Watching Gekko Chizan leave the village with ten million ryō in hand, Minato felt his heart ache.
You had to know that a single S-rank mission only paid a little over one million ryō, yet Gekko Chizan had taken away the equivalent of ten missions at once.
How could his heart not ache? He had never worried about money before, but ever since becoming Hokage, he finally understood just how enormous the village's expenses were.
Sensing Minato's discomfort, the three senior elders all revealed faint smiles.
They had all gone through the same feeling before — that sensation of carving flesh away was truly unpleasant.
"Alright, Minato, it's just some money."
"That little brat's commercial plan from back then is already showing returns."
"Especially the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurants — they've opened branches in almost every major city of the Land of Fire. The financial report Torifu submitted earlier was extremely impressive."
"And you know how important intelligence is. Ten million is ten million."
Hiruzen Sarutobi lit another cigarette. Although he also felt that ten million ryō was a lot, once he thought about the village's recent positive revenue and the importance of the intelligence network, he found it acceptable.
But Minato's next sentence stunned him.
"I'm not heartbroken over the ten million. I'm worried that Chizan might want more than just ten million..."
"This might only be a beginning..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth fell open, and for a long time he couldn't say a single word. The more he thought about it, the more he felt Minato was absolutely right.
If it was Gekko Chizan, then maybe that really was the case...
Hiruzen Sarutobi: Why on earth did I agree to let this guy handle this matter...
Minato Namikaze: .....Who are you asking?
Gekko Chizan: Heh heh heh, relax. I definitely won't empty you out completely. I do have a conscience. Just a little bit, that's all!
Unlike the others, who were nervous and on edge, Gekko Chizan happily took the money and first went to the Ninja Academy to report to Pakura.
Then, with a Flying Thunder God, he directly left the village.
Since he was building an intelligence network, it would naturally be aimed at everything outside the village. That way, the capable disciples he had recruited earlier would finally have a place to shine.
Takigakure — ever since Yahiko took over the village, and with his ongoing contact with Orochimaru, the entire village had become vibrant and full of life.
When Yahiko and Konan saw Gekko Chizan arrive, they were overjoyed.
But that joy quickly vanished, because Gekko Chizan told them about Nagato.
"So you're saying Nagato has now been completely deceived by that Uchiha Madara?"
"Making a move against the Fire Daimyō, making a move against you, Chizan..."
"That damn Uchiha Madara!"
Yahiko was still as hot-tempered as ever. Nagato was his brother, and now that his brother had been manipulated, he felt like he was about to explode.
Konan's expression was also grim. From initially being cautious and guarded toward Gekko Chizan, to now trusting him a hundredfold, she had personally seen how much Gekko Chizan had helped them.
But Nagato...
"It's fine. There's no need to rush Nagato's matter. I only told you because I was worried you'd be concerned about his safety."
"Although he's been deceived by Uchiha Madara, there's still a chance to bring him back. It might just take some time."
"I came this time because I have a new plan."
Hearing Gekko Chizan's words, Yahiko and Konan immediately became energized.
Although they had already taken control of Takigakure, they had not forgotten their original intention. Amegakure had to be liberated.
Could it be...?
"No. Amegakure is still in a closed-off phase. Our current task is to spread the intelligence network across the entire shinobi world."
"This is also the mission given to me by our village's Hokage. Heh heh, since it's a mission, it'd be a waste not to make full use of it."
"Yahiko, Konan, Takigakure never participates in war. That gives Takigakure's ninja an excellent opportunity — no one will target them."
"That way, gathering intelligence from the entire shinobi world will be effortless for Takigakure."
This was exactly why Gekko Chizan sought out Takigakure — because it never took part in the conflicts between the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Making Takigakure the carrier of intelligence couldn't be more perfect.
"That's right. I previously went out to the Land of Grass to purchase supplies. Even those Grass ninja treated me fairly kindly."
"But they probably never imagined that one day Takigakure would also get into the intelligence business."
Yahiko was suddenly filled with motivation. Intelligence was the most important thing for any country or ninja village.
If they could control intelligence across the entire shinobi world, it would be the greatest possible boost for them.
When the time came to act against Amegakure, it would be much easier.
"Exactly. Takigakure will become the intelligence center of the entire shinobi world. When that time comes, heh heh."
"Oh right, Yahiko. This intelligence mission should be handled by Yugito and Mei Terumī. Both of them need experience. You just need to supervise."
"I need them to become ninja who can stand on their own."
These two had been painstakingly recruited by him — they weren't meant to be mere decorations.
Takigakure was just a base station. Once it truly became an intelligence powerhouse, Gekko Chizan would only need to control everything from behind the scenes.
"Alright, no problem. When do we start?"
"Now?"
Gekko Chizan nodded, then took out the eight million ryō he had obtained earlier from Minato and placed it on the table.
Why eight million? Because he had swallowed the remaining two million. He was about to head to Kumogakure — how could he not take some money with him?
As for why he was going to Kumogakure, heh heh, because there was a technique there that he desperately needed.
"Start immediately. Assign the missions and say you've accepted commissions. Everything must be carried out in secret."
"For the early stage, focus on the north. Don't go to Kirigakure or Sunagakure yet. First connect the intelligence networks in the Land of Grass, the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Lightning."
"If you run out of money, tell me. I'll go ask the Hokage in my family for more."
"As for me, I'm heading to Kumogakure."
Yahiko nodded. He completely trusted Gekko Chizan now, but soon another matter came to mind, and he brought it up as well.
"Chizan, there's one more thing — about Takigakure's tailed beast."
"A few days ago, it seemed like some changes occurred near the sealing site. The aura belonging to the Seven-Tails seemed to have disappeared."
"Should we look into it?"
What the hell? Look into the tailed beast? Was he telling Gekko Chizan to investigate himself?
But these words did snap Gekko Chizan back to reality. He hurriedly asked Chōmei:
"Chōmei, did your shed shell lose its activity?!"
Chōmei: Oh, I thought you'd forgotten about it already....
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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