For the next few days, Senju Tobirama completely abandoned the idea of continuing to work and, for a rare change, began to rest and recuperate.
It couldn't be helped...
In the past few years.
Too much had happened in the ninja world, and almost every single thing was "trouble" caused by that naturally evil Uchiha brat, Uchiha Makoto.
Hidden within these troubles were numerous large pits waiting for him to jump into. He had to be cautious at every turn; otherwise, he would accidentally fall into a pit dug by Uchiha Makoto.
Coupled with the increasingly heavy official duties of Konoha, the covetous eyes of the Uchiha clan, and the need to find time at night to research new ninjutsu in the laboratory—all these trivial matters weighed heavily on him, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted.
Senju Tobirama felt that if he didn't stop to rest for a few days, his body would really be worn down by that brat Uchiha Makoto.
—Health is the most important thing. If my health collapses, how can I protect Konoha!
However, during this rare rest time, Senju Tobirama was still constantly unsettled.
Because soon, in order to salvage the cooperation between Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village, he would have to go to the Akatsuki Ninja Village to meet Uchiha Makoto again!
And in Senju Tobirama's view...
That naturally evil Uchiha brat, Uchiha Makoto, had probably calculated against him long ago. Otherwise, it would be impossible for every escape route to be so precisely blocked by him. Not only did he make his brother sign the mission contract, but he also added that damned non-compete clause, and deliberately had Uchiha Madara, that naturally evil old Uchiha demon, act as the mission guarantor, leaving practically only one path for Tobirama: to go to the Akatsuki Ninja Village and "offer a humble apology"!
How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
It was clearly Uchiha Makoto's deliberate doing!
And once he went to the Akatsuki Ninja Village, what awaited him?
Without a doubt!
It would inevitably be all sorts of humiliations deliberately prepared by Uchiha Makoto. Just thinking about it made Senju Tobirama feel suffocated.
Of course...
Senju Tobirama had actually thought of a way to save himself. He couldn't really just surrender and let Uchiha Makoto trample his face into the ground. The most suitable and effective method Senju Tobirama thought of—was to drag his foolish brother Senju Hashirama along to the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
After all, Senju Hashirama was not only the Hokage of Konoha but also far superior to Uchiha Makoto in strength.
If a sea of trees composed of trees tens or hundreds of meters high suddenly appeared in the heart of the Akatsuki Ninja Village, it would be like hail falling out of nowhere in summer, completely countable as a force majeure of nature, and certainly having nothing to do with Senju Hashirama... Of course, Senju Hashirama wouldn't actually do such a thing, but it was enough that he possessed such capability.
—Senju Tobirama knew this logic very well.
So he believed that as long as his brother was present, Uchiha Makoto would have to give his brother Senju Hashirama some face no matter what.
In that case, Uchiha Makoto would naturally restrain his excessive words and actions a lot.
Perhaps this time it would just be a few sarcastic remarks from Uchiha Makoto.
He would only need to offer a superficial apology to Uchiha Makoto, and the matter would be considered over.
It would simply be a happy ending for everyone!
Unfortunately...
This good method, which could have saved Senju Tobirama from being humiliated by Uchiha Makoto to the greatest extent, was dead in the water.
Indeed.
Senju Hashirama had initially agreed to go to the Akatsuki Ninja Village with Senju Tobirama to "offer a humble apology" and plead... After all, no matter what, he was Senju Tobirama's older brother, and it was only natural for an older brother to share responsibility with his younger brother.
Moreover, Senju Hashirama was the Hokage of Konoha—even if he had always been a hands-off manager, he bore the most direct responsibility for Konoha's core interests.
Originally, Senju Tobirama had discussed all this with Senju Hashirama.
But this matter ultimately could not be hidden from Uchiha Madara, who appeared just in time.
No, it should be said that Uchiha Madara had already anticipated Senju Tobirama's thoughts.
And Senju Hashirama was notoriously fond of favoring outsiders.
"Hashirama, no matter what, you cannot go with Senju Tobirama this time. You must let this guy suffer a bit!"
"Why... As the Hokage, I actually have a responsibility too..."
"Shut up, Hashirama. What responsibility do you have? This time, it was all caused by that bastard Senju Tobirama. And... Hashirama, there will be news about the Three-Tails and Four-Tails soon. Once the news comes, we will set off immediately to capture the Tailed Beasts... We have things to do too, so Senju Tobirama must go to the Akatsuki Ninja Village alone!"
"This time, Senju Tobirama should be taught a lesson. I have already written to Uchiha Makoto. As the Kōkage, he will educate Senju Tobirama well!"
"What, are you unwilling?"
"Are you unwilling to trust Uchiha Makoto, or unwilling to trust me?"
Faced with Uchiha Madara's blunt and pressuring speech, Senju Hashirama was immediately cornered.
Whether it was being unwilling to trust Uchiha Madara or unwilling to trust Uchiha Makoto, these were choices Senju Hashirama could not make.
Naturally, Senju Tobirama was "abandoned" by Senju Hashirama without any loyalty.
—Tobirama, it's okay. Uchiha Makoto is a gentleman. It's just going alone to admit a mistake; it won't kill you!
Then...
Senju Tobirama, who was still happily recuperating at home, received this bad news.
And hearing this bad news...
"Uchiha Madara, you naturally evil old Uchiha demon!"
"You specifically want me to go to the Akatsuki Ninja Village alone and be humiliated by that naturally evil Uchiha brat, Uchiha Makoto... Sooner or later, I will kill you two bastards!"
Senju Tobirama immediately cursed in his heart.
But he could only curse in his heart. After cursing, Senju Tobirama had no solution, because Uchiha Madara was an insurmountable chasm placed before him.
After resting for several days in a row.
Senju Tobirama officially stepped out of his house.
However, Senju Tobirama did not immediately set off for the Akatsuki Ninja Village to face Uchiha Makoto's "torture," but planned to go to the Hokage's office first to browse the briefing on the work progress within Konoha during his recuperation, and incidentally explain clearly how various tasks in Konoha should be advanced during the time he would be away at the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Morning.
Walking on the street.
Senju Tobirama rarely calmed down, looking at the lively streets of Konoha, feeling much more relaxed.
Although he himself had been tormented enough by Uchiha Makoto, it was undeniable that Konoha was indeed developing in a more prosperous direction than the Konoha in the original Naruto story due to Uchiha Makoto's intervention. After those wealthy merchants closely related to the Akatsuki Ninja Village reached an agreement with Senju Tobirama, they began to inject large amounts of capital into Konoha as agreed. And Konoha had not been completely without commercial assets over the years. With the influx of this hot money, Konoha's economy was visibly more prosperous than before.
Although Konoha today could not compare to the prosperity of the Akatsuki Ninja Village, it was at least stronger than the other major hidden villages!
However, this good mood did not last long.
As he walked, Senju Tobirama's brows furrowed.
Along the way.
Senju Tobirama saw too many signs of the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Even the paper currency issued by the Akatsuki Ninja Village had flowed into Konoha. Even the inconspicuous small vendors on the street were willing to accept it calmly.
In fact, Konoha's small vendors did not accept the Akatsuki Ninja Village's paper currency at first.
But the funds Uchiha Makoto lent to Senju Tobirama were in Akatsuki Ninja Village paper currency, and the wealthy merchants of the Akatsuki system also recognized this money... Since both Konoha officials and the big capital of the Akatsuki Ninja Village were using Akatsuki paper currency, coupled with the fact that the circulation of paper currency was indeed convenient, the small vendors naturally began to choose to accept it for the convenience of daily trade.
But this was clearly Konoha!!
Obviously, this was a phenomenon Senju Tobirama absolutely did not want to see.
However, Senju Tobirama was destined to be unable to stop this development.
Everything has its pros and cons.
By accepting financial and commercial aid from the Akatsuki Ninja Village system, Konoha would inevitably be infiltrated by Akatsuki forces!
Not to mention there was a mole within Konoha—the Uchiha clan.
The Konoha Military Police Force controlled by the Uchiha clan was responsible for the overall security of Konoha.
The vendors dealt most with these members of the Konoha Military Police Force among the official forces of Konoha, and half of the established members of the Konoha Military Police Force relied on the Akatsuki Ninja Village for funding.
You have to serve whoever feeds you!
Once the Akatsuki Ninja Village sign was hung up, the Konoha Military Police Force would speed up the review of various qualifications for these shops, and the members of the Police Force would also give certain preferential treatment in daily patrols, fire safety, hygiene... and various other aspects.
The high-level members of the Uchiha clan were deliberately biased in this, focusing on using Konoha's power to win Akatsuki's favor. Now was exactly the time when the Uchiha clan needed various assistance from Uchiha Makoto and the Akatsuki Ninja Village, and the investors from the Akatsuki Ninja Village had brought large amounts of cash to Konoha. What was wrong with them using their power slightly to give a little benefit to Akatsuki's investors?
As the Akatsuki Ninja Village's infiltration deepened...
Perhaps in the future, the villagers of Konoha's headquarters would experience what it meant to be treated as second-class citizens.
...
After carefully touring Konoha like this, Senju Tobirama walked to the entrance of the Hokage building.
At this moment, his mood was already quite heavy.
With Senju Tobirama's meager economic knowledge, in order to develop Konoha's economy as quickly as possible, he initially just blindly copied the Akatsuki Ninja Village's policies and also believed in Uchiha Makoto's economic theory—so-called free trade... simply put, "open the village gates and let merchants come and go freely to buy and sell"; so-called "market regulation" was just considered as "whoever has good stuff and sells it cheap makes money," leaving everything to that invisible hand!
So, Senju Tobirama allowed the wealthy merchants of the Akatsuki Ninja Village to enter Konoha in large numbers.
And usually, Senju Tobirama was always busy with work, so he didn't pay attention to these details in the process of Konoha's development. The economic data on paper made him feel that Konoha was in a state of vitality, where all things compete for freedom. But the scenes he saw in Konoha today directly gave him a very bad feeling in his heart.
And this bad feeling was very familiar to Senju Tobirama—it seemed that he had unknowingly fallen into another big pit set by Uchiha Makoto!
.... I knew long ago that you, Uchiha Makoto, are a bastard, always thinking about digging pits for me, but Uchiha Makoto, you can't let me fall into pits so frequently, can you?
"Uchiha Makoto, you naturally evil Uchiha brat, how many times have you plotted against me in secret!"
"I really want to kill you!"
Senju Tobirama could only curse in his heart as he walked into the Hokage building.
"Ah, Lord Tobirama..."
"Lord Tobirama!"
"You're back?"
"...."
A group of Senju Tobirama's subordinates spotted him. They all stood up with a clatter and gathered around to greet Senju Tobirama.
Senju Tobirama waved to them, then walked up the stairs to the Hokage's office. He closed the door, sat in his chair, and let out a long sigh.
The depression in his heart was truly something he couldn't tell anyone, and he could only bear it silently alone.
—Although Konoha appeared to be thriving and full of vitality, where all things compete for freedom, but... the feeling just now was definitely not fake!
"But... there doesn't seem to be a good solution right now!"
"Let's talk about future matters in the future. Let's solve the immediate problems first."
After some thought.
Senju Tobirama found that Konoha's current situation was truly a tangled mess.
Some important figures in the Land of Fire were hostile to Konoha, and the Daimyo was also... guarding against Konoha in a detached manner all these years!
Senju Tobirama could feel the Land of Fire's rejection of Konoha.
It couldn't be helped...
The Akatsuki Ninja Village's backstabbing put too much pressure on the Land of Fire. An Akatsuki Ninja Village that was so much weaker than Konoha back then had become so domineering after its economic development.
If Konoha were given the chance for economic development and achieved economic independence, how could they sleep at night!
Suppressing Konoha was national policy!
And Konoha needed the power of the Akatsuki Ninja Village to develop its economy... and the Akatsuki Ninja Village had ill intentions!
The Uchiha clan and Uchiha Makoto were colluding from the inside and out.
His brother couldn't be counted on at all.
Uchiha Madara was even more of an enemy. If this bastard didn't want to snatch his position as the Second Hokage, he could have been bolder about some things within Konoha, even doing things secretly behind his brother's back....
And because of Uchiha Madara, this naturally evil old Uchiha demon, making trouble, he himself was in a state where a clay bodhisattva crossing a river can hardly save himself.
So, Senju Tobirama simply decided to let it rot.
He chose to temporarily forget this damn bad feeling in his heart, picked up the briefing on the desk, and started reading.
"Not bad... everything is proceeding according to plan."
"Next..."
Senju Tobirama quickly entered a working state. After understanding the progress of the work in the past few days, he began to write and draw on paper, explaining clearly the tasks during the time he would be away at the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
After everything was finished.
Senju Tobirama knew that he had no reason to delay any longer. It was time to set off for the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
"Sigh.... In the end, I still have to face Uchiha Makoto's humiliation alone!"
"Pain, it's just too painful!"
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