Swish!
With a flash of golden light, Naruto appeared in the familiar basement.
"Naruto-kun."
Zabuza called out as he immediately set aside his work and stood to greet him.
Naruto waved his hand and said, "It's fine, stay seated. I'm here to discuss something with you."
"Please, go ahead, Naruto-kun."
Zabuza nodded and subtly gestured to Haku, who instantly understood and left the room. Not to not eavesdropping, but to prepare tea.
After Naruto sat down, he said thoughtfully, "Here's the thing. In the past, we didn't have the resources, so everyone had to tough it out in this underground base. But now that we've got the means, it's time we enjoyed life a bit."
Zabuza was taken aback and a little flattered, "Naruto-kun, it's too kind of you to be thinking about us like this. You really don't need to go to such trouble."
Naruto smiled and said, "With our operations flourishing, I'm living well, so it's only fair my brothers get to some crumbs, right?"
Just the 3% that Kin and Gin earned in the past few months is enough to tidy up the base and provide them with the best treatment.
"I think this spot would be ideal for building a new base." Naruto said, pointing to a location on the map hanging on the wall.
"The Land of Hot Water? It's pretty close, but what's so good about it? It doesn't seem all that secure."
Zabuza was puzzled and said, "After the Shinobi World Wars, the Land of Hot Water significantly weakened its ShinobiVillage. Its overall strength is likely even lower than the samurai-only Land of Iron. If another war breaks out, the Land of Hot Water will be obliterated instantly, and any investments we make there will go up in smoke."
Naruto was mildly surprised. In the original work, Zabuza was a straightforward assassin, and during their last meeting, he was much the same, a single-minded fighter. But now, it seemed Zabuza had become more thoughtful.
'Perhaps the removal of financial struggles had given him time to grow intellectually.'
After organizing his thoughts, Naruto explained, "Your concerns are valid, but you're missing one key detail. If you can foresee the Land of Hot Water being crushed in a war, don't you think their Daimyo has thought of that too?"
Zabuza frowned slightly, "They must've realized it. But why, then, would they weaken their Shinobi Village? Please enlighten me, Naruto-kun."
Naruto explained, "The Land of Hot Water funding its Shinobi Village couldn't rival the Five Great Countries' Shinobi Villages. And even if they managed to develop a strong Shinobi Army, they'd be crushed by the combined forces of the Five Great Nations long before they could become a threat. No one would let a competitor grow that powerful. Because of this, the Land of Hot Water abandoned its Shinobi Village and shifted strategies. Leveraging its abundant natural resources, it focused on tourism, attracting visitors from all over the world. The profits from tourism far exceed what missions bring in for the Five Shinobi Villages."
Zabuza was shocked, "Their tourism is that lucrative? But doesn't that make them a bigger target for the Five Great Nations?"
"Not necessarily," Naruto replied with a chuckle, "This is where the Land of Hot Water's brilliance lies. Their approach is open and transparent. With people from all over the world visiting for leisure and no signs of rebellion, what reason would the Five Great Nations have to destroy them."
"If they did, the smaller nations would unite, fearing they'd be next. Besides, without military strength, the Land of Hot Water is seen as harmless, a ripe fruit with no threat attached. There's no need to destroy something that serves a purpose. People need entertainment, and the Land of Hot Water provides it. Unless someone attempts global unification, the Land of Hot Water will remain untouched. In fact, it's likely to be protected by the Five Great Nations. And if someone were to attempt global domination, nowhere in the world would be safe anyway."
After hearing what Naruto said, Zabuza was stunned for a while before he spoke, "Your explanation is enlightening, Naruto-kun. I would've never considered things so deeply. You're right, I'm only fit to serve, not lead."
Naruto waved his hand and said, "Don't be so hard on yourself. You've made noticeable progress over the past few months. I've decided to let Kakuzu handle the finances. That guy is nearly a century old, no different from a walking treasure trove of experience. By working with him, you'll have plenty to learn."
"Is he reliable?" Zabuza asked, frowning slightly.
As Naruto's servant, Zabuza would never defy his orders. But because of his loyalty, he wanted Naruto to succeed, ensuring his own status would rise alongside him.
Zabuza had trusted Itachi because he felt the aura of a servant in him before, but he was still a little worried because no one else had the aura of a servant.
Naruto chuckled lightly and said, "Don't worry about it. If you suspect someone, don't use them. If you use someone, don't suspect them. Just trust in your decision."
Confidence stems from strength. Even if Kakuzu betrayed him, Naruto was confident he could kill him. Besides, given his Observation Haki and what he knew about Kakuzu's personality in the original work, Kakuzu was entirely seduced by the vast wealth he now managed.
The longer someone lives, the sharper they become. If Kakuzu left Naruto, where would he find such enormous wealth again? And what confidence would he have in safeguarding it? Would he end up like Gato, whose ambitions ultimately benefited someone else?
Naruto had the power and resources to protect this wealth. To put it bluntly, even if Naruto tried to dismiss Kakuzu, the latter wouldn't leave.
"If you suspect someone, don't use them. If you use someone, don't suspect them… Naruto-kun, your words are always profound. I've learned yet another lesson today," Zabuza praised sincerely.
Naruto enjoyed the compliment and took a sip of the tea Haku had brought in. Then he instructed, "Haku, call Kakuzu over. He doesn't need to leave his work, ask him to send a clone instead."
"Understood!"
Haku nodded and left to fetch Kakuzu.
A short while later, Kakuzu knocked on the door and entered the basement, "Naruto-kun, what can I do for you?"
Naruto began, "I've already discussed matters with Zabuza. From now on, you'll handle the finances, and Zabuza will manage the base. The two of you will support each other. If there's ever an issue you can't resolve, send someone to find me."
"I understand. Thank you for your trust, Naruto-kun."
Kakuzu said, clearly grateful as the arrangement was finalized.
Naruto pointed to the map and added, "There's one more thing. I've decided to move the base to the Land of Hot Water, near Rose Street."
"Oh? As expected of Naruto-kun. That's precisely what I was thinking." Kakuzu said, his brow slightly raised.
"Let's hear your reasoning first." Naruto said with a smile.
Kakuzu nodded and explained, "The Land of Hot Water is exceptionally safe. Building the base near Rose Street not only provides a scenic and refreshing environment, but also creates opportunities to expand into tourism-related ventures. With the development of the Land of Hot Water, we could also grow industries around entertainment, dining, and leisure. The potential for expansion is enormous."
"Hiss…!"
Zabuza couldn't help but drew in a sharp breath. He had initially been skeptical about Naruto's plan, but an old monster like Kakuzu had provided such a detailed analysis that he couldn't argue with it.
But what caught Zabuza even more off guard was Naruto's follow-up question, "Besides this, what else?"
Hearing this, Zabuza was stunned, 'Kakuzu had already laid out so much… could there really be more? How was that even possible?'