In the Fire Nation Palace, Uchiha Makoto regarded the "ignorant" Daimyo with a faint, disinterested glance. The man was of little concern to him. Since the Daimyo refused to meet Hashirama Senju personally, Makoto decided he would act as the middleman. From this vantage point, he could manipulate the situation to his advantage while remaining largely in control.
"Your Highness," Makoto said calmly, "leave this matter to me. Put this letter aside for now. If Hashirama Senju comes to the capital of the Land of Fire, I will personally meet him."
A smile spread across the Daimyo's face. Relief and trust flickered in his eyes as he nodded. "That would be excellent, Makoto. I am glad you will take responsibility for this delicate matter."
With the letter issue resolved, the conversation shifted to another pressing matter: the Tulip Project. According to intelligence gathered from multiple sources, the tulip speculation market was approaching its peak. A strategic plan had been formulated: in the coming month, cash flow from all countries in the ninja world would flood into the tulip market.
Makoto's mind raced with possibilities. The project required precise timing to maximize profits, and he intended to introduce a new form of trading, such as contract-based exchanges, at the opportune moment—a tactic he called "adding fuel to the fire."
"Experts in rumor-mongering and market manipulation will be planted across various tulip trading markets in the Fire Nation," Makoto instructed. "They must create an atmosphere of scarcity, excitement, and urgency. Only then can we ensure maximum participation and inflow of capital."
For the next half-hour, the two discussed specific details: placement of agents, timing of announcements, and the orchestration of public sentiment to drive tulip prices higher. By the time Makoto departed to rest, the framework of the plan was complete. His overnight journey had been exhausting, but a solid night's sleep would allow him to approach the next steps with clarity.
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Danzo's Tulip Frenzy
Meanwhile, in the bustling heart of the Land of Fire, Danzo Shimura had fully immersed himself in the tulip speculation market. The prices of tulips soared day after day, faster than he had ever anticipated. Each morning, he awoke to find his wealth increasing almost miraculously, and with each rise, his worldview shifted dramatically.
How could making money be this easy? Danzo marveled at the simplicity of the process: purchase a batch of tulips today, wait a short while, and awaken to unimaginable profits. It was not skill alone that yielded such returns—it was timing, courage, and the willingness to act decisively.
However, with newfound wealth came burgeoning desire. Initially, Danzo had planned to invest only one million taels. Now, the thrill of speculation had overtaken prudence. Using funds earmarked for family and village procurement, he plunged ever deeper into the tulip market. Within a week, his investment had escalated to fifty million taels.
The returns were astronomical. In a mere seven days, Danzo's fortune had multiplied exponentially. It was a staggering sum, easily surpassing the embezzlement schemes of others in the village. Yet, he refused to stop. Rumors of continued capital influx assured him that the market had not yet reached its peak.
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A Worldview Transformed
"Why stop now?" Danzo thought, pacing through the crowded tulip exchange. Words from yesterday echoed in his mind: If you don't go all-in when the opportunity arises, you will never know when it will appear again.
Around him, timid speculators sold at the first sign of minor price fluctuations, their fear of loss overtaking their ambition. Danzo observed them with disdain. Fools, he thought. They will pay a higher price later. Only those with foresight and courage can reap true rewards.
He laughed quietly, his mind brimming with strategies and projections. Three hundred thousand taels, five million… fifty million! And it's still climbing! Every fluctuation was an opportunity to buy more, and every rumor was a weapon to wield.
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Confrontation with Hiruzen
Despite his immersion in the market, Danzo knew he could not entirely neglect his obligations to the village. Yet, the task of procurement seemed trivial compared to the vast sums of money flowing before him. In his mind, the mission of purchasing supplies had become secondary, almost laughable.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, was not so easily deceived. He had grown suspicious of Danzo's frequent absences and decided to follow him. Observing from a distance, Hiruzen saw Danzo enter the tulip market early in the morning and remain there until the appointed meeting time, utterly engrossed in the speculation.
When Danzo finally met Hiruzen, his cheerful demeanor was a mask barely concealing his triumph.
"Danzo, stop pretending!" Hiruzen said, his tone a mix of exasperation and concern. "You haven't been carrying out procurement work for days, have you? I already know the truth. How can you live up to Master Tobirama's trust if you continue down this path?"
Danzo paused, realizing that Hiruzen had discovered his secret. A corner of his mouth curled upward into a smug smile. "Hiruzen… you followed me, didn't you?"
"Yes," Hiruzen admitted. "But it was for your own good. Our priority is still the procurement of supplies. I cannot allow you to jeopardize the village's needs for personal gain."
Danzo's expression softened slightly, but only briefly. Then, with deliberate calculation, he made his choice: no more pretense. If Hiruzen knew the truth, he would show it openly.
"Hiruzen," Danzo began, his voice calm yet commanding, "I was going to continue playing the part of an ordinary ninja for a while longer, but you've discovered me. So, I will be honest. From now on, I won't hide anything from you."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, waiting for an explanation.
"We are companions," Danzo continued, "and I cannot bear to see you remain narrow-minded. Now that you've admitted your concern for me, I will take you along on this journey. Together, we will make a fortune."
Hiruzen blinked in confusion. "Make a fortune? What do you mean, Danzo?"
Danzo raised five fingers, letting the gesture speak before his words. "Guess how much I've made recently."
"Five hundred thousand taels?" Hiruzen offered cautiously.
Danzo shook his head.
"Five million?" Hiruzen ventured again, hope and skepticism battling in his voice.
Still, Danzo shook his head.
Hiruzen's voice trembled slightly as realization dawned. "It… it can't be… fifty million taels?!"
Danzo's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Exactly. Fifty million taels in just one week. Do you see now? Am I a fool, or am I a man who seized the opportunity when it mattered?"
Hiruzen stood frozen, the weight of Danzo's success pressing down on him. Fifty million taels—an amount he had never imagined seeing so swiftly amassed. He realized that Danzo's apparent folly had been deliberate, his cunning and audacity concealed beneath the guise of a dutiful ninja.
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A New Understanding
For Danzo, this was only the beginning. The tulip market had revealed the power of strategy, observation, and risk. Hiruzen, initially angry and concerned, now stood on the threshold of comprehension. He saw the method behind Danzo's madness and, perhaps reluctantly, admired the daring displayed.
Danzo, for his part, did not gloat openly. His victory was personal, a confirmation of his vision and his willingness to act decisively. The lessons of the tulip market were profound: timing, courage, patience, and a keen understanding of human behavior could create fortunes where others saw only chaos.
As they walked together, Hiruzen's mind raced, trying to reconcile his sense of duty with the extraordinary success of his companion. Danzo's actions had challenged conventional norms, reshaping the boundaries of strategy and opportunity.
Perhaps, Hiruzen thought, there is more to this young man than meets the eye.
And Danzo, with a quiet smile, knew that his journey had only begun.
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