The next day, Senju Tobirama took Yuya to visit the Uchiha clan.
Compared to the past, when Senju Tobirama would see Uchiha ninjas everywhere whenever he came to their compound, the clan was much quieter now.
Even so, Tobirama could still sense several pairs of eyes watching from the shadows.
He sneered inwardly.
So, the Uchiha still had some hidden strength within their clan?
Hmph, it only confirmed what Tobirama believed: Uchiha couldn't be trusted.
The Uchiha clan leader, who succeeded Madara, came out to greet Tobirama. He had originally wanted to align with Konoha, but after Tobirama became Hokage, much of the Uchiha's power was stripped away. He had faced heavy criticism for this, and his respect for Tobirama was minimal.
After all, he had once put his trust in Konoha, but Tobirama still didn't trust the Uchiha.
"What brings you to the Uchiha clan today, Hokage-sama?" the clan leader asked in a calm tone.
Tobirama remained unfazed and calmly took out a scroll. "This is a confidential mission for the Uchiha clan. The action must be swift, precise, and ruthless. No target should escape."
As Tobirama finished, Yuya, who stood behind him, spoke softly, "Also, don't kill anyone. If you do, there will be no chance for negotiations later."
The clan leader frowned. What did this young boy mean? Did the Uchiha need to be told how to handle things?
At thirteen, Yuya had grown to nearly 1.6 meters tall and no longer appeared like a child, but a teenager.
Tobirama paid no mind to the clan leader's reaction and simply echoed, "Yes, don't kill anyone. The Uchiha clan should be capable of that."
The clan leader felt a surge of anger. Was Tobirama looking down on the Uchiha?
"Of course... I assure you the mission will be completed," the clan leader replied in a deep voice.
Tobirama nodded and then gestured toward Yuya. "This is one of my assistants in political affairs. He has some proposals he wishes to discuss with the Uchiha."
The clan leader glanced at Yuya, frowning. "This..."
"Youya," Yuya said with a grin. "My name is Youya."
The Uchiha leader nodded, suppressing his frustration. "Very well, young Yuya. What would you like to discuss?"
Had Tobirama not been present, the clan leader would have walked away long ago.
Yuya pulled out a stack of papers from his robes, selected two, and handed them to the Uchiha leader.
The clan leader skimmed through the first document, his expression quickly changing.
As he read the second, his frown deepened.
Afterward, he handed the papers back to Yuya.
Yuya looked puzzled. "Uncle, is there something you don't understand? It's all quite clear."
The first document detailed the construction and use of waterwheels. The second proposed building a water plant on Uchiha clan land, specifically near the Minagawa River, which flowed eastward through the Land of Fire and emptied into the sea. The river had a steady, powerful current, making it ideal for establishing a water plant.
In Yuya's mind, these projects could bring the Uchiha substantial income. Building a large waterwheel upstream to irrigate farmland would also win the favor of the common people.
Yuya believed the Uchiha should be ecstatic about these tailor-made plans. In fact, he half-expected them to kneel in gratitude.
But instead, the clan leader frowned even more.
"...We will need to discuss these proposals within the clan before giving Hokage-sama a final answer. Rest assured, however, that we will complete the mission you've assigned."
This was the final response Yuya received.
As he and Tobirama left the Uchiha compound, Yuya was deep in thought. Tobirama, noticing his contemplative expression, smiled. "Are you wondering why the Uchiha didn't immediately agree to such favorable terms?"
Yuya frowned and nodded. "Yes, it could bring them millions of taels in annual revenue. And while the waterwheel plan mostly benefits the farmers, it would still earn the Uchiha goodwill. Why didn't they accept right away?"
Tobirama sneered. "Because they're the Uchiha. They don't believe anyone would offer them help out of kindness."
Yuya looked up at Tobirama, his eyes gradually turning blank.
Tobirama frowned. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Uncle, I think I know why the Uchiha don't trust me."
"Oh? Why?"
"Because you're terrifying. When they see you, they won't believe anything I say."
"You brat! Get back here!"
---
That day, Konoha made a decisive move.
The police force, led by the Uchiha, dispatched three teams to arrest all the gambling house owners in the commercial district.
Naturally, conflicts arose during the operation. However, the Uchiha, despite their diminished power, still had enough strength to handle the situation.
Though some lost limbs in the clashes, no one died.
Then Senju Tobirama stepped in.
Standing on the moral high ground, he produced Konoha's legal code and demanded the gambling house owners explain why they had violated the law.
The owners tried to justify themselves, claiming they hadn't lent money—only collected transaction fees. The copper coins they had loaned were worth 100,000 taels, and the borrowers had taken them voluntarily.
In response, Tobirama publicly read the legal code in the middle of the commercial district, causing the owners to hang their heads in defeat.
Afterward, Tobirama waved his hand, expelling them.
As for the hundreds of millions of taels seized from the eight gambling houses? Confiscated.
The people who borrowed money from those gambling houses? They no longer had to repay it.
Introducing Konoha's new gambling hub: the Golden City! But don't call it a gambling den; it's a government-backed establishment, fair and transparent.
No cash allowed, only chips. After betting, you exchange your chips for money. No cash on the premises, no loans allowed, and minors are strictly forbidden.
Oh, and those who owed money to the previous gambling houses? You still owe Konoha! You can work in the steel factories or do whatever you need to pay it back. If not, you'll pay with broken legs!
After eliminating the private gambling dens, Tobirama quickly turned around and established a state-run gambling center.
Kirigakure and Sunagakure villages observed these events and followed suit, cracking down on illegal casinos while opening their own government-sanctioned gambling hubs.
Unfortunately, neither village could match Konoha's scale. After all, Konoha attracted foreign visitors, while Sunagakure and Kirigakure could not.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan remained indifferent to the changes outside their walls.
They were in the middle of their eighth family meeting.
Yes, after eight days, they were still discussing whether to accept Yuya's proposal... and they hadn't reached a decision yet.
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