Nara Kazama was baffled.
How could Konoha possibly cooperate with Hidden Stone Village?
They weren't even from the same country. Unless one betrayed their own village outright, such a thing shouldn't even be possible.
His question drew the others' attention, and everyone turned toward Kai.
Uchiha Kai didn't bother to hide anything.
He laid it all out plainly—instantly leaving Shisui unsettled.
"Kai-kun, this isn't right." Shisui's expression was grave.
"Our conflict with the village elders is one thing—that's internal strife.
But colluding with an enemy village? That's outright betrayal of the nation!"
Hyuga Aya said nothing.
Though she felt it was questionable, she believed Kai must have his reasons.
She would stand by him regardless.
Kazama, meanwhile, still couldn't quite grasp it.
But hearing Shisui's protest, he chuckled lightly.
"Don't be hasty, Shisui.
I may not see the full picture yet, but I believe Kai-kun surely has a deeper plan.
Why don't you enlighten us, Kai?"
Kai narrowed his eyes, studying his companions before smiling faintly.
"Kazama, you understand me best.
Hidden Stone Village's procurement of our ninja tools—if they buy from us, our profits could skyrocket fivefold.
And yet, even then, our prices would still undercut what they pay to the Land of Iron."
…
The details flowed smoothly from his lips, but Shisui's frown only deepened.
Even Kazama looked lost.
Just for money?
No—Kai wouldn't scheme so grandly for something so shallow.
There had to be more.
"Kai-kun, but they're our enemies!" Shisui protested.
"Even if it's profitable, how can you sell weapons that might one day kill Konoha shinobi?"
Kai's gaze stayed calm.
Shisui's reaction didn't surprise him in the least.
What intrigued him was Kazama.
So instead of refuting Shisui directly, Kai chuckled.
"Don't be so hasty, Shisui. I'll explain in full.
But first, let's see if Kazama can guess my real aim."
"…Fine." Shisui fell silent reluctantly.
Kazama furrowed his brows, thinking hard.
But after a long pause, he sighed.
"I can't figure it out. Kai-kun, just tell us—what is your true goal?"
Kai's smile widened.
The shinobi world had its share of clever minds.
But bound by the era, they couldn't possibly comprehend the kind of strategy he was wielding.
That thought made him laugh softly.
"Excellent.
If you can't see through it, Kazama, then it's safe to assume that the old fossil Onoki won't either.
That gives me confidence."
"Listen well.
The money? Irrelevant.
My true purpose is to use this trade as a foothold, leveraging our low prices to seize Hidden Stone Village's entire ninja tool market.
And not just Hidden Stone Village—Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Sand Village, Hidden Blood Mist Village as well.
Even if I take a loss, I'll dominate their markets.
Once I control them all, the Land of Iron's industry will collapse.
At that point, I'll buy out their business at rock-bottom prices, consolidating the entire ninja tool trade under us.
In the shinobi world, there are only two real suppliers: the Land of Fire and the Land of Iron.
If Uchiha already controls half within the Land of Fire, and I seize the rest from the Land of Iron, then I'll hold a de facto monopoly.
Any village that wants weapons will have to buy from me—
and even if I attach conditions, even an enemy will have no choice but to comply.
If not? Then I cut off their supply."
Kai's tone was unshakably confident.
"My goal is simple.
First, wield overwhelming power so no one dares rob me.
Then, through commerce, I'll control the other villages in practice.
The ninja tool market is just step one.
Unifying the shinobi world through ideology? Too troublesome.
Every village has its own culture, its own will. Changing that would take massacring a generation and decades of assimilation.
Not worth it.
Instead—force them into economic dependency.
As long as I hold absolute power to safeguard commerce, control is mine.
Grain, ninja tools, iron ore—if I control the basics, then add the pressure of military might, they'll cut their military spending without a second thought.
Worried about security?
No problem. I'll provide stationed troops.
Use your savings to improve civilian life.
Meanwhile, I'll invade with soft power.
Novels, films, entertainment—immerse their people in indulgence. Rewrite their textbooks, reshape their youth.
Bit by bit, without battles, without bloodshed…
Uchiha Kai becomes the police of the shinobi world."
His voice dropped into a cold certainty.
"No need to invent elaborate schemes.
I'll just copy the path of the Eagle from my previous life—
dominate with force, then strangle with commerce.
Turn every other village into nothing more than a dumping ground for our goods."
Across from him, Nara Kazama finally grasped it.
And his eyes widened in awe.
Genius.
Using commerce to win without war—how could anyone in this era conceive such a method?
Compared to endless shinobi wars, this was enlightenment.
"Kai-kun… I understand now.
You're a genius—truly.
If Konoha's strength can support such a system, this could actually bring world peace.
It's… incredible!
No war—peace without bloodshed.
Kai-kun, you may one day rival the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju himself!
Hashirama founded Konoha and ended the chaos of clan wars.
But you—if you succeed, you'll end the very era of hidden villages.
And without a single drop of blood spilled!"
Kazama's voice trembled with passion.
Yes.
Every village leader dreamed of peace.
But none had found a viable path.
Those like Madara or Nagato—lunatics who preached "salvation through pain"—could never build lasting peace.
Kai, however—was different.
His vision was grounded, pragmatic, terrifyingly achievable.
How could Kazama not be moved?
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