Faced with Senju Tobirama's questioning, Senju Hashirama could only explain the origin of the five million Ryo to him in full detail.
"Uchiha Makoto asked me to use my Wood Style to help the Akatsuki Ninja Village with plant breeding experiments. It wasn't a difficult task for me at all, so I agreed."
"The reward was a full five million Ryo... This was much easier than any S-rank mission I've done before... Makoto, he's really generous!"
As Senju Hashirama spoke, his tone did not hide his admiration for Uchiha Makoto.
For such a simple mission, Uchiha Makoto gave a whole 5,000,000 Ryo in one go.
Where in the ninja world could you find such a high-paying and easy S-rank mission?
This was probably out of consideration for Konoha, for him being the Hokage of Konoha. Otherwise, this kind of mission would be a C or B-rank at best.
And Senju Tobirama's expression had become visibly ugly.
He had only heard the beginning of Hashirama's story, but he instantly understood many things.
No wonder, I knew something was wrong all along!
I've been so busy lately my head's been spinning!
I can't believe I didn't realize such a simple thing at first.
No wonder the Akatsuki Ninja Village suddenly developed high-yield crop seeds. It turns out they borrowed my brother's Wood Style power. Only Wood Style could rapidly grow plants and cultivate a batch... And that so-called Agricultural Association, that's probably thanks to my brother too!
Damn it.
The most crucial thing is...
My money!!!
You Akatsuki Ninja Village... just from the few contract copies Konoha collected, it's clear that the Akatsuki Ninja Village has already easily made hundreds of millions, and that's just the tip of the iceberg, a drop in the ocean!
Who knows how much money you'll rake in in the future? Even mountains of gold and silver wouldn't be enough for you to haul away!
You're making a fortune, stinking rich, yet you only give my brother a mere five million Ryo!
And now you have my brother thanking you?
"Damn it! You beasts!"
"Uchiha Makoto, you naturally evil Uchiha brat, I'm going to kill you!!"
The more Tobirama thought about it, the more upset he became. His face twisted, and losing his composure, he screamed.
Money... money... He was worried sick about money.
Such a windfall from the heavens, and it just flew away inexplicably!
At this moment, he truly had the heart to kill Uchiha Makoto.
That naturally evil Uchiha brat, Uchiha Makoto, must have set my brother up!
Senju Hashirama hadn't even finished speaking when he was startled by Tobirama's sudden roar.
"Tobirama, what's wrong with you? Don't be like this..."
"Brother, you've been tricked by Uchiha Makoto... That naturally evil Uchiha brat sold you out, and you're still here counting his money and singing his praises!"
Senju Tobirama came to his senses. He looked at his brother, his face a mask of frustration and disappointment.
Brother, how could you be so naive as to fall for Uchiha Makoto's trick!
That naturally evil Uchiha brat sold you out, and you're still here counting his money and singing his praises?
"I was tricked?"
"How is that possible? Madara was with me at the time. How could Uchiha Makoto have tricked both of us?"
"Besides, Makoto isn't that kind of person!"
Senju Hashirama said.
He subconsciously began to defend Uchiha Makoto. It was he who had insisted on his brother's instructions and refused to cooperate, forcing Makoto into a corner where he had to use the mission format. That couldn't be called a trick.
Besides, Uchiha Madara was there. If Uchiha Makoto had wanted to trick him, Madara would surely have warned him!
The moment he heard Uchiha Madara's name, Senju Tobirama became even more furious.
Uchiha Makoto and Uchiha Madara, what good can come from two naturally evil Uchiha getting together? They're just bullying my brother for not being smart!
And now his brother was still speaking up for them?
A mere five million Ryo!
Brother, you were bought off for that?
The Akatsuki Ninja Village could be making hundreds of millions, billions, even tens of billions of Ryo from this.
The thought of this was honestly more painful for Tobirama than being killed with a single slash.
Money... money... so much money that should have belonged to Konoha, now it's all gone!!
"Hmph, Uchiha Madara is in cahoots with Uchiha Makoto. They're all Uchiha!!"
"Bastards, I knew it!!"
"This bunch of Uchiha are colluding from the inside and out... harming Konoha's interests... until Konoha is completely ruined... only then will they be satisfied!!"
In his fury, Senju Tobirama blurted out the words that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time—words that were normally taboo to even mention in front of Senju Hashirama.
Hashirama's expression became incredibly serious, no longer restrained.
"Tobirama, that's enough! Don't say such things!"
"Makoto and Madara are not like that. The Uchiha clan is already our comrade!"
"Hah... comrades... Brother, you are just too naive. Konoha, the Uzumaki clan, and the Akatsuki Ninja Village jointly opened a cannery. I invested with technology back then... Do you know how much money Konoha makes annually from its twenty percent share? The income is in the hundreds of millions."
"And for your Wood Style, brother... he dismissed Konoha with a mere five million Ryo."
"Isn't this just bullying you for being an honest man?"
The sarcastic words tumbled out of Senju Tobirama's mouth. He even used the cannery as evidence. Just a twenty percent share brought Konoha a handsome annual profit, and this time, the Agricultural Association's business would have brought Konoha even greater returns.
And this wasn't just a simple matter of economics!
There was also politics, reputation... The unscrupulous media in the Land of Fire had praised the Akatsuki Ninja Village to the heavens because of the new seeds and fertilizers introduced by the Agricultural Association!
All of that should have been Konoha's share, and a large one at that!
By now, Senju Hashirama had more or less understood what Tobirama meant.
So the Agricultural Association created by the Akatsuki Ninja Village could make that much money!
Hundreds of millions?
Billions?
Even tens of billions??
That's a lot of money!!
However, while Hashirama was amazed at the profits of the business under the Agricultural Association, he felt no dissatisfaction towards Uchiha Makoto.
In fact, Uchiha Makoto's image in Hashirama's mind had even been elevated!
After all, Uchiha Makoto had tried his best to persuade him to cooperate and had even offered generous terms of a fifty-fifty split. It was only because of his brother Tobirama's repeated warnings—that no matter how pleasant Uchiha Makoto's words were, he must never agree to any cooperation between Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village—that Hashirama had stubbornly refused to budge at first.
It was Uchiha Makoto who found an excuse, bringing Uchiha Madara in to apply pressure, that finally made Hashirama reluctantly agree.
And Uchiha Makoto had seized the opportunity, proposing a mission agreement of five million Ryo per assistance, which both got Hashirama to help and indirectly satisfied Tobirama's demands.
Sigh... Uchiha Makoto was so sincere back then, wanting to cooperate with Konoha and make money together!
But because of his brother Tobirama's prejudice, a perfectly good cooperation was ruined.
"Uhm... Tobirama... but this is all your fault!!"
"Have you forgotten what you said to me before I went to the Akatsuki Ninja Village?"
Hashirama's expression grew even more serious. He looked at Tobirama with disappointed eyes and spoke slowly in a heavy voice.
"What did I say?"
"You told me that no matter how pleasant Uchiha Makoto's words were, I must never agree to any cooperation between Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village."
"Hiss..."
"Uhm... Brother, you mean..."
At first, Tobirama was still immersed in the sorrow of losing hundreds of millions, billions, or even tens of billions, completely forgetting what he had done. Now, with a slight reminder from Hashirama, he suddenly remembered what he had said to his brother before he left for the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Absolutely... absolutely do not cooperate with the Akatsuki Ninja Village, no matter how good it sounds.
"That's right. Uchiha Makoto wanted the Akatsuki Ninja Village and Konoha to cooperate, promising Konoha a fifty percent share... But because of your instructions, I kept refusing. Later, Uchiha Makoto had no choice but to change the plan..."
As Hashirama spoke, Tobirama looked as if he had been struck by lightning, an expression of disbelief on his face—Did I screw myself over?
Hah... is it too late to regret it now?
"This... this... Brother..."
"I... I didn't expect it either..."
Senju Tobirama revealed an extremely awkward smile, his attitude changing from arrogant to humble in an instant, looking like a comical clown.
He hadn't expected it either. Uchiha Makoto, that naturally evil Uchiha brat, was a black-hearted bastard who was always trying to dig a pit for him to fall into, and he was just passively defending himself!
But this time, Uchiha Makoto had actually changed his ways, not even digging a single pit, just wanting to make big money with Konoha... Was that even reasonable?
If he had known, he would have gone with his brother... Regret!
A wave of regret washed over Senju Tobirama, but this was not the time to dwell on such "minor issues."
The most important thing now was how to salvage the situation.
His brother's help this time absolutely could not be worth so little. They had to get back the share of the profits that rightfully belonged to Konoha!
And so...
Senju Tobirama took a deep breath, adjusted his mood, and said with immense pain in his heart:
"Uhm... Brother... I was wrong this time!"
"I lacked foresight. I was judging a gentleman by my own petty standards."
"From now on, Uchiha Makoto is my best comrade!"
"...."
"So, brother, is it too late for me to regret it now?"
These words from Senju Tobirama were utterly shameless.
Praising Uchiha Makoto to his brother's face was something Tobirama had never even dreamed of.
It was a complete humiliation!
But he still said it.
But it couldn't be helped... for that much money, anyone would change their tune!
This is all for Konoha!!
Senju Tobirama mentally prepared himself with this thought.
"Sigh... Tobirama, what do you think... Uchiha Makoto said so many nice things to me back then, and I still didn't agree to cooperate... Later, to prevent you from settling scores with him, he had no choice but to use the mission format... Now that the Akatsuki Ninja Village has made a huge sum of money, to go back regretting it... I can't bring myself to do something like that."
Senju Hashirama was a man of morals. He couldn't bring himself to do something so despicable and shameless.
But Senju Tobirama was different.
He was a thick-skinned, shameless bastard.
Hearing Hashirama's reply, he quickly thought of other ways to salvage the current situation.
Since Uchiha Makoto could use his brother's Wood Style to cultivate a batch of high-yield crop seeds.
There was no reason he couldn't do it himself.
His brother was right here in Konoha, and his Wood Style could be used at any time... Hmph, a mere Akatsuki Ninja Village, they've only gotten a little extra money by basking in my brother's light. This golden road to wealth will sooner or later belong to Konoha!
"Brother, if that's the case, then let's forget it."
"But since the Akatsuki Ninja Village can use Wood Style to cultivate a batch of high-yield crop seeds, then so can we in Konoha!"
"That way, Konoha can also take the opportunity to make a lot of money!"
As Tobirama said this, he felt he had found a solution, and could even find a chance to slap Uchiha Makoto in the face later.
Wood Style belongs to our Senju clan's exclusive Kekkei Genkai!!
Hmph, a mere Uchiha Makoto!!
But...
At this moment, Senju Hashirama shook his head and took out the copy of the mission agreement he had signed in the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Uchiha Makoto, in order to protect Akatsuki's interests, had long anticipated Tobirama's current reaction.
To prevent Tobirama from going back on his word after learning the truth... and then meddling in this business, he had specifically signed a long-term mission with Hashirama. One of the clauses in the mission clearly stated that during the mission period, in the field of agriculture... Hashirama's Wood Style could only be used in exclusive cooperation with the Akatsuki Ninja Village... a ninja world version of a non-compete clause.
Of course... this could only restrain a gentleman, not a villain.
But Senju Hashirama was no villain.
"Tobirama, look... I've already made an agreement with Uchiha Makoto... My Wood Style can only be used to help the Akatsuki Ninja Village in agriculture on schedule... other villages, individuals... even Konoha..."
"What?"
"There's such a thing? Isn't this a gangster clause!"
"Brother, how could you sign such an agreement!"
Senju Tobirama snatched the copy of the mission agreement from Hashirama. When he saw the "non-compete clause," his eyes turned red... Bastard!
Uchiha Makoto, did you plan this far ahead?
And... brother, how could you sign such a crappy mission with such a gangster clause?
Wood Style belongs to Konoha, not the Akatsuki Ninja Village!
"Heh..."
Hashirama recalled the scene at that time. Uchiha Madara had been staring at him from the side... If he didn't sign, wouldn't that prove he didn't trust the Uchiha?
Thinking of this, he suddenly realized something.
Could Uchiha Makoto have done it on purpose... to teach Tobirama a lesson?
After all, the "main culprit" of all this was his brother Tobirama. If it weren't for his prejudice against Uchiha Makoto...
It wouldn't have come to this...
"Tobirama, do you think... Uchiha Makoto might have anticipated that you would regret it, and that's why..."
"Huh???"
It was as if this sentence struck a chord in Tobirama's soul.
An indescribable sense of absurdity washed over him.
I've been played in the palm of Uchiha Makoto's hand again?
The fatigue from the past few days, coupled with today's rapid emotional fluctuations.
This sentence was like the last straw that broke the camel's back—"Since Tobirama has been born, why must Makoto exist too?"
The world in front of Senju Tobirama's eyes instantly went black... exhausted for several days, he finally couldn't hold on any longer
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