Haruki welcomed his third guest, Saori Hyuga.
After briefly introducing the situation to her, he looked at the Third Kazekage.
"I plan to set the headquarters of this gold jewelry store in Konoha. Sunagakure (Hidden Sand Village) can act as a franchisee and open branches in the Land of Wind. We'll split the profits 70 - 30, with you getting 70% and me 30%. And all matters will be under your charge, Kage-sama. How does that sound?"
The Third Kazekage's eyes brightened slightly, but then he frowned.
He would supply the raw materials and set up the stores, while Haruki only had to do the talking. Yet, he had to give 30% of the profits away. Instinctively, he felt a bit reluctant.
Haruki glanced at him and vaguely pointed at his own forehead. "Kage-sama, do you know what's the most important thing in the world?"
The Third Kazekage scratched his head for a second. "Intelligence, maybe?"
"..." Haruki twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "It's creativity. Without creativity, you won't be able to sell your Gold Dust at a high price. It's reasonable for me to take 30% of the profits, right?"
The Third Kazekage just nodded quietly.
Thinking that Sunagakure still needed his help in many aspects, 30% of the profits wasn't too excessive.
Moreover, just the Gold Dust alone, if managed properly, could be worth years of their previous efforts.
He had never thought of such a way to make money, and neither had anyone in Sunagakure.
"Saori Hyuga will stay here to handle the Gold Dust matters with you."
Naturally, Haruki couldn't stay in Sunagakure for a long time. Bringing Saori Hyuga was for this very purpose.
In Konoha, he planned to split the profits 70 - 30 with the Hyuga clan, where he would get 70% and the Hyuga clan 30%. Since Konoha was the base, he needed absolute control. Later, when Tsunade became the Hokage, this business would be transformed into a public enterprise, either for Konoha or even the Land of Fire.
According to Haruki's plan, industries that were the economic lifelines, such as transportation, banks, food, and ninja tools, would all be nationalized.
As for Sunagakure and the Land of Wind, he couldn't manage them for the time being. Leaving it to the Kazekage was a good choice.
The Third Kazekage nodded and then asked, "What should we name our gold jewelry store?"
He had to come up with a name again.
Haruki fell into deep thought.
The brand names in his previous life were quite straightforward, like Fuku or Gold.
"A Happy Union of Gold and Jade," he said. "Gold and jade are our products, and the union can reflect our story. Of course, this is the store name, and we can launch a series of products under the prefix of A Happy Union of Gold and Jade. For example, Love that Enchants the City for young girls in love; Blessed with Great Fortune and Smooth Journeys for wealthy merchants; Heart of the Desert for Daimyos and nobles."
"Brilliant!" The Third Kazekage got excited and really wanted to start right away.
"Besides Gold Dust, there are also many other minerals in the desert. We can't miss them."
"But these won't make as much money as Gold Dust, right?"
The Third Kazekage shook his head and said, "We in Sunagakure have limited manpower. Currently, the only ninja who can directly find Gold Dust is Rasa."
"Not profitable?" Haruki couldn't help but laugh. "Kage-sama doesn't really think we're selling pure gold jewelry, do you?"
"Ah? Aren't we?" The Third Kazekage widened his eyes and looked at him in confusion.
"Of course not. Although gold is the main component, adding some jade or gemstones can make the jewelry more beautiful.
Haruki squinted his eyes slightly. He felt no qualms about selling to the nobles. "As for the value of the adulterated stuff, it's hard to say."
The Third Kazekage instinctively resisted the urge to complain. He suddenly thought that giving Haruki a thirty - percent share of the profit was really an excellent choice.
There are one trick after another. The situation is really too complicated.
He felt that he was unable to handle the situation.
"The matter of the gold jewelry store can be put on the agenda."
Haruki remembered Chiyo. "I heard that Chiyo has gone to the metropolis of the Land of Wind. It's a good opportunity to spread the story we compiled far and wide."
"Will the Daimyo believe it?"
"It doesn't matter whether he believes it or not."
Haruki said with a smile, "You just need to create a realistic atmosphere. As the Daimyo, when a keepsake of his ancestors appears, he has to buy it. It's for the sake of his prestige. And this is our best and most effective advertisement. Once the Daimyo takes the lead, the nobles will surely follow, both to show their loyalty and for the sake of face."
The Third Kazekage's face twitched slightly.
Damn it! He really knows how to play the game!
He couldn't help but sigh again at Haruki's strategic planning and, in a sense, his cunningness.
In short, the Third Kazekage came with doubts and left satisfied.
And Rasa felt desperate about his future as a gold miner.
Damn it! I'm the Fourth Kazekage, with the rare Kekkei Genkai of Magnet Release. I'm not meant to mine for gold!
At this time, his face, in Haruki's view, was like a high - speed - running graphics card.
Haruki then told Saori Hyuga what she needed to do next.
When they finished talking, it was almost dusk.
With the sand swirling outside the window, it seemed like a sandstorm was coming.
After Saori Hyuga left, Haruki welcomed his fourth guest.
What a lively day it is today!
He couldn't help but sigh as he watched the middle - aged man rushing towards him.
The middle - aged man was wearing a black robe, had short red hair, and there were black slits on both sides of his mouth.
It was a Puppet.
His right hand, which looked like a robot's joint, held a shuriken. As he ran quickly, his whole body buzzed.
He leaped lightly into the air. The shuriken, like a dagger, cut through the air with a howl, wrapped in a faint layer of chakra, aiming to pierce Haruki's heart.
Haruki raised his index finger. It seemed harmless, but when it touched the shuriken, a huge and terrifying force gushed out.
The Wind and Waves of Heaven and Earth Rise!
Along with the sound of the shuriken breaking, the Puppet retreated even faster than it had come.
Thud!
It hit the wall, and the metal body made an abnormal noise.
At this moment, Haruki looked up.
His green robe and black hair fluttered in the air.
Amid the dull sound, more than a dozen senbon rained down on Haruki like a storm.
With his eyesight, he could naturally tell that there was green Poison on the senbon.
But Haruki still didn't move. He casually waved his arm, and an invisible barrier appeared.
The senbon flying needles were like being stuck in a quagmire and got stuck in mid - air one after another.
Haruki flicked his finger, and the senbon turned back. Chakra wrapped around them and expanded, turning the flying needles into flying missiles.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds kept coming.
The female Puppet that was rushing downwards was immediately knocked flying and fell to the ground a moment later.
At the joints of her limbs, the Senbon happened to sever the connection between her and the Puppeteer randomly.
In the darkness, a look of shock flashed across the Puppeteer's bright eyes, but he still tried to stay calm.
In an instant, he raised his small hand, and the male Puppet on his back immediately leaped into the air. Its arms creaked as it unfurled several spiral great swords.
Haruki looked at him, a young boy with long red hair and a delicate face.
He directly threw a punch. The Puppet's blade - hands couldn't withstand the huge force and broke into pieces inch by inch.
"It's no use."
Haruki stood in front of the young boy. Seeing a bit of fear appear on his numb face, he remembered who he was.
Sasori of the Red Sand.
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