Chapter 296: Konoha Year 57

Konoha Year 57. Land of Fields.

Inside the conference room of the Shinobi Alliance Council Building—

The leaders of the six great hidden villages—Wood, Night (Yoru - means night), Mist, Akatsuki, Cloud, and Rock—had all gathered.

Together, they were discussing and drafting the "Regulations for Further Strengthening Friendly Cooperation Among Nations."

Once the meeting concluded—

Obito stretched lazily and turned to the Fifth Raikage, Darui, on his right.

"Raikage, please go on ahead. We still have another small meeting to hold."

Darui glanced around the room and noticed that no one else was getting up.

"So, out of the six council members, five are on the same side?"

"And the only one left out... is me?!"

With a look of resignation, Darui stood up and left.

Once he was gone—

Obito slumped into his chair with a grin and said, "Alright, let's continue our meeting. Kakuzu, you start."

Kakuzu's green eyes landed on Obito as he spoke in a solemn tone. "Leader, the current peace in the shinobi world isn't good for the villages' financial interests."

"Hah, now that's where you're completely wrong, Kakuzu."

Obito chuckled, shaking his head. He pulled out a document and slid it across the table toward Kakuzu.

"You just need to broaden your perspective. There are plenty of ways to make money."

As he spoke, Obito retrieved several more documents and distributed them among the others.

Everyone flipped through the pages, their expressions gradually turning thoughtful.

Seeing this, Obito smiled and said, "I assume you've all finished reading? If these technologies can be implemented, the profits behind them are obvious."

Mei Terumi's beautiful eyes flickered as she cautiously asked, "Hokage, where exactly did you acquire these technologies?"

Obito merely smiled without answering.

His secret of taking over Kara as an Otsutsuki vessel and obtaining a trove of advanced technology was something only a select few were privy to.

And clearly, Mei Terumi was not among them.

Realizing that Obito wasn't going to answer, she wisely kept silent.

Obito then continued, still smiling, "Everyone is free to invest in the projects that interest them. Once these technologies begin generating revenue, Konoha will ensure you receive a fair share of the returns."

Yahiko set down his document with a sigh, remarking, "Little junior brother, you've really put in the effort. In times like these, it's true that the shinobi villages need to start transitioning."

Mei nodded slightly and added, "If we can achieve financial independence and free ourselves from the feudal lords' control, our villages will gain much greater influence."

Deidara suddenly slammed the table and stood up. "I've been sick of the Earth Daimyō for a long time, yeah!"

"If not for Kurotsuchi stopping me, I would've blown up his palace ages ago, yeah!"

With Sasori by his side, Deidara had long given up thoughts of rejoining Akatsuki. Staying in Iwagakure let him indulge in both his clay explosives and Kurotsuchi—life wasn't so bad after all.

Seeing Deidara's righteous indignation, Obito burst into laughter.

"Well, if our own daimyōs ever stop listening to us, we can take turns getting rid of them."

Deidara cheered. "Awesome, awesome! It's a deal, Leader!"

"...They really dare to say that. No—actually, they really would do it!"

The others simply stared at their noses, pretending they hadn't heard anything.

Obito then pulled out another set of documents and handed them out.

"Additionally, I plan to dismantle underground money-lending operations everywhere and establish a unified financial institution."

The group reviewed the documents, which outlined the various advantages of a new organization called a "bank."

Kakuzu's eyes grew brighter the more he read. He pounded his chest and declared,

"Leader, why not leave this 'financial management' sector to me?"

Obito glanced at the others. "Any objections?"

Everyone shook their heads—no objections at all.

If anyone could be trusted with money, it was Kakuzu.

Obito tapped the table and looked at Kakuzu. "Then it's decided. You'll also be in charge of eliminating the underground moneylenders."

A rare trace of joy flashed in Kakuzu's green eyes. "Leave it to me. I won't disappoint."

Obito tapped the table once more, yawning. "Alright, that about covers everything. One last idea for making money and transitioning the villages."

The group perked up, ears tuned in.

Obito cleared his throat, looking pleased with himself. "Thanks to yours truly, many nobles from the major nations have realized the importance of individual strength."

"Every day, I receive requests from nobles wanting their children or bodyguards to train in Konoha and learn chakra techniques."

Mei, ever the cooperative one, nodded slightly and responded,

"We've encountered something similar in Kirigakure. So, Hokage, you're suggesting…?"

Obito rubbed his chin, smirking mischievously. "I'm saying if they want to learn, that's a good thing—we should support them."

"As for tuition... let's set it at one million ryō per student."

"O-One million ryō?!"

Even Kakuzu was stunned.

He suddenly felt ashamed as he reflected, "Leader is right. There are so many ways to make money... I've been thinking too small."

Today, Obito had opened an entirely new door for him.

A militarized organization transitioning into an education institution... and making even more money than before...

…

After the meeting—

Obito used Kamui to warp straight back to Konoha.

Without a word, he collapsed onto his custom-made sofa chair in the Hokage's office.

"Being Hokage is such a pain. There's way too much to do every day!"

Across from him, Riku pointed at a towering stack of documents on his own desk and snapped,

"I'm the one handling all these files! Kakashi takes care of everything else!"

"We haven't complained, yet all you did was attend a single meeting, and you're whining?!"

Just thinking about it annoyed Riku. He regretted ever agreeing to be Obito's Hokage assistant.

Assistant? More like doing all the work! He might as well be Hokage himself!

Obito chuckled sheepishly, patting D 's shoulder in consolation. "My bad, my bad. Keep up the good work—I won't bother you anymore. I'm out."

And just like that, Obito ditched work again.

Riku: "..."

That was the twenty-eighth time this month.

And the month only had twenty-eight days.

…

Sighing heavily, Obito trudged home.

Seeing her husband's weary expression, Rin wrapped her arms around him from behind, whispering gently in his ear. "What's wrong, dear?"

Obito sighed dramatically. "Being Hokage is exhausting. Nowhere near as fun as I imagined."

"By the way, where's little Hagoromo? And Grandma?"

Rin lightly bit his ear and murmured, "Grandma is putting Hagoromo to bed. Since you're so tired, why don't we go rest too?"

"With Grandma watching over him…"

Obito pulled Rin into his arms and whisked her into the Kamui dimension.

As he stretched, he began venting again.

"Blah blah blah, grumble grumble."

Rin's cheeks flushed. "To wear the crown... mmm~ you must bear its weight… ah~ Obito-kun!"

"Since you chose to be Hokage... ahh~ you must shoulder… your responsibilities~"

Obito's expression shifted into deep contemplation. "To wear the crown, you must bear its weight… I get it now, Rin-chan!"

…

At the end of Konoha Year 57—

Uchiha Obito resigned as the Fifth Hokage.

A completely bewildered Hatake Kakashi succeeded him, becoming the Sixth Hokage.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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