Konoha Hokage Building.
Hatake Sakumo, his face covered by a mask, knocked on the office door.
"…Come in."
"Hokage-sama, I've come to report."
With a somewhat hoarse voice, Hatake Sakumo entered the office with a pair of dead-fish eyes. His mask covered his face, making it impossible to see his expression.
Kakuzu followed behind him.
"Sakumo, you're here. Sit."
"Konoha needs your reputation very much right now."
Reputation…
Under the mask, Hatake Sakumo smiled bitterly.
This damned reputation would kill him sooner or later.
"Originally, I didn't want you to carry out this mission again."
"But in this vast Konoha, after thinking it over, only you are most suited for it."
"For Konoha, are you willing to accept this mission?"
Uchiha Ren looked at Hatake Sakumo, displaying the kindness of Konoha's Benevolent Father by giving him a simple multiple-choice question.
Yes or okay?
"For Konoha, I will go through fire and water, die ten thousand deaths without refusing!"
Hatake Sakumo felt his throat grow dry.
He couldn't help swallowing.
For an instant, his mind went blank, and he instinctively wanted to refuse the mission.
But in the next second, reason returned.
He immediately displayed his loyalty to Uchiha Ren.
"Good, Sakumo."
"As expected, I didn't misjudge you."
"I promise you, this mission will definitely earn you a lot of money."
A smile appeared on Uchiha Ren's face as he gave Hatake Sakumo a promise.
This future project was not only aimed at the Land of Fire.
It was aimed at the entire ninja world.
It was time for the entire ninja world to witness the superiority of capitalism.
Sleep once, and you'll be bankrupt!
"Hokage-sama, this time, I hope Kakuzu can serve as my deputy."
"His ability is not inferior to mine at all."
Hearing Hatake Sakumo's request, Uchiha Ren looked at Kakuzu.
Kakuzu was no longer a simple gangster.
He had learned to use his brain.
And he was especially clever.
If not for his godly move, Kumogakure would never have become what it was now.
To be honest, Uchiha Ren did not want Kakuzu to continue carrying out this kind of mission.
Kakuzu was willing to spend time studying economic theory diligently, and through practice, he integrated the knowledge he learned from books.
In economics, he now possessed shocking wisdom.
Uchiha Ren planned to train him toward becoming the head of the Finance Department.
But harvesting crops was addictive.
After all, financial magic made far too much money.
Kakuzu's shocking wisdom, combined with his endless desire for money…
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Konoha was walking the path of strengthening the nation through industry.
Uchiha Ren did not want Kakuzu to stray onto the wrong path.
However, considering the grudges and entanglements between Hatake Sakumo and Kakuzu, the two of them had surely undergone friendly consultation before coming here and reached a consensus.
This time, he would let Kakuzu indulge once more.
"Fine. I agree."
Uchiha Ren nodded and ultimately accepted Hatake Sakumo's request.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
Hatake Sakumo's tone became joyful.
This time, he finally would not have to shoulder the bounty alone.
Once official matters were settled, Hatake Sakumo and Kakuzu left Uchiha Ren's office.
Uchiha Ren stretched lazily and moved his wrists.
Writing his name more than a hundred times early in the morning was still exhausting.
A wise Hokage had his own office experience.
For example, he would not carefully read daily documents.
He would simply sign them.
Also, no matter which clan or department wanted to directly ask Uchiha Ren for funding, Uchiha Ren would immediately hand those documents over to Kakuzu in the Finance Department.
After serving as Hokage for so long, Uchiha Ren had summarized many practical experiences.
This was all for Konoha.
Uchiha Ren accepted it gladly.
With that mood, Uchiha Ren opened a display screen.
Dozens of video squares appeared on it.
Senju Tobirama's efficiency was quite good.
He had quickly tinkered together the surveillance device Uchiha Ren had long desired.
It was not purely technological.
It involved the scope of ninjutsu.
Its principle was similar to Sarutobi Hiruzen's crystal ball, the Telescope Technique.
But no matter what, the effect had been achieved.
Since he was working so hard, if his subordinates were still slacking off, then he would have to deduct their wages fiercely.
Good.
Good.
They were all working hard.
Uchiha Ren inspected room after room, a satisfied expression appearing on his face.
Except for Senju Toma!
He was slacking off in the break room again.
Uchiha Ren's smile froze.
He summoned Nara Shikato.
"Hokage-sama, do you have any instructions?"
"Deduct one-third of Senju Toma's salary this month."
"Also deduct his year-end bonus."
"He is a repeat offender among slacking monsters."
"And post the picture of Senju Toma slacking off on the noticeboard."
"Let all employees in the Hokage Building despise him together."
Uchiha Ren gave no face to this cheap father-in-law of his and directly stated the punishment measures.
"Hmm… I agree with deducting money, but posting the photo on the noticeboard might be unnecessary."
"If Senju Toma has the courage to do it, then he should have the courage to bear the consequences."
"Do this from now on."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
After punishing the slacking monster, Uchiha Ren asked Nara Shikato about some matters regarding Konoha's Technology Department.
Uchiha Ren had approved special funding and invited a group of experts to compile a list spanning several thousand pages.
The list covered all research results from the Technology Department over the years, experimental material losses, and experimental material purchases.
At the same time, he had professionals create a statistical plan.
Through systematic and scientific analysis, they confirmed that there was a large discrepancy between the Technology Department's experimental resource consumption and the number of research results submitted.
After analysis, Konoha's Technology Department Minister, Senju Tobirama, must have concealed a considerable portion of experimental results!
"Hmph. As expected!"
"I knew it long ago!"
After reading the report, Uchiha Ren's face darkened.
"Hokage-sama, the Technology Department Minister, has worked hard and rendered great service."
"There's no need for you to be this angry."
Nara Shikato tried to persuade him from the side, speaking good words for Konoha's Technology Department Minister.
Even though he had never seen the Technology Department Minister before.
But there was no denying that Konoha's Technology Department Minister had made outstanding and irreplaceable contributions to Konoha's development.
Both emotionally and reasonably, this matter should be punished only lightly, like drinking three cups as self-punishment.
"I know."
"I'll give him a chance."
"And I've already thought of how to punish my Technology Department Minister."
A sinister smile appeared on Uchiha Ren's face.
Senju Tobirama had indeed been secretly slacking off behind his back.
This time, the evidence was conclusive!
That alone might have been acceptable.
But Senju Tobirama had also hidden a large number of research results, creating major obstacles to Konoha's development.
He had to strike this naturally evil Senju old ghost with an iron fist!
Uchiha Ren made up his mind.
This afternoon, as soon as work ended, he would go to the laboratory and confront Senju Tobirama.
If Senju Tobirama handed over all the hidden research results, then Ren could still give him a chance to reform.
If Senju Tobirama dared stubbornly resist and refuse to confess—
Then Ren could only invite Senior Izuna out.
"Alright, Hokage-sama."
Nara Shikato did not know what Uchiha Ren meant by punishment.
But seeing Uchiha Ren's expression, he knew Konoha's Technology Department Minister was about to suffer a great disaster.
Hokage-sama hated slacking monsters the most.
To prevent employees from slacking, he had directly installed cameras in the Hokage Building.
Even when Tsunade's father and Uchiha Ren's father-in-law, Senju Toma, made a mistake, Uchiha Ren punished him without the slightest mercy.
"Is there any important intelligence today?"
Uchiha Ren looked at Nara Shikato.
He had already finished signing today's documents.
If nothing important remained, he planned to skip work in the afternoon and confront Senju Tobirama directly.
"Hokage-sama, the four-party peace conference between the Third Raikage, Onoki, the Lightning Daimyo, and the Earth Daimyo will be held the day after tomorrow."
"Also, the special interview program you personally assigned for Konoha's outstanding factory director, Madahashi, has already been prepared."
"The interview is this afternoon. You are supposed to personally present an award to Madahashi."
Nara Shikato listed a number of matters.
As Uchiha Ren listened, his brows gradually furrowed.
He had long known about the peace talks between Kumogakure and Iwagakure.
There was nothing worth caring about.
After all, Iwagakure had already "cheated" and followed Konoha in transferring the assets of the victim, Kumogakure.
Now, the two gold-medal mediators, the Earth Daimyo and the Lightning Daimyo, wanted these two ninja villages to reunite like a broken mirror.
That was absolutely impossible.
Uchiha Ren only hoped Konoha TV could broadcast this meeting live for the entire ninja world to watch.
Onoki was still considering the live broadcast matter and had not given a clear reply.
This wave of traffic—
If Konoha TV could eat it, it absolutely had to eat it.
Televisions had already been made and were spreading rapidly across the ninja world.
The era where traffic was king would arrive within a few years.
Konoha had to seize the lead and stay several body lengths ahead of the other four great ninja villages.
As for Uchiha Madara, ever since the Rain Village incident began, he had thrown himself into endless assembly lines.
He had even abandoned his gaming career.
Konoha's arcade lost a regular customer.
Konoha's factory gained a super beast of burden.
Konoha kept selling supplies to the ninja world, and orders poured in continuously.
At the beginning, the factory where Uchiha Madara worked had once fallen into a labor shortage.
It was Uchiha Madara who used the Shadow Clone Technique and turned the tide.
Over the past few months, their output had continuously crushed the other brother factories.
Uchiha Ren seized the chance to build momentum for Uchiha Madara and establish him as a model figure.
Uchiha Hikaru often visited Uchiha Madara at the factory.
According to Uchiha Hikaru, when Uchiha Madara received the interview notice, he became extremely excited.
He laughed wildly on the spot and prepared a speech draft overnight.
"I, Madahashi, never wanted to be an ordinary worker."
"I had to become an industry leader. A front-runner."
"I originally planned to become a factory director in one year. Wasn't that bold?"
"Becoming factory director in one year. The goal was to be a factory director. Starting completely from zero and finishing within one year!"
"When I told my fellow workers, I said I'd finish it in one year. Wow, all the workers and even the workshop director were very excited."
"Only one year. I kept saying only one year. I had always prepared myself to become a factory director within one year."
"They asked why. I said it was simple. I worked twenty hours every day, used thirty Shadow Clones, and worked thirty days a month."
"All the workers said, wow, amazing."
"But later, I gave up. Do you know why?"
"Because I only used nine months to become factory director. I exceeded the target."
Uchiha Madara had prepared so long for this interview.
If Uchiha Ren missed it, his ending would probably be terrible.
He might get hit with a Susanoo-clad Great Buddha combo.
After thinking for only a few seconds, Uchiha Ren decided he absolutely had to personally appear and give Uchiha Madara a chance to show off.
"Anything else?"
"There is also the matter of the Land of Demons."
"In order to exchange Moryo from the Land of Demons, Konoha agreed to help revitalize the Land of Demons' economy."
"The results are already quite effective."
"The shrine maiden has expressed her most sincere thanks to Konoha."
"So the shrine maiden hopes to further strengthen the connection between Konoha and the Land of Demons."
"The current shrine maiden hopes to form an alliance contract with Hokage-sama."
"At the same time, she hopes Konoha's Hokage-sama can help the current shrine maiden pass down the power of the shrine maiden together."
"This is also to ensure Moryo's seal in Konoha."
Nara Shikato spoke about the Land of Demons.
The Land of Demons was a small country with poor resources.
From time to time, it also suffered disasters from Moryo's rampages.
Even when Moryo was sealed, its power still corroded the land of the Land of Demons, making the grain and fruit grown there small and shriveled.
The ninja world had never been peaceful.
Especially for small countries without powerful ninja villages protecting them.
When soldiers passed, they combed through everything.
When bandits passed, they scraped everything clean.
Natural and human disasters continued without end.
Konoha joined forces with the industrial faction of the Land of Fire and brought salvation there.
First, they dispatched an elite Uchiha squad and forcefully expelled a large group of socially active elements.
With blades, they made those petty criminals understand the Land of Demons anew.
The Land of Demons was under Konoha's protection!
Those who didn't want to die should get lost!
The social environment of the Land of Demons immediately became much cleaner.
Afterward came the familiar arrival of capital.
They recruited local workers and opened factories.
Workers from small countries were more durable than workers from great countries.
The factory treatment there was worlds apart from Konoha.
After all, the living conditions and material guarantees of Konoha workers were first-class in the entire ninja world.
Moreover, the industrial faction of the Land of Fire was not as kind-hearted as Uchiha Ren.
The Land of Fire's industrial faction could truly be called man-eating without spitting out bones.
However, Uchiha Ren still set a standard for them.
They could do anything, but they had to let the people of the Land of Demons eat enough food and sleep a full four hours every day.
If Uchiha Ren did not speak, those parasites truly could do anything.
But with the golden words of Konoha's Hokage, they should know how to write the word restraint.
Although these conditions were still extremely harsh, they were already enough.
The people of the Land of Demons eagerly signed up to become factory workers, cherishing this hard-won opportunity to fill their stomachs and this rare life guarantee.
The people of the Land of Demons could be considered to have felt the grace of a lesser version of Konoha's Benevolent Father.
As Uchiha Ren listened to Nara Shikato's report, he gradually sensed something wrong.
There was no problem with Konoha and the Land of Demons forming an alliance contract.
One had to make more friends and fewer enemies.
But what did it mean that she wanted him to help the shrine maiden pass down the shrine maiden's power together?
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