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  “Kaigetsu-kun, I don’t uand…”

  “Address me by my title during work hours!”

  “Gojo-san, I don’t uand.”

  “What don’t you uand?”

  “This…”

  Minato Namikaze marveled at Gojo Kaigetsu’s political a. The journey from Konoha Hospital to the Hokage Tower took time, meaning Kaigetsu likely only heard ss of his versation with the Suna envoy, Baki. Therefore, the terms he’d just proposed were probably formuted on the spot, desigo maximize Konoha’s advantage.

  Such impressive on-the-fly judgment!

  That being said, Minato still couldn’t preheain cuses that seemed detrimental to Konoha.

  However, out of absolute trust in Gojo Kaigetsu, Minato refrained from questioning him during the treaty signing.

  Now, it was time.

  “Dispatg perma ambassadors and teis to Sunagakure… I uand this. Gojo-san, you’re likely pnting informants to monitor the impact of ‘Iki’ in Suna and make necessary adjustments, correct?”

  “Smart, as expected of you, Minato.”

  “As for using our Land of Fire currency for settlements and allowing Suna students to study in Konoha, while I don’t grasp the nuances, I presume it won't ively impact Konoha.”

  “What I find puzzling is the final point.”

  Minato poio the road stru cuse.

  “Why should Konoha bear the entire cost of road stru? Even with tolls, it would take thirty years to recoup the iment, wouldn’t it?”

  “And assigning esissions uhe vilge's name incurs additional expenses. I don’t uand.”

  Tariffs were a separate matter to be discussed iail with the Suna delegation during future iations and weren't currently under sideration. The shinobi world was still retively unsophisticated, and road stru was viewed as a loss-making endeavor with little ce of return.

  High tolls would deter merts and civilians. Low tolls wouldn’t even cover maintenance costs.

  Thus, ninjas traditionally traversed forests, mountains, and rivers using their ninja skills. Roads weren't of much to them. As for civilians, they either took detours or used the roads funded by the daimyo’s treasury.

  There was little pret for vilges proactively strug roads to enharade, let alone one vilge shouldering the entire burden.

  It felt like a rger vilge bullying a smaller one!

  “You just don’t see the big picture, Minato~ We o think long-term.”

  “It’s a known fact that vast deposits of chakra metal lie buried beh Suna’s deserts. And who knows what other rare resources they might uh iure.”

  “We’re currently in a tumultuous era of shinobi warfare. Due to external pressures, Suna’s resources remain rgely untapped. But think long-term: five, ten, twenty years from now?”

  Gojo Kaigetsu drew a straight liween Konoha and Suna on the map. “The easiest way for Suna to prosper is to sell its resources to the rest of the shinobi world. It’s practically a guaranteed profit. Chakra metal is always in demand, and the more advanced shinobi teology bees, the more valuable it gets.”

  “And apart from Iwagakure, the quickest, most ve, and most cost-effective way for Suna to transpoods eastward is through Konoha!”

  “Imagine a pletely peaceful shinobi world, where ninjas no longer rely on missions for ine and vilges abandon their arms race, iing instead in infrastructure, research, and leisure.”

  “Suna, with its small popution and abundant natural resources, would undoubtedly prosper rapidly, possibly even surpassing Konoha in eic growth.”

  “Besides Suna, we also struct a road between Konoha and Kirigakure, eg the east a of the shinobi world.”

  “Then, the Konoha-Suna trade route, built under our supervision, would see an immense flow of people. We’ll establish service stations along the route, filled with shops that could be directly operated by Konoha or sold to other merts…”

  “In my vision, Kirigakure in the east will be a seaside resort, while Suna in the west will be the shinobi world's most luxurious eai hub. Wealthy individuals from across the shinobi world will eagerly travel betweewo.”

  “And as long as Konoha maintains the most powerful ninja ford the most advaeology, we reap the bes, leaving Suna and Kiri with no grounds for pint.”

  “Eveablishing service stations now would be profitable. There are plenty of merts within Konoha eager to expand their businesses aure into Suna. Minato, do you still think a 30-year operating lise won't gee profit?”

  Hiss-

  Minato was stunned by Gojo Kaigetsu’s Limitless imagination.

  He was still strategizing, analyzing the possibility of war and formuting termeasures. Meanwhile, Kaigetsu-kun had already envisioned a “unified shinobi world under Konoha’s rule”?

  This pace… was a little too fast. Minato wasn’t ready to bee the founding father of a Konoha empire!

  ‘So Kaigetsu-kun never sidered Kiri and Suna as equals… He sees them as dishes on a table, not even worthy of a seat.’

  Gojo Kaigetsu, seemingly reading Minato’s thoughts, added knowingly, “In the shinobi world, you’re either at the table or on the menu. Clearly, Kiri and Suna are already on Konoha's menu.”

  Minato took a deep breath, his thoughts returning to reality.

  “If this works, no matter how much Kiri and Suna develop, they’ll only be feeding Konoha. We’ll be leeches, draining their resources. The shinobi world’s ey will bee a closed loop, with all the wealth ultimately flowing into Konoha’s pockets.”

  “It's a fantastical idea, just thinking about it makes my blood boil.”

  “And the service stations… during peaceful times, they’ll gee tinuous revenue for Konoha. During wartime, they’ll serve as military outposts…”

  Minato looked at Gojo Kaigetsu with increasing bewilderment. “Sometimes I really want to open up Kaigetsu-kun’s head and see what’s inside, where all these brilliant ideas e from.”

  “Ichiraku Ramen, Taiten Ninja Tool Shop, the Green Card Honey Shop, the Akimichi BBQ, the Nara Deer Antler Hot Springs… Let those old moneybags in Konoha, who are drowning in cash, take the lead and i irade route service stations!”

  “Although the road hasn’t been built yet, we start attrag iors in advance.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu waved the Konoha-Suna agreement as if it weren’t a flimsy piece of paper but a scroll taining untold riches.

  It was strahe road hadn’t even begun stru, yet he was already entig Konoha’s wealthy with promises, using their iments to build the road, and then using the road to siphon more of their wealth. Essentially, building the road at zero cost and reaping enormous profits, all by leveraging Konoha’s authority…

  ‘Damn, why am I so good at this?’

  “…Isn’t this a bit… uhical? Even Danzo wouldn’t do something like this, would he? Will those old moneybags agree?”

  Minato hesitated. Anyone could see this was a risky vehe road was still a distant dream, yet he was asking them to i in service stations?

  The wealthy didn’t acquire their riches through wind-style jutsu.

  Such a btant money grab could easily provoke opposition from Konoha’s affluent css.

  “Disagree? Are they refusing to give Gojo-san face?” Gojo Kaigetsu said with a smile.

  He wasn't unreasonable. He would paint the picture as entigly as possible. Ohe picture was plete, would Konoha's wealthy really refuse him face? It was merely a small iment to gain favor with Gojo-san. Surely, they would be happy to oblige.

  Otherwise… a minor policy ge could result in losses far exceeding the cost of giving Gojo-san face.

  The era of hidden vilges had one advahe vilge wielded absolute internal authority. Theoretically, any decree could be issued and enforced.

  Any individual who dared to disobey would face severe sequences. Even the mighty Uchiha were swiftly dealt with.

  “Then… what about assigning missions to ninjas in the vilge’s name?”

  “It’s just a rept for those low-level find-my-cat- missions. We slightly increase the rewards, dedug it from the service station profits.” Gojo Kaigetsu expined. “Putting more money in the pockets of lower-ranked ninja will also allow them to hoheir bat skills.”

  “Our Konoha ninja have one fw: they’re too fortable.”

  Strengthening Konoha’s military had to be a gradual process. Besides Enhang top-tier bat pojo Kaigetsu also wao raise the baseline.

  He didn't hold any prejudice against Genin, but the reality was that during rge-scale flicts, they served mainly as living tools wielding ninja tools. The power of a couple of low-level jutsu was often less effective than a single explosive tag.

  Setting aside the top-tier fighters of each vilge, in terms of basibat strength, Konoha’s “average” Genin were inferior to those from Kirigakure and Sunagakure, who emerged from brutal sele processes.

  As for Kumogakure and Iwagakure, having no prior iion with them, Gojo Kaigetsu couldn’t make a judgme.

  Therefore, his pn was to expose even the most average Genin fresh out of the Academy to the harsh realities of the shinobi world.

  The "Konoha-Suna Trade Route" instance was officially open. The trade route, situated in the southernmost part of the shinobi world, presented a moderate level of risk fenin-perfect for honing their skills.

  Those who couldn’t ha could pursue other careers within the vilge using their Academy-acquired skills.

  “Only when rank-and-file ninja have money they bee ers, driving the development of various industries in Konoha. Instead of hesitating fes at the lowest-tier ter of a ninja tool shop, pig out the cheapest kunai aying their wallets.”

  “Witnessing the prosperity of the Konoha-Suna trade route will instill fiden Konoha’s future, encing them to spend freely! They won't have to worry about saving every penny for fear of not finding well-paying missions. They’ll know there are always more opportuo earn.”

  Having risen through the ranks from Genin, Gojo Kaigetsu clearly uood the aies of lower-ranked ninja.

  Those with no hope of being in were like day borers, scrambling for odd jobs like finding lost pets for wealthy ts. After pleting a job, they would wander around the vilge, choosing the cheapest food just to survive… stantly fearing they might not get another easy, well-paying mission.

  Such Genin offered little military or eic value to the vilge, only boosting the numbers on the ninja registry. If all Genihis mi, how could Konoha boast about its eic prosperity in the shinobi world?

  Stimution! They needed a strong stimulus! But that required moherefojo Kaigetsu proactively took on the esissions that should have been shared between the vilges, assigning them through Konoha officially. Spendira moo send the vilge’s struggling Genin out into the wider shinobi world to broaden their horizons.

  He could practically envisiohrongs of Genin crowding the Boss Direct Hire board outside the Hokage Tower after the trade route opened.

  “Kaigetsu-kun, you truly care about Konoha… As Hokage, I must thank you on behalf of the vilge’s Genin.” Minato spoke sincerely.

  He himself would probably never have noticed this issue.

  Although Minato came from a civilian background, his genius allowed him to practically skip the Genin phase. He quickly surpassed the ine limitations of ordinary ninja by taking on high-difficulty missions.

  He never had to hesitate in front of a ninja tool shop window, let alone for expeems like explosive tags. Naturally, he couldhize with the financial struggles of lower-ranked ninja.

  It was also inappropriate for the vilge to directly subsidize these Genin. Assigning “Trade Route Escort” missions was a way to support them while simultaneously improving their skills and ily boosting Konoha’s ey.

  Konoha’s ey was already a closed loop. The money spent would eventually return to Konoha’s coffers.

  Truly, it n that killed two birds with oone.

  Minato exhaled deeply, the fog in his mind clearing. “O question, Kaigetsu-kun. What do you think… should we do with Pakura?”

  “Hmm? Pakura? The Scorg Beauty? What about her?”

  Having arrived te, Gojo Kaigetsu was unaware of the dition that initially swayed Minato.

  “Scorg Beauty?” Minato muttered, assuming it was another one of Gojo Kaigetsu’s etric remarks. “Baki from Suna just offered to send their hero to Konoha for a secret mission.”

  “Her movements will be pletely transparent to us, and Suna won’t provide any support.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu quickly grasped the implications. “So… they want us to kill Pakura as a symbol of peace between our vilges?”

  “…That’s certainly something Suna would do.”

  If he remembered correctly, Pakura was inally supposed to die at the hands of Kirigakure. Because of his presence, she had escaped that fate, only to bee a sacrifice for Konoha’s budding partnership with Suna.

  A ninja’s fate was rarely determined by their own will.

  Gojo Kaigetsu sighed. “Minato, whatever happens iure, please don’t bel me a hero.”

  Minato deadpanned. “Let’s focus. What should we do with her?”

  “What are your thoughts?”

  “Kill her the moment she steps into the ambush.”

  Minato, after all, was a ninja fed in war. He wouldn’t hesitate to weaken an enemy vilge. Ae Jonin, regardless of the vilge, even in the mighty Konoha, was a core asset. This was even more true for a retively weaker vilge like Suna.

  “If I recall correctly, Pakura is a Scorch Style elite Jonin, right?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Minato, nurturing a homegrowe Jonin in Konoha is a long and plex process. We i resources from their time in the Academy, assign suitable teachers for personalized guidance, and stantly worry about them dying on missions… But taming ae Jonin from another vilge is much simpler: capture and subjugate.”

  “You’re suggesting… sparing Pakura and making her work for Konoha?”

  Minato’s expression turned serious. “With all due respect, Kaigetsu-kun, it’s best not to be le in such matters. She’s a hero of Suna. There’s almost no ce she would submit to Konoha.”

  “Regardless of her outward demeanor, her loyalty will always lie with Suna. Keeping her in the vilge risks intel leaks and sabotage. Her mere presen Konoha could destabilize the current politidscape. Kumo, Iwa, and Suna will all have their own agendas. Not eliminating her immediately would be incredibly dangerous.”

  “Naturally, I’m aware of that.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu remained calm and posed. “If Pakura proves untrolble, we’ll eliminate her immediately. But as for whether she’s trolble or not, trust my judgment, Minato.”

  “They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Once we firm Pakura’s pliance, I’m sure she’d be happy to don a mask and target Iwa.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu wasn’t worried. He suspected Suna might be pying a gambit.

  Pakura was ae Jonin, a product of Suna’s brutal system. No matter how foolish, she should have realized that secutive “secret missions” from first Kiri and then Konoha were highly unusual.

  Perhaps she was willingly walking into a trap, or perhaps she truly was that naive… But it didn’t matter.

  Once Pakura was captured, Gojo Kaigetsu would use his Prosperity points to assess her. Even if it was a gambit, even if she inteo leak intel from within Konoha, she couldn’t deceive his Six Eyes.

  Kekkei Genkai ninjas were rare, often possessing greater bat power than ordinary Jonin. If utilized effectively, Pakura could bee his… his first formidable subordinate! A spearhead against Kumo, Iwa, and even Akatsuki.

  If she proved untrolble… He would simply pull out Minato’s Flying Raijin kunai, summoning him to capture and swiftly eliminate her.

  “Well… alright. I trust your judgment, Kaigetsu-kun. But if you find Pakura to be untrolble, please kill her immediately. Don’t hesitate.”

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