Two weeks after Kakashi's business trip, Uchiha Touhuan heard the news of Princess Chino's death in the imperial court.
As the Grand Minister of State, Uchiha Touhuan offered his condolences.
Then, back in the Hokage's office, he and Kakashi, who had returned to the village that night, began dividing the money.
According to Kakashi, Princess Chino had been a ruthless and oppressive ruler in her fiefdom, committing countless atrocities. Compared to her, even Danzo seemed like a champion of justice. He had lost his temper and killed the princess, taking all the ill-gotten gains from her treasury.
Uchiha Touhuan didn't say anything. After reading Kakashi's mission report, Uchiha Touhuan realized he had overestimated the moral standards of these feudal nobles.
"In future development plans, let's pay special attention to this region and give them some policy support," Uchiha Touhuan said. The report Kakashi brought back described the plight of the people living in the princess's fiefdom; it was heartbreaking.
When the princess's death announcement reached Konoha, the grain merchants were terrified. They had just discovered who was behind it all, and less than two weeks later, the princess was dead. This couldn't be taken too seriously. For the sake of their lives, they had no choice but to further lower their already meager profit margins on grain prices.
These grain merchants were obedient, but some businessmen in other industries weren't so sensible.
With the Land of Fire relocating its capital to Konoha, everything was in need of rebuilding. Many wealthy merchants sensed the business opportunities and were spread across various industries.
Some even owned businesses the size of Gato's. Compared to them, the grain merchants who relied on nobles to amass wealth were merely small-time operators. After all, these grain merchants didn't even have a single decent ninja under their command.
Their subordinates were mostly high-ranking ninja from smaller villages, capable of influencing the rise and fall of small nations.
At this moment, they too gathered, intending to pool their resources to resist the new tax law implemented by Uchiha Touhuan.
"A 70% tax? I've been doing business in the ninja world for so many years, and I've never paid such a high tax! Uchiha Touhuan is blatantly robbing us!"
"Exactly! If he had said he'd have to pay such a high tax earlier, we wouldn't have come to Konoha. Now that everyone's businesses are settled, he suddenly changes the tax rate—isn't that blatant robbery?"
"That's right, we need to unite and show him we're not to be trifled with!"
Some of the comments at the gathering scared Kado half to death. Kaidou silently took a few steps back. These people might be courting death, but as long as their blood didn't splatter on him, he was fine.
His mansion was near the garrison. He had personally witnessed the power of Susanoo, which resembled the descent of the Thunder God, on the night of the Konoha coup.
He knew clearly that even though they were rich and could easily make some Jonin-level ninjas from small villages work for them, they probably wouldn't be able to break through the giant martial god's defenses if they all attacked together.
However, things didn't go as planned. Kaidou had hoped to slip through this gathering of colleagues, but someone on stage suddenly called out his name: "Mr. Kaidou, you were the first among us to arrive in Konoha. Why don't you come up on stage and say a few words to everyone?"
Kadou's scalp tightened. He glanced at the door out of the corner of his eye. He knew his bodyguard, Uchiha Tobishima, a Jonin from the Uchiha clan, was constantly monitoring the situation inside the gathering. If he said the slightest mistake, he would be shot six times in the back with kunai and forced to commit suicide tonight.
But at this moment, all eyes were on him, and he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go on stage.
"Uh, everyone, I am very optimistic about the development prospects of Konoha. You will definitely be able to make a lot of money here," Kadou said.
"Hey, Kadou, you don't need to say that! Who doesn't know that Konoha is profitable now?" a wealthy merchant from the Land of Lightning said. "We wanted you to talk about the tax issue!"
Kadou glanced at the man who spoke, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, and secretly memorized his appearance.
"As for taxes, everyone, don't be so one-sided. Didn't His Excellency the Minister of State introduce a policy that allows tax deductions for investments in the Land of Fire?" Kaidou said.
"Investment? Besides the area around Konoha, where else in the Land of Fire is worth investing?" the businessman complained. "Investing in factories in those poor places, how long would it take to recoup the investment? And why should they use our money to build up the Land of Fire!"
Gato shrank back, then said, "We need to think long-term. If the lives of the people of the Land of Fire improve, we can earn more money too."
"Hmph, is that something you, Gato, can say? Why didn't you invest in factories in those poor places when you were in the Land of Waves?" another businessman chimed in.
"Since you all have your opinions, what else can I say?" Gato finally realized what was going on. Why should he put up with this? As one of the first to pledge his loyalty to Uchiha Touhuan, his fortune shrank considerably, and he even had several bodyguards living in his house.
However, on the bright side, his quality of life didn't decline at all. After Uchiha Touhuan took his money, he enjoyed easy access to business opportunities in the Land of Fire. Although he had to share 70% of his profits with them, his business empire was much larger than before.
So, as long as he clung to Uchiha Touhuan's coattails, how could he not make money?
As for his competitors, he felt he had already been more than kind to them. After all, you can't reason with those who are determined to die. He had already warned them so many times, and if they still insisted on their own way, then he couldn't care less.
Besides, isn't the happiest thing in the world to have dead competitors? Why was he so worried about them? Maybe he could even get a share of the profits if they died.
Having figured all this out, Kadou hardened his stance and said, "I'm already prepared to invest in building a factory in the Land of Fire. As for what you're planning, don't drag me into it."
With that, Kado got up and left the gathering.
Back in his carriage, Kadou immediately changed his tune and said to Uchiha Tobishima beside him, "Mr. Tobishima, you must have heard what they said. I suggest you report this to the Grand Minister of State immediately. These people are truly lawless!"
"Yes, I will report this to the clan head. You did a good job!" Uchiha Tobishima nodded.
Half an hour later, after taking Kado home, Uchiha Tobishima went straight to the Hokage Building to report the matter to Uchiha Touhuan.
"Just asking them to pay taxes, and they dare accuse me of robbery?" Uchiha Touhuan's eyes widened in anger after hearing Uchiha Tobishima's report. "Do they even know who they're talking to? A bunch of merchants, what are they?!"
"It seems these guys have had too much of a good life and have forgotten the hardships of life. They need to experience this firsthand!" Uchiha Touhuan said. "Uncle Tobishima, who's the leader among these merchants?" "
According to Gato, this gathering was initiated by a merchant named Yokokawa Yuhiro. According to Gato, his business started in the Land of Lightning by selling rubber shoes, and now his operations involve various daily chemical products. The largest daily chemical brand in the ninja world is his Yokokawa Daily Chemicals."
"I see, it's him." Uchiha Touhuan nodded. "Inahikawa."
"Here I am." Uchiha Inahime walked in.
"Go to the police station, take some men, and under the pretext of investigating taxes, seal off all of this guy's businesses.
Then go and have a good talk with this President Yokokawa and see what he's up to!"
"Yes, sir!" Uchiha Inahime accepted the order and left.
...
Soon, the largest daily chemical retail store in Konoha and the warehouses around Konoha were sealed off by the police. Yokokawa Yuhiro was furious when he learned of this, but the next moment, Uchiha Inahime came to his door.
"The Hokage's secretary has come to visit?" After hearing this news, Yokokawa Yuhiro was somewhat irritable, but he still patiently invited Uchiha Inahime in.
There was no other way; he had invested a lot of money in this foray into Konoha, and now that his businesses were sealed off, if he couldn't resume operations soon, he would face the risk of a broken cash flow.
"Good afternoon, President Yokokawa." Uchiha Inahime, dressed in ninja attire, swaggered into Yokokawa Yuhiro's house.
Yokokawa Yuhiro frowned repeatedly. In his eyes, Uchiha Inahira was merely a lowly ninja, yet the other party showed no respect whatsoever before him, which was extremely impolite.
At this moment, one of Yokokawa Yuhiro's Jonin, seeing this, stepped forward to teach Uchiha Inahira a lesson. However, the moment Uchiha Inahira activated his Sharingan and saw the two tomoe, the Jonin dared not move.
This Jonin from Kusagakure had naturally heard of the Uchiha's reputation for being able to take on at least two opponents at once. The moment Uchiha Inahira activated his Sharingan, the Jonin understood that this person was absolutely not to be trifled with.
"President Yokokawa, your subordinates are being somewhat disrespectful," Uchiha Inahira said coldly as he turned around.
Seeing this, Yokokawa Yuhiro cursed inwardly, but remembering his businesses seized by the security forces, he could only suppress his anger and order his subordinate Jonin, "Get out of here!"
After the Jonin left, Yokokawa Yuhiro forced a smile and said, "My subordinate was ignorant and made a fool of himself in front of the Hokage's secretary. Please forgive him."
Uchiha Inahira nodded and swaggered over to sit on the sofa in Yokokawa Yuhiro's living room.
Seeing this, Yokokawa Yuhiro could only curse inwardly, but still had to have his servants serve him tea and water.
"I wonder what business the Hokage's secretary has with me today?" Yokokawa Yuhiro asked.
"President Yokokawa, isn't that a rhetorical question? We received a report that your company has tax problems, so we've come to ask President Yokokawa to come back with us for investigation," Uchiha Inahira said coldly.
"Tax issues? How could that be? Our Yokokawa Group has always operated in accordance with the law, and we always pay our taxes in full," Yokokawa Yuhiro said.
"President Yokokawa is still far from understanding the new tax laws implemented this year," Uchiha Inahisa said.
"You mean that 70% tax rate?" Yokokawa Yuhiro asked patiently. "Our Yokokawa Group can't afford such a high tax rate."
"Didn't the Minister of State introduce a policy that allows tax deductions for investments in factories within the Land of Fire?" Uchiha Inahime said. "We haven't received your tax payment for this year, nor your investment plan, which makes things difficult for us, President Yokokawa."
"Secretary Hokage, forgive my bluntness, but we business people are in it to make money, not to give money to any country!" Yokokawa Yuhiro said, patting the sole of his shoe. "I started in the Land of Lightning selling rubber shoes, climbing from the bottom to where I am now. I've been in the business world for so many years, and I've never encountered anything like this." "
President Yokokawa, you don't need to tell me all this. Just tell me, are you going to pay this tax or not?" Uchiha Inahime, gradually losing patience, asked bluntly.
"Secretary Hokage, please leave! I will not pay this unreasonable tax!" Yokokawa Yuhiro said.
"Alright, I hope you won't regret this, President Yokokawa." Uchiha Inahira nodded. "Then let's talk about your plot to rebel last night."
"This... how could that be?" Yokokawa Yuhiro was startled, but still forced himself to speak. "You can't just make up a reason to slander an innocent person!"
"Whether it's slander or not, the police force will naturally produce the evidence. President Yokokawa, you'd better come with us!" Uchiha Inahira said coldly.
"You can't do this! Someone! Someone!" Yokokawa Yuhiro shouted.
"Stop shouting. The mediocre skills of the ninjas under your command are no match for the police force." Uchiha Inahira stood up and reached out to hold down Yokokawa Yuhiro. "If you don't want to suffer physical pain, President Yokokawa, please behave yourself."
...
Yokokawa Yuhiro was taken to the police force. Although he was released that night after the investigation, bad news followed one after another in the next few days.
First, the police force not only failed to lift the restrictions on his businesses, but also intensified their control over them. Throughout Konoha, any merchant with any business dealings with the Yokokawa Group was subject to frequent inspections by the police force.
Furthermore, at Uchiha Touhuan's behest, Gato also began to seize business opportunities from Yokokawa.
Within a week, Yokokawa Yuhiro within the police force received numerous reports of misfortune befalling his group in the Land of Fire, severely damaging the entire Yokokawa Group.
It was at this time that Yokokawa Yuhiro received an invitation to a dinner party from Uchiha Touhuan.
...
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