Hokage: Unable to persuade Madara, I chose to build my own ninja village.

Chapter 74 Shut up, Mito Uzumaki! Don't even think about trying to sow discord between my Uzumaki clan and Akatsuki Village!

Mito Uzumaki strolled along the commercial street of Akatsuki Village, her eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at this rather unfamiliar ninja village.

The streets were filled with the joyful laughter of children.

To celebrate Makoto Uchiha's wedding, the Ninja Academy gave them a five-day holiday, allowing them a brief respite from their nearly six-month-long student life, as their daily taijutsu classes had been incredibly difficult.

In the initial period.

The students were exhausted after physical education class, and the soreness in their bodies made the dormitory a scene of utter desolation at night.

Despite the long and arduous journey, they persevered.

Because they are all a lucky bunch.

Ordinary people wouldn't have the opportunity to endure such hardship or receive such kindness from the luminaries.

"That's really good."

For a moment, Mito Uzumaki felt as if she had returned to Konoha. Konoha was founded with the intention of preventing ninjas from continuing to kill each other, hoping that every child could freely play, grow, and learn during their childhood, instead of having to go to the battlefield at a young age, taking up weapons and fighting to the death like her older generation of ninjas.

"However, Akatsuki Village seems to be much wealthier than Konoha."

Mito Uzumaki observed more closely and saw even more.

The children's rosy cheeks, thick and durable autumn clothes, and small toys worth tens of taels each were nothing unusual to the children of the Senju family.

However, the group of children in front of them did not have the clan crests of the ninja clan on their bodies; they were almost all children from ordinary families.

The implications behind this are worth pondering. Even the common people in a great ninja village like Konoha struggle with a life of hardship. For these people, they are used to a life of careful budgeting, and any expenditure beyond 100 ryo requires careful consideration before making a decision.

Makoto Uchiha didn't keep much of the money he harvested from the nobles; he used it all on Akatsuki. Almost all the money-burning projects were being carried out simultaneously, and they were all village-owned enterprises. All the results went to Akatsuki, with no middlemen taking a cut.

Now, in Xiaoren Village, as long as you have hands and feet and are willing to work in the factory, you'll always have food to eat and enough to eat won't be a problem. Of course, you have to go whether you want to or not; Xiaoren Village doesn't support freeloaders.

Mito Uzumaki found it increasingly unbelievable, especially after hearing that the Ninja Academy had recruited three thousand students at once; she thought it was just too crazy.

How much funding does Akatsuki have to burn like this? Have all other daily expenses in the village been cut off?

Mito Uzumaki could never have imagined the true extent of the economic gap between Konoha and Akatsuki. The longer it dragged on, the more irreconcilable the gap would become.

Furthermore, the village's financial resources are classified as top secret, and the details of expenditures are never made public. The reason for this is, of course, because the source of this money is something that cannot be made public.

soon.

Mito Uzumaki, who was filled with questions by Uchiha Castle, met Shinji Uzumaki, who came to greet her. Shinji was beaming with joy, his happiness almost overflowing.

The 36.8 billion has all been received today.

How could he not be happy?

Upon seeing that it was Mito Uzumaki who had come to attend the wedding, his smile widened. He was already eager to tell Mito the good news. A feeling of being rich and honored but not returning home was like wearing fine clothes in the dark, which filled Shinji Uzumaki's heart.

The two soon arrived at the reception hall of Akatsuki Village. The hall was bustling with people, including high-ranking officials rarely seen in the Land of Fire, as well as wealthy merchants from all over the ninja world. Uchiha Makoto was also trying his best to weave a network of relationships for Akatsuki Village. In the future, Akatsuki Village would need the help of these people to do business, set up factories, expand production, and develop sales channels.

Shinji Uzumaki greeted the waiter and found an empty room.

When clansmen meet, they naturally greet each other.

"Mito, how's life after marrying into the Senju clan? You haven't suffered any mistreatment, have you?"

Shinji Uzumaki inquired with great interest about Mito Uzumaki's daily life, as her quality of life could reflect the Senju clan and Konoha's attitude towards the Uzumaki clan to some extent.

Shinji Uzumaki now fully understands Akatsuki's attitude towards the Uzumaki clan. He wonders how long it will take to repay the 36.8 billion ryo of their friendship. However, he still needs to test the Senju clan and Konoha once again, as the Senju's betrayal is still fresh in his mind.

"I'm doing well in Konoha."

As Mito Uzumaki said this, a gentle smile appeared on her face.

Like many people who wander far from home, she knows the ups and downs of her life firsthand. When her family greets her, she always reports good news and hides the bad, because her family can hardly help her and may even cause unnecessary trouble.

Material conditions in life.

Mito Uzumaki naturally received top-notch treatment. In the Senju clan, and even in the entire Konoha, no one dared to neglect Mito Uzumaki, the "official" wife of the Senju clan's head and the official wife of the Hokage of Konoha.

In terms of spiritual needs, physiological needs, and emotional value, Mito Uzumaki's treatment is currently extremely poor.

Before Konoha was established, life was barely manageable, although Hashirama Senju's intense and passionate love could not be felt.

But Mito Uzumaki doesn't complain.

Because Hashirama Senju was a rather slow-paced person when it came to romantic relationships, and their marriage was an arranged one with little prior contact, the process of falling in love after marriage was always fraught with difficulties.

After Konoha was founded.

Their previously harmonious married life was completely shattered.

Mud horse.

It turns out that Hashirama Senju's emotions could be as intense and passionate as a raging fire, only the object of his affections wasn't Mito Uzumaki.

Instead, he was facing Uchiha Madara.

They were inseparable, often sleeping side by side, and staying out all night.

Each time, Tobirama Senju would just give her a heads-up and get rid of her.

Of course, sometimes.

Hashirama Senju would still go home for dinner, but at night, Mito Uzumaki wanted to explore the mysteries of life with Hashirama Senju.

At her age.

The demand is at its peak.

But I often get responses like, "Mito, I'm tired. I played with Madara today. Go to bed early, I have plans to play with Madara again tomorrow."

The words had barely left his lips.

Hashirama Senju used an elite ninja's signature technique, "Instant Sleep." Under intense combat conditions, if one cannot quickly fall asleep to recover physical strength and energy, it is difficult to maintain a normal level of combat power.

The cold words were like a bucket of cold water that extinguished Mito's desires, instantly killing her interest. This wasn't the first or second time this had happened; it had gone from occasional to frequent.

If Mito Uzumaki were a woman who wanted to gain her husband's affection, she would be considered a failure.

"That's good, that's good."

Shinji Uzumaki nodded in satisfaction. Both Akatsuki and Konoha were strong supporters of the Uzumaki clan, and both sides were very important.

After exchanging pleasantries...

Mito Uzumaki began to recount the matter that Tobirama Senju had entrusted to her: why the Uzumaki clan and Akatsuki had not been notified to Konoha beforehand, and why Tobirama only learned of it when an Akatsuki envoy came to Konoha to inform them.

Uzumaki clan, do you even consider Konoha your elder brother?

In response to Mito Uzumaki's questioning.

Shinji Uzumaki smiled. Of course, he couldn't openly discuss Konoha's previous "betrayal," as doing so would only damage the current friendly relationship between Konoha and the Uzumaki clan. So, he simply explained it from the perspective of the clan's future development.

"Konoha is indeed very strong, but the Uzumaki clan cannot completely rely on Konoha's protection. Moreover, even if the Uzumaki clan and Konoha form a very good alliance, the Uzumaki clan cannot put all their eggs in one basket; as the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows."

Mito Uzumaki only thought about it briefly. She was also a member of the Uzumaki clan, and from the perspective of the Uzumaki clan, this was indeed correct. However, from the perspective of Konoha, the Uzumaki clan... But this was precisely the responsibility that Mito Uzumaki had to bear: to act as a hub to maintain the friendly relationship between Konoha and the Uzumaki clan.

"The Uzumaki clan is overthinking it."

"Konoha will definitely protect the Uzumaki clan, but this matter is somewhat understandable for the Uzumaki clan, and I will explain it to Konoha as they would have."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

The matter was then quietly moved on.

To ease the tense atmosphere, Mito Uzumaki brought up Makoto Uchiha, who was currently busy receiving the daimyo of the Land of Fire. Even Mito Uzumaki, an envoy from Konoha, had to wait in line behind the daimyo.

"Master Guangying can be described as an outstanding individual. At such a young age, his strength has already surpassed that of his peers, and he possesses great insight and ambition."

Shinji Uzumaki showered Makoto Uchiha with praise, sparing no effort in his compliments. No amount of praise could be too much for such a generous gesture as 36.8 billion ryo.

"It seems Shinji really admires Makoto Uchiha!"

"Of course! Lord Light and Shadow treats the Uzumaki clan with the utmost respect. The dowry for this wedding alone amounts to a whopping 36.8 billion taels!"

Shinji Uzumaki finally uttered the number that had been weighing on his mind, and his mood improved considerably. The inexplicable desire for revenge against the Senju clan was also completely released.

"Take away the young master?"

"36.8 billion taels?"

"Did I hear that right?!"

For a moment, Mito Uzumaki wondered if there was something wrong with her ears and if she had misheard the numbers.

A dowry of 36.8 billion taels?

When I first became acquainted with Hashirama Senju, the Senju family offered a substantial dowry, amounting to tens of millions of ryo. However, this sum was still a fraction of the dowry offered by the Uchiha clan.

Women like to compare themselves to each other, even strangers. They always like to make all sorts of comparisons. Mito Uzumaki was completely defeated in the comparison about the bride price, and a strange emotion arose in her heart.

"Mito, you heard me right."

"That's 36.8 billion taels. Although it's called a betrothal gift, it's actually economic aid given to the Uzumaki clan after the Akatsuki Village and the Uzumaki clan formed an alliance."

Shinji Uzumaki tried his best to maintain a calm tone, but the abnormally flushed expression on his face betrayed him. The Uzumaki clan was not a money-grubbing family, but Makoto Uchiha had given him too much, so much that he simply could not refuse.

"Where did Makoto Uchiha get so much money?"

"Shinji-kun, you didn't get scammed, did you?!"

"How could the Uzumaki clan possibly receive such a large sum of financial aid!"

Mito Uzumaki still found it hard to believe the figure. A dowry of 36.8 billion ryo was simply outrageous. Even the marriage of a daimyo in the Land of Fire was never that extravagant. However, if it was a nominal dowry and actually economic aid, it would be more normal, but only slightly normal.

This number is still quite staggering.

The story goes so far as to suggest that Uzumaki Shinji was deceived by Uchiha Makoto. She fears that Uchiha Makoto actually tricked her out of nothing by fabricating a mind-blowing number to coax the Uzumaki clan into an alliance with Akatsuki, and even deceived a woman from the Uzumaki clan.

Mito Uzumaki now feels that the reminder is actually a bit too late.

Because Akatsuki Village announced this news to the entire ninja world, even the Daimyo of the Land of Fire came to Akatsuki Village as the officiant for the wedding. Now that Uchiha Makoto has gone back on his word, the Uzumaki clan has no way to cancel the wedding and can only swallow this bitter pill.

They can't exactly cause a scene at the wedding on Akatsuki Village's territory. Makoto Uchiha may be shameless, but the Uzumaki clan still has its pride. They can't afford to lose face as a thousand-year-old bloodline clan!

"Mito, I won't allow you to so maliciously injure Lord Kage!"

"Lord Guangying genuinely wanted to form an alliance with the Uzumaki clan, and the entire 36.8 billion taels has already been handed over to them today. Your malicious attack on Lord Guangying is unbearable, even for me!"

"Do you still believe the Uzumaki clan isn't worth 36.8 billion taels?"

Upon hearing Mito Uzumaki's words, Shinji immediately put on a stern face and began to reprimand her.

Lord Guangying is so noble and generous, giving the Uzumaki clan 36.8 billion ryo in one go. Can your Senju clan or your Konoha be so generous?

That's fine then.

"Could the Uzumaki clan possibly receive such a large sum of financial aid?"

How could such words come out of Mito Uzumaki's mouth? Even if there are only the two of us in the room, what if people outside hear this? They might think that our Uzumaki clan isn't worth 36.8 billion ryo!

"Shinji-nii, that's not what I meant!"

"I'm just worried that you'll get scammed."

Mito Uzumaki quickly began to explain.

She never expected that Uchiha Makoto would actually take out 36.8 billion ryo as a dowry to provide economic assistance to the Uzumaki clan. This extravagance was simply outrageous, making it hard not to think that Uchiha Makoto had other intentions towards the Uzumaki clan.

But if you give advice like that...

Mito Uzumaki is truly someone I can't talk about anymore.

This sum of 36.8 billion ryo completely stunned Shinji Uzumaki and the Uzumaki clan. Saying such a thing would only make Shinji Uzumaki and the Uzumaki clan think that she had forgotten her mother clan, Mito, after marrying into the Senju clan. How could you be so biased towards outsiders!

This is not the situation that Mito Uzumaki wants to see.

(End of this chapter)