53: Chapter 53 When the Wind RisesIn the port area of the Land of Waves, the lively sound of firecrackers rang out.
A brand-new signboard for "Yamanoka Hana-ten (Nami no Kuni Branch)" was hung up.Ino, dressed in a neat, modernized kimono, directed the workers to arrange the flowers, her face beaming with excitement.
"This 'Starry Lily' is placed in the most prominent position in the shop window!Yes, it's the kind Naruto gave me!" Ino's voice was clear and crisp.
Shizune, holding Ton-Ton, helped check the list and couldn't help but complain, "Ms.Ino, this is the fifth time you've mentioned the flowers the president gave us today."
Ino blushed and glared at her reproachfully: "Mind your own business!This is our shop's signboard!By the way, Shizune-nee, is the transportation channel that the Chamber of Commerce promised to provide really okay?Some flowers are very delicate."
"Don't worry." Shizune adjusted her glasses."The president personally instructed us, and Hibari has made all the arrangements.He will absolutely guarantee the freshness of the flowers from Konoha headquarters to here."
"Speaking of which, Ms.Ino, you've opened the shop really fast.You've only been back discussing it for less than half a month, right?"
Ino raised her chin: "Of course!When have I, Yamanaka Ino, ever hesitated when I set my mind on something?Besides, Father read Naruto's plan and also felt it had great potential!"
She looked around at the burgeoning shop, her heart filled with anticipation for the future.This would be a new starting point for her to prove her worth, and a place where she could get closer to Naruto.
Meanwhile, in Konoha Village, in the Hokage's office.
The atmosphere was nowhere near as relaxed and pleasant as in the Land of Waves.
Sarutobi Asuma stood in front of his desk, his face grave, as he reported the details of the mission to the Land of Waves to Jiraiya, who was sitting behind a mountain of documents.
".That's basically the situation, Fifth Generation."
Asma exhaled a smoke ring."The traces of the abandoned shipyard are clearly man-made, with the purpose of buying time."
The last masked ninja to appear possessed extremely high skill in water-style ninjutsu and unpredictable movement techniques, but his defeat was too swift, suggesting more like.a deliberate retreat after completing his mission.
He paused, then continued, "More importantly, the influence of the Apocalypse Merchant Guild in the Land of Waves far exceeds our imagination.They practically control the country's economic lifeline, and even the daimyo treats them with great respect.The guild's armed forces are unknown, but on the surface, Lady Tsunade is in charge, while in the shadows, the samurai named Tessho and the intelligence chief Hibari are not to be trifled with."
"Moreover, they are actively contacting and courting the clans of Konoha.The Nara and Akimichi clans have already received very attractive offers for cooperation."
Jiraiya rubbed his throbbing temples, looking miserable."Alright, alright, Asuma, stop talking.it's making my head hurt even more."
He sighed, "That brat Naruto.he's only been gone a short while, and he's already caused such a huge commotion.And Tsunade is joining in his nonsense too."
The two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Koharu, standing to the side, also looked quite displeased.
"Jiraiya, the problem is very serious!" Mitokado Homura said in a deep voice, "Naruto Uzumaki is, after all, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!Now that he has left Konoha and built such a huge force outside, what is his stance?Does he still have a sense of belonging to the village?If he completely loses control or is used by other forces, it will be a huge threat to Konoha!"
Koharu Utatane added, "And he's been actively courting our ninja clans!Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka.Although it's just a business partnership at the moment, if this continues, it will inevitably affect these clans' loyalty to the village!We must reassess the threat level of the Apocalypse Trading Company and develop a countermeasure!"
Asuma silently smoked his cigarette, not mentioning Naruto's private recruitment of Ino, which was a matter of personal feelings.However, he knew in his heart that Naruto's methods were infiltrating and influencing Konoha from all sides.
Jiraiya looked at the arguing advisors and the helpless Asuma, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
He knew, of course, that Naruto was becoming increasingly dangerous, but deep down, he still didn't want to believe that the boy he considered the child of prophecy would truly stand against the village, especially with Tsunade there.
"Enough!" Jiraiya slammed his hand on the table, somewhat annoyed."Strengthen intelligence gathering on the Land of Waves and closely monitor the movements of the Apocalypse Trading Company."
"As for family business collaborations, we will not interfere for the time being, but we need to keep an eye on things secretly.As for Naruto and Tsunade's situation.I have my own considerations."
He waved for Asuma and the advisors to leave, then leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window, muttering to himself, "Tsunade, Tsunade, what are you all trying to do."
He picked up his pen, spread out the letter paper, and began to write a letter to Tsunade.
The handwriting is messy and full of struggle and worry:
[Tsunade: Greetings!I heard you're doing quite well as the association president in the Land of Waves?Hope Naruto hasn't caused you any trouble, has he?'I think he's the one who caused all the trouble!' Konoha's in an uproar!The old folks are constantly nagging me about the Jinchuriki going out of control and threatening the village… I'm practically pulling my hair out!]
"You guys are out there having a good time, leaving me here to be a punching bag.Come back and help me!I'm begging you!At least come back and explain yourself?Or get that brat Naruto to give me a straight answer, what exactly does he want?"
Having written this far, Jiraiya crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it away."No, no, this is too cowardly." He rewrote it, his tone much more formal, but the words still betrayed his headache.
While the Konoha leadership was racking their brains over the Apocalypse Merchant Guild, other major forces in the ninja world were not entirely inactive.
Kumogakure, Raikage's office.
The Fourth Raikage growled, "What?Some kind of Apocalypse Trading Company has appeared in the Land of Waves?Controlling the economy of an entire country?And Tsunade and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki are involved?Such crucial information is only being reported now?"
Secretary Mabui adjusted her glasses: "Lord Raikage, according to intelligence, this merchant guild is developing rapidly, but its strength is unknown."
We need to takeShould we take action?Try to reach out and acquire their business channels, or recruit them?
"Recruit?Hmph!" Lei Ying sneered."Send someone to investigate first!See if they're just all talk and no action!"
In Iwagakure, Onoki floated in mid-air, looking at the intelligence scroll, his old face scrunched up: "Hmph, the brat from Konoha, he's quite the troublemaker."
"However, such a suddenly rising power is often unstable.Huang Tu, let our people keep an eye out and see if there is an opportunity.to cause them some trouble, and maybe we can gain some benefits."
In Kirigakure, after listening to Ao's report, Mei Terumi smiled charmingly: "Oh?The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who left Konoha?What an interesting man."
"Qing, pay close attention to this chamber of commerce.Perhaps.it could be an opportunity for us to break the current deadlock."
In Sunagakure, Gaara stood by the window of the Kazekage's office, looking at the intelligence report in his hand, and the words Naruto had once told him came to mind.
"…Nalidou, what kind of path have you chosen?" He paused for a moment, then said to Temari behind him, "Keep observing, and for now, do not become enemies with the Apocalypse Merchant Guild."
In a country where it rains all year round, in the tower of Amegakure Village.
Pain listened to Konan's report with a blank expression.
".It can be basically confirmed that the actual controller of the Apocalypse Merchant Guild is Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.He has a close relationship with Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, and his power is growing rapidly, which has already attracted the attention of major countries."
Konan's cool voice echoed: "Should we take action?The plan to capture the Nine-Tails."
Pain slowly raised his head, his Rinnegan ripples devoid of any emotion: "Plan remains unchanged, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Let him remain active until we have collected enough tailed beasts.If necessary.we can give him some tests."
Xiao Nan frowned slightly: "I'm worried that he might become an unexpected variable in the plan."
Payne coldly looked at the rain outside the window: "Before God, any variables are just futile struggles.Focus on our own plan."
The various factions reacted differently to the rise of the Apocalypse Chamber of Commerce.
Beneath the Leaf Village, in the nest of roots, an even more silent transformation is taking place.
Danzo has been feeling unlucky lately.After suffering a sudden and inexplicable soul attack, he took several days to recover, but he still feels uneasy and his control over the Sharingan in his right arm seems to be abnormal.
What made him even more uneasy was that when he issued certain orders, the response of some of the root members seemed to be.a beat slow?
He felt it might be a lingering effect of the trauma he suffered last time, or a misconception stemming from his overly strict demands on his subordinates.
He never imagined that the "Seal of the Root of Dispute," which he trusted most and used to control his subordinates, would cause problems.
Several Root squad leaders, controlled by Naruto using the "Heart-Binding Curse," are strictly following Naruto's instructions to silently collect all of Danzo's secrets—the flow of massive funds and all the data regarding the Sharingan transplant experiment in his right arm.
These crucial pieces of evidence are being continuously channeled into Naruto's hands through the soul link.
Danzo, this poisonous tree that has entrenched itself in Konoha for many years, is having its roots gradually hollowed out by Naruto in another way.
The best way to undermine someone is not to overthrow them, but to turn them into a puppet on a string, while they feel they have everything under your control.
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