Night.
Inside a dimly lit room, Kakuzu finished organizing the day's records. His green eyes gleamed with sharp excitement.
In just a single day—
The Blue Sky Plan had recruited nearly a thousand members in the Land of Lightning.
The first wave.
The first to profit.
And—
The most likely to lose everything.
Human desire was like a rolling boulder—
Once it started, it never stopped.
Kakuzu couldn't help recalling his own past.
Back when he had almost been harvested clean himself.
Now—
He was the scythe.
"…This feeling."
"Is incredible."
He stood up and immediately issued orders.
"Notify all teams—intensify operations."
"Make sure every investor attends the seminars."
"Reinforce the company's philosophy."
"During the New Year, increase 'care services.'"
"Especially wealthy elderly clients—visit them personally."
"And remember the pyramid model."
He turned to the blackboard.
"A is the investor."
"B is their recruits—friends and relatives."
"C is the extended network."
"The more people join—the more money flows."
"This is our core."
"Encourage them to climb."
"To become those at the top."
That night—
He gathered all core members.
The board was filled with:
Slogans.
Scripts.
Psychological triggers.
And the pyramid structure.
"Repeat the slogan!"
"Today we sleep on the floor, tomorrow we become bosses!"
"Who are you?!"
"We are millionaires!!!"
"Good!"
Kakuzu's voice thundered.
His delivery—
Flawless.
Financial logic.
Emotional manipulation.
Perfectly blended.
Some among them—
Were truly convinced.
Or perhaps—
The genjutsu had gone too far.
A few even invested their own money.
Kakuzu sneered internally.
Fools.
When the time came—
Even insiders would be harvested.
He didn't care.
Big money?
Turned over.
Small money?
Taken.
No exceptions.
—
The meeting ended.
Hatake Sakumo watched silently.
Another massacre.
Just quieter.
He shivered slightly.
"…My bounty is going to skyrocket again."
He quickly put on his mask.
Much better.
Safer.
—
Meanwhile—
In Kumogakure.
Snow fell heavily.
Inside a heated conference room—
Third Raikage slammed the table.
"This year's financial report is garbage!"
"Can't any of you make money?!"
Silence.
The room was full of elite shinobi—
Experts in combat.
Not finance.
"Someone explain why our forces were seen in the Land of Rice Fields!"
"The Daimyo has already questioned me!"
"If you're making money behind my back—fine!"
"Give me 30% and I'll ignore it!"
Still—
Silence.
"Speak!!"
Finally—
Excuses came.
"Raikage-sama, I would never violate village rules!"
"I stand tall as a man!"
"If it were me, no witnesses would survive!"
"I just got married!"
"I've been with you the whole time!"
The Raikage's veins bulged.
"…So we're being framed."
"By who?"
"Konohagakure!!!"
"Only they would do this!"
"Just like their movies slandering us!"
"Despicable!"
"Shameless!"
"I'll remember this!"
The blame—
Firmly placed.
Whether true or not—
Didn't matter.
Then—
Another issue.
"Where are our spies' reports from Konoha?"
The intelligence chief hesitated.
"…The first two groups defected."
"What?!"
"They… joined Konoha."
"Because of the 'green card' system."
"Provide intel—receive protection, money, and residency."
"They haven't been paid in two months…"
"…So they switched sides."
The room fell silent.
The Raikage exploded.
"Traitors!!!"
But no one responded.
They all understood.
Risk your life—
And don't even get paid?
Loyalty had limits.
"…And Iwagakure?" the Raikage asked.
"No contact."
"…That short old man—Ōnoki…"
"For a few billion ryo, he abandoned us?!"
"He hasn't replied to a single letter?!"
"He said he was busy…"
"Busy?!"
"I fought the Eight-Tails all day and still had time to reply!"
"He's sold out to Konoha!"
The Raikage clenched his fists.
But—
He stayed rational.
"Iwagakure stays an ally."
Even if only in name.
Because if they fell completely—
Kumogakure would stand alone.
Against Konoha.
And that—
Was unacceptable.
Konoha's growth—
Was terrifying.
Infrastructure.
Population.
Wealth.
Even without action—
It would grow stronger.
The Raikage didn't understand economics.
But his instincts screamed:
Konoha must be checked.
"…Then we'll do the same," he muttered.
"If they can make money—so can we!"
Silence.
Again.
"…Speak!!"
Finally—
A voice.
"We're not good at business…"
"…Then find someone who is."
The Raikage froze.
"…Right."
"Of course."
His eyes lit up.
"Why didn't I think of that?!"
The others quickly chimed in.
"I thought of it too!"
"Same here!"
The Raikage stared at them.
Then sighed.
My father really had it hard…
Still—
It was a good idea.
"…So where do we find such people?"
A poster was handed over.
He read it slowly.
Blue Sky Plan Co., Ltd.
A mysterious investment company.
Rapidly rising.
Promises of wealth.
The Raikage's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting."
Maybe—
Just maybe—
This was the key.
To make money.
And—
Winning back his "lost ally."
Ōnoki.
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