Danzo Shimura sat at the dinner table, a smug grin stretching across his face. He recounted his recent exploits in the Tulip Trading Market, spinning each event into a grand tale of strategy and daring. Technical terms flew from his mouth like shurikens, slicing through Hiruzen Sarutobi's already racing mind.
Hiruzen only understood about half of what Danzo said, but even that was enough to astound him. Danzo's confidence and command of the market were beyond anything Hiruzen could have imagined.
"Danzo… will this really work?" Hiruzen asked cautiously, still unsettled.
"Seventy million ryo," Danzo replied casually, waving his hand. "Stop worrying so much. Trust me."
Hiruzen swallowed nervously. Investing seventy million ryo in one go was no small matter. He had lost sleep over the decision, tossing and turning as doubts gnawed at him. But a few days later, when the returns began to show, all fear melted into exhilaration. The numbers on the ledger were staggering, and Hiruzen couldn't help but feel regret that he hadn't invested even more.
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Uchiha Makoto's Master Plan
Meanwhile, in the palace of the Land of Fire, Uchiha Makoto leaned over his desk, eyes scanning the latest reports. Price trends, capital flows, market analytics—all pointed to one thing: it was time.
"Kazuma," he said, speaking to his assistant, "this is the perfect moment. After this promotional period, nearly every wealthy merchant and noble in the Ninja World has invested massive amounts into the tulip market. Now… let the feast begin."
Kazuma nodded respectfully. "Understood, Lord Makoto."
The price of tulips had been steadily climbing as capital poured in from all corners. The physical stock was diminishing rapidly, and soon there would be nothing left for speculators to purchase. At this precise moment, Uchiha Makoto planned to introduce contract trading.
The logic was flawless. Physical trading alone was already frenzied. By moving to contracts, turnover would skyrocket. Wealthy merchants, nobles, and even some daring Ninja would be drawn into the market, unable to resist the lure of massive profits.
Most Ninja clans, however, remained untouched. Tradition dictated that Ninja were soldiers first, and merchants second—or not at all. For the clans, survival meant building villages, training their young, and consolidating power. Business ventures were considered distractions, even crimes, in extreme cases. Uchiha Makoto felt fortunate that he did not have to drag the clans into this scheme. Their absence ensured that the market collapse would affect only the rich and powerful, leaving the Ninja's social structure intact.
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The Frantic Market
Soon, the Tulip Trading Market erupted into chaos. Under Uchiha Makoto's guidance, contract trading was quietly introduced. Suddenly, speculators realized they no longer needed physical tulips to trade—they could profit from contracts alone. The convenience, high turnover, and insane returns ignited a frenzy among the wealthy.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura were swept up. Both had completely lost themselves in the thrill of trading, forgetting entirely their initial mission to procure supplies.
"Hiruzen," Danzo said with a wild grin, "this market… it's insane! Look at these returns! We've probably made over three hundred million ryo together. No one in the clan is richer than us right now."
Hiruzen's head swam as he processed the numbers. "Yes… Danzo… we could go all-in with everything left in our fund. Can we… should we?"
Danzo laughed, the sound of a man intoxicated by fortune. "All-in, of course! Timing is everything. We haven't made nearly enough yet. By the time we're done, even Lord Tobirama will have to acknowledge our skill. We, the 'Sleeping Dragon and Young Phoenix,' will be unstoppable."
Hiruzen hesitated, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. "Hmm… perhaps that isn't wise. Even those selling rice balls know now that tulips make money. If everyone is aware, the market may already be saturated."
Danzo waved the concern aside. "Nonsense. When the time is right, the brave profit. Hesitation only enriches others. We move now, and we dominate. There's no other choice."
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The Collapse Begins
What neither Hiruzen nor Danzo realized was that the market had already peaked. Contract trading had amplified the frenzy, but Uchiha Makoto and the Daimyo had quietly begun unloading their holdings. The moment of maximum profit for them was also the point of maximum risk for all others.
Three days after Danzo and Hiruzen went all-in, a seemingly trivial event triggered disaster. A young Ninja from a rural village, naive and inexperienced, mistook a tulip for an ordinary onion and ate it. The owner demanded compensation. The Ninja shrugged.
"It's just a flower," he said. "What's so valuable about it?"
The declaration spread like wildfire. Overnight, tulip prices collapsed. The market plunged three times consecutively, and the effects were catastrophic.
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Panic and Desperation
Danzo and Hiruzen stared at their ledgers in shock. Every chart, every upward trend, had reversed violently. The carefully calculated fortune they had amassed vanished almost instantly. The Tulip Trading Market, once a paradise of endless profits, became a nightmare of loss and chaos.
Hiruzen's mind raced. We… we can't lose everything… not like this…
Danzo, usually composed, felt his heart pounding. He had been a first-time 'leek,' unaware that the truly experienced traders always exited before the collapse. His overconfidence had blinded him, and now he was paying the price.
Merchants screamed, nobles panicked, and the streets of the Fire Nation buzzed with the news. Wealthy speculators who had invested recklessly were left with empty hands. The grand dream of easy money shattered in a matter of hours.
Hiruzen clenched his fists. "Danzo… what do we do now? How can we recover?"
Danzo shook his head slowly. "We can't. Once the market hits this point, it's impossible to regain control. All we can do is survive the aftermath. This… this is the price of greed."
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Lessons in Humility
Amid the chaos, a sobering realization settled over both men. Wealth, no matter how rapidly acquired, could vanish just as quickly. The Tulip Trading Market had offered them a taste of power and fortune, but also a lesson in humility.
Danzo, though frustrated, remained unbroken. "Hiruzen… remember this. The strong learn from their failures. Those who panic are destroyed. The clever adapt, survive, and wait for the next opportunity."
Hiruzen nodded silently, his earlier ambition tempered by the bitter reality of loss. He understood now that fortune was fleeting, and only foresight, strategy, and a cautious respect for risk could ensure survival.
Outside the trading halls, rumors of the collapse spread across the Ninja World. Nobles whispered, merchants panicked, and even ordinary citizens spoke of the 'Great Tulip Crash.' It was a dramatic demonstration of how wealth, power, and influence could rise and fall in an instant.
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The Aftermath
In the aftermath, Danzo and Hiruzen took stock of their losses. Though significant, they were not ruined completely. The experience, however, had changed them. They had tasted the intoxicating allure of unchecked ambition and the devastating consequences of overconfidence.
Uchiha Makoto, in the comfort of his palace, smiled faintly. His plan had succeeded perfectly. He had manipulated the market without jeopardizing the stability of the Ninja Clans. Wealthy merchants and nobles would bear the brunt of the collapse, while the foundation of the Ninja World remained untouched—yet thoroughly tested.
Kazuma observed quietly, noting every detail of the market's chaos. "Lord Makoto," he said, "this… this is unprecedented. The panic… the scale… the speed."
Makoto's eyes gleamed. "Yes. And it will serve as a reminder: fortune favors those who understand the world around them, not merely those who follow greed blindly. Remember this, Kazuma. Knowledge and timing always triumph over blind ambition."
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A Warning to All
Danzo and Hiruzen, though humbled, were determined to rebuild. They had lost much, but they had gained a hard-earned lesson: the world was as unpredictable as it was profitable. One misstep could erase months—or even years—of success.
For the rest of the Ninja World, the Tulip Crash became a cautionary tale. It reminded even the most powerful and wealthy that fortune is transient and must be approached with wisdom.
And as the dust settled over the Fire Nation's markets, Uchiha Makoto prepared his next move. The collapse was just one act in a much larger plan, one that required patience, cunning, and careful orchestration. The world might have learned a lesson in humility, but the Crouching Dragon had only just begun to stir.
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