"What the hell, are you saying that not a single one of the famous directors in the Land of Fire will take the job?"
"Tōmaru-kun, you're not joking, are you?"
Uchiha Makoto's expression changed. He put down the black pen in his hand with a snap and couldn't help but speak.
Right now, Akatsuki Village, having just won a battle to establish its prestige, was in a state of vibrant life and fierce competition.
The village's influence, the villagers' sense of belonging, the ninjas' pride... every metric was steadily rising.
The situation was not just good.
It was excellent.
In the Land of Fire, Akatsuki Village was, for a time, unrivaled in the limelight.
He didn't expect someone to come and slap him in the face so soon.
"Tell me, what exactly is going on."
Uchiha Makoto suppressed the displeasure in his heart.
His intuition told him that there was definitely more to this than just a group of directors being unwilling to take the job.
For Saving Chūnin Pain, the magnificent production that would launch Akatsukiwood, Uchiha Makoto had adhered to the principle of letting professionals do professional work—the director had to understand filmmaking.
He had shown more than enough sincerity.
The director was personally invited by the Land of Fire's wealthy merchant representative before him, Takahashi Tōmaru.
The film's budget was more than sufficient, and Akatsuki Village had a large number of ninja with absolutely top-notch qualities and firsthand experience in ninja warfare to serve as actors.
Uchiha Makoto had even delegated the casting of the main character to the director, with the only requirement being that they must be a ninja from within Akatsuki Village.
The script was beyond reproach; it was a classic film script that could rank among the top 100 in the world.
An excellent script, ample funding, high-quality actors... and as the financial backer, he had given complete creative freedom. Having provided such generous conditions, Uchiha Makoto simply couldn't imagine any reason for the great directors of the Land of Fire to refuse his invitation.
"Lord Light Shadow, after I returned, I immediately found the director I have a good relationship with. After reading the script, he was full of praise at first, and everything was going smoothly. But after I left, he suddenly and inexplicably changed his mind."
"To complete the task you entrusted to me, I even used my resources to visit other great directors in the Land of Fire, but without exception, they all avoided me and rejected my invitation."
Takahashi Tōmaru recounted the entire course of events, his own mood far from calm.
He had failed the very first task Lord Light Shadow had given him. This was... truly upsetting.
However, Takahashi Tōmaru also felt deeply wronged.
The fault in this matter did not lie with him.
As the saying goes, those in the know are the first to sense the changing winds.
Almost all of those great directors in the Land of Fire had noble family backgrounds. It probably wasn't that they truly didn't want to take on Akatsuki Village's project.
It was that they truly didn't dare.
The battles between the top players were not something that artists like them could get involved in. Even the slightest ripple from their clashes could annihilate them. Their collective abnormal behavior this time was simply a response to a political signal they had received—Akatsuki Village could not be allowed to continue acting so wantonly!
The establishment of the Arasaka Corporation was a clear signal.
Akatsuki Village no longer wanted to abide by the ninja traditions of the past thousand years. It was slowly trying to break the inexplicable shackles that ninja carried. Once ninja as a group began to disregard past traditions, sooner or later... there would be no need for the nobles to exist.
Especially since...
Uchiha Makoto had a "prior record"!
Unifying the salt market and re-implementing the official salt monopoly had already crossed the red line that ninja were not supposed to touch.
It was just that later, the matter did indeed have the endorsement of the Land of Fire's Daimyō, and it was handled beautifully. The major players who decided the country's direction all earned more money than before, so on the whole, everyone remained at peace.
But now, Uchiha Makoto was trying again. Although nothing was said on the surface—it was just a company spanning multiple industries established in collaboration with numerous wealthy merchants—it was in fact a very direct statement of his unwillingness to be just a large-scale military base.
After all, Akatsuki Village now had the guns; how could it not have the purse?
The annual funds and dividends from the Daimyō were indeed substantial, but... who wouldn't want to stand up completely on their own two feet?
And the Daimyō and nobles of the Land of Fire were just malicious.
Not stupid.
Konoha was indeed terrifying.
A single ninja village with the strength to level the entire ninja world.
But was Akatsuki Village not frightening?
Compared to Akatsuki Village...
After years of careful observation, Konoha, at least for now, had been acting in a well-behaved and proper manner.
Even the Land of Fire's Daimyō, whose mind was filled with the theory of Senju Hashirama being a threat, sometimes wondered to himself: "Could it be that I have misunderstood Senju Hashirama?"
"Lord Light Shadow, I'm afraid someone is trying to target Akatsuki Village behind the scenes..."
Takahashi Tōmaru began to shift the blame.
He did not want this incident to cause Lord Light Shadow to have any negative impression of him.
"Ah... that should indeed be the case."
Uchiha Makoto nodded. He had no intention of arguing with Takahashi Tōmaru. After hearing his words, he had figured everything out himself.
This was likely a warning that the top echelons of the Land of Fire wanted to send to Akatsuki Village.
As for who these people were?
The Daimyō?
Or certain great nobles of the Land of Fire?
It didn't matter.
This could be seen as a compliance test from the ruling system of the Land of Fire.
If Akatsuki Village could be as well-behaved as Konoha, then everyone could continue to live in peace, enjoying the music and dance. Even if they wanted a little more funding each year, it could all be discussed.
Otherwise...
Even if for some reason they couldn't have a complete falling out with Akatsuki Village, they could secretly trip them up in various ways.
These people controlled the machinery of an entire state. Their words and actions could invisibly influence too many people... An unofficial ban is never written down, but what about the result?
This group of bastards in the Land of Fire was extremely skilled at infighting.
Moreover, the fact that they spent double the money to prop up two large ninja villages in the Land of Fire was precisely in preparation for this moment.
Previously, the Land of Fire could be said to have heavily favored Akatsuki Village with its resources. The reason Akatsuki Village was so prosperous now, even Uchiha Makoto had to admit, was that he had benefited greatly from the Land of Fire. In the future, with a single order from those people, Konoha would receive all sorts of extra funding and investments out of thin air.
If things escalated...
Konoha would have to get involved too.
Today the east wind may prevail, but tomorrow it could be the west wind.
One side balances the other.
No one can overstep their bounds.
Uchiha Makoto frowned, contemplating his countermeasures. Beside him, Takahashi Tōmaru couldn't help but say, "In that case, Lord Light Shadow, if you still want to shoot this film, you don't necessarily have to find a director from within the Land of Fire. I also know several great directors from abroad whose professional skills are widely recognized... I can invite them..."
"No need. From the moment I accepted your shares, this kind of thing was inevitable."
"I'm used to earning money while standing up. If I have to watch their expressions for everything I do, wouldn't I become a beggar on my knees?"
"Since certain people in the Land of Fire want to challenge me, let's give it a try. I probably won't have any problems... but as for them, that's hard to say."
"Ah, Lord Light Shadow is tough!"
"Tough?"
"Tough enough!"
A smile appeared on Takahashi Tōmaru's face. This was the sentence he had been waiting for.
If Uchiha Makoto had backed down at this moment...
Then he would really have to consider how to cleanly sell off all his assets and find a way to safely get his family and fortune out of the Land of Fire.
If Uchiha Makoto gave in today due to pressure from the Land of Fire's elites, he might sell them out under the next wave of pressure.
Why did this group of people dare to risk being blacklisted by the great nobles of the Land of Fire, dare to risk their lives and fortunes to build a relationship with Akatsuki Village? It was because they saw in the war against Kumogakure the ruthlessness with which Akatsuki Village defended its interests, while also being incredibly powerful—if they said they'd fight you, they'd fight you, no nonsense, and they'd keep fighting until you couldn't take it anymore.
As for the price paid?
How could there be a price when you win?
Weren't those all benefits?
"Lord Light Shadow, do you have a plan?"
"If there is any way we can be of use, please do not hesitate to command us!"
"We would go through fire and water for you, without hesitation!"
Takahashi Tōmaru seized the opportunity to express his loyalty to Uchiha Makoto. With a single command from the supreme Lord Light Shadow, they would dare to charge forward.
"A plan... I think I have an idea. I heard that Lord Senju Hashirama, the First Hokage of Konoha, was assassinated by an assassin sent from Takigakure?"
"Lord Light Shadow, that is correct."
Takahashi Tōmaru was a little confused.
What did the assassination of Konoha's First Hokage have to do with the current situation?
Uchiha Makoto smiled and said nothing.
A brilliant plan was gradually forming in his mind.
Konoha had not been peaceful lately.
He had been keeping a close eye on news from Konoha.
The news of Senju Hashirama's assassination had naturally reached his ears... The higher-ups in Takigakure had clearly all lost their minds to do something as stupid as sending an assassin after Senju Hashirama.
According to the original plot progression...
When Senju Hashirama was assassinated by a Takigakure ninja, Konoha probably didn't even want to bother pursuing the matter. It was Takigakure's leadership who were the first to shift the blame.
They directly backstabbed the honest man, Kakuzu.
Naturally, Kakuzu had an epiphany in prison, found the love of his life, and not only stole Takigakure's secret jutsu, Earth Grudge Fear, but also killed a large number of Takigakure's higher-ups along the way.
Konoha, on the other hand, actually compensated Takigakure with the Seven-Tails afterward.
Such a bizarre line of thinking...
Probably only Senju Hashirama would do something like that.
But this time...
Due to the butterfly effect caused by his own appearance, the course of events had changed.
According to reliable intelligence...
Senju Tobirama was currently running around Konoha, making a fuss about this matter.
The direction of public opinion in Konoha was very different from the original story.
In Uchiha Makoto's view, Senju Tobirama must have been stimulated by Akatsuki Village's victory.
Akatsuki Village's war to establish its prestige had brought it both fame and fortune.
Although Senju Tobirama was not particularly sensitive to matters of commerce, economy, public opinion, and influence...
He was extremely sensitive when it came to ninja affairs.
He was so sensitive to ninja matters, you touch on the subject and he gets worked up enough to break a sweat.
The actions of the small ninja factions in the Land of Fire, pledging their allegiance to Akatsuki Village...
There was no way Senju Tobirama didn't know about these things.
"Damn it!"
"Uchiha Makoto, you naturally evil Uchiha brat, you bastard!"
When Senju Tobirama found out about these things, he was so angry he could have ground his teeth to dust.
How could such a thing be allowed?
According to Senju Tobirama's plan, he was going to gradually gather all the small ninja factions under Konoha's banner, leaving Akatsuki Village isolated and without support in the Land of Fire!
He never expected that a moment of carelessness would allow Uchiha Makoto to outmaneuver him.
Senju Tobirama was now extremely anxious.
But he was not without a chance to turn the situation around.
It would take a long time for Akatsuki Village to completely control those small ninja factions... even at the fastest, it would take at least three to five months, half a year, and for the more distant factions, even one or two years.
There was still time.
Konoha still had a chance to salvage the situation.
Senju Tobirama planned to use the Takigakure incident as a pretext to establish Konoha's prestige in the ninja world, just like Akatsuki Village had done.
Mobilize Konoha and launch a heavy-handed attack on Takigakure!
And Uchiha Makoto saw right through the intentions behind Senju Tobirama's frantic activities.
Originally... Uchiha Makoto had not planned to get involved in this matter.
After all, it had nothing to do with Akatsuki Village, and Konoha was in the right... Assassinating a village Kage was such a heinous act that retaliation was only natural.
Of course, the most crucial point was... Uchiha Makoto was certain that things would not go as smoothly as Senju Tobirama imagined.
If he could directly command Konoha's ninja forces to deploy...
Senju Tobirama wouldn't have to go to such great lengths, copying his idea of stirring up public opinion in Konoha.
His older brother, Senju Hashirama, was the biggest opponent.
According to Senju Hashirama's character, how could he possibly allow Senju Tobirama to let Konoha proactively start a war... even with a just cause, it was not acceptable!
...
"Lord Light Shadow, you mean to say?"
Takahashi Tōmaru waited patiently for Uchiha Makoto to finish his thoughts. Only when Uchiha Makoto's gaze returned to him did he speak at the opportune moment.
"If even Konoha's Hokage, Senju Hashirama, can be the target of such a frenzied assassination attempt by Takigakure, is it not possible that they might also send assassins to systematically assassinate the great nobles of the Land of Fire?"
"Lord Light Shadow, brilliant!"
"Simply brilliant and tough!"
Listening to the flattery, another thought came to Uchiha Makoto's mind.
"Tobirama... let me give you a hand this time."
"Since you want to challenge your brother... I'd also like to test whether Konoha's public opinion can suppress the ninja way that Senju Hashirama insists on..."
"Senju Hashirama's bottom line... I wonder just where it is..."
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