Uchiha's personal opinion

But I also have a vague feeling that the door to a new world has been opened!

This is also due to the deeply ingrained mindset created by the "living within one's means" fiscal system that Konoha and even the entire ninja world had generally adopted in the past. In addition, Hatake Sakumo had only recently been promoted to a high-ranking position and was already accustomed to the precise budgeting system of fiscal allocations, and had not yet experienced such flexible fund allocation.

"If we directly misappropriate bond funds to pay off the ninja clan's IOUs, I'm afraid the other villagers will have objections..."

Sakumo Hatake had some new ideas, but he couldn't connect them in a short time.

"It's very simple!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu casually remarked, "Issuing another credit bond under the 10 billion yen bond, and allocating funds to the village under the name of a special bond, would allow the village to both repay the ninja clans' IOUs and increase the value of the 10 billion yen bond funds. It's a win-win situation!"

"Use bonds to issue more bonds to repay the debt..."

Sakumo Hatake really got stuck this time.

After pondering for a long time, Hatake Sakumo decided to put the problem aside for now.

If I keep thinking about it, my head will start to spin.

"Will the bond proceeds be used to expand military equipment?"

Sakumo Hatake's words were also in response to the current situation where Kumogakure and Sunagakure have temporarily ceased their activities.

"Of course I want it!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said decisively, "Now that we have the money, are we going to use it to expand our military instead of paying reparations?"

"But... how will we repay it then?"

"With more ninjas in the village, there will naturally be more missions available. We can just grab more mission slots then, right?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said in a nonchalant tone, "If all else fails, we'll just issue new bonds to borrow money to pay off the old ones."

The Namakawa Stock Exchange is merely an intermediary for issuing bonds, earning management fees and transaction volume. The actual bondholders are still Konoha Village, so Uchiha Tokumitsu doesn't really care.

"One day, the debt problem will grow bigger and bigger, until it becomes unmanageable and impossible to repay..."

Sakumo Hatake made further connections based on Tokumitsu Uchiha's words.

"Then let the daimyo reduce the fee~ It's no big deal!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu was somewhat exasperated, wondering why the ninjas were so inflexible. "The purpose of issuing bonds is to protect the daimyo. Isn't it only natural for the daimyo to forgive the debt?"

"This matter may violate the spirit of the contract..."

Sakumo Hatake's mind was in turmoil.

"It's alright. The other ninja villages that issued bonds will soon be willing to default. As long as Konoha hasn't defaulted on its own initiative, it will be easy to negotiate debt forgiveness with the Daimyo."

Uchiha Tokumitsu appeared to be comforting him.

Although they have been stationed primarily as defense forces on the eastern border recently, the Uchiha clan's intelligence network continues to supply Uchiha Tokumitsu with various kinds of information, especially bond issuance plans from other ninja villages.

The Hidden Cloud Village originally planned to issue 2 billion yen in bonds, but after the Hidden Leaf Village announced its 10 billion yen bond plan, the original plan was immediately shelved, and the latest bond issuance amount has not yet been determined.

Although Sunagakure lowered its tone, it still gritted its teeth and issued bonds according to the previous plan. However, for some reason, Sunagakure did not copy Uchiha Tokumitsu's "original" "bearer bonds", but instead raised funds by registering them under real names through "micro-innovation".

This is equivalent to rendering the bonds illiquid.

However, the funds in the ninja world are ultimately limited. The more funds Konoha absorbs, the more difficult it becomes for Sunagakure and Kumogakure to issue bonds. After falling behind by the first step, the chances of other ninja villages catching up become even slimmer.

"I understand……"

Sakumo Hatake's face still held a blank expression, it was unclear whether he truly understood.

"Then there's no need to worry. Besides, you're not the Hokage, so why are you so concerned?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu stood up and said, "I'll have someone arrange a dormitory for you."

"No need... I left the village secretly, I should go back..."

After hesitating for a moment, Hatake Sakumo decided to return to the village that night to avoid causing unnecessary public opinion trouble.

"Whatever you want..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu remained noncommittal.

……

It must be said that the fragmented yet vibrant financial situation in the ninja world has greatly benefited the Uchiha clan.

Bearer bonds, in particular, have absorbed an unknown amount of black market funds.

According to feedback from Uchiha clan members at the exchange, unnamed wealthy individuals frequently arrive with large sums of gold coins to purchase bonds, and some of these gold coins even date back to a bygone Warring States period.

However, Uchiha Tokumitsu welcomed this.

What happened to the black market funds again?

Isn't gold on the black market also gold?

Moreover, the Uchiha clan can earn an extra profit by exchanging gold coins for Fire Country currency, so why not?

As the issuing agency, the Nakagawa Stock Exchange not only underwrote Konoha bonds, but also had the ability to "flexibly allocate" the funds for a short period of time before the bond funds were disbursed, thus profiting for the clan. This made the Uchiha clan more convinced of Uchiha Tokumitsu's abilities.

Therefore, even though he was far away from Konoha and his clan, Uchiha Tokumitsu was not worried about his personal influence declining.

Moreover, the revenue of the Namakawa Stock Exchange is also related to the operation of the laboratory, so Uchiha Tokumitsu naturally pays special attention to it.

"Sand Village, Cloud Village, and Mist Village..."

After Hatake Sakumo left, Uchiha Tokumitsu sat alone in the main tent, carefully considering his options.

Sunagakure and Kumogakure are already in a difficult situation. If they don't take out loans to expand their military, they will only fall further behind Konoha in strength, making the future even more difficult.

However, if the scale of bonds is expanded, the government's fiscal revenue may not even be enough to cover the interest payments.

This is like throwing a copy of the Sunflower Manual into the martial arts world and spreading it everywhere. Would you practice it or not?

If you don't practice, anyone can beat you up; if you force yourself to practice, the results will be mediocre.

However, in Kirigakure, after Hatake Sakumo's antics, Uchiha Tokumitsu also felt that something was amiss.

What Uchiha Tokumitsu couldn't understand the most was what Uchiha Madara, who was secretly controlling the Third Mizukage, was thinking.

Was their position truly unstable due to defeat in battle?

Uchiha Tokumitsu was completely baffled.

After several exchanges with the Hidden Mist ninja who oversaw special border trade, Uchiha Tokumitsu gained a certain understanding of the current situation within the Hidden Mist Village.

Given the personality of the Third Mizukage, Madara Uchiha, even if many opponents jumped out, he would probably just kill them directly. He wouldn't have the patience to play any political games.

In Kirigakure, a village that reveres bloodshed and violence, only force holds true power. Although Kirigakure is not yet as terrifying as it was during the future implementation of the "Blood Mist Policy," there are already signs of a Blood Mist faction rising to prominence.

"Could it be... that Madara Uchiha has other plans?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu thought of this problem.

In his past life's memories, Madara Uchiha died after giving the Rinnegan to Nagato and making Obito Uchiha his representative. Logically, he shouldn't have died so quickly.

However, after the Land of Whirlpools was defeated by the siege of the three great ninja villages, the remaining Uzumaki clan members were taken back to Konoha by Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo. Even if a few were scattered or captured, their numbers should not be many.

As for the Land of Rain, half of its territory had already been controlled by the dispatched army led by Akimichi Torifu, and no Uzumaki clan members had been stranded there...

Under such circumstances, it's possible that Madara Uchiha would devise a new Infinite Tsukuyomi plan...

Uchiha Tokumitsu became increasingly uneasy as he thought about it.

"Damn age spots..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu was wide awake, grumbling as he threw on his clothes and went out to check on the research progress in the laboratory.

After all, so much money has been invested, I really can't rest easy without taking a closer look.

written request for leave

I'm not feeling well today, so I'm taking a day off. I'll resume updates tomorrow.

Chapter 158 The Darkness of No Longer Being Needed

Although it was late at night, three Uzumaki ninjas were still working tirelessly in Uchiha Tokumitsu's laboratory.

"Thank you all for your hard work..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu's face was beaming with a bright smile.

Any boss who arrives at their business late at night and sees their employees still working hard on their own initiative will feel incredibly gratified, as long as they still have a conscience.

"How much did you spend on the recent experiments? What progress reports have been released?"

After the experiment with the three Uzumaki ninjas came to an end and they had a brief respite, Uchiha Tokumitsu immediately asked a question.

Conscience? Yes, but not much.

We still need to focus on whether the money invested will yield results first.

"Lord Deguang, the laboratory recently invested 30 million in research on the best compatibility attributes for Fire Release chakra, and we have made a huge breakthrough!"

"The ninja said respectfully."

"Yeah!"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Tokumitsu immediately perked up, feeling that the 30 million was well spent: "If Fire Release is fused with other chakra attributes, which attribute is the most compatible? And what should the ratio be?"

"Lord Deguang, perhaps you've misunderstood something..."

The number one ranked ninja, Uzumaki, hesitated.

"We still need a lot of work to fully understand the formation and compatibility of Fire Release chakra. We have only made a breakthrough so far, but it is still not comprehensive enough..."

The second-ranked ninja stammered.

"Of course, we have indeed achieved some very worthwhile results that are worth exploring further, but the funds have been almost used up..."

The voice of the third Uzumaki ninja grew fainter and fainter.

Uchiha Tokumitsu's face had turned black.

……

Meanwhile, far away in Konoha.

Orochimaru emerged from a dark cave outside a village.