Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito were chattering away in Senju Tobirama's ear.
They both sincerely hoped that Tobirama could let go of his "discrimination" sooner and turn back from the brink.
The Uchiha clan are our comrades!
Even though Uchiha Makoto is the Kōkage of the Akatsuki Ninja Village, our two families have already arranged a betrothal. In the future, we will truly be one family.
If Konoha continues to play tricks behind the scenes, once it gets out, it will become a scandal!
However, everything Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito said went in one of Tobirama's ears and out the other; he didn't take any of it to heart.
He knew all too well what kind of person Uchiha Makoto was!
No one understood Uchiha Makoto better than him!
So his mind was not on this at all.
Instead... he was considering how to reclaim the benefits that should have belonged to Konoha.
—A weak person, when faced with setbacks, will be afraid and run away. But Senju Tobirama was no weakling.
He would never admit defeat to an Uchiha in his life!
His brother's Wood Style absolutely could not be used by the Akatsuki Ninja Village for a price that was practically free. What good was a mission agreement?
He had to convince his brother to tear up this unreasonable agreement!
"Brother, I know... but I think the first thing we should consider now is how to recover Konoha's losses."
"The Akatsuki Ninja Village was only able to cultivate high-yield crop seeds because of your Wood Style... In the Hokage's office, you also saw the investigation report collected by the ANBU. The Akatsuki Ninja Village has already made a huge profit, and in the future... the financial prospects are immeasurable."
"Perhaps the future income from the agricultural trade of the Akatsuki Ninja Village could easily surpass Konoha's entire annual financial revenue... But the little money he gives you each year is like giving alms to a beggar."
Senju Tobirama said.
The most important thing right now was to recover Konoha's losses. Uchiha Makoto had used his brother's Wood Style to open up the agricultural trade, allowing the Akatsuki Ninja Village to earn an astronomical sum every year, while Konoha, which had played the most crucial role in this business, only got a sip of the soup.
It was truly just a sip!
The thought of this.
Senju Tobirama couldn't swallow this injustice—even if he was the one who had made the stupid mistake at the beginning.
But leaving all that aside, wasn't Uchiha Makoto also at fault?
Senju Hashirama's attention was also quickly drawn.
Although he was a hands-off manager, he was well aware of the importance of finances to a village.
And as the First Hokage of the village, it was one thing for Senju Hashirama to loaf around and do nothing, messing around with Uchiha Madara all day, as Senju Tobirama would proactively take care of his worries. But at this critical moment, he had to stand up and fight for the village's interests no matter what.
But...
Konoha was not in the right in this matter.
Uchiha Makoto had first offered to cooperate with Konoha, with a fifty-fifty split. But because of Senju Tobirama's behind-the-scenes suspicion and petty actions, this win-win cooperation was dead in the womb.
Moreover, Uchiha Makoto had used a mission to make Senju Hashirama sign a "non-compete agreement," which was tantamount to cutting off Konoha's path to start its own venture, putting them in a dilemma.
Senju Hashirama felt that this was a difficult matter to handle.
"Brother, for the sake of Konoha, just tear up the mission contract you signed with Uchiha Makoto. Otherwise, who knows how much financial income Konoha will lose."
Senju Tobirama saw Hashirama's predicament.
It's alright...
Brother, I'll say the unpleasant words!
Senju Tobirama proactively suggested breaking the contract.
After hearing this, Senju Hashirama's brows immediately furrowed, his expression serious.
Even Uzumaki Mito was the same.
The shackles of the old era had left too deep a mark on both of them.
In the early days of the hidden village era, which was heavily influenced by the customs of the Warring States period, the "ninja as tools" theory was still the mainstream ideology in the ninja world.
As a ninja, once a mission was accepted, one had to do everything possible to complete it—an excellent ninja would never break a contract for personal gain.
This was also a core value that had always been advocated within Konoha... After all, ninety-nine percent of the ninja in Konoha relied on mission rewards for their livelihood.
To tear up a mission for profit was tantamount to ruining one's own reputation.
Once one's reputation collapsed, it would be a devastating blow to a ninja's ability to accept missions.
Especially with Senju Hashirama as the Hokage, if he took the lead in breaking this rule, how would the ninja in the village view Konoha?
How would the Daimyo and nobles view Konoha?
How would the Akatsuki Ninja Village view Konoha?
Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito immediately felt that Senju Tobirama was being a bit too "crazy." Doing this would shake the very foundation of the village!
"How can we do that!"
"Tobirama, we absolutely cannot do that!"
"As a ninja, once a mission is accepted, one must do everything possible to complete it—an excellent ninja would never break a contract for personal gain."
"Konoha's reputation... if it's ruined..."
Senju Hashirama thought for a moment and then shook his head in refusal.
As the Hokage, he really couldn't afford to lose this face!
Senju Tobirama opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he didn't.
He finally understood a little of what Uchiha Makoto must have felt when he had lectured him back then.
As the saying goes, the person who understands you best is often your enemy.
Uchiha Makoto had no shortage of enemies, and Senju Tobirama was a prominent one among them.
Ninja had always considered carrying out missions as their bounden duty, never thinking that there could be another way of life.
Senju Tobirama had once thought the same.
But ever since being dragged into this to-the-death competition by Uchiha Makoto, he had witnessed firsthand the ideological chasm between them—Uchiha Makoto had a complete and mature worldview and methodology to dialectically view the entire ninja world.
This ninja world should not be like this!
At first, Senju Tobirama had only thought that Uchiha Makoto was spouting nonsense, just like the Uchiha he had seen before. But after experiencing failure after failure... he had to admit that perhaps what Uchiha Makoto said did have some truth to it.
Senju Tobirama was gradually adapting to the "corrupted" ninja world created by Uchiha Makoto, and his bottom line and standards were beginning to become flexible and varied.
The times were about to change.
In the future, ninja would no longer rely solely on missions for their livelihood but, like the Akatsuki Ninja Village, would use their ninjutsu to develop productive forces and participate in various forms of social production.
Tearing up the mission contract... would definitely bring more benefits to Konoha.
And it could also be used to promote internal reforms in Konoha.
After all, it was too difficult to make Konoha's ninja abandon a tradition that had lasted for a thousand years.
Train hard, polish one's skills, start as a Genin, accept low-level missions, grow through repeated missions, get promoted to Chunin... eventually become a Jonin, and even make a name for oneself in the ninja world, practicing one's own ninja way. This was the proper life a ninja should have. Just like people on Earth, who study from elementary school to middle school and then to university, and finally find a job, not a single step can be wrong. This is a path ingrained in their bones.
Asking a ninja to give up such a life is comparable to forcing a student who should be burying their head in their books to drop them and start dancing—it's completely subversive!
The ways of the ancestors cannot be changed!
Simply forcing them would only lead to internal division in Konoha.
The best way was to lure them with benefits—even dancing can get you a Lamborghini!
And the enormous benefits opened up by the Agricultural Association could be used to attract Konoha's ninja to invest in the agricultural trade business as well, achieving the village's transformation towards the Akatsuki model.
It was killing multiple birds with one stone.
But facing a stubborn mule like his brother, Senju Tobirama knew it was useless to say anything.
After a moment of awkward silence.
Senju Tobirama thought of another way to persuade Senju Hashirama.
"But brother, are we just going to watch the Akatsuki Ninja Village monopolize this benefit... Brother, your Wood Style played a very important role in it!"
"This should have been Konoha's benefit in the first place!"
"Don't forget Konoha's orphanage, the disabled ninja... Don't you want to implement a welfare safety net policy? If we had this large sum of money, even if we couldn't establish a welfare system as massive as the Akatsuki Ninja Village's, we could definitely implement a smaller-scale one... Brother, think about the infants in the orphanage..."
"Brother, you don't want the villagers of Konoha to live in poverty and hardship due to insufficient finances, do you?"
Senju Tobirama knew that Senju Hashirama was a moral and principled person.
So he used moral blackmail on him.
Brother, I know you want to be a good person, but think about the children in Konoha's orphanage, think about the disabled ninja of Konoha.
Let go of your morals, and Konoha will become better.
Hearing Tobirama say this, Hashirama's expression changed.
It was clear that Tobirama had hit Hashirama's weak spot, and what he said made a lot of sense—Wood Style had played an irreplaceable role, yet Konoha was given so little money. It was truly unfair.
Even if Tobirama was at fault first, the entire village of Konoha should not have to bear the consequences.
Senju Hashirama fell into a state of indecision. And just at this moment, a knock came from the door.
It was Uchiha Madara!
"Madara, why are you here?"
"To see Senju Tobirama... Didn't you send a clone to keep persuading me... to come and see him..."
Uchiha Madara's face was cold, but his tone sounded a little excited.
The whole of Konoha was saying that Senju Tobirama had collapsed from overwork.
Senju Hashirama had told him the same.
Originally, he didn't want to come at all and had used the excuse of the Uchiha clan sending Uchiha Kagami to refuse Hashirama.
But... just a short while ago.
Uchiha Madara had realized something.
Senju Tobirama had suddenly collapsed from exhaustion right after he and Hashirama returned from the Akatsuki Ninja Village. This was too strange.
Although Uchiha Madara didn't know the specifics of what had happened, his instincts told him that Tobirama definitely hadn't collapsed from exhaustion. There was something fishy going on... and it was definitely related to the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Simply put.
He had come to see Senju Tobirama make a fool of himself.
"Madara, you've come at the right time. Tobirama just woke up. He'll be very happy to see you've come to visit!"
Senju Hashirama's voice was loud, so loud that even Tobirama in the inner room could hear it.
But Tobirama's mood at this moment... was extremely shitty!
I was just about to convince my brother, and you, Uchiha Madara, you naturally evil old demon of the Uchiha, what are you doing here messing things up?
Are you doing this on purpose?!
"Tobirama, say hello. Madara even bought you flowers."
"Why do these flowers look so much like the ones at our doorstep..."
Senju Hashirama was trying his best to improve the relationship between Uchiha Madara and Senju Tobirama, specifically emphasizing that Madara had brought flowers for his visit.
Senju Tobirama glanced up and thought they looked like they had been picked from his own doorstep.
Uchiha Madara didn't deny it, because they had indeed been picked from the doorstep. He had only bothered to pick a flower for Hashirama's sake.
"Senju Tobirama, it seems you're not in any serious danger. Did you really collapse from exhaustion?"
"Right after Hashirama and I returned from the Akatsuki Ninja Village, you suddenly collapsed. What a coincidence."
Uchiha Madara's words were pointed.
This made Senju Tobirama very nervous, fearing that his brother beside him would speak carelessly and reveal the truth.
However, his strong mental fortitude kept his expression unchanged. He spoke in his usual tone: "Hmph, that's right... Are you interrogating me like a criminal... If you're done looking, then hurry up and leave..."
"Heh~"
Uchiha Madara snorted coldly and completely ignored Tobirama. He was a treacherous villain full of lies. How could his words be trusted!
The more he wants me to leave!
The more I can't leave!
There must be a hidden story here!
"Hashirama, you spent so many days inspecting the Akatsuki Ninja Village. How do you plan to implement what you've learned in Konoha..."
"Konoha's starting point was much higher than Akatsuki's. Now the gap has become so large. It feels like Senju Tobirama's exhaustion has been for nothing."
Uchiha Madara casually started a topic, speaking as if he were just expressing his feelings, giving no face to Senju Tobirama—Senju Tobirama, you are too useless, ten thousand times worse than Uchiha Makoto!
Such a blunt truth was like a sharp sword piercing Tobirama's heart.
Tobirama's face darkened. He wanted to say something, to defend his hard work, but the reality was cruel and cold. The Akatsuki Ninja Village was now more prosperous than Konoha!
Nothing he said would be of any use!
"Madara, Konoha's finances can't support the same level of welfare benefits as the Akatsuki Ninja Village..."
"Tobirama and I are trying to find ways to increase Konoha's income. There is a solution now... but it's a difficult matter for me."
"Brother... hey..."
Uchiha Madara was now effectively the number two person in Konoha, a founder of the village. So Senju Hashirama didn't treat him as an outsider at all and directly stated Konoha's current financial difficulties.
And... whether or not to tear up the mission agreement with the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Moreover, Uchiha Madara was the witness to this mission agreement. To tear it up, they would also need to seek his opinion.
But before Senju Hashirama could even finish his sentence, Tobirama was already visibly anxious.
Brother, are you trying to make me suffer a complete defeat in front of Uchiha Madara?
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