Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 56: Simple Solution
---Raiken POV---
Raiken was taking his usual stroll around the village, a simple routine that helped him clear his mind while keeping track of the businesses under his clan influence. He moved calmly from shop to shop, pausing every so often to jot down notes about sales, shortages, and the performance of each merchant. It gave him valuable insight into the pulse of the village economy.
Just as he was about to head toward another row of stalls, a voice called out.
"Raiken sama!"
One of the uchiha police approached him in respect before delivering the message.
"The Hokage has summoned you."
Raiken raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. After the incident last time, Hiruzen had not come to see him directly and Raiken had suspected it was only a matter of time before they reached out again.
Had their patience finally run thin? Did they now wish to know the results he had been quietly working on? If so, then the timing was not unfavorable. He already had some progress to present it to them, enough to hold his ground in discussion.
With a small nod, Raiken tucked away his notebook and followed the uchiha guard.
To his surprise, the meeting place was not the Hokage office but instead the Uzumaki residence itself. That fact alone told Raiken much about Hiruzen intentions. From what he had learned, the Hokage only went out of his way when he felt it truly mattered.
If he desired something minor, he would simply summon the person to his office. But if he chose to appear in another place especially in that person house, it was a clear sign that the Hokage wanted to ask something significant, something so big.
Raiken eyes narrowed slightly. 'So, it has come to this. Let us see what the Hokage truly desires,' thought Raiken.
The Hokage was already waiting inside the guest room with Shikajin. Usually, Hiruzen would come with his other close advisors, so Raiken was feeling confused why his friend especially Danzo didn't come.
"Hokage-sama, welcome to the humble abode of the Uzumaki Clan," greeted Raiken politely as he entered.
"Thank you for having us, Raiken," replied Hiruzen with a nod.
"Yes, thank you. This is such fine tea," added Shikajin, raising his cup.
"Hokage-sama, may I ask what brings you here in person?" Raiken asked directly.
Hiruzen sighed. Truthfully, he had not wanted to handle this matter face-to-face, but his advisors had pressed him to meet Raiken personally while they suddenly have something to do and Hiruzen knows they just feeling Lazy after two clan leader rejected the request.
"Yes, we received a letter from the Daimyo," said Hiruzen.
"A letter?" Raiken repeated, taken aback.
"It concerns the Uzumaki Clan scroll shop," Hiruzen explained. "Because of the popularity of the fire stove scroll, people have abandoned charcoal entirely and switched to your product. The nobles and even the Daimyo businesses are suffering heavy losses. The Daimyo has asked me to impose a tax on the fire stove scrolls."
The room fell silent. Raiken had expected this sooner or later, ever since he heard reports that ordinary villagers could no longer sell their firewood, he had feeling this day would come.
For example when Uber arrived, people no longer use taxi meter. So the innovation would create job and make those people who had a job lose their job.
Then he suddenly smiled. "So why has the Hokage not already placed a tax on my clan shop?"
Hiruzen was slightly surprised by Raiken comment.
"Because scrolls are listed under military supplies, and they cannot be taxed," Hiruzen replied. "To change that agreement between Konoha and the Daimyo, four parties must approve, the Daimyo, the Hokage, the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan leaders."
Raiken nodded in understanding. Now he saw clearly why the Hokage had come all the way here.
"That is troublesome," he said evenly. "We cannot alter the First Agreement, especially not one tied to the very foundation of Konoha."
Hiruzen expression darkened. He had expected resistance, but Raiken rejection was so precise and logical that he had no counterargument.
"If the Daimyo's businesses collapse, the village budget may be cut," Shikajin added grimly.
"I understand," Raiken said calmly. "Do not worry... we will honor the First Hokage agreement. But how about this, I will open a path for the Daimyo to profit, even without taxing the scrolls."
Both Hiruzen and Shikajin raised their heads in surprise.
"You have a way?" asked Hiruzen cautiously.
"Yes," Raiken answered. "I studied the market. The coal tax is only ten percent. So I will sell my scrolls to the Daimyo people at ten percent below the market price."
Hiruzen and Shikajin exchanged glances.
Raiken merely smiled. He knew why the coal tax was kept so low, the Daimyo held vast reserves of coal, and his profit margin from mining was already sixty percent. With such a cushion, a ten percent tax barely helped him.
The mining costs could be further reduced by using forced labor or slaves, practices that filled Raiken with quiet disdain. It hurt not only the Daimyo coffers but also the nobles who depended on his trade. Yet for Raiken, this was an opportunity. His market would only expand, and by offering the same ten percent reduction to other merchants, he ensured he lost nothing.
Checkmate! The hokage didn't know to reply and he can only accept it.
Shikajin meanwhile using his Nara brain found a big hole here so he asked Raiken about it.
"Will you continue sell directly the scroll in Konoha?"
"Yes, we will continue sell the scroll directly in Konoha," replied Raiken.
Shikajin didn't have counter argument, he knows Raiken is more sneaky when dealing with agreement. By the looks of it, the people from Daimyo can still get profit eventhough they only got 10% of the profit.
He also knows Daimyo had other business and also livestock, though coal make them lose around 10% to 30% they still have money to cover Konoha budget.
His purpose here to negotiate, so Konoha can still receive a budget annually to pay the salary for the ninja in village
Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go my patreon.
Chapter 84: Nobles Meeting
Chapter 85: War Need To Happen
Chapter 86: Tsunade
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