To a certain extent, ninja villages and wealthy merchant groups were natural allies.
One controlled overwhelming military power within a nation; the other possessed vast capital, trade routes, technology, and influence. When these two forces joined hands, the balance of power within the Land of Fire—and even the entire ninja world—could be quietly overturned.
If such an alliance truly stabilized and expanded, some people would find it difficult to sleep at night.
Senju Hashirama was terrifying in his own right.
But the combination of Akatsuki Ninja Village and the wealthy merchant consortiums was no less frightening.
The difference lay only in how the power was wielded.
One relied on overwhelming, straightforward force, crushing everything in its path.
The other concealed its blades, hiding its sharp fangs beneath layers of commerce, contracts, and diplomacy—revealing its true lethality only when absolutely necessary. Most of the time, it even appeared harmless.
Now, Akatsuki Ninja Village had proven its worth beyond all doubt.
They had won a full-scale ninja war.
When news spread that Uchiha Makoto had returned safely to Akatsuki Ninja Village, the merchant representatives dispatched by the various commercial alliances could no longer contain their excitement. They were already lining up, eager to meet him and solidify future cooperation.
"So that's how it is…"
Uchiha Makoto listened quietly as Kazuma delivered his report, nodding occasionally.
"This truly is a land brimming with vitality," Makoto said with sincere admiration. "Everything here is flourishing."
Although he already had a general understanding of Akatsuki Ninja Village's situation before returning, the speed and scale of its development during the war still exceeded his expectations.
Overall, the village's post-war future was dazzlingly bright.
But at the same time, Makoto knew all too well that this prosperity came with a cost. The number of matters requiring his attention would only increase day by day.
For now, however, he had absolutely no intention of burying himself behind stacks of documents.
He had just returned from the battlefield.
Months of war games, life-and-death struggles, political maneuvering, and outsmarting that inherently sinister old ghost from the Senju clan had drained him both mentally and physically. Now that he had finally returned victorious, he had no desire to immediately throw himself back into work.
At such a moment, the fact that he was even willing to listen to Kazuma ramble on about official affairs was already a sign of exceptional restraint.
Beside him, Uzumaki Tsubaki Shizuku gently held his hand.
After more than four months apart, she had grown even more captivating. Her movements were graceful, her eyes filled with deep affection that she tried—but failed—to hide as she looked at him.
Makoto could clearly sense it.
Beneath that tender gaze lay lingering fear.
Fear that he might not return.
Fear that he might fall on the battlefield.
She had worried endlessly during his absence.
Makoto's heart softened.
He would compensate her.
With action, not words.
"Kazuma," Makoto said suddenly, interrupting the report, "this is enough for today."
Kazuma paused. "My lord?"
"I don't plan to return to my Kage desk today," Makoto continued calmly. "I'm taking a vacation."
Kazuma froze for a moment, then quickly lowered his head. "…Understood."
With that, Makoto turned, gently pulling Shizuku along with him as they headed toward his vast private villa.
Their home.
A love nest was meant for love.
---
Konoha Village
While Uchiha Makoto enjoyed the warmth of reunion and intimacy, the atmosphere in Konoha could not have been more different.
Senju Tobirama had just returned to the village.
Unlike his elder brother, he had absolutely no interest in the welcoming ceremony prepared by Konoha's higher-ups. He brushed past it with barely a glance.
Hashirama, on the other hand, looked relaxed and cheerful.
In his view, this mission had been full of twists and turns, but the outcome was acceptable. He hadn't expected Kumogakure to resort to assassinating Uchiha Makoto, yet the final result was still a ceasefire.
Despite the complications, both sides had shown restraint.
"The ninja world has finally returned to peace," Hashirama said with a satisfied sigh, patting Tobirama's shoulder.
Tobirama's expression darkened.
"Big Brother," he said coldly, "when will you finally grow up?"
Hashirama blinked. "…Eh?"
Tobirama felt a headache coming on.
Peace?
What kind of peace was this?
That so-called ceasefire agreement was nothing more than a surrender forced by circumstance. Kumogakure was only complying because they were under immense pressure and lacked the strength to continue fighting.
Once they recovered, did anyone truly believe they would quietly endure those humiliating clauses?
This war was far from over.
Worse still, Tobirama was deeply dissatisfied with the results of the mediation.
The greatest spoils of war had been seized almost entirely by Uchiha Makoto.
Three hundred billion ryo in reparations.
Konoha received only twenty billion—and even that was partially distributed to the Uchiha clan.
Out of countless advantageous clauses, only the second one was opened to Konoha.
After all his effort, Konoha had merely gnawed on a bare bone at the negotiation table. The scraps of meat left on it had only been granted thanks to the Uzumaki clan's intercession.
To Tobirama, this victory celebration was nothing short of mockery.
He didn't linger.
Returning to the Hokage Office, Tobirama sat back down in the chair he had vacated for some time and let out a deep sigh.
His return to work was swift—and for good reason.
The tasks awaiting him were enormous.
Not only did he need to research forbidden techniques aimed at… cough …Konoha's enemies, but these jutsu were time-consuming, resource-intensive, and expensive.
Experimental funding alone was a major issue.
Additionally, he had to cooperate with the Uzumaki clan to develop new sealing techniques capable of opening fresh revenue streams.
This was urgent.
Research required money.
And as the primary technical contributor, it was only reasonable that Konoha—and he himself—would receive a share of the profits.
Then there were the documents.
A towering pile.
These weren't current affairs.
They were reports processed during his absence—records he intended to review from beginning to end to ensure nothing in Konoha had slipped beyond his control.
It was during one such report that Tobirama received shocking news from an ANBU operative.
Someone had attempted to assassinate Senju Hashirama.
At Konoha's doorstep.
Tobirama exploded.
"What nonsense is this?!"
"This is outrageous!"
His palm slammed heavily against the desk.
He wasn't worried about Hashirama's safety.
In this world, there were very few shinobi capable of even injuring his brother, let alone killing him.
The problem was something else entirely.
This was a direct slap to Konoha's face.
For years, Hashirama had governed with restraint and benevolence. Konoha was powerful, yet it presented itself as detached, peaceful, and forgiving.
Tobirama had tolerated this before.
But Akatsuki Ninja Village's war had opened his eyes.
Power that was not displayed might as well not exist.
Now someone had dared to assassinate Konoha's Hokage?
At his own doorstep?
That meant one thing.
Konoha lacked deterrence.
Did they think Konoha could no longer draw its sword?
If this wasn't dealt with severely, Konoha's prestige would collapse.
"Speak," Tobirama demanded coldly.
"Where is the assassin?"
"Which blind village sent him?"
"Has the matter been fully investigated?"
The ANBU ninja trembled as he replied.
"The assassin was captured by Hokage-sama personally and detained by ANBU. Before interrogation could begin, Hokage-sama ordered his release."
"He… refused to pursue the matter, citing the greater peace of the ninja world."
"He also ordered us not to spread the news."
Tobirama's fury erupted.
"Bastard!"
"Is my brother a fool?!"
"He represents Konoha's dignity!"
"A village dares to assassinate our Hokage, and we simply let it go?"
Takigakure.
A small village from a small country.
How dare they?
This reeked of conspiracy.
"Go," Tobirama said at last, his voice icy. "Bring my brother here."
"Konoha must make Takigakure's leader kneel beneath our banner and apologize."
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