boyutpedia Chapter 87 The Gap Between Hokage
Chapter 87 The Gap Between Hokage
At the mention of Chiba Trading Company, a strange light flashed in their eyes.
After all, the Chiba Trading Company has recently become quite famous in the ninja world, given the wide range of their business dealings and the substantial profits they make.
Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the young man who ran a ramen shop in Konoha. His ramen-making skills were indeed excellent, and he had even received praise from his teacher.
I had talked to Tetsuya before, and he told me that he would use his own methods to make Chiba's name known throughout the ninja world.
Now it seems he really did it. As the influence of Chiba Chamber of Commerce expands, the name Chiba has truly spread throughout the ninja world.
Mitokado suggested.
"The Chiba Trading Company's reputation is known throughout the ninja world, so the Chiba family must be very wealthy. After all, he is Hiruzen, who came from a village. Perhaps you could ask him for some money as a way of repaying the village."
Upon hearing Mitokado Homura's suggestion, Shimura Danzo snorted coldly.
"Hmph, since that Chiba was a member of the village before, he will always be a member of the village. In my opinion, the Chiba Chamber of Commerce should belong to the village. Letting a commoner control such a large chamber of commerce is a threat."
"Hiruzen, I'll go and make the trip myself. I'll have a good talk with the Chiba family. I believe that with my persuasion, they'll obediently hand over the Chiba Merchant Guild to Konoha."
As for the existence of the Chiba Trading Company, Danzo Shimura, the dark side of the ninja world, was naturally aware of it.
He even had a general idea of how much the Chiba Chamber of Commerce earned each day. To be honest, he was also very envious of the Chiba Chamber of Commerce. If he hadn't never had the chance, he would have secretly taken control of the Chiba Chamber of Commerce long ago.
Once I control the Chiba Trading Company and have plenty of financial support, Orochimaru's experiments can proceed smoothly, and then the Hokage position will be mine for sure.
"You have crossed the line, Danzo."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's cold shout pulled Danzo back to reality from his fantasy.
"Keep your little schemes to yourself."
He knew all too well what his old buddy was thinking; he was definitely up to no good with Chiba Trading Company.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never allow Danzo to do so, even though his mindset and thoughts had changed over the years he had served as Hokage.
But some things haven't changed. The teacher once said that the Chiba clan sacrificed everything for Konoha, and now only Chiba Tetsuya's branch remains of a once-great ninja clan.
He wouldn't allow Danzo to act recklessly, given that the family had dedicated everything to the village. Besides, his teacher had told him to look after the Chiba family, but so far, he hadn't been able to do anything. At least he couldn't let his old friend harm the other side.
"Although Tetsuya Chiba was once a member of Konoha, his Chiba family has already sacrificed enough for Konoha. An entire ninja clan fought for Konoha to the very end, and now only his family remains. We cannot make too many demands on such a family."
As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his cigarette.
"However, the village is indeed facing some difficulties right now, so let me go and talk to him. Tetsuya is a reasonable person, and I believe he will understand."
At this moment, Koharu, who was turning over a new room, spoke up to remind him.
"If that's the case, then Hiruzen, I suggest you hurry up. According to intelligence, the Chiba Trading Company has a partnership with Hanzo of the Salamander. Hanzo of the Salamander has invited the head of the Chiba Trading Company to Amegakure to attend his Amegakure inauguration ceremony. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be leaving soon."
"This Chiba Tetsuya, he actually dared to cooperate with Amegakure. This is a betrayal of the village. Hiruzen, what are you talking about? Just take action and control Chiba Tetsuya, and make him hand over the Chiba Merchant Guild. That's the right thing to do."
"Enough, Danzo. He's just a commoner, not a village ninja. It's his freedom to do business and negotiate with whomever he wants."
"Hmph, Hiruzen, you are far too weak. An organization like the Chiba Merchant Guild should be kept under the control of the village. Allowing it to cooperate with Amegakure will inevitably lead to serious problems sooner or later!"
"Enough, Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
Danzo Shimura slammed his fist on the table, stood up, and stormed out.
Watching Danzo leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi kept smoking, the smoke filling the conference room and obscuring his eyes.
The following day, at the Chiba Grand Hotel, Tetsuya, who was preparing to depart for Amegakure, received a message from Konoha.
"Hmm? Hiruzen Sarutobi invited me back to Konoha? Is there something he wants to talk to me about?"
Tetsuya looked at the letter that had been delivered to him through the Chamber of Commerce, and for a moment, his mind was filled with questions.
"Wait, what's going on? Has something major happened in Konoha during this period? And it seems like I haven't had any contact with Konoha for a long time."
He wanted to ask Izuna for his opinion, since Izuna was quick-witted and might be able to see something wrong.
But Izuna wasn't there; he was still researching forbidden techniques at the Chiba Manor.
"Whatever, we'll deal with whatever comes our way. It's not like that guy Hiruzen Sarutobi would suddenly use the Reaper Death Seal on me when we meet."
Tetsuya was just about to call a carriage to take him back to Konoha when he stopped at the door.
"Is it really appropriate for me to go back looking like this?"
After thinking for a moment, he activated his transformation spell, instantly turning himself into the image of a portly, wealthy, and greasy middle-aged man.
“Yes, that fits the identity of ‘Chiba Tetsuya’.”
This trip back to Konoha went exceptionally smoothly, without any assassinations, attacks, or unexpected incidents.
The carriage arrived safely in Konoha.
At the main gate of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in the Hokage robe and wearing the Hokage hat, personally stood at the gate to welcome the guests.
Mitokado asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Hiruzen, isn't this going a bit too far? As the Kage of a village, is it really necessary for you to personally come to greet him?"
Koharu, standing to the side, nodded in agreement, expressing her incomprehension. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to act approachable, why did he have to bring them along as well?
Hiruzen Sarutobi responded with a smile, a pipe dangling from his lips.
"Hehe, you guys don't understand. You know the influence of the Chiba Merchant Guild in the ninja world, but what you don't know is that Chiba Tetsuya himself is also very close to the princes and nobles in the capital. He has already integrated into the circles of those noble lords."
Although on the surface he appears to be just a commoner and a merchant, you would be mistaken if you saw him that way. He could become a nobleman of the Land of Fire at any time, especially one closely associated with the daimyo.
Upon hearing this, both Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu realized what was happening.
Don't be fooled by Hiruzen Sarutobi's seemingly impressive status as Hokage; his power is limited to the village of Konoha.
The Hokage was different in Hiruzen Sarutobi's generation. In the past, whether it was the First Hokage or the Second Hokage, they could disregard the Daimyo and nobles of the Land of Fire. But Hiruzen Sarutobi could not. That was the difference.