The whole room fell silent, completely silent.
Gekko Chizan's behavior was basically exposing everyone's bottom line.
Every clan had their own businesses to make a living. If those were used to support the village… how were they supposed to survive?
For a moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Gekko Chizan, but he didn't care at all.
After all, when it came to being shameless, everyone here combined wasn't as thick-skinned as he was.
"How? Everyone, we're all members of the big Konoha family."
"If we each support a little, won't this difficulty be solved?"
"Hey hey hey, Chōza, what's with that look? Your clan's barbecue is incredibly popular, isn't it?"
"Shikaku, don't scratch your head. Your clan's deer antler velvet is great stuff, tsk tsk."
"Hey hey hey, Advisor Danzō, don't look at me either. All those rare treasures your Root collects—taking out just one would be enough."
Gekko Chizan didn't show the slightest fear, calling out names one by one under everyone's gaze.
Minato Namikaze was speechless. He thought: Chizan… can you just casually bring up something like this?
Shaking the foundations of all major clans—who would ever agree to that?
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two other advisors were stunned. They all felt Gekko Chizan was truly daring.
"Chizan, think this through. This involves too much."
Minato had to speak up. If this continued, it might turn into an internal conflict.
But Gekko Chizan didn't care. He kept performing on his own—and what he said next made everyone change their minds.
"What? You don't think I'm asking you to directly hand over your assets, right?"
"Good grief, how do your brains even function?"
One sentence of mockery made everyone's faces instantly darken.
"Take the Akimichi clan for example—can't you open restaurants across the Land of Fire?"
"Your barbecue is that good! You can't expand and grow bigger?"
"Shikaku, your deer velvet—good grief—sell it to the surrounding countries! All those nobles need it!"
"Shibi, your clan's insects—take them outside the village! Great medicinal materials everywhere!"
"I'm telling you—why do you keep your brains locked inside the village?"
"Step beyond the tall walls—there's money everywhere."
As his words fell, silence again filled the room.
Everyone froze.
This idea… sounded pretty interesting…
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe, eyes narrowing. He always knew Gekko Chizan's thinking was unconventional.
But he didn't expect him to be this bold.
Letting these major clans of Konoha go outside the village to do business?
How did this kid's brain grow?
"This idea… actually could work…"
"Our Nara clan raises deer to profit mainly to sustain the clan."
"But if we expand across the entire Land of Fire, we could even move into the Land of Grass, Land of Rivers, Land of Hot Water."
"Although manpower consumption would be large, the profit would certainly increase."
"But Chizan—how do you plan to solve the manpower issue?"
The question returned to Gekko Chizan, and everyone's attention shifted from Nara Shikaku to him.
He rolled his eyes.
"Is that 200 IQ of yours for decoration?"
"Such a simple question even needs asking?"
"We have so many ninja in the village—what are you afraid of? Issue missions, and they'll take action."
"The village can still afford mission rewards right now."
Right—what was the one thing they weren't lacking now? Ninja.
Even after the war, the village still had plenty of ninja.
Using them to guard cargo?
No problem!
This way, they could stabilize the ninjas and help expand territory—indeed a workable plan.
"Not bad. This method works. Chizan, I never expected your brain to be this useful."
"Using the village's capable forces for work… sigh. Only someone like you would… forget it, your intentions are still good."
Minato sighed, but remembering Chizan's earlier sly and mischievous smile, he felt this kid wasn't acting for the village's good…
He simply wanted to drag everyone into the water.
"What do the clan leaders think?"
"Speak up—this concerns the village, and everyone has responsibility."
Although the plan was proposed, Minato still needed the clan leaders' opinions.
After all, they were the village's main support.
"I agree. After returning, I'll begin preparations and post related missions at the mission hall."
"But the initial expenses need to be covered by the village."
"But I have a question—how will future profits be divided?"
"If we conduct business in various regions, how will the shares be allocated?"
Nara Shikaku asked first. His question was exactly what all the clan heads were thinking. Though they were Konoha ninjas, they also had to consider their clans.
Otherwise… well, the Senju and Uzumaki clans were perfect examples of what not to become.
"This matter needs further discussion."
"I'll work with the advisors shortly to draft a reasonable plan."
"Of course, that depends on everyone agreeing to Chizan's proposal."
Although everyone wasn't fully satisfied with Chizan's plan, there were no alternatives.
If they didn't do something, the village's economy would collapse.
None of them wanted that—not for the village, and not for their clans.
"Very well. We can accept Chizan's proposal."
"Chizan-kun, do you have any more good ideas?"
Shikaku stopped scratching his head and stared directly at Chizan, curious whether he had more self-destructive brilliance to share.
Gekko Chizan felt a chill under his stare and forced a laugh.
"Hahaha, no more. I think this idea is enough."
"When will the meeting end? I need to go home and prepare."
"Right, Fugaku—have Uchiha Shisui meet me later. We still have to take a mission together."
"Better to meet early."
Chizan knew he couldn't push too hard, or these clan leaders would eat him alive.
His Gekko clan only had a few people—whatever.
But those clans had a lot of people.
"Then we'll proceed like this. Everyone, return and begin preparations."
"This will be a harsh winter for the village. I hope we can get through it steadily."
"Chizan-kun, stay for a moment."
Minato announced the meeting's end. But that final "stay for a moment" made Gekko Chizan instantly recall the feeling of being kept after class by a teacher in his previous life.
It made his whole body uncomfortable.
When everyone else left, only Minato and the advisors remained in the spacious conference room.
Including, of course, the two eternal adversaries—Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō.
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