"Jonin must complete at least one B-rank mission or three C-rank missions per month."
"Special Jonin must complete two C-rank or five D-rank missions per month. Chunin must complete at least one C-rank or three D-rank missions."
He did not set requirements for Genin, as the gap in skill between them was too wide.
After hearing the new regulations, Koharu Utatane couldn't help but praise the Third Hokage's measures. For most shinobi, these rules were nothing; they would surely exceed the monthly quota. But for the Uchiha, this was a disguised increase in demands.
There weren't many Uchiha Genin still accepting missions; most had gone into business. This group included those with little talent who had remained Genin for years without promotion, as well as many new parents staying home to care for their children.
Currently, the Uchiha who undertook missions were mostly Chunin and a small number of Special Jonin, who formed the backbone of the clan. By sending all these Uchiha out on missions, the number of people in the Uchiha compound would decrease. As long as they weren't gathered together, a group of Chunin posed little threat.
"What if they perform their duties passively?" Koharu asked.
The Third Hokage replied calmly, "Then we will lower their commission tier, dropping them from the village standard to the out-of-village standard."
Accepting missions within a shinobi village came with a commission system. When a client posted a mission, the village took a twenty percent cut, and the shinobi who completed it received the remaining eighty percent. It seemed like a lot, but the most important thing in the world was intelligence. If you wanted to complete a mission, you had to prepay a portion of the fee for information.
The more detailed the intelligence, the more expensive it was. And because Konoha's reach was so extensive, it had eyes and ears in every corner of the shinobi world. The village supported these informants, and they, in turn, provided leads. Of course, one could also sell information directly, provided the intel was valuable enough.
Therefore, a Konoha shinobi accepting a mission could ultimately expect to receive about half of the total reward, which was quite good. Shinobi from other villages or wandering ronin had a much larger portion taken, sometimes ending up with only twenty to thirty percent. Even so, many shinobi chose to accept missions from the major shinobi villages of the great nations. They paid for information because, without it, finding a target, let alone completing a mission, was nearly impossible.
With the Third Hokage implementing this punitive system, if the Uchiha still didn't take their missions seriously, their commissions would plummet to the out-of-village standard. Although there were subsidies for having children, they couldn't just keep having babies indefinitely. Ultimately, the Uchiha clan still had to rely on missions to make a living. The Third's move was truly ruthless.
If the Uchiha accepted, the increase in mission-takers would naturally bring stability to the clan. If they refused, Fugaku would certainly come to negotiate with him. In that case, the Third Hokage would have another opportunity to make a move on the Uchiha's control over the food and beverage industry.
...
In Konoha, within the secret base of Root.
Danzo had returned, bringing much of his equipment back with him. The growing distance between the Uchiha clan and the village, coupled with their restaurant business that was printing money, had forced the Third Hokage to become vigilant.
Interests dictated everything. The Uchiha's current income was likely the highest among all shinobi clans. They had just experienced a baby boom, and once those children grew up, the Uchiha clan would enter its most powerful era. They had people, money, and the Mangekyo of both Kawasaki and Fugaku. Itachi and Shisui, operating outside the village, were an even greater threat.
The great clans supported the Third Hokage now because of their own interests. If the Uchiha could offer them greater benefits, there would be no doubt as to who the next Hokage would be.
Although Danzo no longer had the official title of Root's leader, it didn't matter; the members of Root were loyal to him personally. During this time, Danzo had recalled many of his former subordinates. The Third believed that by cutting off Danzo's funding and restricting his income, Root could not cause any significant trouble.
But he didn't know that Danzo had already found another source of revenue.
The Third had promised Danzo that if he could obtain more than half of the Uchiha's restaurant recipes, he would restore Root's funding. Danzo readily agreed.
Hmph, if I get my hands on half the recipes, will I still need your help?
The Third gave Danzo an empty promise, waiting to reap the rewards. As for whether Danzo would keep the recipes for himself, Hiruzen naturally had his own methods to deal with that.
...
Hayato Hyuga, one of the four elders of the main family, was of the same generation as Danzo.
In his youth, he had been a genius, invincible on the battlefield, leading the Hyuga clan to numerous victories. But fate was cruel. During one mission, he severely injured his left leg while saving a comrade. The damage was catastrophic, destroying everything from bone to muscle and even nerves.
The Hyuga clan exhausted all its resources to save his leg. But from then on, he could not even stand, let alone return to active duty. The leg was saved, but it was numb and completely useless. Eventually, he was confined to a wheelchair, and a generational talent fell.
The higher you climb, the harder you fall.
Once Hayato became disabled, talk about him within the clan grew. People are prone to jealousy. When Hayato was a genius, no one dared to speak ill of him, but once he was crippled, vile rumors began to circulate.
Hayato had been angry, grieved, and desperate. But in the end, he pulled himself together and became one of the four elders based on his past merits. The other elders of the main family mostly cared little for the lives of the branch family members. But Hayato was different. He promoted young talent regardless of their family line. Over the years, he had built an extensive network of contacts. He constantly schemed for the clan's benefit, all to make the Hyuga stronger.
On this day, Hayato was in his courtyard again, trying to move forward with great difficulty. He had once believed that with persistent rehabilitation, a miracle might happen and his leg would recover. But reality was harsh. He had trained from his youth to middle age, and now he was nearing his twilight years. His daily, unceasing efforts had not improved his condition. His left leg remained devoid of feeling, and his right leg had been injured multiple times from overexertion.
Perhaps this is how my life will be, Hayato thought with a touch of despair.
"Hayato..."
A strange voice called out.
Hayato Hyuga turned to see Danzo Shimura. It had been over a decade since Hayato had seen him. Though they were of the same generation, they had no personal relationship. Why was Danzo here?
Hayato frowned and leaned against a pillar, lowering himself to the ground. He didn't ask how Danzo had suddenly appeared; his courtyard was not within the main family's compound and had few guards, not enough to stop the likes of Danzo.
"Danzo, what brings you here?"
Just then, Hayato noticed that Danzo's right arm was not wrapped in bandages.
"Your arm?"
For many years, Danzo's arm had been bound, claimed to be an injury. But as an elder of the Hyuga main family, Hayato had heard different rumors. Danzo not only kept his arm tightly wrapped, but he also had seals placed on it. It was obvious his arm held a great secret. Over the years, everyone had grown accustomed to Danzo's appearance, so it was a shock to see him with the seals removed and his arm exposed.
"It has recovered, so naturally, I uncovered it," Danzo said, flexing his arm. The strong, powerful muscles stirred the air.
Hayato's expression changed, a complex look on his face as he stared at Danzo's arm.
Danzo smiled with a hint of pride. "This is a result of my Root's research. It can strengthen the body, even if nerves are severed."
Hayato supported himself with the pillar and moved toward his wheelchair nearby. Danzo made no move to help him. Hayato shuffled step by step, finally collapsing heavily into the seat after a few minutes.
"What is your purpose?" Hayato asked, breathing slowly. Danzo had deliberately shown off his arm; he must want something. He certainly hadn't come to offer condolences.
Danzo casually swung his arm and said lightly, "The Military Police Force."
Hayato Hyuga waved his hand dismissively. "Your Root's reputation is already in tatters. Don't even think about rejoining the Military Police." He paused. "Besides, the force has always been under Hizashi's management. If not for the great elder's interference, you wouldn't have had a chance to rotate your personnel in."
Danzo waved his hand nonchalantly. "I have no intention of having Root rejoin the police. I merely wish to ask the Military Police for a small favor."
"As for your left leg, leave it to me. I guarantee it will be more agile than it was in your prime."
Hayato Hyuga became alert. "What is it?" Although he longed for his leg to heal, he would never trade his clan's interests for it.
"A small matter," Danzo said dismissively. "All you need to do is instruct the Hyuga police officers to activate their Byakugan more often during patrols and help me keep an eye out for the Uchiha's various secret recipes."
Hayato's face darkened slightly. "The Uchiha now see those restaurants as their cash cows. You want me to help you steal their secret recipes?"
The success of the Zhonghua cuisine relied on unique cooking techniques and secret recipes. Because it was unprecedented, people were curious to try it. And once they did, they found that it was impossible to replicate elsewhere, leading to a constant stream of customers. Unless it was a restaurant with the same official branding, no other establishment even knew how the dishes were made, let alone served them.
"Our Hyuga clan and the Uchiha clan share a deep friendship. We will not betray our friends for a meager profit," Hayato refused. He sought the prosperity of his family, not his own recovery.
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "Meager profit?"
"Hayato, do you know how much their restaurants earn each month? At least this much." Danzo held up two fingers.
Hayato said dismissively, "Only two million ryo? Their business is booming, so that's not surprising."
Danzo shook his head. "No. It's twenty million."
"What!?"
Hayato was stunned. An S-rank mission only yielded a reward in the millions, and those missions were fraught with danger, with the risk of death at any moment. The Uchiha, on the other hand, just had to open their doors and cook every day to earn a profit of twenty million ryo a month.
It was almost unbelievable. Even with Kage-level strength and professional intelligence from the village, a shinobi could only take a few S-rank missions a year, some of which could take one or two years to complete.
"Is it really that profitable?" Hayato was still skeptical.
Danzo was prepared. He handed Hayato an investigation report.
...
Hayato read the report carefully, not missing a single detail.
Danzo continued, "Your Hyuga clan is close to the Uchiha now. But the Uchiha are already growing stronger rapidly. They are encouraging childbirth to expand their clan. A new batch of infants has already been born. In another ten years, the Uchiha will become the foremost clan in the shinobi world. With their financial power, even Konoha will have to bow to them. The position of Hokage will be theirs for the taking..."
Hayato's expression shifted. Danzo's report also mentioned more Zhonghua Cuisine restaurants in the Land of Rice Paddies. Though the country was small, the number of establishments was large. Although these weren't personally managed by the Uchiha, they were undoubtedly connected. It was well known that Itachi and Shisui were supposed to be in the Hidden Sound Village but had not made any public appearances. Wary of the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan, the Third Hokage had not designated them or any other Uchiha as rogue ninja.
"The Third once negotiated with the Uchiha, wishing to support their restaurant business," Danzo said, his voice a persuasive whisper. "But the Uchiha refused, determined to monopolize the cooking secrets of Zhonghua Cuisine."
"If we don't act, in ten or twenty years, the Hyuga clan might be reduced to a vassal. If the Hyuga obtain the recipes, you can cooperate with the village to make this pie even bigger. With the Third's relationship with the Daimyo, this business could expand throughout the entire Land of Fire."
Danzo spared no effort in his persuasion.
Hayato was exceptionally clear-headed. It was normal for shinobi clans to have their secrets. If those secrets brought profit, they were guarded even more fiercely. It was natural for the Uchiha to refuse someone trying to get something for nothing.
But Danzo's words had indeed struck a chord. After reading the entire report, Hayato saw that the figures were conservative estimates based on menu prices and customer traffic. This meant the Uchiha's actual profits were likely far greater than twenty million a month.
Hayato was tempted. He knew that after the Third Great Shinobi War, all nations were focusing on economic development. For the sake of their nations and clans, the major families were all scrambling to make money.
But the Hyuga clan was in a slightly awkward position. Their reconnaissance abilities were among the best in the shinobi world. During wartime, Konoha provided them with high subsidies to serve as scouts. In peacetime, having a Hyuga on a mission team significantly reduced its difficulty. As a result, the Hyuga were always in high demand for team formations. The clan had never been short of money.
However, the main family's influence was gradually weakening, and they lacked a strong leader. Coupled with a life of comfort, their ambition was fading. They pushed all their responsibilities onto the branch family. The branch family followed the main family's every command, but even with their meritorious service, they held little sway in Konoha.
The old guard, who yearned for the clan's growth, dreamed of gaining more power. That was why the elders and Hiashi had rejoiced when the Uchiha gave up the Military Police Force. By managing the police force well, the Hyuga could hold real power in Konoha. In the future, it wasn't impossible for the Hyuga to contend for the position of Hokage.
But the branch family had been depleted by the war, and their numbers were limited. Running the police force drained nearly all their manpower. Only after taking over did the Hyuga realize they had been tricked. The work was not easy. Not only did it frequently offend people, but it also tied up a great deal of their manpower.
Clans that had previously been on good terms with the Hyuga often requested their members for assistance. Now, due to manpower shortages, these requests were often denied, and those relationships had cooled. Left with no choice, the Hyuga could only grit their teeth and hold on for the sake of power. After all, the police force was not something to be given up lightly; the captain's authority was considerable.
The Hyuga's original plan was to endure for a few years. Once the next generation matured, the problem would resolve itself.
At the time, they believed the Uchiha had willingly relinquished power. With their loss of members and influence, they thought the Uchiha, despite having Mangekyo Sharingan users, could barely maintain their clan with their small numbers. The rise of the Hyuga seemed imminent.
But no one expected the monstrous talent of Kawasaki Uchiha to emerge. He had found numerous strange recipes from somewhere, sweeping through the restaurant scenes of Konoha and the Land of Rice Paddies like a whirlwind. The sheer variety of dishes even led the Hyuga to suspect the Uchiha might have discovered some ancient ruins.
...
Inside the Dream Space.
Haku was covered in fuinjutsu formulas, completely immobilized.
Kawasaki hadn't expected Haku's loyalty to max out so quickly. When he opened the faction template and saw that Haku was eligible for dream simulation, he was quite surprised. Since Haku trusted him, he decided to take the opportunity to enter the space and practice his ninjutsu.
The strength of characters in the Dream Space was linked to their real-world abilities, so Haku was a standard novice. Although he possessed his Kekkei Genkai, his range of techniques was limited, and Kawasaki easily subdued him.
And so, Kawasaki began his training in this space.
First on the list was Water Style. Learning it would make finding water sources effortless, and Kawasaki would no longer need to carry large amounts of drinking water on his travels. Of course, several members of his current team could use Water Style, but for the future, Kawasaki decided he should learn a few techniques himself.
A person's energy is finite; Kawasaki understood the principle of not biting off more than he could chew. He was learning Water Style simply to diversify his combat options, not to change his fighting style. With that in mind, he opened the Uchiha's complete collection of ninjutsu.
It was rather awkward. Very few Uchiha were born with a water-nature affinity. While the collection was rich with other elemental jutsu, there was only a sparse selection of Water Style techniques, all of which had been copied from others.
Kawasaki scratched his head in embarrassment. Maybe he should ask Kisame to teach him?
An image immediately flashed in his mind: his hands slamming together as he yelled, "Ninja Art: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"