"Fifty million taels?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice trembled slightly as he stared at Danzo Shimura, incredulity etched across his face. "You really made fifty million taels?"
He repeated the number over and over, as if speaking it aloud would make it more believable. Hiruzen had never imagined such a fortune being amassed so quickly. The world, it seemed, had grown absurd in a single week. Danzo, once a cautious, calculating man like himself, had somehow transformed into a tycoon overnight.
Hiruzen had always hoped Danzo would walk the straight path, remain disciplined, and not stray into reckless ventures. But now, that very same companion had surpassed him in a way Hiruzen could hardly comprehend. The wealth he held in his hands was staggering, a figure that dwarfed even the most ambitious of Tobirama's disciples.
"Yes, Hiruzen," Danzo said casually, his smug smile betraying no hint of modesty. "Fifty million taels. And frankly, it's nothing."
Hiruzen's jaw dropped, disbelief giving way to silent fury. How could Danzo be so bold? So audacious? His companion had taken something as simple as tulip speculation and transformed it into a monumental success, while Hiruzen, equally capable, remained uninitiated and cautious.
Danzo's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the moment to show Hiruzen that he had seized an opportunity with perfect precision. Sarutobi Hiruzen, didn't you say ninjas like me had no business in the tulip market? Danzo thought smugly. Well, look at me now.
"Purchasing supplies can wait," Danzo continued nonchalantly. "Right now, the most important task is to seize opportunities and continue to make money. Hiruzen… what do you have to say about that?"
Hiruzen opened his mouth, then closed it again. He struggled to find words, finally muttering only two: "No… no."
"Excellent," Danzo said, his tone dripping with amusement. "Now, let's go eat. My treat!"
---
A Show of Wealth
The two companions arrived at the restaurant, with Danzo striding confidently ahead and Hiruzen following reluctantly, weighed down by frustration and awe. Once inside, Danzo booked a private room without hesitation. When the menu arrived, he waved a hand dismissively at the standard offerings.
"I don't want any of these dishes," he declared to the waiter. "Bring me everything else."
The waiter's eyes widened. Such a wealthy patron was rare, and today he had stumbled upon one of the grandest. Hiruzen, seated stiffly across from Danzo, felt a deep unease. The display of wealth was deliberate—a subtle, yet undeniable, assertion of superiority.
Danzo began to eat with enthusiasm, savoring every bite as if celebrating his newfound power. Hiruzen, however, felt constricted, unable to enjoy the meal. He understood the deeper significance: Danzo was demonstrating dominance not just in wealth, but in capability. Their rivalry had taken a new dimension, and Hiruzen could not ignore it.
The disparity between them was now tangible. Fifty million taels—an amount sufficient to elevate Danzo to a position of influence that Hiruzen could only envy. In that moment, Hiruzen realized the futility of watching from the sidelines. Danzo's meteoric rise was proof that ambition, risk, and bold action could achieve what patience alone could not.
---
The Price of Hesitation
Hiruzen's mind raced. Progress is always slow. One step at a time… He reminded himself of this principle, but Danzo had rewritten the rules. Danzo's fortune was a direct consequence of daring to act, of embracing uncertainty and boldly committing resources when the timing was right.
Hiruzen's rational side acknowledged the logic of Danzo's actions. Tulip speculation was unfamiliar territory, yes, but the market was a battlefield not unlike the ninja world. Strategy, timing, and decisive action dictated success. Hiruzen realized that even he could excel if guided by someone experienced.
Summoning humility, he finally spoke. "Danzo… I have a request. I want you to take me with you. I want to learn… to improve my skills in the tulip market."
Danzo raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "Hiruzen… you? Interested in tulip trading? I thought ninjas should focus on ninja tasks, not this trivial business."
Hiruzen flushed slightly but held his gaze. "I was naive before. I now see that opportunity waits for no one. If I want to be worthy of Master Tobirama, I must learn from those who excel, even if it is you, Danzo."
Danzo chuckled, the sound low and amused. "Very well, Hiruzen. I will take you along—reluctantly, of course."
Even as rivals and competitors, they shared a bond forged through companionship and shared ambition. Danzo understood that teaching Hiruzen was not a concession, but an extension of his influence. "Remember, Hiruzen… I am stronger than you, and I will guide you accordingly."
---
Lessons in the Market
Danzo began instructing Hiruzen immediately. "Although tulip prices are rising, we are still at the bottom. It's not too late to enter the market. You must understand, timing is everything."
He paused, ensuring Hiruzen was following. "After deducting recent expenditures for purchases, how much do we have left?"
Hiruzen calculated quickly. They had brought 800 million taels, using half for procurement. After spending over 30 million taels, approximately 370 million taels remained.
Danzo's eyes sparkled. "Excellent. Take 70 million taels and buy it. Go all-in."
Hiruzen nearly choked. "Seventy million? Danzo… you can't be serious! That's a colossal sum!"
Danzo shook his head. "Do I look like I'm joking? Look at the market. There's a huge influx of capital. If we don't act now, we'll wait until prices skyrocket and end up buying at inflated costs. The key is boldness. The timid get nothing. The brave… get everything."
He gestured to the market outside the window. "See how prices fluctuate? Those who panic sell at minor drops are foolish. A true strategist buys at the bottom and goes all-in. Timing and courage are your greatest allies."
Hiruzen listened carefully, absorbing what he could. Each word carried weight, even if the specifics eluded him. He nodded slowly, accepting his temporary role as the student, even in a field he had never imagined.
Danzo continued with passion, recounting his own missteps: "When I first entered this market, I was timid. I spent too little, too cautiously. Had I known better, I would have doubled my gains sooner. Learn from me, Hiruzen. Hesitation is costly."
Hiruzen's mind whirred. Seventy million taels… enough to buy what? Two entire villages? Yet, despite the scale, he understood Danzo's logic: opportunity rewards the bold, and timing can multiply fortune exponentially.
---
A Lesson Beyond Wealth
As they finalized their first major purchase, Hiruzen realized the lesson extended beyond money. The tulip market mirrored the battlefield: observation, patience, courage, and precise execution dictated outcomes. Danzo's mastery was not mere luck; it was strategy applied to opportunity, with intuition guiding every decision.
Hiruzen felt a mixture of awe and determination. If Danzo could achieve this, so could he—if he trusted, if he acted, and if he learned. A new perspective had dawned: wealth, like power, belonged to those who dared to seize it.
Danzo, meanwhile, maintained his confident demeanor, guiding Hiruzen step by step through the intricacies of the market. "Remember, Hiruzen. We do not follow trends; we create them. Others speculate blindly. We control the flow of capital, manipulate sentiment, and anticipate the next move before anyone else even notices the change. That is the power of the knowledgeable trader."
Hiruzen listened, nodding. In this moment, he understood that the path to prosperity was a blend of strategy, daring, and meticulous observation. He also understood, perhaps reluctantly, that Danzo Shimura was not just a rival, but a teacher in his own right—one whose methods were unorthodox, audacious, and undeniably effective.
By the end of the day, Hiruzen had absorbed the fundamental principles. The lesson was clear: opportunity favors the prepared and the brave, and hesitation is a luxury the ambitious cannot afford. Danzo had turned a simple market into a battlefield, and Hiruzen was ready to step onto it, guided by the Crouching Dragon himself.
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