Naruto: I'm really not an evil scientist!

Chapter 452

If they can make money from this, they'll make money themselves, so why would they need to bring you along?

But when people go out to do business, it's all about making money.

As long as the price is right, nothing is off-limits for negotiation.

Once the money is in place, the major mine owners are naturally willing to give up some of their shares.

Once the money is in place, lobbyists will naturally be willing to help smooth things over—such as appeasing the daimyo of the Land of Water who was almost furious.

Once the money is in place, all kinds of production tools, marketing personnel, and even workers can be in place in the shortest possible time.

Although behind this, a massive amount of money is being burned... it really is burning through cash!

No, even if you just burn money, the flames would at least burn for a few minutes, but in the current situation of Kirigakure, they just vanished in an instant... It hurts, but Mei Terumi knows that she has no choice but to do this.

Although Hiruko had a reputation for being a lecher in his early years, he wasn't actually that interested in women—he was called a harem man, but he only had a dozen or so women.

Hiruko maintained a good relationship with her throughout, and did not turn against her even when she took actions that were close to breaking her promise. This was not because he liked her, but because she was a reformer.

Hiruko preferred forming political alliances to physically eliminating his enemies by force.

He hoped to unite more people around him in this way—breaking up the Fog Shadow and killing people are two different things.

Clearly, this guy's ambition has never been to become the overlord of the ninja world.

But if the next Kage of Kirigakure is a conservative... then there's not much leeway to say...

Despite her sighs, Mei Terumi could only continue on this arduous path.

Because there was ample funding, things proceeded smoothly for a time.

The only problem is time.

After all, no matter how much lubrication is provided, it will always take some time for a factory to go from construction to profitability... Fortunately, Yagura delayed the election process through various means.

The conservatives didn't object either.

After all, Yagura is still alive.

A master of this level can influence many people's judgment.

Not to mention he was a perfect Jinchūriki.

Conservatives also need time to reach out to more people...

After a while, Kakashi returned from the Land of the Sea.

Feeling that it was about time, the four of them sat together on the bed, lit candles, and began to discuss their next move.

"So why do we have to turn off the lights and light candles in the middle of summer? Aren't you hot?" Terumi Mei's protest was completely ignored by the three grown-up children.

Yagura, like a hamster, munched on a senbei (rice cracker) while analyzing the current situation.

"As everyone knows, our Hidden Mist Village, like your Hidden Leaf Village, also has an election system."

"After all the hardships we've faced, we now have thirty-six senior Jonin in our voting group." Yagura appeared calm as he said this, but Hiruko and Kakashi both noticed that he was practically grinding his teeth to powder—how could he not hate him? How many die-hard Mizukage supporters had Tsuchiko killed, and how many others had become disloyal?

In other words, Yagura is still alive; otherwise, Mei Terumi would have had to spend an unknown amount of effort just cleaning up the mess... In short, senior Jonin with voting rights are different from ordinary Jonin.

They are usually older, more capable, and more trusted by the village.

Most importantly, they must cast their precious vote for the ninja who trusts them.

“Originally, our Mizukage faction had the most members, but… in general, there are still eight people who are willing to unconditionally support me and Mei Terumi. I have confirmed this several times.”

"And there are ten who support the conservatives."

"In other words, we need to gain as many supporters as possible among the remaining eighteen Jonin." The current vote difference of two votes may seem like a small problem, but it is actually quite serious—because these veteran Jonin are mostly older ninjas.

These ninjas were not without wise individuals, but their age and experience determined that, even under the same conditions, they would tend to adopt a more conservative and cautious strategy when taking action.

As a ninja, this is not a problem.

After all, those who are reckless are always the first to die.

If it were a matter of voting... that is to say, even without Tu Zi Ge's mess, they would still be more inclined to support the conservatives.

Eighteen Jonin may seem like a lot, but the subjective will of most of them... Of course, they are adults after all, and if the benefits are right, they might temporarily betray their own positions.

However, the situation in Kirigakure is constantly fluctuating, and Yagura's prestige as the Mizukage has plummeted, leaving him powerless to control the situation.

Many people probably haven't decided who they want to work with... It's one thing to wait for the best offer, but if they get too much of the profits, then Wuyin might not have the strength to continue reforming.

Kirigakure is not Konoha.

Capital, that magical beast, is even more ferocious than the Ten-Tails, managing to silence a group of elders and opponents.

There are plenty of fearless ninjas, but the last one who dared to yell at Hiruzen is now dead... Konoha can do that, but Kirigakure can't.

"Gentlemen, do you have any good suggestions?" "Yagura, why are you looking at me like that? I don't know anything."

"You're the Hokage, and you don't know that? Then how did you become the Hokage?"

"The Third Hokage and Danzo discussed it and felt that I was the most suitable person to be Hokage among the younger generation... They thought I was very malleable, flexible, and easy-going... Moreover, although I put a lot of effort into scientific research, I also have a good political sense." Hiruko shrugged. He was indeed a scientific ninja, but that didn't mean he didn't understand politics.

Yagura and Terumi Mei rolled their eyes at Hiruko.

Then the two of them looked at Kakashi together.

Kakashi scratched his head.

"How about... we send some peanut oil to the subordinates and family of the target's senior Jonin?" Mei Terumi thought Kakashi, like his boss, might be a little off his mind.

"Send them some oil, and they'll choose us?" "Or... add a bag of rice?" Kakashi added awkwardly.

While Mei Terumi was taking action, on the other side, Soumei Hakusuke was also striving to become the Mizukage.

Bai Lu Kongming knew very well that, under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for him, with his elite Jonin strength, to become a Kage.

Even if he becomes the Shadow, his subordinates will inevitably be dissatisfied with him.

But... this is a shadow.

From a ninja's perspective, Shirahiro Sora is already quite old.

His path to promotion has come to an end, and there is no room for him to improve his abilities any further.

If it really came down to a fight, he might not even be able to defeat Mei Terumi, who has two bloodline limits.

A ninja like him would surely have died quietly in some war if it were a time of war.

But now... it's a time of peace.

He was busy with the war before and had neither the time nor the energy to think about many issues.

Now that he has some free time, a certain resentment has transformed into a powerful greed, urging him to do something.

Clearly, that means becoming a shadow.

This was impossible before.

Because the Mizukage Yagura is not only powerful, but has also already chosen a successor.

Someone like him has no chance at all.

But recently, the Water Shadow was caught in the trap... It's not good to say that, but White Heron Sora also realized that this might be his last chance in life... Whether he succeeds or not, he has to give it his all!

Realizing that Yagura would soon retire, Shirasagi Sora began his own networking.

His efforts to connect different groups were effective.

Many people who were dissatisfied with Yagura's reforms, as well as the relatives of those who were ordered to be executed by Yagura, chose his side—even though they knew that these orders were not actually given by Yagura.

With more and more people choosing to join his camp, Bai Lu Kongming felt victory was assured.

"It's this spirit... I can win!" "No, to get more people to support me... I need to give a public speech!"

As time passed, a slight coolness was added to the original heat, and the rice stalks in the fields gradually drooped their heads.

This world has never been perfect, it was, it is, and it will never be.

But at least, the absence of war for a whole year made things much easier for everyone.

Especially the people of the Land of Fire.

In this era of rampant capital expansion, even ordinary people have benefited from the times... However, wars have not truly disappeared; they have simply broken out in more secretive and intense locations... After a period of intense back-and-forth, Mei Terumi and Sora Shirahiro each received twelve votes, resulting in a temporary tie.

However, these last twelve votes will inevitably become the core of the battle between the two.

However, these last twelve senior Jonin are all quite old... This is undoubtedly very disadvantageous for Mei Terumi, who represents the younger and reformist factions.

Unfortunately, there is only a little over a month left before the final election.

Such a short time left Hiruko and Terumi Mei with no opportunity to implement any plans that would yield longer-term results...

“Open-air speech… Hah, a conservative would do something like that? Our opponents are quite interesting this time—but from a factional standpoint, we’ve won. After all, those old fogies shouldn’t be doing this kind of thing.” Even though the situation was very tense, Hiruko still slumped in the white plastic chair and joked with Yagura beside him.

As a research ninja, he deeply understands the importance of innovation and change, and naturally scoffs at the conservative approach.

Yagura could only roll his eyes at Hiruko's optimism and swing his short legs, which never touched the ground, in protest.

Hiruko didn't care about Yagura's attitude. He just stared at the calm lake and the noisy crowd in front of him, lost in thought.

That's right, this time they didn't discuss matters in the hospital as before, but instead went to the forest surrounding Konoha.

The powerful and cautious Hokage's personal guard created a restricted area in the forest for the Hokage and his friends to play in.

This time, it wasn't just Hiruko and Yagura who came out; Hiruko's family, some promising talents whom Hiruko had his eye on, and even their parents, all came here.

This includes the future Konoha Twelve, as well as some young talents who have already begun to show their abilities, and even foreign students like Wuwei have come along.

Because the Hokage gave special permission, the children were not restricted at all today and could happily run and play on the grass.

The adults in the group saw this but did not blame the children; at most, they told them to be more careful.

Some adults, having nothing to do, called on their friends and started a barbecue.

Some adults, unable to offer much help, simply started playing mahjong on the sidelines, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.

Now that the summer heat is fading, the blue sky and white clouds make people feel happy. Some gifted children have even started joking with each other using the ninjutsu and bloodline limits they have just learned.

Among them, the most dazzling is undoubtedly Uchiha Itachi.

A single, spectacular fireball is enough to make him the king of the kids.