Chapter 40 Planting Trees in the Ninja Village (20) A New Era Begins...

"I will never forgive him! The inherently evil Uchiha!" Shimura Danzo, his face wrapped in thick bandages like a mummy, lay on his hospital bed, letting out a furious and indignant roar. "He only knows how to solve problems with violence!"

The damage caused by Uchiha Sen's slap cannot be healed by ordinary medical ninjutsu. The injected yang chakra not only fails to heal the injury, but also falls into a chaotic state just like the injured person's originally disordered chakra, exacerbating the disorder of the injured person's chakra and making the injury even more difficult to heal.

Furthermore, Danzo Shimura vaguely realized an extremely terrifying fact: all the chakra meridians in his body had been completely destroyed with no possibility of recovery, and the rampant chakra within his body was constantly intensifying his pain.

That monster...that madman! Uchiha Osaka didn't kill him; he only did so to destroy him more thoroughly!

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat by the hospital bed, watching Danzo Shimura grumbling and venting his emotions ever since he woke up. He calmly took an apple from the fruit basket brought for visitors, peeled it, and put it in his mouth. After all, Danzo Shimura couldn't eat apples now, so it was only good for his old friend.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could see that Danzo Shimura was not going to let Uchiha Ogima go now, and Hiruzen Sarutobi could also see that Uchiha Ogima had completely confronted Danzo Shimura. He didn't care about either side, and just kept eating his crisp apple. Being a silent and indifferent Hokage was the most comfortable thing for him right now.

Uchiha Ogima would bring more benefits and better changes to Konoha, and Shimura Danzo was his friend, so Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't take sides.

Mmm~ These apples are exceptionally crisp and sweet~ Xiaochun's fruit basket is clearly made from the best selections.

"Don't eat apples anymore!" The crisp crunching sound annoyed Shimura Danzo.

"Danzo, you've changed! You won't even let me eat an apple! You weren't like this before!" Hiruzen Sarutobi was heartbroken. He got up, sadly picked up the fruit basket, and left with heavy steps.

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's sorrowful and dejected figure, Danzo Shimura felt a pang of guilt. Then, turning around, he discovered his fruit basket was gone and angrily burst into a tirade, "You monkey, are you crazy?! Being Hokage isn't going to starve you, is it? You even took the injured people's fruit baskets!"

Since Danzo Shimura couldn't do anything about Hiruzen Sarutobi, he naturally vented his anger on Ogima Uchiha, determined to make Ogima pay the price.

That night, the Uchiha clan members were awakened by a series of crisp, echoing slaps. They groggily sat up in bed, squinting and straining to hear what was happening. After realizing it was just Uchiha Senma slapping someone, they were relieved and pulled the covers back up, drifting back into sweet dreams.

It's just the junior clan leader slapping someone, so it's alright.

In response to the new policies of the new clan leader, Uchiha Ogima, the Uchiha clan has been mobilized to carry out preparatory activities. Everyone, from 80-year-old elders to 4-year-old children, has been busy and can sleep soundly at night.

When Shimura Danzo woke up, he learned that all his Root members had been slapped into the ICU by Uchiha Ogima, and were now in the ward next to his. Under these circumstances, who else but Hiruzen Sarutobi could have told him this 'good news'?

Hiruzen Sarutobi deeply regretted allowing Danzo Shimura to develop Root to this extent, but what's done is done, and he could no longer stop Danzo's growth. But now, Ogima Uchiha decisively cut through the mess, destroying Root in the simplest and most violent way.

Just last night, Uchiha Senma was ambushed in his sleep. Already exhausted, Uchiha Senma grew increasingly angry, unable to sleep. He grabbed his Flame Fan, drew upon Root's chakra, and stormed into Root's headquarters. After beating his enemies to a pulp, he returned to rest. Then, at daybreak, he carried his Flame Fan into the Hokage's office, warning Hiruzen Sarutobi not to let him, Uchiha Senma, discover that Root still existed in Konoha, or he would demolish the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was coerced into announcing the disbandment of Root in front of Osamu Uchiha, and that the Root members would be transferred to the Anbu or dismissed and sent home after receiving compensation, depending on their personal wishes.

He's just an aging Hokage; he can't beat Uchiha Osaka, so he can only go along with him and forgive him, Danzo.

Why did you provoke that hot-tempered guy? You were hoping that as long as you had enough people and enough underhanded methods, you could outmaneuver him. But against a strongman like Uchiha Osaka who was almost flawless, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't understand Danzo Shimura's radicalism, so he could only come over to visit him in the hospital and chat with his old friend.

Danzo Shimura was so angry he was about to faint.

"Uchiha Senjiro! Uchiha Senjiro!!!" Shimura Danzo trembled with rage. "I won't—"

Before Shimura Danzo could finish speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen said unhurriedly, "That kid Ogima is now carrying his Flame Fan and keeping watch at the hospital entrance every day."

"I have no choice but to put up with him!" Just thinking about how that demon Uchiha Osaka was still waiting for him at the hospital entrance made Shimura Danzo feel an intense reluctance to leave the hospital. The intense and persistent pain in his body felt as if all his flesh and bones had been thrown into a meat grinder and shredded.

That monster Uchiha Senma really intended to smash him into a 'beef ball' through his skin!

Upon learning that the Root organization had been destroyed by Uchiha Osamu, Shimura Danzo felt as if his spine had been completely broken.

That person ruined him! Ruined all his assets and pride as a ninja! Forced him to live in this humiliating state!

Now, more than hatred, Shimura Danzo, having lost his Root, felt fear. He realized that he was now just like the Uchiha clan before, while his old friend remained unchanged, still seemingly helplessly submitting to the stronger side.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly, "My old friend, your eyes are exceptionally clear now."

Although I feel sorry for Danzo, if Danzo were dead, Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely seek justice for his old friend. But Danzo is still alive, isn't he? Don't blame him for being ruthless, Danzo.

The future has already been seized by Uchiha Osaka. The person standing behind that Uchiha at this moment is none other than the Wood Release user who should have been the only one who could contend with him.

By the way, he rented out the Chunin Exam arena and the Forest of Death to the Uchiha clan. There was no other reason than the Uchiha clan gave him too much. There was no need to tell Danzo about this, since Danzo was already in bed. He didn't want to spoil Danzo's mood today. Danzo could just lie there, but as the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi had a lot more to consider.

Having failed to spot Shimura Danzo or any suspected Root remnants outside the hospital today, Uchiha Osaka could only acknowledge Hiruzen Sarutobi's inefficiency and reluctantly headed to the arena to oversee its setup and modifications.

Because of the large number of activities, the space required was also large, and the available manpower of the Uchiha clan was definitely not enough to handle it. Therefore, Uchiha Ogima directly enslaved the Kirigakure and Iwa ninja who were detained because the ransom had not been paid, and made them 'worker ants'.

Faced with Uchiha Ogima's ruthless enslavement, the Kirigakure and Iwa ninja dared not speak out against him.

Standing on the stage, the 147cm tall Uchiha Osaka, exuding an aura of imposing authority, arrogantly announced his absolute and unyielding decree: "From today onwards, whether you are Uchiha or Iwagakure and Kirigakure ninja, you will all work a full eight hours a day! Only three meals a day will be provided, with milk only available at breakfast and snacks only at lunch! Lunch break will be only one hour, and overtime will only be paid at triple the normal rate! As for the Uchiha, as my subordinates, current employees will only receive bonuses three times a year! Only two months of annual leave, and a salary increase will only occur every four months!"

For this construction work, I will only pay you 5600 taels per day. Morning work hours are from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with a lunch break at 12:00 PM. Afternoon work hours are from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Slacking off or being lazy during these hours is strictly prohibited; anyone caught violating this rule will be fined 500 taels! You can supervise each other; the person who successfully reports a violation will receive 500 taels! If you suffer a work-related injury before the construction is completed, I will only pay for your medical expenses and provide some small compensation. Once you have recovered, you must return to your post and continue working!

That's all! Time to get to work, my oxen and horses!

"Long live the clan leader! Long live the clan leader!" The Uchiha clan members all bowed in submission. "The clan leader is wise!"

The Kirigakure and Iwa ninja were completely convinced and joined the Uchiha in praising Uchiha Ogima. They felt no more resentment; this job paid more than their missions, and it was safer! It even included room and board! They were even responsible for the wounded, so they didn't have to pay medical bills and received compensation. After recovering, they could return to their posts and continue earning money!

My God! Uchiha Osaka! He's practically destined to rule the entire ninja world!

"Hahahahahahahaha—that's right! Just submit to me, the capitalist of this new era! Hahahahahaha!" Uchiha Senma laughed loudly, hands on his hips, "No one can refuse my rule!" They don't even have the benefits of full social security and housing fund, yet they are so obedient and subservient. Ninjas are indeed easy to coax, hahahahahahaha!

—Yes, it's irresistible in every way. Where have the ninjas in the ninja world ever encountered such a humane employer? They can't help but fall in love with him.

Speaking of which, Aunt Tsunade said that the ransom from the defeated country is expected to be raised and delivered in a week. At that time, will these hostage ninjas, who have already worked in such a humane working environment for a week, still be willing to go back?

Senju Takeru, who had been standing behind Uchiha Osaka without any presence throughout, thought to himself, and then quietly took a sip of the fresh milk tea made by his best friend. Today's milk tea was lychee flavored, and it was delicious.

Uchiha Ogima would never miss an opportunity to make money. There were many construction workers at the arena, and they got off work early, which meant they had plenty of time to meet their own needs. So he opened a stall rental business on the street next to the arena. Since the Uchiha clan was in charge of the police department, it was only a matter of his word as the new clan leader to make things convenient for them.

At first, there were only food stalls set up by Uchiha Ogima's clan members, but before long, merchants and villagers of Konoha who saw the business opportunity opened one food stall after another in a chain, and there were even game stalls. In this way, a food street night market was built.

The bustling night market requires daily cleaning and maintenance. The Xinyi Chamber of Commerce, under the pretext of investing in the night market food street project, funded the hiring of several cleaners. Because the work is simple, and out of humanitarian concern, only the elderly or disabled people can be hired. The wages are paid daily at 3,000 taels.

The activities of the Uchiha clan directly impacted the economic development of Konoha, making everyone curious and concerned about what the Uchiha clan was doing and what they wanted to do. However, the arena under renovation was not open to outsiders, and those in the know kept their mouths shut, so no one else knew.

Finally, three months later, the Uchiha clan began selling tickets to the public.

Uchiha Ogima had some free time, then suddenly remembered that he hadn't done something. He glanced at the time, it was midnight, and without saying a word, he threw off the covers, rushed into the Fugaku family compound, grabbed the sleeping Uchiha Itachi, and ran all the way to the Senju clan's territory.

"Senma-nii...?" Uchiha Itachi, who was still floating in the air, was half asleep, his soul still in bed. When he finally came to his senses with his feet on solid ground, he was already in Senju Takeya's bedroom.

“Takeya, Takeya!” Uchiha Senjin shook Senju Takeya’s shoulder.

"...?" Senju Take also groggily opened his eyes a crack, propped himself up, and looked at his best friend.

"I knew you weren't asleep either!" Uchiha Senma shoved Uchiha Itachi in front of Senju Takeya and said, "You took care of my little brother for half the day. He has mental problems, and I was worried that he wouldn't be able to figure things out on his own, but I was too busy the other day and forgot about it!"

Senju Takeya was still in a daze, but Uchiha Senma tossed his younger brother aside and jumped out of the window, disappearing in the blink of an eye, just like a tabby cat that casually leaves its cub behind.

The two men, who had been forcibly pulled from their dreams by Uchiha Senma in the middle of the night, looked at each other in bewilderment.

Senju Take also moved to the side of the bed and patted the spot he had made for Uchiha.

Since things have come to this, and we're already here, let's go to sleep.

Since it's only for half a day, we can just send it back tomorrow around the same time.

Uchiha Itachi was very embarrassed to be abandoned by his brother, but no matter how embarrassed he was, he couldn't refuse since they had already invited him. So he silently crawled into bed and covered himself with the blanket.

Uchiha Itachi thought he would feel very uncomfortable next to Senju Takeya, but after a while, his eyelids started to droop and he fell into a deep sleep, with only one thought in his mind—the Wood Release Master smells so good.

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Author's Note: [Mini-Theater]

Uchiha Osaka: I knew it! Little brother, you must be so confused that you can't sleep right now!

Uchiha Itachi: (with drowsy eyes, not fully awake yet) Huh?

Uchiha Osaka: I knew it! My best friend is still awake!

Senju Takeya: (His mind was still in a daze)?

Uchiha Osaka: Then I'll leave my confused younger brother to you! Kano!

Thousand Hands Bamboo: ...

Uchiha Itachi: ...

Since things have come to this, go back to sleep.