124. Deidara And Future Leg Shadow

"Good guys! The Uchiha are playing too much!" 

Hearing Yagami's words, Ōnoki was so shocked that he was momentarily speechless. 

They aimed to circumvent all nations and ninja villages in the ninja world to create a business cluster entirely independent of any ninja force. 

"Are you really just doing this to make money? It feels like what you're attempting is no less ambitious than uniting the entire ninja world!" 

Ōnoki's voice carried disbelief. If the Uchiha's plan succeeded, they would construct an unparalleled business empire within the ninja world. The economic lifeline of the entire world would rest in the hands of the Uchiha. 

At that point, even as just a family, Uchiha could easily influence the fate of entire nations. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them the masters of the ninja world. 

"Is it difficult to unify the ninja world? Don't worry! We don't have such ambitions. We want to ensure the family's survival and avoid being remembered in history for all the wrong reasons." 

Yagami spread his hands. "Sure, being an emperor or ruler of the ninja world sounds impressive, but maintaining a country is an entirely different ordeal. Is Uchiha the kind of family that manages a country?" 

He smirked. "Everyone's a bit of a lunatic in their own way. But making some money and being misers sounds way easier than trying to govern a country." 

"According to what you've said, we simply collect the items, and you handle transportation and sales. In the end, we take the lion's share. However, I suspect you have other requirements," Ōnoki said, finally grasping the business model Yagami described. 

He now understood why Kirigakure and Kumogakure had chosen to cooperate—the temptation was simply too great to resist. 

"This is natural," Yagami replied. 

"Our Uchiha Group requires recognition of its status in Iwagakure and the Earth Country. 

As a multinational business group, we need safe transportation routes and a certain level of personal status within each nation. 

Countries that recognize the Uchiha Group must guarantee the safety of their employees within their territories and cooperate in the inflow of various commodities. 

This is an ironclad rule that must be observed under all circumstances." 

Yagami spoke with utmost seriousness. Uchiha's significant concession wasn't for the small commission on goods. Their true profits lay in circulating assets, not sales figures. 

For instance, with shipping, Uchiha would only take operational fees and leave everything else untouched. It seemed like a modest sum, but when compared to the massive economies of the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, Uchiha's operational costs were negligible, making it pure profit. 

If there were any costs, they would be in terms of management manpower and time—a small price to pay for such returns. Of course, all of this hinged on the strength of the Uchiha family. Without their overwhelming power, these plans would crumble like a house of cards. 

"Let me discuss this with the Daimyō when I return. I doubt he'll refuse," Ōnoki said with a heavy sigh, realizing that this was a golden opportunity for Iwagakure—a chance the village desperately needed. 

"Very well, but Tsuchikage-sama, you must act quickly," Yagami cautioned. 

"The Earth Country and the Wind Country share a border. 

While the Earth Country has a better environment, both nations specialize in ores. 

If the Wind Country joins first, the market share available to you may shrink considerably." 

Yagami didn't push any further. Now that the conversation had reached this point, there was no need to rush to finalize the agreement.

However, he had no intention of staying in Iwagakure for long. Pressuring them to act by leveraging the threat of competition from the Land of Wind was enough. If Ōnoki believed making less money was beneficial, so be it.

After escorting the Iwagakure shinobi and their group back to the village, Yagami instructed Shisui to take the team and return first.

He only shared knowledge of the Flying Thunder God Technique with a select few, treating it as a trump card. After all, secrets were more valuable when kept hidden.

"Alas! I really don't know what Sarutobi Hiruzen was thinking. Forcing such a ninja to leave Konoha..."

Watching the Uchiha vanish from view, Ōnoki spoke with a faint tone of schadenfreude. Without the Uchiha, Konoha's combat power would undoubtedly diminish.

Uchiha had three Kage-level shinobi visible to the public. In Konoha, aside from Sarutobi Hiruzen himself, only Jiraiya could match them. There were a few others close to Kage-level, but they weren't true Kage-level fighters.

While the difference between Jōnin and Kage might seem small on paper, in terms of strength, the gap was immense.

"Maybe his love for Danzō runs too deep! Hahaha..."

Yagami chuckled and added, "You never know what that Third Hokage is thinking. He's no Kishimoto, so he clearly knows nothing!"

Boom!

Just as he was about to change the subject, a loud explosion interrupted him.

"Tsuchikage-sama, are you being attacked again?"

Yagami raised a slightly amused eyebrow as he asked.

The corner of Ōnoki's mouth twitched.

"It shouldn't be... I think I know the culprit. Kurotsuchi! Go bring me that brat, Deidara!"

Ōnoki sighed heavily, already imagining the trouble his wayward disciple had caused. Looking at Yagami, he couldn't help but feel a little disheartened. How could someone of the same age lead their family to greatness step by step while his own family only excelled in mud-slinging and throwing bombs?

Deidara, he thought. That boy hasn't joined the Akatsuki yet, has he? Then again, Naruto hasn't even graduated yet, and the Akatsuki organization is still in its early stages. Even Kisame is likely still lingering in Kirigakure. For now, Deidara is just a brash, underage troublemaker.

"Uh... Old man, you're back..."

Not long after, Kurotsuchi returned, dragging two younger individuals behind her. Yagami instantly recognized the boy with the unruly blond hair as Deidara.

As for the other child, the young girl accompanying him was undoubtedly Kurotsuchi herself, Ōnoki's granddaughter.

"If I don't come back, are you planning to blow up the entire village? Do you think the damage caused by Kumogakure's two Tailed Beasts wasn't enough, so you want to finish the job yourself?"

Ōnoki scowled, glaring furiously at Deidara, who looked thoroughly guilty.

"I wasn't! I was trying to turn ninjutsu into art! Art is explosion, yeah!"

Deidara replied, looking defiant. However, he was swiftly sent flying by a well-aimed knock to the head from Ōnoki.

"Art? Do you call that art? How can explosions be considered art?"

"Tsuchikage-sama, you can't dismiss it entirely. Have you ever seen fireworks? That's a form of explosive art," Yagami interjected with a faint smile.

"But," he added, turning toward Deidara, "fireworks are too simple. The art of explosions should be far more intricate, don't you think?"

Deidara's eyes widened slightly as he heard Yagami's words.

This boy, Yagami thought, was a natural-born demolitions expert. In the future, Uchiha Heavy Industries would definitely need talents like him.

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