Uchiha Makoto cast a calm glance at the "unsophisticated" daimyo and chose not to argue further.
Since the daimyo was unwilling to meet Senju Hashirama in person, Makoto could easily act as an intermediary instead. That would only give him more room to maneuver behind the scenes.
"Your Highness, leave this matter to me," Makoto said evenly.
"For now, let this letter sit. If Senju Hashirama personally comes to the Fire Country's capital, I will receive him on your behalf."
"That would be excellent," the daimyo replied, a smile spreading across his face.
With the letter matter resolved, the two shifted the discussion to the Tulip Plan.
The tulip market was nearing its climax.
According to the intelligence they currently held, over the next month enormous amounts of liquid capital from across the shinobi world would pour into the tulip trade.
At the appropriate moment, Makoto planned to introduce an entirely new trading method—contract-based transactions.
This move had a single name:
Adding fuel to the fire.
They discussed the finer details of execution—spreading fabricated rumors, planting "experts" who would stir enthusiasm, and ensuring such figures appeared in every major tulip exchange throughout the Land of Fire.
After roughly half an hour, their discussion concluded.
Makoto excused himself. He needed rest—he had rushed here overnight after receiving the daimyo's summons.
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
Tulip prices began rising at an even more alarming rate than before.
And Shimura Danzō—who had completely thrown himself into the speculative market—lived each day immersed in the blissful chant of up, up, up.
His worldview was shattered.
Was making money really this easy?
Buy a batch of tulips today. Wake up tomorrow richer.
Isn't this something anyone with hands can do?
At the same time, as his worldview warped, so did his desires.
What had begun as a one-million-ryō experiment spiraled out of control. Danzō began repeatedly diverting clan and procurement funds to purchase tulips.
The total amount had reached a terrifying fifty million ryō.
The returns were equally shocking.
His profits had already doubled.
In just one week, he had earned fifty million ryō.
An utterly horrifying gain.
Even the funds Senju Tobirama had racked his brain trying to "appropriate" over time likely didn't match what Danzō made in a single week.
Yet Danzō still had no intention of stopping.
According to the rumors flooding the market, this was only the beginning.
More and more money would continue pouring in.
Prices were still "only halfway up the mountain."
"How could I pull out now?" Danzō muttered.
"When money is there to be made, if you don't go all out—who knows when the next opportunity will come?"
Such words spread everywhere throughout the tulip exchanges.
And Danzō wholeheartedly agreed.
Those timid people who "got off early," panicking at the slightest dip—
What cowards.
A minor price drop and they were already desperate to sell?
So what if prices fell sharply?
Based on past trends, Danzō was convinced these were merely temporary corrections—short pullbacks meant to let more people buy in.
Anyone selling now was nothing but a clueless leek, destined to buy back at much higher prices later.
"Tch… I have to go see that idiot Hiruzen again."
"Poor Sarutobi Hiruzen. What could he possibly be doing right now?"
"Probably haggling with profiteers over a few hundred thousand ryō."
Thinking this, Danzō strode confidently out of the tulip exchange.
He had once again spent the entire day there.
In truth, ever since making a fortune in the tulip market, he had completely pushed the procurement mission to the back of his mind.
In his eyes, such tasks could be done anytime.
Making big money was what mattered.
With money in hand, what couldn't I buy?
As a result, Danzō's procurement progress lagged far behind Hiruzen's.
But his attitude had completely changed.
At first, he still bothered to invent excuses and put on a show for Hiruzen.
Now?
He couldn't even be bothered to pretend.
"Hiruzen, nothing again today," Danzō said cheerfully.
"Those people are all profiteers."
There wasn't the slightest trace of frustration on his face.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, standing opposite him, wore a dark expression.
Hiruzen wasn't stupid.
At first, Danzō's act had fooled him.
But as time went on, Danzō's behavior became more and more blatant—now he wasn't even pretending.
Today, determined to uncover the truth, Hiruzen had followed him.
He personally watched Danzō enter the tulip exchange and stay there until the appointed meeting time.
"Danzō," Hiruzen said coldly, "you're still lying to my face?"
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Suppressing his anger, Hiruzen finally laid everything bare.
"Stop pretending, Danzō!"
"You haven't been carrying out the procurement mission at all. I already know the truth."
"How can you face Lord Tobirama like this?!"
"Speculation like this has nothing to do with us ninja. Danzō—you must turn back while you still can!"
Danzō's expression shifted. He immediately understood.
"…You followed me?"
"Yes," Hiruzen admitted firmly.
"And I did it for your sake. Right now, our priority is completing the procurement mission."
His posture was righteous, his tone resolute.
As a comrade, he couldn't stand by and watch Danzō walk further down the wrong path.
"…Fine."
"I wanted to keep getting along with you as an ordinary ninja."
"But all I got in return was your suspicion."
"So I'll be honest. I'm done pretending."
Since his secret had been exposed, Danzō saw no reason to hide it any longer. By now, it was time to come clean anyway.
"Danzō, how can you still act like this?" Hiruzen said urgently.
"I'm saying all this because I care about you!"
"We're comrades!"
"I can't let you keep making mistake after mistake!"
Hearing this "heartfelt advice," Danzō's lips curled upward. He even let out a soft chuckle.
"Hiruzen, you're not a bad person," he said slowly.
"But your vision is far too narrow."
"Since you're speaking so sincerely, I've decided to let you share in this fortune."
"…Share?" Hiruzen frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Danzō calmly raised one hand, spreading all five fingers.
"Hiruzen," he asked, "guess how much I've earned recently."
"Five hundred thousand ryō?"
Danzō shook his head.
"Five million?"
He shook his head again.
"Don't tell me…" Hiruzen's voice trembled slightly.
"Fifty million ryō?"
Danzō… did you really pull it off?
Am I… the fool here?
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