145. Yagami: Bathing Center? A Complete Set First!

Seeing that it was Uchiha Yagami, Kotetsu Hagane breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped aside.

Since the Uchiha clan moved out of Konoha and established the Uchiha Group, spanning many countries, their status in Konoha had become extraordinary.

Even though only Uchiha Sasuke and two caretakers remained in Konoha, and despite the absence of Uchiha representation among the village's leadership, Uchiha's current achievements ensured that no one would dare to trouble them.

This phenomenon extended beyond Konoha to the other four great ninja villages and even the smaller ones.

On the one hand, the business collaborations with the Uchiha Group had normalized, yielding immense benefits to nations and villages alike. No one was willing to forgo such lucrative partnerships.

Attempts to mimic Uchiha's business model had failed universally.

The reason was straightforward: while others recognized the profits from enabling the flow of goods across nations, they overlooked the critical requirement of possessing sufficient strength to command respect and deter threats.

Without formidable power as a foundation, such transnational business ventures were impossible to sustain.

On the other hand, the Uchiha Group's strategic approach also played a role. Apart from Konoha's office, which housed Uchiha personnel to look after Sasuke, the offices in the other four great ninja villages were staffed by locals, managing only commercial operations and abstaining from any political activities.

By refraining from political entanglements and focusing solely on commerce, the Uchiha avoided conflicts of interest. With mutual benefits and no political interference, no village saw a reason to provoke them.

Moreover, their strength and wealth made them an undesirable adversary. Any village foolish enough to antagonize the Uchiha risked facing backlash from the others.

As a result, the Uchiha clan occupied a unique position in the ninja world. Nominally part of Konoha and associated with the Land of Fire, they operated independently, controlling an unparalleled economic network.

As Kotetsu stepped aside, Yagami didn't bother acknowledging him. He pressed the accelerator, and the supercar roared softly as it rolled into Konoha.

While the thrill of driving a supercar was undeniable, he was mindful of maintaining a speed below 30 kilometers per hour within the village. The last thing he needed was to give the Third Hokage an excuse to levy fines.

"What a strange thing. Is this one of Uchiha's new inventions? If it's merely for transportation, the amount of Chakra embedded in it seems excessive, doesn't it?"

An Anbu stationed at the gate observed the supercar. His sensory feedback confused him, and he hesitated, debating whether to report the sighting to the Third Hokage.

"Are you kidding me?" his captain snapped. "Do you still not understand the reality we're dealing with? Do you have any idea what kind of strength Uchiha Yagami wields? If he wanted to cause destruction in the village, he'd do it outright.

Would he need some contraption like this to do it?"

The Anbu captain's frustration was evident. Konoha's intel on Yagami included detailed analyses of his strength. Even rumoured battles, such as his confrontations with Kumogakure and Iwagakure, were documented. Notably, the incident where his fully manifested Susano'o had single-handedly subdued Iwagakure was a chilling example.

The final assessment was clear: if Uchiha Yagami ever turned against Konoha, he alone could bring the village to its knees.

"…Yeah," the younger Anbu muttered in subdued agreement, averting his eyes from the supercar disappearing into the village.

Hearing this, the Anbu members fell silent. When faced with someone who could single-handedly destroy a village, worrying about whether he brought dangerous items into the village was pointless—he himself was the danger.

Thanks to the rural revitalization plan, Konoha has undergone drastic transformations. The newly paved roads, for instance, were smooth enough for supercars like Yagami's to traverse with ease.

As Yagami cruised through the streets with his sleek vehicle and its unmistakable roar, he naturally attracted plenty of attention.

"Uchiha's emblem! Is this one of their new products? It looks amazing!"

"This must be something like the Uchiha train, but without the cargo compartment. I didn't think it could also work for personal transportation!"

"I wonder how much it costs. If it's as fast as the train, it'd make my trips to Evernight City for supplies so much easier!"

The villagers of Konoha murmured among themselves, many gazing at the supercar with admiration.

In just three years, Uchiha had revolutionized the ninja world. One of the most significant changes was in transportation infrastructure.

When the five great nations began conducting business with one another, transporting goods became a critical issue.

While Kumogakure and Kirigakure could use sea routes, Sunagakure and Iwagakure lacked such an option. Additionally, sea transport was limited to coastal areas and couldn't effectively service inland regions.

Recognizing this challenge, Uchiha spearheaded the development of an integrated sea-land transportation network.

By utilizing two types of internal combustion engines, they constructed large railway systems for trains and highways for smaller truck transportation. These were further combined with maritime transport, creating interconnected trade routes across nations.

Progress, however, was slow due to technological limitations and resource constraints. Only a circular railway system connecting the five great nations had been completed, and highway trucks could only reach cargo warehouses near major cities.

Still, this was a monumental achievement. Over time, the network's gaps would gradually be filled.

Uchiha also rebranded many of its technological advancements.

Everyday items like flashlights and searchlights, though initially simple, were marketed with strategic flair. These gadgets became key to improving civilian life, as well as tools to generate profit.

With Orochimaru and his scientific research team onboard, many innovations from Yagami's previous life were gradually introduced into this world.

Any successful project was immediately put into production and sold, while failed experiments were refined through continued research.

Through deliberate publicity, Uchiha ensured the ninja world quickly embraced these innovations.

Yagami parked his car in front of the Uchiha Bathing Center, where Kaminarimon was already waiting.

"Director Yagami! You've finally arrived. The handover documents are ready in the room we've prepared for you at the Uchiha Hotel. Feel free to review them when you have time. For now, how about a foot soak and a massage? It must've been a tiring trip!"

Yagami nodded with a smirk. "Good! Let's start with the full treatment!"

This trip to Konoha was not just about overseeing Sasuke. Yagami also had to temporarily manage the Uchiha office in the village. Since the workload was light and mostly handled by Konoha's own personnel, Yagami viewed it as a convenient arrangement.

For instance, Kaminarimon's main duty wasn't managing operations—it was looking after Sasuke.

Why didn't Mikoto handle Sasuke instead? The answer was simple: Uchiha Fugaku.

After the Uchiha Group had become stable, Fugaku, now unburdened as CEO, spent his idle time rediscovering affection for his wife. Sasuke's day-to-day care had thus fallen to others.

Feeling rejuvenated after his spa session, Yagami left the bathing centre and headed for the Hokage Building. As he walked, he wondered if Team 7's composition would mirror the original lineup.

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