Uchiha's personal opinion

After the war, the Third Mizukage delivered another passionate speech and called on the Hidden Mist ninjas to bring the war to the Land of Lightning!

Meanwhile, Kirigakure's envoy, Juzo Biwa, once again submitted an arms order to the shogunate, requesting the purchase of six more ironclad warships and 600,000 explosive tags. In addition, a massive contract was signed to procure basic ninja tools such as kunai and shuriken.

"Four billion..."

Clan leader Uchiha Yomo read out the total amount of the Kirigakure's arms order and was stunned.

"If you have so much money, why do you need to issue bonds to raise funds?"

Uchiha Yomo was still a little confused. In his eyes, this was a pointless waste of money to pay interest.

"You need more money to do big things!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't bother explaining much to the clan head with his medieval mindset: "Anyway, the shogunate won't lose money. They'll earn back the interest through arms orders, and maybe even more with a little more money~"

"...You're right."

Although he still didn't understand Uchiha Tokumitsu's intentions, Uchiha Yomo nodd in agreement blankly, shocked by the "4.5 billion".

Chapter 214 The Game of Capital

Just one day before Uchiha Tokumitsu's three bonds were officially launched for public fundraising and sale, battle reports from Kirigakure and Kumogakure in the Land of Water finally reached the Ninja World Continent.

The ironclad warships and secret ship-borne weapons sold by the Tokugawa Shogunate to Kirigakure annihilated thousands of elite Kumogakure ninja in the battle!

The Third Mizukage declared that he would launch a retaliatory war against Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning!

It has been revealed that Kirigakure has placed a large order for military equipment with the Shogunate!

These are all good things!

Immediately, the wealthy businessmen who had been sitting comfortably on the sidelines became restless!

They immediately notified their agent, who was currently in Konoha, through various means, instructing him to purchase as many bond shares as possible!

The already prominent Tokuko Shogunate and the Nakagawa Stock Exchange were once again thrust into the spotlight.

The Konoha ninja then realized that the fruits of combining military strength and economic means were truly sweet.

"4.5 billion + 3.8 billion..."

The total income of 8.3 billion ryo made everyone in Konoha feel envious and jealous.

Even those ninja clans that had already chosen to stop issuing bonds or lost credibility due to defaults are now stirring again.

People aren't that ambitious; raising around 100 million through bond issuance should be enough, right...?

However, after testing the waters, the various ninja clans discovered that the big merchants in the ninja world simply didn't buy it.

Most of the ninja clans did not understand this.

In terms of interest rates, they offered much higher rates than the Uchiha clan, with an average annual interest rate of 12%, and they also provided collateral and set up mid-term buyback programs, etc.

Even so, the wealthy businessmen remained unmoved.

Feeling rather helpless, the ninja leaders gathered again to seek advice from the Hyuga clan, the leader of Konoha's "third force".

"Confidence is more important than a gold medal!"

The Hyuga clan chief gave this answer.

The clan leaders, including Inuzuka and Aburame, were all puzzled.

What is the purpose of the Inuzuka family's bond issuance?

Seeing that everyone still looked confused, the Hyuga clan leader pointed to the Inuzuka clan leader and asked.

"Expand the kennel, raise more ninja dogs, and develop higher-quality dog ​​food..."

Chief Inuzuka immediately shouted in a strong voice.

"So what is the collateral under your bonds?"

The Hyuga clan chief asked, frowning.

He only meant to give an example, but didn't want to use a joke as an example.

"The kennels that were built will serve as collateral!"

After hearing this, the Hyuga clan leader felt somewhat desperate.

His two sons, Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga, were also listening in from the side. Upon hearing this, they also suppressed their laughter, their faces turning slightly red.

This is an ally I chose myself, so I can't get angry or curse at them...

Although the Hyuga clan leader's expression remained unchanged, his heart was in turmoil.

"...This won't work. You still haven't grasped the essence of the Uchiha Stock Exchange."

After a long while, the Hyuga clan leader, who had finally calmed down, slowly spoke.

"The Uchiha clan's stock exchange served as both the issuer and the backer of the bonds. Combined with the shogunate's formidable power and the large military orders they received from Kirigakure, these factors combined to ensure the bonds sold out immediately upon release..."

"And whether it's really sold out, we have no way of knowing."

The oil-loving clan chief suddenly said something.

"That's absolutely right!"

The Hyuga clan leader nodded. "Perhaps you haven't noticed the gold coins that the Tokugawa Shogunate discovered in the occupied territories... those are the real weapons of mass destruction!"

After saying this, the Hyuga clan chief couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

The Hyuga clan was originally the most financially savvy among the major ninja clans of Konoha. They controlled countless businesses, banks, and workshops, both overtly and covertly, and their industries were spread throughout the ninja world. This allowed the Hyuga clan to maintain their exclusive territory while remaining aristocratic.

However, compared to the speed at which the Uchiha clan rose to power during the Second Shinobi World War, the Hyuga clan's millennia of accumulation seems insignificant.

It's one thing if they can't match the strength of the Uchiha clan, but given the overwhelming power of the Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan leader isn't oblivious to reality.

Even though Uchiha Tokumitsu appointed branch family ninjas of the Hyuga clan as officials of the shogunate, openly sowing discord between the main and branch families of the Hyuga clan, he still turned a blind eye.

Even though some elders from certain clans were clamoring within their families to demand an explanation from Uchiha Tokumitsu, he suppressed them without hesitation.

Even so, the Hyuga clan leader still held a certain psychological advantage over the Uchiha clan.

That is, the Hyuga clan's wealth and its relationships with nobles of various countries far surpassed those of the Uchiha clan.

In other words, the Hyuga main family would be treated as honored guests in any country they visited, while the Uchiha clan would mostly be regarded as high-ranking henchmen by the nobles.

Especially after Uchiha Tokumitsu led his troops to besiege the Fire Temple and forced the daimyo to back down, the nobles avoided them like the plague. The Hyuga clan, as one of the two great clans of Konoha with powerful dojutsu, was highly regarded by the nobles of the Land of Fire, who all hoped that they could restrain the arrogant and domineering Uchiha clan.

However, as the saying goes, only family members know their own situation. Many branch family ninjas of the Hyuga clan served under the Tokugawa Shogunate and were well aware of the Shogunate's war potential. Despite the nobles' repeated attempts to win them over, the Hyuga clan head remained unmoved and refused.

This time, however, the commotion caused by the Nakagawa Stock Exchange is just too big.

It has even begun to shake the foundation of the Hyuga clan's financial conglomerate.

"...If you need funds, there's no need to issue bonds publicly."

The Hyuga clan head hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, "The Hyuga Foundation can provide you with loans, and the interest rate will be based on the annual interest rate of the Uchiha clan's bonds..."

"This……"

Chief Inuzuka and Chief Aburame were overjoyed.

Both Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi were moved.

It's important to know that the Hyuga Group's annual lending interest rate is often as high as 20% or more, which is an outright exorbitant profit. If they were to lend to these allies, they would only get a 10% return at most, which is more than double!

"As for collateral, since all clans are Konoha ninja clans, there's no need to dwell on that. Just repay the loan on time..."

Although the Hyuga clan leader also felt a little heartbroken, since he had chosen to sacrifice his own interests to solidify his alliance, there was no need to dwell on minor details.

……

After seeing off the several jubilant ninja leaders, the Hyuga clan leader returned to the main hall of his residence.

Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi sat properly on the futon.

"Please share your thoughts..."

The Hyuga clan leader returned to his seat and asked without expression.

Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi looked at each other, somewhat at a loss.

Why would the clan lend money to various ninja clans?

Suppressing his anger, the Hyuga clan leader asked again.

Uchiha Tokumitsu was not much older than the Hiashi and Hizashi brothers, but in terms of ninjutsu skills and power and status, Uchiha Tokumitsu had long surpassed his descendants by a wide margin.

"As expected, towering trees can't be grown in a greenhouse..."

The Hyuga clan leader sighed inwardly.

"In order to balance the impact of the Uchiha clan's stock exchange and to solidify the relationship with the ninja clan alliance."

Hiashi Hyuga answered first.

This answer is fairly standard, but it's too conventional and doesn't sound like the answer of an ambitious young person.

The Hyuga clan leader nodded slightly, neither confirming nor denying.

His gaze then fell upon Hyuga Hizashi, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"The Uchiha clan is too powerful to control, and many members of the branch family have their own agendas. Therefore, the clan should make appropriate concessions to unite its allies and solidify the foundation of Konoha's third-largest power..."

As Hyuga Hizashi spoke, he kept a close eye on his father's expression. Seeing no unusual reaction, he grew bolder and bolder: "Now the village advocates reform, Kirigakure is pushing for change, and Iwagakure and Sunagakure are at odds with the daimyo and nobles. Perhaps... Lord Hashirama's one village, one country system won't last much longer..."

"...Then what should the family do?"

The Hyuga clan head slightly raised his chin, signaling his second son to continue.

"The Kaguya clan was once an ally of our family during the Warring States period, so..."

Hyuga Hizashi did not continue speaking.

"So you think we should try to win over the remnants of Kaguya's faction under the Shogunate?"

The Hyuga clan leader lowered his eyes and spoke in a deep voice.

Hyuga Hizashi dared not say much, but simply bowed slightly.

"The Uzumaki clan and the Senju clan were once blood allies for a thousand years. Why is it that even though Tsunade has re-established the Senju clan, the Uzumaki clan remains unmoved?"

The Hyuga clan leader said coldly, "Could it be that the Uzumaki clan members have all been brainwashed and controlled by the Uchiha's genjutsu?"