Naruto-Start by eating the golden fruit

Although it makes sense to leave room for reconciliation in life so that we can meet again in the future, Youya's understanding of this principle is different. For him, leaving room means the other party must also make appropriate concessions in return.

Youya pursued power, while Sarutobi acted out of self-interest. Neither side had much room for complaints.

At this point, Youya clearly held the upper hand. He had several means to suppress the Sarutobi clan. However, recognizing the situation, the Sarutobi clan proactively sought peace.

Of course, Youya did not entirely trust the Sarutobi ninja's words from the previous day.

For Youya, being "reasonable" means receiving tangible benefits first. Only then would he consider taking a step back. The current head of the Sarutobi clan, an old veteran of the wartime era, failed to grasp this principle. To Youya's surprise, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood it perfectly.

Say what you will about Sarutobi Hiruzen—although his public image is often seen as cowardly—he successfully led Konoha through 40 tumultuous years.

Granted, those were also 40 years of constant challenges from external forces.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's rise to power was sudden, handed to him by Tobirama Senju in a moment of crisis. Shimura Danzo believed he was equally qualified for the position, leading to a rivalry marked by overt and covert conflict. Ultimately, Danzo was sidelined, confined to managing the clandestine "Root" division of ANBU, while Sarutobi Hiruzen retained control.

Unbeknownst to Youya, Sarutobi Hiruzen's success wasn't solely due to his own intelligence; Tobirama Senju had given him critical guidance. From Tobirama's perspective, the Sarutobi clan was a crucial tool to keep the Uchiha clan in check.

Since Hiruzen came with a sincere apology, Youya reluctantly accepted and promised not to target the Sarutobi clan further.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen departed, Youya eagerly opened the ninja scroll. As promised, it contained land deeds annotated by Senju Hashirama himself, marking the Sarutobi clan's territory since Konoha's founding.

Smirking, Youya summoned Uchiha Kagami and instructed him to inform Nara Shikaya to draft a land-use certificate for the Sarutobi clan. Naturally, the certificate would only grant them a quarter of the land detailed in the scroll.

With the remainder of the land now under his control, Youya contemplated its development. After careful thought, he decided to build a hospital there.

Youya understood that the Sarutobi clan might resent him for now, but once the hospital brought convenience and benefits, their perspective would shift.

"If they hate me now, they'll thank me in three years," he thought confidently.

Hospitals were a necessity. A city could function without schools or factories, but it could not thrive without a hospital. From a modern perspective, a hospital could save thousands of lives annually, enabling people to contribute to the community far longer.

Although Youya had wanted to prioritize a hospital earlier, the lack of trained doctors and medical ninjas on the battlefield delayed his plans.

For now, he aimed to prepare by training nurses and securing retired medical ninjas to staff the hospital. The real challenge lay in waiting for Konoha's forces to return from the frontlines.

When Youya informed Senju Tobirama of his plans, the latter could only sigh.

"I wish we could recall the ninjas sooner, but we can't," Tobirama said, exasperated.

The unrest in Kumogakure wasn't over. If the Gold and Silver Brothers succeeded in their coup, they would surely target Konoha next.

Youya was puzzled. "Why are those two so fixated on Konoha?"

Tobirama explained: "Their goal isn't Konoha itself—it's the Nine-Tails."

The Gold and Silver Brothers, being descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, had inherited immense strength. In the past, they had fought the Nine-Tails and managed to steal a portion of its chakra, granting them some of its abilities.

During Hashirama's era, they wouldn't have dared to challenge Konoha, but now was a different story.

Moreover, their ambition had sparked rebellion in Kumogakure, culminating in the assassination of the Second Raikage. Tobirama recounted:

"The Second Raikage was ambushed by the Gold and Silver Brothers during negotiations. Realizing he couldn't win, he fought to the death over three days and nights, allowing his forces to retreat. It was a warrior's death."

Tobirama's gaze lingered on Youya, silently questioning if he would make the same sacrifice in a similar situation.

Youya, sensing the unspoken challenge, smiled and steered the conversation back to Konoha's development.

The focus now shifted to currency reform. With 250 tons of gold as collateral, Konoha's banknotes were stronger than ever, ensuring financial growth for decades to come.

Tobirama, however, interrupted when Youya casually mentioned needing 100 tons of gold.

"You little brat! Are you eyeing my gold reserves?" Tobirama exclaimed.

Youya grinned. "Uncle, whether it's with me or the bank, isn't it all the same? Besides, you control it all anyway!"

Despite Tobirama's protests, Youya made a compelling case for reinvesting the gold into Konoha's infrastructure.

Just then, Uchiha Kagami entered to report an unusual visitor—a ninja from Kumogakure requesting to meet Tobirama.

"What do they want now?" Tobirama muttered.

"They're here to purchase 100,000 exploding tags," Kagami reported.

At this, Tobirama shot up from his seat. "A big order like that? I have to handle this personally!"

Watching Tobirama rush off, Youya shook his head in amusement.

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