Chapter 75: Finally, the Burden is Lifted

"Ah, finally, we've thrown off this burden. Rin, go book a few seats at Torii Grilled Chicken and notify all department-level cadres. Let's have a good meal to celebrate," Yashamaru cheerfully instructed his secretary.

"Boss, isn't this a bit inappropriate? If we make too much noise and the Akatsuki organization finds out, wouldn't they become suspicious?" Rin asked with some concern.

Yashamaru thought for a moment, nodded, and replied, "You're right. You're always more thorough. Now is the critical period for our retreat; there's no need to expose ourselves for a meal. Fine, notify all the leadership. I'll treat everyone to this dinner at the Moon Lake New District later."

"Understood," Rin replied with a smile and a nod.

Relaxing completely, Yashamaru propped his legs up on the desk, shedding the polite demeanor he had displayed moments ago.

"All thanks to those young folks in Akatsuki. Otherwise, I'd have no idea how to complete the Kazekage-sama's retreat mission. Now, we can leave those young ones to deal with those troublesome union organizations," he said with a sly grin.

Rin chuckled softly and replied, "Boss, that's not very kind of you. They think they've picked up a golden nugget, not knowing it's just a burning hot piece of junk."

"Young people need to taste the hardships of the world to understand how hard it is to earn money—or eat shit, for that matter—before they can grow," Yashamaru said with a mischievous smile.

"By the way, how much money do we still have in the account?" he asked.

"Not much, just enough to pay all the workers for one month," Rin replied.

"What's today's date?"

"The 8th."

"Oh, seven days until payday…" Yashamaru paused to think before saying, "Well, since we can't take this money with us anyway, let's just pay the wages early. Consider it my last act of duty."

"Ah!" Rin exclaimed in surprise. "But if the workers don't get paid next month, won't they revolt?"

Suddenly, Rin realized something and smacked her forehead. "Oh, silly me. They won't be revolting against us. Oh! So that's your plan, boss. Heh, you're too wicked."

Why did the once-prosperous Hourglass Corporation's Rain Country Division become such a mess in Yashamaru's eyes? To understand, we need to go back to the beginning.

As the starting point of Hourglass Corporation's rise, the Rain Country division was the economic backbone of Sunagakure during the Second Shinobi World War.

During wartime, every ninja village clamored for Hourglass Corporation's ninja tools and canned goods, sometimes even sacrificing village orders to earn "foreign exchange."

At its peak, the Rain Country division employed over 20,000 workers, accounting for nearly a quarter of Amegakure's total population, making it the largest "factory" in the ninja world.

But as Jinghang, the Third Kazekage, had foreseen, the end of the Second Shinobi World War brought a sharp decline in military contracts. The days of war profiteering were over.

Fortunately, Jinghang had already decentralized the corporation, splitting it into three parts: the headquarters in Moon Lake New District, and divisions in the Rain Country and Stone Country. All core research departments were centralized at the headquarters, while the other two divisions served as low-end processing plants and logistics hubs.

The Stone Country division thrived. Established after the Iwa-Suna conflict, it faced no transitional burdens. With the Tsuchikage's clear-headed policies and resource allocation, it quickly became a renowned logistics hub in central Ninja World. The influx of trade caravans boosted the local service and entertainment industries, leading to the rise of kabuki theaters and casino hotels. The area, nicknamed the "Little Yuxi Peninsula," flourished.

In contrast, the Rain Country division struggled. Its rapid wartime expansion made transitioning difficult. Even during Yura's tenure, severe issues had surfaced.

With core departments and technical experts relocated, the remaining 20,000 workers became a massive liability. Monthly wages alone cost 80-90 million ryō, but low-end processing didn't require so many workers or justify such high labor costs.

Why not downsize? Well, due to the influence of Myōwa Tarō's "Dawn Uprising" ideology, the Rain Country division workers formed a "union." But this so-called "union" wasn't a progressive organization; it was a gang of "slackers" and "troublemakers" (see Chapter 78 for details).

These people didn't focus on work but constantly incited strikes. Honest workers who refused to join were harassed—dead animals at their doorsteps, red graffiti labeling them as "traitors," or worse, being beaten up in alleys. Some even had their families kidnapped, receiving notes demanding their participation.

Most workers were coerced, leaving Yura and Yashamaru at their wits' end.

Deploy the factory guards? The entire guard force only numbered 120, against thousands of workers. A confrontation would escalate into a major incident with dire consequences.

The usual solution? Pay off the union leaders.

When times were good, strikes were sporadic. But now, any attempt to downsize would likely result in arson.

The Rain Country workers, mostly destitute refugees during the war, once worked for mere food. But after six or seven years of peace, labor costs rose steadily. Coupled with union disruptions, Rain Country wages now matched those within Sunagakure.

On one side, meager profits from low productivity; on the other, high labor costs and a massive workforce. The Rain Country division's finances deteriorated, nearing insolvency.

Promoted to Hourglass Corporation's general manager, Yura had to allocate more low-end processing orders to the Rain Country division—grinding ninja tools, packaging products, etc. But grinding and packaging could be done anywhere; keeping the Rain Country division afloat was purely for appearances.

The Rain Country's logistics hub showed promise; situated at the junction of three major nations, it had potential. But the region's constant rain made roads muddy and impassable, deterring trade caravans. Neighboring Stone Country, with its well-paved roads, became the preferred route.

Couldn't the Rain Country build roads? Sure. But who would build them? Nōshin Kongō? He was busy "training" his secretary.

When Yura and Yashamaru took the initiative to fund road construction, Nōshin Kongō demanded exorbitant land-use fees—50 million ryō per kilometer.

Frustrated, Yura and Yashamaru abandoned the idea, muttering, "As Kazekage-sama said, Amegakure is a small temple with big devils, a shallow pond full of turtles. Time to leave."

Soon, Yahiko arrived at the Hourglass Corporation's office with a newly drafted treaty. This time, the document was formal, written by a former secretary of Nōshin Kongō. Its proper format, neat handwriting, and precise wording impressed Yashamaru, who signed it without hesitation.

"Alright, it's yours now. Good luck!" Yashamaru encouraged with a smile.

Under the protection of the factory guards, all Sunagakure personnel evacuated the Rain Country.

That afternoon, Akatsuki took over the facility, greeted by enthusiastic workers waving banners that read, "Back to the Fold."

Overwhelmed, Yahiko marveled at the massive factory and the welcoming crowd.

"You're finally here! We're free from those Sunagakure vampires," a middle-aged man in a blue work uniform exclaimed, shaking Yahiko's hand.

"Yes, yes. Your days of suffering are over. By the way, who are you?" Yahiko asked.

"Oh, pardon me. I'm Yazō Kawanishi, chairman of the factory union. I've been leading the fight against Hourglass Corporation all these years," the man replied with a sheepish grin.

"Oh!" Yahiko was surprised. He hadn't expected such a righteous group within the factory. It seemed taking over the Rain Country division would go smoothly.

"Myōwa-senpai, I did it. I've reclaimed the Rain Country's industry for its people," Yahiko whispered to himself.

Little did he know, the mess he had inherited was just the beginning of his troubles.

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