The Hokage faction had the support of the three great clans—Ino, Shika, and Chō—but there remained deep rifts with the Hyūga and Uchiha clans.
Add to that the Inuzuka and Aburame clans, who stayed neutral and observant.
The Hokage's authority wasn't as absolute as it might appear on the surface.
And with liabilities like Danzō, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado dragging things down, it was a small miracle that the Hokage faction even managed to keep its grip on power.
Frankly, Hashirama Senju might have always acted carefree, but his decision to break up the Senju Clan was a stroke of genius.
To give a simple analogy—say there's a married couple, and the wife is of Senju blood.
Even if she doesn't call herself a Senju, what happens in a situation like this?
Their kid comes home from the Ninja Academy, proud that he pulled off an impressive jutsu in front of his classmates.
Wouldn't the wife boast to her husband, "It's the Senju bloodline—our chakra is strong! The kid takes after me!"
That smug, eager-to-be-praised child would definitely remember the name "Senju" deep in his heart.
Sure, he won't go around proclaiming he's a Senju—after all, that name technically doesn't exist anymore. But that innate pride? It sticks.
It's that quiet sense of superiority that only they're aware of.
And outwardly, these talented children would naturally be drawn to the Hokage lineage, which they perceive as the true inheritor of the Senju legacy.
You've got to admit—Hashirama was truly something else.
Still, this kind of support stays in the shadows. It's a quiet, enduring force, not something Hiruzen Sarutobi can rely on for immediate strength.
Which is why, after some discussion, Hiruzen chose to lay all the cards on the table—so these great clans would remember his favor.
Of course, that decision was also tied to the fact that he hadn't held the Hokage seat for more than ten years.
Perhaps only when Tsunade's generation matured and truly came into their own would Hiruzen's Hokage seat be unshakable.
...
Inside the conference room, the discussion was heated.
Some wanted to actually fight Kumogakure—idiots who thought they could profit even more through war.
Others suggested dumping their iron ore stocks now—cowards who were still greedy for gains.
And a few even argued they shouldn't work with the mastermind at all—trying to make him lose money just out of spite, even if it hurt themselves too.
The room buzzed with noise as every clan head fought to secure the best outcome for their own family.
Hiruzen's head was pounding.
He cleared his throat loudly to get everyone's attention, then said,
"That's the situation. Enough with the complaints.
Can any of you honestly say you didn't buy low and sell high when the iron prices soared?
I'm telling you all this so none of you get involved in the final big transaction.
Once it's over, calculate your losses and submit them to Konoha. The village will compensate accordingly."
Seeing some were still ready to argue, Hiruzen slammed the table and added,
"Stop whining about losses. The rich in the Land of Hot Water, the daimyō of all those minor nations—
Even the great nations like the Land of Water, Earth, and Wind are bleeding money.
You're the only ones who managed to turn a profit. What more do you want?
Soon, the guy we're doing this deal with will return. However you want to handle your hoarded iron—I'm not getting involved."
At that, the room fell silent. No one dared speak up.
But the thing is, the more someone sees money, the deeper their greed runs.
...
Soon enough, Reiji strolled into the room wearing a white rabbit mask, with a sour-faced Danzō Shimura trailing behind him.
He didn't hesitate as he walked straight to the far end of the rectangular conference table and sat down across from Hiruzen Sarutobi, utterly unfazed.
Scanning the room, Reiji cleared his throat and calmly announced,
"Greetings, everyone in Konoha. I am Madara Uchiha!"
At that, every eyebrow in the room shot up, and all eyes turned to the Uchiha clan head seated near Hiruzen.
The Uchiha clan head's brows furrowed sharply. He slammed the table and sprang to his feet.
"You—what the hell are you talking about? You're not worthy of the Uchiha name! Take off that mask!"
And honestly, it wasn't surprising. These were all proud clan heads from historic bloodlines—especially the Uchiha and Hyūga. To them, merchants were beneath notice.
Reiji simply waved a hand and smiled warmly.
"Sir, I think you misunderstood. My family name isn't Uchiha. My surname is Uchiha II, and my given name is Madara!"
The Uchiha head was momentarily speechless.
Then he roared, "What kind of surname is 'Uchiha II'? Never heard of it!"
Still unbothered, Reiji grinned.
"Or, if you prefer, you can call me Giant Dragon Kuntukutakatikautsuwa Shirasong."
That silenced the room instantly.
Forget pronouncing it—no one could even remember it.
The Uchiha head looked like he was about to blow up, but Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped him with a single glance.
He didn't know exactly what Reiji was playing at, but he could see clearly—if this went on, Uchiha would walk right into a trap.
Meanwhile, Danzō's mood had drastically improved. Uchiha on one side, Reiji on the other—it was like watching two rabid dogs go at it.
Nothing made him happier.
The ideal outcome? Uchiha falls straight into Reiji's pit.
Seeing that no one else was talking, Reiji didn't press the Uchiha clan head further. Instead, he lightly tapped the table, bringing everyone's attention back to himself.
"The esteemed Lord Hokage has already gone over the specifics.
So I won't waste time repeating them.
What we need to address now is the stockpile of iron ore in your hands.
That being said, here's my offer—50,000 ryo per ton.
Any objections?"
At that, the Uchiha Clan Head slammed the table again and shot to his feet, eyes blazing.
"I object!
What kind of nonsense is 50,000 ryo per ton? You're trying to scam us with prices from three years ago!
The current market rate is 400,000 per ton!
Four. Hundred. Thousand! You damn swindling merchant!
At 50,000 a ton, I'd rather dump the ore into the Naka River than sell it to you!
Raise the price. You must raise it!"
The Uchiha Clan Head was fuming, practically breathing fire.
Under his mask, Reiji's lips curved into a slow smile, eyes gleaming.
He paused, feigning deep thought, then abruptly stood up and bowed deeply with mock humility.
"Clan Head, did I hear correctly—you're from the Uchiha Clan?"
"That's right!" the Uchiha head said proudly, arms crossed, chin high.
At his reply, Reiji bowed even lower, giving his mask a slight pat as if to punish himself.
"A thousand apologies, truly! I was wrong, so wrong! How blind I've been!
To think I failed to recognize someone from the illustrious Uchiha Clan.
Such grandeur, such wealth—remarkable, truly remarkable.
Here, let me make an exception just for you: we'll buy back all of the Uchiha's iron ore at the highest market rate—600,000 ryo per ton.
Would that be acceptable?"
He added the question gently, as if genuinely seeking approval.
The Uchiha Clan Head snorted and nodded arrogantly. "Barely acceptable."
At that, Reiji sat down slowly, his smile growing sharper as he scanned the room.
"So... anyone else want special privileges?"
The moment those words dropped, the Nara Clan Head broke into a cold sweat, his face shifting dramatically.
That's a kill shot.
He was sure that even if someone else dared ask, Reiji wouldn't offer the same.
Because the target had always been the Uchiha. This was payback. A public warning.
Terrifying—absolutely terrifying.
This move... was even more devastating than wiping out the Uchiha.
If only the Uchiha got special treatment...
How would the other clans react?
How would the village see them?
Sure, it would boost their reputation in the short term, put them on a pedestal.
But when they fall?
It won't just be ruin. It'll be disgrace after death.
The Uchiha will always be the easiest target for criticism in Konoha.
Ruthless—far too ruthless!
This guy's heart is more poisonous than a snake's. Best not to provoke him even slightly.
Anyone who can run business at this level... is no ordinary man.
A storm of thoughts raced through the Nara Clan Head's mind before he made a decision.
He reached out with both hands, grabbed the fidgeting Yamanaka and Akimichi Clan Heads, and stood up.
"We agree. Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi will all sell back at 50,000 ryo per ton."
His voice trembled slightly, but it was loud and clear.
Without waiting for a response, he dragged the still-stunned clan heads back into their seats.
Silence fell over the room. Those who understood what had just happened were already sweating.
They glanced around the room quietly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with his eyes lowered, puffing on his pipe with a blank expression, saying nothing.
Danzō Shimura had his head bowed, face dark and unreadable, but his eyes glinted with fury as he stared daggers at the Uchiha Clan Head.
Even though he knew Reiji was setting him up, the sight still left him fuming.
So this is the Uchiha?
Always demanding privilege.
Such entitlement!
Back then, Lord Tobirama gave them special treatment—handed them the Konoha Police Force on a silver platter!
Now they want special deals in business too?
Fine!
Perfect!
Even the Uchiha Clan Head realized something was off. Arrogant as he was, he wasn't an idiot.
He uncrossed his arms, lowered his chin, and his legs began to tremble.
This—this was what it meant to be caught in a trap.
This was the danger of flattery turned into a weapon.
As he quivered in silence and Hiruzen said nothing, the corners of Reiji's mouth curled up beneath his mask, his smile tinged with blood.
Sowing discord.
Setting an example.
The two key moves—
Complete.
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly put down his pipe and spoke with calm authority.
"All clans—everything will be bought back at 100,000 ryo per ton."
Reiji immediately nodded in agreement.
And sharp-witted clans like the Nara followed suit.
It was obvious—Lord Hokage was genuinely angry now. Anyone who challenged him at this point had to have rocks for brains.
Still, Hiruzen's move was masterful.
He softened the blow for the other clans, earning their gratitude.
At the same time, he made the Uchiha bleed.
But despite their loss, the Uchiha Clan Head probably felt nothing but gratitude toward him.
Treating everyone equally helped reduce the Uchiha's growing resentment among the other clans—it patched the cracks in Konoha's fragile unity.
No wonder they called Hiruzen the "Professor."
Reiji, on the other hand, didn't care.
Could Konoha, or even the mighty Uchiha Clan, be taken down in one blow?
Not a chance.
It had to be chipped away—bit by bit—until it all came crashing down.
And now, he'd just secured the hoarded iron ore for 100,000 ryo per ton...
Tomorrow, he'd flip it for 600,000.
Heh...
All he could say was—Mom's making a killing.