Saving Uchiha, Starts by Flipping The Table

"Are you saying we should be mercenaries?"

A row of black lines appeared on Tsunade's smooth forehead.

Konohagakure was indeed short on money, but becoming mercenaries didn't seem quite right, did it?

Even if the village's reputation was suffering, it still shouldn't sink to such low levels.

"..."

Shizune looked shocked, clearly not expecting Yan to come up with this idea.

"Come here."

Yan motioned for Tsunade to come closer.

"What is it?"

Tsunade leaned in.

*Thunk!!!*

A hard flick landed on Tsunade's head.

If it were anyone else, they'd probably be holding their head, wincing in pain and shouting. 

But Tsunade wasn't just anyone. After being flicked, she froze for a few seconds.

Then, with a look that could kill, she glared at Yan.

Oh my god!

Is this really happening?

Yan actually dared to flick the Hokage-sama's forehead!

Wait, no... it was a head flick.

Seeing Yan's nonchalant expression, Tsunade started grinding her teeth, her fists clenched tightly.

If you don't give me a good explanation today, I'll fight you!!!

"What are you staring at me for?"

Seeing Tsunade glaring at him like she was about to eat him alive, Yan tapped the table with his finger.

"I flicked you because I wanted to see what's going on in that head of yours, saying something like mercenaries!

This is called war startup funds, you get it?"

"Konohagakure's finances are tight. If we want to start a war, we don't have the money to support it.

So, if Kumogakure Village or other villages want our help, they need to pay up.

Without financial backing, how are we supposed to fight?"

"Mercenaries? What a load of nonsense, I can't believe you even said that."

Isn't this basically mercenary work?

And yet you dared to flick my head, Tsunade raised her hand with a cold smile:

"Anything else you want to say? If not…"

I'm ready to make my move.

Ever since her second granduncle Senju Tobirama died, Yan was the first person bold enough to flick her head!

Tsunade wasn't going to let Yan off that easily.

You dare to flick me? I'll fight you.

"Open up trade routes. We should learn from Kumogakure Village in that regard.

While some of Konohagakure's local specialties can't compare to theirs, we have plenty of resources!

We have fertile land sitting idle, doing nothing, while watching others make money. Doesn't that make your heart ache?"

At least Yan felt his heart aching.

Damn it, how much money does Konohagakure lose every year?

"What is the product that attracts the most merchants to our village?"

Yan asked.

Tsunade, annoyed, glared at him, rubbed the spot where she was hit, and answered:

"It's definitely medicinal herbs."

"Land of Fire has rich land, with better environment and weather than other countries, so the profits from growing medicinal herbs are higher. But you have to understand, such important things as medicinal herbs can't be sold carelessly."

Medicinal herbs are considered war supplies now, and every village takes them very seriously. Even though Konohagakure grows many medicinal herbs, there have always been strict limits on selling them.

Every Hokage throughout history has maintained this rule. Tsunade didn't want to break it either. If other villages caught up in medical supplies, it would indirectly weaken Konohagakure's advantage.

"Why can't we sell them?"

Yan spread his hands, looking speechless:

"A lot of these herbs aren't impossible for other villages to grow, it's just that environmental factors limit their yield. This is clearly our advantage, why lock it down, why restrict it?

As long as we list the important herbs as non-sellable, and grow and sell the more common ones, it could definitely become the village's most profitable industry."

"Wake up, my dear Hokage. The economy doesn't just grow from talking about it, it needs real action. Selling the commonly grown herbs would only benefit us, not harm us."

"Have you ever considered that if other villages had enough medical supplies, it wouldn't be good for our village?"

Tsunade also became serious, thinking this issue needed to be treated seriously.

"That's nonsense."

Yan laughed:

"If they don't have Land of Fire's grain, would they stop eating? If they don't have Konohagakure's herbs, would they stop treating illnesses? Our herbs are better and we produce more, that's our advantage.

If we lift the restrictions, we could completely wipe out the medicinal herb industry in other villages!"

"So what if they have enough medicine? This stuff gets used up, and I'd love for them to give up growing herbs in their own villages and keep buying from Konohagakure. One day, if Konohagakure suddenly announces it won't sell anymore, what do you think will happen?"

"Whoa..."

That's pretty ruthless.

Because if it ever came to that, Konohagakure could just restrict herb sales, and those villages that rely on buying Konohagakure's herbs would be in big trouble. They'd have no medicine left.

"Just like with grain?"

Tsunade didn't know much about other things, but when it came to using grain as leverage, she was well aware.

The village hit the hardest was Sunagakure. 

Most of the land in the country is desert, with very few oases, and even fewer places suitable for growing food. 

To feed so many people, they have to buy food from outside. 

The Land of Fire has always been the biggest buyer for the Land of Wind. 

Although there are plenty of countries and villages that produce food, none of them dare to compete with the Land of Fire for business. 

The Land of Fire takes the biggest share, and the others are left with only a little. 

It's not that they don't have food to sell, but they don't dare to sell too much, or Konohagakure would step in and make trouble for them. 

"Exactly."

Yan nodded and smiled as he gave an example:

"Take our old neighbor and rival Sunagakure, for instance. They've tried all kinds of ways to grow enough medicinal herbs, but the results haven't been great. 

Every year, they have to buy a lot from outside. Even though they know this isn't sustainable, they have no choice but to buy, because growing them themselves costs too much."

"If Sunagakure could buy a large quantity of reasonably priced medicinal herbs from Konohagakure, how long do you think they could keep supporting their own herb-growing efforts?"

Konohagakure is poor, but Sunagakure is even poorer!

Even though they know Konohagakure doesn't have good intentions, things won't change much in the short term.

They'll keep buying while trying to grow their own. But what happens after a long time? 

Even if the higher-ups want to keep supporting it, many people will object, saying they shouldn't keep wasting money on it. 

As soon as they open that door a little, Sunagakure will be stuck in a difficult position. 

If some industry they've been supporting suddenly gets abandoned, it will definitely end in disaster.

"Even if they refuse to give up, so what?

Konohagakure needs development, it needs money. All it has to do is put some key medicinal herbs on the restricted list. By relying on herb sales alone, they could earn a lot of money for development."

"Of course, this is just my personal suggestion and opinion. Whether or not you want to take it is up to you."

"I've gotten off track."

"Back to finances—if Kumogakure wants our help, they need to pay first. 

Otherwise, let them deal with Amegakure and the Akatsuki on their own."

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