After discussing the uninteresting topic of politics, Kagura hadn't forgotten Tobirama promise to her that night. She couldn't help but ask him when the funds would be allocated.
Tobirama looked utterly confused at her question.
"What funds?"
"The loan."
"What loan?"
"The loan to build the factory."
"..."
"..."
The two of them stared at each other, wide-eyed.
"You're not trying to go back on your word, are you?"
"..."
Alcohol really isn't a good thing!
To be fair, Tobirama hadn't completely forgotten. He vaguely remembered something about the two of them making some kind of deal, but the details were hazy.
Glancing at Kagura face, which was on the verge of tears, his mood suddenly improved. Seeing her cry amused him, giving him a strange sense of satisfaction, as if some long-standing grudge had been avenged.
He wasn't sure what kind of twisted pleasure this was.
"Ahem" he cleared his throat and said.
"Alright, alright, the loan, right? Come to my office later to discuss it. After all, it's not like you can just open your mouth and the money will fly into your hands. We'll need to sign some documents and so on."
"What about the land?"
"What land?"
"The land to build the factory!"
"..."
Tobirama was speechless again. He decided then and there that he would never drink again. While drunk, this little thing had somehow managed to swindle him out of who knows how much.
Not only did she secure the loan, but she also managed to lease a piece of land on the outskirts of the village. It was a bit far, but the production and storage of explosive tags came with the risk of explosions. Such a high-risk facility couldn't possibly be built in the densely populated center of the village.
......
Looking at the barren land, Kagura couldn't help but think of Yamato "Three-Bedroom, One-Living Room Technique."
Perhaps...
"Lord First, could you do me a favor?"
"What favor?"
"Help me build a factory. It's really easy."
Hashirama looked at Kagura as if she had lost her mind, 'Is this child seriously ill' ?.
"It took me so long just to build my own house, and you're telling me building a factory is easy?"
"With Wood Release, you just do this and that, form a hand seal, clap your hands, and voila!"
Hashirama still had that "I don't believe a word you're saying" look on his face.
What was that technique of Yamato's called again? Kagura was trying hard to remember.
The Four-Pillar House Technique?
She tirelessly circled around Hashirama, trying to persuade him to build the factory for her. Her persistence was so tenacious that even superglue would have been ashamed. Finally, after being worn down by her relentless nagging, Hashirama agreed to give it a try.
With that tentative attitude, he actually managed to build a factory.
It was about the same size as the one Kagura had visited before, but she didn't have the right to complain. She could only keep telling herself in her heart that once she made some money, she'd upgrade to a bigger one, much like a mother who's always dreaming of moving into a larger house.
Looking at the factory he had just built, Hashirama furrowed his brows, his face full of questions. He looked at his hands, then at the factory, and for the first time, he realized the true potential of Wood Release.
Who knew Wood Release could be used like this!
After watching for a while, he finally burst into laughter, thrilled to have unlocked a new skill.
Kagura couldn't help but think, if Hashirama were Yamato, she'd immediately establish a Konoha Real Estate Company. She'd be the CEO, and Yamato would be the foreman.
They'd monopolize the construction business across the entire shinobi world. Real estate projects would be a guaranteed profit, faster than earning from 6 billion explosive tags, and without the need to buy materials. All they'd need to do is ensure Yamato had enough chakra.
Truly zero investment!
Another path to wealth had been discovered. She was going to be rich!
But Hashirama wasn't Yamato, and she didn't have the guts to make the God of Shinobi work for her.
Both Kagura and Hashirama were overjoyed—one lost in her fantasies, the other excited about unlocking a new skill.
......
In the office, Tobirama stared at the IOU with Kagura name on it, his brow deeply furrowed. The concept of loans was unheard of before this. How could he possibly use the village public funds for a girl personal use? The money had come from his own private savings, painstakingly scraped together.
Holding the IOU with Kagura name, he kept turning it over in his hands, wondering how to fill the financial gap and replenish the treasury.
And the opportunity to replenish the treasury came quickly, with a particularly grand and noble justification—selling the Tailed Beasts!
Distributing the Tailed Beasts was indeed a good method to maintain peace in the shinobi world at the time. Apart from Sunagakure One-Tail, Shukaku, and Konoha's Nine-Tails, Kurama, the other nations had no Tailed Beasts.
For many, their knowledge of the Tailed Beasts' power came only from rumors—how they were incredibly powerful, how their strength rivaled an entire army, and so on.
Thus, for nations and villages that didn't have one, acquiring a Tailed Beast was a must, even if it meant spending a fortune. They might not know how to use it, but they couldn't afford not to have one.
It was precisely this mentality that Tobirama could exploit.
......
"For the sake of peace, we could just give them away for free!"
"Shut up!" Tobirama really wanted to punch his older brother in the face.
"Pay for it. If you want a Tailed Beast, pay for it. Capturing them isn't easy, and we've expended a lot of manpower and resources. We could have kept them for ourselves, but we didn't. That's our sincerity, our hope for peace in the shinobi world. If we give them away for free, you might suspect some ulterior motive. So, paying for it is best. You won't owe us any favors, and with the balance of absolute power, our allied nations can feel at ease. It's a win-win."
Hmm, a masterful mix of carrot and stick.
The Kage of the other three nations remained silent, each silently calculating in their hearts. The Kazekage of Sunagakure, however, wasn't buying it.
Not only was he unimpressed by this approach, but as the leader of a village that had possessed tailed beasts since ancient times, he was more in need of land and money than sheer power, given their harsh natural environment.
Thus, Tobirama rhetoric had no effect on him, and he made his demands crystal clear.
"Give me land, and a third of the profits from selling the tailed beasts. Otherwise, I won't sign the agreement."
Thankfully, it was Hashirama and Tobirama who went to negotiate. If it had been Madara, he probably would have flipped the table on the spot.
The other Kage were disgusted by the Kazekage blatant attempt to get something for nothing and threatened him, saying that if he didn't sign, they would unite and attack him.
The Kazekage looked at their faces, almost slamming the table and accusing them of being dishonorable.
Seeing the fragile peace on the verge of slipping away, Hashirama once again banged his head—this time on the table—with such force that Tobirama, standing beside him, feared his brother might get a concussion. It looked painful.
"In the past, we've had many conflicts, all because we were protecting our own people and clans. Sometimes, it might have been out of necessity. Even if the five nations successfully sign this agreement today, we don't know how long it will last or how long everyone will abide by it. But I've always dreamed that one day, shinobi could help each other without borders, unite as one, and work together. This is the future I envision… my dream. I sincerely, sincerely, sincerely… hope that today can be the first step toward that dream. Please, let us weave this dream of the shinobi world together!"
...
The Five Kage Summit officially concluded with the signing of a peace treaty. The peace among the great nations brought peace to the smaller nations as well. The meeting ended with everyone in high spirits—some had spent money to buy tailed beasts, others had sold tailed beasts and made a profit, and some had even realized their dreams.
The only one who didn't benefit was the Kazekage. He gained neither land nor a share of the money and was coerced into signing the peace treaty. It was as if he had attended the meeting for nothing.
Tobirama dragged Hashirama back to Konoha overnight, fearing that the Kazekage might come to his senses and demand money from them.
"Why are we running? We haven't even had a drink with the other Kage yet!" Hashirama complained, feeling wronged. After all, the peace he had longed for had finally arrived. Shouldn't such a joyous occasion be celebrated with a toast?
"Let's drink to our heart's content at home. What if the Kazekage stops us and demands money or land?"
Not a single piece of land in Konoha—no, in the Land of Fire—could be given away. As for the money...
Hashirama empathy was about to kick in again, but before he could say anything, Tobirama played his trump card.
"You didn't lift a finger, and now you want money? Wouldn't it be better to keep that money for your gambling than to give it to someone else?" Hitting the nail on the head, Tobirama had perfectly grasped his brother weakness.
Though it sounded a bit cruel to the Kazekage...
"You're right," Hashirama nodded, running even faster.