No idea whether the pit he'd dug had successfully caught Danzo yet.
Two power centers.
What a beautiful phrase.
If the Uchiha could pull that stunt, why couldn't the Hokage seat?
Come on!
You old grandpa who's a natural at taking the blame!
You'd better square up and start biting back at the Third like a rabid dog…
Kangetsu silently cheered Danzo on in his head.
Sure, he technically belonged to the Third's faction.
But he couldn't let the old man be too idle.
If the old man got bored, Kangetsu was genuinely worried he'd start "innovating" again.
No need to doubt it.
Every last one of Konoha's top brass was a troublemaking specialist.
In canon, the Hyuga, the Uchiha, the Senju, even the Hatake…
All of it was "legacy work" left behind by those old men.
He patted the documents against his chest again.
This was what he planned to use to redirect the leadership's attention.
Me, Konoha's good boy.
Working myself to the bone, only thinking of Konoha!
My Will of Fire is blazing—how could I possibly be playing political games?
I'm just a pure little white flower. What bad intentions could I have?
He walked into the Hokage Tower and knocked at the office door.
That respectful-from-start-to-finish attitude made the Third's mouth twitch into a pleased smile as he glanced at the councilors.
See?
See that!
This is what a subordinate under the Third Hokage looks like!
Homura and Koharu also put on warm, friendly smiles.
The village's only real businessman?
They had to keep him close.
Keeping him close meant keeping the money in their own pockets.
Even Danzo greeted him with rare politeness, actually taking the initiative.
Mm.
Looks like that old bastard really did jump into the pit.
Kangetsu understood instantly and returned the greetings smoothly.
Once everyone relaxed a bit, the Third lit up his long pipe again.
The foggy cloud of smoke made Koharu's brows knit tightly.
"Hiruzen, can you stop smoking that thing? We're talking about serious business."
"Yeah, Hiruzen!"
The moment someone started a dogpile, Danzo followed up without missing a beat.
Didn't matter whether it was big or small.
As long as he could splash mud on Hiruzen, he would.
He still had his sights set on the Deputy Hokage position, after all.
Only if Hiruzen slipped up could he push his own proposals "for the greater good."
"We old men can take it, but letting the young man breathe secondhand smoke isn't good for his health!"
The Third's face immediately soured.
"No, I actually thinks Hokage-sama's smoking is excellent."
"…"
Huh?
Homura looked like he wanted to speak, then didn't, then wanted to again.
He knew Kangetsu was loyal to Hiruzen, but this was… this was…
Even the Third was a little embarrassed.
The kid was great in every way, except he worshiped him a little too hard.
Sigh.
He really needed to help the kid grow up faster.
Couldn't let the councilors bully him.
"Forgive me—I'm not talking nonsense. In my humble opinion, Hokage-sama smoking contributes greatly to Konoha."
Oh?
So there was an actual argument?
The Third's eyes lit up.
He didn't believe Kangetsu would say something this bold for no reason.
If Kangetsu could use words to shove the councilors back into their seats, then from now on he wouldn't get lectured every time he took a puff.
As Hokage, getting dragged into a debate over smoking?
Was that reasonable?
Say it. Say it clearly.
Speak without fear!
I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, support you!
And let the kid see it too—whether the matter was big or small, the Third would stand with his loyal man.
People's hearts had to be gathered from time to time.
"Uh…"
Faced with the Third openly taking his side, Kangetsu hesitated instead.
Hokage-sama… do you really want me to say it?
I think it'd be better… privately.
Kangetsu's signal came through loud and clear.
But the Third insisted—he wanted Kangetsu to say it in public.
He couldn't have the councilors climbing all over him just because he smoked a little.
Especially Danzo.
"…All right. Since Hokage-sama says so."
Kangetsu slowly pulled several sheets of paper from inside his clothes.
That familiar motion.
That familiar prelude.
The Third's brows immediately started twitching.
No way.
That's my money!!
He slammed a hand down, stopping Kangetsu's hand on the spot.
His little heart was pounding wildly.
Money!
Another major profit chain!
If he'd known it was this kind of topic, he never would've—
His eyes flicked sideways toward the councilors.
Sure enough.
Danzo's eyes went wide. Koharu narrowed hers. Homura shot up with a sharp, "Huh?!"
"Hiruzen! What is it? Don't hide it. If there's something, we discuss it together."
Homura walked over with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
There's something here…
Did Kangetsu really cook up another scheme?
Or was it something he'd spotted because of the smoking?
The thought made Homura's blood run hot.
His gaze turned scorching, his throat suddenly dry.
Could it be…
Another clothing-industry-level gold mine?!
Koharu couldn't sit still anymore. She stared daggers at the Third.
So that's how it is.
You old bastard want to eat it all yourself again!
Last time with the clothing business, the councilors had to force their way in just to get a cut.
Now you want to pull the same trick?
Not happening.
Danzo's demeanor also turned serious.
Outrageous.
As Hokage, how can you ignore us like this?
As expected…
A Deputy Hokage really was necessary to keep things "in order."
"Kangetsu, go ahead and say it. Say it loudly."
"We're not dead yet, us old men."
This time, Koharu was the one brazenly squaring off against the Third.
It instantly made the Third feel cornered.
Bad.
Very bad.
Looks like eating alone was off the table.
For a moment, the Third was drowning in regret. He wanted to slap himself twice.
Why did you have to show off…
If you'd listened to the kid and handled it privately, wouldn't this have been clean?
Under the councilors' scorching gazes, Kangetsu—Konoha's "good boy"—looked at Hokage-sama with obvious difficulty.
Seeing the kid look to him for permission, the Third's regret turned bitter enough to turn his guts green.
"…Tell them too."
"…Yes."
With Hokage-sama's order, Kangetsu finally spread the documents out on the desk.
"Hokage-sama. Councilor-sama. Please look."
He pointed to a map showing Uchiha land.
Prime farmland—land that could be cultivated.
Then he pointed toward the massive market of the Land of Fire.
"I have done research. Do you know how many people in the Land of Fire smoke? And in other countries, how many smoke?"
He held up a number that made people's scalps prickle.
And that number was him lowballing it.
Based on that enormous demand, the people selling tobacco weren't even that many—and most were just scattered small-time sellers.
"If—just if—we plant tobacco on a large scale, and then turn this massive group of smokers into our customers, then…"
Then what?
Koharu's eyes abruptly reddened, the sheer profit blinding her.
Then Konoha would make so much money it would go insane…!
(End of Chapter)
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