Konoha: Rebuild the glory of the Uchiha

Chapter 89 Kakuzu: You're the mastermind behind the futures market? You scoundrel, prepare to die!

A bounty hunter with five hearts?

Kakuzu?

Uchiha Nan recalled the Akatsuki's immortal duo. Kakuzu had been captured alive by Konoha at this time. His sudden emergence had ultimately affected the storyline of the Naruto world, causing a butterfly effect.

Although Uchiha Nan had mentally prepared himself for this, when the butterfly effect actually occurred, a strange sense of absurdity still arose in his heart.

"That bounty hunter even claimed to have fought with the First Hokage, saying that he walked out of Konoha unscathed after assassinating the First Hokage."

Hahahaha

"humor!"

"Assassinate the First Hokage?"

"He must have lost his mind, hahaha."

Uchiha Tomita's cheeks flushed red as he recounted all of Kakuzu's boastful words when he was captured, instantly filling the table with a joyful atmosphere, and everyone burst into laughter.

How dare a mere bounty hunter mess with the First Hokage of Konoha!

No one present believed Kakuzu's words, except for Uchiha Nan.

Because Kakuzu actually assassinated the First Hokage, he was jokingly referred to as having thrown a shuriken from 800 li away.

As for the assassination, Kakuzu probably exaggerated quite a bit to glorify himself.

After all, he works as a bounty hunter. If he had promoted himself as having extensive assassination experience and having even assassinated important figures in the ninja world when he first entered the industry, it would have been much easier for him to get jobs.

Although the details were exaggerated, Kakuzu did not lie about the outcome; he truly emerged from Konoha unharmed.

Uchiha Nan decided to meet Kakuzu the next day to find out what had gotten into him that made him dare to attack the Hyuga main family of Konoha.

For a bounty hunter wandering the ninja world to provoke the bottom line of Konoha's top clans is practically courting death. Anyone with a sane mind wouldn't do something so stupid; he can't possibly be willing to risk his life for a bounty. However, given Kakuzu's personality, it's not impossible that he would do such a thing.

As Uchiha Nan pondered Kakuzu's motives, the people around him continued to offer him drinks. On such a happy day, Uchiha Nan naturally accepted all the toasts and drank until he was completely drunk, eventually being carried home by someone.

The next day, Uchiha Nan arrived at the prison where Kakuzu was being held out of curiosity.

Kakuzu was completely bound hand and foot, his body covered with layers of sealing techniques. Uchiha Tomita was very careful with a bounty hunter of Kakuzu's strength, as even the slightest mistake could lead to an accident.

"Are you here to kill me?"

"Those who want to take action, hurry up."

Kakuzu said weakly, "He seems to have been through a lot these past few days. He's been kept alive by a single soldier's ration pill a day, and he doesn't even have the strength to open his eyelids."

"I don't want to kill you. Although you have offended the Hyuga clan, I admire your strength and beliefs. If I plead for you, the Hyuga clan will show leniency."

Uchiha Nan released the sealing jutsu on Kakuzu and handed him a food box containing three dishes, a soup, and several rice balls.

Kakuzu, as if he were a starving ghost reincarnated, opened the food box and began to eat heartily, mumbling incoherently as he ate.

"What is your status in Konoha? Are you trying to recruit me?"

"My target this time is the Byakugan of the main family, the lifeblood of the Hyuga clan."

Kakuzu, a seasoned veteran, immediately understood Uchiha Nan's intentions, but he didn't hold out much hope. The Hyuga clan was currently at its zenith in Konoha, and their leader, Hyuga Takuma, had already become the Hokage's assistant.

To quell the Hyuga clan's anger and recruit him, the Hokage of Konoha would have to intervene.

"I am Uchiha Kusunoki, the Third Hokage of Konoha."

Hearing Uchiha Nan's words, he finally raised his head, revealing an incredulous look. It really was the Hokage of Konoha who condescended to recruit him, a bounty hunter.

"What do I possess that makes the Hokage of Konoha value me so much?"

Kakuzu is no longer the naive ninja who could be easily swayed by a few words from the village's higher-ups to assassinate Hashirama Senju.

Having worked as a bounty hunter for so many years, he had seen too many scoundrels who would be all smiles and calling you brother one second, only to stab you in the back for profit the next.

His heart had long since turned to ice; he would never believe in anything other than money in this lifetime.

Uchiha Nan saved me because he definitely wanted to gain something from me!

However, Kakuzu was puzzled. He knew very well that he was a prisoner who could be executed at any time. What could Uchiha Nan possibly value?

A master of martial arts?

Uchiha Kusanagi has no shortage of powerful ninjas willing to risk their lives for him.

"That's naturally your belief. I know your past. You were once ordered by the higher-ups of Takigakure to assassinate the First Hokage of Konoha. Later, the First Hokage kindly let you go, and you managed to escape back home, only to be made a scapegoat."

Uchiha Nan recounted the past that Kakuzu least wanted to recall. Kakuzu let out a burp, a self-deprecating smile on his face, and slowly said:

"The Hokage's intelligence department is truly remarkable. They've investigated my background thoroughly. I wiped out all the high-ranking officials of Takigakure back then. What commendable beliefs could a high-ranking official who killed his superior possibly have?"

"Your conviction is something no Konoha ninja possesses; no one knows better than me how determined you are to make money."

Kakuzu was surprised by Uchiha Nan's answer. If you talk about making money, then Kakuzu will be wide awake and will have to talk to Uchiha Nan about his ideals.

When Uchiha Nan saw the longing in Kakuzu's eyes, he smiled with satisfaction. Konoha's future business must be enormous, and all sorts of things about cost losses and profit returns would require someone like Kakuzu to do the work for them.

Kakuzu's desire to make money led him to work like a slave for decades, completing bounty missions, only to have his entire fortune ruined by the Akatsuki organization in the end.

I can give Kakuzu a grander stage, where he can hone his skills and fully display his talents in the ninja world.

"Konoha needs to transform in the future. Working yourself to the bone on missions only earns you a pittance. Konoha needs to get involved in everything: food, steel, energy, and healthcare. Do you know what industrialization is? There's also the lucrative military industry."

Uchiha Nan began to paint a rosy picture for Kakuzu, vividly describing a business blueprint of trillions and even tens of trillions of yen.

As Uchiha Nan vividly recounted the story, Kakuzu's heart began to burn with passion.

Is this the magnanimity of the Hokage of Konoha?

My perspective is too narrow!

"Once manufacturing spreads throughout the ninja world, we can play some even more interesting games, like finance—that's the magic of money, making money faster than a printing press!"

"I've already started developing my financial game. Have you heard of pig iron futures?"

"I was the mastermind behind it all! I colluded with Daming to manipulate the market, reaping hundreds of billions of taels from those retail investors in one fell swoop!"

Kakuzu was listening intently to Uchiha Nan's rosy promises until he heard about pig iron futures, at which point his expression changed drastically.

Damn it, you beast! So you were the mastermind behind all this!

You've taken all the money I've earned from doing bounty missions year-round for half my life!

"You scoundrel, prepare to die!"

Kakuzu was physically weak, and his emotions surged. His punches were weak and powerless, not fast enough or fierce enough, and were easily dodged by Uchiha Nan.

What's wrong?

We were having a great chat, and I was just talking about my proudest trading move, so why did I suddenly make a move?

Uchiha Nan restarted the sealing technique in the room, bringing Kakuzu under control.

"You bastard!"

"If you hadn't swindled all my money, why would I have risked everything to try and take advantage of you!"

Kakuzu was bound like a dumpling and couldn't move at all, but he kept cursing and shouting, wishing he could die together with Uchiha Nan.

Money is Kakuzu's lifeblood; Uchiha Nan almost severed Kakuzu's lifeblood last time.

"You're trading futures now?"

On the surface, Uchiha Nan remained calm, but inwardly he was laughing. Kakuzu, you really are a trendsetter, keeping up with the times. A talent like you should work for me!

"How much money did you lose?"

"Ten billion taels!"

"I've lost all the money I've ever earned in my life, and I still haven't sold those damn futures!"

"Oh, I know that. If we don't sell, we won't lose money!"

"I...I'll go to hell!"

It would have been better if Uchiha Nan hadn't mentioned that. As soon as he did, Kakuzu's anger surged, and he was unable to break free from the sealing technique, his limbs trembling wildly.

"Don't get so excited. As the market maker, I'm giving you the opportunity to make money. As long as you suppress your greed and sell in time, you can still make a fortune. It's you who kept adding to your positions and chasing the highs."

"There are quite a few people who have become rich overnight through futures trading."

Uchiha Nan's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Kakuzu's head, making him calm down a bit. He had once earned a billion ryo, but because of that one moment of greed, he lost it all in the end.

The digital game of finance is so addictive and easy to get lost in. Even now, Kakuzu still fondly remembers the feeling of making money back then.

"Kakuzu, since you're a futures trader, you should know that everything I just said wasn't just empty talk."

"Think about it, do you want to become my subordinate? Others would beg me on their knees for this kind of opportunity, but I might not give it to them."

Uchiha Nan looked at Kakuzu and sent him a team invitation. If Kakuzu didn't know better than to refuse, then Uchiha Nan would have no choice but to give Kakuzu to Senju Tobirama as a gift.

The body modified by the Earth Grudge Demon should be of great research value and is an excellent research subject.

Tobirama Senju would be very pleased with his gift.

Kakuzu, his dark green eyes gleaming, began to ponder. He was now in a situation where he had few choices: either die or serve Uchiha Nan.

Kakuzu hated the thief who had taken away half his life's savings. He hated Uchiha Nan for not coming to him sooner; he could have knelt down and served Uchiha Nan back then!

This has put everyone in such an awkward position; it's really difficult to handle.

However, Kakuzu's moral standards have already reached a very low level; he has done far too many things like murder, robbery, and backstabbing.

Now, not only is his own life at stake, but he also has the chance to make back all the money he lost in the past. Kakuzu's sliding knees are very fast. The dignity of the strong is not even within Kakuzu's consideration.

Making money, without feeling ashamed!

Uchiha Nan is the Hokage of Konoha, the number one ninja village in the ninja world. It's not shameful for him to be his lackey; others would love to be one but don't even have the opportunity.

In just a few seconds, Kakuzu had completed his mental preparation.

"I am willing to offer my loyalty to the Hokage!"

Kakuzu swore allegiance to Uchiha Nan, which pleased Nan, who then released the sealing jutsu binding Kakuzu once again.

"You won't regret your decision today!"

Uchiha Nan made a promise to Kakuzu.

"Lord Hokage, how should I be paid for this work?"

Kakuzu decided to ask about the money first; he'd rather die than work for Uchiha Nan for free.

"Go to the Finance Department of Konoha first to familiarize yourself with the work process. Do you know the annual currency issuance of the Land of Fire, the interest rates for bank deposits and loans, and the exchange rates of the five major currencies?"

I'll give you a few books so you can study advanced knowledge first. Get to know the theory of surplus value, as well as monopoly value, variable capital, and immutable capital.

"You want wages without knowing anything? You really think it's some low-level way of making money like a ninja?"

Uchiha Nan had high expectations for Kakuzu, and his desire to make money would drive him to continuously learn how to be a qualified capitalist.

Kakuzu was stunned by Uchiha Nan's series of questions. After all these years as a ninja, he only had an elementary school education. How could a ninja have such knowledge?

"Can I make a lot of money by learning these skills?"

"Not just making a lot of money, but making tons of money!"

"I will introduce Nara Shikato to be your mentor. He will be in charge of the specific implementation of the futures trading. I hope you can surpass him!"

Kakuzu became excited; the mention of futures trading allowed him to envision a bright future for himself.

Making money is as easy as breathing!

Master White Tooth once wrote this in his book.

White teeth?

Kakuzu suddenly remembered White Fang. Since Uchiha Nan was the mastermind behind everything, wasn't White Fang, the one who sounded the trumpet that led the韭菜 (a metaphor for easily exploited people) into the abyss, also in Konoha?

"Lord Uchiha Kusunoki, do you know someone named Sakumo Hatake?"

"White Fang? You mean Hatake Sakumo? He's in Konoha."

"He also participated in the pig iron futures scheme and made a lot of money, about 100 million taels. He'll be set for life."

"Can I see your white teeth?"

"He helped me a lot back then at the stock exchange."

"Alright, since you two are so close, I'll arrange for you to be colleagues with White Fang."

Uchiha Nan answered casually, unaware that Kakuzu was already gritting his teeth.

A short while later, Uchiha Nan led Kakuzu out of the prison and instructed Nara Shikato to go through a process to clear Kakuzu's name of his previous bounty hunter identity and give him a position on the Konoha ninja roster.

That evening

Kakuzu finally met the White Fang Master he had been longing for. Although Sakumo Hatake was wearing a mask, Kakuzu recognized him at a glance.

"You scoundrel, prepare to die!"

I'm reporting to school today for the start of the semester, so my update schedule might be a bit irregular. Please forgive me, dear readers.

(End of this chapter)