Just looking at the map was enough to realize how absurd that infiltration route was.
But a shinobi’s two legs really could work miracles!
“We finally…
have enough stock!”
Kazuma looked as though his entire body had been hollowed out.
Looking at the warehouses packed to the brim with tulips, he wore an expression of salvation.
Heaven knows what they had been through…
The shinobi world was enormous, but shinobi could move incredibly fast.
With the assistance of the Shadow Clone Technique, combined with the fact that methods of communication across the shinobi world were still extremely limited, they had exploited a perfect information gap.
Very few people had realized that someone was buying up massive quantities of physical tulip stock.
Although tulip prices had risen as a result of the large-scale purchases, they had only increased by a little more than double—nearly twice their original price.
Compared with the frenzy that would follow, that increase was nothing more than child’s play.
“Darkness, you can notify the Fire Daimyō.
It’s time to prepare for the next phase.”
Kazuma spoke as he wiped away his exhaustion.
The next step required the Fire Daimyō to make a public appearance and ensure that tulips became famous throughout the entire noble circle!
As for signing contracts with the flower growers and conducting the formal transactions, there was no need to rush.
If he continued working day and night like this, Kazuma genuinely felt that he was going to drop dead from exhaustion.
The next day.
Everything in the Land of Fire continued as usual.
It was quiet, like the surface of a tranquil lake.
During this peaceful period…
A sudden piece of news spread from the palace of the Fire Daimyō.
A minor official had unexpectedly won the Fire Daimyō’s favor and praise, and had been promoted three ranks in a single day!
The news immediately attracted everyone’s attention.
Every action of the Fire Daimyō was closely watched, and among all of them, personnel appointments were particularly important.
Everyone worked as officials in the Land of Fire.
Who didn’t want to climb higher?
Who didn’t want to advance their career?
This had been an utterly ordinary minor official with no illustrious family background.
Why had he suddenly risen to prominence overnight and been promoted three ranks?
The nobles…
To ensure that they could obtain crucial information when necessary, they maintained long-standing friendly relationships with the attendants around the Fire Daimyō.
Often, a meeting began with a single gold coin changing hands.
How could their relationship possibly be bad?
The story of the Fire Daimyō’s daughter purchasing tulips was immediately spread throughout the noble circles!
“Oh~ So it’s because of tulips!”
“So the Fire Daimyō actually likes tulips!”
To ensure that the name “tulip” spread beyond its original niche as quickly as possible, the Fire Daimyō even held a grand banquet, gathering the nobles of the Land of Fire together for a meal.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill…
The Fire Daimyō brought out the precious tulips he had prepared and spared no effort praising them in front of everyone.
“Take a good look…
Isn’t this flower absolutely magnificent?”
“Only nobles with refined culture and impeccable taste can truly appreciate its beauty!”
“You.
You…
What do you think?
Isn’t it beautiful?”
One of the nobles he pointed at immediately answered:
“Your Highness, I have never seen such a beautiful flower in my entire life!”
“Now that’s taste…
So how many tulips have you collected at home?”
The Fire Daimyō continued questioning him.
The noble’s expression immediately became awkward.
“Your Highness, my family…
doesn’t have any tulips.”
He admitted that he was indeed a cultured nobleman and could fully appreciate the beauty of the tulip before him.
He simply wasn’t particularly interested in flowers.
“Hmph…
No tulips…”
The Fire Daimyō openly sneered at him in front of everyone.
Just then…
Another noble suddenly stepped out of the crowd, his face filled with excitement.
“Your Highness, my house has an entire room filled with tulips!
Only people with taste and status like us can appreciate their beauty!”
Until now, tulips had only caused a trend among a small portion of the nobility.
Their fame had not yet spread throughout the entire noble circle.
They had been a niche hobby.
This was their chance!
For a moment…
The atmosphere became heated.
The Fire Daimyō immediately took the noble’s hand and admired the tulip together with him.
The surrounding nobles chimed in one after another, showering the flower with extravagant praise.
Meanwhile, the unlucky nobleman was silently ostracized by everyone.
A noble without taste no longer deserved to play in the same circle as them!
All the nobles present…
Who among them didn’t have an entire room filled with tulips?
(Absolutely!)
In the span of a single night…
The name “tulip” rapidly broke out of its niche.
And like a virus, the reputation of tulips spread throughout the noble circles of the Land of Fire and, eventually, across the entire shinobi world!
The Tulip Scheme had officially been inflated!
…….
At the same time…
Konoha.
Office.
Senju Tobirama sat in a chair.
The chair technically belonged to Senju Hashirama.
But Hashirama was a hands-off leader.
In practice, Senju Tobirama was the one who handled the village’s day-to-day affairs.
As for Senju Hashirama…
He either spent his days fooling around with Uchiha Madara and didn’t come home at night, causing Uzumaki Mito to chew Senju Tobirama out…
Or he would sneak off to a gambling den and become the local patron saint of losing money.
He wouldn’t come home that night either.
Only after losing every last coin would he go to Uchiha Madara the next day to borrow money.
Madara would “reluctantly” lend it to him.
Then the two of them would go fool around together again.
Hashirama wouldn’t come home that night either.
And Senju Tobirama would once again return home only to have Uzumaki Mito point at his nose and yell:
“What kind of younger brother are you?!”
As time passed…
Senju Tobirama developed quite a few grievances.
After all, nobody wanted to spend the entire day working in an office, only to be scolded by their sister-in-law at night…
All because they had failed to keep an eye on their older brother.
Big brother…
What on earth is so good about that naturally troublesome Uchiha Madara?!
Faced with Tobirama’s complaints, Hashirama would acknowledge his mistakes, admit that he was wrong…
And then proceed not to change a thing.
I’m playing with Madara no matter what!
Of course…
When it came to this situation…
Senju Tobirama was suffering and enjoying himself at the same time.
His big brother was neglecting his duties every day.
And Uchiha Madara was neglecting his duties every day as well.
That meant the naturally troublesome Uchiha Madara was being kept occupied by his big brother.
Perfect!
The actual person running the village was now Senju Tobirama!
“I’ll use this opportunity to gradually divide the Uchiha clan and make Uchiha Madara lose the trust of his own clansmen…
I’ll make them recognize the village, but forget Uchiha Madara!”
“Uchiha Madara is still far too dangerous.
What if he suddenly goes berserk one day…
The Uchiha clan can’t go berserk with him!”
“The situation my big brother worked so hard to create absolutely cannot be destroyed like this.”
Senju Tobirama thought to himself.
A whole series of plans had already formed in his mind.
He intended to use the authority in his hands to win over members of the Uchiha clan!
Moreover, the village’s situation was improving day by day.
It could truly be described as a realm bursting with life, where all things vigorously competed for growth!
And all of this was the result of Senju Tobirama’s tireless efforts over this period.
He had been working day and night to make it happen.
He had even been forced to set aside his beloved research experiments because he simply had no time for them.
Even if only for his own sake…
Senju Tobirama would defend this hard-won village!
“Knock, knock, knock…”
A series of knocks sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
The door creaked open, and four people entered the room.
“Sasuke, Shima, you’ve arrived.”
“Lord Tobirama.”
Senju Tobirama looked at the people before him and smiled.
Sarutobi Sasuke and Shimura Shima were the respective heads of the Sarutobi clan and Shimura clan.
Both clans had already decided to join Konoha.
After some polite conversation…
The two clan heads explained the purpose of their visit.
Their clans would soon be relocating to Konoha as a whole.
“That’s wonderful!”
“Is there anything I can help with?”
The relocation plan was relatively straightforward.
As clan heads, the two men would personally lead their clansmen to Konoha.
Along the way, they would pass through the capital of the Land of Fire and take the opportunity to purchase supplies in bulk around the capital.
The Shimura clan’s situation was much the same.
As for what kind of assistance they needed…
It would be best if the village could provide some funding.
The more supplies they purchased in bulk, the more favorable the prices would be.
Senju Tobirama nodded.
Money wasn’t a problem.
The village was somewhat short on funds at present, but it could still scrape together a portion of its resources to win over the shinobi clans that were among the first to pledge themselves to Konoha.
That had enormous symbolic significance!
And the village happened to be running low on supplies as well.
This was the perfect opportunity to purchase supplies in bulk alongside the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.
The village’s finances were tight.
Buying in bulk would definitely be cheaper.
Every little saving counted!
“Wait a moment.
Did you just say you’ll be passing through the capital of the Land of Fire?”
“Yes, Lord Tobirama.”
Senju Tobirama suddenly focused on the mention of the capital.
The village’s finances were still rather strained.
If they could obtain financial support from the Fire Daimyō, the situation would improve considerably…
But he had already sent the Fire Daimyō two letters.
And the replies…
Well…
First, the Fire Daimyō had politely thanked Senju Tobirama for writing.
Then his reply had contained the following:
“Under consideration…”
“Under active consideration…”
Senju Tobirama intended to use this opportunity to write another letter and send it to him.
If the third letter still failed, he planned to send his big brother personally to meet with the Fire Daimyō.
“Oh, that’s a trivial matter!”
“Let Hiruzen deliver the letter.
He’s already a shinobi capable of handling matters on his own.”
Sarutobi Sasuke said this.
Beside him, Shimura Shima reacted a beat slower, just like the future Danzō.
“Danzō can go with him too!”
This time, Sarutobi Sasuke had come to Konoha for more than simply discussing the Sarutobi clan’s relocation.
He also wanted to introduce his son, Sarutobi Hiruzen, to Senju Tobirama.
If possible, Sarutobi Sasuke hoped that Senju Tobirama would take Sarutobi Hiruzen as his student.
This was a decision Sarutobi Sasuke had made after careful consideration.
Some time earlier…
Sarutobi Sasuke had visited the village to conduct an inspection.
The village’s formidable strength was beyond question.
After all, this was a village established jointly by the Uchiha clan and Senju clan.
Of course…
Everyone already knew that.
The crucial thing was that Sarutobi Sasuke had more or less figured out a key question concerning the future development of the Sarutobi clan.
Once the Sarutobi clan relocated to Konoha…
Whom should they curry favor with?
Which side should they take?
Whom to curry favor with?
Naturally, the person in charge.
Which side to support?
Naturally, the person in charge.