Chapter 178:
Tobirama, you and I are half-brothers — I'll lend you money to start your business!
Uchiha Makoto abruptly ended the sharp and biting topic he had been pursuing.
He'd tested enough for today.
If he kept poking at Tobirama Senju any further, it would only backfire.
He could take his time with that later.
So, Uchiha Makoto led Tobirama away from the Ninja Academy. As they walked, they arrived at a nearly completed construction site in the center of Akatsuki Village. Makoto shifted the subject to a new topic — the Six Kage Conference.
"This is the Six Kage Building I've prepared for the ninja world — a place meant to peacefully resolve disputes between the villages!"
"The Six Kage Building?"
Tobirama looked up at the building before him.
Its structure was hexagonal — symbolizing the six great ninja villages — and it stood six stories tall.
Its glass windows gleamed brilliantly, giving a sense of modern elegance.
Among the buildings of Akatsuki Village, it stood out like a crane among chickens.
Everything about it suggested this "Six Kage Building" was far from ordinary.
"That's right," Makoto continued, "I plan to use this opportunity for negotiations to form an organization that includes the entire ninja world — led by the six great villages of the five major nations. They'll have voting power to resolve conflicts across the world. Smaller villages will be members as well. Whenever villages have irreconcilable disputes, they can negotiate here instead of going to war."
"Even if they do fight, we'll have a chance to mediate and minimize the collateral damage."
"Ideally, this organization should become permanent — meeting regularly."
Uchiha Makoto had shamelessly stolen Hashirama's original idea — then combined it with the concept of the United Nations from his previous life on Blue Star.
Thanks to his money-printing ability and the hard work of the Akatsuki Village's construction teams, the Six Kage Building was almost complete. It could already be used for the upcoming negotiations between Iwagakure and Kirigakure.
Makoto saw this as the perfect chance to pitch his grand vision to Tobirama Senju — to get Konoha to cooperate and push for the Six Kage Conference at this critical juncture.
With Hashirama and Madara serving as stabilizing forces, this plan could take root far better than in the original timeline.
After all, in the original story, the Five Kage Summit was little more than a formality.
Once Hashirama died, the order he had built collapsed immediately.
That kind of future… wasn't good.
A ninja world that glorified the law of the jungle was far too cruel.
As Makoto always said — having rules is better than having none at all.
He wasn't some bloodthirsty killer. If conflicts could be solved through negotiation, he'd much rather avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
Of course, the real key was that Akatsuki Village was located in the Land of Fire — the most fertile and resource-rich country.
That meant it could support Akatsuki's rapid growth. As Akatsuki expanded, it attracted stronger financial backing and industrial power — which in turn boosted the Land of Fire's economy. The cycle fed itself, endlessly upward.
Akatsuki Village would always stay ahead of its time.
Makoto was confident he could make Akatsuki prosper without war — by quietly bleeding the entire ninja world through economic warfare.
And when they finally resisted?
Well — "you threw the first punch," he'd say.
"Not bad at all," Tobirama admitted. "But you built this Six Kage Building first and then told me about it? You clearly don't respect Konoha at all!"
Makoto had talked at length, but the more Tobirama listened, the more displeased he became.
To be fair, Makoto's idea was sound — even Tobirama couldn't find fault with it. If implemented, it would bring lasting peace to the ninja world.
But Tobirama wanted Konoha to lead the plan — not Akatsuki Village.
The Six Kage Building should have been built in Konoha!
"Well," Makoto smiled, "I think having the Six Kage Building here showcases the prosperity of both our Fire Country villages. Konoha can build one too — but if people start comparing…"
"What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying Konoha isn't as prosperous as Akatsuki Village?!"
"Heh."
Makoto didn't even answer — just smirked.
That arrogant expression immediately set Tobirama off.
If not for the crowd around them, he would've drawn a kunai right then to show Makoto what the Flying Thunder God Slash that killed Izuna Uchiha felt like!
As Konoha's de facto leader — the "Shadow Hokage" behind the scenes — Tobirama had poured his soul into Konoha.
And Makoto dared to subtly belittle Konoha's prosperity before him?!
Yes, Konoha didn't have Akatsuki's economic scale, territory, population, or infrastructure — but what else did Akatsuki have that Konoha didn't?
Yet deep down, Tobirama couldn't deny reality.
Konoha had become like a crippled giant — still formidable in strength, but lagging behind economically.
Stripped of monsters like Hashirama and Madara, Konoha was no longer the leader — it was now playing catch-up.
He had seen this reflected even in ANBU intelligence reports.
But reading it on paper was one thing — seeing the reality with his own eyes was another.
Now, standing in front of Akatsuki's gleaming infrastructure, Tobirama felt the crushing disparity firsthand.
It was… unbearable.
For so long, Tobirama had viewed Madara as a reckless brute (a problem his brother could handle), while the rest of the Uchiha were nothing special — he had, after all, killed Izuna himself.
But now this upstart, Uchiha Makoto, had humiliated him time and again — as if mocking him outright:
"Tobirama Senju — you're falling behind!"
That raw feeling of inferiority burned worse than death itself.
Not because Tobirama was weak — but because his entire worldview was built on the ninja way.
Meanwhile, Makoto had moved beyond that — feeding off nobles and daimyo to supercharge Akatsuki's industrial economy.
By the time Tobirama realized what was happening, Akatsuki had already pulled ahead.
"Tobirama," Makoto said smoothly, "I don't object if Konoha wants to build its own Six Kage Building. That's your right."
"But let's keep it unified — having one recognized building benefits both Akatsuki and Konoha. We're allies, after all — practically family. No matter where it's located, the meat's still in the same pot, isn't it?"
The Akatsuki building was nearly complete now, ready for the upcoming Iwa–Kiri negotiations.
Makoto kept pressing with an air of feigned nonchalance.
If he couldn't stop Tobirama from building his own, he'd at least make him see the advantages of letting Akatsuki take the lead.
After a moment of thought, Tobirama decided to compromise.
Letting the Six Kage Building stand in Akatsuki would indeed raise that village's profile — but Konoha's power in the organization wouldn't be reduced.
After all, the Six Kage Conference would still come down to strength.
And what Makoto was describing was, at best, a PowerPoint concept.
Who knew when it would actually become real?
So Tobirama decided to make a trade.
"Fine. Since you've already built it, we'll do it your way."
"But in exchange — I'll need some funds."
That last line was difficult for him to say.
He had planned to follow Akatsuki's example, but Akatsuki was moving too fast — far faster than he'd anticipated.
This visit had opened his eyes… and made him realize that if Konoha didn't act soon, it would only fall further behind.
He was determined to modernize Konoha.
But to imitate Akatsuki, he needed starting capital.
And Konoha didn't have a convenient financial "tulip bubble" to exploit.
The yearly budget was already set — there was no room left.
Though the Arasaka Group had offered to cooperate, the terms gave Konoha only a 30% stake — and Tobirama refused to be the one working for someone else's profit.
He certainly wouldn't hand the reins to the Uchiha either.
"Those idiots from the Uchiha clan," he muttered, "they really think Makoto's doing them favors? Someday they'll regret it."
As he swallowed his pride to borrow money, Tobirama still couldn't resist mentally cursing the Uchiha.
They thought they could start their own financial ventures — but where did their funding come from?
Right — Makoto.
Even though Makoto had severed ties with the clan, his shadow still loomed large.
"This is a loan," Makoto said. "With interest."
"I know!! But the interest can only be—"
"What? That low?" Makoto exaggerated his surprise loudly.
Tobirama grimaced. Damn it — of course Makoto would squeeze him dry if given the chance.
But who else could he borrow from?
The daimyo's office was already irritated with Konoha — the fact they hadn't cut the budget was a miracle.
Banks? Forget it — no bank wanted to lend to ninjas who lived with death on their shoulders.
A ninja's only income was missions, and if one died or got crippled, how would they repay loans?
Even a Kage wasn't immortal.
One Kage was already dead!
And trying to collect debts from a dead ninja's family was a great way to end up stabbed in the back.
So, no — lending to ninjas wasn't worth it.
Borrowing as the village was an option, but banks demanded absurd collateral and high interest.
That was just daylight robbery.
Which left only one option — the smirking man before him.
Normally, Tobirama would never ask Makoto for money — but desperate times…
"I'll just ask once: are you lending or not?"
"The interest is low," Makoto said, pretending to think, "but fine, I'll agree. However, I have one condition."
"The money I lend you will be in Akatsuki Village's new currency."
At that, Tobirama remembered something. Makoto had mentioned a new currency before, back in Konoha — but Tobirama hadn't taken it seriously.
Now he realized Makoto was already implementing it.
But to what end? The daimyo's control over currency had always been strict…
With his limited knowledge of economics, Tobirama couldn't figure it out — so he decided not to bother.
He only cared about the money.
"Can Akatsuki currency even be used?"
"Of course. Merchants who trade with you can exchange it for equivalent precious metals when they come to Akatsuki."
"Then why not just give me the gold directly? Why all the roundabout nonsense?"
Makoto simply smiled, saying nothing.
Bringing Konoha into Akatsuki's monetary system had always been part of his grand plan.
It was difficult — even with Uchiha clan support inside Konoha — but if Tobirama himself used it, the impact would be massive.
The Senju and Uchiha clans together could shift the entire village's economy.
If Tobirama accepted, Makoto didn't even care about the interest.
On paper, Akatsuki would lose a bit of profit — but in the long run?
No ninja could make money faster than a printing press could print it.
"What are you afraid of, Tobirama?" Makoto said with a grin. "I've always seen you as my half-brother. Would I ever trick you?"
"Hard to say," Tobirama muttered.
(End of chapter)