After giving instructions to Nonou, Uchiha Yoichi inquired about the current state of the Hidden Sand Village, to which Nonou provided a comprehensive report.
With the cooperation between the Uchiha Trading Association and the Daimyo Mansion of the Land of Fire, the Uchiha Trading Association's economic control over the Land of Wind is growing deeper; who could help it when the Land of Wind has barren land, unable even to be self-sufficient?
If materials are blocked and their own Ninja Village cannot defeat Konoha, then the Land of Wind can only accept Konoha's slow and painful economic manipulation.
There are those within the Daimyo Mansion of the Land of Wind who see this as Konoha's conspiracy and trickery. If the Ninja Village gains control over economic power, their ambitions would be infinitely magnified.
As such, the Daimyo Mansion of the Land of Wind has repeatedly sent envoys to the Daimyo Mansion of the Land of Fire, explaining the dangers of this matter and hoping that the Daimyo of the Land of Fire would cut off economic support to Konoha, etc.
But none of this had any effect. Before this tendency emerged, Uchiha Yoichi had already directed Uchiha Shisui to use Kotoamatsukami to control the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Now Shisui had also used Kotoamatsukami to control the Minister of Economics.
In another two years, the will of the Daimyo Mansion will align completely with Konoha Village. Whatever Konoha wants the Daimyo Mansion to do, it will do.
"Let's proceed like this. Recently, activate the power of the trading association to let the people of the Land of Wind know how happy the people of Konoha Village are."
Uchiha Yoichi said to Nonou. At this stage, his pursuits had changed. Now he was seeking greater power and eternal life.
To unify the Ninja World was just a casual endeavor; wealth was not something Uchiha Yoichi considered important.
It was only after integrating the strength of the Ninja World that he could better accomplish what he wanted to do, such as researching the Desperate Virus or the Otsutsuki Bloodline. There was still a hidden Shell Organization in the Ninja World. Although Uchiha Yoichi had tasked the Uchiha Trading Association with investigating it, they had yet to find any clues.
This showed just how deeply the Shell Organization was hidden.
"Yoichi, are you there?"
Not long after Nonou left, Tsunade arrived at his office.
Now, in front of others, Tsunade showed him quite a bit of respect. In private, she would call him a shy little ghost, and would only sometimes call him brother when begging for mercy before fainting.
Tsunade pushed the door open and entered, followed by two others, the First Generation Hokage and the Second Generation Hokage.
"Tsunade, you've arrived, and with the First Hokage as well."
Uchiha Yoichi stood up and invited Tsunade to sit down, then said, "I know Shizune had come to see me, but it was already late at night, so I didn't disturb you."
"It's okay. Mainly, Grandpa wanted to see you. He toured Konoha this morning and was quite astonished!"
Tsunade said proudly, though Second Granduncle and Uchiha Yoichi argued, there was nothing to criticize about Konoha's development. Granduncle was utterly amazed; Konoha had become even better than he had imagined.
While touring Ninja Paradise, Senju Hashirama saw that his ninja popularity was only ranked seventh. He seriously asked the staff at Ninja Paradise about it, but when he saw his younger brother Tobirama almost dropping to twentieth, he burst out laughing.
After witnessing most of Konoha's changes and learning of Uchiha Yoichi's achievements, Senju Hashirama's impression of Uchiha Yoichi improved dramatically.
"Fifth Hokage, I finally meet you. Thanks to you, Konoha has developed to this extent… Hey, isn't that my Chakra necklace?"
Senju Hashirama, while speaking, suddenly noticed the necklace on Uchiha Yoichi's chest. He was very familiar with his own Chakra and remembered that he had given it to Tsunade before.
Tsunade blushed and said, "I lost it in a bet, Grandpa. Don't mind it."
"Oh, Little Tsunade's gambling skills are indeed lacking. Fortunately, you didn't become Hokage, or else Konoha's finances might be strained..."
Senju Hashirama nodded at her words. It was entirely normal for Tsunade to lose something in a bet. When he used to take his granddaughter to casinos, even Mito would get anxious over their losses. The key was, a lot of money was not lost by him.
Before Tsunade could get anxious, Senju Hashirama shifted topics and asked, "Fifth Hokage, I believe you know the reason why Tobirama and I came to see you, mainly because we encountered the Six Paths Sage in the Pure Land..."
"Big Brother."
Senju Tobirama immediately frowned. He couldn't believe his brother was so naive, intending to reveal all their cards.
"Tobirama, Fifth Hokage is Little Tsunade's husband and has developed Konoha beyond what either of us achieved. If we can't trust him, who else in the Ninja World can we trust?"
Senju Hashirama turned to Tobirama and then faced Uchiha Yoichi again, continuing, "The Six Paths Sage mentioned two things. The first is regarding Uchiha Madara. He already possesses the Rinnegan and plans to gather the Tailed Beasts to become the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki, initiating the Infinite Tsukuyomi...."
While discussing Uchiha Madara's information, Senju Hashirama observed Uchiha Yoichi's expression. Seeing no concern on his face, he smiled and said,
"Indeed, Fifth Hokage, as Little Tsunade said, even knowing Uchiha Madara has the Rinnegan, you have a countermeasure."
"Yes, because I also have the Rinnegan. It's no big deal."
Uchiha Yoichi replied, his eyes quickly transforming from Three-Tomoe, to Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and finally into the purple Rinnegan.
This wasn't the extent of Uchiha Yoichi's power; the Star Stone Chakra… the Ten-tailed Chakra had opened up a path for the evolution of his Chakra. After absorbing Indra's Chakra, the Rinnegan should further evolve.
"Rinnegan..."
Upon seeing Uchiha Yoichi's Rinnegan, Senju Tobirama felt a surge of impulse but suppressed it, especially with his elder brother and Tsunade present.
The Rinnegan, as mentioned by the Six Paths Sage, had indeed appeared.
"It is indeed the Rinnegan. Judging from the powerful Chakra wave yesterday, it must have been you, Fifth Hokage, evolving your Rinnegan. With that, the second issue can also be shared with you, Fifth Hokage."
Senju Hashirama regained composure from the astonishment of seeing the Rinnegan and continued, "In the Pure Land, the Six Paths Sage asked us to do something, which was to find Indra's previous incarnation, Uchiha Madara, using Ninjutsu taught by the Six Paths Sage so he could meet him...."
"Then he would grant Madara power, and I, along with Madara, would seal the third Rinnegan in the Ninja World. It seems the Six Paths Sage was referring to you, Fifth Hokage."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yoichi merely frowned, but Tsunade became more worried than he was, furrowing her brows as she asked, "Grandpa, on what basis does that bastard Sage of Six Paths want to seal Yoichi? Hasn't he been dead for a millennium?"
Senju Hashirama shook his head and said, "Little Tsunade, even if you ask me, I don't know. He never told us the reason; he merely said the third Rinnegan is extremely dangerous, almost comparable to the mother of the Six Paths Sage, Princess Kaguya...."
"He truly overestimates me. But First Hokage, why are you telling me all this? As Asura's previous incarnation, I thought you would believe in the Six Paths Sage's words, like the Second Hokage...."
Uchiha Yoichi began to speak, and Senju Tobirama interjected, "I do not believe him; I only trust my own judgment. Previously, I deemed Uchiha Madara more dangerous, which was why I demanded the village put all efforts into dealing with him...."
"Because you are stronger than I am, Fifth Hokage, "
Senju Hashirama added, "Let the matters of the descendants be handled by the descendants. Besides, you have three children already and have developed Konoha so well; how could someone like that harbor world-ending ambitions? It seems even the Six Paths Sage has made a mistake...."