Chapter 48: Rumors Resurface

Hui's face flushed, and he stood up at once, "These guys still dare to cheat me! I'll act now to recapture them and use the Copy Wheel Eye to dig out everything in their minds!"

Sima Yi waved his hand, chuckled lightly and stopped him, saying, "No need to do that. The ledger is fake, but the profits they reported are roughly the same. The ledger only affects Leaf's taxes, so we need not get involved."

"That makes sense."

Although still displeased, Hui thought that even if Leaf earned more money, it wouldn't affect the Uchiha, so there was no need to fuss over it.

"By the way, I've found a suitable person here, a guy named Shangcun Yizhi. What should we do next?"

Following Hui's indication, Sima Yi focused his gaze on the information about Shangcun Yizhi.

He is an ordinary salt merchant living on the outskirts of Leaf, with no special background and rather inconspicuous.

"No need to pay special attention to him. Starting tomorrow, conduct routine inspections of these salt shops daily until the escaped spy is captured; during this period, forbid them from trading until they concede!"

Hui nodded in agreement and said, "No problem, I can issue orders directly in the name of the Guard Corps."

But Sima Yi waved his hand and rejected his idea, "Do not appear, and certainly not in the name of the Guard Corps. Just conduct routine inspections; you may give slight verbal hints, but leave no evidence."

Hui frowned, somewhat troubled, "Many of these people know members of the ninja clan; will they listen if we don't act in the Guard Corps' name?"

Sima Yi looked at the clothes on Hui and said, "You're wearing these clothes—are you still afraid they won't agree?"

"Since these people are hiding from the ninja clan, they won't have deep contact with them."

"However, if someone truly doesn't know how to be courteous, then—"

Sima Yi's gaze remained calm, but his words tightened Hui's heart: "These salt merchants may have earned some money, but they are still villagers. Wouldn't it be... to kill them just for tax evasion?"

Leaf's laws mostly target ninjas, and are relatively lenient toward ordinary people.

Sima Yi laughed heartily at the remark, "Hahaha, how many people who come here to sell salt have clean hands? Tomorrow just grab any one, lock them up, and interrogate them, and you'll understand."

Sima Yi knows best the ruthlessness of salt and grain merchants; these people either have deep backgrounds or employ vicious, well‑connected methods, especially those dealing in illicit salt! Yet this is the ninja world, a ninja world where ordinary people hold great titles.

After giving his advice, Sima Yi stopped the discussion and said, "However, if it truly comes to that point, remember not to act personally; you may emulate yesterday's clash."

Hui certainly knows yesterday's conflict; since joining the Guard Department, the things he's faced have become more and more frustrating day by day, if not for Sima Yi having left long ago.

"I understand. I will handle it properly and will definitely leave no evidence."

"Hmm, this is the next step: you need to give these people additional deterrence." Sima Yi nodded, pulling out today's grain merchant document and handing it to Hui.

Hui, after receiving it, hesitated briefly and asked, "Are we suppressing these merchants to seize their business?"

"It's just to open revenue; it's not yet time to seize business."

"It's just for the money!"

"I guess so."

Hui's eyes lit up, he chuckled and asked, "Why don't we just take all their money outright? After all, I have the ledger; they certainly won't dare speak of this."

Sima Yi raised an eyebrow and said, "I didn't see it coming; you're quite greedy."

Ahem, Hui gave an awkward smile, "I—I'm just offering a casual suggestion; if it's not okay, never mind."

"Such matters are best avoided unless absolutely necessary; ill‑gotten wealth is short‑lived and prone to backfire, and only small families would seek such opportunities."

"For us, steadiness and longevity are what we need."

Hui nodded, half‑understanding, and continued, "Then how much money do we need?"

Sima Yi chuckled lightly, giving Hui a meaning‑laden look, "You needn't ask. Observe their intentions; take whatever they are willing to give, and stop when they refuse to give more."

Hui's eyes brightened; he nodded repeatedly and said, "Got it!"

"By the way, Uncle Yi, I also captured a salt merchant leader with a solid background; he's the nephew of the Finance Minister." "Finance Minister?"

Sima Yi's eyes flickered; he was also familiar with this world's political system, and the Finance Minister is certainly among the most powerful under the great name.

"Detain him for two days, give a deterrent, then release him; after that, don't involve him further."

"Alright."

"Take the ledger back; return it to them tomorrow. Besides that, there's one more thing—lean in close."

Hui was about to take the ledger when his movement paused; he only heard Sima Yi whisper low, making his expression even more conflicted.

"This"

"Go then. For the Uchiha, without breaking there is no establishing; remember to conceal yourself and avoid exposure."

Hui sighed, ultimately nodded, and replied, "Fine, it's not the first time I've felt this frustrated."

Hui took the ledger, turned, and left with a light, silent motion; he crossed the distant wall, and Jin Huo watched, clueless.

In a corner of the hallway outside the study, Shisui watched Hui depart, frowning, but seeing the study's lights turn on, he made no further inquiry and turned away.

Early the next day, Itachi returned to the courtyard, greeted Jin Huo and the others, and then entered the study.

"Grandpa Yi, Brother Shisui, good morning."

Shisui stood nearby with a smile and replied; Sima Yi also wore a gentle expression and asked, "Did you read yesterday's book?"

Itachi nodded and replied, "I only read some of it; there's still a lot I haven't read."

"Hmm, that book indeed has a lot of content, but unfortunately age catches up, and in the busyness many things are forgotten. Itachi, could you tell grandpa about it?"

Itachi looked at Shisui, who added, "I haven't read that book either; I'm really curious what kind of story would make grandpa give it to you as a gift."

"It's about the son of a rural aristocrat whose father offended a minister, causing the family calamity; he had to flee his hometown. This book records his observations and experiences across the various nations of the ninja world."

"But I've only seen the first volume; he arrives..."

Itachi pondered and recounted the content he saw yesterday piece by piece; Shisui listened attentively, genuinely curious, as he hadn't had a chance to get answers from Sima Yi yesterday.

Itachi finished the story and added, "This is a compiled edition with over three hundred volumes; I can read at most one volume a day before I have to sleep."

"It's quite an interesting book; if Shisui is interested, Itachi can finish it later and tell you about it."

"Would that be too much trouble for Itachi?"

Although Shisui doesn't understand Sima Yi's reasoning, he still cooperates fully.

"No problem, I will read it carefully!"

Itachi shook his head repeatedly, a smile of joy on his face, saying that telling Shisui stories while cultivating is wonderful!

"Hahaha, then you go practice cultivation; you don't need to stay here with me."

Sima Yi rubbed his temples, looking exhausted.

Itachi heard that and immediately looked at Shisui, and Shisui hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, grandpa, take care of yourself; I'll be back this evening."

The two stepped out of the courtyard, passed the street, and suddenly a voice of gossip reached their ears.

"Did you hear? Yesterday a ninja got drunk and beat someone to death."

(End of chapter)