Naruto’s Strongest Force [translation]

Daimyo Mansion in the Land of Fire.

"What are the results of the investigation?"

The daimyo's lazy voice echoed through the room.

The staff below dared not neglect their duty.

"Sir, the origin of the [Summer Food] shop from Land of Sound was traced back to Uchiha members in the Sound Ninja Village."

"The Uchiha from Konoha Village?"

Although not deeply involved in ninja affairs, the renowned Uchiha clan was a familiar name to the daimyo.

"Yes, sir. Uchiha clan members from Konoha Village are also involved in running this shop. Could it be that the Uchiha members in Land of Sound have split from the main Uchiha clan?"

"Split? Is it a rebellion against the village?" The daimyo's curiosity was piqued.

The staff, wiping their sweat, presented two reports.

"Sir, the Third Hokage of Konoha and Danzo Shimura have conflicting accounts. The Third Hokage openly stated that they fled, while Danzo claims that the Uchiha members betrayed the village."

The daimyo received the two reports. One was the public statement made by the Third Hokage.

The other was a confidential report from Danzo.

Upon seeing the lengthy texts, the daimyo's interest waned, and he quickly became disinterested.

Feeling a bit bored, he tossed both reports aside.

Whether the Uchiha split or rebelled against the village, it had little relevance to him.

The Uchiha clan fell under Konoha's administration, and Konoha maintained a nominal cooperative relationship with the daimyo.

The daimyo had no control over Uchiha affairs, and the Third Hokage's error didn't hold much power with him.

The daimyo let out a cold snort.

"That's all."

"Then, are all these meals prepared by the Uchiha?"

"Yes," the staff member answered truthfully.

The daimyo felt a twinge of frustration, accompanied by a trace of disdain. In the daimyo's eyes, the Land of Sound was once distant and hidden.

What significance did the title of "daimyo" hold for the daimyo of the Land of Fire? It merely signified a wealthy countryman.

Two years ago, when the Daimyo of the Land of Sound strongly supported this restaurant, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire scoffed at his counterpart.

However, within two years, [Summer Food] had expanded across the entire Land of Sound, surpassing all other restaurants.

The restaurant achieved culinary dominance, receiving acclaim from everyone who patronized its establishment.

This culinary empire revitalized the country's economy. Even the Daimyo of the Land of Fire found it hard to believe.

Upon examining the staff's statistical documents, the daimyo realized the truth.

The Daimyo of the Land of Sound amassed great wealth, the domestic economy flourished, and the ninja village became the best among the five ninja villages.

Had it not been for the small size and limited resources of the Land of Taden, there might have been different considerations.

Naturally, the Land of Fire had a business team prepared to explore these opportunities.

However, the so-called franchise fee was several times more expensive than in the Land of Sound, and the number of available locations was limited.

In the eyes of this daimyo, the Land of Sound's actions seemed like a form of revenge.

It was understandable; after all, larger countries had often mistreated smaller ones, and now that the tables had turned, the smaller nations were seizing the opportunity to express their displeasure.

Initially, the daimyo had contemplated doing the same, but the seemingly straightforward stinky tofu turned out to have no discernible odor or flavor.

Despite experimenting with various seasonings, they couldn't replicate the unique taste.

Some dishes could be imitated, but the secret recipes proved unattainable.

The Land of Fire's daimyo felt a surge of envy.

Thanks to this economic boost, the Land of Sound had become much more prosperous than before.

If a similar system could be implemented in the Land of Fire, the profits would be immense.

After all, the Land of Sound was just a rural area, without even a Ninja Village before.

However, the person in the Land of Sound who possessed the secret recipe wasn't the restaurant owner.

They were individuals sent by the Otogakure—firm and resolute, refusing to divulge the secret recipe despite threats and incentives.

Some even chose suicide by poison.

The daimyo found this situation particularly frustrating. It was just a matter of business, why go to such lengths?

Unbeknownst to him, the individuals dispatched by the Otogakure were Orochimaru's agents.

They were either genuine loyalists brainwashed by Orochimaru or people under his forbidden jutsu.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have been entrusted with business endeavors.

In the industry, imitation was simple, but achieving an identical taste demanded considerable effort.

Without years of cultural heritage, imitating the core secret recipes of certain dishes was an impossible feat.

The daimyo rubbed his aching head, deciding to put the matter aside:

"Forget it, don't dwell on it any longer. Spend some funds to collaborate with Danzo and have him acquire all the formulas."

"Yes!"

...

Konoha Village, Hokage Building.

"Sarutobi."

The Third Hokage, engrossed in his desk work, looked up to see Danzo entering.

What surprised the Third Hokage was the absence of crutches, and Danzo had even removed the bandage from his right hand, revealing a fully healed arm.

"Danzo, your hand!?"

Danzo smiled reservedly and raised his right hand, saying, "The injury is healed. No need for bandages anymore."

While the Third Hokage was puzzled, he recalled that Danzo's arm had undergone some form of modification, and the specifics were kept confidential.

Had Danzo managed to restore his arm?

The Third Hokage chose not to delve deeper into the matter. After all, he did not know the nature of the modifications done to Danzo's arm.

"Why are you here?"

The Third Hokage's tone remained composed, acknowledging Danzo's past overambition and the subsequent serious consequences.

Danzo had been relieved of his position by the Third Hokage, a significant setback for him.

Moreover, the Third Hokage had ceased payments to the Roots, and cooperation with other ninjas was restricted. The Roots were likely facing financial difficulties.

However, considering their long history of collaboration, the Third Hokage anticipated that Danzo might be utilized in the future.

As long as Danzo remains under his influence, the past actions of Danzo are manageable. He can be called upon whenever his services are required.

"This is the profit and income report for the Uchiha," Danzo stated, presenting a data sheet.

The Hokage took a moment to review it, raising an eyebrow, "This much? Twenty million this year?"

Danzo maintained his usual demeanor, "This is just the data for Konoha. If you include the Land of Sound, the figure goes beyond 50 million annually."

"Itachi and Shisui introduced [Summer Food] to the Land of Sound. Despite its economic struggles, the Land of Tian is dotted with such establishments."

"No one truly comprehends the wealth of the Uchiha."

Danzo paused briefly, then continued, "The daimyo noticed the significant profits in the Land of Sound and instructed me to acquire all the formulas."

"So, Hiruzen, I now require your cooperation."

Danzo wore a hint of pride as he produced an official order.

The Third Hokage frowned, examined the order, and verified its authenticity.

Hissing through his pipe, the Third Hokage contemplated the situation.

Unexpectedly, Danzo was resorting to force against the daimyo. It presented a challenge, as the head of a village, to manage the substantial resources at his disposal.

Konoha's consistent strength in the ninja world could be attributed to its abundant financial resources.

Money, in turn, could be transformed into a variety of resources, such as population, food, and more.

In several ninja wars, Konoha Village always held a strategic advantage.

Even the formidable military land of Kumo, whose ninja clashed with Konoha intermittently for over a decade, couldn't overshadow Konoha's financial skill.

During times when Konoha's military might was lacking, its financial strength alone compelled Kumogakure to surrender and seek peace.

The abundant financial resources allowed Konoha to gain the upper hand.

A significant portion of Konoha Village's revenue came from subsidies provided by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

The Land of Fire, with its vast territory, large population, and rich resources, maintained a favorable relationship with Konoha to sustain its preeminent position in the ninja world.

The daimyo had always been supportive of Konoha, thanks to its victories over other nations that facilitated easy wealth accumulation.

However, the recent focus on [Summer Food] by the daimyo, with direct orders given to Danzo, raised questions.

Was it related to the departure of the Uchiha clan? It seemed that the Third Hokage hadn't reported this matter, potentially creating a split with the daimyo.

Despite Konoha Village being a military force, cooperation with the daimyo was essential for managing the entire country.

The daimyo, as a significant benefactor, held considerable influence, prompting the Third Hokage to adopt a more peacemaking approach under normal circumstances.