There had never been a shortage of intelligent people in this world.
The era they lived in was the early age of the Ninja Villages—an unprecedented turning point in history. Calling it a transformation unseen in a thousand years would not be an exaggeration.
It was an era of chaos, yet also an era of peace.
And standing at the delicate balance point between chaos and peace was one man—Senju Hashirama.
For more than a thousand years, the world had been ruled by daimyo and nobles. They governed through bloodlines, tradition, land, and wealth, allowing a small group of people—many of whom were unworthy—to monopolize power.
As for those who possessed real ability but lacked status or lineage?
They had been suppressed for just as long.
The Ninja World was filled with talent, yet had no real outlet for it.
What the daimyo and nobles feared most was not rebellion by peasants, but the emergence of a military government led by ninja.
The moment ninja showed even the faintest tendency toward forming such a system, countless people who were not afraid to die would immediately rush forward, throwing everything they had into stopping it.
If, back then, Senju Hashirama had truly been ruthless—
If he had led Konoha's forces straight into the Fire Capital, severed the Fire Daimyo's head, and declared to the world:
"I want to be the King of the World!"
—then the very next day, the entire Ninja World would have followed him.
At the same time, he would also have become the enemy of the entire world.
But even so…
Who could have stopped Senju Hashirama?
The answer was simple.
No one.
A Susanoo-clad Great Buddha, a man who flattened the Ninja World alongside Uchiha Madara—this was not an exaggeration or legend.
Even if Hashirama's Konoha faction had been small in number, even if they were ignorant of politics and economics at the beginning—
Time would have solved everything.
Talents would have naturally gathered under him. Resources would have flowed toward strength. His military government would only grow larger, stronger, and more refined, until it swallowed the entire Ninja World whole.
As for the nobles and ministers who swore to defend the daimyo to the death?
They would jump ship faster than cicadas shedding their shells.
After all, daimyo could not surrender.
For them, it was either absolute victory—or total destruction.
But what did that have to do with the nobles and ministers?
There was no such thing as eternal loyalty.
Ninja were not saints. They were human beings. Given enough benefit, they could cooperate, collude, and compromise just like anyone else.
There was no eternal empire.
But as long as people lived, an empire could always rise again.
Senju Hashirama, the First Hokage who had fired the first shot, should have gone further.
Yet he stopped.
He chose to be a saint.
A good man holding a gun while pointing it at his own head.
He disliked the clothes of a daimyo.
Since Hashirama didn't want to wear them—
Uchiha Makoto would wear them instead.
The reply from the Wealthy Merchants echoed pleasantly in his ears.
So Uchiha Makoto smiled.
Across from him, the representatives of the Wealthy Merchants smiled as well.
No words were needed.
Everything had already been understood.
Uchiha Makoto casually picked up the pen on the desk and signed his name on the share contract.
"Has the company been named yet?" he asked.
"Not yet," one of the representatives replied respectfully. "We were waiting for Kage-sama to bestow a name."
Makoto thought for a moment.
"Then let's call it Arasaka Company."
And just like that—
A company destined to dominate the entire Ninja World was officially born.
Taking advantage of the moment, Uchiha Makoto informed the Wealthy Merchants of his next plan.
The cannery jointly established by Akatsuki Ninja Village, Konoha, and the Uzumaki Clan would soon begin preparations.
The Uzumaki Clan and Senju Tobirama would be responsible for solving the technical problems. This would take time.
Meanwhile, the Akatsuki Ninja Village would handle everything else.
"Kage-sama," one of the representatives said confidently, "if the technical problems are solved, then everything else will be simple."
"With ninja contracting aquatic summoning beasts to fish, the cost will drop drastically. Ordinary merchants in the Land of Fire won't be able to compete with us at all. A small price war will wipe them out."
"As long as the price is low enough, nothing won't sell."
"As for factories, workers, and sales channels… please rest assured and leave them to us."
They spoke lightly, because the most difficult issues had already been removed.
Raw materials were fish.
And near the Land of Whirlpools, fishing grounds were everywhere.
For ninja, fishing was not labor—it was trivial.
The Ninja World also possessed massive aquatic summoning beasts. The Ice Release ninja within the Akatsuki Ninja Village had access to such channels, and the Uzumaki Clan had lived alongside aquatic summoning beasts for generations.
They simply rarely signed contracts with them due to combat limitations.
But now?
This wasn't about fighting.
This was about money.
Akatsuki ninja would sign summoning contracts. The Uzumaki Clan would do the same. Ice Release ninja could be compensated a bit more.
Ninja cast nets.
Aquatic beasts herded fish.
Ice Release froze the catch on the spot.
Transport it to processing factories.
Seal it into cans.
Compared to the profit margins involved, the manpower cost was negligible.
Makoto could even classify these tasks as C-rank or D-rank missions.
Multiple missions at once.
Quantity to crush cost.
The income could rival A-rank missions—without risking lives.
Ninja were people of endurance.
As long as money flowed, they could endure hardship.
The only obstacle was ideology.
Ninja catching fish instead of killing enemies?
Ridiculous.
Fortunately, Makoto's prestige within the Akatsuki Ninja Village was already overwhelming.
He could force it through—
And eventually, they would enjoy it.
"Then I'll trouble you all," Makoto said calmly.
"It's our honor," the lead representative replied.
Benefits flowed both ways.
Their people controlled the upstream and downstream chains.
They wanted profits—and they wanted influence.
Formal negotiations with Konoha, the Uzumaki Clan, and Akatsuki would follow.
Money wasn't even the most important part.
What they truly valued was integration.
To bind themselves to Akatsuki—and even Konoha.
They didn't care about petty inter-village conflicts.
The benefits were endless.
The atmosphere in the room became increasingly harmonious.
One burden in Makoto's heart was lifted.
Then, while the iron was hot, he raised another issue.
Akatsukiwood's first movie script was complete.
Actors were ready.
Only one thing was missing—
A director.
And Makoto had zero connections in the entertainment world.
He couldn't exactly send ninja to kidnap one.
That would be undignified.
"Kage-sama, that's easy," a merchant laughed.
"I have a close relationship with a famous director in the Land of Fire. Give me the script, and I'll have someone negotiate immediately."
"Then I'll leave it to you," Makoto nodded.
These merchants truly had terrifying connections.
And the deeper their influence—
The better for Akatsuki.
News.
Entertainment.
Public opinion.
These were weaknesses Akatsuki still had.
With stock swaps, reverse mergers, and integration—
Akatsukiwood could dominate media.
And then—
When the time came—
Lies repeated enough times would become truth.
"The Truth Behind Uchiha Madara's Departure from Konoha!"
"The Untold Story of the Madara–Hashirama War!"
"Why Did Senju Hashirama Die Suddenly?"
"Senju Tobirama's Ascension—A Web of Conspiracies!"
Just imagining it made Makoto smile.
Finally, he spoke again.
"You've helped me greatly. Is there anything you need from me?"
The merchants hesitated.
Then—
"Kage-sama… could you help us kill some people?"
Makoto smiled.
"That's easy."
Then came the real problem.
Silk.
Iron.
Mulberry fields.
Large tracts of land were monopolized by great nobles.
They controlled production.
They controlled food.
They refused to convert rice fields into mulberry groves.
Or demanded absurd prices.
This was changing rice into mulberries.
In the Ninja World, the resistance was enormous.
Makoto listened quietly.
Then nodded.
"I understand."
"I'll handle it."
The next day—
Two major headlines shook the Land of Fire.
The Hokage Assassinated by a Waterfall Ninja!
Arasaka Company Established—A Super Corporation Spanning Multiple Industries!
The calm had ended.
And the storm had begun.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)