relaxed.
Tobirama understood Makoto very well. He knew that Makoto said such things deliberately, poking at his sore spots.
Even so, he was still furious.
Damn it!
This bastard didn't even bother pretending anymore. He was openly exposing his ambition right in front of him, treating him like dirt.
How could Tobirama possibly allow that?
He would do everything in his power to stop it.
"Is that so?"
Makoto chuckled. "Then tell me—can you handle your elder brother?"
"Or can you defeat Lord Madara?"
His tone was casual, almost amused.
Senju Tobirama's eyes widened. His hand twitched, and a kunai nearly slipped into his grip.
The atmosphere grew tense.
Both sides were painfully aware that although Konoha appeared to be prospering, the underlying contradictions were growing sharper by the day.
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had delegated almost all authority to Senju Tobirama.
As a result, Tobirama's influence within Konoha expanded daily, and the various ninja clans gradually became tied to him.
In a traditional dynasty, this would have been the treatment of a crown prince.
If Tobirama could smoothly succeed as the Second Hokage, everything would naturally fall into place.
However, under normal circumstances, Tobirama was unlikely to become Hokage.
Because Senju Hashirama hoped that Uchiha Madara would become the Second Hokage.
By both strength and seniority, once Hashirama completed his term as the First Hokage, it should be Madara's turn—as the head of the Uchiha clan—to assume the position.
Even if only in name.
Given Konoha's strange power structure, Makoto could not tell whether Hashirama had done this intentionally or inadvertently. It was almost as if Tobirama was being used as free labor with no reward in sight.
Hashirama didn't even bother giving his brother a sliver of hope.
Madara was too idle and indulgent to shoulder the burdens of Hokage, so Tobirama would simply have to endure and keep things running.
Worse still, the relationship between Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama could only be described as mortal enemies—a blood debt carried over from the previous era.
How would this debt be settled in the end?
Even if events roughly followed the original timeline, the butterfly effect had already distorted countless details. Nothing was guaranteed anymore.
But regardless of whether Madara successfully became the Second Hokage or chose to leave the village, Makoto only needed to observe from the sidelines and seize opportunities for profit.
Tobirama, on the other hand, was sitting directly on a burning stove.
Normally, these sensitive topics were left unspoken.
Unfortunately for him, Makoto had no intention of being considerate.
After all, Tobirama had been the one to speak rudely first.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Makoto smiled faintly. "Did I hit a nerve?"
"Ahhh! I'll kill you!"
Senju Tobirama finally snapped.
This time, his rage was genuine. He even drew a kunai, no longer caring about appearances.
Uchiha Makoto, however, remained calm and composed. They were both influential figures; a real battle breaking out over a verbal exchange was unthinkable.
That said, when Tobirama angrily hurled the kunai, Makoto still dodged with ease.
The conversation ended in chaos, with Tobirama's furious outburst echoing through the hall.
Even so, before leaving, Makoto did not forget to hand over a massive canned-goods supply contract.
The Konoha market was enormous. There was no reason to let good business fall into the hands of outsiders.
"That bastard…"
Tobirama muttered bitterly as he watched Makoto's retreating figure.
"I'll get rid of you sooner or later."
Yet, faced with the towering mountain before him, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
In the end, all his frustration turned into a long, heavy sigh.
When Uchiha Makoto returned to Akatsuki Ninja Village, light snow had already begun to fall, swirling gently through the air.
The New Year was approaching.
The chaotic fourth year of Akatsuki Ninja Village—also known as Konoha Year Four—had less than two weeks remaining.
So much had happened this year: the war with Kumogakure, the struggle against the Fire Daimyō and the nobles, and constant pressure from Konoha. Makoto had stirred turmoil both within and beyond the Land of Fire.
Yet despite everything, Akatsuki Ninja Village had developed faster than ever before.
Even under the biting wind and falling snow, the village was brimming with vitality.
At dusk, villagers used their hard-earned savings to buy New Year goods. For them, after a year of relentless labor, the New Year was the only time they could truly relax.
Children trailed behind the adults, unable to hide their joy.
They wore thick, durable cotton clothes, their cheeks flushed red from the cold and excitement. In their hands were small fireworks—items that once required endless begging.
This year was different.
Taking advantage of New Year discounts, adults bought entire boxes at once.
Even candy—something children normally only dreamed of—was purchased in bags and carried home.
For ordinary people, this was already the best life they could have imagined.
Makoto returned to the Kage Office as usual.
In his previous life, he had firmly believed in the eight-hour workday. Yet since becoming Kage, overtime had become routine.
Even now, nothing had changed.
He did not need to personally handle trivial matters. After years of development, Akatsuki Ninja Village had a mature system of rules and procedures.
As long as things followed the framework, no major problems would arise.
However, certain people and certain issues could only be resolved by him.
In the warmly lit office, Makoto met Itaki—a former ninja from the Land of Sky and now the head of the Akatsuki Ninja Village Research Center.
Itaki had once been a powerful ninja, but he had successfully transitioned into a full-time researcher.
He was a man of great ambition.
Unlike traditional ninja research focused on ninjutsu, the Land of Sky's system leaned heavily toward technology—a path Makoto was deeply familiar with from his previous life.
Itaki wanted to create an entirely new technological system based on chakra.
This perfectly aligned with Makoto's own vision: applying ninjutsu to everyday life.
Previously, in the Land of Sky, Itaki lacked funding and had to take missions just to support his research.
Scientific research was a bottomless pit. Fortunes that ordinary people could not spend in several lifetimes could vanish in days.
At one point, Itaki even considered forming a ninja village purely to earn money faster. He had already gathered like-minded companions and begun preparations.
Perhaps that had been the prototype of the Sky Ninja Village.
Of course, Makoto intercepted his plan before it could fully take shape.
Akatsuki Ninja Village offered Itaki irresistible conditions—nearly unlimited research funding.
Without hesitation, Itaki and his team joined.
Makoto had kept his word.
In recent years, Itaki had been ecstatic, practically living in the laboratory, eating and sleeping there.
Makoto genuinely admired such a pure, single-minded individual.
"Itaki, take better care of yourself," Makoto said. "You've lost a lot of weight again."
"Kage-sama is too kind."
Itaki smiled slightly. "The Chakra Application Center has made breakthroughs. Using chakra as an energy driver, we've successfully powered machinery and generated electricity in the lab."
He paused, then continued, "However, to scale this up, we need a stable chakra energy source."
"That is indeed a difficult problem."
Makoto nodded slowly.
Every industrial revolution was accompanied by an energy revolution. Coal, oil, nuclear energy—each leap reshaped civilization.
This was the ninja world.
Although coal was already in use, chakra was a cleaner, renewable alternative.
The problem was stability.
Natural energy was abundant but violent. Tailed Beasts were powerful but impossible to control.
At present, only the Sage of Six Paths had ever truly commanded their cooperation.
"Kage-sama," Itaki said carefully, "I've heard of a special mineral called Grerl Stone. It contains an enormous amount of chakra."
"Grerl Stone…"
Makoto repeated softly.
The name stirred faint memories.
It was something from a movie.
An ancient civilization powered by Grerl Stone—an entire super-civilization built upon it.
A truly tempting resource.
Unfortunately, Makoto vaguely recalled that the vein lay near the Land of Wind.
That meant Sunagakure.
If those poor souls discovered that "oil" lay beneath their feet, they would never give it up—even if it meant war.
Another troublesome matter.
"I'll handle it," Makoto finally said.
Itaki nodded, satisfied.
The snow outside continued to fall.
The future of the ninja world was quietly changing.
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