Naruto: The Tavern Speech Begins to Make the Land of Rain Great

Chapter 37 A Legitimate Businessman!

Rain Shadow Building

"Lord Hanzo, as you know, food production in the ninja world has been poor lately, and food is extremely scarce!"

Hanzo squinted, his knuckles turning white from clenching his fists.

"So, what you mean is?"

The merchant, facing Hanzo, showed no fear whatsoever. He smiled flatteringly and bowed slightly.

"The price of this batch of grain will be increased by 20%."

Two percent?

Hanzo picked up the sickle beside him, but this action did not frighten the merchant opposite him.

"Lord Hanzo, as you know, only we are willing to smuggle the Land of Fire's food to you. Once we die, your food supply will be gone."

A smug smile spread across the smuggler's face.

This is precisely what made him feel that he had Hanzo completely under his control.

During the Second Shinobi World War, Hanzo, representing the Land of Rain, declared war on the three great ninja villages of Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.

Konoha was the first to impose reciprocal sanctions—

The food trade route to the Land of Rain was closed.

The Land of Fields is located right next to the Land of Fire.

Should they support the Land of Rain and secretly engage in grain trade, or should they join forces with the Land of Fire to sanction the Hidden Rain Village?

The result is obvious.

The Land of Rain has long relied on imports from the Land of Fire and the Land of Fields for its food supply.

After the two countries suspended food trade, the Land of Rain fell into a state of extreme food shortage.

The armed organization of the Land of Rain, Amegakure, was also extremely short of food.

Just then, a group of grain smugglers gathered together, planning to join forces to make a quick buck at Hanzo's expense.

They increased the price of the grain tenfold and sold it to Hanzo.

Hanzo had no choice but to swallow his anger.

There's nothing we can do; we really have no other way to get food.

This is also why the smugglers were certain that Hanzo wouldn't dare to lay a hand on him.

If they were to attack this last group of people who could provide food for Amegakure, Amegakure would be completely cut off from food supplies.

You could say they made the right bet.

Hanzo dared not make a move.

The smugglers' smiles grew even brighter.

"Lord Hanzo, the food this time, based on the previous rations for 5,000 people, which can last for a week, will total 21 million taels."

He paused for half a second, then added.

"The currency of the Land of Fire".

This statement is like mocking Hanzo, implying that the currency of the Land of Rain is nothing but worthless paper.

Hanzo closed his eyes and began to think.

Amegakure has over 40 million taels left to spend, which is only enough for two weeks of food reserves.

Even considering the rewards the Rain Village ninjas received for completing missions during this period...

It probably won't last more than a month.

Therefore, if the war cannot be ended within this month, Amegakure will most likely face riots.

This is something Hanzo did not want to see.

But now, Hanzo has no way to get food from other places, and he grips his sickle tightly.

He vowed that once the food problem in Amegakure was solved, he would be the first to kill these grain smuggling speculators.

But now, it seems that compromise is the only possibility.

"A 20% price increase is impossible; I can only accept a 10% increase at most."

Hanzo's compromise did not seem to earn him any respect from the other party.

He stepped back a few paces and bowed politely.

"Then Lord Hanzo, please reconsider. I believe you will agree."

During this war, their entire interest group sold grain to Hanzo for ten times the original price of 110 kilograms.

They had never felt that making money was so easy.

The businessman took a few steps back, slowly left Yuying's office, and disappeared from Hanzo's sight.

"Bang!"

Hanzo slammed his fist onto the table, the force of which cracked the surface.

"Those merchants, wait until the war is over, I'll skin them alive!"

Just then, a Rain Village ninja suddenly rushed in, knelt on the ground, and reported.

"Lord Hanzo, a grain merchant who claims to be from Nishimura wants to see you. He's downstairs right now."

"Nishimura? Do those scoundrels really think I, Hanzo, am someone to be trifled with?"

After Hanzo finished speaking, he felt something was off.

The smuggler had already seen him, so why is another one showing up now?

Could it be that the two are not together?

"Let him in."

One minute later, Nishimura met Hanzo as he had hoped.

Hanzo also looked at Nishimura in front of him.

He wore a monocle with a silver rim, was tall and slender, and possessed an understated shrewdness.

"Lord Hanzo, I recently heard that your Amegakure is quite short of food."

These words made Hanzo frown, his eyes sharpening slightly.

"I have come here in the hope of reaching some agreements with you regarding food."

Seeing that Hanzo remained silent, Nishimura adjusted his glasses and continued.

"I've heard that quite a few greedy individuals have caused you considerable trouble lately."

Hanzo's gaze swept over Nishimura, as if trying to discern his true intentions.

But this attention had absolutely no effect on Nishimura.

He explained with a smile.

"It's those disgusting smugglers, they're selling you grain at ten times the price."

Hanzo leaned back slowly in his chair and asked.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I am willing to trade with you for 300 taels of grain per catty."

Three hundred taels per catty?

Hanzo's eyes widened; he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

The price of 300 taels per catty is a quarter of the price charged by smugglers.

Although the price is three times higher than normal food prices, it is still within the reach of Amegakure.

"How many can you sell?"

Hanzo stared intently at Nishimura, uttering each word as he spoke.

"How much do you want? I have as much as you want."

Nishimura still wore that smile on his face.

"And all of it is food of the same quality as that from the Land of Fire, definitely not the smuggled junk."

Upon hearing this, Hanzo fell into thought.

They have a near-unlimited food supply, a strong aversion to smugglers, and can provide food of the quality of the Land of Fire...

Is the Land of Fire behind him?

still...

What about another country or ninja village?

Hanzo couldn't figure it out, so he simply asked directly.

"Who's behind you, and why are you helping me?"

But Nishimura's smile remained unchanged, which Hanzo found even more mysterious.

"Haven't you already learned about the entity behind me?"

Upon hearing this, Hanzo immediately locked onto his target.

It is the Land of Fire.

He hasn't had much contact with the land of Tanaka.

However, the daimyo of the Land of Fire issued an order prohibiting the transport of food to the Land of Rain...

So, is it some powerful nobleman behind it?

"As for why I should help you, it's more accurate to say that those smugglers went too far."

Hanzo deeply agrees with this point.

Those smugglers sold the grain to Hanzo at a price tenfold.

That's ten times!

Hanzo lowered the sickle he had been gripping tightly.

Hanzo was overjoyed by Nishimura's appearance.

After negotiations with the smugglers broke down, a legitimate merchant from the Land of Fire appeared and offered to provide him with food at a quarter of the smuggling price.

"We need enough food to sustain five thousand people for a full week. Name your price."

Hanzo's interest made Nishimura nod in satisfaction.

"Five million two hundred and fifty thousand taels, as a gift for the first transaction, I am willing to erase the two hundred and fifty thousand for Lord Hanzo, you only need to pay five million taels."

Ah, that feels good.

Compared to the previous 20 million taels, this 5 million taels is much more appealing.

But Hanzo remained vigilant.

When can the goods be delivered?

"If you place your order today, we can deliver it tomorrow. Given your reputation, Mr. Hanzo, we support cash on delivery."

Hanzang nodded; the cash-on-delivery payment and the reduction of 250,000 taels dispelled his last doubts.

He was initially worried that the guy in front of him was a fraud.

But scammers will never offer cash on delivery.

It seems he has a nobleman from the Land of Fire behind him.

"My five million taels are ready. I will be waiting for you here tomorrow. I hope you will keep your promise."

"Please rest assured, Lord Hanzo, we are professional businessmen."

Yes, that's professional.