Sarutobi Hiruzen was anxious!!
When the Hokage received the report that Uchiha had opened a public store in the village, the information reached his desk almost immediately delivered by ANBU surveillance assigned to watch the Uchiha District.
At first, Hiruzen didn't think much of it.
After all, opening a store was, in itself, a perfectly ordinary matter.
Even as Hokage, he had no legal right to interfere in civilian commerce unless it posed a direct threat to Konoha's security.
And beyond that
He had been dismissive of Uchiha's so-called "store" from the very beginning.
Uchiha running a business?
He almost laughed aloud when he first heard it.
He thought: Heh... the Uchiha, doing business?
That proud and battle-hardened clan, born from war and blood, managing a shop like civilians? Impossible.
Besides, nearly every profitable trade in Konoha was already monopolized by the major families the Hyūga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and of course, the Sarutobi family itself.
Most importantly
Did the Uchiha even understand what business was?
They were warriors, not merchants.
But soon
Sarutobi Hiruzen was slapped hard in the face by reality.
In less than half a month, according to ANBU's financial monitoring reports and village treasury data, the Sweet Dream Experience Hall had already generated profits exceeding one hundred million ryō even after expenses.
Hiruzen was stunned.
One hundred million... in two weeks?
That was an amount even some noble clans couldn't make in a year.
And worse he heard from Homura Mitokado that the shop was only a modest establishment, barely over a hundred square meters, tucked on the edge of the commercial district near the Uchiha Police Headquarters.
Yet its daily queue stretched across the street.
Customers included ordinary villagers, merchants, even off-duty chūnin and jōnin.
The reports claimed that people came out of the "dream" crying, smiling, or laughing like children.spreading word of the shop everywhere.
Even the wives of a few Konoha Council members had been seen visiting.
Of course, Hiruzen could admit profit alone wasn't the main issue.
What unsettled him was something deeper.
He couldn't bear to watch the Uchiha growing stronger again.
Not politically, not socially, not economically.
For years, since the tragedy of the Nine-Tails attack, the Uchiha had been marginalized, relocated, and quietly stripped of power. Now, little by little, they were clawing their way back.
If things continued like this, their influence would once again rival the other great clans.
And that... could not be allowed.
He had to act.
But forcing the store to close was impossible.
After all, the Sweet Dream Hall's business was technically speaking completely harmless.
It merely sold the experience of a pleasant illusion, a dreamscape created through controlled genjutsu.
There was no tangible harm, no violence, no manipulation of chakra systems beyond voluntary use.
Could he call dreaming a crime?
No.
So, he needed another approach.
That night, Hiruzen convened a private meeting at the Hokage Residence.
In attendance were the heads of several major clans the Hyūga, Yamanaka, Nara, and even the Kurama clan, whose genjutsu bloodline made them direct competitors to Uchiha illusions.
Alongside them stood a few independent illusion specialists from the Torture and Interrogation Department and the Academy.
Sarutobi's words were calm, deliberate, and laced with political subtlety.
He said that the "Sweet Dream Experience Hall" was indeed profitable, but that such business should not remain exclusive to any single clan.
He suggested that if other clans or shinobi wished to participate in similar ventures, they would have his unspoken support.
Of course, he would not appear publicly.
But privately, he promised to "assist" any new shops that might "emulate" the concept helping them secure permits, customers, and discreet ANBU protection.
Yes.
That was Sarutobi Hiruzen's plan.
Since he couldn't confront Uchiha directly, he would simply turn the rest of Konoha against them.
If enough competitors emerged especially ones backed by his authority the Uchiha, inexperienced in economics, would inevitably stumble.
And when they did, he'd only need to "adjust" a few rules or inspections.
Within weeks, the Uchiha would lose their golden business advantage and sink back into irrelevance.
Once again under the Hokage's control.
However
After hearing Hiruzen's proposal, the gathered clan heads exchanged uneasy glances.
Their expressions were hesitant, conflicted.
Even the usually shrewd Nara Shikaku remained silent.
Hiruzen frowned.
What was this reaction?
The opportunity for enormous profit was right in front of them!
He'd even offered to back them from behind the scenes!
If they didn't like money, fine but why did they all look... afraid?
Didn't they want power? Didn't they want profit?
Hiruzen's hand trembled slightly beneath the table.
He didn't understand.
If it weren't for the limits of his position as Hokage, he himself would have seized this opportunity.
So why were they all reluctant?
What exactly were they so afraid of...?
He didn't know
But deep down, every clan leader there was thinking the same thing:
"We are not foolish enough to steal profit from the Uchiha... not when their Sharingan sees through everything."
Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze toward Sunset Riyang, patriarch of the Yūhi (Sunset) clan, and spoke with a measured smile:
"If I'm not mistaken, your Yūhi clan is also quite skilled in genjutsu, yes? If you were to open a shop similar to the Sweet Dream Experience Hall, you'd surely make a fortune every day."
The Yūhi family's most prominent member was none other than Yūhi Kurenai, renowned later as one of Konoha's most gifted illusionists.
Since Kurenai's father, Yūhi Shinku, had died heroically during the Nine-Tails' Attack years ago, leadership of the clan had passed to his elder brother, Riyang.
At that moment, Riyang smiled awkwardly and replied, "Lord Hokage, you know well that our Yūhi clan is only a small family. We have few members, and most of us are already busy serving in the Torture and Interrogation Department or teaching at the Academy. To open and manage a public shop... that's simply beyond our ability."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed slightly.
He wasn't fooled.
Riyang's excuse was too clean too rehearsed.
Still, since the man had already declined politely, the Hokage could not press the issue openly. Instead, he turned to several independent genjutsu specialists seated nearby and said with a genial tone, "What about the rest of you? Surely some of you might be interested in a business opportunity?"
Pausing briefly to sweeten the offer, he added with a chuckle:
"If you're willing to open a similar establishment, I can provide a shop location in the busiest district free of charge and rent-free."
Zero rent. Zero cost.
A deal that would tempt anyone.
And yet
"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage," one ninja muttered, scratching his head. "I've been unwell lately, and I've barely had the strength to train, much less run a business..."
Another coughed lightly. "My wife's due to give birth soon. I really can't leave her alone right now."
"Ah, same here," said a third, nervously glancing away. "My wife's expecting too. Timing's just... not right."
"..."
To Hiruzen's mounting disbelief, one by one, every single illusionist present refused.
And each reason was more ridiculous than the last.
His expression darkened.
Something wasn't right.
He could understand Yūhi Riyang's reluctance the Yūhi family was small but respected, and not in dire need of money.
But these other genjutsu users? Most of them were middle- or lower-ranked shinobi barely scraping by on C-rank mission pay!
They should've leapt at such an offer.
So why
Why were they all backing away?
"What exactly is going on here?" Sarutobi asked coldly, his tone losing its warmth.
The air in the Hokage's office grew tense.
No one spoke.
Finally, after a long silence, one of the illusionists hesitantly raised his hand.
"T-that... the other day, I received an invitation from the Uchiha. They asked me to visit their Sweet Dream Experience Hall whenever I had time."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
Then, another ninja said quietly, "I received one too."
"Me as well."
"I got it."
"I did too."
Soon, nearly everyone in the room had raised their hands.
It was unanimous.
They weren't fools far from it.
Each of them instantly understood that those "invitations" were no innocent business gestures.
They were warnings.
The Uchiha's message was clear:
"This is our territory. Don't interfere."
Yes, the Uchiha had been politically suppressed in recent years pushed to the village's edge, monitored by ANBU, and excluded from Konoha's decision-making circle.
But even so
To these small families and lone shinobi, the Uchiha name still represented something terrifying.
A clan born in the Warring States Era, famed for their Sharingan, their temper, and their unmatched battle instincts.
Even weakened, they were still a power one simply didn't provoke.
Hiruzen finally understood.
No wonder these people were refusing, even with free shops and Hokage support.
It wasn't hesitation
It was fear.
Fear of crossing Uchiha Chiye.
He had underestimated that boy.
Chiye might still be young barely older than Itachi had been when he joined the ANBU but his methods were cunning, his timing perfect, and his grasp of psychology terrifyingly sharp.
Tomorrow was small in age, perhaps
But his schemes were anything but small.
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