In the Senju clan's main residence courtyard, Hibari was currently training with Hashirama. The goal of this training, naturally, was the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai that Hashirama had been eager to find someone to inherit.
"Merge the Water Release and Earth Release chakra together, then use your own life force as a seed, injecting it into the mixture to transform it into the concept of 'life.' This way, you can use yourself as a medium to activate the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai..." Hashirama sat in front of a stone stool, looking at Hibari in the distance, whose hands were clasped as he continuously modulated the chakra energy within his body.
This sounded simple, but it wasn't. First, in Hibari's understanding, the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai possessed the power of the God Tree. Fortunately, the Senju clan members all had some of this within their bodies, so there was no concern there.
But this was already a threshold. For anyone else to learn this Wood Release, there was no way, unless they could get some of Hashirama's cells.
Secondly, combining the Water and Earth Release natures was already a very difficult task in itself, as combining them resulted in a completely new Kekkei Genkai, not to mention injecting one's own life force into it, which made it even harder.
"Hashirama-jiisan, you make it sound so simple, but combining Water and Earth Release natures is already incredibly difficult, okay?!" Hibari complained as he continuously harmonized the two chakra natures within his body.
"What's so difficult about it? Didn't you almost succeed just now, kid?" Hashirama took a sip of tea, speaking with an air of enjoying the show.
"Is that the same thing? I almost combined the Water Release and Earth Release chakra into 'mud release' just now! If I hadn't pulled back fast enough, I would have created a 'Mud Release Kekkei Genkai'! How embarrassing would that be?" Hibari complained again, dissatisfied.
If Hibari really created such a thing, it would be a bit humiliating to even tell others. How would he explain it? Say he didn't learn Wood Release but instead made mud? That if he had nothing to do, he could release sludge to attack others? A mud monster or a swamp monster?
"I told you to infuse some life force into it, why don't you understand?" Hashirama said, a bit annoyed.
"You say it's simple, 'infuse life force,' but how do you infuse it? You explain it clearly! What can I understand from just those words? No wonder you don't have many disciples, Hashirama-jiisan. If you had half of what Tobirama-jiisan has in teaching ability, I would have already learned the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai!" Hibari retorted unceremoniously.
Just as the grandfather and grandson were about to start bickering over this, Mito Uzumaki walked over from a distance with some pastries. Seeing the scene, she couldn't help but smile and say, "Alright, alright, you two are truly something, even training can lead to arguments."
Hashirama and Hibari both snorted at each other, then stopped talking.
At this, Mito looked at the sweat covering Hibari's forehead, then said, "Hibari, come and rest first. Training also needs a balance of work and rest. Here, have some pastries."
Hearing Mito's words, Hibari also smiled, then withdrew the chakra energy from his body and walked over with a chuckle. Before he could speak, he saw Hashirama had already reached out and taken a pastry, eating it without ceremony.
"Those are pastries Mito-baasan brought for me! What are you eating them for?!" Hibari quickly went up and shielded the rest of the pastries with his arm, complaining to Hashirama.
Hashirama was so angry he almost spat out blood. He pointed at Hibari and cursed, "Rebellious grandson! That's my wife! What's wrong with me eating pastries brought by my wife? Is it against the law?"
Seeing the grandfather and grandson about to start bickering again after only a few seconds of peace, Mito smiled helplessly and mediated between the two willful individuals once more, finally bringing the farce to an end.
However, Hibari and Hashirama were just fooling around like this; they weren't genuinely trying to infuriate each other to the point of a falling out. Therefore, they quickly sat together, drinking tea and eating pastries.
After resting for a while, Mito asked with some curiosity, "Oh, right, Hibari, what have you been so busy with these past few days, going back and forth? I heard you took some of the artisans from our family away? And you bought a large plot of land on the east side of the village to build houses?"
Hashirama also became curious upon hearing this and asked, "Also, I heard some clan members were even persuaded by you to resign from their positions. What in the world are you up to?"
Hibari, while eating pastries, said smugly, "Don't worry, I'm not just messing around; I'm doing big business..."
Then Hibari quickly gave a rough explanation of his plan, which surprised both Hashirama and Mito.
"You mean, you've brought Saru and the Hyūga clan's young head into this? What exactly have you formed?" Hashirama asked, somewhat puzzled.
"It's a conglomerate, the Mitsumine (Three Summits) Group..." Hibari said, his expression seeming a bit dissatisfied at this point. In his opinion, the name was a bit too rustic; it should have been cooler.
However, both Hiruzen and Hitenn were very satisfied with the name. The meaning was 'three clans, one heart, climbing to the peak together.' Although Hibari objected, he was quickly defeated in a two-to-one vote and had no choice but to accept the name he was somewhat dissatisfied with.
But at this point, even if he was dissatisfied, it was useless. Hitenn, that straight-laced fellow, had very formally reported it to the Hokage's office, which was like setting up a signboard for them. Now, all the documents and procedures had been approved, and the land was bought under the name 'Mitsumine Group' with a large sum of money. It was too late to change the name.
"Well, in short, we're partnering in business. I've invested a large sum of money, human resources, and materials on behalf of the Senju clan. Hiruzen-jisan has done the same on behalf of the Sarutobi clan, and Hitenn likewise represents the Hyūga clan. Currently, our Mitsumine Group is doing two things: the first is Mitsumine Military Industry, whose purpose is to provide sufficient weapons and equipment for Konoha, the Land of Fire, and its allies while making money. The second is the Mitsumine Merchant Guild, whose purpose is to..." Hibari started to ramble on.
After Hibari's explanation, Hashirama and Mito were both astonished, because if what Hibari said could be carried out, the benefits for the three clans would be immense!
"Unlike the Sarutobi clan and Hyūga clan, I think our Senju clan, during its period of transformation, might need this 'conglomerate' even more. Once this plan succeeds, our Senju clan in the Land of Fire will truly have no worries. Think about it, we'll have power, wealth, and military might. Who can do anything to us?" Hibari said smugly.
In Hibari's view, the Senju clan would then have a tight grip on the 'military, political, and financial' power of the Land of Fire.
Militarily, the Sarutobi clan and Hyūga clan would maintain the Senju clan's lateral influence in Konohagakure.
Politically, many Senju clan members would gradually enter the political class of the Land of Fire in the future. Wasn't Hashirama about to become some kind of general?
Financially, according to Hibari's vision, if the Mitsumine Group developed steadily, every aspect of the Land of Fire would be 'involved.' At that time, the Land of Fire would be unable to function without them for eating, drinking, and daily necessities. They would not only control enormous wealth but also the entire 'financial power' of the Land of Fire, becoming the top zaibatsu of the Land of Fire, even expanding their business to other countries.
When it truly reached this level, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire would have to respectfully greet any member of the Senju clan; otherwise, they could be replaced at any time!
"You brat... you brat..." Hashirama was so overwhelmed by Hibari's words that he couldn't speak.
"Oh, right, Hashirama-jiisan, when you go to the capital city, some of our Senju clan members will also follow. Once they enter various departments with authority, remember to make things more convenient for my 'Mitsumine Group,' since we're family, after all," Hibari said shamelessly, not feeling at all that he was using back channels.
In this world, such behavior wasn't illegal, so why should he care? As long as he didn't cut corners or do anything unscrupulous, finding convenience or pulling some strings didn't bother Hibari psychologically.
After Hashirama and Mito had somewhat recovered from the shocking news, Mito looked at Hibari with amusement, then said, "Since this concerns our Senju clan, we can't let you worry about it alone. How about this: I'll go back and talk to the clan members, telling them to support you. Also, Hibari, do you have enough funds? If not, just use the family's money."
"Don't worry, Mito-baasan, we don't need to invest too much money in the initial stages. I'm still quite well-off. And this is a joint investment from three families. The cost of forming a few merchant caravans is a bit high, but we can afford it. As for building workshops and such, we can do it ourselves, so there isn't much expense," Hibari said with a chuckle.
He paused slightly, then continued, "Once these merchant caravans set off and the workshops start operating, our funds will recover very quickly. It won't take long to break even. At that time, we'll be able to expand into new industries."
Just then, a Senju clan attendant came in and said, "Young Master Hibari, a servant from the Hyūga clan has come to deliver a message, saying that the young head of the Hyūga clan has an appointment to meet with you."
Hibari slapped his forehead upon hearing this and said, "Oh, right, I almost forgot! I was supposed to treat Hitenn and Hiruzen-jisan to hotpot today. The merchant caravans should also be setting off soon."
After speaking, Hibari didn't delay any further. After bidding farewell to Hashirama and Mito, Hibari rushed off to change his clothes and go to his appointment.
Watching Hibari's receding figure, Hashirama suddenly smiled and said, "I'm starting to think, perhaps I should find a time to hand over the clan head position to him..."
"Well, Hibari wouldn't be polite about taking it from you," Mito said with a teasing smile.
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