This ninja in Naruto is unscientific

Chapter 230 Nara Shikamaru

Construction site of the State Grid building.

If Yakushi Nonou is the social butterfly in charge of intelligence and public relations, then Nara Shikamori is the pragmatist who meticulously fills every brick into the dream.

"Commander Shikamori, due to the underground water veins, the Earth Escape Team suggests shifting the area by three meters, otherwise the load-bearing pillars may be at risk of subsidence."

"Commander Shikamori, the price of the steel we purchased has gone up. The supplier says it's because the Land of Iron has restricted exports, so they're raising the price by 10%."

Inside the makeshift command building, all sorts of problems came flying in like snowflakes.

If it were Nara Shikaku here, he would probably have buried his head in the table and yelled, "This is so troublesome!"

But the Nara Shikanokami is different.

He sat upright behind his desk, wearing a Jonin vest, holding a cup of strong tea in his left hand, while his right fingers flew across a specially made abacus.

"Crackling and popping—"

The crisp, melodious sound of the abacus beads striking each other was not drowned out by the surrounding noise; instead, it acted like a peculiar metronome, controlling the rhythm of the entire construction site.

"The foundation must not be tilted."

Lu Shou didn't even look up; his voice was steady and calm.

"Have Kyusuke take people to divert the underground water veins using 'Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall'. I'll allocate him two hundred explosive tags to clear the way."

"Steel prices are rising?"

Lu Shou chuckled and flicked the abacus beads in his hand.

"Tell the suppliers that if they don't supply at the original contract price, we'll activate the backup plan and ship directly from the Land of Craftsmen. It'll be slower, but we have plenty of time. Ask them if they want to lose Konoha as a long-term, major customer."

In just ten minutes, more than a dozen thorny issues were handled in an orderly manner.

The foremen who had given the report left, each one convinced of the approval.

"call……"

After dealing with all of this, Shikanobu did not rest.

He took out the intelligence scroll that Nono had given him last night from the drawer—it was about the envoy from the Land of Lightning secretly contacting the capital's trading companies in an attempt to establish smuggling channels.

"The people of the Land of Lightning are no good at fighting, but they've certainly learned how to poach talent in business."

Lu Shou didn't pay much attention; he couldn't cause any major trouble.

"Trying to engage in a business war with the Nara family? You're still too green."

……

Half an hour later, at a teahouse next to the construction site.

Inside the private room, the owners of several of the city's largest herbal medicine shops sat pacing nervously, their foreheads covered in cold sweat more than the tea.

Sitting opposite them was Nara Shikanobu.

He didn't bring any guards, or even his ninja tool bag; he only brought his ever-present abacus.

"Gentlemen, I've heard the herbs in the Land of Lightning are quite good?"

Lu Shou slowly poured a cup of tea for each person, speaking in a gentle tone as if he were having a casual chat.

The head of the group, Yamada, wiped his sweat and chuckled dryly, "It's just hearsay, nothing more. How can it compare to Konoha..."

"Boss Yamada, let's not beat around the bush."

Lu Shou interrupted him, gently moving the abacus beads with his fingers.

"clatter."

That crisp sound seemed to strike the hearts of everyone present.

"The Land of Lightning's offer to you was lower than Konoha's, right?"

Without waiting for their reply, Lu Shou continued speaking to himself:

"But have you considered the hidden costs?"

"The journey from the Land of Lightning to the capital of the Land of Fire is long, not to mention the losses during transportation. Just the 'tolls' from the checkpoints and bandits along the way in the Land of Waterfall and the Land of Frost alone would account for at least 20% of the value of the goods."

"Moreover, there is no official escort for smuggling."

Lu Shou raised his eyelids and sharply scanned the crowd.

"If the goods are hijacked or seized, will the Thunder Kingdom compensate us? They'll just pack up and leave, while you'll lose everything."

The bosses' expressions changed instantly.

They only saw the low price, but ignored the risks.

"On the other hand, look at our Konoha."

Lu Shou continued, his hands moving rapidly across the abacus, his speech quickening accordingly, creating a powerful sense of pressure.

"Although the price is a bit high, we have dedicated ninjas escorting us throughout the journey, so the loss rate is practically zero. Furthermore, we have a special tax exemption decree from the Daimyo's prefecture, saving us the entry tax. Most importantly..."

Lu Shou stopped what he was doing.

"As Konoha's partners, you will enjoy priority supply rights for the next three years. We like to work with businessmen we have worked with before. The bosses are all well-informed people in the capital. They must know that Konoha is leading that State Grid project."

"I can't say anything else; you are all intelligent people."

Lu Shou picked up his teacup and blew away the foam.

"Whether this is a one-time high-risk speculation or a long-term stable benefit is worthwhile, I don't think I need to teach you how to do it again, do I?"

The private room was deathly silent.

Boss Yamada's eyes darted around quickly, his mind racing with calculations even faster than Shikamori's.

He certainly knew about the State Grid project.

This is a national-level project, but it shouldn't have anything to do with someone like him who's in the herbal medicine business.

Seeing Lu Shou's calm and collected demeanor, he couldn't quite figure it out either.

Could it be that... the Land of Fire is about to introduce other policies? Positive for the herbal medicine business?

The more Yamada the boss thought about it, the more alarmed he became. The relationship between the daimyo and Konoha had improved considerably recently, and the daimyo had been quite trusting of the Konoha's vice minister of finance.

This Nara Shikanobu is also the vice minister's right-hand man, so his information network is definitely better than theirs.

Land of Thunder...

Offending Konoha for such paltry profits from smuggling? Not worth it!

"Shikamori-sama!"

After thinking it through, Boss Yamada suddenly stood up and grabbed Shikamori's hand.

"You're absolutely right! Those people from the Land of Lightning don't understand business at all! They're just trying to rip us off! I'll go back right now and kick their representative out!"

The other bosses looked puzzled. Didn't we agree to work together to deal with Konoha? How come you betrayed us first?!

However, everyone present was a smart man, and they knew that Boss Yamada was a businessman who wouldn't do anything without profit, so this was definitely something that would bring him more profit than what he could gain from the Land of Lightning.

As a result, other bosses also expressed their opinions, fearing that if they were a step too late, they would be kicked out of the game.

"Yes, yes, yes! Us too, from now on we'll stick with Konoha!"

Looking at the group of merchants who had defected, Lu Shou smiled with satisfaction.

People are most afraid of overthinking.

"Very well, then let's talk about the supply contract for next quarter... Regarding the price, I think there's still room for some adjustments, after all, we in Konoha also need to make a living."

……

Evening, at the construction site office.

When Nishikawa Tetsu strolled in humming a tune, he saw Shikamori stretching lazily in front of the setting sun, with a stack of newly signed supply contracts on the table.

"nailed it?"

Nishikawa Tetsu picked up the contract, glanced at it, and couldn't help but whistle.

"Not only did you cut off the smuggling lines from the Land of Lightning, but you also managed to lower the purchase price by half a percent? Senior Shikamori, your methods are even more ruthless than I imagined."

"It's just a reasonable business game."

Lu Shou rubbed his sore shoulders, a tired but satisfied smile on his face.

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Nishikawa Tetsu shook his head and sighed:

"You Nara clan members are truly monsters. Shikaku fights with his brain, you make money with your brain. Konoha is incredibly fortunate to have you two, uncle and nephew."

"Don't mention that kid, Lu Jiu."

When his nephew was mentioned, Lu Shou couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"If that kid were half as hardworking as me, he wouldn't be in this state now. He's so smart, but he's as lazy as a pig."

"That's just how everyone has their own ambitions. Shikaku is a pretty reliable person."