The Hand of God Creates the Strongest Hidden Mist Village

Chapter 167 Two Hundred Million Employees, Kakuzu Attacks

Sixty million taels is indeed a lot.

Before the end of World War III and before currency had experienced the rapid inflation caused by peacetime development, money in this era was still quite valuable.

Putting everything else aside, just looking at the black market, Asuma's head from Shippuden costs 25 million, and the other Guardian Ninjas are also around 15 million.

But in this era, their heads were worth only around eight to ten million taels of silver on average.

In other words, if the currency of this era were placed abroad, it would indeed be possible to split one dollar into two dollars!

Even so, for Gouju Cheng, 60 million taels was still far from enough.

The budget for scientific research is inherently unlimited; no one knows exactly how much money it will take to achieve results.

Originally, because of the little incident with Tsunade, Makoto was prepared to go elsewhere to find money, but unexpectedly the Daimyo came to his door himself, so Makoto naturally had to go.

Daming Palace is located at the highest point of the city, covering a vast area, with red walls and golden tiles, and is magnificent in appearance.

After passing through three palace gates and walking along a long corridor, Makoto Koji was led by the palace steward to a quiet side hall.

-

The palace doors were wide open, and a faint aroma of tea and the faint sound of a zither wafted out.

"Lord Gojiju, please."

The steward bowed and gestured for them to enter, but did not follow them inside.

Gouju Cheng straightened his clothes and stepped into the side hall.

The interior of the hall was elegantly furnished, with smooth bamboo mats on the floor, incense burning in the corners, and a huge landscape painting hanging on the wall, exquisitely painted and magnificent.

A middle-aged man dressed in a dark purple straight-cut shirt was sitting cross-legged in front of a low table, holding a book in his hands, looking relaxed.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and his gaze fell on Makoto Koji.

His face was very well-preserved, making it impossible to guess his exact age. He appeared to be in his early forties, with regular features and an air of authority that suggested he had long held a high position, yet he also exuded a refined and approachable demeanor.

It was the daimyo of the Land of Fire, the supreme ruler of this land!

"With the assistance of Mizukage and Mist Shadow, I, Makoto Karatachi, greet Your Highness, the Daimyo."

Gouju Cheng bowed slightly in accordance with etiquette.

Neither humble nor arrogant, just right.

Daming put down his book, a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

"Lord Gouju, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."

Gouju Cheng walked to the opposite side of the low table and sat down cross-legged.

Immediately, a maidservant stepped forward, served tea and snacks, and then quietly withdrew.

Only the two of them remained in the hall, the atmosphere quiet and subtle.

Daimyo picked up his teacup, took a sip, glanced at Makoto Koji, and then suddenly smiled.

"Lord Gojiju is much younger than I imagined. I heard you're twenty-two this year?"

"Your Highness is well-informed." Gouju Makoto nodded. "It is exactly twenty-two."

"To achieve that level of skill on the battlefield at the age of twenty-two is truly remarkable for someone so young."

The famous man marveled at the sight, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Incredible, truly incredible. I've lived to such an old age and seen many geniuses, but I've never seen anyone like Lord Kariju before."

Gouju Cheng picked up his teacup, his expression unchanged.

"Your Highness flatters me. On the battlefield, everyone serves their own master, so there's nothing remarkable about it. What's truly great is the prosperity and well-being of the Fire Kingdom under Your Highness's rule, where the people live in peace and contentment."

"Haha, Lord Gouju certainly knows how to talk."

Daming laughed heartily.

After some polite greetings, the atmosphere in the hall gradually relaxed.

Daimyo put down his teacup, looked at Makoto Koji with gentle eyes, and his tone became more casual.

"Lord Gouju, if I may be so bold as to ask, what official business have you come to Daming Prefecture on?"

"It's not really official business," Makoto Koji shook his head slightly. "It's just a trip around after the war, to see the customs and cultures of different countries, and incidentally—take care of some personal matters."

"Personal matters?"

A hint of curiosity flashed in Daming's eyes.

Gouju Cheng smiled slightly and didn't hide anything.

"Simply put, it's about making some money."

"give change?"

Da Ming paused for a moment, then smiled.

"Lord Gouju is joking. You are the assistant to the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, the captain of the Mist Blade Squad, and the man who personally ended the war."

Would someone like that be short of money?

"Your Highness is unaware of the situation," sighed Makoto Gojibana, a worried expression on his face. "The war is over, the village needs rebuilding, the clan needs development, and money is needed everywhere. As the Mizukage's assistant, I naturally can't sit idle. I happened to be passing through your territory, so I was thinking of finding a way to earn some extra money."

"I see."

Da Ming nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

He naturally didn't believe that Gouju Cheng was really just there to make money.

But his words were so well-founded that he didn't need to investigate further.

"Has Lord Gouju gained anything during his stay in Daming Prefecture these past few days?"

"Thanks to Your Highness, things went relatively smoothly."

Gouju Cheng picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"The Fujiwara, Takeshita, and Gekko families have all reached an agreement. They will provide the funds, and I will provide the labor; everyone gets what they need."

"Oh?"

The daimyo looked surprised and exclaimed in admiration.

"Lord Gouju, you have some impressive skills. Those three families are all cunning old foxes; it's no easy feat to get money out of them."

"Your Highness is too kind," said Makoto Koji with a slight smile.

"They provide the money, I provide the labor; it's just a fair trade."

"Fair trade —"

Daiming pondered these four words, looking at Goji Jucheng with a meaningful gaze.

"Lord Gouju, if I were to make a 'fair deal' with you, would you be willing?"

Gojima set down his teacup and looked directly at the daimyo.

"Your Highness, please speak."

The lord did not speak immediately, but got up and walked to the window, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at the courtyard outside the window, which was full of flowers.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Konoha is the military force of the Land of Fire, responsible for protecting the safety of the Land of Fire. This is a rule established by the First Hokage and my father, and it has been passed down for decades."

"But Lord Gouju is also aware of the current situation on the front lines of Konoha. In this war, Konoha is fighting on four fronts. Although the war with your Mist Village has ended, the pressure is still immense, with heavy casualties and the loss of elite troops."

He walked back to the low table, sat down again, and stared directly into Gouju Cheng's eyes.

Gouju Cheng picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and waited quietly for Daiming to continue.

"Those guys from Iwagakure, relying on the Third Tsuchikage Onoki's Kekkei Tota Dust Release and tens of thousands of Iwagakure ninja, have been suffocating Konoha along the Grass Country front." The Daimyo sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Although I don't understand the fighting and killing among ninjas, I do understand some principles. If Konoha suffers a major blow, it will definitely not be a good thing for the Land of Fire."

Gouju nodded in understanding.

As the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, he needs to consider the safety and interests of the entire nation. Although Konoha is independent of the Daimyo's administrative system, it is ultimately a military force of the Land of Fire. A strong Konoha means a safe Land of Fire; a weak Konoha means a dangerous Land of Fire.

This is a very simple principle.

"So, Your Highness means—"

"I would like to ask you for a favor." The daimyo looked directly into Makoto's eyes, his tone becoming serious. "Or rather, I would like to make a deal with you."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"Iwagakure Village"

Da Ming slowly uttered these three words, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Gouju Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Does Your Highness mean you want me to deal with Iwagakure?"

"That's right." The Daimyo nodded. "Although these words are not very polite, that's the truth. The pressure that Iwagakure put on Konoha was just too great. Even with the Hokage personally going to the front lines, we lost more often than we won. With that old man Onoki's Dust Release and the tens of thousands of troops from Iwagakure, it's already a miracle that Konoha was able to hold the line and not retreat."

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Gouju Cheng.

"But if you were to intervene, the situation would be different."

"I?"

Makoto Karatachi chuckled lightly, "Your Highness overestimates me. I am merely a Mizukage's assistant, a ninja from Kirigakure. What does the war between Iwagakure and Konoha have to do with me?"

"Lord Karatachi, we are both intelligent people, so there's no need to beat around the bush. I've heard of your abilities. Your ability to replicate bloodlines is unpredictable. On the battlefield between Kirigakure and Konoha, you single-handedly changed the entire course of the battle. If you're willing to lend a hand, Iwagakure might be able to replicate the same miracle."

"Of course, I won't let you work for nothing."

Daming picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and his tone became meaningful.

"Name your price."

"Oh?"

Gouju Cheng raised an eyebrow, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.

"Your Highness, do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I know."

Daming put down his teacup, his gaze calm.

"I'm asking a Kirigakure ninja to deal with Iwagakure and help Konoha out of this predicament. If word gets out, it won't sound good. But—"

He sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"I care more about the safety of the Land of Fire than about saving face. If Konoha can't hold out and Iwagakure invades, the people of the Land of Fire will suffer, and the Land of Fire's wealth will be lost. What use will face be then?"

Makoto Gojibana looked at the supreme ruler of the Land of Fire before him, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

This old guy is quite clear-headed.

"Your Highness is right. However—"

He paused, picked up his teacup, and slowly took a sip.

"I have a question."

"Please speak."

"Your Highness just said that I can name my price. So, I'd like to ask, how much is Your Highness prepared to offer?"

Da Ming's eyes lit up.

That means there's a chance!

"Lord Gouju is indeed straightforward." The daimyo smiled slightly and extended one hand: "Sixty million taels."

Gouju Cheng glanced at him, put down his teacup, and got up to leave.

"Hey, hey, Lord Gouju! Let's talk this out! Let's talk this out!"

Daming quickly stood up to stop him, his smile turning somewhat awkward.

"If you think it's too little, we can discuss it further!"

Gouju Cheng stopped and turned to look at him, a half-smile on his face.

"Your Highness, you are a wise man. Sixty million taels? Are you trying to bribe a beggar?"

"Is your life, the safety of your Fire Kingdom, only worth sixty million taels?"

Daming was speechless, his face turning red.

In his heart, the price was definitely not 60 million taels, but 120 million taels, since Gouju Cheng had already obtained 60 million taels from the three noble families.

But Makoto Koji thought differently!

Gouju Cheng sat back down in his chair and crossed his legs.

"Your Highness, let's be frank. You know how risky it is that you asked me to deal with Iwagakure."

That old man, Onoki, is the Third Tsuchikage, with the Kekkei Tota Dust Release. He's worth a thousand troops all by himself. If I go there, I might just die there.

72

"So, the price—"

He held up two fingers.

"Two hundred million taels."

"Two hundred million?!"

Daming gasped, his face turning pale.

"This, this is too much—"

"Too expensive?" Makoto Kuraki scoffed. "Your Highness, you should go and find out how much the Land of Fire would lose if those guys from Iwagakure really invaded. Two hundred million ryo? I doubt even two zeros would be enough."

"Besides, I am the assistant to the Mizukage of Kirigakure, a legitimate official position. What a risk I would take to do this for you! If anything goes wrong, I might not even keep my position as the assistant to the Mizukage. Two hundred million taels is already a very fair price."

Daimyo's expression shifted, his gaze fixed on Makoto Koji's face.

After a long while, he gritted his teeth.

"Okay! Two hundred million it is!"

"However, Lord Karatachi, you must guarantee that Konoha will win this battle, and Iwagakure will suffer a great loss. Ideally, you should be able to keep that old man Onoki quiet for a few years!"

"rest assured."

Gouju Cheng smiled slightly and picked up his teacup.

"As long as the money is right, I'll take care of Iwagakure."

The lord breathed a long sigh of relief, a smile of relief spreading across his face.

"Good, good! Lord Goji Ju is indeed a straightforward person!"

He picked up his teacup, offering tea in lieu of wine, and made a respectful toast from afar.

"Then I will await good news!"

Gouju Cheng picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and that was his way of accepting the deal.

The atmosphere inside the hall became more relaxed.

The daimyo chatted with Makoto Karatachi for a few more minutes, asking him some interesting stories about war and the ninja world. Makoto Karatachi answered casually and flawlessly.

A moment later, Makoto Goji got up to take his leave.

"Your Highness, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

"Alright, alright." The daimyo nodded, then suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right, Lord Karatachi, about this matter—"

"Your Highness, rest assured."

Gouju Cheng smiled slightly and interrupted him.

"You've never seen me, and I've never seen you. What happened today is known only to heaven, earth, you, and me."

A hint of appreciation flashed in the name's eyes, and he nodded.

"Lord Gouju is indeed a wise man. Then I will not see you off."

Gouju Cheng bowed slightly, then turned and left the side hall.

As I stepped out of Daimyo-no-miya, Hozuki Mangetsu was anxiously waiting at the entrance.

Seeing Gouju Cheng come out, he quickly went up to him and asked in a low voice, "Brother Cheng, how is it? What does Daming want with you?"

""

"We discussed some business," Makoto Goji ju said casually.

"Business?" Manyue was taken aback. "What kind of business?"

"Don't ask so many questions, kid." Makoto Koji tapped him on the head. "Let's go back to the hotel to pack our things and get ready to leave."

"Oh, let's go now? Where are we going?"

"Let's go to the Land of Grass and meet the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki of the Two Scales."

With two hundred million taels in hand, Gouju Cheng was in high spirits. He strolled back with Manyue, and bought a skewer of three-colored meatballs from a roadside stall, which he happily munched on.

"Makoto, you just said you're going to the Land of Grass, is that true?" Mangetsu followed behind him, looking curious. "Are we really going to deal with Iwagakure?"

"What, scared?"

"When have I, Hozuki Mangetsu, ever been afraid!" Mangetsu patted his chest, then scratched his head. "It's just a little strange. We Kirigakure and Iwagakure have no grudge against each other, so why are we helping Konoha fight?"

"Children don't understand."

Gouju Cheng took a bite of the meatball and mumbled, "This is called business. They provide the money, we provide the labor, and everyone gets what they need."

Besides, those guys from Iwagakure aren't any better. Since Konoha is gaining an advantage with its four-front war, let's teach them a lesson; it's like doing justice for God."

"Acting on behalf of Heaven—" Full Moon's lips twitched.

If our captain said that, then isn't Kirigakure just like Iwagakure?

However, since Makoto has made this decision, he must have his reasons.

The two returned to the hotel, quickly packed their belongings, and prepared to leave.

Although Full Moon was full of questions, seeing Makoto Goji's confident demeanor, she knew she shouldn't ask too many. She simply followed silently behind him, occasionally touching the sealed scroll in her arms to confirm that the newly acquired treasured sword was still there.

Just as he stepped out of the hotel, Makoto Goji stopped abruptly.

"Brother Cheng?" Manyue looked at him in confusion.

Goji Makoto didn't answer, but just narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed on the end of the street.

There, a figure was walking slowly towards them.

The man wore a tattered black cloak that shrouded him in shadow, obscuring his face and figure. Yet his steps were steady and powerful, each step seemingly merging with the ground, carrying an indescribable sense of composure and imposing presence.

Gouju Cheng frowned slightly.

Master.

He's definitely a master.

Moreover, that aura—

"Full moon, step back."

Full Moon felt a chill run down her spine and immediately took a few steps back, placing her hand on the newly acquired famous sword, Water Che, her eyes warily fixed on the approaching figure.

The cloaked man stopped about ten steps away from Gouju.

The newcomer wore a mask, had short black hair, and a pair of deep-set eyes that were sharp as a hawk's, flashing with an eerie, ghostly green light.

Most importantly, the moment he saw Makoto Goji, his dark green eyes flashed with an undisguised greed.

"Sincere Goji Berry".

"Assistant of the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, captain of the Mist Blade Squad, a man with the legendary ability to replicate bloodline limits, known as the Replication Ninja, your head is worth 150 million ryo."

"I've been waiting for you for so long!"