Chapter 269. Business
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[Recently, the Land of Earth has encountered the largest pyramid scheme in history, with the number of victims far surpassing those of the first financial scam. We urge all netizens to remain cautious.]
[A suspected pyramid scheme group has reemerged, and the number of victims continues to rise. Ninjas from various villages are currently investigating the matter.]
[Beware of pyramid scams!]
…
Danzo stared in surprise at today's trending headlines.
He hadn't expected this—
Even Konoha's ninjas had already obtained intelligence on the situation in the Land of Earth.
The exposure of the pyramid scheme there was only a matter of time. He had predicted this long ago.
After all, in order to accumulate funds—and because that group of people was quite useful—he had expanded their operations. There was no way Iwagakure could cover it up completely.
Too many people knew about it. Sooner or later, rumors were bound to spread.
Of course, he wasn't concerned.
No one had proof that he was behind it!
What's that?
Where did all the money come from?
He, Shimura Danzo, became rich. Does he need to tell you how he did it?
How ridiculous!
Though… wasn't it a bit much to pin the previous pyramid scheme on him as well?
That one really wasn't his doing~
"…Forget it. No one knows it was me anyway."
Danzo muttered to himself as he flipped through the intelligence reports he had gathered over time.
Right now—
Opportunities were everywhere!
Whether it was food delivery or film production, these industries were booming. The market was growing, and if he got involved again…
This time, he was sure he wouldn't fail!
And if the bounty hadn't suddenly dropped last time, his downfall wouldn't have been so severe.
Unfortunately—
Man proposes, God disposes.
In the end, he went bankrupt!
And precisely because of that…
When he returned, he didn't rush into things. Instead, he spent a significant amount of time analyzing recent market trends.
He—
He was no longer the same Danzo as before.
Now, dressed in a sleek suit, his hair slicked back with oil, he sat at the head of a grand office, gripping a cane in both hands, his expression stern and commanding. His brow furrowed slightly as if deep in thought.
After a while—
He sighed. "What a shame. Those guys left as soon as they split the money. If they had stayed, things would have been much more convenient for me."
What was so important that they had to leave?
Wouldn't it be better to get rich with him?
Shaking his head, he fell silent for a moment before muttering softly, "Movies, food delivery… and next… online shopping malls!"
His eyes flickered slightly, as if he were deep in thought.
…
Amidst the anti-fraud campaigns sweeping the Ninja World…
Yuto Mall was officially launched.
However—
Most people weren't overly enthusiastic about online shopping. Though curious about this new way to shop, the majority remained hesitant, choosing to wait and observe rather than make a purchase.
After all, waiting five or six days for an item to arrive made many uneasy. It seemed more practical to buy things locally. If something wasn't available nearby, they could always hire a courier ninja to fetch it instead.
Still, online shopping was slowly expanding its reach.
…
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain…
Old Jinchuriki Roshi, who had been out of prison for a while now, took a deep drag of his cigarette, feeling a wave of emotion. He watched the light drizzle fall before him, a deep sense of melancholy settling in.
Because he was a former ninja—and had spent time in prison in the Land of Rain—finding work hadn't been easy, so he wandered for a while.
Of course—
For a ninja, especially someone like him, who had always lived an ascetic lifestyle, wandering wasn't a big deal.
But—
Times had changed!
Temptations were everywhere.
Every time he passed a milk tea shop or a BBQ joint, his cravings kicked in—but he had no money!
He couldn't afford it!
At first, he thought he could survive by fishing in the rivers of the Land of Rain.
But—
Within half a month…
Even the rivers were off-limits.
Every single one had been privatized for breeding salamanders.
It was said that the salamanders of the Land of Rain were highly sought after abroad, bringing in huge profits for the country through foreign trade each year.
One could imagine how popular they were.
Among them, the most highly prized variety was the one raised by Hanzo of the Salamander, the former leader of Amegakure and a legendary figure known as the "Demi-God of the Ninja World."
The salamanders he bred were in high demand among the rich. It was said that Hanzo's special breeding methods produced salamanders that were not only incredibly tender, fatty, and flavorful but also highly nutritious and completely non-toxic—without any need for special preparation.
You know, if a salamander isn't handled properly, it can be poisonous.
But—
That was no longer an issue.
The Demi-God of the Ninja World had now introduced naturally non-toxic salamanders.
And with that massive salamander the size of a building in his care, people had even more confidence in his breeding skills.
His operation was flourishing!
Back then, due to a shortage of Fire Release ninjas for drying and heating, even he—an ex-convict—was hired to work there for a while.
With massive chakra reserves, a strong work ethic, and no complaints about overtime, he quickly stood out.
For a time…
He almost became the head of the Heating Department.
But in the end—
He resigned!
After all, the boss was always talking to them about dreams, but that wasn't his dream!
So, after saving up some money, he set out to explore the world.
At first, he thought about returning to Iwagakure. But then he realized that after all these years, they still didn't even have internet. How could he not understand?
Those old geezers…
Did they even realize what they were missing out on?
Times had changed!
Other ninja villages were making money through the internet and filmmaking, while Iwagakure stubbornly clung to the past, guarding its own territory. Were those old fossils afraid of change?
And now—
Didn't they end up paying the price?
Half of the Land of Earth had fallen into a pyramid scheme.
"If they had internet back then, maybe things wouldn't have gotten this bad! What a shame."
Roshi flicked the ash from his cigarette and leaned against the railing, listening to the steady drip, drip of the rain.
By now, he had gotten used to life here.
Suddenly—
"Boss Roshi! The shipment is loaded. When should we send it out?"
An employee called out to him from behind.
Roshi stubbed out his cigarette butt and tossed it into the trash before turning to the old worker in front of him. "Send them all out later."
Then, with a scowl, he muttered, "And tell those Ame ninja couriers to do a better job! The entire Ninja World knows that Ame's delivery service is the slowest and the worst! We've had multiple cases of lost shipments!"
"Hehe." The old worker chuckled. "They say they're already working on improvements. Actually, Akatsuki's couriers aren't bad—every one of them is an elite. But they only handle bulk shipments. Our little toys? The profit's too small for them. Oh, right!"
He suddenly remembered something. "I talked to them last time. Since our shipping volume is one of the highest each month, I asked if they could lower our shipping rates next quarter. Otherwise, we'll switch to another service. I heard that other ninja villages will soon be offering deliveries in the Land of Rain. They're also worried we'll take our business elsewhere, so they're already negotiating with us!"
"Well done." Roshi nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "I'll remember this. Expect a big red envelope this year."
With that—
He grabbed the car keys from the table. "It's about time. I'm heading out. Keep an eye on things for me."
After saying that, he sighed, opened his umbrella, and walked toward the parking lot.
Ever since he resigned from his job… he hadn't worked for anyone else again. With his savings, he decided to start his own business.
But—
He was just a ninja. What other skills did he have?
After wracking his brain, he finally remembered something. His time in prison… making Nine-Tails dolls.
And so—
He founded Four-Tails Doll Company.
At first, he just bought materials and made them himself. But before he knew it, business took off.
Now, he had a house, a car, and even his own doll-making factory!
Starting the car, Roshi drove through the rain, his expression relaxed, his lips curving into a slight smirk. He seemed to be in a good mood. "According to Juzo's last letter, he should be getting out of prison today."
Would he—
See the Ninja World's changes…
And react the same way once he did?
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