The state monopoly on tobacco had little impact on people's livelihoods, and as for the minor matter of casinos being banned, it was even less worth mentioning.
If one had to say, the ban on casinos and entertainment venues of all sizes might actually be a good thing.
After all, these types of places were basically associated with gray areas.
To make a profit, many entertainment venues even involved terrible things like human trafficking and kidnapping.
Now that they were all banned at once, public security had improved significantly compared to before.
This was also why no one opposed it.
In just one month, the power of the state-run tobacco and casino business began to show.
"It's actually this profitable?"
Looking at the bills handed to them, everyone present showed expressions of shock.
Before doing this, they had thought it could make money, but they had never imagined just how profitable it could be.
Now, with just one month's profit report brought out, this group of people was immediately stunned.
It was just one month's profit, yet the earnings were nearly half of Konoha Village's monthly mission revenue.
In other words, it was like having nearly half as much extra income out of thin air.
Undoubtedly, this was a very large figure.
Most importantly, to obtain this funding, they didn't even have to do much; they just issued a few orders declaring other casinos and tobacco illegal.
The venues and workers were even purchased directly, requiring almost no effort.
Among everyone, only Minamikawa Yuu was not surprised by this.
After all, this was the entire Konoha Village entering the market, equivalent to a dominant military force directly doing business.
If the military is doing business legally, how could it possibly not make money?
In the end, the title of legal ruler itself is profitable.
Once you issue a decree, others must obey, or else they are breaking the law.
In such a monopoly position, as long as one has a bit of a brain, it's impossible not to make money.
Although Konoha is not the legal ruler of the Land of Fire, it is essentially the most powerful warlord within it.
In such a position, making money is truly easy.
"In my name, send someone to deliver a letter to the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire."
Minamikawa Yuu said, "Show him this financial report, and then tell him we are willing to give him twenty percent of the annual profits."
What, twenty percent?
The people present immediately became a bit unhappy.
Although a twenty percent share of the income isn't much, this is their own revenue; why should they share it with the Feudal Lord?
"Have him cooperate with us in issuing decrees."
Minamikawa Yuu continued, "From now on, throughout the entire Land of Fire, all tobacco and casinos other than those sold or operated by Konoha will be illegal."
"Konoha Tobacco and Konoha Entertainment are limited to Konoha; the scale is still too small. Given our situation, we can directly take over the entire Land of Fire market."
Take over the entire Land of Fire market?
Thinking of that scene, everyone present couldn't help but breathe faster.
If merely monopolizing the market of hundreds of thousands in Konoha Village yielded such profits, how terrifying would the revenue be if they could legally monopolize the entire Land of Fire market?
By then, just tobacco and casinos alone would provide income far exceeding mission commissions, wouldn't they?
Thinking of this, they couldn't help but feel excited all over.
"Will the Feudal Lord agree?"
The head of the Nara Clan spoke, his voice hesitant. "The Feudal Lord isn't a fool, after all. If he knows our profits, will he still be willing to yield such a vast market to us?"
"He will."
Danzo Shimura spoke indifferently, his words carrying a hint of ruthlessness. "If he's unwilling, I'll make him willing."
If you won't be dignified, I'll make you dignified.
To Ninjas, the Feudal Lord was never something they couldn't oppose.
With the power Konoha controlled, as long as Konoha made a decision, the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire had no choice but to agree.
Ordinary Ninjas might be reluctant to offend the Feudal Lord, but Danzo Shimura would not be.
Given his personality, if the Feudal Lord dared to stand in his way, getting rid of him wouldn't be very difficult.
"That's also why I'm sending someone on this extra trip."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke softly, "The Feudal Lord will agree."
"By agreeing to our request, he can at least get a lot of money every year. But if he doesn't agree, he won't get a single cent in the future."
"He has no choice but to choose us."
Ordinary people think that as the ruler of the Land of Fire, the Feudal Lord has absolute authority over the entire country, but Minamikawa Yuu doesn't think so.
In reality, while the Land of Fire is a country in name, it is actually filled with various noble lords. The so-called Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire is merely a nominal ruler, and the territory he truly governs is quite limited.
This is also why the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire must rely on Konoha.
Because to some extent, the Feudal Lord must have Konoha's support and endorsement to maintain his rule and suppress the lords and vassals on all sides.
In this situation, the Feudal Lord is not irreplaceable; he is just the best choice for cooperation.
In this collaboration, the truly irreplaceable thing is nothing else but the military force represented by Konoha.
Within the scope of the entire Ninja World, Konoha's military force might not be unique, as there are others who can counter it.
But within the Land of Fire, Konoha is the sole power.
It nearly monopolizes the entire military power of the Land of Fire.
Under these circumstances, Minamikawa Yuu's choice to share some benefits with the Feudal Lord in exchange for his obedience is already quite generous.
After all, to put it bluntly, even if he bypassed the Feudal Lord and did this in Konoha's name, the Feudal Lord would have no way to stop it.
Minamikawa Yuu believed the current Feudal Lord would be obedient.
"Since the state monopoly on tobacco and casinos has such an effect, should we expand the scope of state-run businesses further?"
Before him, Utatane Koharu asked.
This attempt had given many people in Konoha a taste of success.
It turned out that even without relying on mission commissions and Feudal Lord funding, simply using Konoha's own dominant position to establish a monopoly could yield such profits.
Since the state monopoly on tobacco and casinos worked so well, wouldn't it be even better to expand the scope?
This was the thought in everyone's mind at that moment.
Among them, Danzo Shimura's ideas were particularly radical.
He advocated bringing all profitable industries under Konoha's control, to be operated by Konoha's enterprises.
In this way, with Konoha's strength, as long as they monopolized the entire Land of Fire market, they would gain immense benefits.
To be fair, at this moment, his ideas even gained support from many people present.
As Ninjas, these people had not seen the downsides of state monopolies in the past; they only saw the benefits and huge profits.
But Minamikawa Yuu naturally wouldn't make such a mistake.
"Bringing most industries under Konoha's control is not advisable, but it is necessary to appropriately expand the scope."
He thought for a moment and then spoke, bringing some industries into the scope of state monopolies.
There were only two newly included industries: water and electricity.
Indeed, the Ninja World already had electricity now.
Not just electricity, but even some simple electrical appliances had already been invented.
However, due to the limitations of the era, the use of these new technologies was not yet smooth, and development was in a slow stage.
But Minamikawa Yuu naturally knew the potential of this industry, so he established Konoha Electricity at this time, preparing for future development.
The use of Chakra as an energy source is very convenient, but after all, it relies too much on individual refinement.
If there were no other choice, it would be one thing, but since there is now another option, it must naturally be seized.
Moving forward on both fronts is much better than choosing just one.
The Advisors present were somewhat puzzled by Minamikawa Yuu's choice, but they did not voice any questions.
This was the prestige that the success of the tobacco and casino monopolies had brought to Minamikawa Yuu.
Regarding the decisions Minamikawa Yuu made now, even if they had temporary doubts, they would not say more and would just honestly carry them out.
"In addition, the system of the Ninja Academy should also be changed."
Minamikawa Yuu continued, "Lady Mito and I have thought about it for a long time. Our current Ninja Academy system in Konoha is still too crude; it needs to be changed."
"Starting today, the Ninja Academy is renamed the Junior Ninja Academy, and a Middle Ninja Academy will be added on this basis."
"In the future, those who pass the Junior Ninja Academy examination and obtain the title of Genin can enter the Middle Ninja Academy for three years of study."
"As long as they pass the Middle Ninja Academy examination, they will be granted the title of Chunin."
"Middle Ninja Academy?"
Uchiha Kagami was stunned. "Can the title of Chunin be granted just by passing the academy examination? Then what about the Chunin Exams?"
"They will proceed as usual."
Minamikawa Yuu explained, "Genin who do not pass the Middle Ninja Academy examination can sign up for the public Chunin Exams. Once they pass, they will be granted the title of Chunin."
"The reason for this setup is primarily to protect Konoha's children and to provide a platform for further study for Ninjas with potential."
"In previous wars, to win, we dispatched many Genin to the battlefield. This not only caused huge casualties but also yielded relatively few results."
On the Ninja battlefield, the combat power that Genin can provide is truly very limited.
Because the abilities mastered by most Genin are not very impressive—nothing more than a few basic techniques plus some Taijutsu, and at most, some Shurikenjutsu.
Like Uchiha Sasuke in the later generations, being able to release Ninjutsu while still at the Genin stage was enough to surprise many people.