Donning his Hokage Ceremonial Robe, he returned to the Hokage Office as if nothing had happened, resuming his daily duties.
He opened a document.
The contents pertained directly to Kakuzu’s Ninja Tools factory in Konoha.
Having just learned he had been deceived for seven years, seeing this document now made Tobirama furious.
The urge to immediately destroy the Ninja Tools factory seized him.
He immediately dismissed the thought.
The Ninja Tools factory did more good than harm for Konoha.
It had to stay.
Tobirama thought back to what Kakuzu had left behind in the village, the Ramen Shop, the Ninja Academy.
The Ramen Shop now ran under an apprentice, whether it burned down or stood for a hundred more years meant nothing to Kakuzu.
The Ninja Academy though, founded on Kakuzu’s inspiration to teach the next generation of ninja, mattered far more than the Tools factory.
That one absolutely could not be destroyed.
“Kakuzu, you really left me a massive pile of trouble.”
Everything Kakuzu had touched either had to be preserved or could vanish without impact.
The logic of it grated on Tobirama’s nerves.
He thought back to Kakuzu’s parting words: “I hope we can continue to cooperate next time.”
After a long pause, Tobirama sighed, immersing himself once more in the Hokage’s work.
He chose to ignore what Kakuzu had left standing in Konoha.
“Starting today, this is your new home.”
Kakuzu brought his student Midori to the Northern Land of Fire, pointing at a small town ahead.
“Sensei, what is this place?” Midori asked.
“Kakuzu City.”
This had once been an ordinary village in the Northern Land of Fire.
Over the past year, under Kakuzu and Black Zetsu’s covert management, the nameless settlement had grown alongside them.
Inside sat a Steel Factory, a Food Factory, a Printing Factory.
Most of Kakuzu’s enterprises called this place home.
The factories had flourished, selling ninja tools and food to various nations and raking in massive profits.
The retained funds dwarfed what Kakuzu earned in Konoha, with development potential dozens of times greater.
Now Kakuzu had brought his disciple here, and the small city welcomed its true master.
“Starting from this city, it will be my era.”
Counting the scattered fragments of time, Kakuzu had traversed the Naruto-verse for nearly thirty years.
Kakuzu had no cheat skills, no outstanding sensei, not even a single confidante.
Simply put, he was an ordinary person who had inexplicably transmigrated.
Counting his previous life, he was nearly fifty.
Kakuzu had no ambition to rule the world, nor the compassion to save it.
With the Earth Grudge Fear, centuries of life stretched before him.
He only wanted to live better.
So what counted as better?
This world had chakra, a supernatural power, but the environment fell far short of his previous life.
“Good” meant raising the environment to match what he’d left behind.
“Better” meant surpassing it.
Either way, he was going to change the world.
And Kakuzu City was the starting point.
The location proved excellent, nestled in the relatively peaceful Land of Fire, but in its northern reaches.
Beyond lay three small countries: the Land of Waterfalls, the Land of Iron, and the Land of Rice Fields.
One had abundant freshwater.
Another, rich minerals.
The last, fertile land.
Kakuzu City sat between them all.
Resources would never run short.
Kakuzu arrived. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
School within the city welcomed its principal.
Three days later, every child in the city attended classes.
“Children, perhaps you don’t recognize me, so I’ll introduce myself.
I am Kakuzu, master of this city, your sensei and principal…”
He gave a speech on stage.
Before him sat children ranging from three to ten years old.
These were orphans he had gathered, living in Kakuzu City’s orphanage.
The younger children followed the older ones to school.
The more thoughtful ones understood they were war orphans, with no options beyond learning what School offered.
Through School’s cultivation, in ten years at most, they would grow into the pillars of Kakuzu City.
When Kakuzu left Konoha, everyone except Tobirama thought it was no big deal.
In their eyes, Kakuzu wasn’t a Konoha ninja.
He wasn’t required to live there.
Tobirama couldn’t easily reveal Kakuzu’s identity.
The matters Kakuzu was involved in were largely taboo, taboos that would ruin Tobirama and plummet Konoha’s reputation in the shinobi world.
In the end, Kakuzu’s departure provoked only Tobirama’s displeasure.
A few days later, Tobirama learned Kakuzu City existed in the northern Land of Fire.
He dispatched the Anbu to investigate and discovered Kakuzu was exactly the City Lord.
“How dare he still stay in the Land of Fire?” Tobirama stared at the intelligence, surprised by Kakuzu’s audacity.
He wasn’t rushing to act.
He was meticulous, and Kakuzu was equally so, staying in the Land of Fire meant he must have something to rely on.
“Find out everything about Kakuzu City.” He ordered the Anbu.
A day later, a year’s worth of intelligence covered his desk.
Population size, gender ratio, even data on pet cats and dogs.
‘No wonder he’s still in the Land of Fire.’
Kakuzu City had a close partnership with the Daimyo’s Residence.
It had the Daimyo’s backing.
On paper, shinobi villages were military organizations subordinate to the Daimyo’s Residence.
Kakuzu City stood on equal footing with Konoha.
Tobirama couldn’t use Konoha’s power to wipe it out.
He picked up the files, set them down, picked them up again.
After a long moment, he thought, ‘Perhaps I should find the time to pay a visit to this City Lord.’
Three days later, flanked by a pair of Anbu, Tobirama arrived at Kakuzu City.
In the name of the Hokage, he had come to visit the City Lord.
Even the Daimyo would have to receive him.
A mere City Lord had no choice.
Kakuzu met him in person, saying enthusiastically, “The arrival of Lord Hokage brings great honor to Kakuzu City!”
‘How hypocritical!’ Tobirama cursed silently, but smiled as he spoke.
“No wonder you left Konoha.
City Lord Kakuzu, congratulations.”
‘You damn Hypocrite!’ Kakuzu cursed in his hearts.
They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“Hahaha!”
The Anbu watched in utter bewilderment, exchanging glances.
This must be how great men talked.
After the obligatory small talk, Kakuzu led Tobirama to the City Lord’s Mansion and served him the finest tea.
Tobirama didn’t touch the cup.
“Kakuzu City produces a massive supply of Ninja Tools.
I’m sure the City Lord is making a fortune.”
“Not at all.
“Does Lord Hokage ask because Konoha’s factories aren’t producing enough?”
“The demand for Ninja Tools among shinobi never ends.”
Ninja Tools were war resources.
No one ever had too many.
“I see.”
Kakuzu wore an expression of genuine surprise, and Tobirama bristled.
Both men kept perfect masks, like two tigers with fixed smiles.
They knew what the other really was.
They saw through each other.
Neither said a word.
“I assume the City Lord has no objections to selling Ninja Tools to Konoha?” Tobirama asked.
“Of course not.
Konoha protects the Land of Fire, how could I refuse?
Though I wonder about those factories I left in Konoha…”
“They’re waiting for you to return whenever you’re ready.”
Kakuzu laughed.
“Lord Hokage must be joking.
I’ll send people to manage them.”
Tobirama gathered that Kakuzu was tacitly agreeing to sell Ninja Tools to Konoha, but that wasn’t why he’d come.
“Kakuzu City is thriving.
May I look around?” Tobirama moved to the windowsill, gazing at the city below.
Kakuzu called Midori forward.
“By all means, but I have urgent matters, I can’t accompany Lord Hokage.
What a shame.
If you don’t mind, my disciple can show you around.”
Tobirama’s eyes narrowed.
His mind raced.
“Since the City Lord is busy, attend to your duties.”
After Kakuzu left, Tobirama studied Midori.
He had already researched her.
A commoner from Konoha, parents dead.
Kakuzu had given her a new life and trained her.
“Lord Hokage, I’m Midori.” the eight-year-old said.
“Midori, let’s go.
Show me the city.” Tobirama had considered taking her back to Konoha, but discarded the idea the next moment.
As they left the mansion, Tobirama signaled for most of the Anbu to wait outside the city.
Only one followed.
Led by Midori, Tobirama first arrived at the Steel Factory in Kakuzu City.
Although it lacked the enhancement of a ninja’s Ninjutsu, the Steel Factory was far larger in scale than the Ninja Tool Factory, with more employees and an output over a dozen times greater.
It produced not only ninja tools but also various metal tools for daily life.
Tobirama headed to School in Kakuzu City.
School also taught the methods of using Chakra.
Most of the curriculum, though, consisted of bizarre knowledge that even Tobirama found puzzling, commoners and ninjas alike seemed to have no use for this information.
‘Kakuzu does not do pointless work.
There must be a reason behind his actions.’ Tobirama greatly desired to take these materials back to Konoha for research.
But his visit was for observation, demanding these items would damage the dignity of the Hokage.
As the Hokage, actions he could take in the past were now forbidden.
He had to maintain the reputation of Konoha and the Hokage.
That’s why he would later send an Anbu to steal it.
Tobirama was a man akin to a blend of Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi, he would commit unspeakable acts for his goals, yet possessed a bottom line and exercised self-restraint.
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