Chapter 83. Everyone has their own agenda

Kaito slowly read the report, examining every detail carefully.

Danzo said, "Hyuga clan has a good relationship with Uchiha now. Uchiha is already working hard to develop, and their clan encourages procreation."

"Now, with a batch of babies born, in another ten years, Uchiha will become the largest clan in the entire ninja world."

"With their financial strength, the whole of Konoha will have to acknowledge their influence. The position of Hokage will be within easy reach for them."

Kaito's expression changed slightly because Danzo's report also included more [Summer Food] shops in the Land of Sound.

Although the Land of Sound is small, it hosts numerous shops. While these shops are not run by Uchiha, they must have some connection to Uchiha.

As they all know, Itachi and Shisui should be in Otogakure, but they did not appear in public.

The Third Hokage was intimidated by the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan and did not label the two and other Uchihas as missing-nin.

"The Third Hokage negotiated with Uchiha, wanting to support Uchiha's shop, but Uchiha refused. They have always held the method of making Summer food in their hands and enjoyed it alone."

"If we don't find a solution, maybe in ten or twenty years, the Hyuga clan will become a servant."

"If your Hyuga clan obtains the secret recipe, you can collaborate with the village and expand this business together."

"With the relationship between the Third Hokage and the daimyo, promoting this business to the entire Land of Fire might not be a bad idea."

Danzo spared no effort to persuade.

Kaito is very clear-headed. It is normal for every ninja clan to have their own secrets. If the secret can generate profits, then it should be protected.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen wants the exclusive rights to something valuable, it is normal for others not to agree.

However, Danzo's words also made him pay attention. He carefully examined all the reports.

The documents contained food unit price statistics, people flow statistics, and the final calculated value.

These values are relatively conservative, implying that Uchiha's profits may be much greater than the estimated 20 million per year.

Kaito is also envious. He knows that now, with the Third Ninja War behind them, all countries are vigorously developing their economies.

For both the growth of the country and the prosperity of the family, every clan is striving to make money.

However, the Hyuga clan faces certain difficulties. Their strength lies in their investigative ability, one of the best in the entire ninja world.

If it were wartime, Konoha would provide substantial subsidies to Hyuga for scouting duties.

However, during peacetime, having a Hyuga clan member can significantly ease the difficulty of various tasks.

As a result, Hyuga is a highly sought-after asset in the mission hall. The moment he steps in, others are eager to team up with him.

Hence, the Hyuga clan isn't lacking in financial resources, and it has always been this way.

Nevertheless, the Hyuga clan has shown some weakness. Despite their excellent investigative abilities, no prominent figures have emerged.

A comfortable life, coupled with the lack of ambitious goals, has gradually led to a decline in their drive.

Everything is done in isolation.

The branch family, despite earning numerous military accomplishments, remains subservient to the main clan. Their influence in Konoha Village remains limited.

The elders, always aspiring to strengthen the Hyuga clan, yearn for greater influence.

So, when Uchiha gave up control of the police force, the elders were overjoyed.

Managing the police force successfully granted Hyuga genuine influence in Konoha.

There was even speculation that Hyuga might have a chance to compete for the position of Hokage in the future.

However, post-war, the number of individuals in the separated family was not substantial.

The reorganization of the police force resulted in almost everyone being separated.

When the Hyuga gained control of the police force, they realized they had been deceived.

Managing the police force wasn't as easy as they had thought. It often led to disputes and conflicts, dragging their personnel into various issues.

In the past, families that had a good relationship with the Hyuga could easily borrow personnel to assist in completing challenging tasks.

Now, with the Hyuga clan facing a shortage of personnel, they couldn't provide assistance as readily.

The enthusiasm of many families towards the Hyuga clan weakened.

Left with no alternative, the Hyuga clan had to endure and resist to secure power. After all, the police couldn't be casually abandoned, and the captain held significant authority.

In their previous deliberations, the Hyuga clan decided to persevere for a few more years.

Once the new generation of the Hyuga clan took over, they believed this issue would be resolved.

At that time, they thought Uchiha had voluntarily given up his rights and left many people.

Although the Uchiha possessed a formidable Mangekyō Sharingan, their numbers were limited, and they lacked significant influence.

Their survival relied on avoiding decline, and the Hyuga clan saw their rise as imminent.

Unexpectedly, the strange Uchiha Natsuki emerged, discovering numerous peculiar recipes seemingly out of nowhere.

Like a whirlwind, he swiftly dominated the catering market in Konoha and the entire Land of Sound.

The sheer variety of recipes and cuisines left the Hyuga clan pondering whether the Uchiha clan had unearthed ancient relics.

Initially, Hyuga Kaito believed that despite these stores making substantial profits, their annual earnings might only amount to a few million.

To his surprise, it turned out to be tens of millions.

The absence of Uchiha clan members taking on missions didn't matter because they had ample financial resources.

In a few years, Uchiha's wealth would likely be sufficient for them to dominate all of Konoha.

Expanding this catering business to the entire Land of Fire would cause unimaginable benefits, and their ascension seemed imminent.

Observing Kaito deep in thought, Danzo revealed his trump card—a scroll.

As Kaito glanced at it, he couldn't look away.

It was an Honorary Elder Appointment Certificate!

Danzo's trickery was evident in his decision to offer an honorary elder position to the Hyuga clan, knowing well the depth of family loyalty in Hyuga Kaito's heart.

It was an irresistible proposition, and Kaito found himself unable to decline the prestigious position.

Seeking clarity about the treatment for his leg, Kaito inquired about the duration.

"How are you going to treat my leg? How long will it take?"

Danzo displayed a satisfied smile. This method could also be applied to other elders of the Hyuga clan.

However, Kaito had already supported many children of branch families himself, making it convenient for him to be involved.

But there were demands on the other side. For Danzo's experiment, Kaito had to be sacrificed.

"This is confidential, and I can't disclose the details, but rest assured, my skills will enable you to stand up within a month," Danzo declared confidently.

"Oh?" Kaito expressed curiosity, but Danzo refused to share more information, leaving him with no recourse.

After a moment of thought, Kaito suggested, "I have a few people in the police force. I can ask them to keep an eye on things recently."

"But…"

"The appointment letter for the honorary elder position needs to be given to me first, and I also require treatment."

Danzo appeared a bit displeased. "Classmate, don't you trust me?"

What classmates!? Uchiha Kagami saved you many times in the past, yet you turned around and extracted Shisui's eyes.

If it weren't for me helping you obtain the secret recipe, would you even discuss this with me?

Kaito remained silent, gazing intently at Danzo.

Danzo observed that Kaito wasn't easily fooled, and he felt helpless about it.

Stealing these secrets without anyone noticing could only be accomplished by the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan.

Moreover, the daimyo had already sent someone to inquire about the progress.

"Fine."

Danzo handed the commission to Hyuga Kaito. Kaito examined it repeatedly, and his face turned rosy.

"What about my legs?" Kaito inquired.

Danzo appeared a little annoyed. "I'll make arrangements with you when I get back. Send a copy of your previous cases to Genbu. I'll return, make some preparations, and then notify you to come over."

"Alright, I'll dispatch someone to the Root immediately."

Kaito narrowed his eyes slightly, contemplating that the third generation had also intervened.

With the deal concluded, Danzo swiftly departed without any pause. Beyond the reach of Byakugan's sight, Danzo vanished.

The smile on Kaito's face instantly faded. He gazed at the commission in his hand and then at his legs, an unknown light flashing in his eyes.