The heavy downpour had ceased by the time Jaxon and Afu left the Hyuga residence. The skies had cleared, leaving behind a washed landscape bathed in soft golden afternoon light.
The earthy scent of wet soil mixed with the fragrance of damp leaves and freshly stirred grass. In the still air, the freshness was invigorating—especially after the muggy, suffocating heat of the earlier day.
The streets, however, remained quiet. Rainwater still pooled in the low-lying areas, and the uneven cobblestone pavement—worn down by time—was riddled with loose bricks. Occasionally, a misplaced step would cause water to splash up unexpectedly, catching the unwary.
Trailing closely behind, Afu walked in silence, struggling with a question that had been bothering him for some time. Finally, he spoke.
"Young Master… forgive my boldness, but I still don't quite understand. Why are we cooperating with the Hyuga Clan on this matter?"
He hesitated, then added, "To many, the idea of a noble family partnering with a ninja clan… it's unthinkable. Ninja are tools. Weapons. Shouldn't they just follow orders, not share in profits?"
Jaxon didn't stop walking. His expression didn't change.
"You still don't understand?"
He posed the question calmly.
Afu bowed his head. "Forgive me. This old servant lacks the wisdom to grasp such complex matters. I'm sure Young Master has deeper intentions."
Jaxon finally paused. He turned around, his tone patient but instructive.
"Most people do think like you. That nobles only need to give commands, send out missions, and reap the rewards. That shinobi are disposable. Obedient. But that line of thinking is outdated."
He started walking again, his voice carrying clearly over the gentle breeze.
"Ninja can do far more than just fight. The stockholding system might be unfamiliar to you, but ask yourself—what is more valuable: temporary control or lasting cooperation?"
He glanced over his shoulder at Afu before continuing.
"The Hyuga's Byakugan can see through solid ground. With it, they can identify mineral veins that would take other clans decades to uncover using conventional methods. Yes, we could try to partner with nobles who own lands and hope to find minerals slowly... But we'd be wasting time—years, maybe decades."
He gestured to the air, as if motioning toward a map only he could see.
"So instead, we give the Hyuga something they've never had—ownership. A stake. A reason to work harder. A reason to protect the results. In return, we speed up the entire process by years. Giving up a share isn't a loss—it's a calculated investment."
The sheer maturity in his explanation made Afu's scalp tingle.
This was a three-year-old child speaking like a seasoned strategist.
He followed silently, though confusion still lingered in his heart.
The Jaxon Family had enough wealth to last generations. Why was his young master so fixated on building even more?
As if sensing his doubts, Jaxon spoke again, casually.
"Oh, right. From now on, you'll handle everything related to mining operations."
Afu straightened slightly at the unexpected order.
"The Hyuga Clan will take care of identifying resource-rich areas. You'll oversee acquisition, logistics, and personnel. And when you have time—reach out to the Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone Village."
Jaxon tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Or better yet, make contact with the Explosion Release ninja first. If we can't strike a cooperative deal, then just hire them like mercenaries. Have them carry out the mining through standard mission protocols."
Afu's lips parted slightly.
Even now, Jaxon's ambition continued to expand.
Indeed, for centuries the shinobi had been seen only as warriors. Killers. Assassins. But Jaxon… he saw more.
Mining, logistics, exploration—if harnessed correctly, shinobi abilities could revolutionize the entire industrial structure of the world.
"Understood," Afu finally said with a nod. "I will begin making preparations."
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha's Hokage Office, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, the familiar scent of tobacco smoke drifting from the pipe in his hand. He took a slow drag and exhaled, watching the smoke swirl upward as he looked at the masked Anbu kneeling before him.
Behind the kneeling figure, several senior advisors sat on plush sofas. Each wore a different expression—some stern, others indifferent—but all had their eyes fixed on the Anbu operative.
"Well?" Hiruzen asked, tone low and even. "Any progress?"
"Hokage-sama," the Anbu responded, bowing his head further, "we've found no conclusive evidence of a conspiracy. From what we can determine, the Jaxon boy is simply visiting the major clans out of personal interest."
"Hmph! That's a laugh," came the cold voice of Danzo Shimura from the side of the room.
He crossed his arms, his single visible eye narrowing in anger. "That child is no ordinary child. This reeks of manipulation. He's not here for sightseeing—he's planning something, and we need to find out what."
The only woman present, Utatane Koharu, nodded in agreement. "I concur. The timing is too strange, and his behavior doesn't match his age. There's something behind this."
Beside her, Homura Mitokado sat with his usual stone-faced expression. He neither agreed nor opposed. As always, he waited to see which side the wind blew before taking a stance.
Hiruzen raised a hand, signaling the Anbu to withdraw.
"You're dismissed," he said quietly.
Once the room cleared, Hiruzen rose from his seat and turned to the wide window behind him.
Outside, the grand Hokage Rock loomed in the distance. His own face was chiseled into the stone—larger than even the First and Second Hokage.
He took a long drag from his pipe, letting the silence stretch before finally responding.
"Danzo, Koharu... this child is not to be touched."
Danzo's mouth twisted into a sneer. "Are you serious, Hiruzen? What if he's acting on his father's orders? What if this is some ploy by the Jaxon Family to infiltrate the core of the village?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Even if it is, we can't afford to provoke him. His father is the Minister of Finance. That boy represents influence, wealth, and political weight we can't afford to alienate—not now."
He exhaled slowly, tapping ash from his pipe.
"The Village is at a critical turning point. War could break out any year, and we need the support of the daimyo and the nobles. The last thing we need is to be seen as hostile to the families funding half our infrastructure."
"But what if he does something reckless?" Danzo persisted. "He's just a kid. What if one of the clans turns against us under his influence?"
"That's why we'll watch him," Hiruzen replied calmly. "Closely. But we will not interfere unless it becomes absolutely necessary."
At that moment, Koharu leaned forward slightly. "Do we know which clan he plans to visit next?"
All eyes turned to Homura, who had remained silent until now.
"The Senju Clan," he said at last, opening his eyes. "Based on his current trajectory, that's the next logical stop."
Hiruzen's expression tightened at the mention of the Senju.
A flicker of pain flashed across his face—perhaps a memory, perhaps regret—but it quickly faded beneath a mask of calm authority.
"The Senju Clan, huh..." he muttered.
He turned back to the room, voice decisive once more.
"Have the Anbu track him. Every movement, every interaction—record it. He is not to be harmed, but don't let him run wild either. And above all, find out if he's acting alone, or if he's acting as a representative of the Jaxon Family."
They all nodded.
A three-year-old child wasn't the threat.
What he represented—resources, power, legacy, political leverage—that was the true danger.
Øóffer going on for diamond tier
pàtreøn (Gk31)